"Gotoh-san, are you feeling better?"
Gotoh Hitori sat at her desk, trembling with fear as a group of classmates surrounded her.
It was the first time so many people had shown concern for her.
***
"Damn it! Stupid alarm clock—why didn't you go off?!"
Lucas Amaki was running full speed, a schoolbag in one hand and a piece of toast in his mouth.
He had woken up late and realized he was going to miss class.
And the alarm hadn't even gone off.
Luckily, the school was close to home.
It took nearly ten minutes to arrive.
As he reached the classroom, he saw a crowd gathered around Gotoh Hitori.
From outside the door, he could see and hear what was going on.
Everyone was checking if she had recovered from her illness.
But why are you just standing there watching, old man?
"Sensei, what are you doing outside the door?"
Lucas stepped up to the homeroom teacher.
"Ah, Amaki-san. I'm just impressed. It's rare to see students care this much about their classmates," the teacher said with a sigh.
The last class he taught in first-year high school had been a mess—totally indifferent students.
"Well, you enjoy the view. I'm heading in."
Lucas was about to enter the classroom when the teacher suddenly held him back.
"Wait a minute. What exactly happened between you and Gotoh-san yesterday?"
The teacher looked at him with a teasing smile.
Lucas stared at him, expressionless.
Seriously? You're a teacher and this nosy?!
I bet you'll make me help with your classes again later.
"No. Nothing happened."
"I'm going in now."
Lucas gave a vague double negative and stepped into the room.
"Ahem. Everyone, could you leave a little space so I can get to my seat?"
Lucas cleared his throat.
"Okay!"
As soon as they heard his voice, the classmates quickly made way.
"Thanks."
Lucas sat down and nodded to them in gratitude.
"There's something I want to tell you all. Gotoh's fever is gone, but she's still not feeling very talkative. So please don't overwhelm her with questions."
He gave a soft chuckle.
"Alright."
After hearing Lucas's words, the students returned to their seats, waiting for class to start.
The teacher, watching this from the hallway, felt more and more convinced:
I really should have Amaki take over some of my classes…
Actually, why not just this one?
"Gotoh-san, you can lift your head now."
Lucas gently tapped Gotoh Hitori on the shoulder.
"O-Okay… Amaki-san…"
"Th-Thank you for helping me…"
She slowly raised her head and looked at him.
"It's nothing. It's what I should do."
Lucas smiled.
"Get ready, class will start soon," he said, glancing toward the door.
"Mm."
Gotoh gave a tiny nod.
"Ahem, students," the teacher entered the room and cleared his throat dramatically.
"I won't be able to teach today due to my sore throat. So I've decided to ask one of you to take over for me."
"Huh? Are you okay, Sensei?"
"Do you need some water?"
Students in the front row asked with concern.
"Ahem, no no, thank you," the teacher said.
"Then who's going to take your place?"
"I think it'll be Amaki-san. He's always reliable."
"Yeah, it has to be him!"
The teacher smiled as he overheard the murmurs.
As expected—Amaki's really made a name for himself.
"Ahem. I've chosen your classmate, Lucas Amaki. Everyone knows his abilities."
"Second on the entrance exams. Vice President of the Discipline Committee."
"I feel confident leaving today's class in his hands."
The teacher smiled faintly.
At this moment, Lucas was speechless.
This guy's really pushing it. Didn't I just think he'd make me do this…? And now here we are.
"Y-You're the Vice President?!"
Gotoh Hitori looked at him in surprise.
"Yeah… I forgot to mention. But Nagakuni Tomoki tricked me into it."
Lucas muttered bitterly, dragging out Tomoki's name with annoyance.
"Y-You should probably get up there then…"
Gotoh looked toward the podium, where the teacher was now watching them. She spoke quietly.
"Yeah, yeah…"
Lucas stood up with a sigh and headed to the front.
"Alright everyone, since the next period is also one of Sensei's classes, we'll do a theory session today."
Lucas glanced at the teacher beside him.
"You can start discussing among yourselves."
After speaking, he stepped down from the podium and returned to his seat.
"U-Um, Lucas… is this really okay?"
Gotoh asked hesitantly.
"What's wrong with that? We'll handle the theory class first. I'll go over the important stuff for the monthly exam next period."
He turned to glare at the teacher briefly.
"B-But…"
"Don't worry. I'll make sure we actually study next time. You don't need to worry."
"O-Okay…"
***
"Ahem, class, take out your textbooks. In this class today, I will tell you the key topics of our monthly exam."
Lucas Amaki stood on the podium, coughed lightly, then began to speak.
The sound of books being set down spread across the classroom.
At that moment, Lucas was recalling his past experiences of attending classes in China, trying to emulate how Chinese teachers used to teach.
[Remember, this is the key point of the exam. Be sure to write it down!]
[Trust me, this question will definitely be on the test. I've been teaching for years.]
[If you fail, I'll hand your next class over to the PE teacher.]
Lucas seemed to understand… or maybe not.
Suddenly, he smacked his own forehead.
"Right! How could I forget him?!"
"Students, please read on your own for a bit. I need to step out."
With that, Lucas left the classroom.
The teacher noticed and followed.
"Lucas Amaki, what's going on?"
"I'm going to ask one of my old classmates. He knows how to teach."
Lucas grinned mischievously.
He pulled out his phone and opened WeChat, which he hadn't touched in ages.
Dialed.
The phone rang slowly…
[Lucas Amaki is such a bastard, Lucas Amaki is such a bastard…]
Lucas smiled and clenched his fist. "First thing I do when I get back to China—beat that guy up."
Setagaya Ward.
