My first stop was Shio’s room. When I arrived there, she was lying lazily on her couch with a light novel in her hand. She’s reading a new title she bought recently.

Given that she’s letting everyone off after a quick review and reminders, she’s kinda free for the rest of the day.

I joined her there and gave her a lap pillow while she focused on the book. Or so I thought.

It didn’t take long for her to put it down at her chest while she looked up at me, her eyes filled with meaningful affection.

“Ruru, I like to keep you here with me but I know how hectic your schedule will be. Are you sure you want to stay a little longer?”

I gently fixed the fringes of her hair while I admired the beauty of her gradually reddening face. I don’t know if she’s feeling embarrassed from this gesture or just because we’re staring at each other like this. Either way, I couldn’t resist planting my lips on hers before replying.

“Mhm. Let me be selfish for a bit, alright? You’re being considerate again, after all.”

“Geez. It’s not about being considerate or not, Ruru. I just know you cannot set aside the things you had lined up.”

Yeah. That’s being considerate, alright. But then again, she’s doing it for me. Despite knowing I had other things to do, I still dared to choose visiting her first.

For sure, even Ryouko-san would act the same even if she asked me to see her earlier.

As for Orimura-sensei? Well, maybe she’ll make some excuse of just sealing my lips and then let me go as well.

In any case, since this week would truly be hectic for me, I guess I had to manage myself properly. That way, I could squeeze time for them. And not just for my three lovely teachers but to all of my girls.

“Right. Right, I’ll listen to my Shio then. But first, how’s that new book? A new series?”

“Oh... This? Hehe. This is a new release from the author of ‘that book’.”

“That book? Oh... you mean the one you’re reading that day and became the catalyst to our relationship.” With a grin, I intentionally described it like that.

And sure enough, Shio’s reaction was a pout before covering her face with the book.

Moments later, she slid it down and met my gaze again, “You don’t have to describe like that, idiot Ruru.”

“Why not? It’s a special book. For us, at least.”

“Ugh... Shut up, Ruru. It is special. And I’ll forever treasure it. But let’s get back to this book, okay?”

“Sure. Tell me. What’s its story like? Did the author pick another taboo relationship?”

“That kind of genre is her specialty. Of course, it’ll be about another taboo relationship.”

Upon saying that, she covered half her face again with a book as she continued, “This time it involves time travel.”

“Heh. Time travel and taboo relationship? Let me guess, teacher and student again?”

“No! Not this time. It’s between relatives,” Shio said, lowering the book just enough for me to see the mischief in her eyes. “The heroine accidentally travels back to when her parents were still teenagers and ends up falling for her own uncle. Yet the uncle she knew from the future was a shut-in.”

I blinked. “That’s... an impressively interesting setting.”

Shio giggled, flipping a page with her thumb. “Isn’t it? The author even picked a female heroine this time. It’s only the first volume and I had no idea about the goal... The time travel wasn’t permanent either. She would go back to the present whenever she fell asleep. It’s like there’s now no concept of sleep rest for her."

Like this, Shio continued telling me about the interesting points of her book. Of course, I made sure by asking her that I wasn’t disturbing her. The woman just giggled, saying she only had a few minutes with me. She’d rather spend it talking to me than ignore me for the book.

Yeah... Who will not fall further in love with her?

A few minutes later, I reluctantly peeled myself away from Shio’s warmth.

"Ruru," She murmured as she watched me stand up, "...don’t forget to breathe between all this running around, okay?"

I kissed her forehead, then her lips, before nodding, "You know your man, Shio. I’m inexhaustible."

"In bed, you mean." Her laughter followed me out the door.

I blew her a flying kiss before I pulled the door on my way out. Corny it might be, but the way she almost squealed was more than enough for me to keep repeating it.

After that, I checked on Orimura-sensei, who acted like she was not expecting me to come to her. But once I stepped into her room, she immediately pulled me down and pressed her lips against mine without a word.

She tasted like coffee, as usual. But it wasn’t bitter at all—just sweet and warm like the hidden side of her personality she only showed to me. Her arms wrapped around my neck while her legs locked around my waist, trapping me against her chair.

"Just five minutes," she murmured against my lips, sounding desperate despite her usual composed facade.

"Just five minutes," She murmured, sounding desperate despite her usual composed facade.

"Mhm. Did you miss me already, sensei? We were just together yesterday." I teasingly said.

"A silent five minutes!" She grumbled before sealing my lips again. I guess she didn’t want me to keep teasing her, huh? However, with the way she’s acting, it’s just so fun to see how she reacts.

When five minutes were up, she climbed down from me before once again acting indifferent, dismissing me with a flick of her hand. "You’re dismissed. Go bother someone else."

I chuckled, hugging her from behind and stealing one last kiss. "See you later, sensei."

She clicked her tongue, but I didn’t miss the way her fingers lingered on her lips as I exited her room.

It took a while before the grin plastered on my lips disappeared. Luckily, it was already gone when I reached the next room.

I gently knocked on the door, which was immediately answered by Ryouko-san’s muffled "Come in."

Inside, she was sitting at her desk, a laptop in front of her. Since there wouldn’t be any PE class for this week, she and Orimura-sensei are basically free now. So, she’s probably finishing up some reports to free herself for the festival days.

Of course, there’s still her duty as one of the Guidance Counselors but that’s already something she could handle later.

Right now, she looked up and paused when she saw me entering. The light in her eyes brightened as her lips curved up into a pleasant smile.

"Ruki-kun."

"Mhm. Sensei, I’m here. Am I in trouble for being late earlier?" I playfully asked, closing the door behind me before approaching her desk.

Ryouko-san’s fingers paused over her keyboard as she tilted her head, pretending to consider my question seriously.

"You’re always in trouble, Ruki-kun. But today? I’ll let you off. Unless..." Her smile turned mischievous. "You’d like me to punish you?"

I laughed, circling her desk to stand behind her chair. "Depends on the punishment, sensei. If it’s another round of detention where I’m locked in here with you, I might start arriving late intentionally."

I wrapped my arms around her shoulders from behind, pressing a kiss to the top of her head before murmuring against her hair, "Though I’d never take advantage of your leniency, sensei. You know I respect your authority too much for that. If I arrive late again, don’t make an exception for me."

"Un. I knew you’d say that. But you know, why can’t I give my ’Student Assistant’ a special treatment?" She tilted her head up to meet my gaze as her lips curved into a smirk.

This... If this were before our relationship became more defined, she’d probably never say that. But now, I have corrupted her too much.

"Ryouko-san, I’ll be filled with guilt if you get in trouble because of me."

"You shameless student, you only think of that now? We’re getting in trouble either way if our relationship is exposed," Ryouko-san teased, swiveling her chair to face me fully. Her fingers trailed up my chest, stopping just below my collar. "So, I don’t care anymore if others complain about my special treatment of you. Of course, I know how responsible you can be. You’d strive not to make me give you that special privilege."

Mhm. She’s right. I’d always be mindful not to get her in trouble by preventing myself from running late again. Of course, I can’t always guarantee it, given how delayed I can be with my insistence on escorting Akane and the others to their school and meeting up with the other girls before I make my way here.

But even so, Ryouko-san’s trust, her willingness to risk her reputation, made my chest tighten with something warm and heavy.

My hands found hers and squeezed them gently as I knelt before her chair.

"Responsible, huh? Then I’ll have to prove that reputation right." I lifted her hand to my lips, pressing a lingering kiss to her palm. "Starting with never letting you regret trusting me."

Ryouko-san proudly nodded before blushing, "I never will."

With that, she pulled me up again, planting her lips on mine.

For the next few minutes, we showered each other with affection.