My dear wife, I still love you more.

"Yui".

"Huh? What's wrong with Yumiko?"

"I should be asking you what's wrong with you. You were staring at Hasegawa the whole time during class, and you still say you have nothing to do with him?" Miura Yumiko teased Yuigahama Yui.

"Ah, well, I, I was just, I was just curious, I just thought it was strange." Yui Yuigahama quickly shook her head.

“That’s true. If you were with Hasegawa, then there wouldn’t have been this whole thing between Hasegawa and Hiratsuka-sensei. Tsk tsk tsk, I really admire Hasegawa. Not only is he such a good student, a top student, but he also managed to get together with Hiratsuka-sensei using that status. Although Hiratsuka-sensei has a terrible personality, she’s still a great beauty.” Miura Yumiko couldn’t help but sigh.

"That's not how it is!" Yui Yuigahama slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly.

"Huh? Yui, your reaction is way too much. You wouldn't happen to have a secret crush on Hasegawa, would you?"

"That's quite possible. As a mediocre student, the person I admire the most is probably the top student. So it's quite normal for this admiration to gradually turn into worship, or even love," Hina Ebina analyzed seriously.

“Hime, what you said makes sense, doesn’t it? Besides, I just realized today that Hasegawa is actually quite good-looking. He’s good at studying and handsome enough. So it seems normal that Yui secretly likes him,” Miura Yumiko said with a sudden realization.

"It's just a pity that Hasegawa is already taken. He and Hiratsuka-sensei are practically done with each other. Yui, you're a bit too late," Iroha Isshiki said with a hint of schadenfreude.

"No, no, that's not true! Hasegawa, Hasegawa and Hiratsuka-sensei don't have that kind of relationship at all!" Yui Yuigahama couldn't help but loudly refute.

"How do you know they don't have that kind of relationship?"

"It's Yui who needs to accept reality."

"Tsk tsk tsk, when we asked Yui before, she kept it a secret. Now she's exposed. You really like Hasegawa, huh? Too bad, it's too late now." Miura Yumiko and the other girls teased Yui Yuigahama with giggles.

"No, no, I don't like Hasegawa, and Hasegawa has absolutely no relationship with Hiratsuka-sensei. I can absolutely guarantee that," Yui Yuigahama couldn't help but shout.

"Huh? Why are you so confident in making that guarantee?"

"Exactly, exactly. Even though you always seem to come to school together, how do you know he has no connection with Hiratsuka-sensei?"

A group of girls continued their relentless questioning. They vaguely sensed that Yui Yuigahama seemed to have some secret, and they felt that if they continued, they would discover Yui Yuigahama's little secret, which was incredibly intriguing for them.

Of course, they didn't mean any harm; it was just out of curiosity.

Of course, this curiosity could also hurt others, but a group of girls in their early teens are obviously not that rational.

“That’s because Hasegawa lives in my house, so of course I know about his situation—” Yui Yuigahama couldn’t help but shout, but then her expression suddenly changed, as if she realized that she had said something she shouldn’t have.

Well, actually, although Yui Yuigahama seemed to have been provoked by her friends to say such things, she probably didn't even realize that she subconsciously wanted to make this kind of thing public.

Chapter Sixty-Eight: A Perfect Solution (Long Chapter)

"..."

Miura Yumiko and the others were all stunned, staring wide-eyed at Yuigahama Yui in shock.

"Yui, you, you, you, are you telling the truth?"

"You two, you two are already living together?"

Yui and her group hadn't been particularly quiet when they were talking, so most of the people around them had heard their conversation. Now, the entire class was almost completely silent.

Then, Miura Yumiko's question to Yui Yuigahama was immediately heard by everyone.

"Hasegawa and Yuigahama Yui are already living together!!!"

This sentence echoed in everyone's mind.

Suddenly, countless eyes fell on Hasegawa.

Hasegawa felt a bit overwhelmed. The rumors about him and Hiratsuka Shizuka hadn't died down yet, and now there was news that he was living with Yui Yuigahama. Did things have to be this chaotic and exciting?

"Ah, um, um, no, it's not cohabitation, it's just, it's just that Hasegawa is temporarily renting an empty room in my house. It's just temporary." Yui Yuigahama explained, her face flushed and somewhat flustered.

However, Yui Yuigahama's words didn't seem very convincing. In short, many people were wondering whether Hasegawa had a relationship with Yui Yuigahama or with Shizuka Hiratsuka.

Of course, some people had even more provocative ideas: Hasegawa was two-timing, having one foot in teacher Shizuka Hiratsuka and the other in student Yui Yuigahama.

Most importantly, whether they are students or teachers, they have a lot of interaction. Doesn't Hasegawa worry about things going wrong?

This earned the admiration of many people.

