Tokyo: Magical Girl Shatters My Dream of Going Public

On the other side, in the corridor.

Hoshino Saki strolled slowly, with Yukimura Hakuka silently following half a step behind her.

"But then again,"

Hoshino seemed to suddenly remember something, speaking casually.

"Chika and the president's 'uncle' are really open-minded. I wish I had parents like that~"

Xuecun nodded subconsciously.

From our brief encounter, Mr. Kurokawa appeared to be a well-mannered and composed elder who seemed to be understanding of young people.

If someone like that became a teacher, they would surely be loved by many students.

"But—" Hoshino's tone shifted, and she tilted her head, a slightly puzzled expression on her face. "Teacher, don't you think something's a little strange?"

"Strange, weird?"

"Hmm. If they've always had such good relatives, why haven't we ever met them before?"

Hoshino counted on her fingers.

"A year ago, when Chika was injured and underwent surgery, they sold all their valuables and almost couldn't go to school. If it weren't for the school's special scholarship, they would probably be out of school by now..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear.

Xuecun was stunned.

Yes.

If they had had a relative who was willing to take care of them earlier, how could the two sisters have ended up like that?

Hoshino spoke as if to himself, his voice soft yet each word clear:

"Hiss... Teacher, do you think it's possible that this 'distant cousin'... suddenly discovered another 'value' in them?"

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Xuecun's slightly widened eyes.

"For example...you're attracted to their looks?You want to introduce them to some... quick-money 'jobs'? After all, the student council president and Chinatsu are really beautiful. The student council president is so popular in our girls' school..."

Xuecun's steps suddenly stopped.

She stood frozen in place, head down.

Hoshino, with his hands behind his head as if oblivious, turned to look at her, his tone innocent: "Teacher? What's wrong?"

next second.

Yukimura raised his head.

Behind the glasses, the usual timidity and vacillation in his eyes instantly transformed into unparalleled seriousness.

She pushed up her glasses: "Hoshino-san, please go back to your room right now."

She paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately.

"The teacher has something very important that needs to be dealt with immediately."

Hoshino Saki blinked and a bright smile bloomed on her face.

"Okay, I got it. Good luck, teacher!"

She turned around abruptly, humming an off-key tune, and walked towards her room.

Xuecun stopped looking at her.

She almost jogged, turned back, and hurried toward the hotel reception.

She needs to find out the details.

Which room did those three people stay in?

Watching Yukimura's hurried departure, Hoshino stopped at the corner of the corridor.

She chuckled, a sly glint in her eyes.

As expected, Mr. Yukimura... is a good teacher.

We will never stand idly by if we hear that a student may be in danger.

Now, she's even managed to get the teacher away.

She can now... begin her own "secret operation".

She hurried back to her room and took out a device with a horn-shaped component from her luggage.

This is a listening device.

Looking out the window, they could see the parking lot from their room.

Her gaze naturally fell on the pink sports car outside.

"What kind of shameful secret are you hiding...?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

On the other side, Xuecun asked for the room number and went straight to the door.

The images in my mind got worse and worse along the way.

A wicked distant relative used indecent photos to blackmail and force a helpless woman into a shady profession...

She stopped at the doorway, raised her hand, but it remained suspended in mid-air.

Reason has regained the upper hand.

and many more.

In the end... I don't think I have any evidence, do I?

At most, I only had a vague intuition that the man was hiding something.

And Hoshino-kun's suggestive speculations.

Intuition can never serve as evidence.

The students' statements were completely unsubstantiated and could even be described as malicious speculation.

She was caught in a dilemma, her fingers unconsciously curling up and then relaxing.

Just when she was in a dilemma—

Without warning, the door in front of them was pulled open from the inside.

Kurokawa stood at the door and saw Yukimura outside, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

Caught off guard, Xuecun's gaze met his, and he instinctively tried to look away.

But remembering her purpose, she forced herself to look up and meet his gaze.

"...Mr. Kurokawa." Her voice was a little dry.

"Teacher Yukimura? What brings you here?"

Yukimura's gaze quickly swept past Kurokawa's shoulder and across the room.

No one is empty.

"Excuse me, where are Chinatsu and Kaoru?" She didn't answer, but asked instead, her tone tense without her even realizing it.

Kurokawa glanced back at the empty tatami room, his expression unchanged. "They went to the hot springs. Did the teacher come to see them?"

His attitude was so natural and composed.

Xuecun's tense nerves inexplicably relaxed a little.

Perhaps... I'm just overthinking it?

"Well... I'll come back later," she said, preparing to leave.

"Wait a minute," Kurokawa called out to her.

Snow Village turns back.

Kurokawa looked at her, his tone calm, but his words made the air freeze:

"Teacher Yukimura, since you're here...would you like to come with me to the mixed-gender bath?"

"……what?"

Xuecun stood frozen in place.

My brain went blank for a moment with a "buzz".

What...what is he saying?!

Kurokawa, still wearing a gentle smile, explained:

"Didn't we say before that we wanted to talk to the teacher about the two children? It's a good opportunity that you're here."

He spoke naturally, as if he were suggesting something perfectly ordinary.

"How about... we chat while we soak?"

Xuecun's face flushed red.

The reason sounds quite reasonable...

But is it really necessary to take a mixed bath together?!

"Actually... we could talk in the lobby..." she struggled softly.

Kurokawa shook his head, his tone relaxed:

"Isn't it said that communication is easier when people are honest with each other? Besides, this is a hot spring inn, and I don't want to make the conversation too serious."

He paused, then added:

"It was just a casual chat, not a formal meeting."

His reasons were sound, and his attitude was frank.

But his purpose was very simple and direct.

How can we confirm the existence of that cross star if we don't make this teacher, who seems to be a magical girl, take off her clothes?

Xuecun listened, and logically, there was nothing wrong with it.

This hotel does offer mixed-gender bathing and provides swimwear.

But... she still didn't want to go.

She subconsciously touched the back of her neck and felt a chill.

It's that uncomfortable feeling again...

"that....."

Yukimura hesitated, then suggested that they could go for a walk in the courtyard together.

But Kurokawa had already realized that this teacher was not good at saying no.

He didn't give her any more time to think and made the decision for her directly:

"Let's go. The hotel provides swimsuits, so there won't be any problems."

After he finished speaking, he turned around, closed the door, and walked straight to the other end of the corridor.

He walked with a measured pace, as if confident that she would catch up.

Xuecun stood still, hesitating for two seconds.

In the end, I took a step and followed.

She subconsciously pressed her hand against her lower abdomen, a wave of regret washing over her.

If I had known I would be talking to the students' "parents" in a mixed-gender bathhouse...

I really shouldn't have eaten so much rice tonight.

Well……

It’s over.......

My stomach is starting to ache again.