-san: A polite suffix, but not excessively formal.
-kun: A common suffix among friends and younger people.
-chan: A common suffix among people you’re close with, mostly used for feminine nicknames and girls, since it’s cutesy and childlike.
-senpai: A common suffix and noun used to address or refer to one’s older or more senior colleagues in a school, workplace, dojo, or sports club.
I’ve done it again…
Recalling what the teacher just screamed into my ear made me think about yesterday. I can’t seem to know what goes on around me when I’m lost in thought. It’s a bad habit of mine.
Well, the violent incident mentioned by my teacher still lingered in my mind. I tried to politely ask them to leave, but they didn’t listen and started to go wild. They tried beating me up, so I got a bit rough with them. I thought they’d be fine catching a bit of these hands, but I had no idea it’d turn out so serious…
Well, nothing I could do about it.
They were the ones who hit me, and it was three-on-one. If that wasn’t self-defense, I don’t know what is. Besides, when push comes to shove, I’m the type of guy to just go for it.
“…”
… I’m always sorry for the things I do, Rindo-san.
An image of that mild-mannered person came to mind, their polite bows and troubled smiles were engraved in my heart. I’m sad they’re protecting “us” by playing the negotiation card, and I still can’t wrap my head around the fact they’re doing this for me… I’ll be sure to thank them next time we meet.
As I decided to do so, I was approached by Ms. Hiiragi.
“Aizawa, can I talk to you for a second?”
“Hm…? It’s fine.”
I followed her out to the hallway. What could it possibly be? Unlike yesterday, she looked at me with a slightly mysterious gaze.
“About last night… Well, I was drunk and my memory’s a bit fuzzy but you were there too, weren’t you?”
“… Yeah.”
Huh? Does she suspect I’m involved in that incident?
Well, regardless of suspicion, it was true. Being under suspicion was disconcerting though.
“I asked Ms. Hoshimiya about it. You went home alone yesterday, didn’t you?”
“Yeah., but…”
I braced myself a bit. If things went wrong, I could just run away or something like that… While I mulled over what to do, she wondered what to say, then opened her mouth.
“No, well… Are you okay?”
“… Huh?”
“I mean, did you get involved in anything dangerous, or did you arrive home safely?”
“Ah, I see now…”
It wasn’t that she doubted me, but rather she was worried about my safety. She’s the kind of teacher who would murder a student, so I didn’t expect her to show me such a caring side… Actually, I’m ashamed of myself for having that one-sided image of her.
Thus I let my guard down and answered, trying not to let her know the truth… I’m glad she’s worried, but I really was involved in something bad.
“Yeah, I’m fine… Well, I didn’t think you’d be worried, to be honest.”
“You’re my student. I’d at least be concerned about you.”
“… Thank you very much, teacher.”
My chest hurts… I’m sorry to lie to a teacher who genuinely cares for me.
“If you’re being honest, don’t go crazy later,” she continued.
“You should always be honest like this, teacher.”
“Don’t start it… Well, if you’re okay, it’s fine. You shouldn’t be out and about that hour of the night either, okay?”
“Don’t drink until you get to that point either, teach.”
“And who do you think you’re blaming for that?!”
It was her fault for drowning in booze. There’s a limit to how much you can have an outburst for.
I wonder where the innocence she showed earlier went. I retorted lightly to her then returned back to my seat.