Side Story 36: A Sensei’s Duty.

Side Story 36: A Sensei’s Duty.

Yo, Kyouya, lets go already!

Mhmph?

Stop eating! Come on! Well be late for that tournament if you keep stuffing your cheeks with pockies and melonpans! Argh, come on!

Hmm, they sure were different when they were kids, huh?

Tokyo, oh, Tokyo. I was born and raised in Yokohama in the Kanagawa prefecture, so a trip to Japans capital only took around 40 minutes. As a teacher who worked in Tokyo, that still meant I needed a total of 80 minutes to commute from home to my workplace and to return. Considering I had to wake up early at 6 AM and get ready to go to work, it was still extremely inconvenient for me, but money was money, right?

However, after only reliving my time on Earth through my memories all this time, it was a sight for sore eyes for me to see the familiar buildings and sights of a modern Japanese city. You could call me nostalgic. My garm mother showed me my home again, but I still felt surprised to see Earth through the memories of one of my students.

Come on, run! Lets go!

Haaa, yeah! Ahaa, I cant, Tatsuya. Its too hot!

What was even more surprising was that one of my students was dreaming and inspecting his memories when he was still an elementary schooler. Specifically, these were Kyouyas memories of when he was still a kid.

I knew Tatsuya and Kyouya were childhood friends, but I didnt know much else from that. I was their teacher, yes, and while I could say we had a nice enough relationship to be called friends, I still had to keep a certain distance since I was their teacher. I couldnt be too close, otherwise, people would talk about it. My position as a teacher was too important for me to jeopardize it.

Now, that I wasnt their teacher anymore since my human self who was employed as a teacher had died I could proudly say my former students were my friends. Still, I had no idea about their pasts. I didn't know what Kyouya faced before he became my student.

Kyouya, left, left, left! Normal special. Grab, dude!

Gottem, gottem, gottem! Hey, hey, hey, keep him off the ledge!

The two friends were playing in an arcade right now, spamming buttons on some arcade game I had no idea about. They had joined a tournament to earn some tickets for something, and were now playing against other kids their age. Moments later, they won.

That fatty really did it?! Clutch!

Ah, come on, how was that clutch? Tatsuya led him around like a puppet with his shot-calling. No way can he think without the other. Like some pawn.

Unfortunately, snickers were coming from the audience. Not only from elementary kids, but also young teenagers and high schoolers. While they praised Tatsuya, most of them were being rude to Kyouya.

Children could be cruel, especially if there was something they could bully you for. In Kyouyas case, as a kid, it seemed he was quite overweight. In addition, from what I saw, he had an eating disorder, as the moment the two boys won, he would take out snacks they just bought from a combini a convenience store.

Come on, dont let them get to you.

Mhmm. Yeah Kyouya nodded to Tatsuyas wide smile, trying to comfort his best friend. However, Kyouya just cowered from everybody and began eating some pockies. I got nothing to worry about with you around. Well win this, alright!

Yeah!

And they did. They won the whole tournament, even beating some older kids. The two friends cheered as they got their tickets, but they didnt stay inside the arcade for too long. Smart, since the snickering and backhanded jokes on behalf of Kyouyas appearance was increasing more and more.

The two kids escaped to a nearby park, resting themselves on the grass in the shade of a tree. It was summer, so they were sweating a bit. For a couple of kids with CEOs as fathers, they really acted like any other elementary kid I knew about. It seemed they had a good childhood.

Cant believe you got that last hit off. That was too close! I really thought you would die right there. Kyouya grinned as he praised Tatsuyas gaming skills.

What? Ha! Of course I wouldnt blow it at the finals! As if, dude, haha! But Tatsuyas boastful expression quickly vanished as his smile fell into a frown. The atmosphere between the two changed. Mhmm. Not when this is our last day together. I had to give it my all.

I didnt want to leave. One of Kyouyas lingering thoughts resounded in this dream of his. This was his real thought.

