Chapter 66: On the roof
(Ryoto's pov)
'Karen, any advice?'
Karen: "..."
'Karen?'
Karen: "It's nothing, just waiting for the apocalypse."
'Huh, why?'
Karen: "My ex-boyfriend said that the day someone asks me for advice is a day the world will end and since it didn't happen. *Breath in* FUCK YOU JAMES!!!"
'You had a boyfriend? For how long?'
Karen: "30 minutes. He was my first and last relationship."
'He lasted longer than I thought. To the point, I asked you because we have known each other for some time, and you know me better than anyone I know. I could ask Koro-sensei as well buuut...'
Karen: "Yeah, yeah, I get it."
'Besides, today you sounded very wise, so I'm hoping it wasn't a fluke and you give me some useful tips.'
Karen: "Did... did you just call me stupid?"
'No, but you can be...'
Karen: "Bitchy, I know."
'But you helped me a lot as well. You even send me here to help me and not to just fuck with me, which I appreciate.'
Karen: "..."
'Karen went silent for a while. I even started worrying for a minute.
'Karen, Hey Karen!'
Karen: "What?"
'You went quiet for a moment there. Are you alright?'
Karen: "Yeah. It's just the second time someone has been grateful to me. I must say the feeling is overrated. Pissing people off is a lot more entertaining."
'...Why are you like this?'
Karen: "It all began on the day when I was born..."
'Spare me the details.'
Karen: "In short, it was because of my sister. If you think that I'm bad, you really don't want to meet her."
'You know, I don't think I'm in the to hear about your family.'
Karen: "Neither am I, to your problem then. I think that you are overthinking. So you care about more than one girl, big deal, it's not like you are acting on your urges. As I see it, you don't want to do anything without speaking with Lala as you would feel it would be like cheating. You also believe that after you are seen with this quest, you won't return here and just leave them but you can buy a world travel ticket in a shop, and it isn't that expensive too. You can also buy them for other people so no worries. They can move with you at some point.
You now have two options. You can use either friend zone them, or you could tell them the truth that you need time and think with your penis after you talk with Lala because, let's be honest, she won't be against it.
I would also prepare yourself for more girls coming your way."
'Again, why?'
Karen: "From the romance novels that I read, I know that girls love two things. Tame the beast inside a man and fix a broken man, and you are two of these things."
'But these are just novels you ate talking about. Reality can be diffrent.'
Karen: "You forget that fiction is often based on reality."
'It's my opinion vs. yours, so let's just end it right here but thank you anyway. I feel a bit more confident in my decision right now.'
Karen: "One more customer satisfied."
I won't ask how many customers she had, but this talk helped me a bit. I don't need to act immediately on my feelings. I'll just enjoy my middle school time as before I couldn't. As Ryoto, I had a slight identity crisis, and previously I was bullied. So it's my first time having a good time in school.
I took out a lollipop that I hid in my sleeve and started eating it. It was cherry flavor, a classic.
As I enjoyed the cloudless sky and beautiful stars, I heard something next to me. I didn't turn to see who it was because only one person could come here without alarming me.
Ryoto: "Hello Koro-sensei, nice night we are having."
Koro-sensei: "Good evening Yuuki-kun. Yes, we truly have."
We didn't talk for a while, but I wanted to know one thing I was curious about.
Ryoto: "Koro-sensei, do you want to die?"
My question surprised Koro-sensei. He stayed quiet for a while until he started talking.
Koro-sensei: "There was a time when I just lived from one day to the next, doing things that are not praised. After living like that for a long time, I met someone who taught me that there is much more to living than just eating, sleeping, working, and breathing.
There is a lot to enjoy and a lot to be sad about as well. Life is just like, but that's why it's fun. After every low, there is an even greater high. Dropping down can hurt, but you can only go up while being at the lowest possible point in life. Trust sensei on this. I speak from experience.
Now tell me, Yuuki-kun, do you like going to school?"
Now it was my turn to be surprised. Before, I would answer obviously no, but now.
Ryoto: "Yes, it's really fun."
I gave Koro-sensei a big smile which he returned and patted me. I think it's the first time someone patted me.
Koro-sensei: "That's great, isn't it?"
Ryoto: "But you still didn't answer my question."
Koro-sensei: "Because this answer isn't important. Either I'll die by the end of 3rd semester, or the Earth is destroyed. These are the only two outcomes."
Ryoto: "There is also the 3rd option. Curing you and you live."
Koro-sensei: "What do you mean?"
Koro-sensei seemed agitated, but I didn't stay quiet.
Ryoto: "I know that you are the result of the experiment and that you'll explode by March 13th, but what if you won't."
Koro-sensei: "How do you know? Where you also-"
Ryoto: "I wasn't an experiment, but I'm aware of it. I just think that if I can have a happy life, then you do as well. To be honest, I would like you to live longer."
There was silence once again. I waited for Koro-sensei to ask or answer me.
Koro-sensei: "If I answer you, will you answer one of my questions as well?"
Ryoto: "Sounds like a fair deal."
Koro-sensei: "I honestly don't know. My relationship with all of you students is that of a target and an assassin. Besides, I'm not sure I'm allowed to live happily after everything I've done. I would need time to think about it, but I think my fate is a retribution of some kind."
Ryoto: "I see."
I don't know what I should say in a situation like that, so it's better to stay quiet, and that's what I did.
Koro-sensei: "So, who are you really?"
Ryoto: "Excuse me?"
Koro-sensei: "You know, your parent's address isn't written in your documents, so I did some digging and tour parents don't exist, so I ask you. Who are you?"
I thought about how should I answer this question, and Koro-sensei didn't hurry me up.
Ryoto: "I am just a broken boy who sought out help, so someone sent me to this class. That's all."
Koro-sensei: "I see."
I'm surprised that he accepted that as an answer, but I'm happy at the same time. My situation isn't the easiest to explain.
Ryoto: "If you knew, why didn't you say anything earlier? I could be someone dangerous after all."
Koro-sensei: "I trust my judgment on people even though I maybe shouldn't, but as soon as you become my student, I decided to help you."
Ryoto: "...It's stupid..."
Koro-sensei: "It may be so, but that's the kind of teacher I want and hope to be."
Ryoto: "I didn't finish. I wanted to say that it's stupid that I don't hate it."
Koro-sensei: "Then it's all good, isn't it?"
We sat on the roof for the rest of the time in silence. It wasn't awkward, but then I turned to Koro-sensei to say that I'd go inside the inn, but Koro-sensei was 'wearing' a cube of water around his body. I suddenly lost most of the respect I got for him and attempted to stab him with the knife I'd hidden in my yukata.
Ryoto: "Why are you naked!!?"
Koro-sensei dodged my knife and started explaining himself fast in panic.
Koro-sensei: "Nakamura-San tried to peek at me, and I escaped them from my bath. I then noticed you on the roof."
Ryoto: "And you haven't thought about flying fast back to your room and dressing up."
Koro-sensei stopped for a moment and hit his head with a tentacle while tilting his head a bit cutely.
Koro-sensei: "Tee-hee."
A vein popped on my forehead.
Ryoto: "Don't tee-hee me, you bastard!!!"
Koro-sensei escaped, and I was left with a bad taste in my mouth seeing my teacher after a bath.
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END
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