I became the emperor in the comic book series.

And then, I wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: I really need to control you more strictly!

"The problem is, your mom has my phone number!"

Akira Higashino looked terrified. If they didn't know each other, it wouldn't hurt to use him as a shield.

But who is Hiratsuka Shizuka? They've been friends for a long time. When they go out late, they just stay at whoever's house is closest to them. It's fine for Higashino Akira to live alone in Tokyo, but Hiratsuka Shizuka has family in Chiba!

What's the point of using me as a shield and then shutting yourself down in this situation?

Hiratsuka Shizuka, who had impulsively driven from Tokyo to the mountain in the dark, was also taken aback upon hearing this. After a moment of silence, she met Higashino Akira's gaze and suddenly tilted her head and stuck out her tongue.

"Eh...!"

Hey, you old man!

Sure enough, not long after Hiratsuka Shizuka turned off her phone, Higashino Akira's phone rang. After glancing at the caller ID, Higashino Akira gave the silly woman on the other end a long, meaningful look before answering.

"Higashino-kun, Shizuka is next to you, right?"

"Ah."

"Give her the phone."

Upon hearing this, Higashino Akira, as if throwing away a hot potato, quickly shoved the phone into his hand.

Across from her, Hiratsuka Shizuka took the phone, her expression bitter. She turned and walked a distance away before putting the phone to her ear.

She's probably going to get a scolding. After all, that kid was once a student, and it would be too embarrassing for her, as a teacher, to be scolded in front of a student.

“Ogasan…”

A certain older single woman casually used her coquettish skills in an attempt to awaken her maternal instincts.

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before someone slowly spoke, "Shizuka, you should understand that Higashino-kun is your student, right?"

Upon hearing this, Hiratsuka Shizuka blushed. "Oh dear, that was many years ago. That kid is almost finished with his university degree now, he's not like that anymore."

A sigh came from the other side. "We're not trying to force you to live a certain way, but you're our only daughter. We're getting old and will inevitably leave us one day. That's why we can't help but worry about what will happen to you when you get old, and how sad it will be for you to be all alone in the world."

“Even so, your father and I did not force you to marry anyone. Now that I think about it, maybe we spoiled you too much before.”

"As a result, you've raised your daughter to be like this. You smoke today and drink tomorrow. When you're in a bad mood, you go out racing. Your hobbies are reading comics and boxing. You have nothing to do with other girls' hobbies. You even made a move on a student you used to teach. Do you think you deserve the respect he had for you?"

"You're not even thirty yet and you dare to do something like this? I can't even imagine what you'll become after your father and I pass away!"

"If this continues, we really will have to take stricter control of you!"

Respect? To me?

ah!!?

Hiratsuka Shizuka, looking dejected, took her scolding without daring to utter a word in response. However, when she heard Higashino Akira's respectful words to her, she couldn't hold back any longer. She frowned, pointed at herself, and then looked back at Higashino Akira, who was sitting in the courtyard, gloating and enjoying his tea.

Mom, where did you get that idea from?

No, how can there be respect?

That guy, when he goes out drinking with her, he cheats and sneaks away to drink. But when they spar in the ring, he doesn't hesitate to hit her hard. After they get to know each other, he doesn't treat her like a woman at all when they talk. Does he really respect her?

For the first time, Hiratsuka Shizuka realized that her wise mother was already very old, and even starting to have some failing eyesight.

Why aren't you saying anything?

Hiratsuka sighed weakly and said, "Because I am listening attentively to your teachings."

"Remember to come back as soon as possible after the New Year. You're not acting like a girl at all. Don't keep causing trouble for others when you're so busy."

"Hi……"

"Also, if you've made up your mind, then resign voluntarily. The Hiratsuka family's reputation has finally improved, so don't let it go back to its former state."

On the other hand, the wife felt a little relieved. At least her daughter, although she was acting a bit out of line and always actively admitted her mistakes but refused to change, was at least outwardly willing to listen to advice and not so rebellious.

