Only I Have the Law: Tokyo Fantasy Daily Life

Page 129

She glanced at Qingze beside her casually.

Qingze sat upright, completely absorbed in the text of the novel on the table, showing no sign of glancing at her.

...I didn't see it.

Hoshino Saori looked away and returned to the pages of the book, a slight sense of frustration inexplicably rising in her heart.

"That's not right, why wouldn't I look at it?"

Undeterred, she glanced at it a second time, even faster, while turning the page.

After confirming that Aozawa's gaze was still firmly fixed on the book, Hoshino Saori felt a strange sense of annoyance.

Am I really that unattractive? Not even as appealing as a light novel?

She admitted that the teacher was a virtuous person.

But a gentleman is first and foremost a man!

With such a "benefit" right in front of you, logically speaking, you should be able to sneak a peek, right?

"I definitely saw it! I just didn't catch him!"

She silently counted a few seconds in her mind, then suddenly turned her head to look to the side again.

The result was the same; Qingze's profile was full of focus, and his gaze did not waver at all.

"I...I really didn't watch it..."

She let out a silent lament, then felt a pang of shame and apology for her earlier wild guesses.

"How could I doubt my teacher like that? It was so wrong of me."

In this state of agitation, she naturally couldn't concentrate on reading a single word.

Yato-hime, standing nearby, keenly sensed her friend's absent-mindedness.

She thought for a moment, then deliberately stretched out a big yawn and let out a lazy sigh: "Ah, the ending is exactly the same as in the game."

Watching it again, it didn't offer anything new, and it wasn't as enjoyable to watch.

She then nudged Hoshino Saori's shoulder and suggested, "Let's play string games?"

Hoshino Saori, who was still lost in thought, was brought back to her senses by the push and immediately nodded in agreement: "Okay, okay!"

As if she had found an excuse to get rid of herself, she generously pushed the book in front of her toward Qingze and said, "Teacher, you can read this book!"

Qingze took the book and nodded, saying, "Alright then."

His gaze returned to the pages of the book, continuing to memorize each word.

Hoshino Saori and Yato-hime got up, walked to the open space on the other side of the activity room, took out colorful flower ropes, and began to play with them intently.

……

The peaceful lunch break passed by quietly, and then the two afternoon classes came to an end.

After school, the philosophy club remained a small world for the three of them.

No other students came to my door seeking help today.

Hoshino Saori then pulled Yatohime along, and the two of them worked together to carefully build a rather large "playing card palace" using a deck of cards.

Looking at the "masterpiece" before her, a testament to their hard work, she excitedly clenched her little fists and turned to Qingze, boasting, "Teacher! Look! Isn't this palace we folded magnificent enough?!"

Qingze reluctantly looked up from his book, glanced at the dilapidated poker palace, and nodded, "Hmm, very impressive, well done."

"That's such a perfunctory answer!"

Hoshino Saori pouted her bright red lips in dissatisfaction and complained, "Is this novel really that good? More attractive than the palace we painstakingly built?"

“Hmm,” Qingze replied casually, his gaze already back on the pages of the book. “The plot and character development are excellent, giving me the urge to read it all in one night.”

Saori Hoshino admitted that the novel was indeed well-written, but she was still somewhat surprised and a little annoyed that her teacher was so obsessed with it.

"Teacher, haven't you already been in relationships? Why are you still so interested in fictional novels?"

Without looking up, Qingze explained, "These novels are filled with an idealized fantasy of men, which is somewhat different from the complex romantic relationships in reality."

"What is real-life dating like?"

Hoshino Saori's curiosity was piqued. She leaned closer to Aozawa and whispered, "You and Principal Tsukishima, do you... sometimes... like in the movies?"

As she spoke, she gently touched the index fingers of both hands together in the air a few times.

Those big, watery eyes were filled with curiosity about the adult world, yet also with a touch of girlish shyness, and her heart was pounding.

Qingze rolled his eyes at her, then gently tapped her head with his book, saying, "Kids shouldn't ask about these things."

"I'm not small at all!"

