My dear wife, I still love you more.

"Thank you so much, Professor Hiratsuka, for your magnanimity in letting me off the hook. I am very grateful," Hasegawa said exaggeratedly.

Seeing Hasegawa like this, Hiratsuka Shizuka's anger subsided, and she even became quite pleased: "Hasegawa, you seem... well, you seem different today."

"Huh?" Hasegawa was taken aback, then realized why Hiratsuka Shizuka had come to him.

It seems he has really become more handsome; those who know him and are even slightly close to him have all noticed the change.

"Hasegawa, tell me, have you... have you already—"

"Already? What happened already?" Hasegawa didn't quite understand what Hiratsuka Shizuka was talking about.

"Ahem, I mean, you haven't actually turned into a man yet, have you?"

"what?"

"Do I have to spell it out for you? Have you gone from a boy to a man? Just last night, otherwise how could you have changed so much?" Hiratsuka Shizuka couldn't help but shout at Hasegawa.

bump!

Snapped!

"Ouch--"

There was a commotion at the entrance to the rooftop, like someone banging on the door or falling down, followed by a scream.

Hasegawa and Hirazuka Shizuka turned to look in that direction, and then they saw several figures fleeing quickly. Hasegawa vaguely felt that those figures were familiar; they seemed to be classmates from their class.

Hiratsuka Shizuka's expression darkened: "Those guys, could they have been eavesdropping at the door?"

"It seems so, maybe," Hasegawa said uncertainly. Of course, Hasegawa knew in his heart that those guys must have come specifically to eavesdrop.

"They're so far away, they probably can't hear us." Hiratsuka Shizuka's expression was a little grim.

"I probably couldn't hear what we were saying." Hasegawa sounded a little guilty.

"Yes, they shouldn't be able to hear what we're saying, they can't hear us." Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded heavily.

In reality, those eavesdroppers didn't clearly hear what Hasegawa and Hiratsuka Shizuka were saying. They probably only vaguely caught things like meeting the parents, confessing to their parents, and how Hasegawa would be transformed from a boy into a man that night.

Scattered, fragmented words. But these words, gathered in their minds, inexplicably connected them, forming a shocking message.

Ms. Hiratsuka and Kenichi Hasegawa have developed feelings for each other and have even become engaged. However, due to their social status, they have kept it a secret and have not told their parents.

But now, it seems that Ms. Hiratsuka is losing patience and wants to confess to her parents. They even intend to force the issue that very night to get their approval, turning Hasegawa from a boy into a man so he can confess to his parents.

Perhaps, for this reason, Hiratsuka Shizuka might have to give up her position as a teacher. They even think Hasegawa might have to transfer schools.

These people's wild imaginations led them to fill in the blanks with this kind of information.

These guys had strange expressions, their faces flushed and excited.

What astonishing news! What a bombshell! It's incredible, so shocking! A plot I always thought only existed in anime, novels, or movies has actually happened to people of their backgrounds.

"Hey, we absolutely mustn't let this kind of thing get out."

"Don't worry, this is just a secret known only to a few of us."

"Yes, it's a secret only a few of us know. Tsk tsk tsk, I never expected Hasegawa to get together with Hiratsuka-sensei. That guy is really amazing, no wonder he's a top student."

"No, I think it's more like Hiratsuka-sensei is having an affair with a younger woman."

"No, no, no, Ms. Hiratsuka is older than us, but she's very beautiful. Maybe Hasegawa is the one pursuing Ms. Hiratsuka."

"I can't see it. You all know Hiratsuka-sensei's temper. Her fists are enough to make many men keep their distance. It seems that this is why she has been unable to find a boyfriend. I think it was Hiratsuka-sensei who took the initiative."

"No, I don't think Hiratsuka-sensei would actively pursue a student, given her personality. I think it should be Hasegawa who is actively pursuing her."

"No, no, no—"

"What are you saying? Hasegawa and Hiratsuka-sensei actually—" As they were discussing, someone suddenly appeared behind them. Hayama Hayato heard their discussion and couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise.

However, before Hayama Hayato could finish speaking, Tobe Sho covered his mouth.

"Shh. Hayato, keep your voice down. If you shout like that and Hiratsuka-sensei hears you, we're doomed," Tobe Sho quickly said to Hayama Hayato.

Hayato Hayama nodded, but his eyes still held a look of horror. A teacher-student relationship? That was too exciting!

