Kirisaki and Kirishima

"Are you really a relative of Ms. Tachima, or is there something you're not telling us?"

Yamada instantly retorted, "Umm, what are you trying to say?"

Yamada was genuinely shocked by what he heard. Kirishima Minoru, however, simply smirked at Yamada's reply and said, "Well, you know, a man's hunch. Hahaha."

Yamada just stared at him, wondering how such a thought had even crossed his mind.

After the two exchanged their words, Kirisaki cut in.

"Mr. Minoru, I advise you not to meddle in the affairs of others, even if you are their teacher."

Yamada was startled by Kirisaki Tsubaki's sudden defense.

Kirishima Minoru then addressed Yamada Naoto.

"I'm sorry for bringing that up. I was just personally curious, you know. Ha ha, even though I knew I shouldn't have."

Yamada Naoto looked at him with piercing, yet doubtful, eyes.

Kirishima Minoru added, "And also, that thing about the teachers suspecting you and Miss Tachima? That was a story I just made up. Hahaha."

"..."

"..."

"..."

The three of them were speechless for a minute, then reacted in unison with the same word and tone.

"HUH!?" "HUH!?" "HUH!?"

"Hahaha, I was just curious, personally, so I opened this topic. Ha ha, my bad. I hope it didn't make you two feel bad."

Tachima Kanade looked at Kirishima Minoru with an irritated expression and snapped, "Tsk. I'm going out. Don't any of you follow me!"

Tachima Kanade stormed out, irritated not just with the doctor but with the rest of them.

This time, it was Yamada Naoto who tried to catch up to her. Meanwhile, the only people left in Tachima Kanade and Yamada Naoto’s house were Kirisaki Tsubaki and the newly hired teacher, Kirishima Minoru.

The two didn't speak to each other for a minute, but then Kirishima Minoru initiated the conversation.

"So, looks like we're the only ones left, huh?"

Kirisaki Tsubaki, who would typically reply quickly and politely, merely stared at Kirishima Minoru with a piercing gaze. Noticing this, Kirishima Minoru didn't act confused or ask about it; he just laughed softly and spoke to Kirisaki Tsubaki.

"You don't have to stare at me like that, Miss Kirisaki."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Kirishima. You have the same name as someone I know, so I thought it was you."

"Is that so? What does he look like?"

"No, nothing. I guess we shouldn't talk about that now. Instead, let's go find the two of them."

As Kirisaki Tsubaki stood up from where she was sitting, Kirishima Minoru spoke to her.

"Kirisaki Tsubaki, the eldest daughter of Kirisaki Tenzo, and the heir of the Kirigumi clan, is that right?"

After Kirishima Minoru said that, he finished his statement with a questioning tone and an irritating smile. When Kirisaki Tsubaki heard this, she turned her face toward Kirishima Minoru, who was still sitting on the tatami floor, her face wide with shock.

"Ho-how did you—"

Kirisaki Tsubaki added, "So, you really are that Kirishima Minoru?"

Kirishima Minoru just smiled, but with a devious one.

"Well, it turns out, I am."

TO BE CONTINUED...