[HOW ARE YOU!?] - I

[SAE CHABASHIRA'S POV]

I don't have any memory of my mother, because as soon as she gave birth to me, she died at that instant.

I heard many great things about my mother though, my father told me that she was the most beautiful woman, he had ever met in his life; she was the best wife he could ever ask for; she would have been a great mother if she was alive...

Whenever I heard these things from my father, it always surprised me and brought sparkles to my eyes while listening to him my mouth would be half open and always made me wonder about how great she was and what the scenario would have been if she was alive...

But even though my father always lost track of his time whenever he talked about his wife, my mother. He always ended up crying for a bit... But, of course, not in front of me, his daughter.

.

My father was a teacher and my mother was a housewife, my father never told or talked about things like my mother had work anywhere or anything else so I guess she must have been a housewife, and if I add the fact that she cooks delicious food to it as my father told me then she must be a great housewife.

My father always leaves for his work very early in the morning I could never even imagine waking up beforehand him. But... If I did wake up before him or at the time when he leaves then he would always end up late for his work or sometimes he even considers the idea of not going to his work. Due to this, his school's principal always yells at him that he should take his job more seriously.

What a weird father I had...

.

At the age of 16 years, I lost my father, my only family and the most important person in my life.

He died at the hands of some narcissistic guy who didn't listen to my father when he was explaining to the guy...

My father had an eccentric habit and which was, explaining things to anyone whom he might have known or even if they were a stranger to him he would not even think once but blabber everything...

.

And what I heard from people was that he was telling the other guy to not smoke in public areas like a mall, where my father had gone to shop for something. They also told me that my father was giving a speech to him for about half an hour straight; until the other guy called his friends and then they said something about me, which made him not only lose control but he got so angry that he grabbed the guy's collar...

That guy took a knife and stabbed my father's chest... He died in extreme pain but no one literally even came to aid. He was suffering a lot and in those last moments, he was only craving for peace and wanted to see me once...

When I got to know that my father died, thanks to one of his colleagues. I cried a lot... I cried and cried and started feeling sick...

I cried so much that my health worsened to the point that I became so fragile and weak that I was unable to attend school for 2-3 weeks... I was mentally disturbed, I got depressed and anxiety made the condition even worse...

In that period of my life, I got to know the people who would stand with me and stay with me in the near future and also those who would not do the same. The former are the ones like the aunt working in the convenience store, the colleague who told me about the death of my father and also my grandparents...

Except for these mentioned people, I don't think anyone else would be like them... And I don't need anyone else as well.

..

I have to face many difficulties as a high school student and then as a college student... But since I had some people who were always present there to help me, I didn't lose hope and finally became a high school teacher at the age of 20.

In my first year as a high school teacher, I have to face criticism because of my behaviour from both my colleagues and my students. But I didn't change my way of teaching as I knew that what I was doing wasn't weird in fact I feel I was good at my job...

.

So, here I am as the homeroom teacher of class 1-1, where every student should have some good as well as unique qualities. Or maybe they will get this class just because they are lucky...

But I have this thought about them that they will not disappoint me... And they will end this whole year as the first-place winner in this shityy system of Ranking of classes.

.

..

...

....

But why do I have to think about the past at this time? When one of my students is coming toward me with a smile on his face, which makes him look very very handsome --

Making my heart beat faster and I guess this is the first time that I feel like I will run away from everything that is happening right now as I am confused and very confused --

I am also feeling some kind of -- I don't know, but my cheeks are red, I know... But what is this?

'W-w-what is g-going o-on? W-what's with him...? No, what is wrong with me?"

I wanted to stop him from coming here where I am standing but since I am still crying a little and --

"It's alright... Sensei."

"sob"

"How about we go somewhere else before returning to our respective apartments? --"

"No..."

"Okay, as you wish..."

.

After 20 or some minutes, we finally reached our respective apartments but since our apartment is on different floors... And since my floor is on floor 2 and his on -- ah, I forgot to see his.

Well, whatever. It's not like I want to know his apartment floor and room number. It's just that since he is my student it's my job to know this kind of thing... Isn't it?

.

..

...

[PRESENT]

[IN THE INFIRMARY ROOM OF SCHOOL]

"Why?"

"You ask way too many questions, Chabashira Sae."

"You... You--"

"And that's the best thing of yours, Sae."

Upon hearing my name coming out of the mouth of Kaneki, even though I am his homeroom teacher and I should be angry at him but... but currently I am just silent while one of my eyebrows is raised a little bit.

My body is resting on the bed like it's the most safe place in the world and feels like I can do anything if this boy would stay with me for the rest of my life --

'N-no, n-n-no. W-what a-am I th-thinking? D-did I-I t-think of something like... Spending my life with Kaneki??

As I was lost in my thoughts and as my embarrassment rose to the sky, I still couldn't take my eyes off his face... He has a smile on his face which doesn't even budge a little and one of his hands is also resting on my right cheek like he loves to caress the cheeks and has experience in doing it... Huh?

.

I am confused. I am very confused right now, I don't know what is going on with me. I don't know why I am feeling this. I don't understand whether the things Kaneki doing or saying right now are correct or not... What should I do?

"You have a very beautiful smile, maybe because I still haven't seen you smile that much, but whenever I get the chance to see your smile I literally felt like I can do many things to see you smile like that, and for that reason I am saying this all to you... So try to smile a little."

And the way he has with his words is marvellous and seems that he is the most flirtatious boy of his age...

But there is one thing which is... He doesn't seem to look like he is trying to only flirt with me as his eyes are telling me that he is stating the truth... So, does that mean -- he is somewhat interested in me or in other words, he has feelings (romantic) for me.

Huh?

"..."

"Your expression, when you say to the class,' I will not tell you more; go ask or discover it yourself...', is not one of the best expressions, and I don't much like it, but this is why you are different from the 'others'... And there are more things I want to say to you, but I guess it will be too much for my 'blushing' Sae-chan sensei. Hmm?"

"Y-you... Just wait, I will make sure to kick you out of this school and make sure to --"

Calm your nerves down, Sae. There is nothing good coming out if I continue to yell at him.

"Your angry face is also... --"

"S-shut u-up and --"

"..."

"..."

.

This boy... After saying those things, now he is going to pretend like he is sleeping or something, huh...? But even though he said those words to me and acted like a jerk, I... Why didn't I try to resist him, and why is my heart beating so much? And why is he looking more than -- no no wait... And why am I still on the bed?

As this thought hit my head, I quickly got up from the infirmary's bed. Then I move toward the window to find out that my hair are little messy because of him.

I also noticed the time it had been 15 minutes since the nurse left from here and she still hadn't come back yet.

"Tch... Where are you Shiz --?"

"U-um... C-Chabashirrra-ssan..."

"Oh... You surprised me there."

"W-well..."

"Why are you so late? Don't you think that you should come here earlier than --"

"I didn't want to disturb the sweet time between you two... I enjoyed seeing you two behaving like this... I don't know why but I think you two should start dating... Or if you are a couple then congratulations..."

"Wha -- No, we are not. There is no way that we could become a couple, it's impossible. You know this kind of relationship..."

I still can't believe that someone has seen me... Tch tch. Moreover, what is she saying? How can she --

"Okay, okay. I get it, Chabashira-san... But I guess you should now go and attend the meeting. And I am really sorry about saying all those things..."

"Oh, right... Well then. Inform me with details of whatever happens with Kaneki on the phone, by messaging me. Hm? Is that alright with you?"

"Hmm...? Okay."