Chapter Sixty-Six: Rumors and Gossip

Secrets are secrets; if one person knows them, they're a secret; if two people know them, they're not necessarily a secret anymore, let alone if three or four people know them. Besides, Tobe Sho and his group are all pretty big mouths.

So when Hasegawa returned to the classroom, almost all the students stared at him with strange looks. Admiration, surprise, curiosity, disgust, panic, and so on. A jumble of conflicting gazes seemed to pierce through Hasegawa.

Upon realizing this, Hasegawa's heart skipped a beat. Oh no, his conversation with Hiratsuka Shizuka had indeed been overheard, and it seemed to have spread. Otherwise, his classmates wouldn't be looking at him with such strange eyes.

Hasegawa felt a terrible headache and rubbed his temples. He didn't know how to explain it.

Most importantly, Hasegawa didn't know what those guys had heard or how much they knew. If he accidentally let something slip during his explanation, it might cause an even bigger commotion.

Moreover, even if he could explain it, whether others would listen is another matter entirely.

The thought of what happened between him and Shizuka Hiratsuka getting out made Hasegawa feel like his head was about to explode.

“Kenichi.” Aki Tomoya looked at Hasegawa strangely.

"What's wrong, Renye?"

"Between you and Hiratsuka-sensei, is it really, really, already a confirmed relationship?" Aki Tomoya asked with a strange expression.

"Of course not? What did you hear?" Hasegawa denied it outright, while also wanting to ask Aki Tomoya for information.

"I knew it! How could Hasegawa possibly like Hiratsuka-sensei? Women who live in the three-dimensional world are as annoying and troublesome as can be. How could they compare to two-dimensional beauties? Only two-dimensional beauties are the best. Reality is all trash," Aki Tomoya said smugly.

"I'm asking you, have you heard anyone else say anything about me or Hiratsuka-sensei?" Hasegawa was somewhat exasperated with Aki Tomoya. This guy always tried to brainwash people, to get them into the world of anime and manga, and even repeatedly emphasized that anime and manga beauties were the best and that real-life women should never be touched.

"It's nothing much, it's just that you and Hiratsuka-sensei have discussed meeting your parents, and to get both sets of parents' approval, you're supposed to consummate the marriage tonight. Oh, and it seems like you're also planning to have a baby, saying you'll bring the child back with you so your parents won't object."

"I heard that Hiratsuka-sensei is quitting teaching because of this, and you're going to transfer schools too. It's just ridiculous," Aki Tomoya said casually.

"Exactly, it's ridiculous." Hasegawa rolled his eyes, wondering how such a rumor had spread. They clearly didn't say anything like that on the rooftop, so how did it become like this? Or perhaps those guys didn't hear anything clearly and just made up a few snippets?

“If the loss isn’t as they say, it’s best to clarify it sooner rather than later. Otherwise, to avoid trouble, the school might actually make Hasegawa transfer schools,” Kato Megumi, who had been listening all along, suddenly said.

"Huh?" Aki Tomoya was startled. "Who are you? When did you get here?"

“She is Kato Megumi, and she has always been here, but you just ignored her.” Hasegawa shook his head.

"Huh? Is that so?" Aki Tomoya scratched his head.

“Indeed, I’ve always been here.” Kato Megumi nodded, but only said that to Aki Tomoya before turning her gaze to Hasegawa: “Hasegawa, it’s better to make a decision sooner rather than later. After all, if this kind of thing really gets out, even if you’re the top student in the whole grade, the school will punish you or Hiratsuka-sensei to protect its reputation. I finally made a good friend, and I don’t want you to leave the school like this.”

"Yes, yes, Hasegawa, hurry up and figure out a solution. If even you leave the school, there will be even fewer like-minded people left." Aki Tomoya nodded hurriedly.

“You’re right, but I don’t know what to do either. Rumors aren’t so easy to control,” Hasegawa said with a wry smile.

"What should I do?"

"What should we do? Let's go talk to Hiratsuka-sensei. After all, she's also a key figure in this rumor, and the sooner she knows, the better." Hasegawa shook his head, then stood up: "I'll go find Hiratsuka-sensei."

"But class is about to start—"

"Do you think attending class is more important, or resolving this matter sooner?" Hasegawa shook his head and walked out.

Just then, the teacher arrived. Seeing Hasegawa walking out, the teacher frowned and asked, "Hasegawa, where are you going?"

"I'm very sorry, Mr. Honda, but I have something I need to take care of."

