I'm a teacher in Tokyo!

Yoshizaki said goodbye to Saito Asuka on the way, then picked up his clothes and headed home;

That way, it'll be a surprise for Kayako!

When I got home, the lights were dim.

Yoshizaki saw Kayako busy in the kitchen and walked over. Her gaze was as gloomy as ever, and she seemed a little sad at this moment.

what happened?

Has something happened?

"teacher."

"We're having bibimbap tonight."

She put the rice into the pot without looking back at Yoshizaki Kawa.

Although he sensed something was wrong, Yoshizaki couldn't figure out why, so he simply stopped thinking about it and patted Kayako on the shoulder.

"Come with me."

Kayako didn't know what the teacher wanted to do, but she tried her best not to think about what happened in the afternoon, but she couldn't stop the urge from running away from her mind.

She tried her best to control her tone and not make it sound so strange, but she couldn't overcome her instincts; she couldn't fool herself.

now--

She even had more wicked thoughts, but how could she have such thoughts?

I cannot let my teacher fall into misfortune.

But at this moment——

She saw Yoshizaki Kawa pull a bunch of clothes out of the bag.

"Because we didn't know your exact size, the teacher picked one for you based on your usual height. Come and try it on to see if it fits."

"Is this... for me?"

Kayako stood there, stunned.

Looking at Kayako's appearance, Yoshizaki walked behind her, compared her height to hers, and breathed a sigh of relief after finding that they were about the same.

"If it's not for you, then who else could it be for? Saito Asuka-sensei was a great help today. If she hadn't known I was going to buy you clothes and volunteered to help me, I don't know what kind of clothes I would have ended up buying."

"Help? Saito-sensei isn't..."

“She came over to deliver some documents earlier and found out I wanted to buy clothes. I had no choice but to tell her about you. By the way, she bought this dress for you.”

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 67 Accepting One's Weakness

……

"Deliver...deliver documents? The clothes are for yourself?"

In an instant, a feeling of regret welled up in her heart, making Kayako feel as if she were floating on clouds. Her steps were unsteady, and she gripped the corner of the table, feeling like a clown, as if all her previous actions were absurd.

If... if all of this is true, then what am I doing?

Stalking, spying, and even—having such malicious thoughts about Ms. Asuka Shito.

Guilt mixed with indescribable self-blame made her feel that the clothes in her hands were like a huge boulder weighing a thousand pounds, as if they would crush her at any moment.

When Yoshizaki saw Kayako's appearance, she assumed that she had never received such a gift in her life, so she was a little excited.

After all, given Kayako's personality, she would remember you for a lifetime even if you just called her name once, and she would think you were her savior if you held an umbrella for her.

Not to mention buying her clothes, she looks perfectly normal!

"Kayako, why don't you go in and give it a try? Don't let Saito-sensei's good intentions go to waste."

Yoshizaki patted Kayako's thin shoulder, but at that moment, Kayako burst into tears. She wanted to tell Yoshizaki-sensei that she was a bad child and tell him everything that had happened before, but she was afraid that if she spoke out, she would be abandoned again.

If that happens, I'll have no one left to rely on.

Why are you crying?

Yoshizaki Kawa didn't expect Kayako to start crying so suddenly. He hurriedly grabbed a few tissues from the side and wiped away her tears: "Kayako, there are actually many people in this world who care about you, and there will be even more in the future."

"So there's no need to shed tears; you should try to accept other people's kindness."

Children who grow up in a narrow world can be filled with a little kindness from others, but they can also be filled with a little hatred. Yoshizaki Kawa actually hoped that Kayako could accept this wider world.

However, it seems that it may take some time before she can truly recover.

The previous shamanic club was a kind of wedge she had laid herself, at least allowing her to talk to others. Although Tomie had a bad personality, she was still a good person at heart. As for Tomie's fangirl, Yoshizaki Kawa had also looked up her information, and based on her behavior, she was clearly a warm-hearted person.

Kayako would surely be better off in such an environment!

"I……"

Kayako never expected her teacher to comfort her with such gentle words. Perhaps in his eyes, she was a good child!

But only you know your own heart. It's like a rat in a sewer, unable to bear the sunlight. Once exposed, its disgusting appearance will be laid bare in the eyes of others.

She felt that something was wrong with her mind, but... really, she couldn't control herself.

She didn't dare to tell anyone that she was actually sick.

Kayako felt more and more that she... might have been born such an evil person.

In fact, in the midst of my regret, I was even relieved that I hadn't been discovered earlier, and that I was still a good child in the teacher's eyes.

"Go and change into it and try it on."

Urged on by Mr. Yoshizaki again, Kayako lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eye, and went into her room;

A short while later, she changed into the clothes that Saito Asuka had bought.

Saito Asuka bought a white down jacket, and when Kayako wore it, her originally thin figure appeared slightly fuller.

Yoshizaki Kawa thought it looked alright—of course, he also thought it looked alright when Kayako was wearing his clothes earlier.

"Not bad, is it warm?"

"warm."

She still didn't dare to look at Yoshizaki Kawa's face, and subconsciously pinched the hem of her clothes, feeling the warmth of being wrapped up;

In the past, during the cold winters, all I had to wear was my school uniform and a single layer of clothing. Year after year, I endured those days.

Suffering and happiness are relative; without comparison, there is no harm.

After feeling the warmth, her heart gradually calmed down.

"Perhaps, I am that kind of person!"

At that moment, she realized that she was herself, and even if she couldn't change herself... she was still herself.

After accepting her own weakness, Kayako suddenly understood.

As long as any malicious thoughts remain only at the "thinking" stage, then... in the teacher's eyes, you will still be a kind person.

"But—I'm sorry, Saito-sensei, my world can't contain you anymore; it can only be occupied by you."

"but--"

"I'm willing to accept you."

Although she knew that none of her thoughts could interfere with the relationship between her teacher and Saito-sensei, Kayako still had those chuunibyou thoughts.

Unlike her previous forced acceptance, as long as Saito-sensei doesn't completely remove Yoshizaki-sensei from her side, even if... they really get together, Kayako feels she can accept it.

—It might be a little uncomfortable at the time, but I'm sure I can bear it... right?

Yeah, I think so.

While eating, Yoshizaki Kawa occasionally observed Kayako's expression. Seeing the relief on Kayako's face, a slight smile also appeared on his own face.

It seems that the future Demon King has already been reformed by me.

The future is promising, and this is cause for celebration.

"By the way, Kayako, your teacher has something to ask you."

At this moment, Yoshizaki Kawa remembered the Tomie Spirit Society and decided to ask about the situation there.

After handing the key to Tomie, I hadn't paid any attention to it.

Although it's only been a day and nothing should have happened, it's still better to find out the details.

"Tomie-san... she's already hired workers to start renovations... and she's also somehow gotten hold of a bunch of weird books and statues, saying that once the renovations are finished, the club will officially begin operating..."

In fact, Kayako always felt that there was something about that pile of books that made her uncomfortable. As for those statues, they all looked ugly and seemed to be related to mysticism.

Kayako didn't like those things; she was more afraid of ghosts.

Furthermore, she vaguely remembered seeing a book with a black cover that read "Ten Methods to See Ghosts," and the feeling associated with that book made her uncomfortable.

"Well, I see."

Upon hearing this, Yoshizaki decided to go and check on the pile of books himself the next day, so that if there were any problems with them, he could have them dealt with.

He was certain that this world was full of terror, and who knew which book might contain a terrifying, world-destroying demon king?