Sakurato High let out early — no dragging things until the sun was practically setting like in his old world.
Most of the remaining time was handed over to the school's various clubs for activities.
Oreki Gen, however, hadn't joined a single one. Even though his previous teacher had insisted he join at least one club to experience a richer campus life, Oreki Gen had ignored the advice and kept stalling.
Was that a joke? A rich and colorful campus life? As in, accelerating his rate of contact with these "terrifying" heroines? The hyper-vigilant Oreki Gen would never dig his own grave like that.
He was getting ready to leave school. After all, he still had his part-time job to get to.
Oreki Gen worked at a convenience store — a holdover from the original plot. He'd actually considered quitting, but realized that because he had a little sister back home, the living expenses that reached him were only enough to keep from starving in Sakurato.
Eating anything decent was a stretch, and he didn't want to demand too much from his rural family. So he'd stuck with it.
Besides, in the original story, nothing plot-relevant had ever happened at this convenience store. It seemed to be a safe zone. Sakurato High technically prohibited students from working off-campus, but in any world, in any era — people chased money, and birds chased food. That was just how it was.
Oreki Gen packed up his things and was about to leave the classroom.
That was when,
"Ding~" — the sound rang out like a death knell, his pocket buzzing. If nothing unexpected was about to happen... then something unexpected was about to happen.
Knowing it probably wasn't good news but figuring that knowing something was better than knowing nothing, Oreki Gen pulled out his phone. Sure enough, another one of those texts —
【Oreki-kun didn't fully obey his teacher, did he... Should I turn up the intensity, I wonder...】
What did that mean?
Teacher?!
The title used this time practically gave the identity away.
The only person connected to him in this doujin world who'd refer to themselves as "teacher" was the newly transferred Amamiya Momiji... But why would such a bizarre message appear?
"Obey" — what did that mean? And "turn up the intensity" — to do what?
Oreki Gen felt like there were threads in his mind begging to be connected, but he couldn't piece them together right now. For the moment...
Run!
As long as he left the school, the text's prediction shouldn't come true, right?
Oreki Gen grabbed his bag and prepared to bolt from the now nearly empty classroom.
But the moment he reached the doorway, he found himself face-to-face with — someone. Appearing right in front of him out of nowhere.
Silver-framed glasses. A mature, beautiful face. Curling hair. And that alluring teacher's outfit... Who else could it be but Amamiya Momiji? This time they'd collided practically nose to nose... Just his luck!
Oreki Gen immediately put on a polite front. "Amamiya-sensei."
Amamiya Momiji simply regarded him with an unreadable gaze, saying nothing. Oreki Gen had no idea what she was thinking, but he knew he had to get out of here.
"School's out... so I'll be going now."
Just as Oreki Gen was about to make his escape,
"You're Oreki Gen, correct?"
Amamiya Momiji spoke. He had no choice — not wanting to draw attention with abnormal behavior, the young man stopped in his tracks. A polite smile settled onto his clean, handsome face.
"That's right, Amamiya-sensei."
Amamiya Momiji studied the young man with a slight furrow in her brow.
"In such a rush to leave — do you dislike me that much, as the temporary replacement teacher?"
She'd actually asked that.
He didn't dislike her. He was just afraid of dying.
He shook his head. "Of course not. I just have something I need to get home for..."
That should sound perfectly normal, right?
But Amamiya Momiji replied in an unhurried tone, "Whatever you need at home can wait. I happen to have something I'd like to discuss with you."
So it was happening after all. He should have bolted the second the bell rang!
Amamiya Momiji was staring straight into his eyes. Behind those glasses lay a pair of sharp, beautiful irises — like a bottomless abyss, drawing him toward some unseen precipice...
Oreki Gen suddenly thought back to the incident with Kazama Kawa. Was "obeying" what the text meant — that he was supposed to comply with her every word the way Kazama Kawa had, so as not to seem abnormal? And the fact that she hadn't reacted at all to Kazama Kawa's sudden docility proved she was accustomed to it. She knew what would happen.
Did that mean she also had some kind of special ability?
The clues snapped together in an instant. Incredible as it was, time stop had already happened — what was left to be incredulous about? For now, he'd follow the "obey" strategy. No strange reactions, no special attention drawn to himself. They were still at school — nothing too extreme should happen...
Oreki Gen turned back around at once, nodding with an obedient expression.
"Of course, Amamiya-sensei."
Amamiya Momiji gave a satisfied nod. A smile even touched the corner of her lips — his first move had been the right one.
She spoke softly in the seemingly deserted hallway.
"When I was reviewing the records, I noticed your entrance exam scores were actually quite strong — near the top of the class. But this semester, your grades seem unstable. Last week's exam was pretty bad."
No kidding it was bad — he'd only just transmigrated at that point. It would've been a miracle if he'd done well!
Oreki Gen lowered his head with a look of shame. "Yes..."
Amamiya Momiji's voice took on a gentle, coaxing quality. "Can you tell me what happened?"
He needed a reasonable excuse. Couldn't blow his cover, but had to seem compliant... He couldn't mention the part-time job either. If she got hold of that, she'd use it as leverage — "You wouldn't want the school to find out about your off-campus employment, would you?" Something like that, and it'd be game over.
"It's nothing, really... I've probably just been playing too many games lately, so it's been affecting my motivation to study."
Games it was. For a student, there was no better scapegoat than gaming.
Amamiya Momiji furrowed her brow slightly. "I see... Can you promise me you'll play less and focus more on your studies?"
Oreki Gen nodded. "Sure. I understand, Sensei."
Amamiya Momiji's gaze drifted upward briefly, as if something had occurred to her.
"By the way, last week's results really were quite poor. How about you stay after school, and I'll give you some supplementary lessons? Would you be willing?"
Absolutely not — he still had his shift to get to. He was already going to be cutting it close. This...
"I don't think tutoring is really necessary. I can manage on my own..."
"Hm?"
Amamiya Momiji's high heel clicked one step forward. Her long, shapely legs in black stockings shifted with a subtle tremor.
The force behind her gaze made Oreki Gen realize instantly — he'd slipped up.
Crap...
He hadn't fully "obeyed." He'd refused her.
It was polite, sure, but... a refusal was still a refusal.
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