Another Life Negotiation

Her entire face flushed red. Itsuki looked so embarrassed that her entire face looked very strange.

After saying that, under the subtle gaze of the other two, Itsuki turned around and prepared to flee.

Shinichi sighed and spoke.

"Itsuki, stop it."

"I'm not doing anything inappropriate!" Itsuki reflexively shouted back, then turned to face Shinichi with a smile on his face.

Her eyes immediately shifted in panic, and the hair on her head trembled nervously, Itsuki slightly bowed, defending herself as if she dared.

"I'm just worried about Kirisu-sensei. Who knows what you're doing there! Besides, Asada-kun has already done such things to Ichika and others..."

"Hey, hey, tell me clearly what it is!" Shinichi's head was filled with black lines.

(This is slander, I'm clearly still a little virgin! At most, my hands and feet are a bit dirty, don't call him an adult self-propelled weapon, okay?)

Seeing Mafuyu looking visibly disgusted, "I think there's something wrong with you, please don't approach me for now."

Couldn't she trust his integrity and purity more?

"Then I'll tell you clearly!"

With a red face, Itsuki puffed out her chest and said confidently:

"Kirisu-sensei is a good person, and now she has to hide in your house for a while. If Asada-kun takes advantage of her, Sensei will surely accept it half-heartedly, and won't make any noise afterwards. Such a clear development still needs to be done."

Shinichi was stunned. What kind of plot is this... Itsuki, what kind of movies do you secretly watch?

But that's not important. He turned to Mafuyu, with pure curiosity in his eyes.

"Sensei, is this true?"

"It's absurd! Of course it's impossible!"

Mafuyu glared at him with a mix of embarrassment and anger.

Then, she looked at Itsuki, trying hard to hold back her expression, and calmly said:

"Itsuki-san, if someone wants to do something to me, I will not only refuse it directly, but also teach them a lesson, so please don't worry..."

"So that's it..." Itsuki seemed to have recovered from her excitement. Remembering what she had just said, she looked at Shinichi again.

Shinichi smiled warmly at her.

"Itsuki, I have clearly written down all the falsehoods, slanders, and all kinds of false accusations and misunderstandings against me..."

"That's all for now. I'll tell you what the 'real me' is like."

"Hmph!" Itsuki shrunk her neck. This cold threat made her hair stand on end, and she instinctively hid behind Mafuyu's body, which made her feel safe.

"Kirisu-sensei, Asada-kun threatened me!"

Mafuyu felt utterly helpless; this was a scene where children quarreled with adults.

"Stop playing..."

Shinichi crossed his arms over his chest and showed a mocking sneer.

"Hmph, do you think Mafuyu-chan can protect you? You're so naive."

Mafuyu: "???"

"Do you think I'm afraid of Mafuyu-chan whining because of the punishment game just now, but refusing to admit defeat and still giving me benefits? Foolish, don't underestimate me!"

Mafuyu: "..."

Taken aback by the surprise, Itsuki put on an incredulous expression and even forgot to face Shinichi.

"...Kirisu-sensei, whining?"

"That's right." Shinichi nodded calmly.

"Is there a video of it?"

Shinichi raised his eyebrows: "Want one? What can you trade for it?"

However, after a few seconds of hesitation, Itsuki gave up reluctantly and pouted.

"I understand... Whatever happens today, I won't tell anyone else."

Shinichi was still somewhat unsatisfied.

"That's the condition, so you better think about it..."

"Both of you!"

The blood vessels on her forehead surged, and Mafuyu couldn't stand it anymore, her angry expression staring coldly at them.

△

It didn't take long.

Shinichi stayed alone in the apartment, the aroma of tea filling the room, and three people sitting at the low table.

"Kirisu-sensei, Asada-kun should have told you about the current situation, right?"

With a comic-style bag on her head, Itsuki talked about business with a serious face.

"Since the video has been widely circulated, many fans and reporters have gathered in front of your apartment. It is estimated that they will not disperse until late at night."

Mafuyu sighed softly.

"I already know this... I will go to school to avoid the spotlight. The students at Shuchi'in Academy may not be as crazy."

