It seems He will Confess at the Rooftop

He kneeled on the floor while holding his stomach. That was quite the punch. Nothing dangerous considering his high Physique but it still hurts like a bitch, and will most likely stay the same for another minute or two at least.

"Don't overreact; I held back properly this time."

He looked at her with a wry smile.

"…If this is holding back, then I'm very glad your previous punch didn't reach me."

She scoffed before turning around, her hair swaying with the movement. He couldn't help but follow the movement of her abyssal dark hair. His teacher certainly has quite a charming appearance. She seems to have noticed his pointed gaze though.

"What are you staring at? Go back to your seat."

Well, it didn't really matter to him, he supposes.

After all, he will never fall in love again.

He stood from his kneeling position slowly, before returning to his seat while holding his stomach still.

"Higashi Murasaki."

"…What is it, Hiratsuka-sensei?"

"If you could actually sell your lifespan, would you do it?"

He didn't even need to think before answering that one.

"Depends on the price. If it was high then I won't sell it no matter what. However, if the price is low… Well, a life without enjoyment is one not worth living in my opinion. Ah, this is if the selling price is based on how precious my lifespan is though."

"And how much do you think your future is worth?"

"Hmm… Who knows? The future is uncertain, and I am certainly not a fortune-teller."

He sat on his seat again before leaning onto it, relaxing as the process of pain slowly being relieved from his body proceeded. As expected of 180 Physique, the recovery speed was nothing to scoff at.

Hiratsuka-sensei rubbed her hair with an unpleasant expression on her face.

"Ah, whatever. I'm not in the mood for teaching anymore. For the rest of the class just analyze how much your lifespan is worth, whether you would sell it or not, and the reason. This won't be in your grades, but consider doing it anyway."

Some people in the class moaned in complaints, while others rejoiced. Higashi was neither happy nor dissatisfied about her voluntary task. He wasn't intending on doing it though. It was too complicated a question based on mere what-ifs to be worth doing.

"Higashi, I especially want you to think about it."

He blinked.

"…I haven't the slightest intention of doing something so bothersome."

"Consider this doing a favor for your teacher."

"Not interested."

"…Then consider it making up for your lack of attendance. I did take a blow in reputation because of you."

…Well, that was true enough. When the original Higashi Murasaki decided to skip school for two whole weeks the one most negatively affected was most likely Hiratsuka Shizuka, his homeroom teacher. She must have fought quite a bit for him, otherwise, it wouldn't be so easy to leave school for two whole weeks and return unscathed.

He will consider it repayment then.

"Two million."

"For all your lifespan?"

"Of course not. It's for one year. From what I remember the average Japanese earn a bit more than 300,000 yen every month. Multiply that by twelve and you get somewhere around 4 million yes? Assuming I work from my early 20s till my early 60s that means 40 years of working resulting in an earned total of 160 million yen. Divide by the average life expectancy of eighty and you get two million for a year."

"…That's merely the average worth then."

"And that is also as far one can go with statistical facts. Any more than that will most likely involve personal attachments and therefore inaccurate and up for debate."

She furrowed her brows.

"I wanted your opinions, not statistics."

He shrugged.

"If I succeed spectacularly in everything I'm interested in then a year might be worth more than a billion. If I fail miserably then each year will only be worth 1 yen. Otherwise somewhere in-between. Analysis concluded."

"You're incorrigible."

He shrugged again.

The two just lazed around until the class ended. There were actually a few people who tried their hands in analyzing their future worth… Hikigaya included. The writings of Hikigaya were something he took interest in, but there was nothing he could do considering the papers were already in the hand of Hiratsuka-sensei.

The bell signifying break has rung.

"Higashi Murasaki, follow me for a bit."

The teacher beckoned for him.

He crooked an eyebrow before deciding to play along. There was nothing wrong with following her for the moment. He doesn't care all that much about eating lunch when his taste buds constantly act strangely since his transmigration.

The two walked onwards towards the teacher's room. He hasn't the slightest idea why she would go to such a place with him tagging along. Maybe she wants to speak to him without the ears of students listening in. That sounds like a decent enough guess.

Hiratsuka-sensei went towards her desk and took a seat, gesturing for him to come closer.

"So, how is school treating you, Higashi?"

"Badly. The fact summer break will come in two days is the only saving grace keeping me alive."

She scoffed.

"Then have you made any friends lately?"

"Friends? What are those? Are they delicious?"

He delivered the line with lightning speed and a monotonous tone.

"…That one was my bad, should have expected that response."

"I have a feeling that sensei just somehow mocked me."

"Aren't you a person who doesn't care about things like that?"

