Tokyo: Restricted Tutor

Tomoda Minako's words, upon reaching Hojo Saki Rei's ears, caused him a headache. She couldn't help but shake her head. Then she said, "Minako-neechan, you really overthink things. With how I used to be, how could any girl like me? Besides, I didn't even prepare this suitcase."

After saying this, Hojo Saki Rei immediately stopped speaking.

Because he somewhat regretted why he had answered Asahi Rinka's call earlier. If he hadn't answered Asahi Rinka's call, so many things wouldn't have happened later.

"Hmm? This suitcase isn't Saki Rei-kun's, then whose is it? And isn't this your house?"

However, upon hearing Hojo Saki Rei say that he hadn't prepared those suitcases, Tomoda Minako's eyes became even more filled with curiosity.

If these suitcases weren't prepared by Hojo Saki Rei, then who prepared them? Tomoda Minako couldn't quite figure it out.

Although Hojo Saki Rei didn't know why Tomoda Minako was asking him such detailed questions, seeing Tomoda Minako looking at him with a puzzled expression and a hint of gossip in her eyes, Hojo Saki Rei knew that if he didn't explain clearly, he might be misunderstood by Tomoda Minako again. So he began to explain to Tomoda Minako.

"These suitcases weren't prepared by me; they were prepared by Asahi Rinka. Asahi Rinka said she wanted to come to my house to play, so... one of these suitcases is Asahi Rinka's, and two of them are gifts she said she wanted to give my parents as a first meeting gift."

Hojo Saki Rei directly explained the entire situation at that moment.

Originally, Tomoda Minako thought these were things Hojo Saki Rei had prepared, but upon hearing Hojo Saki Rei say they weren't his, she became even more curious.

Now, she heard Hojo Saki Rei say that these were all prepared by Asahi Rinka.

Suddenly, Tomoda Minako became even more curious.

During this time, Tomoda Minako had also come to realize that Hojo Saki Rei actually had feelings for Asahi Rinka.

However, when Hojo Saki Rei said that Asahi Rinka was going to return with him, Tomoda Minako was still shocked. After all, she never imagined that the relationship between Hojo Saki Rei and Asahi Rinka would develop so quickly.

In her opinion, even if Hojo Saki Rei and Asahi Rinka had feelings for each other, they were still young. They hadn't even graduated from high school yet, so how could they go to meet each other's parents so early?

But when she looked at Hojo Saki Rei, she could tell from his face that what he was saying was not a joke.

Therefore, she was shocked by Hojo Saki Rei's words.

"Asahi Rinka is a very good girl, and she's excellent in all aspects. Her family background is also very good. I'm sure your aunt and uncle will definitely like her when they see her."

After recovering, Tomoda Minako said this to Hojo Saki Rei.

However, upon hearing her say that, Hojo Saki Rei immediately rolled his eyes.

The reason Hojo Saki Rei didn't explain about the suitcases immediately was because he was afraid Tomoda Minako would misunderstand too deeply, so he didn't think of explaining.

But he didn't expect that even after Hojo Saki Rei explained everything to her, Tomoda Minako could still misunderstand again, which made Hojo Saki Rei feel somewhat speechless.

"What's wrong? Is what I said incorrect? Asahi Rinka is indeed a very excellent girl. Do you think, Saki Rei-kun, that your aunt and uncle won't like her after meeting her?"

Just as Hojo Saki Rei had rolled his eyes, Tomoda Minako's voice came again.

Hearing Tomoda Minako say that, Hojo Saki Rei quickly shook his head.

"Minako-neechan, you're right. My parents definitely won't like her after seeing her, but what I meant just now wasn't about that. I meant that I've already explained so much to you, and I didn't expect you to still misunderstand me."

"Oh, so that's how it is. Then I misunderstood."

"But where is Asahi Rinka? Didn't you say Asahi Rinka was going to your house with you? Why haven't I seen her? Her suitcase is already here, could it be that she's not mentally prepared yet?"

After hearing Hojo Saki Rei's explanation, Tomoda Minako asked again at this moment.

However, as her words fell, Hojo Saki Rei's face showed some embarrassment.

Clearly, as Tomoda Minako said that, Hojo Saki Rei also recalled what had just happened.

"Saki Rei-kun, you still haven't told me where Asahi Rinka is."

Tomoda Minako asked this question again at this moment.

Hojo Saki Rei, still immersed in his recent memories, immediately snapped back to reality upon hearing Tomoda Minako ask that question.

"Ah? Oh."

"She's taking a shower in the bathroom right now. When we carried the suitcases up from downstairs, we both broke a sweat. I guess she couldn't stand it, so she went into the bathroom as soon as she got up here."

Hojo Saki Rei answered without hesitation after realizing what was happening.

Upon hearing Hojo Saki Rei say that, Tomoda Minako also nodded. She naturally didn't find anything strange about what Hojo Saki Rei said.

But soon, she frowned at this moment.

"Speaking of which, Saki Rei-kun, you're not trying to abduct Asahi Rinka and take her to your home, are you?"

When Tomoda Minako asked this question, she looked at Hojo Saki Rei with a scrutinizing gaze.

As for Hojo Saki Rei, when he heard Tomoda Minako ask that question, he was instantly stunned. He never expected Tomoda Minako to ask him that.

Seriously, was that the kind of person she thought he was?

Although he hadn't been very well-known before and was always on the fringes in school.

In this short period, he had already gained the affection of various types of beauties, but he wasn't that kind of person, okay?

"Minako-sensei, do you even hear what you're saying?"

