Why the Hell are You Here, Teacher!? — Monologue of the Shadow Operator
Sanshokuin Sumireko is invisible. The plain library committee member with thick glasses and a braid—too pretty to approach, too quiet to notice, alone since middle school. She's spent three years perfecting the art of being unremarkable, and she has exactly one hobby: watching Kisaragi Amatsuyu.
She knows his gentle smile is a fabrication. She knows the kind, pure-hearted boy everyone adores is a mask for a cunning, calculating schemer who rains silent curses on his childhood friend even as he
Why the Hell are You Here, Teacher!? — Monologue of the Shadow Operator - Beneath the Mask of a Pure-Hearted Boy
The library after school was quiet again today.
From outside the window, the shouts of the sports clubs filtered in, swallowed by the thick walls and fading to nothing. Only the sound of turning pages marked the time in this room.
Sanshokuin Sumireko sat in her usual seat, second row from the window. Her thick, black-rimmed square glasses cast a shadow over the open book before her. Her black hair, braided, coiled tightly against her shoulders. A long navy skirt that fell twenty centimeters below the knee hung quietly along the legs of her chair.
To anyone looking, she was just a plain, unremarkable library committee member.
That was the perfect mask she had built for herself at this school.
Sumireko glanced at the library entrance from the edge of her book. Today, he was coming. The study session she had invited him to herself.
(...I'm nervous, aren't I.)
She murmured it in her mind and let out a small breath. On her lap rested her usual observation notebook. Today's schedule was written in meticulous handwriting.
[Study Session — Schedule]
[1. Japanese — Long-form reading comprehension (led by me)]
[2. English — Basic grammar (Kisaragi → Himawari)]
[3. Math — Quadratic functions (Kisaragi → Cosmos-senpai)]
[Note: Kisaragi touches his right ear when nervous. If this happens, insert a break.]
She wrote that much, then closed the notebook.
(Starting today, my intervention begins in earnest.)
The first step toward broadening his world.
Just then, the library door opened slowly.
The boy who appeared had sleep-tousled black hair. Kisaragi Amatsuyu. A hundred and seventy-two centimeters tall. Gentle brown eyes. An easygoing, unreliable smile.
Sumireko's heart skipped, just a little.
(He's here.)
Amatsuyu paused for a moment at the entrance, scanning the library. Then, spotting Sumireko, he hurried over.
"Sanshokuin-san, sorry to keep you waiting. I'm not too late, am I?"
He scratched his head, eyebrows drooping apologetically.
("Not too late," my foot.)
Sumireko murmured inwardly.
(Right now, he's thinking this: "Ugh, I actually came. Being alone with the plain library girl — what kind of torture is this? And of all places, the library. Nobody else around. What am I even supposed to talk about?")
Amatsuyu's gaze flicked to her braid for an instant, then darted away.
(Oh, he just looked at my hair and thought "lame.")
Sumireko analyzed coolly in her mind.
But her expression didn't change.
"No, I just arrived myself. Kisaragi-san, please, sit down."
She gestured to the seat across from her.
"Ah, yeah. Excuse me."
He pulled out the chair awkwardly and sat.
(Right now, he's thinking, "Oh man, this atmosphere — what do I do? Just smile, smile.")
Sumireko could read his inner voice as clearly as if it were written out for her.
The corner of his mouth twitched slightly. His fingers fidgeted restlessly beneath the desk.
(I should update my observation records.)
She opened her mental notebook.
[Observation Record — September, After School]
[Subject: Kisaragi Amatsuyu]
[Situation: Participating in a study session with the plain library committee member]
[Surface reaction: Polite greeting, smiling as he sits]
[Estimated inner thoughts: What a hassle, I want to go home, what is this girl thinking, don't tell me she likes me? Give me a break.]
(...That last part might be a bit of an overactive imagination on my part.)
Sumireko smiled wryly in her mind.
"Um, Sanshokuin-san."
He spoke up hesitantly.
"What is it?"
"Uh, today really is a study session, right? Like, just the two of us?"
A faint wariness crept into his voice.
