Chapter 13 – Yandere and the Real Deal Part 1

Ever since the “fake exorcism” incident, Asai-sensei hasn’t shown any signs of change. She’s been improving her teaching ability at her part-time job, and her reputation among the students has been growing as well. I’m even beginning to think that the incident was just a dream of mine or something.

I asked other part-time teachers just to be sure, but no one seemed to have seen Asai-sensei acting strangely. However, everyone knows the rumors about Asai-sensei being a weirdo, and I was reminded that it did happen after all.

But how did Asai-sensei become like that? Stress from being so excellent? Or is it that people with abilities are somehow out of sync with the rest of the world…?

“Senior, what are you thinking about?”

“Nothing. I was just wondering if I should buy the coffee milk they sell here. That said, aren’t you out of your stalking persona now that you’re talking to me?”

“It’s important to keep a close eye on them and to talk to them. It’s the basics.”

“Am I your pet?”

“Eh, you’re my spouse, remember?”

“Only in your head.”

Our campus store is rather small, so the distance to Tsubaki is inevitably very close. I feel my heart skip a beat when I see Tsubaki’s head, which is about 15cm shorter than mine, but of course it’s not in a romantic sense. It’s more like the feeling of fear you get when someone holds a kitchen knife to your back. Even this small of a body can determine whether I live or die depending on the situation.

I haven’t been roughed up since Tsubaki broke into my room, but I guess that, too, was just her whim.

“Ah, there you are, Takenaga-sensei and Honjo-san. You two seem to always be together.”

“Gegh~”

The moment I opened the door to the store, Asai-sensei appeared out of nowhere and called out to me. Tsubaki reflexively hid behind my back. It seems that the previous incident has traumatized her considerably.

“I’m sorry I startled you the other day. You must have been surprised because it was so sudden.”

“Ah no, I was surprised, but…”

“Honjo-san, have you been doing well? You look a little worn out. Are you eating properly?”

“……”

“She eats quite a lot, despite looking so skinny.”

So far, Asai-sensei doesn’t seem to have changed. (Though Tsubaki is on her guard and silent.) Asai-sensei has the same earnest and devoted attitude that I always see at our part-time job. I knew that fake exorcism at that time was some kind of mistake…

“Also, it seems that the evil spirit that is haunting Honjo-san hasn’t been exorcized after all. I reflected on the fact that such things should be done in a place where there is a spiritual power.”

The mood is getting cloudier.

“That’s why, I want Honjo-san to come with me to my parents’ house next time.”

“No, thank you.”

Tsubaki hid behind me, exposing only half her face as she stared at Asai-sensei. I thought she would finally speak up, but she coldly rejected her. She doesn’t seem to be trying to hide her wariness.

“Is that so…? You must not feel comfortable being alone with a woman you don’t know very well. If that’s the case, let’s ask Takenaga-sensei to come with us.”

Wait. What about what I want?

“Then I’ll go.”

What about what I want!?

“Then we’ll meet at Hankyuroukou station at 13:00 on Sunday. We’re going to the mountains, so please come in comfortable walking clothes.”

Before I could say a word, my Sunday schedule was already filled. Why are all the people around me like this? Before I had time to argue with Asai-sensei, she was already on her way. She seems to be the type of person who doesn’t waste time.

Hmm… Frankly, I don’t want to go, but if I tried to cancel, Tsubaki would probably chase me to the ends of the earth.

“Ufufu… There will be more people, but I get to go out with senpai again… It would be nice to bury that woman in the mountains and have some fun together.”

“But I didn’t say I was going…”

“Shall we go to the sea then? The river? Of course, I wouldn’t mind going to the city center either.”

Apparently it’s confirmed in Tsubaki that we’ll be going out together. I can’t think of any way to get away with it, and I guess I’ll just have to give up.

Still, I wonder where Asai-sensei is planning to take us. What if it’s some shady religious institution?

…Well, if push comes to shove, I can use Tsubaki as bait to escape.