From the look of it, Kyouyas father wasnt the CEO of his company at this time. For his promotion, he was requested to lead the opening of a new branch. However, this branch was located in a different prefecture, and due to the importance of his job, he decided it would be best for him and his family to move. And looking at the future, this decision allowed him to secure his familys financial security.

However, this meant Kyouya and Tatsuya had to say their goodbyes. Sure, they had phones and computers, but to those two boys, being able to meet in person and going to the arcade was what their friendship was about. Tatsuya played tough when Kyouya cried, but I could see the former tearing up a bit, also.

Stay strong, alright, Kyouya! If somebody calls you fat or whatever, just give me a call, alright? Ill have my mom drive me over and Ill give them

I know, but dont alright! The people at the arcade are right. I have to stop relying on you so much. Dont worry about me, Tatsuya! When we meet again during summer, Ill show you how much better I got in the arcade, yeah?

Deal!

However, the flashbacks told a different story. Bullied not only by his new schoolmates but also his cousins who lived close to the city his father worked at. They body shamed him, which caused him to gain even more weight as he tried to eat his stress away. A fact I knew quite a bit from my time as a teacher, but due to all the stress, I lost more weight despite how much I ate.

Eventually, his father bought him a membership and also a personal trainer to help him out with his weight. Kyouya disliked it at first, but he quickly grew fond of the burn. However, during this time, from all the training, Kyouya decided to not visit Tatsuya during summer or even for winter break. They were still friends, but it seemed they drifted off a bit.

You would like to join the track team?

Yes, please!

During his last year of elementary school, Kyouya began to participate in sport clubs, which he continued even into middle school. He was changing, not only physically but also mentally. His interest in otaku activities slowly dwindled and he was becoming more and more a training enthusiast.

Looks good. Feel good. Cant hate this, right? Kyouya told himself as he inspected himself, but, as his teacher I had the responsibility to not look at him when he was half-naked. Just a bit more bulking, and nobody can say anything anymore. Last bits of fat and Ill look reliable as hell. Yup! Gotta keep on going.

It was only when Kyouyas family moved back to Tokyo in his last year of middle school where his interest in games was reignited when he reunited with Tatsuya. The two friends had a lot to catch up on, even if they met often on social media. However, not only Kyouya but Tatsuya also changed during all those years. He wasnt addicted to coffee when he was a kid, but when the two friends met again, Tatsuya had his usual coffee thermos with him.

I should have stayed! I should have told Papa I wanted to stay!

Why didnt you tell me, Tatsuya? Why did I

The two friends made up and even acted like extremely good friends again, however, from the sound of Kyouyas thoughts, it seemed they kept some distance between each for a while. Even into high school, where I became their teacher.

For a long time, Tatsuya hadnt told Kyouya about the court case between his mother and Akabanes father, which so happened to have occurred in that very month the two met again. Kyouya didnt seem to hold much of a grudge, but it seemed he had some lingering regrets at not being relied on.

And then, Peolynca happened. A magic circle appeared and transported my whole class to this world, all while I probably died. I saw my students talk about me being late. I still had memories of leaving the house and being in the teachers lounge, but I couldnt find out how I died in this memory. A shame.

Ive seen enough. I couldnt watch Tatsuya sabotage himself any longer. With no intention of allowing him to continue this alone, I grabbed his arm and disarmed him in one quick move. Tatsuyas looked shocked as he noticed me, before I released his hand.

S-Sens

Enough is enough. Three weeks have passed at this point and you are still stuck in this ridiculous loop of yours. Wake up, Tatsuya-kun.

He tilted his head. He was confused at what was going on. Spending three weeks in this fantasy of his probably corrupted his brain and sense of reality.

Oh goodness I facepalmed myself before I thought what Kronnaz had been doing, believing this was the best path for these boys to grow. Such a barbaric method of teaching was just idiotic!

There was only one way to deal with this and that was the right way.

Mother, please assist me.

[Just as I showed you.]

