Chapter 189: The Proper Way to Teach Respect for Teachers
Takanashi Touka set down the drinks and looked at Satania. "Nice to meet you. I'm Takanashi Touka, Rikka's older sister."
"Wh-what?!" Satania froze, quickly lifting her right hand in front of her chest in a defensive pose. Her face was tense and wary—though the bit of omelet rice stuck to the corner of her mouth ruined the effect completely.
"Huh? Why are you so startled?" Touka asked, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Aren't you Rikka's friend?"
Was this girl secretly dating someone behind her sister's back or something?
But before she could think further, Satania exclaimed, "You're the 'Holy Culinary Master' Rikka mentioned!"
"I'm her sister," Touka corrected with a twitching smile.
Being called a 'Holy Culinary Master' in public was… more than a little embarrassing.
"No, no, I remember clearly!" Satania insisted seriously. "Rikka said you're a 'Tomato Alien' capable of sealing the Wicked Eye of the Dark Lord! You put terrifying tomato slices in her lunch every day to suppress her power!"
Enough already!
Tomato Alien?! What kind of absurd title is that?! How much does that chuunibyou girl hate tomatoes?!
"Hah… that's exactly the kind of nonsense Rikka would say." Touka sighed, crossing her arms. "So you're one of those girls too, huh?"
She studied Satania for a moment and nodded in realization.
Ah, so that's how it is—another grade-A chuunibyou case. No wonder they got along.
"No surprise you two became friends. Birds of a feather flock together," she said casually.
"Holy Culinary Master, why are you here with Sensei?" Satania asked curiously.
Touka sat down beside Kouya, opened a drink, and took a sip before answering. "We train at the same karate dojo, so we've known each other for a while. Shizuka here is a fifth-dan black belt and an expert in several fighting styles."
Kouya's eye twitched.
She's just a teacher… why does she have that kind of combat power?!
Almost as if she'd read his mind, Shizuka folded her arms, speaking in a calm but slightly dangerous tone. "When you're a teacher, you sometimes encounter problem students. Words alone don't always get through. So occasionally… a righteous fist of discipline helps them understand what it means to respect their teacher."
Her eyes flicked toward Kouya with an unsettling smile.
Why are you looking at me like that?!
What happened to 'no corporal punishment'? Since when is the 'fist of justice' an acceptable teaching method?!
So this is how "respect for teachers" is taught now?! By sheer physical intimidation?!
Meanwhile, Satania, completely oblivious, was happily eating her omelet rice and asked, "Holy Culinary Master, were you and Sensei out shopping?"
Touka shook her head casually. "No, we were at a matchmaking meeting earlier."
"Matchmaking?" Satania blinked in surprise. "Like on TV? Where a random middle-aged man and a lady sit together for an awkward dinner, and then a jealous ex or a best friend suddenly appears?"
"...That's… not entirely wrong," Shizuka muttered through gritted teeth. "But the way you said it somehow pisses me off."
Satania, sensing no danger, continued cheerfully, "So did it go well?"
Shizuka's leg began tapping rhythmically under the table. "Prying into a teacher's private life isn't very polite, you know."
"I'm just curious! The internet says women over thirty—"
A vein popped on Shizuka's forehead. She smiled sweetly. "Satania-chan, Sensei is forever twenty-nine, okay?"
Ah yes, that old line. Just like a certain eternally seventeen-year-old celebrity.
"Heh, you can't fool me!" Satania said proudly, pointing a finger like a detective revealing the truth. "A year has twelve months, right? And you've already had twenty-seven extra months since turning twenty-nine, which means you're really—ouch!"
Smack!
In a flash, Shizuka flicked her forehead with deadly precision. The sound echoed through the izakaya.
Satania froze mid-bite, eyes wide, as Shizuka's expression darkened. "Satania-chan, children who speak carelessly… get punished."
The air turned cold.
Even the nearby customers fell silent for a moment.
…
Their food arrived shortly after—egg sandwiches, eel rice soup, oden, and two bottles of sake. Rather than finding another table, Shizuka and Touka stayed where they were, pouring each other drinks and chatting easily.
The sake was clear and fragrant, its aroma blending with the warmth of the room. Sake, Japan's national drink, is made purely from rice and spring water, simple yet refined. You'd find it everywhere—from grand banquets to weddings to corner convenience stores.
"I wanna try some," Satania said, sniffing the air and raising her hand.
"You're not old enough," Shizuka said firmly.
Not that it mattered—anyone who looked mature enough could probably buy alcohol at a convenience store, as long as they weren't wearing a school uniform.
Satania turned toward Kouya. "Servant officer, why so quiet?"
"No reason," he replied, side-eyeing her. What was he supposed to say? Hey, I invited you out for date practice, and now my teacher and my neighbor's sister crashed it?
Yeah, no. He valued his life.
"I'm done," Kouya said finally, setting down his chopsticks.
"So fast!" Satania stuffed the last of her omelet rice into her mouth, choking slightly. "Hck—!"
"Slow down." Shizuka patted her back. "Eating too fast is bad for you."
"I can't!" Satania said between coughs. "If you finish first and don't pay, they might take my pineapple buns as payment!"
"…Is that so?" Shizuka and Touka exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming with amusement.
Shizuka crossed her legs again and said teasingly, "If Kouya tries to take you somewhere suspicious afterward, call me. I'll come save you."
Suspicious place?! What do you think I am, some creep taking her to a love hotel?!
"She's not that dumb!" Kouya wanted to yell.
Touka smirked from the side. "Right, and when he walks you home later, don't invite him in for tea. Boys your age can be… dangerous."
Enough! Both of you stop!
Who said I was walking her home anyway?!
If you're so worried, why don't you escort this idiot home?!
Kouya rubbed his temple, stood up, and went to pay the bill. A few minutes later, he and Satania stepped out into the cool night air.
The streets were quieter now, the lights dimming as the city wound down. It was past eight, and a thin breeze brushed against them.
"Go on, head home," Kouya said.
"Eh? You're not walking me back?" Satania blinked.
"You know the way, don't you? You don't need me," he said bluntly.
"Oh, that's true!" she said cheerfully, waving at him. "Thanks again, servant officer! See you tomorrow!"
She turned and skipped off down the street, clutching her bag of pineapple buns like treasure, humming softly as she disappeared into the distance.