(Well, of course. If a plain girl suddenly invites you to a study session and says it's just the two of you, you'd be on guard.)
Sumireko shook her head slightly.
"No. In a little while, two more people will be joining us."
"Huh? Two more?"
His eyes blinked in surprise.
"Yes. Hinata Aoi-san from your class, and Akino Sakura-senpai from third year."
In that instant, his expression changed completely.
(Ah — something just burst inside him.)
Sumireko didn't miss the shift.
"H-Himawari and Cosmos-senpai!? Why!?"
His voice jumped an octave.
(Why the hell are Himawari and Cosmos-senpai coming here!? Wait wait, did I actually fix my bedhead today? And more importantly, did this plain girl seriously research my social circle? Creepy!)
Sumireko reproduced his inner voice perfectly.
"Both of them said they were interested in the study session, so I invited them. Kisaragi-san, you know them both, don't you?"
She said it smoothly.
"W-well, 'know them' is one way to put it... Himawari's my childhood friend, and Cosmos-senpai looks after me on the student council..."
He fumbled for an answer.
(Right now, he's screaming in his head, "Pansy-san, you meddling—!")
Sumireko noted inwardly.
But her expression didn't change.
"Then that's perfect. Study sessions go better with more people."
She smiled faintly.
"R-right..."
He nodded with a look that was neither convinced nor unconvinced — somewhere in between.
(Right now, he's on guard: "This girl is definitely plotting something. She's using me for something. Don't let your guard down, me.")
Sumireko read his interior coolly.
(...Yes, exactly. I'm using you to broaden your world.)
But she didn't say it aloud.
"Kisaragi-san, it's showing on your face."
She said it quietly.
"Huh!? W-what is!?"
He touched his own face and leaned forward in a fluster.
(Ah, right now he's genuinely panicking: "Oh no, can she actually hear my thoughts? Is this girl some kind of esper?")
Sumireko laughed in her mind.
"Your nervousness. You're touching your right ear."
When she pointed it out, he looked at his right hand as if startled.
"Oh, you're right. No, this is, uh, a habit, I guess..."
He made excuses, breaking into a cold sweat.
(I know his habits better than anyone.)
Sumireko murmured inwardly.
"It's fine. I'm not that scary a person."
She smiled faintly again.
Amatsuyu relaxed his shoulders, just a little.
"...You know, Sanshokuin-san, you're actually pretty easy to talk to."
He said it quietly.
(Ah — that was genuine.)
Warmth spread gently through Sumireko's chest.
"Is that so? I'm glad to hear it."
She answered quietly.
Just then, the library door flew open with force.
"Joro!! I'm here!!"
Hinata Aoi came running in, her bright brown ponytail swinging. Her large amber eyes locked straight onto Amatsuyu.
"Wait, hold on, Joro, why are you here first!? I was gonna come pick you up!"
Himawari plopped down beside him and smacked his upper arm with a crisp pop.
"Ow! 'Come pick me up' — I don't even live anywhere near your house!"
He let out a pitiful yelp.
"Whatever, whatever. Oh — Pansy-chan, thanks for inviting us today!"
Himawari beamed at Sumireko.
"No, thank you for coming."
Sumireko bowed politely.
(So Himawari-san calls me "Pansy-chan." ...It's not a bad name.)
She murmured inwardly.
"Cosmos-senpai isn't here yet, huh. Maybe student council work is running long."
Himawari said, glancing back toward the entrance.
"Looks like it. Well, it's senpai — she'll definitely show up."
Amatsuyu glanced at the clock.
(Right now, he's thinking, "Cosmos-senpai, please hurry. Just Himawari is exhausting.")
Sumireko analyzed inwardly.
"Oh, there she is!"
Himawari raised her voice.
The library door opened quietly.
The girl who appeared had long black hair flowing behind her and stood tall. Akino Sakura. A third-year and the student council president. Famous throughout the school for her cool beauty and top-of-year grades.
"Sorry I'm late. The student council handover ran long."
Cosmos said apologetically as she approached their table.
"Cosmos-senpai, good work today! We haven't been waiting at all!"
