Mafuyu's POV

It's been more than a week since Yuiga-kun's first day as a trainee. From a guy who didn't have any experience and totally blind about being a teacher, I have to admit he has grown a lot. Under my supervision, he is getting better and better at teaching and to be honest, I'm proud of him, as a teacher. He is also quite popular to a lot of female students, which I don't know if that's a plus or not. Maybe that 'yin and yang' tactic, or in the other words, the 'humor and serious' thing is working, not much for me but for him. But if that's for Yuiga's trainee program, at least it's good for him.

But except all the pros, his humor is also a problem to some students. I believe that in the students' views, studying with a teacher like him can be fun, but also torturing. One time he almost made a student have a minor heart attack for chasing him around the corridor, just to get his homework, and I'm not sure if I should call that energetic or scary.

Let's take the nearest example, today. As always, this class has World history for this morning. For their homework, we asked them to do a summary of the Vietnam war, and today we are picking some random students to talk about it in their own word. But instead of making this a 'fun' presentation, or at least that's what I think based on Yuiga-kun's personality, he decides to turn this into some sort of courage challenge, and things go really interesting...

"OKUBO-KUN! BRING YOUR HOMEWORK UP HERE!" Yuiga shouted and pointed at the student. "Y-Yes, Yuiga-sensei!" Then that student grabbed his papers and slowly walked to the board. I can see that with the lightest, he might cry immediately. But since that isn't enough to Yuiga, he decides to kick it up a notch.

"Oh, you're approaching me? Instead of running away, you're coming right to me?" He asked that with a menacing tone, and Okubo-kun couldn't even move an inch. He just stands there, looks like he's about to have a mental breakdown and cry. "I-It's okay, Okubo-kun. Please sit down. I'll call the other one." I told the student, tried to calm him down as best as I can. Thankful enough, he can sit down but I guess he will not be able to say anything for the rest of the class.

After torturing his mental, Yuiga-kun turns to me and gives a thumb up, like why the heck does him do that?

"So, I did a good job, Kirisu-sensei?" Yuiga-kun whispered to me. Good job, you said?

"... What do you think?" I had nothing to say, no word to describe it, so I just simply asked him back. However, I don't think he understands me, as he proceeds to call another students.

"ALL RIGHT, FOOLS! WHO'S NEXT?!" He asked. Okay, it's time to stop this.

"I think you didn't hear anything right, Yuiga-trainee-kun?" I asked and got his attention.

"What do you mean, Kirisu-sensei?"

"I said I WOULD call the other one." I explained, but he didn't seem to understand at all.

"Sensei, can you just let me do the honor?" Yuiga asked.

"Your honor ends here, Yuiga-trainee-kun."

"Please..."

"No! You're supposed to teach the students, not scare them!" I shouted at him in the middle of the class, which caught the attention from other students. Before we know it, we drag ourselves into a never-ending, unnecessary argument.

"What's up with that, Kirisu-sensei? I'm just learning from the best...!" Yuiga said and pushed his head against mine, which I also pushed back, making the scene become some kind of head tug.

"And who's that 'the best' you're talking about? I thought I'm your supervisor, Yuiga-trainee-kun!" I scolded him.

"Oh I don't know. How about we take a guess, along with the students? Her name starts with M and ends with U. Who do you think she is?" Yuiga fought back.

"How about who do you think you are, fighting your supervisor, you inexperienced, stubborn trainee? I shall never teach you anything again!"

"Fine! I shall never clean your apartment again!"

"Oh you dare?!" I asked him angrily, and we stayed like that, arguing for good 5 minutes, didn't even care about the class or the students waiting behind.

"Um, Kirisu-sensei? Yuiga-sensei?" A student raised her hand and asked, broke the tension between us and brought us back to reality. Blunder. I almost forget about the class. "S-Sorry. We'll be back to the lesson soon." I apologized the student and returned to my teacher table, but I still didn't look one bit at Yuiga-kun. Responding to my action, he just goes to the other board, doesn't look at me. So now you're angry, Yuiga-kun?

"It's not... what I asked for, exactly. I just want to know..." She stammered, maybe she was afraid to ask or she didn't have enough courage. As a teacher, I should encourage my students to ask anything. "Don't worry. What would you like to know?" I told her. Maybe it's about the homework or today's lesson. The student starts fidgeting her fingers, and let out the question she's been dying to know perhaps for a while.

