Kissing My Student, It's Over if We're Caught

Trauma: Separation 5

I was filled with the desire to run away, but the day of judgment arrived.

On the first workday after the summer vacation ended, Kurei-san, Kirihara, and I gathered in the student council room in the evening.

Since the student council work was already completed, no one else approached the room.

In the center of the room was a table and sofa set. Kirihara and I sat side by side, facing Kurei-san, who was sitting with furrowed brows.

“…For now, I haven’t spoken to anyone about you two.”

Internally, I felt relieved at Kurei-san’s words.

“But, I want to hear the circumstances. …Exactly how did you find yourselves in that place? What is your relationship?”

Kurei-san’s questions were as expected.

During the time at home, I had thought over and over about how to answer.

──Telling everything might be best.

That was the conclusion I reached.

Kurei-san, who had taken a liking to me since my appointment, was undoubtedly my benefactor. I had kept lying and betraying her.

At least in the end, I wanted to speak of my mistakes candidly, without hiding anything.

“…It’s going to be a long story, but may I speak?”

At my words, Kurei-san nodded quietly.

Where and how I met Kirihara, how things developed, and how they ended up this way.

I was about to tell everything when a voice came from beside me.

“I will explain.”

It was Kirihara. Her voice was firm and resolute.

“It’s all my fault. I insisted on it, I was the one who approached Hajima-sensei.”

“Hey!,”

“Approached, what do you mean?”

Kurei-san’s words overlapped with mine. Kirihara continued.

“Just what it sounds like. I ended up liking sensei, and so I was the one who… made advances.”

“Does that mean you were dating?”

“No, not exactly.”

I wanted to interject at some point, but Kirihara’s explanation wasn’t a lie, so I didn’t know the right timing.

Taking advantage, Kirihara went on.

“Sensei’ is a person of good sense as an educator and as an adult. Even when I asked to be in that kind of relationship, he firmly tried to persuade me. He told me many times that he was happy with my feelings, but it was not right.”

…It wasn’t a lie.

“But I couldn’t give up and kept persisting.”

“…”

“Do you find it hard to believe? Kurei-sensei.”

“…Considering the usual you, I can’t imagine it.”

“That might be the case. But I can be a bad girl too. I act mature and pretend to be good, but I’m my age. I may smile outwardly, but inside, I get angry, lonely, and feel a lot. …I was attracted to Hajima-sensei because he’s so earnest and kind. It was one-sided, though.”

“Then why were the two of you in such a place?”

“It’s my fault again. I couldn’t give up and begged him to take me far away for just that day. We promised it would be just one day, where no one would see us. Sensei didn’t lay a hand on me.”

Her story began to mix with clear lies. Several times, I thought I should speak up and say that’s not right.

Yet, at the same time, I realized something.

──Was Kirihara telling this lie just to protect me?

Or wasn’t it?

Was Kirihara fabricating this story to protect herself?

Think about it.

If I spilled the truth, it would not only damage me but Kirihara as well. Even if it would be less than what I’d face, Kirihara wouldn’t get off scot-free.

──There was nothing inappropriate between us except on the day of the trip.

It should be impossible for Kurei-san to prove this as a lie.

Remember.

Kirihara and I are accomplices.

Is it okay for me to expose my partner to danger just for my easy self-satisfaction—destroying my sin to Kurei-san for my own selfish reasons?

Or am I just trying to ride on Kirihara’s kindness out of self-love after all?

……Which is it?

What’s the truth? What’s the right answer?

Kurei-san was deep in thought too. She seemed doubtful of Kirihara’s words.

“Do you really find it that unbelievable? Kurei-sensei?”

Kirihara seemed to be coming from a place of realization, even having the leisure to smile.

Only Kurei-san and I had tense expressions.

“…Aren’t you just saying this because Hajima-sensei told you to? I’m a little suspicious.”

Kurei-san’s gaze turned to me.