"Alright then, but hurry up. Even though you're a great student, attending class is still very important." Teachers are so lenient with top students. Even if you have to leave class, the teacher will at most give you a word of advice and won't ask you any questions or stop you from leaving.

"I understand, Mr. Honda. I will keep your words in mind." Hasegawa nodded and then walked out.

As Hasegawa walked out of the classroom, some of the students immediately started talking about it. They were extremely curious about the relationship between Hasegawa and Hiratsuka Shizuka.

Yui Yuigahama, however, looked worried. She knew perfectly well that Hasegawa walked home with her every day, and they spent most of their time together. As for Shizuka Hiratsuka, Hasegawa might have interacted with her a little more than the other classmates, but it shouldn't have reached the extent of the rumors.

However, Yui Yuigahama couldn't help but worry, very worried. Although Hiratsuka-sensei had a bad temper, she was very beautiful, and sometimes her actions were incredibly cool. Although she was older than Hasegawa, Hiratsuka Shizuya was indeed unmarried and didn't even have a boyfriend.

If Hasegawa truly likes women older than him, then it seems normal for him to have some kind of relationship with Hiratsuka Shizuka.

Therefore, Yui Yuigahama was extremely conflicted. Reason told her that there should be no relationship between Hasegawa and Hiratsuka Shizuka.

But her emotions also made her worry that something might have really happened between Hiratsuka Shizuka and Hasegawa. And recently, Hasegawa and Hiratsuka Shizuka had indeed been in quite a lot of contact.

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Yuihama Adds Fuel to the Fire

"Okay, I understand. I'll handle this, so don't worry," Hiratsuka Shizuka said to Hasegawa.

"Are you sure everything will be alright?" Hasegawa was still a little worried. Although Hiratsuka Shizuka was a teacher and came from a well-off family, making it much easier for her to handle things than for Hasegawa, a student, Hasegawa still had some doubts.

After all, they're not gangsters or criminals or anything; they're just a group of students.

"Of course, no problem. Who do you think I am? I'm Hiratsuka Shizuka." Hiratsuka Shizuka said confidently.

Hasegawa nodded at Hiratsuka Shizuka's expression: "Alright. Since you put it that way, Hiratsuka-sensei, then it's up to you."

Hasegawa can only temporarily entrust this matter to Hiratsuka Shizuka. If Hiratsuka Shizuka is not up to the task, he will think of other solutions.

Actually, these kinds of things are just temporary rumors. Although rumors tend to spread more and more, stopping them isn't that difficult if you can find a way.

The simplest solution would be for Hasegawa to find a girlfriend, or for Hiratsuka Shizuka to find a boyfriend. Then these rumors would naturally disappear.

However, Hasegawa doesn't want to find a girlfriend, even a fake one; he's not really interested. As for Hiratsuka Shizuka, she simply can't find a boyfriend at all.

In any case, Hasegawa can only trust Hiratsuka Shizuka for the time being.

After Hasegawa returned, both Aki Tomoya and Kato Megumi were quite concerned about the situation.

“Ms. Hiratsuka has already said she can handle it,” Hasegawa said casually.

“Yes, if it’s Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei, it should be fine too.” Aki Tomoya nodded.

In reality, Tomoya Aki still harbors some lingering fear towards Shizuka Hiratsuka.

Well, Aki Tomoya is definitely one of those super problem students. His love for anime and manga has reached an obsessive level. Hiratsuka Shizuka has tried many ways to change Aki Tomoya, but to no avail. She even asked Hasegawa, Aki Tomoya's only good friend, for help, but it still didn't work.

Although it didn't have much effect, Aki Tomoya suffered quite a bit in the process. So, if you were to ask who Aki Tomoya feared most in the entire school, it would naturally be Hiratsuka Shizuka, nicknamed "Iron Fist Leftover Woman."

Hasegawa put the matter aside for the time being, but the others were still thinking about it, especially Yui Yuigahama, who couldn't help but look at Hasegawa every now and then during class.

Fortunately, in the teacher's eyes, Yui Yuigahama was already considered an incurable student with terrible grades. Even if she was asked to pay attention in class, it wouldn't make much difference.

Therefore, as long as Yui Yuigahama doesn't disturb others or disrupt the class order during class, the teacher generally won't interfere.

Moreover, Yui wasn't the only one secretly watching Hasegawa during class. There were other students who were also very curious about how Hasegawa had managed to win over Shizuka Hiratsuka, a single woman with a strong will to live.