"Are you two... A THING?" She shouted out the question and the whole class started being noisy and chanting, like they were encouraging us to say 'yes' to some proposal. Okay, Mafuyu, relax. Although you're angry as hell, you have to stay calm and give them the best answer, something to avoid all of this.

"ME?! HIM?! THAT 22-YEAR-OLD DOESN'T DESERVE ONE BIT OF ME!" I shouted to the whole class, which also got Yuiga-kun's attention. So he turns to me and thinks of starting another argument.

"Oh, is that so? Well good luck with your messy place, then." He told me and smirked, enraged me. So we start another argument about ourselves again, don't care anything about the lesson we're supposed to teach.

"Um, sensei? We are not learning anything..."

That's right, my dear students. We're not learning anything today. Thanks to this genius...

What a way to start a class in the morning, right?

O0O

Writer's POV

It is now lunch time, as the lively and noisy sound in the teachers' room can be heard again. Teachers are talking about their lessons, about their intention of going somewhere this weekends, or just simply chatting about different things. However, one thing all of them notice is at a certain desk, a teacher is trying to teach her trainee who the master is.

"Ouch... ouch... ouch... okay, I'm sorry. Can you stop, please?" The trainee, Nariyuki Yuiga, is getting his cheeks pulled to opposite sides by his teacher, his supervisor, Mafuyu Kirisu, who is now pouting. He is continuously begging his teacher to stop, but she doesn't care at all. "Okay, I won't act like I'm better than you ever again! Can you stop- OUCH!" He told Mafuyu, but got her fingernails dug into his cheeks. Mafuyu, still angry for this morning's class, starts shaking his head while pulling his cheeks. This get attentions from other teachers, so one of them asks Mafuyu to stop.

"Kirisu-sensei, I think he knows his fault. Forgive him." The teacher told Mafuyu, so she let go. However, as soon as she does that, Nariyuki and the pink haired teacher just turn their heads to the opposite side from each other. They don't want to talk or look. Looking at the awkward situation, the other teachers just take their leaves, letting the trainee and his teacher alone in the teachers' room.

The earlier lively sound in the teachers' room is replaced with a strange and silent atmosphere, with only the tick tock on the clock and bird chirpings outside. And there they are, leaning their heads on the table, looking away from each other. Both of them all had their own fault. Nariyuki, with his excitement of being a teacher, just screwed up the presentation. Mafuyu, for being a hot head, just ended up arguing with her trainee, paying no attention for the class. They wasted 20 minutes of World history class, 20 golden minutes. Without arguing, they could have taught their students a lot in those 20 minutes.

While turning away from Nariyuki, Mafuyu also feels regretful. She wish she could shake it off and avoid the situation. But she wasted her time, wasted her students' time. Suddenly, she felt someone slightly pulls her work suit. It's none other than Nariyuki.

"Sensei, you're still angry?" Nariyuki asked concernedly. Although still having some anger inside, she knows that being like that won't lead her to anyway. "... No. And you?" Mafuyu asked back, after having a bit of hesitation. Then Nariyuki lets out a sigh of relief and continues. "Whew. I thought you're still angry. Sorry for earlier thing." Nariyuki said.

They both turn around to see each other, and Mafuyu soon notices the red marks on her trainee's cheeks, maybe because she pulled them so hard, with the combo of long fingernails. She begins to concern about him, so she proceeds to check on the marks "So sensei, do you want to grab something to- Sensei?" Nariyuki asked, but stopped suddenly when his teacher reached out her hand to his cheeks, which made the trainee blush red when he saw it.

"S-S-S-Sensei! What are you doing?!" Nariyuki stuttered, and soon when Mafuyu realized what she was doing, she pulled back her hands and turned away, slightly blushing. "A-Apologize. I just... want to check out how you... yeah..." She whispered herself and they didn't say a word in a short while. Needing to break the silence, Nariyuki breaks his embarrassment and continues what he was about to ask.

"So... sensei, do you want to grab something for lunch? My treat." Nariyuki asked but Mafuyu shook her head.