Hasegawa felt that the matter had become a mess and that he needed to step forward and explain.

Hasegawa walked to the podium and tapped it with his eraser.

"Dear classmates, I know that today I, who am usually not very noticeable, have suddenly become the focus of everyone's attention because I have become the center of a certain gossip, no, now there are two gossips."

Hearing Hasegawa say that, some people below couldn't help but laugh.

"Hasegawa-kun, is it really just a rumor?"

"Yeah, could it really be true?"

"Hasegawa-kun, how did you do that? How did you manage to catch up with both a teacher and a student at the same time?"

Hasegawa stood there calmly, not saying a word, just quietly watching the people below, especially the few who were speaking.

"Tobu Sho, you're Tobu Sho, right?" Hasegawa asked the person who spoke the loudest.

“That’s right, I am Tobe Sho.” Tobe Sho enjoyed the attention he received. Because Hasegawa called his name, he attracted the attention of the other students in the class, so he was particularly proud and nodded smugly.

"The rumors about me and Hiratsuka-sensei started from you, didn't they?" Hasegawa recognized him; he was one of the people who escaped from the rooftop back then.

"You, you mustn't be talking nonsense. It didn't come from me, and besides, who knows if it's just a rumor or it's true? It could be the truth." Tobe Sho cried out guiltily.

"There's no need for such a loud voice. The more guilty you are, the more you'll use such a voice to bluff and try to enhance your persuasiveness. But it's precisely because you're guilty that you do this."

"I wasn't feeling guilty at all, I, I just—"

"I just saw that Hiratsuka-sensei had something to discuss with me today, so I was curious and couldn't help but secretly follow him. But because I was following him stealthily, I couldn't get close. In the end, I could only rely on the bits and pieces I overheard and then exaggerate them—no, I should say fabricate them. In the end, they became the kind of rumors that others heard. Is that right?" Hasegawa looked sharply at Tobe Sho.

Whether it was because of his high level of swordsmanship or the aura cultivated by a level 5 skill, Hasegawa exuded a very strong sense of oppression in Tobe Sho's eyes, making him a little scared and fearful.

"Tobu Sho, do you know what the consequences of your actions will be? Have you thought about that? You probably haven't. After all, you probably only care about your own thoughts and momentary pleasure, and you never think about the consequences of your words."

"You would never guess what will happen to the two of us at the center of this rumor, Mr. Hiratsuka. Well, that makes sense, we're just two people who have nothing to do with each other. It doesn't matter if the only chance for a poor boy from the countryside to change his fate is ruined. After all, he's just a poor boy from the countryside. If he loses his future and is expelled from school because of this rumor, at most he'll just have to go back to the countryside, toil in the fields year after year, and in the end, his harvest won't even be enough to cover his expenses in Tokyo for a month."

"It's just sending a poor boy from the countryside back to his original life, no matter how hard he tries to change his fate, no matter how much his parents have to grit their teeth and use all their savings to pay for his schooling, and they can't even afford his living expenses, so he has to work to earn his own living."

"It doesn't matter anyway. He's just a poor country boy who doesn't want to do anything and is looked down upon. Even if he's hurt by rumors and ends up ashamed to face his parents who gave everything to change his child's fate, and ultimately chooses to commit suicide, it doesn't matter. After all, he's really just someone who doesn't want to do anything."

"As long as you're happy and gain attention, what do you care about other people's lives? Right?"

Hasegawa stood there quietly, speaking in a neither loud nor soft tone. But his words were like knives, piercing Tobe Sho's heart.

Hu Buxiang's face was deathly pale, and he was even a little unsteady on his feet. He plopped down in a chair, completely losing his usual arrogance.

"besides--"

"That's enough. Hasegawa-kun, that's enough." Hayama Hayato couldn't help but jump out at this moment, interrupting Hasegawa: "Tobe didn't do it on purpose, he never even thought about these things. It's too cruel of you to say that to Tobe."

"Is it cruel? Is this already cruel to him? Then, Hayama-kun, what about me? Is what I have to face because of these rumors cruel? If I can't stand up and stop these rumors, what will be my final fate? Suicide? Perhaps I have enough courage to face reality and not choose suicide, and then go from a future University of Tokyo student to a poor boy who can only go back to the countryside to farm. Is that fate cruel?" Hasegawa stared sharply at Hayama Hayato.

In fact, Hasegawa really dislikes, even hates, people like Tobe Sho.

Such people are mostly self-righteous, only care about their own feelings, and simply enjoy the attention of others. In order to gain more attention and become the focus of others' eyes, they do things that seem flamboyant or individualistic.

They completely disregard the feelings of others, nor do they consider whether their actions will cause trouble for others. They simply don't think.

