That’s How I Got Sensei’s Number

I got a text from Yoshi asking me to go to a newly opened barbecue restaurant. I decided to accept his offer since I knew he would have texted me nonstop if I didn’t tag along.

When I arrived, Yoshi had already gotten us a table and ordered some meat.

“Mmm. Delicious!”

It was definitely delicious. After our first set, we ordered more meat.

“So, are you still talking to that girl online?”

During the holiday, I had been in contact with this girl from Europe online. She was about my age, and she was really pretty.

“Ah. No. She already has a boyfriend.”

“Damn. That sucks. Maybe next time.”

“I don’t know if there will be a next time.”

“You and me both.”

To our surprise, Sensei was standing next to our table. She was in a stunning blue dress. I will admit that it fit her quite well and accentuated her body nicely. She was also wearing her round-shaped, blue-framed glasses and high heels. To finish her look, she was carrying a black handbag with her.

“Sensei?”

“Mind if I sit?”

“Please do!”

She sat down next to Yoshi, who seemed a bit too excited to see Sensei (I could tell he was excited because he was trying to hide it by placing a napkin on his lap). On the other hand, I was a bit uncomfortable. I had recently learnt that Sensei was the person who saved me from drowning. I knew her voice sounded familiar, but I didn’t expect to find out that the angel that saved me that day was my school’s nurse. After Karou mentioned it to me the other day, I couldn’t help but wonder if Sensei recognised me. If she did, how would that change our relationship? Would things be awkward between us? I probably wouldn’t be able to look her in the eyes anymore.

“Sensei, I must say you look very beautiful today.”

“Thank you, Muto-san.”

“Is there a special reason for why you dressed up like this?”

“I was actually supposed to have a date today, but they never arrived.”

“Oh. That’s horrible.”

So Sensei was here for a date. Interesting.

“They didn’t even text me that they couldn’t make it.”

“I can’t believe someone would just ghost you on your first date with them.”

“It’s happened before. I guess I keep picking the wrong men. Maybe I’m just not attractive to them.”

“Perhaps they don’t have a good taste in women.”

Those words suddenly blurted out of my mouth. Sensei was surprised to hear me say that, and frankly, so was I.

“Where did that come from?” She said, covering her face to hide her blushes.

“Waiter! We’re going to need more meat over here!” Yoshi shouted

“Yep!”

As we ate, I tried to avoid eye contact with Sensei; I felt that it would be very awkward to do so. After a few more plates of meat, we were very full.

“I’m going to go to the toilet quickly.”

Yoshi stood up and left the table, leaving Sensei and me alone. I had the urge to get up and follow him in order to avoid a conversation with her, but it seemed like she had noticed I was trying to avoid her and spoke first.

“Kurosawa.”

“Yes?”

“You have been trying to refrain from interacting with me, haven’t you?”

It was at this moment that I knew I was screwed.

“Why would you say that?”

She sighed, then stood up from her seat. She was taller than me due to her heels, which made me feel like she was the dominant one. “You know what? Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you soon, Kurosawa.”

Before she left, she placed some cash on the table. I also found a piece of paper on top of it. It had a phone number on it. Was this Sensei’s phone number? Why would she leave this here? Was this for me? In the end, I decided to take it home with me.

I couldn’t believe this was Sensei’s number. I even had to shine a light on it to confirm it was a phone number. It took me a few minutes to decide what to do with it, but eventually, I inserted the number into my phone and sent a message. I waited for a response. The wait was unbearable.

I must have fallen asleep whilst waiting, since the next thing I knew, it was the next morning. However, there was still no reply. I contemplated the idea that it was a prank, a way for Sensei to get back at me for ignoring her yesterday. But then I got a notification.

“Good morning, Kurosawa. Yes, this is Takanashi Riho. Are you available tomorrow?”

A sense of disbelief washed over me as I realised that the number was real. I was also a bit confused about why she was asking if I was available tomorrow.

“Yes, I am.”

“Good. Meet me outside the station at 1pm.”

Curiosity gnawed at me, wondering what could prompt Sensei to request a meeting at the train station tomorrow. A teacher and a student meeting at a place so far removed from the realm of the classroom was odd enough, but after remembering what she said earlier, I thought it couldn’t be a coincidence that she was asking to meet me.

My heart rate increased suddenly as I heard a faint but unmistakable voice whispering just inches behind me. “Who’s that?”

Startled, I turned around abruptly and saw my sister crouched behind me on my bed.

“How did you get inside? Did you phase through the wall?”

“No, you idiot. I entered through the door like a normal human being.”

“I didn’t hear you enter.”

“You should get your ears checked then. Anyway, who are you texting? Is it a girl? Oh my god, my younger brother got a girl’s number!”

“It’s not like that!”

“I’m so proud of you!”

“Onee-san!”

“Karou-chan! Karou-chan! Sozen managed to get a girl’s number! You better confess your hidden feelings for him, or else she’s going to steal him from you! Oh wait, she’s not even here right now. Silly me.”

“Can you please shut up?”

“Why are you hiding it from me? Let me see it.”

Like a squirrel, she snatched the phone from my hands.

“Hey! Give it back!”

“Let me see who it is. Takanashi Riho. Who is that?”

“It’s my high school’s nurse.”

“You got the school nurse’s number? Nice! I didn’t know you were into older women.”

“Stop it! She just gave me her number because she wanted to talk to me about something.”

“From the looks of it, it looks like she’s asking you out on a date.”

I knew Sensei wasn’t asking me out on a date, but when she said that, from then on, I couldn’t help but think of it as a date.

“Do you have a picture of her? Let me see it.”

“Stop!”

I finally managed to take the phone back from her.

“Can you stop looking into my private life?”

“I’m your older sister. It’s my job to know what my little brother is doing.”

“Don’t you have somewhere to be, like a party or something? Come on, out you go.”

“Hey! Don’t push me. I’ll leave, okay?”

After some struggle, I managed to remove my sister from my room. After that, I prepared myself for my meet-up with Sensei.