Chapter 244 — Being Ignored For Months

‘Gulp.’

Kei stared at the name glowing on his phone screen and swallowed hard. His throat felt dry.

After a deep breath to steady himself, he answered it.

“G-Good evening, Sensei. Is there… something you need from me?” he said, forcing his voice to sound polite.

“Oh, Aoki,” Hiratsuka’s familiar voice came through the speaker, her voice sound casual and smooth… but beneath it, Kei could feel the storm brewing.

“Looks like you’re enjoying yourself over there, huh?”

Hearing that makes him have a cold sweat slid down his back.

“Ah, y-yes, Now that I think about it, sensei! Have you eaten yet? It’s already pass dinner time, right? You shouldn’t skip meals—”

“Oh! What about that ramen place in Kibeya you always mention? You love that one, don’t you? You should treat yourself tonight!”

He spoke rapidly, hoping to divert her attention.

There was a short pause.

Then, to his surprise Hiratsuka-sensei still answer.

“…That’s a good idea,” Hiratsuka said, sounding almost amused.

Kei felt hope flicker. “Right? Exactly! That’s why—”

“You mean like how you treated yourself to wagyu A5 beef on your first day there?” she cut him off smoothly.

The way she said it with a sweet tone, deadly undertone sent a chill straight through him.

“Ahh how about, that ice cream that you had with the others? Or when you enter that eating challenge?”

The message behind her words was clear: ‘So you had time to goofing around but not to answer my texts?’

“You’ve got guts ignoring me, brat.”

“N-No, Sensei, it’s not like that—”

“Oh? So now you’re begging for your life?”

Kei blinked. “Sensei, this is the first time I ever heard some said that in real life.”

“…Huh?” Her tone dropped, cold enough to freeze the phone signal.

“I really forgot my phone, I swear! I have this habit of not checking it when I’m focused on something!” Kei blurted out, bowing even though she couldn’t see him.

“Please don’t hit me!”

There was silence on the line for a few seconds, long enough for Kei to start planning his funeral.

“Sigh.” Finally, he heard her sigh. “...At least you’re alive. I guess that’s fine.”

Kei let out a long sigh of relief, finally feeling like he’d survived a natural disaster.

“Then, Sensei… what was it that you wanted to talk about?” he asked cautiously.

For a moment, there was no reply.

Only silence.

Kei blinked. “…Sensei?”

He glanced down at his phone, wondering if the call had dropped—
when suddenly, her voice came through again.

“N-No, the call’s fine! I just… wanted to check on you, that’s all!” Hiratsuka said, her tone oddly flustered.

Kei froze, confused. “Eh? Check on me?”

“I-I mean, don’t get the wrong idea!” she stammered, clearly trying to cover it up. “You know, with all that… stuff going around about your band’s allegations and whatnot!”

“You have been quiet for sometimes, so I just though you need some space and that’s all.”

Kei’s eyes widened slightly. He hadn’t expected her to bring that up.

“So… you know about that, Sensei?”

“What are you talking about? Of course I know!” she replied immediately.

“I’ve been following your music ever since I found out you were Suki! As your teacher, I should at least give you some moral support, right?”

Her tone was proud but awkward, she embarrassed fangirl trying not to admit she’s been streaming his songs at night with wine.

Kei chuckled softly, the tension in his shoulders easing.

“Well… thank you, Sensei. That actually means a lot.”

“What are you even saying? This much is normal, right?” Hiratsuka replied, her tone half-defensive, half-proud.

Kei gave a small laugh. “Well, a normal teacher usually checks in on all their students, not just one.”

There was a pause. Then came a long, weary sigh from the other end.

“Well, that’s the sad part about being a public worker,” Hiratsuka muttered. “Even if you want to keep an eye on everyone, there are always one or two who slip away.”

Her voice softened at the end, almost wistful.

For Hiratsuka, what first drew her to Kei—or rather, to Suki’s—music wasn’t just the melody or lyrics.

It was that one song: “She Was Alive, Wasn’t She.”

That was the first time she’d truly noticed him—not as a student, but as someone struggling with something far deeper.

When that song hit the internet during his first controversy, she’d listened to it over and over, trying to decipher what kind of pain was behind those words.

And when she found out it was him—her own student—she’d been ready to storm into school the next day and interrogate him on the spot.

But instead…

‘This brat,’ she thought bitterly, grinding her teeth. ‘He pretended to be sick that day just to dodge me!’

If anyone told her she was “overthinking,” she’d want to slap them.

How could someone write a song that sounded like a suicide note and expect her not to worry—even a little?

After seeing that he looks like can handle it on his own, she decided to observe him for now.

And told herself he needed space, so she waited for him to just come.

And waited. Waited and wait, then The New Year came and went.

Then, just when she thought she could stop waiting anymore, that brat announced he’d be doing events abroad and asked for even more time off after winter break.

If they hadn’t been in public at the time, she probably would’ve punched Kei on the spot.

'Is that the attitude you should hold for your teacher!?'

'Do you have any idea how precious time is when you’re almost thirty?'

'I could’ve been married by now if it weren’t for you!'

Just remembering it made her temple twitch.

The urge to unleash her finishing move the legendary Hiratsuka Fist of Guidance burned hot in her palms.