Saori Hoshino puffed out her chest and retorted confidently, feeling that she was very persuasive.

Qingze was about to say something when a cell phone rang, interrupting him.

He took out his phone and saw that it was Honda Kazuto calling. He quickly pressed the answer button and said, "Hello, Grandpa Honda, what's up?"

"Qingze-kun, regarding Mr. Shenyuan's grave, is he the only one with the surname Shenyuan on the tombstone?"

"That's right, are you planning to go to the funeral today?"

"Yes, the Meijin Hamura suddenly disappeared. Based on my performance in the first game, I was recognized as the new Meijin. I want to go to the grave of Shinzo-senpai and let him see this result."

"Congratulations! How is your grandson's injury?"

"Fortunately, there are no internal injuries, just some superficial wounds and fractures. He will recover after a period of rest."

"that would be great."

Qingze exchanged a few more pleasantries with him before hanging up the phone.

Hoshino Saori immediately came over like a curious kitten, blinking her big eyes and asking, "Teacher, who called you?"

“An elder who was an old acquaintance of the grandfather who adopted me.”

Upon hearing Aozawa's words, Hoshino Saori instinctively asked, "Your adoptive grandfather? Teacher, don't you have parents?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized how rash her question had been. A look of panic flashed across her face as she tried to find something to remedy the situation.

Qingze smiled and replied calmly, "Yes, I am an orphan."

"I'm sorry, teacher! That's not what I meant!"

Saori Hoshino stammered an apology, her cheeks flushed red.

Seeing her nervous expression, Qingze shook his head and comforted her, "It's okay, no need to apologize."

I'm an adult now, and I've long since let go of that.

He paused, as if remembering something, and said softly, "It's you guys, though."

As someone who's been through it, I want to give you some advice.

His gaze shifted to the two girls, his tone carrying a barely perceptible sigh: "Parents will grow old, and the speed at which they age often exceeds your imagination."

So, if you have something you want to say to them or something you want to do for them, don't always think, "I'll do it later."

Sometimes, the 'future' you take for granted may never come.

"Oh... I see."

Saori Hoshino nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Qingze understood as he looked at her, who clearly didn't take it too seriously.

He also understands that at this age, even if one understands many principles, it is difficult to truly appreciate their significance.

Wasn't I the same when I was young?

Many principles are understood, but when faced with a real situation, those principles are often forgotten.

Often, it is only when reality delivers a heavy blow, accompanied by personal pain, that those truths truly become etched in one's memory, and only then will a person change.

"It was definitely too early to tell you all this."

He smiled, lowered his head, and prepared to continue immersing himself in the world of that light novel.

His attitude of treating them like "naive little girls" instantly angered Hoshino Saori.

Suddenly, she braced herself on the smooth solid wood floor with both hands, knelt down, and then crawled towards Qingze on all fours like a small animal, before bumping her head lightly against his shoulder.

"Behold my bull charge!"

"What are you doing for no reason?"

Qingze was somewhat bewildered by her sudden action.

"Anyway, I'm just a little girl!"

Saori Hoshino puffed out her cheeks and said confidently, "Kids can do whatever they want!"

Watch me crash! Crash! Crash!

As she spoke, she bumped her head against Qingze's shoulder three times in succession.

Aozawa didn't feel anything, but Hoshino Saori felt a little dizzy from the impact.

Before she could fully recover, she suddenly felt a weight on her back, and her arms, which were supporting her on the floor, began to tremble slightly.

She turned her head and saw that it was Yato-hime sitting on her back.

"What are you doing?!"

"Seeing you in this pose, I subconsciously wanted to sit on it and try it out."

Yato-hime answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and even adjusted her posture.

"I'm not a horse!"

Saori Hoshino immediately complained, twisting her body, "Get down! You're so heavy, I can't hold on much longer!"

"You're already done for? Saori, your core strength needs improvement."

Yatohime made a sarcastic remark without holding back, but still managed to get off her back.

Hoshino Saori stood up angrily, put her hands on her hips, and said, "Now it's my turn to sit on you!"

"No."