A student was giving a lecture at the podium, but his phone wouldn't stop ringing.
He glanced at the caller ID: [Lucas Amaki].
Panic instantly set in.
He hadn't expected a call from that guy.
"Sensei, please continue without me—I need to take this call," he said hurriedly.
The teacher nodded.
He quickly left the classroom and picked up.
"Hey, Qiao Yu, what's with that ringtone?"
"Uh… cough…that was an accident!"
"But wait—aren't you in Japan? Why're you calling me all of a sudden?"
"Oh, I need help. How do you teach students?"
"You? Teaching? No way. I remember you always pushing me in front when a teacher needed someone to fill in."
"What, I can't teach now? Don't forget—you always ranked third in class!"
"…Fine. I won't argue. Where are you in Japan? I'll drop by if I have time."
"???"
"You're in Japan too?!"
"Yeah, I got sick of studying in China, so I came to Japan to slack off. Unfortunately, I passed the entrance exam and ended up first."
"…Damn it."
"Which district are you in?"
"Setagaya Ward. Setagaya."
"Hey! We're in the same district! I'm in Shimokitazawa."
"Well, what a coincidence. I'll ask for leave and head over to your school to help explain stuff."
"What? Are you even allowed in?"
"Just tell me your high school. I'll ask my principal to get in touch with yours."
"Classic you… Fine, I'm at Shuhua High School."
"Got it."
Lucas hung up, turned to the teacher, and said, "Sensei, could you please take all the morning classes? I've got someone to help us."
"Did you hit your head while making that call?" the teacher muttered, touching Lucas's forehead. No fever.
"…You'll see."
Lucas brushed off the teacher's hand and walked back into the classroom.
"Everyone, this will be our last theory class. I've invited a guest teacher to help you all."
Lucas slapped the blackboard.
"Huh? Amaki-san, is it really okay to have two theory classes back-to-back?"
"Yeah, seriously, if we keep this up, half the class is gonna need make-ups."
Lucas raised a finger and waved it side to side.
"The next two classes will be taught by someone who guarantees zero make-up exams."
"If even one person needs to make up the exam, Sensei will treat the class to hot pot."
Lucas looked at the teacher with a smile.
The teacher's face darkened.
This kid's good at dragging others in.
"As your homeroom teacher, I believe in you all. If even one student fails, I'll treat you to hot pot. But if no one fails, Lucas Amaki will treat us to Seafood Café."
"How about it, Amaki-san?"
"I'm in," Lucas said confidently.
He stepped down from the podium and returned to his seat, where Gotoh Hitori seemed about to say something.
"Um… Amaki-san… do you really mean it?"
"Don't worry, I'll keep my promise. If no one needs make-up exams, we'll all celebrate. We're a team. And the teacher will definitely cover at least 78% of the cost."
"So, just wait for the results. I trust him."
Lucas chuckled.
"Him…?"
"Amaki-san… is that person your friend?"
"Yeah, he's my best friend from China. He got tired of school and came to Japan to relax."
"Ah… ah?"
At that moment, Lucas's phone started ringing.
The ringtone was slow and familiar.
Gotoh Hitori froze.
Wait—wasn't that the song Kita Ikuyu and I played together?
Why is Amaki-san using the song I practiced… as a ringtone?
But I played it so terribly…
Crap, I forgot to change it!
From her expression, Gotoh-san's probably imagining all kinds of things now…
"Gotoh-san, I'm stepping out for a bit."
"Mm."
Lucas stepped out and answered the call.
"Hey, Amaki, come pick me up."
"Got it, wait for me."
Lucas ran to the school gate.
There he saw that familiar face he always wanted to punch.
"Yo, Lucas."
Qiao Yu stepped through the gate, smiling.
"Skip the pleasantries. Come with me."
Lucas grabbed him and dragged him off.
"Jeez, what's the rush?"
"I have a mission."
"What mission could be that urgent?"
"You'll see. Just follow me."
Lucas brought Qiao Yu to the door of Class 5.
"Wait here. I'll call you in."
"Okay. I'll be here."
"Hey, which school are you from?" the homeroom teacher asked.
"Suyu Academy," Qiao Yu replied.
"Suyu? In Setagaya?"
"Yep."
"Ahem—enough chatting. Come in, Old Qiao."
Qiao Yu nodded and entered the classroom.
The students gasped.
Especially the girls.
"Ahem, everyone quiet down. Let me introduce someone."
"The person beside me is Qiao Yu—from…"
"Which school again?"
"Suyu Academy."
"He's from Suyu, in the same grade as us, and he's my good friend from China. He's here in Japan for… complicated reasons."
"And he'll be teaching the next two periods."
Lucas gestured to him.
"Hi everyone, I'm Qiao Yu. I'll be teaching for the next two classes. Let's get along, even if it's brief."
He bowed.
"Off the podium—this is a theory class."
"A theory class? It's way too early for that…"
"I arranged it."
"..."
Lucas and Qiao Yu stepped off the podium.
"Find a chair."
A friendly student gave him a seat. Qiao Yu thanked them and sat down next to Lucas.
The moment he sat, he noticed Lucas chatting with his desk mate.
Oh?
Lucas Amaki… got a girlfriend behind my back?
"Lucas, tell me, is that girl your girlfriend?"
"Yep," Lucas replied without hesitation.
"Ah… Amaki-san…"
Gotoh Hitori tugged lightly at Lucas's sleeve.
"It's okay. He's a friend, don't worry."
Lucas gently patted her head.
"Mm-hmm."
Gotoh nodded shyly.
Lucas Amaki, you bastard. Did you call me here just to show off your relationship?!
***
This chapter was cringe 😬