"No thanks. It's such a disgrace for a teacher to be treated lunch by a student, even if he's already graduated." Mafuyu answered, which made the boy in glasses confused. 'Then what about a teacher forcing her student to clean her apartment?' He thought and smiled confusedly. Then Mafuyu continues what she said. "Beside, I've already made a nutritious lunch myself at home. I'll be fine, so just get yourself something, Yuiga-kun."

'I bet 90 percent that 'nutritious lunch' she talked about is ramen cup...' Nariyuki thought, smiled to himself. But guessing that she will be fine by herself, he heads to the door to grab something for lunch, but is called back by Mafuyu.

"Oh, I forgot to collect the last class' homework for further looks. Can you take them for me?" Mafuyu asked. Thinking that this will be his rare chance to impress his supervisor, even it's still small but enough for him, enough to show her his responsibility, Nariyuki simply nods and accepts the request. So he heads out to get some lunch and thinks of doing his 'chore' properly.

O0O

Leaning her back on her chair, Mafuyu lets out a sigh and thinks about what happened. 'Did I do the right thing? Is it okay for him to get the homework?' She had those lines in her head, as the bright sunshine shines through the windows, in the hot afternoon, when people are returning to their classes. Mafuyu doesn't have any class until late afternoon, so she decides to stay in the teachers' room and rests her head.

The reason she sent Nariyuki to collect the homework is she wants him to be responsible. As a teacher, sometimes small works like this is crucial to a trainee like him, so he can get used to being one, being more responsible.

Many days have passed since Nariyuki's first day, and he's making quite a process. He was still clumsy and he often made unnecessary mistakes in classes, but at least his situation is now better than first time. But the further he is used to being a teacher, the more arrogant he becomes, in Mafuyu's thought. He thinks he can replace her and make decision himself, but to her experience, he can't and this is too soon for him. After all, this is a two-month trainee program, that means there are still plenty of times for Nariyuki to improve. But if he's just keeping like this, he won't make any further and positive process.

'Yuiga-kun, maybe I have to take you back to the first step. Collecting the homework is a part of it, so I hope you can do it right first...' Mafuyu thought. She's worried about her trainee, worried that he may become a terrible teacher if he still has that stubborn personality. Correction, she is pulling him away from the way she is now.

She knows that with personality like Nariyuki, he has quite a potential, and even if it's because of destiny or fate, she will help him flourish with success and become a good teacher, just like the one she admires, Hiroshi Yuiga. Tired from teaching this morning, she closes her eyes and thinks about having a good rest. 'Maybe Yuiga-kun is collecting homework right now. That's good...' She thinks as she's about to sleep, feeling relieved with the request.

Then she awakes suddenly and feels how stupid she was.

'Yep, he'll screw up for sure! I should check on him just in case!' She suddenly thinks of some stupid tactics that her trainee might do to collect the papers. So she stands up from the chair and dashes out of the teachers' room, walking around the corridor to find Nariyuki. After a while, she finally finds him, in not such a beautiful situation, at least to her.

Nariyuki, her trainee, the soon-to-be teacher, is executing a kabedon to a female student, pinning her against the wall, like some Japanese drama films. He is staring the student deep in her eyes, panting and sweating, with the student is now blushing red.

"Hana-chan... I believe you have something that belongs to me..." Nariyuki said, whispered to the girl's ear.

"Sensei... please don't... I'm not ready..." The girl started blushing deeper, avoiding his gaze.

"Oh please, I think you are, Hana..." Nariyuki said, with his voice getting smaller, leaned his face closer to the female student, closing the gap between them.

Looking at such a romantic scene, Mafuyu knows she has to stop this as soon as possible. So she approaches Nariyuki from behind, letting out some dark aura, so much that the female student can see it and widen her eyes for being scared. Without waiting for Nariyuki to turn back, she slams her left hand at the wall, perfectly strikes a kabedon to both her trainee and the student.

"Ara ara, what the f*ck are you doing, Yuiga-senSEI!" Mafuyu ended her sentence with a shout, slammed her right hand to the wall, caging both the trainee and the student. Both of them look at her, sweating like a waterfall. Then the female student takes out a sheet of papers, slowly but shakenly hands to Nariyuki, whose hands are also shaking like there's no tomorrow.