Perhaps they meant no harm, simply considering it a trivial matter. But it is precisely because they meant no harm that they harbored the greatest malice.

"While Ms. Hiratsuka has her flaws, there's no denying that she's a very good and qualified teacher—no one would question that. But amidst these rumors, she'll face even greater pressure because she's a teacher. If she can't clear things up, she'll likely be dismissed. It could even become a lifelong stain on her reputation, forcing her to leave the teaching profession altogether. She might even spend the rest of her life under the shadow of these criticisms."

Have you considered all of these things?

Hasegawa's gaze swept over all the students in the class; almost all of them lowered their heads under Hasegawa's gaze.

"To be honest, I didn't want to say this. I'm just a poor boy from the countryside. I've been working hard and studying hard to change my fate. I know I'm different from you. It doesn't matter whether you study or not, but this is my only chance to change my destiny."

"Therefore, I need to focus all my energy on studying. I have neither the time nor the energy to take care of anything else, let alone dating."

"Dating, which you see as a youthful game, is too far removed from me. I can't play that game, I really can't afford to. If I want to change my fate, I have to give up everything except studying. Perhaps, this is what you see as a bookworm. But I have no other choice."

"You can freely enjoy your youth, date the people you like, and even do everything you love. But I can't; I don't have that privilege."

"To be honest, I felt very inferior when I was with you guys, really, extremely inferior. I had nothing, all I could do was study, even though I'm not particularly good at studying. But I had no choice but to rack my brains to study, just so I could get into a good university."

"Finally, I want to reiterate that my current task is to study, and my goal is to attend the University of Tokyo. I have no interest in anything other than studying. If you want to date? Sorry, that's none of my business. If you want to play any games? Sorry, that's also none of my business."

“I would rather experience school bullying or so-called emotional abuse now. I even hope that everyone can isolate me, because only in this way can I concentrate on my studies without being disturbed.”

"Oh, by the way, the second rumor is about Yuihama. I am very grateful that Yuihama stood up for me at this time; she is a very kind girl."

When Yui Yuigahama's name was mentioned, the other students in the class subconsciously looked at her. Yui Yuigahama blushed slightly and lowered her head.

"Indeed, I am currently living at Yuihama's house. That's because Yuihama is not only kind herself, but she also has a kind mother."

"I was a poor boy from the countryside. I had no money other than tuition fees, and I didn't even have a place to live. Under these circumstances, Yuihama's mother resolutely extended a helping hand to me and let me stay at her house temporarily. To be honest, I was very moved and very grateful. There are always such good people in this world."

Even though they knew that doing so might cause trouble for Yuihama, they still resolutely chose to help me.

"Compared to most people, they are really, really, really good people. I discovered the brilliance of humanity in them."

"Alright, that's all. I don't want to say anything else. Finally, let me reiterate that my goal is the University of Tokyo, and I have absolutely no other ambitions. Please don't bother me unless absolutely necessary. Thank you."

After speaking, Hasegawa turned around and stepped down from the podium, returning to his seat. He even pretended to take out his textbook, as if he were studying.

The way the other students in the class looked at Hasegawa changed. Many of them looked at Hasegawa with admiration, thinking that Hasegawa was really amazing and outstanding.

Although he is usually quiet and unassuming, Hasegawa is far superior to someone like Tobe Sho.

As for Tobu Sho, one of the parties involved in this incident, his face was ashen, and his breathing was rapid and disordered. He was especially concerned when he noticed the strange looks he was receiving from the other students in the class, and some of them were even pointing and whispering.

To be honest, in the past, facing this situation would have excited Tobe Sho even more, because he loved the feeling of being the center of attention. But now, he only felt dizzy, his vision blurred, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"Hubu Xiang has fainted. Quickly take him to the infirmary."

When Hu Bu Xiang's friends saw him like this, they gasped in surprise and then swarmed around him, pulling him away as they ran outside.

In reality, if they were just casual buddies, they would probably stay as far away from each other as possible, since Tobe Sho's reputation isn't exactly good right now.

However, spreading rumors wasn't something only Tobe Sho did, but Hasegawa only singled him out, letting others escape unscathed. This essentially made Tobe Sho take the blame for everything.

That's why they stepped forward at this time, partly to make up for what they owed to Tobu Sho. As for anything else, like claiming they were also involved in this incident, they would absolutely not do that.

Seeing Tobe Sho being carried out, Hasegawa's lips curled into a slight smile.

"How malicious of you," came Megumi Kato's voice from the side.

Because of Kato Megumi's unique circumstances, no one else noticed her. However, Hasegawa was now the center of attention. So, although he understood that Kato Megumi was talking about him, he didn't say anything.

Otherwise, if he turned to talk to Kato Megumi at this moment, the persona he had just built would collapse.