However, upon hearing her mother's words, Hiratsuka Shizuka was completely stunned. What did she mean by voluntarily resigning? Although she did want to get married, she really hadn't made a move on her former student!

Hiratsuka Shizuka quickly tried to explain, but she was interrupted sternly by her mother after only a few words.

"Okay, that's enough. We need to rest now. Let's give the phone back to him."

Hiratsuka Shizuka handed the phone back to Higashino Akira with a pained expression, and glared at him gloatingly, making her teeth itch with anger.

"I have heard Xiaojing explain what happened. As a teacher, she did something so immature and caused trouble for Higashino-kun. I will educate her properly in the future. Please forgive me, Higashino-kun."

"You flatter me."

"Please come to our home often, Mr. Higashino."

"I definitely will if there's a chance."

The call ended after a few brief, polite words between the two parties.

Akira Higashino put down his phone and turned around.

Inside the house, Hiratsuka Shizuka had already walked in familiarly, poured herself a cup of tea, and then started eating with the cold dishes.

"You're not being polite at all."

Akira Higashino walked over and sat down opposite her.

Upon hearing this, Hiratsuka Shizuka casually scratched her head.

"Hey, what's our relationship? You're my last disciple, you don't need to!"

What kind of closed-door disciple are you? Watch out, or I'll lock you out of the windows!

While eating, Hiratsuka Shizuka lamented, "What a pity. On such a wonderful day, having escaped all those troublesome things, it's just a bit lacking in sake."

She was really hungry. She had driven all day to get to this small place, and the navigation system almost broke down. In order not to spend the night in the middle of nowhere, she didn't even have time to eat lunch or dinner along the way, just driving.

Seeing how much she was enjoying her food, Akira Higashino, who hadn't had much of an appetite before, started to feel a little hungry and ate some more with Shizuka Hiratsuka.

The two chatted casually during the meal, listening to the woman enthusiastically praising Higashino Akira's performance in the video, and then saying that he wasn't fast enough or ruthless enough, and that if she were in his shoes, she would do this and that, and definitely solve the problem much faster.

The New Year's Eve dinner table was bustling with activity.

Around four or five in the morning, Amamiya rubbed her eyes and groggily walked out of her bedroom. She was stunned to see someone suddenly appear in the house and sit in the place that should have been hers.

"Hmm, who is she?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at the unfamiliar Akira and asked Higashino Akira a question in confusion.

"My younger sister, Amaterasu Ei."

Higashino Akiaki beckoned her to sit next to her and pointed to Hiratsuka Shizuka sitting opposite her.

"This is Hiratsuka Shizuka, my teacher when I was in high school in Chiba."

Chapter 40 She's practically a superhero.

Another younger sister?

Hiratsuka Shizuka couldn't help but think of that strange girl named Miko from back in Tokyo, and her feelings became somewhat complicated.

Could this be another child with a strange personality?

Fortunately, Ying didn't let her experience that embarrassing social death again.

"Hello, Hiratsuka-sensei."

Upon hearing this, Tiannvmu Ying earnestly greeted the other party.

Upon hearing this, Hiratsuka Shizuka smiled and waved her hand casually, "It's a holiday now, and you're not my student, so you don't need to call me teacher, just call me older sister."

Ah, sister?

Tiannv Mei glanced at her older brother. Even her brother was in his early twenties. To be her brother's teacher, at that age...

Besides, wouldn't that be disrespectful?

The girl hesitated for a moment.

Perhaps there was also a mischievous reason for not wanting to call her "sister," after all, it's really scary to be out in the countryside in the middle of the night and have to call someone "sister" or something, right?

Upon seeing this, Hiratsuka Shizuka's face darkened, and she could no longer laugh.

According to the law of conservation of smiles, if someone can't smile, then that smile must have been transferred to someone else's face.

For example, a guy who's looking down at the food on the table, trying hard to stay calm, but whose lips are actually trembling and he can't help but smile.

I mustn't laugh, I have to hold it in!

If you laugh at this woman now, she'll definitely fly into a rage!