"I'll... be going now... See you, Yuiga-sensei and Kirisu-sensei..." The girl said and slowly crouched down, crawled away from Mafuyu's kabedon, then as soon as she was out of there, she stood back up and ran away, leaving the prince behind with the monster.

"I'll.. be going, too, Kiri-" Nariyuki told Mafuyu and was about to escape the same way, when he suddenly got choked and pulled up by Mafuyu. Looking at her arms, especially the one that is choking him, he's terrified to see muscles boiling, with red blood running in her veins. Taking all of his courage and looking up, he swears he could crap his pants to see his teacher gritting her teeth, lifting up her chin and hairs blowing, like they're turning into snakes and about to turn him into stone. Her usual turquoise blue eyes are no more, replaced with red and soulless ones.

"Kirisu-sensei... I can explain..." Nariyuki tried to explain, looked like he was slowly shrinking, but all he got was a single "Kill!" from his teacher and it made him lose his mind. Because of not wanting to die, he shakenly hands out the pile of papers he's been holding in his hand to Mafuyu. After seeing the papers, she calms down, let go of Nariyuki and returns to normal, with her red eyes are now turquoise blue again.

"Wow... you actually did it, although you had that scummy action..." Mafuyu took the paper and impressed by her trainee's achievement.

"So you think that's the only good thing I can do?" Nariyuki asked, and he continued. "And what's up with that choking earlier?! Were you really trying to kill me?!"

"... No, not at all. Because in the end..." Mafuyu said, then she let out a warm smile and tilted her head to a side. "I will always trust you and believe in what you do, Yuiga-kun!"

'Now that's even scarier than what she did!' Nariyuki thought and shivered. However, the pink haired teacher then cough a bit. "But what the hell was that kabedon, Nariyuki Yuiga?! How dare you doing that with a student, huh?!" She shouted at him and used both of her hands to choke Nariyuki, shook him even more, made him gasping for air, begging for mercy.

Suddenly, someone approaches them and proceeds to break the scene. "You guys seem like you're having a lot of fun in a place like this, no?" His voice gets attention from both Nariyuki and Mafuyu, makes Mafuyu let go of Nariyuki. "Oh, I'm sorry. I won't do that ever again." Mafuyu apologized, surprised Nariyuki, for not seeing Mafuyu being this polite to anyone else.

"Sensei, who's that?" Nariyuki asked, so his teacher started introducing. "Yuiga-kun, this is Mikazuki Hiyotaka. He is the most excellent and respected teacher this academy has ever had. This might be your first time seeing him, right?" The teacher then approaches and offers him a handshake. "You must be Nariyuki Yuiga, the trainee attempting this academy's trainee program. I've heard a lot about you. Call me Hiyotaka-sensei, by the way." Seeing how friendly Hiyotaka is, Nariyuki gladly accepts the handshake and laughs off with him. Hiyotaka then continues. "It's great having you at this academy. If you don't mind, how about meeting me on the balcony after school? I have some business I want to discuss."

Getting an offer from someone, some god-like person like Hiyotaka is such a dream to a guy like Nariyuki, so without a doubt, he accepts the offer and says goodbye to the teacher. For Mafuyu, she's also proud of him for getting the attention from one of the best teacher of the academy.

"He's really good with words, isn't he?" Nariyuki asked Mafuyu.

"Certainly. That's Hiyotaka-sensei, after all." Mafuyu answered, looked at Nariyuki, whose eyes were still sparkling with stars.

"And quite handsome, right?" Nariyuki asked.

"Well, ye- WHY ARE YOU ASKING THAT?" Mafuyu asked back, with some slight blushes could be seen on her face.

"So you like him, am I right?" Nariyuki ended his sentence with a smug, so Mafuyu just turned the other way, avoiding his gaze.

"W-Well, he's still a young teacher, much younger than me. There is no way w-we have that kind of significant relationship... anyway..." Mafuyu said, her voice was getting smaller and smaller.

"Oh I get it, I know that kind of feeling. I can be sure that you-"

"LOOK, IT'S ALMOST TIME! WASH YOUR FACE! THE NEXT CLASS IS COMING!" Mafuyu shouted, cut off what Nariyuki was talking about. The trainee then looks at the time and realizes it, too. "Alright, sensei. I'll get prepared!" He told his supervisor and dashed to the teachers' room, getting his stuffs.

