Chapter 2955: Late

When Marika and I reached the school, the gates were already closed. Somehow, I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty about dragging the girl into being tardy with me. But then again, when I messaged her earlier that she didn’t need to wait for me to pick her up, she refused.

I wasn’t shifting the blame, of course. I promised to escort her every morning, after all. I just felt bad that the girl would now have a mark on her record.

Even if she didn’t mind it, the sight of Marika’s earnest expression as she stood beside me, completely unbothered by the clock, made the guilt itch. She wasn’t the type to complain. In fact, she seemed to enjoy this new experience of arriving late.

Upon seeing her cheery expression, even Ryouko-san, who stood guard at the gates, could only sigh helplessly while throwing me a chiding look.

"Sorry, sensei. I won’t keep dragging her into this crooked path of running late," I said with a playful bow.

Marika giggled, her arm looping through mine as we walked toward the shoe lockers. "It’s not so bad, Ruki-kun. Being a little bit ’bad’ with you is actually kind of exciting."

"Ugh. Fine. I’ll let you off again today. But Ru--Onoda-kun, you must stay. You can walk her in first and go back." Ryouko-san put on a helpless expression but when she added that second part, a hint of a smile played on her lips.

"Thank you, sensei! Ruki, be good." Marika giggled sweetly. Now she looked more like a playful yet still innocent ojou-sama than the naive girl I first met. She gave my arm a final, affectionate squeeze before skipping into the school building, her golden curls bouncing with every step.

I followed behind her after giving Ryouko-san an apologetic nod.

As we walked past the shoe lockers, the noise in the hallway coming from the classrooms, busily arranging and decorating their rooms for the festival, was already audible.

With our classroom just right at the bend, I instantly got noticed by the few guys who were moving some of the desks out.

But before they could call out to me, I turned to the opposite direction, catching up to Marika who was already waiting for me at the stairs.

After dropping her off at her classroom, I climbed back down, surrendering myself to Ryouko-san.

She brought me to the Administration Building and sat me down in the Guidance Counseling Room.

Right. She finally used this authority on me to reasonably take me away. With my being late as justification, Ryouko-san had basically achieved my suggestion of kidnapping me so we could have a legitimate reason to be alone.

"Ruki-kun, you’ll be here until the next period, okay? Although there should be no proper classes now, being late is still a violation of school rules," Ryouko-san sternly said, but her lips gradually curled up into a playful smile.

After closing the door, she made sure to double-check the lock.

Yep. She’s not planning on simply lecturing me about punctuality. And I have no complaints about it.

"Ryouko-san, I’m at your mercy." I raised my arms in a mock surrender as I watched her make her way to the seat opposite mine.

"Look at you, I still have to lecture you for a bit, no? Otherwise... you’ll not learn your lesson by coming to school on time," Ryouko-san said, but no matter how much she tried to maintain her usual teacher persona, the tenderness in her tone was already betraying her.

She leaned forward, reaching for my face to give my cheek a reproachful pinch. It was a gesture that bridged the gap between a strict educator and the woman who had already placed me as her benefactor and romantic partner.

"Ouch." I feigned a pained expression, though the pinch was far too gentle to actually hurt. "Is this the part where I have to write three full pages of reflection on the importance of punctuality?"

Ryouko-san let out a soft laugh, her hand lingering on my cheek before sliding down to cup my jaw. The stern facade she wore for the other students had completely vanished, replaced by a gaze that was heavy with affection. "Yes. Can you do it?"

"Of course. Anything for my Ryouko-san."

"You smooth-talker." Her laugh turned into a giggle filled with more tender affection. She didn’t pull her hand away and instead used her thumb to trace the line of my lower lip. "How is it for me? It should be for yourself."

"Oh, I understand! But Ryouko-san, can’t I just use oral reports for my reflection?" I teased, leaning into her touch.

Ryouko-san chuckled, her eyes shimmering with a mix of amusement and desire. "A bold proposal, Onoda-kun. Go ahead, I’m listening."