She looked at Shinichi, who also had a bag on his head, and said calmly: "I will call a taxi to pick me up later, so don't worry and get ready for the school festival."

Shinichi didn't say anything, but Itsuki nodded earnestly.

"Indeed, a commotion like this is something we can't resolve."

Mafuyu looked at her in astonishment.

Seeing the urgency in her arrival, Mafuyu thought it necessary to convince her to let Itsuki handle the situation.

Guessing something from Mafuyu's expression, Itsuki smiled helplessly:

"Actually, this isn't a big deal. Sensei is not actually a celebrity. Once the public enthusiasm dies down, things will probably return to normal soon. There's no room for us to help."

The internet era changes from day to day. No matter how popular Mafuyu is now, as long as she doesn't make bigger news, there might be newer topics tonight to replace her popularity.

"That makes sense."

Mafuyu nodded, hoping the process could be faster; the feeling of not being able to go home was truly uncomfortable.

She couldn't hide at school and end up sleeping at Shinichi's house. She would rather waste money and sleep at a hotel than do that.

"Also, there's one more thing..."

After saying this, Itsuki looked at Shinichi, and after receiving his agreeing gaze, she spoke carefully to Mafuyu.

"If there are no surprises, now everyone at school knows about your past and that you used to be an award-winning figure skater... I also heard that members of the skating club are planning to go to the office early Monday morning to find you. Please, consider being their coach."

There is a figure skating club at Shuchi'in Academy, but it hasn't achieved much and with limited resources, it's currently in a slump, even the coaching position is vacant, and the instructor is just an ordinary person who knows little about skating.

Now that they know about Mafuyu's past glory, if they want to revive the club, the members will surely try their best to ask her to be their coach.

"...Is that so?"

Mafuyu remained very calm, sipping her black tea.

"Although this is not a past worth publicizing, if it's known, then it's known, and I don't care."

"I don't care, I'm just a teacher at Shuchi'in Academy, and I have no connection to anything in the skating world."

"Now that I've given up, I have no intention of picking it up again... Itsuki-san, if you know them, please help me tell them that they don't need to waste their efforts. I won't agree."

"Kirisu-sensei..."

Mafuyu lightly sipped the edge of teacup, her expression cold and unyielding.

Her rejecting appearance made her seem even colder, enough to silence anyone who still wanted to say something.

"Leaving the past behind...?"

Itsuki lowered her head slightly, looking at the table, and spoke softly.

"What you told me in the corridor that day was something you regretted, does it have to do with skating?"

"..."

Mafuyu paused for a moment and stared at tea. She held the teacup with her palm slightly but didn't react.

Itsuki's voice softened, and the room fell silent for a moment.

"Or... does it have to do with your previous student?"

Mafuyu opened her mouth slightly, and the teacup slipped from her hand, splashing a little water.

Shinichi had already prepared a cloth and left the situation to Itsuki, who now became a motionless janitor.

"Itsuki-san... Do you know something?"

Her dangling fingers trembled unconsciously, Mafuyu forgot to calm herself for a moment, even her questioning tone was full of difficulty.

It was like a buried black history being dug up by someone else, and the unhealed wounds being torn open. Disbelief and unpleasant emotions surfaced on her face at the same time, and her usual calmness and composure were lost.

Shinichi watched her and sighed inwardly.

(I never expected this incident to become an opportunity for the success of that plan.)

It happened a little earlier than he expected. He really didn't know if this was lucky or not. Fortunately, they had made preparations beforehand, and now they had to go with the flow.

"I dare not say how much detail I know. There are some things I want to hear directly from you."

"But before that..."

Itsuki lifted her head and looked directly into Mafuyu's panicked eyes. Before she could run away, she spoke every word earnestly.

"Discussing dreams and future lives, I want to talk about it with you again!"

"If you don't mind, please come with me to 'that place'!"

△

Cherry blossoms no longer flutter, and the dead branches are now covered in frost.

Far from the hustle and bustle of school, in the middle of the labyrinthine garden.

There, stood an ancient stone pavilion, quiet and honest.

[Sakura Pavilion]