But in his mind, after school, he will have a meeting with one of the best teachers, if not the best teacher, of the academy. That thought is enough to make him feel excited, can't wait for all the classes to end.

O0O

Mafuyu's POV

Argh... what an exhausted day... I guess it doesn't hurt to lean my back at the chair, does it.

Right now Yuiga-kun is meeting Hiyotaka-sensei up on the balcony. I think they must have something reach the point of top secret that they have to meet somewhere like that, no? Can't they just simply have a short meeting right here? I'm quite curious.

But I have to say, I'm really proud of Yuiga. He has quite a population that even Hiyotaka-sensei knows him.

For Mikazuki Hiyotaka, it's still kind of strange to see him back at Ichinose Academy. He usually doesn't have times for this academy, as he's busy spreading the image of the academy to other universities, even teaching in them and going to other places to gain some experience, using that to improve the academy. What a great guy. If he can spend more time with the students, or if I can see how he teach outside, in my own eyes, I think I can admire him the same as Hiroshi-sensei.

Yuiga-kun will learn a lot from a guy like Hiyotaka. I mean I can see the energetic and hard-working person in Yuiga, but he's still missing something. Something that is important in a teacher, and I can't tell what it is. I guess I've somehow forgotten it...

But anyway, Yuiga, you'd better learn something useful from Hiyotaka-sensei! He's a great person, and I believe he can teach you more crucial things...

... more than... I do...

And I guess he will learn a lot of thing, better than from me, who used forces and scolding to show him the way of being a teacher. I guess Hiyotaka will be a better mentor than me, right?

Ah snap off, Mafuyu! Get back to reality! Don't be like that! Think about Yuiga-kun's good, will you?

"Alright, teachers, have great weekends! See you all next Monday!"

Since Yuiga is nowhere to be seen, I guess that meeting isn't over. Guess I'll be going home then. It's best to leave Yuiga to go home, as well. I don't think I have to call him to my place ever again, except for cleaning chores, of course.

Oh wait, there he is! The meeting is much faster than I expected.

"There you are, Yuiga-kun! So how is the-" I was about to ask him, but I got cut off. Now come to think of it, why is he in such a hurry? And... why is there a bruise on his face?

"Everyone, hear me out!" Yuiga shouted for the teachers to hear, then he continued. "I had a meeting with Hiyotaka-sensei, but when I was there, he-" He tried to say something, but he got cut off and pushed, by none other than Hiyotaka-sensei, who was looking really angry.

"Is nothing but a rude and disrespectful trainee. Am I right, Nariyuki Yuiga?" Hiyotaka said, which shocked me, and turned his glare to Yuiga. The other teachers also stare at Yuiga, who is looking terrified. Just... why, Yuiga? The other teachers are now discussing about you!

"D-Don't you lie to me, Hiyotaka-sensei! That's not the truth! The truth here is-" Yuiga said, but got cut off again.

"You see, teachers?! This guy doesn't even admit it!" Hiyotaka-sensei said, then he continued to explain. "I was offering him a place as my assistant, so in the future, when he graduated, he could be my right hand and help me with teaching! So he can be a good teacher! But no, he turned down my offer and called it terrible and the worst he had ever seen!"

The earlier lively, noisy atmosphere has become heavier and heavier, with sounds of chattering, jabbering about Yuiga, who is standing still in his own spot. How could this be? Yuiga, please tell me it's not true...

"FALSE! ALL HE IS SAYING IS NOT TRUE! I-" Yuiga said, but once again, got cut off by the other teachers.

"You disrespectful trainee!"

"Such a disappointment to have a trainee like you at this academy!"

"Go back to that college and do some proper study!"

And there it goes, on and on, scolding after scolding for Yuiga. Even I can't believe he could say such a thing. Yuiga-kun, I know now you are having kind of a big ego, but why would you say that to Hiyotaka-sensei? He's thinking for your own good!

Then Hiyotaka-sensei walks to me, and begins to scold me, as well. "Kirisu-sensei, this is your trainee you're supervising, right? Be sure to teach him some manner, for this guy to know who is better than him!"