The first thing I learned from Belzac [Shadow Armament] expansion. Instead of covering a single item or a person, the next step for strong monsters was to expand their elemental presence around the area. To give yourself a home advantage wherever you fought, you needed to spread your elemental mana into the very land itself.

Shadow Armament. Yomi! (Japanese underworld)

With Mother helping me control my shadow around a wide area, I began to cloak Tatsuyas dream in a dark veil. Using what I learned from using [Smokey Haze], it was actually pretty easy to spread the [Shadow Armament] around, but it became harder the further it went. It would become unstable.

And that was why I needed Mothers help with this. Similar to an elementalist, or how Hanazawa could use dark spells with her garm onnikais, Mother was helping me by stabilizing my control until I became more adept with it. To ensure I wrapped this whole area in my shadow.

And once I did, I could play around using the law of my shadow manipulation. As long as things were covered in my shadow, I could manipulate them in any way I wanted. And in this case, I grabbed the ground and began merging Kyouyas and Tatsuyas dreams together.

Woah! Woah, Sensei?!

The world became dark for a moment until the light re-appeared for all of us. The first thing I did when I could see again was to snap my eyes towards a single person.

Kyouya-kun! Look up!

Huh? HUH?! Sen

Give me a moment. Yomi!

Once again, I spread my mana around, this time-consuming Kyouyas whole dream before landing on the ground. Grabbing the ground, I pulled the shadow up into the sky, shrouding everything like a curtain. Darkness had claimed out sight once again.

Please, take a seat, you two.

H-Huh?!

But in the next moment, we werent in the darkness anymore. We werent in the training field where Kyouya was or the street where Tatsuya wanted to kill Franz. However, we were still in their dreams. The only difference was, the two dreams were now merged and I did some temporary changes.

Now, we were inside a very familiar room for any Shiroko High student. We were inside the counselor's room.

I took a seat on the couch. Please, take a seat.

Huh, where are we Woah! Sensei, there is a ghost garm behind you! Tatsuya cried out.

Oh, she? Let me introduce you two to her, this is my mother. I gestured to Mother, who was laying behind the couch, barely fitting in the room. Now, please, take a seat, you two.

H-Hold on, I was just inside a forest. Then you two came flying from the sky

Take a seat.

Eep!

Some [True Wolven Bloodlust] and you can cajole anybody~

With both of them seated, I allowed them to ask their questions.

Sensei, where are we? I thought I was still Kyouya wanted to speak out but he became silent all of a sudden.

If you are wondering if you are still inside your dreams, then, yes, you are. Both of you have been stuck inside this dream bubble for three weeks now, I answered to push the conversation forward.

Three weeks?! You have to be kidding me Urgh, n-now, I remember. Tatsuya looked away from me, looking like he was ashamed of himself. I-I T-That wasnt me, Sensei. I hate Daisy, b-but I wouldnt. I wouldnt do that, please, you have to believe me.

Mhmm, I do, Tatsuya.

You do?

Of course, there are many things we would not want to show others in fear of them judging us. It is an entirely normal human action. I nodded to Tatsuyas elation. After all, looking through the memories of the both of you I really have to question the things you both mastur

Stop! Uwaarrrrgh!!! Both boys cringed. We were all adults here, there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

After the two calmed down, Tatsuya was the first to speak up, again. Alright, alright, I really dont want to go that way, but can you tell us why the hell you would just look through our memories?

Oh, I was not the one who was looking through your memories. At worst, my mother looked through them and was trying to share them with me. Believe me, I sure did not want to learn your fetishes. Both boys groaned, but I ignored them. In any case, the two of you were showing me your memories by reliving them. As I said, you have been here for three weeks now. It is time for the both of you to wake up, so that is why I am here.

How will you help us? Kyouya asked, slightly hesitant to know the answer.

I smiled and then began gesturing around the room, presenting it as my reply. Shouldnt it be obvious? It has been a while since we have done one, but I believe you two need it, right now. Let us talk about your future~

It was career, slash, Job counseling time.