Chapter 5: Panty Notes and Hallway Clashes

Kamizawa High – Monday Morning.

It started with whispers. Then stares. Then an entire classroom buzzing like a beehive about to explode.

“Hey… did you hear?”

“About Zako-sensei?”

“Yeah. They say three girls are after him.”

“No way. Who’d want that lazy old guy?”

“…Every girl in 2-B, apparently.”

By second period, the rumor had mutated like a virus:

> “Zako-sensei’s got a secret harem.”

“He’s dating a kendoka, an honor student, and a track queen at the same time!”

Meanwhile, the man at the center of the storm was half-asleep at his desk, tie loose, reading a paperback titled 101 Ways to Quit Teaching Without Starving.

…Kids are cruel, Zakaki thought, sipping canned coffee. And apparently imaginative as hell.

---

The chaos really began at lunch.

Zako opened his faculty locker, expecting cigarettes and peace. Instead, a strip of deep blue fabric slid out, landing in his hand.

A kendo headband.

His brow furrowed. What the hell…?

There was writing on it in bold black marker:

> “A true warrior never runs away from a rematch. ♥”

Next to the words was a tiny doodle of a blushing chibi girl holding a shinai.

Zako pinched the bridge of his nose. “…Kageri.”

As if on cue, a voice yelled from the hall:

“Sensei! Don’t forget to STRETCH before our next match! Wouldn’t want you pulling something at your age!”

Heads turned. Mitsumi stood there in her gym bloomers, shinai slung across her shoulder, flashing him a smug grin.

Boys drooled. Girls glared. The hallway camera probably had enough blackmail for years.

---

While the hallway buzzed with Mitsumi’s theatrics, Minami had her own stage set.

She walked silently toward the faculty office, a stack of literature club papers in hand. Her uniform was impeccable, skirt just within regulation. Her expression? Ice. Pure, perfect ice.

Until—

“Ah—!”

She stumbled, papers flying like snow. Her knees hit the floor. Books scattered. And her skirt flipped just enough to flash a sliver of lace against pale thigh.

Gasps erupted.

Boys froze mid-step.

Zako, emerging from the office, crouched down instantly. “You okay?”

Minami’s breath hitched. Her glasses slid down her nose as she looked up through her lashes. “Sensei… thank you.”

He handed her the papers, completely unfazed. “Watch your step next time.”

Then he walked away.

Behind him, Minami’s fingers curled around the fabric of her skirt. Her cheeks burned. Her thoughts whispered like a storm:

He touched my hand… It’s fine. I’ll make him notice properly. Soon.

---

Afternoon P.E. was sweltering.

The track field shimmered with heat. Girls jogged, boys watched, and Chihiro Arima, queen of chaos, grinned like a fox with gasoline.

Under her team jacket, bold letters sprawled across her tank top:

“I ♥ TAKKUN.”

All caps. Bright red. No shame.

She stretched slowly, deliberately, making sure the jacket slipped lower… lower… until the writing peeked out like a forbidden secret.

“Holy shit, does that say—”

“Bro… it says Takkun. Isn’t that Sensei?!”

Cue the sound of fifty phones being unlocked under desks later.

Meanwhile, Zako approached the track with his usual slouch, clipboard in hand, completely unaware.

“Arima. Jacket zipped. Now.”

She pouted. “Aww, you saw already? Guess I can’t surprise you twice.”

Boys howled. Girls screamed. Mitsumi, spying from the kendo hall, nearly broke her shinai in half.

Minami, watching through the library window, gripped her pen so hard it snapped.

---

The Rumor Bomb Explodes

By the final bell, the entire school was on fire.

> “Kageri left him a love charm!”

“Agatsuma flashed him in the hall!”

“Arima’s basically announcing they’re engaged!”

Hashtags started trending on ClassLine group chats:

#SenseiHarem

#TeamTakkun

#KendoVsTrackVsLibrary

---

Zako sat at his desk, chain-smoking like a noir detective. Papers rustled. Voices whispered outside the door.

Then three shadows fell across the threshold.

Mitsumi. Arms crossed, hair tied tight, still in sweaty gym gear.

Minami. Calm as ice, glasses gleaming, holding a suspicious book titled Love Obsession Psychology.

Chihiro. Ponytail swaying, tank top still screaming her affection in bold letters.

They stepped inside. Together.

The room temperature plummeted.

“Sensei,” Mitsumi said, voice sharp. “About those rumors—”

“They’re… troublesome,” Minami added coolly, sliding the book onto his desk.

“Ne, Takkun~,” Chihiro sang, “should we tell them the truth?”

Zako stared at them for a long moment.

Then stood, hands in his pockets.

“…All of you. Rooftop. Now.”

--

Of course, nothing goes smoothly.

As the trio bickered on the way up—

“Move your fat ass, Chihiro!”

“Excuse me? These thighs win races!”

“Both of you. Quiet,” Minami snapped—

Zako turned the corner and suddenly froze.

Because Mitsumi tripped.

Into Minami.

Into Chihiro.

Which resulted in three girls toppling like dominos… right onto him.

He hit the landing flat on his back, groaning.

And when he opened his eyes, the view was pure fanservice hell:

Mitsumi straddling his waist, face redder than a stoplight.

Chihiro pressed against his left side, tank top riding dangerously low.

Minami sprawled across his chest, glasses askew, skirt flipped halfway up.

Dead silence.

Then—

“KYAAAAAAAAA!!!”

The scream shook the entire staircase.

---

Meanwhile – Boys’ Group Chat

> Hiro: Bro. Someone said Sensei fell under the Big Three.

Ken: Wtf does that mean.

Hiro: Like… he’s literally under them. Like in anime.

Ken: I’m uninstalling life.

---