Chapter 29: Whether Student or Teacher, Erotic Things Are Erotic (1)

"So, what do you think I should do?"

"——As the person who was asked for advice, is it all right if I just call you an idiot?"

In the short time before first period started.

I brought up this morning’s incident to Niekawa, who already looked somewhat displeased, and made his displeased face twist even further.

Slightly intimidated by the look of a friend who seemed ready to yell if I gave a bad answer, I still held my ground and nodded meekly.

"Yeah, honestly I’ve got nothing to say back. Even if I say I lost to desire, I myself think I should have covered it up a bit more."

"...Hmm, is that so. Shusawa, if you feel bad about it, first apologize to her face. Everything starts from there."

The glaring eyes softened slightly.

He still looked displeased, but his attitude seemed to have softened from "hopeless idiot" to something more like "my no-good friend."

"You probably thought ’I messed up,’ ’What should I do,’ couldn’t find an answer, and came to consult me — but no matter how much you think about it in your head, if you don’t say it out loud it’s the same as not having done anything. Whether she’ll accept it or not can be put aside for now; move on your own."

If I could do that I wouldn’t be having such a hard time — I almost said it, then closed my mouth.

In fact, it was a sound argument. At the very least, far better than the excuses I was twisting out while only thinking of reasons not to do anything.

Seeing me fall silent, Niekawa let out a small sigh, yet smiled as if to reassure me.

"Well, I acknowledge that you messed up, but you do seem to be reflecting, and it was a sudden thing so you just — there’s a bit of room for consideration of circumstances. First sincerely apologize, and if after that it still doesn’t work out, come consult me again. If necessary, I’ll even bow my head together with you."

"No, Niekawa, at that moment it could only be sudden, right?"

When a beautiful girl’s skirt suddenly flips up, there’s no way you can act with thorough preparation.

That’s what I thought, but.

Niekawa, who had started preparing his writing utensils, muttered "No" in a voice that didn’t even try to hide his displeasure.

"...There was a junior in the club who took photos and was showing them off in class. He said, ’The wind is strong so maybe I can get a one-shot photo,’ and had already opened the app. In the middle of that he was caught by Harukaze-sensei and had his phone confiscated — I got word from another junior."

Creak. The mechanical pencil made a grinding sound.

Ah, so this is why he’s in a bad mood, I understood.

Niekawa Kazuki is a man of justice. Not a stiff justice idiot, but someone who considers the other party’s circumstances when thinking. Or rather, if he weren’t like that, someone like me would have been executed first.

But precisely because of that, he is not soft on people who, after considering the circumstances, still commit irreparable bad deeds.

"Of course, I myself am a man. Embarrassingly, I understand the feeling well enough to think ’Why wasn’t I there at that time too?’ ...But taking photos and then exposing them to others is different, right?"

As long as one is a healthy male student, interest in the female body is inevitable no matter what. That itself can’t be helped, and sometimes one ends up taking actions that aren’t gentlemanly.

But secret photography is simply a crime, and showing it off while laughing is the act of scum — Niekawa twisted his face.

"I’m called a stiff in the club, but this is only natural as a human being."

"...Yeah. Though I feel like it’s weird for the guy who messed up to be saying that."

While nodding, I once again thought it was good that this guy was alive.

Partly because I don’t want my friend to die, but also because I can feel that there are many people who are holding themselves back because he is there.

Humans are creatures who are easily influenced.

Just as people end up staining their hands with bad deeds while using the excuse "everyone is doing it."

Just as I was captivated by Sacred Saber’s light and chose the path of the Vigilante.

Everyone changes the path they should walk because of a small trigger.

In the midst of that, Niekawa Kazuki is pulling everyone who is about to flow in a bad direction because of small things back onto the proper path.

He’s really a protagonist-like guy. Surely, if this were a light novel or shonen manga worldview, he would be able to save the Sacred far better than someone like me.

"That’s unexpected. I thought Shusawa would laugh."

"Even I don’t feel good about the person who helped me being humiliated. ...I’m not much different from that junior you’re angry at."

Frankly, I can also understand the feelings of Niekawa’s junior.

If possible I’d rather have a permanent keepsake than a momentary sparkle, and if I successfully achieved that I’d want to show off to someone.

It seems the base of being a vulgar pervert doesn’t change no matter how hard I struggle — I smiled self-deprecatingly.

"If you can feel ashamed of yourself like that, then you’re fine. That junior — he was only worried about whether the photo data would safely return."

Once club activities start, I’ll straighten out that rotten mindset.

With settled eyes, Niekawa quietly declared it, and I couldn’t help stepping back. This guy has gone past being in a bad mood and is completely pissed...!

"W-well, take it easy. If you go too far you might get reverse-resented."

"Of course. I won’t do something like hurting him according to my emotions. If I used my position as a senior to do such a thing, I would also fall to that side — but now then, what should I do..."

Saying that, Niekawa let out a small sigh.

He too was worrying about what he should do, what the correct way to act was.

It would probably be easier if he put on more of a senior air and intimidated people, but I also think it’s because he doesn’t do that that he is liked.

"Okay, then let’s start class soon—"

The classroom door opened.

It was a still-young, and small, female teacher. Appearing in a knit top, long skirt, and black stockings, she was holding the materials for today’s class in both hands.

While thinking Class is such a pain, I waved lightly at Niekawa.

"Well, I’m heading back to my seat. Thanks for the advice."

"No, I didn’t do anything maj—"

In that instant, the wind blew.