"... I understand." I told him, without any thinking. Now I just want to go home. This is such a shame to me, my biggest blunder for not teaching him properly. All the teachers are now going home, leaving just me and Yuiga behind, with the teachers' room is now filled with red from the sunset. And all he does is standing there, staring to the ground.

"Kirisu-sensei... do you think I'm lying?" Yuiga asked. I'm sorry, Yuiga-kun...

"Take a good rest. Come to my place this weekends. We'll have a serious talk for this." That's all I could say to him.

"B-But I didn't say anything wrong! Why wouldn't anyone-" Yuiga shouted at me, his eyes started watering, which I couldn't say if it was because of fear or he just wanted to frame himself. Tired of hearing what he said, I walked to him, cut him off...

And I slap him in the face, with the sound echoes all over the room.

"Then don't!" And so I leave him behind, trying to hide my tears of disappointment.

The disappointment of having a bad trainee, trusting someone who is worse than you thought...

O0O

The next Monday

I look at my hand, still red from that slap I delivered to Yuiga. I'm having a slight pain at my chest that I don't know if that's my guilt or my frustration, all because of my trainee. But come to think of it, I was a little rough on him. Since that day, he hasn't come to my place, maybe he just doesn't want to see me.

If he says sorry and he wants me to forgive, I will gladly do so. People make mistakes and they learn from it, it's a common thing in this world. I'm just not sure if Hiyotaka-sensei would forgive him or not. I hope he would, because after all, he's an amazing person.

Anyway, today the principal is calling me to his office for a talk. I guess it's about some weak students that need tutoring or something, not a big deal for me. So now I'm in his office, about to know what the talk is about.

"Ms. Kirisu, take a look at this." The principal then shows me a video, of a nightclub, with a terrible quality and terrible lighting, but still enough to see the people around. Why is he showing me this? And why is...

What is Hiyotaka-sensei doing there?

"Is that... Hiyotaka-sensei?" I asked the principal, and he just simply nodded. His face looks disappointed.

"It's been revealed that our great teacher, Mikazuki Hiyotaka, was paying popular newspaper to frame a decorative and beautiful 'picture' about him, and perhaps he was also getting money for teaching students stuffs that are totally unimportant to them, from some people, for some reasons."

I can't believe this... Hiyotaka-sensei... is a fraud?

"T-There must be a mistake! Hiyotaka-sensei would never-" I tried to explain, but got cut off.

"It's hard to know if these are fake or not, but it's likely to be real. There are also evidences of him being there, including this." Then the principal hands me a business card, and it's from Hiyotaka-sensei. "This business card is filled with alcohol and cigarettes' smell, and this is found in the nightclub. Is that enough for you?"

I just stand there, shocked. Hiyotaka-sensei, the one I admire as a teacher...

"And guess who found out and collected all of these." The principal asked, and I told him to speak it out.

"It's actually thanks to your trainee, Nariyuki Yuiga-kun. He had done all of the investigations, just to bring Hiyotaka-sensei out of shadow. This is something I haven't realized. How could he know? All I think is you have quite a good trainee, Ms. Kirisu."

So this is what Yuiga-kun was trying to talk about last week? I'm surprised, and in pain. He was trying to tell the truth, but I didn't trust him, and I even slapped him... And now I'm mad at myself, mad at that Hiyotaka!

"Why don't we expose him, principal?! We cannot let a teacher like him at this academy!" I asked him, but he shook his head.

"We CANNOT expose him publicly! What would the whole country think? That this academy is containing a fraud?! And what would the other students think?! We have to protect this school image!"

"B-But principal, this is-"

"NO BUT! I'M TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING MIKAZUKI FOR THIS! UNITL THEN, WE CANNOT LET THE STUDENTS OR ANYONE KNOW THIS, OR THIS SCHOOL WILL BE DEAD! YOU UNDERSTAND, MS. KIRISU?!"

"... Yes, I understood."

"I've also warned Yuiga about this. If he reveals this secret to the outside, his trainee program will be over! I know this isn't right, but we have to do this, for our academy's sake! Now leave, Ms. Kirisu, the classes are starting..." The principal said, then used his hands to hold his head, thinking of something serious, afraid of damaging this academy's image. I don't want to disturb him anymore, so I just take my leave.

Oh no, now how am I going to face Yuiga-kun now?

