"Miss Eguchi, how are you going to conduct this… investigation?" Sounding a little unsure how to tackle the situation at hand, the principal of this school, a stout old man that was possibly in his late 50's, had his forehead currently lined with sweat as he stood before us.
We're already in his office and Eguchi-sensei had just finished explaining the reason for our visit to this school. From what I observed since we arrived, he's got taken in for a surprise. Hence, his rather suspicious reaction.
However, instead of picking up that he's hiding sothing, I could sohow attribute that to his fear of Hayashi-sensei. She's the owner. She could decide whether to allow him to continue in his position.
And so, the notion that soone might intentionally hide from her was a little too over the top. Nonetheless, the possibility still exists.
I guess Hayashi-sensei was just trying to be very careful after Nobuo's incident. I cannot fault her for that.
"Principal, I never said anything about investigating. I'm here to assist you in doing an inspection at this school. There's no need to make it bigger than it seems." Eguchi-sensei replied in a calm yet stiff tone, making the principal involuntarily gulp down as an unconscious reaction.
Little did he know that she was just a little tense in front of him hence her voice beca like that. Not counting how comfortable she is with , even if there was already progress in her discomfort with interacting with the opposite gender, she could only act like this in front of them.
Eguchi-sensei already told about it. When it cos to fellow adults or colleagues in the sa field, she's capable of separating her issue from them. She could hold a conversation with the male teachers but only very minimally. Even if they invited her for a drink, she would always decline if it's not all won.
Anyway, what she said was the truth. That's just really her task. Or at least, it is on the surface. She's going to monitor this principal's act during the inspection and if she finds sothing suspicious, she's either going to call him out to bring it to light or report it to Hayashi-sensei when we return. The discretion on what to do exactly is entirely in her hands.
"Y-you're right. Give a minute to prepare." The principal fumbled his words and the sweat that accumulated on his forehead started to run down his face. He got caught in quite a pickle of his own mind there.
In my mind, I couldn't help but shake my head at how he acted. I checked on Eguchi-sensei's reaction to it but she remained the sa, serious and focused on the task she's set out to do.
She would sotis glance at though. Perhaps, to make sure that I remained close to her or that I was treated as her emotional and ntal support.
Whenever that happened, I would smile at her, albeit stealthily.
As for the reason, the teacher who guided us also remained in the room. She's standing at the side, watching this very proceeding.
While she was also listening attentively to Eguchi-sensei and the principal, I would sotis catch her staring at .
Whether that was a conscious act or not, I felt like she was also trying to observe my act here.
I an, she already questioned my existence earlier. She may be projecting her own situation onto us. But that's all speculation.
I said she was a suspect but that didn't an that it was already proven. Based on the information included within that file which actually only centered around the two students, she's only one of the two teachers linked to one of those students.
Apparently, she's very close to that one particular student. Close enough to visit him at his house whenever he would call in sick. And soone – maybe Hayashi-sensei's informant – picked it up as sothing she seldom did to her other students.
Only to that guy.
Well, I also couldn't discount the fact that the said student was tagged as 'sickly' who already got hospitalized a few tis. He's already in his third year and was set to graduate after this school year.
For now, I decided to not make any rash moves and just et up with Nao. That girl could help locate those two students. As for the teachers linked to them, following this inspection would probably be enough to observe them.
After a few minutes or so, the principal finally finished with his preparation.
His back straightened, looking a little more dignified that how he appeared afraid earlier. His face also got wiped off the sweat that accumulated to it. Then, with a very amiable smile that made his bushy mustache sway from his breath, he took the lead to leave the Principal's Office.
"Miss Eguchi, let us go. Also, Kanno-sensei, you may follow us." He said as he gestured for us to follow him. He also acknowledged my existence, but since I was introduced as Eguchi-sensei's student assistant, he didn't need to go out of his way to treat the sa way he treated the teachers.
"Yes, Principal." The female teacher, Kanno-sensei, bowed respectfully in answer.
Eguchi-sensei only nodded and started following him.
Upon leaving the office and continuing to the stairs leading down,
I was about to follow behind her in descending when Kanno-sensei suddenly approached .
Not from the front but from behind. She placed herself behind us, after all. However, this ti, she beca close enough that even without looking, I could sense her entering my personal space.
A second later, her hushed voice reached my ears as a whisper, "Excuse, student Onoda, is it? May I ask you a question?"
At first, I acted like I failed to hear her and took the first step forward. For her to suddenly approach like this was suspicious, won't you say so?
She could have picked any other mont but to do it at this ti when Eguchi-sensei was already at a fair distance, that's what I call suspicious.
Or is it? I don't know.
Not failing my expectations, Kanno-sensei didn't let take another step down the stairs. Her arm landed on my shoulder which instantly took away my chance to feign obliviousness once again.
But this ti, instead of repeating her question, the woman, who Eguchi-sensei introduced as her forr schoolmate, added, "Wait. I'm curious, student Onoda. How did you do it? Eguchi-sensei is known to be uncomfortable with the opposite gender, even with her students. Yet here you are, her Student Assistant. And from the looks of it, she's not any bit uncomfortable with you…"
Yeah. I couldn't say I didn't anticipate this after hearing that she's her schoolmate. But isn't this too soon?
I glanced at her and checked what was written on her face. To my surprise, she appeared rather desperate than curious…
What could this an?
Knowing that I wouldn't be able to find out the answer to that without replying to her question first, I rearranged the words in my head before calmly turning around. "Uh. I apologize, sensei. I don't think I can answer that question… However, if you're wondering, I applied to be Eguchi-sensei's Student Assistant. She accepted for so reason or another."
Well, it's not completely a lie. But as soon as she heard my answer, Kanno-sensei let go of my shoulder as she froze on the spot, perhaps trying to dismantle my answer word for word to find whatever she was seeking.
A few seconds later, perhaps noticing that I wasn't behind her, Eguchi-sensei called out to . I naturally ran down to her, leaving behind Kanno-sensei. But before doing so, I glanced at Kanno-sensei again, the desperation on her face seemingly eased up but it was replaced by the look of soone being enlightened.
Really, what's her deal? Should I put an emphasis on observing her rather than the students and the other suspected teachers?
We'll see. Even though we only have a few hours here, that's plenty of ti to scout and probe.
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