Akira Higashino's expression gradually became distorted. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he stood up, turned his back to Shizuka Hiratsuka, and quickly walked out of the room.

"It's getting late. Some people should already be on their way up the mountain. I'll go get ready. Ying, you go wash up and eat something to tide you over."

Someone walked further and further away outside, and faint, suppressed chuckles could be heard coming from outside.

Behind her, Hiratsuka Shizuka clenched her fist tightly, veins bulging on her forehead.

This is so unfair! I came here to hide, thinking that nobody in the countryside would know me and I could have some peace and quiet for a few days, but I still got laughed at.

Across from her, Ying was somewhat startled by the teacher's sudden, bitter laugh. Being a good child, she quickly went over to comfort her.

In response, Hiratsuka Shizuka could only stubbornly insist that she was laughing because she was thinking of something happy, and then shed 'happy' tears in the arms of her young sister.

Although she was somewhat confused and didn't know what had happened, Amamiya Akira still earnestly comforted her, hugged her, and gently stroked Hiratsuka-sensei's hair, as loving as a young mother.

With his face pressed against the little girl's chest, Hiratsuka Shizuka subconsciously took a light sniff.

It smells nice and is soft.

It was completely different from the subtle tobacco scent that always lingered on her, no matter how careful she was.

Damn it, is this what they call girlish charm?!

To lose so completely.

The shrine was very busy today, so after Hiratsuka-sensei stopped crying, Amatsume Ei quickly went to wash up and get ready, leaving Hiratsuka Shizuka sitting there dejectedly, sighing.

Like a defeated dog.

On the other side, Akira Higashino took his tools and began shoveling snow from the top of the mountain down to the bottom. Overnight, the snow piled up to a depth of half a calf.

Even someone as strong as Akira Higashino had to admit that Shizuka Hiratsuka was simply a superwoman!

With such heavy snow and such slippery roads, I actually managed to climb up the mountain in the dark using only a mobile phone!

Aren't you afraid of tripping or getting lost along the way?

After finishing the snow removal, Akira Higashino packed up his tools and began his return journey, lighting up the lanterns he had prepared beforehand along the way from the foot of the mountain to the shrine.

It's a festive time, the beginning of the year, and we should have a good omen. It's best not to let anything happen to the visitors. There's no need to skimp on these trivial matters.

Lights were already on in the houses in Okumizome Town at the foot of the mountain, and some people were even carrying lamps and heading towards the shrine. In the entire town and surrounding villages of Okumizome, there was only one proper shrine, the Kanihime Shrine, which was a regular shrine and managed by priests.

Other shrines are either abandoned or small temples and altars dedicated to some grass-root gods or even some less friendly nora gods.

If you don't come early, you might miss the first day of the New Year's Day shrine visit.

Akira Higashino returned to the shrine. It had been a long time since he had been back to his hometown. Suddenly having to go up and down the mountain and back, and having to clear the snow along the way, he was exhausted.

Surprisingly, quite a few people had already arrived at the shrine's front courtyard. The two leading people were people that Higashino Akira recognized; they were, in a way, junior high school classmates, though not in the same grade.

"Senior Ichisui, and Kagayama Kaede?"

"Where did you come from?"

Upon hearing this, the squinty-eyed older woman leading the group awkwardly scratched her cheek. "We were thinking of coming earlier so we could watch the sunrise on the way back after our pilgrimage. Going along the highway would take too long, so we simply parked at the foot of the mountain next door and took the side road."

Looking at the mud splatters on her legs and the string of children of all sizes behind her, Higashino Akira's lips twitched, and he gave a helpless smile, giving these two carefree women a thumbs up.

What else can be said?

They're all superheroes!

Bu Du is a divine being!

"Go back when it's fully light, and be careful on your way back."

Upon recognizing them as acquaintances, the bunch of little radish heads stepped forward to greet them.

Everything was normal until the last little girl with purple hair and pigtails walked over, stared straight at Higashino Akira, remained silent for a long time, then suddenly sighed inexplicably and raised one hand.

"Meow... Pass..."