"Good morning, Kirisu-sensei!" A familiar greeting shocked me from behind. It's Yuiga-kun, looking excited as always, strangely excited.

"Let's try our best today for the classes, okay sensei?" Yuiga asked, and I just nodded as an answer. I don't know what I should tell him. 'I'm sorry'? 'Is it painful'? God, why is it so hard to ask that?

"Um... Kirisu-sensei, we're going to be late if you don't hurry..."

"... Okay, just a sec..."

I'm sorry, Yuiga-kun, but I guess I don't have any right to be your supervisor...

O0O

Writer's POV

It is now lunchtime, as once again, all the teachers have left the teachers' room, leaving both Mafuyu and Nariyuki inside. Mafuyu, still having regret for all she did last week, doesn't know how to talk with Nariyuki. And Nariyuki, though he still remembered the situation last week, he just wants to shrug it off and behave normally. However, they didn't say much to each other in classes this morning. An invisible gap is formed between them, making them hard to communicate to each other.

'Come on, Nariyuki, please say something. Are you still mad at me? Can we just be like we used to...?' Mafuyu thought, knowing that Nariyuki might be angry at her. However, there is still something she doesn't know.

'Kirisu-sensei, why are we so cold to each other? Can't you just say a word to me?' That's what Nariyuki is thinking.

Both of them all need the others to say something, at least a little bit, so they can be like how they used to.

Disappointed with the situation, Nariyuki just leans his head on the table, thinking of a way to talk to his teacher. On the other side, the pink haired supervisor just thinks of what she said last week.

'I will always trust you and believe in what you do, Yuiga-kun!'

'And there I was, slapping him...' Mafuyu thought, frustrated and mad at herself, regretted what she did. She tries to take a glance at Nariyuki's side, to see he's taking a nap, turning his head to her side. Looking at his face, she can notice the black bruise on his face, probably by Hiyotaka, and the red fingerprint from her slap. 'It must be still painful for him...' Mafuyu thought. Decided to close the gap, she takes out a wet tissue and starts wiping Nariyuki's cheek, especially the bruise and the red mark, but also awakening him.

"Wha- What are you doing, Kirisu-sensei?" Nariyuki asked, totally surprised by Mafuyu.

"Hold still, Yuiga-kun! Let me just ease the pain for you!" Mafuyu told him

"C-Can you just stop? I'm trying to-" Nariyuki, annoyed by the wiping, puts his head off the table, only to see Mafuyu, who is sniffing with watering eyes, letting out teardrops of worrying. Seeing her like that brought some pain to his chest as well.

"H-Hey, a-are you... crying? Please don't cry, I'm sorry for..." Nariyuki tried to calm his teacher down, but he got cut off.

"I-It's okay... Yuiga-kun... If you don't want to, then it's f-fine to m-me..." Mafuyu said and turned around, not wanting her trainee to see her like that. 'Blunder. He saw me like this...' But suddenly she feels someone is leaning head closer to her, or more exactly, it's Nariyuki, leaning his sore spot at her.

"Here... If...you want to..." Nariyuki said, avoiding his teacher gaze. Then the next thing he feels is the wetness from the tissue, wiping the sore of the bruise and the red mark. It's painful and burning, but he doesn't move, just letting his teacher treating his hurt spots. Taking a glance at his teacher, he can see she's pouting, but the tears are going out less than before. 'Is she a kid or something? Now that's kind of... cute...' He thought.

"You feel better now?" Mafuyu asked concernedly, and her trainee just nodded as an answer. They just sit there, keeping silent, with only sounds of wind blowing can be heard. They are waiting for the others to say something.

"I'm sorry." Both of them said in unison and as soon as they found out, they covered their mouth. Wanting to break the silence, Mafuyu is the one to speak up first.

"A-Apologize. I should have thought further before making any conclusion! I'm sorry for slapping you! I've failed at trusting you, haven't I?" Mafuyu asked, but Nariyuki shook his head.

"I should be the one who apologize! I couldn't even speak out the truth, and I even brought some trouble to you! I'm sorry." Nariyuki apologized.

"No, no! You don't have any fault! It was hard for you to fight against all of those teachers, right? You even had to fight against Hiyotaka! It was tough for you, right?" Mafuyu said, and a silence can be found in them again. They keep like that in a while, then Nariyuki breaks the silence.