Hojo Saki Rei rolled his eyes.

Even his previous address for Tomoda Minako had changed to 'sensei,' no longer 'neechan.'

Clearly, Hojo Saki Rei was somewhat displeased with Tomoda Minako's question.

When Hojo Saki Rei said that, Tomoda Minako also realized it at this moment, but she didn't think her suspicion was unreasonable. Instead, she directly said to Hojo Saki Rei, "If Asahi Rinka is going to your house to play, this matter must be told to her mother, right? If her mother knew about this, how could she not help her send the luggage over?"

"But Saki Rei-kun also just said that you and Asahi Rinka carried these suitcases up together, which means Asahi Rinka's mother doesn't know about this, right?"

"If that's the case, then taking her to your home without the guardian's permission, what is that if not abduction?"

Tomoda Minako spoke word by word, and her words seemed very reasonable.

After hearing Tomoda Minako say all that, Hojo Saki Rei immediately knew what she was thinking.

"Heh, if that were true, that would indeed be quite good."

Although he had been misunderstood by Tomoda Minako, Hojo Saki Rei had no intention of explaining.

Of course, he couldn't possibly tell Tomoda Minako to her face that all of this was actually orchestrated by Asahi Rinka's mother, with the aim of having Hojo Saki Rei keep Asahi Rinka by his side.

If Asahi Rinka accidentally came out and heard what they were talking about during their conversation, what would she think afterwards?

"By the way, Minako-sensei, aren't you going back?"

Hojo Saki Rei didn't want to continue this topic, so he asked afterwards.

"Of course, why wouldn't I?"

"It's already vacation now. If I don't go home, what would I do staying here? And I haven't been home for a long time, so it's about time to go back and see my elders."

"But don't think I'm like you, taking so much luggage when I go home."

When the topic of luggage came up, Tomoda Minako's lips curled up slightly again at that moment.

As for Hojo Saki Rei, upon hearing her bring that up, he couldn't help but roll his eyes at her again.

"I already told you, these suitcases aren't mine. They're what Asahi Rinka brought for my parents."

"If I were going home, how could I carry so much? That would exhaust me to death."

"By the way, Minako-neechan, I haven't heard where your home is. Is it far from here? Are your elders at home?"

Hojo Saki Rei continued to explain the luggage issue to Tomoda Minako, then he remembered about Tomoda Minako's family situation.

Although he had known Tomoda Minako for so long, he knew very little about her personal information.

He only knew that besides being a teacher at the school and their class's homeroom teacher, Tomoda Minako was also a member of the organization.

Beyond that, he had no further understanding of Tomoda Minako.

Tomoda Minako, who had originally intended to continue teasing Hojo Saki Rei, fell silent upon hearing Hojo Saki Rei inquire about her family's situation.

Suddenly, the somewhat noisy living room became quiet at this moment.

"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong? Or..."

Seeing Tomoda Minako suddenly fall silent, Hojo Saki Rei also realized that he must have said something wrong, so he looked apologetically at Tomoda Minako, wanting to ask something, but in the end, he didn't finish his sentence.

"Actually, there's nothing much to say. My parents were both public servants, and they died in the line of duty when I was very young."

"I grew up with my grandparents since I was little, so of course, I'm going back to visit them this time."

"Grandparents are already old, and I don't know how long they can be with me. I really hope I can be with them forever and ever in this life."

When Tomoda Minako spoke of her grandparents, her eyes were full of love. Seeing her like this, it wasn't difficult for Hojo Saki Rei to imagine the scene of Tomoda Minako living with her grandparents before.

Parents dying in the line of duty, leaving only a little girl living with two elderly people.

Just thinking about such a scene made Hojo Saki Rei feel a little heartache.

However, Tomoda Minako had never mentioned any of these things to him before.

Looking at Tomoda Minako in front of him, Hojo Saki Rei knew very well that although she appeared to act decisively on the surface and also did quite well within the organization.

But no matter what, she was still just a girl.

Deep down, she probably yearned for her parents' love very much.

"Alright, let's not talk about these things. My grandparents are still in good health now. After I go back, I'm going to spend the entire winter vacation with them this time. If I have the chance, I'll bring them to live in Tokyo."

"It's just a pity, my grandparents probably won't agree, after all, they've lived in the village their whole lives, so how could they move far away at this age?"

Tomoda Minako seemed to be talking to herself, and also seemed to be chatting with Hojo Saki Rei about her grandparents.

Hearing her words, Hojo Saki Rei could also hear the sadness in her voice.

"Oh, right, after this winter vacation, we'll only be able to see each other when school starts. Will you miss me?"

Seemingly sensing that Hojo Saki Rei's emotions had changed a little, and that he had been staring at her, Tomoda Minako couldn't help but ask that question at this moment.

As her words fell, Hojo Saki Rei immediately stiffened.

He never expected Tomoda Minako to ask such a question at this critical moment.

He glanced towards the bathroom, and fortunately, Asahi Rinka hadn't come out of the bathroom at this moment.

Hojo Saki Rei was really afraid, afraid that Asahi Rinka would suddenly appear and hear what they were talking about during their conversation.

"Of course, but Minako-neechan, could you please not be so scary? Rinka is still here. If she finds out..."

Hojo Saki Rei reminded Tomoda Minako at this moment.

"Oh my, it was just one sentence, and you're already afraid she'll find out. No matter what, you're both my students, right? It's perfectly normal for students to think about their teacher, what's there to be afraid of?"

Tomoda Minako said indifferently. (End of chapter)