"Hehe. Thanks, Ryouko-san. Well then..."

As soon as I said that, I leaned over the table between us, closing the distance. Instead of delivering a verbal report, I captured her lips with mine.

Ryouko-san, clearly expecting that, welcomed the move. Her hand returned to cup my cheek as she accepted my oral report with a soft hum of approval. The kiss started as a greeting but as seconds passed, it evolved into something deeper and more demanding.

A minute later, I already moved over to her side, pinning her against the chair. Ryouko-san gripped my shoulders before eventually wrapping around my neck, pulling me deeper into her.

Only when the sound of footsteps passed by the door did Ryouko-san gently push and break the kiss. She was breathing heavily, her cheeks flushed a deep rose, and her eyes looked slightly unfocused.

The contrast between her role as the disciplined teacher and her current state of disarray was intoxicating.

"You’re a terrible student, Ruki-kun. Your oral report is soundless and entirely lacking in structure," Ryouko-san whispered, though she didn’t make any move to push me away. Instead, she pulled me down and put me on her lap.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. Although this reversal of roles was physically awkward, the feeling of Ryouko-san’s thighs supporting me made the moment feel surreal. She looked at me with a mixture of maternal warmth and raw desire, her fingers tracing the nape of my neck.

"Now, since the oral report was so lacking in detail, perhaps I can add another hour to your detention," Ryouko-san grinned, showing the whites of her teeth.

Looking at her expression, she’s really enjoying this. It’s unlike my usual visit to her office during lunch breaks, wherein I more or less pampered her after helping out with revising or suggesting ideas for her lessons.

"I agree. I mean... I can stay here with you for the whole day. But Ryouko-san... those girls will start looking for me if I don’t show up in the classroom."

"Pfft. Tell them I kidnapped you."

"Oh. Good idea! Then, what does my Ryouko-san plan to do with her captive?" I leaned back, looking up at her.

A look of contemplation appeared on her face as she cradled me, her gaze sweeping over my features as if she were deciding which part of me to claim first.

"I don’t know. You tell me," Ryouko-san murmured, her voice dropping an octave. She shifted her weight, pulling me closer until her voluptuous pair pressed against me. "Since you’ve been such a delinquent today, I think a more... rigorous form of discipline is required."

Mhm. She’s really enjoying this. Perhaps if it were any other occasion, she’d not act this assertive to me. But considering the place and the reason for my stay, she probably felt like she found a new point of interest.

After all, ever since she acknowledged my existence and accepted the change I brought to her, her strict and military-like discipline would only be shown to me during her PE classes. Every time we were alone together, it would either be me pampering her or her melting into my arms.

But today was different.

"What kind of discipline? Can I get excited?" I put on a mischievous smile while acting docile in her lap.

Ryouko-san burst into a soft, melodic laugh before pinching my nose. "You’re always excited. You didn’t need to ask."

"Oh. Right. My bad." I chuckled before leaning my head on her shoulder, snuggling into the crook of her neck. "I’m just a simple man with a high appetite for my lovely teacher."

Ryouko-san shook her head slightly but her lips curved into a smile of pure affection as she gently pulled me deeper into her embrace. Then she whispered helplessly, "Geez, if you keep acting like this, it’s difficult for me to keep my stern act, Ruki-kun. I’m trying to punish you, you know?"

"Mhm. I know. Unfortunately, my Ryouko-san can only be soft-hearted when it comes to me." I looked up to meet her tender gaze. "I do need to have some reflection but I don’t think it’s a bad thing if it’s always going to be like this."

"You’re right. It’s not a bad thing. But I guess I have to consult Sanae or Shiori on how to properly discipline you."

Upon saying that, Ryouko-san’s smile turned a little mischievous. Then, a knock sounded at the door, followed by its opening and two sets of footsteps entering the room.

"Tsk. Ryouko, what are you doing, spoiling him again?"

"Ruru, is this your idea of skipping class? While everyone is busy preparing for the festival?"