"You know... we were both the victim of that Hiyotaka guy, weren't we?"

"... I suppose." Mafuyu said, smiled a little, but soon made that disappear. "But how reckless were you, jumping into that nightclub by yourself." She said concernedly.

"I... just want to expose the truth, that's all. It's the students the top priority right now." Nariyuki answered, then he continued. "If no one fights back him and everyone just blindly listens to him, then who will stand up for the students then?"

Those words from Nariyuki just made Mafuyu remembers of something, or someone she truly admires. 'He sounds... just like Hiroshi-sensei...' From the 'Mikazuki Hiyotaka' lesson, they both learn something from there. "I guess there is no such thing as 'perfect' teacher, right?" Mafuyu asked.

"I suppose. But there is still something called 'nearly perfect' teacher."

"Oh is that so? Are you calling that yourself?" Mafuyu asked. But Nariyuki just points at the pink haired teacher, makes her slightly blush.

"Who, me?! No, no! You're kidding me, right?" Mafuyu asked.

"I'm not kidding." Nariyuki shook his head. "I mean you might be untidy, you might be a bit clumsy, but in return, you're a responsible teacher, a stubborn but caring one. I'd rather learn from you than that ugly fraud!" Nariyuki made a compliment made Mafuyu blush deeper.

"Um...Thanks..." Mafuyu said with a small tone. Then Nariyuki suddenly stands up, offers Mafuyu a hand, like a prince offers a princess for a dance. "Now why don't we grab something for lunch? I know a pretty good ramen restaurant nearby." However, there is still something bothers in Mafuyu's mind.

"I know I've slapped you, so..." Mafuyu took a little time, then she continued. "It's only fair if you hit me back, right?"

"... Kirisu-sensei, I've been working out a lot. You want me to use my muscle and knock you out cold?"

"NO, NEVERMIND! But... at least give me a punishment for return. I'd... do anything..." Mafuyu said, looked away from Nariyuki to hide her embarrassment.

"Hmm... I think I know, Kirisu-sensei." Nariyuki thought of something, which Mafuyu squeezed her eyes, waiting for something 'strange'. "How about calling me 'Nariyuki-sensei'?" His punishment makes Mafuyu a bit surprised.

"What?! You're talking about it again?!"

"Well... yeah... after all, Yuiga-sensei is my dad, so I just want to be a little more... different from him..." Nariyuki said and blushed a little, looked away from his mentor, thinking that she wouldn't accept this punishment. But before he knows it, he feels a pair of warm hands putting on his shoulders. Turning to the side of the hands, he sees Kirisu-sensei, smiling at him, under the shining sunlight.

"Fine then. Let's work together this time, Nariyuki-sensei!" Mafuyu said and tilted her head to a side. Blushing a very deep red, Nariyuki just stands there, completely frozen. He is now fainted.

"H-Hey, Nariyuki-sensei, I mean Yuiga-kun, wake up! Don't make me scared! Yuiga-kun!"

Chapter 6

The [X] of a predecessor and an apprentice (Final part)

O0O

One year later, back to present

Mafuyu's POV

Geez... My head hurts... Have I been sleeping? It's 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Has Hanae-san finished with the 'where I am staying' situation?

The scene has changed a lot, with warm light of the sunset, the color of orange filling the entire room. Only one thing hasn't changed. Yuiga-kun is still there, resting peacefully.

Don't worry, Yuiga. You will soon be recovered, and maybe you can continue with your dream of being a great teacher. But sorry to you too, Yuiga-kun, because you won't see this teacher when you wake up. It's best for you to forget about me.

*beep* *beep* *beep*

Wait, is that heart monitor going crazy? OH NO! HIS ENTIRE BODY IS SHAKING! WHAT SHOULD I DO?! WHAT SHOULD I DO?! WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HIM?!

No no no! You can't die, Yuiga-kun! You have to stay! I have to call someone! He needs help! I HAVE TO SAVE HIM!

"DOCTOR! DOCTOR!"

O0O

Alright, that's the end of the 'trainee program' arc. The main storyline will be back next chapter. Now that's such a long one!

Thanks for all the reviews, favorites and followings. That really means a lot to me! See you next time!

-TheNameIsKaze-