"…Not that I'm saying you're wrong, but have I stated so something like that in the past?"

"It's on your behavior. They scream aloof and uncaring to an extent others are helpless about it."

"…You definitely just mocked me didn't you, sensei."

She just looked at him straight in the eyes without saying anything. It would have been discomforting if he did not see the sincerity within the gaze. Neither spoke of anything as they stared at one another. That lasted for another dozen seconds before she snapped.

"…Ah, I can't stand this. Higashi, follow me for a bit."

She took a plastic bag before walking out of the teacher's room. The obedient dog followed her words to the letter. The two walked up the staircase… and repeated it until they reached the locked door leading to the rooftop. Hiratsuka then took a key from her pocket and opened the lock.

"Do you always keep a key to the place with you?"

"The spare key is always with me."

He wanted to ask why she would bother with keeping something like that on hands all the time but his answer came without words, but actions.

Hiratsuka Shizuka took a cigarette pack from her plastic bag along with a lighter and put it on her mouth. Thinking back he couldn't exactly recall whether she smoked or not within the original series, but it seems she does.

She took a deep breath from the cigarette, before exhaling a mouthful of smoke. So it seems the reason she keeps a key for the rooftop is that she often visits it to smoke. Smoking within school grounds is certainly frowned upon according to what little common sense he has.

She seems to have noticed his interest in her actions.

"What's with that look? Don't tell me you suddenly want to be a busybody about my health."

"No… but I am certainly a bit jealous."

He looked to the sky once more. It was clear blue, with barely any cloud in it. This was certainly a good day to enjoy the outdoor life, whether you spend it passionately or lazily. Both options were equally good and balancing the two was probably the best idea.

"Jealous?"

"Yes, jealous… to be capable of deriving enjoyment from something like that."

"Live another few years and you'll grow to enjoy it too."

He shook his head. He was twenty-two in his past life before being suddenly transmigrated. He hasn't touched a single cigarette in years. Then again he has since lost the reason he quit times ago, so maybe he can start doing it again.

"…Can I have one then?"

She looked at him for a moment, before moving the plastic bag in her hand towards him, most likely telling him to take one for himself.

He shook his head before reaching out his hand. What he took wasn't the plastic bag, but the already-lit cigarette held on Hiratsuka's lips. He stole it from her, took it in his hands and without hesitation placed it on his lips before inhaling it.

She widened her eyes, tints of reds invading her cheeks. Only after a few seconds did she realize how she must have looked to him, as she turned around and hid her face.

"Y-you… have you ever smoked before?"

"…Who knows."

He certainly had, but he didn't know about Higashi Murasaki. Considering the way his lungs are acting it seems this was the first time this body inhaled the toxin though. He was barely holding himself from coughing up after such a deep breath because of his high Physique value.

He looked towards her who was facing away from him. From her tone, he could analyze that she was still flustered over the fact he took her cigarette and smoked it. After all, it certainly counts as an indirect kiss.

And yet he was nothing if not calm. There was no sense of turmoil from what he just did and neither embarrassment nor excitement affected his logical mind. He wonders since when had he stopped considering romance as anything meaningful. His lips slowly parted, words coming out on their own.

"I'm really the type of person… who couldn't be more hopeless in love."

She turned around towards him, looking at him with widened eyes.

"Was that… A cry for help?"

"…"

Another breath of toxin entering his lungs.

Another drop of poison that is slowly sinking in.

He simply breathed more of the cigarette as the teacher continued to sternly stare at him.

Neither seems willing to fold. The stalemate lasted for a minute or maybe two before Higashi sighed.

"Sensei, have you ever lost someone you loved?"

"Of course. You're not the only one who has felt pain in your life."

"Then wouldn't you understand a well? "

"The pain of being unable to see their smile ever again."

"The pain of being unable to say sorry for the times you have wronged them."

"The pain of knowing you cannot state how much you love them now that they're gone."

Two people most likely come to mind with Hiratsuka. On the other hand, there was but one person on the mind of Higashi. A normal-looking girl with black hair and brown eyes, wearing disheveled clothing and a frown on her face.

Even now he can remember her clearly.

Would he ever forget her?

"Fearing that you might forget them."

"Fearing that you might lose others as well."

"Fearing that maybe… maybe tomorrow you'll wake up and have no reason to get out of bed."

He looked straight at her eyes.

"That maybe it would be better to follow after them."

Those all said and done he looked away with a sigh. It has been a while since he made a speech like this. It really wasn't his style to face things head-on in such a straightforward manner.

Ah, the sun was bright.

…but she was brighter, wasn't she?