My Romance Simulation with Them

She really wants to experience a relationship!

Just like in this short story.

To meet someone and have a passionate, incredibly romantic love affair!

That's it! I should confess my feelings to someone right now!

Don't hesitate!

A romantic love only happens once!

As an adult, you can't be a coward!

I don't want to grow old alone!

I'm going to boldly express my love! Even if the object of my affection is a student, I'll make my move as soon as possible—

"Yeah, right!"

She suddenly stood up and shook her head vigorously.

It took me a lot of effort to shake the thoughts of 'wanting to confess to someone,' 'not wanting to be alone for the rest of my life,' and 'wanting a romantic and unwavering love' out of my mind.

Only after completing this action did she breathe a sigh of relief.

however--

"Hiratsuka-sensei?"

A stuttering voice came from beside me.

It was only then that Hiratsuka Shizuka noticed.

Kento Ishikawa and Nao Omiya, who were standing next to him, were looking at him with extremely strange expressions.

The main problem was that Hiratsuka Shizuka's reaction just now was really frightening.

I was just reading a novel written by Nanxiang Shi, and suddenly tears started flowing from my eyes.

That's not all. Later on, he would suddenly mutter to himself, stand up abruptly, and keep talking to himself and making a ruckus.

This situation is indeed quite frightening to those who are completely unaware of it.

It's like he's having some kind of mental illness episode.

Even just now, Kento Ishikawa was thinking of calling 120 (emergency services).

If Omiya hadn't stopped him, Hiratsuka Shizuka would probably have been taken to a mental hospital for a mental health check today.

Especially Kento Ishikawa, who was somewhat disappointed.

Such a lovely female teacher, and so beautiful at that, yet she suffers from a mental illness... It's truly...

He couldn't help but ask, "Um... Hiratsuka-sensei... are you alright?"

"I am fine."

Feeling the 'regretful' look from Kento Ishikawa, even someone as thick-skinned as Shizuka Hiratsuka couldn't help but feel extremely embarrassed.

She coughed lightly.

"is it?"

Kento Ishikawa was highly skeptical of Hiratsuka Shizuka's words, but he was too embarrassed to point it out directly, so he could only tentatively ask:

"But I just saw you..."

"I'm fine! Ishikawa-sensei! I'm really fine!"

"...OK."

Kento Ishikawa didn't speak, but silently took a step back: "I believe in Hiratsuka-sensei."

"..." Shizuka Hiratsuka.

No.

Were you serious when you took that step back?

Hiratsuka Shizuka's lips twitched.

Fortunately, she was already a mature adult, so she didn't point out Ishikawa Kento's behavior, but instead turned her attention back to the novel in front of her.

This is different from my previous disdain, worry that Nango Shi wouldn't be able to write well, and the feeling that it was simply impossible for a male high school student to write a good literary novel.

Hiratsuka Shizuka now truly believes it.

I believe that geniuses truly exist in this world.

Unlike Kikuri Hiroi, who only knows how to say "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

Hiratsuka Shizuka, who graduated from a proper academic program and works at Soubu High School, has a completely different level of literary talent.

She could clearly understand that Ms. Komako in the story was not just someone who represented the male protagonist's love interest.

It can also represent loneliness and the longing of contemporary young people living in metropolises for something beautiful.

Yes.

Contemporary youth yearn for love, but dare not pursue it.

They yearn for a better life, yet dare not take the first step.

He could only relive his memories of his deceased "Ms. Komako" over and over again, remaining stagnant and dedicating the rest of his life to her memory.

This is a very real issue.

Don't you have any?

The kind of thing where you miss out on a person, an event, or an item, and in the end you can only sigh with regret and pity.

But perhaps, as the male protagonist called out from the wilderness—

"Gone! Gone! All gone!"

What's gone will never come back.

She couldn't help but look at Nanxiang and ask, "Nanxiang, did you really write this short story?"

"What's wrong? Is there a problem, Hiratsuka-sensei?"

Nango had been watching Hiratsuka Shizuka for a long time.

Only after discovering that the other person had fallen ill, but that the illness was not serious, did he feel relieved and reply.

"No... um... there's nothing wrong."

Hiratsuka Shizuka opened her mouth.

Is there a problem with this novel?

To be honest.

Even with her discerning eye for literary works, she couldn't see the slightest problem.

Nanxiang's writing skills were not only solid.

Even the plot arrangement and design are very ingenious.

This made her somewhat incredulous.

Keep in mind that Nanxiang was only seventeen or eighteen years old at the time.

Based on his experience.

Hiratsuka Shizuka simply couldn't imagine how the other person could create such outstanding... even flawless literary works.

Yes.

Literary works.

The short story in front of me can definitely be classified as a 'literary work'.

"So, Professor Hiratsuka, based on your reading experience, what are your thoughts or questions about the novel?"

Yesterday I faced that unreliable trio of adults in the 'Starry Night' performance hall, and today I finally found a cultured adult.

Nanxiang, of course, didn't mince words and asked the question directly.

Keep in mind that the other party is a Chinese literature teacher, so they should have their own insights into this type of work.

When faced with questions from Nanxiang.

Hiratsuka Shizuka, who is usually easygoing and can always get along well with students, was speechless.

What's the problem?

To be honest.

Hiratsuka Shizuka even felt that with her mere high school Chinese teacher level, she was completely unqualified to ask questions about this novel.

I was moved to tears and heartache by it, completely immersed in the world of the novel.

It was already obvious.

In her mind, this novel already deserves a perfect score.

But Nanxiang said it like that.

Hiratsuka Shizuka pondered for a moment: "Well, how should I put it..."

"If I had to point out one problem..."

Hiratsuka Shizuka handed the manuscript to Ishikawa Kento, shook her head, and glanced at Nango with great admiration: "For a high school student, this short story is just too mature... and too perfect."

This is undoubtedly a compliment.

Similarly, it was Hiratsuka Shizuka who envied her.

During her student days, Hiratsuka Shizuka greatly admired people like Nango Toki who had literary talent.

to be honest.

Who, in that era, didn't want their essay to be used as a model and circulated among the whole class? Who didn't want their essay to be of immense value?

But clearly, Nango's level far exceeded her understanding at that time.

This is also a key reason why she asked Nanxiang who the author of this novel was.