Himawari popped to her feet.
"Akino-senpai, hello."
Amatsuyu stood and bowed too.
(Right now, he's thinking, "Senpai is beautiful as always today... I mean, up close she really does have a great figure. Damn, why did she even come to a study session like this? I'm seriously grateful.")
Sumireko murmured inwardly.
"Kisaragi-kun, you're here too. Hello."
Cosmos smiled at him.
"Yes, well, I was invited to the study session too, so."
He smiled bashfully.
(Right now, he's internally retorting at himself: "'Invited,' my foot. You're the guest of honor.")
Sumireko laughed in her mind.
"Sanshokuin-san, thank you for having us today. I look forward to it."
Cosmos turned to Sumireko and bowed politely.
"Likewise, thank you for coming. Now then, everyone, please sit."
Sumireko said quietly.
The four of them sat around the table.
(With this, the first stage of my plan is a success.)
She confirmed inwardly.
(Kisaragi-san, Himawari-san, Cosmos-senpai. These three, studying around the same table. This will be the first step toward broadening his world.)
"Let's begin the study session. Today we'll start with Japanese long-form reading comprehension. I've prepared the questions."
Sumireko handed out the printouts she'd prepared to the three of them.
"Ugh, long-form... I'm really bad at this kind of thing."
Himawari frowned at the printout.
"Himawari, you're bad at everything, not just Japanese."
Amatsuyu said with a wry smile.
"Shut up! You're just as bad as me, Joro!"
Himawari smacked his arm again with another pop.
"Ow! I told you, stop hitting me!"
He let out another pitiful yelp.
(...This atmosphere — it's nice.)
Sumireko murmured inwardly.
(Kisaragi-san is genuinely relaxed. When he's with Himawari-san, his mask thins, just a little.)
"Now then, first, please read this passage silently. In ten minutes, we'll answer the questions."
She gave the instructions matter-of-factly.
The three of them lowered their eyes to their printouts.
Sumireko observed them while recording in her mind.
[Observation Record — Study Session]
[Kisaragi Amatsuyu: Reading silently. His gaze stops at one spot and he rereads it several times. Evidence he struggles with long passages. Touching his right ear more frequently.]
[Hinata Aoi: Has started spinning her pen. She has a habit of pen-spinning when her concentration breaks. Prediction: she won't last three more minutes.]
[Akino Sakura: Fast reader. Already on her second pass. As expected of the top of the year.]
"...All right, please answer the questions."
Ten minutes later, Sumireko spoke up.
"Whaaat, already? I haven't even finished reading!"
Himawari protested.
"Himawari, you were spinning your pen the whole time. Of course you didn't finish."
Amatsuyu said, exasperated.
"Why were you watching me!? Joro, you pervert!"
Himawari turned bright red and glared at him.
"I wasn't watching, it was just loud! Click-click-click-click!"
He shot back.
(...These two really are close.)
Sumireko murmured inwardly.
(But that "closeness" is a little different from what I want.)
"You two, let's answer the questions. We're running out of time."
She spoke quietly, but in a tone that brooked no argument.
"Okaaay."
"Sorry."
The two of them obediently started on the questions.
Sumireko glanced at Cosmos.
(Akino-senpai has already finished and looks completely at ease.)
Cosmos finished writing her answers and quietly flipped her printout over.
"Sanshokuin-san, these questions are quite difficult. The choices are all written to look like the right answer."
Cosmos said, impressed.
"Thank you. I made sure to include plenty of trick questions."
Sumireko smiled faintly.
"Trick questions... You really are good at teaching, Sanshokuin-san."
Cosmos stared at her.
"Do you think so? I can't really tell myself."
She deflected modestly.
"...Hey, Sanshokuin-san."
Cosmos lowered her voice.
"Yes?"
"Why did you invite Kisaragi-kun to the study session? Even if he's bad at Japanese, it's not like he's barely scraping by."
Cosmos's eyes probed her.
(As expected of the student council president. Sharp.)
Sumireko was impressed inwardly.
"Kisaragi-san loves book
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