noveldrama
Chapter 151
Chapter 151
Aika’s embarrassing display came to an end sooner than expected.
To her, the two sisters were still immature children, almost like daughters in her eyes. And yet, she had burst into tears right in front of them, bawling like a kid. Even for her, it was more than a little humiliating.
*'This crybaby dumpling, bawling for a full ten minutes! I thought I’d die of embarrassment.'*
*'I thought Whitey only had baby food in her, but it turns out she’s got plenty of tears too…'*
For Winter and Haru, however, those ten minutes felt like an eternity. Still, eventually, they all came to an agreement.
The three of them decided… to keep this incident a secret.
---
“Girls, shall we keep what happened with ‘Mom’ our little secret?”
“Y-Yeah! Who tattles about girl stuff to a guy? Right, Haru?”
“Uh-huh. I’ll keep Whitey’s secret. Whitey didn’t cry, no way.”
The pact was made quickly.
Aika was embarrassed by her childish crying, Winter was terrified of what might happen if Dad found out, and Haru just felt bad for Whitey.
So, with mutual agreement, the little war in the bathhouse was buried in history.
---
*‘Ugh, this is the worst…’*
Of course, even after agreeing to forget it, the scars of that war didn’t disappear.
For Aika, crying in front of the two sisters and threatening to tell her student about it was a major blow to her pride. Today was officially the worst day of her awakened life, and she couldn’t shake off the sour feeling, missing out on enjoying the rest of their sauna trip.
---
[*Ninomiya.*]
[*What now…*]
[*While we were in the bath, Yu-jin asked me how to make you want to date him.*]
[*W-Wait, my student did that? Really?!*]
-*A bright smile spread across her face.*
---
[*Tell me everything! What exactly did he say?*]
[*He was curious about what qualities women find attractive in men. Seems he wants to win you over.*]
[*Hehe, really? My student wants to charm his teacher? How cheeky~?*]
[*….*]
*‘I can’t even tell Yu-jin about this crybaby moment… Ugh, this is ridiculous.’*
To any bystander, it would have been a suffocating sight. Poor Kkong could only gulp down some traditional rice drink to deal with his frustration.
*‘Yu-jin deserves better than this fool… but if he likes her, I’ll support him as a friend.’*
---
[*But there’s an issue. Yu-jin is under the mistaken belief that you don’t see him as a man.*]
[*…What?*]
[*He even sighed to me, saying he’s done everything to make himself appealing to you, but it just doesn’t get through.*]
Kkong vented his bottled-up frustration.
---
Yu-jin had told him, *“Listen, I’ve been trying really hard. I’ve hugged her tight, whispered to her like we were a married couple, even leaned in like I was about to kiss her. I mean, I’ve made it super obvious that I see her as a woman!”*
But apparently, she thought it was all a joke. Whenever he’d try to confess, she’d just brush it off, saying she’d have no problem accepting it “if” he ever did confess.
---
[*She even allowed him to share a hotel room with her. He kept thinking, ‘How much must I not be seen as a man for her to allow that?’*]
[*….*]
[*I nearly died of frustration just listening to him.*]
Kkong continued to vent, feeling pent-up anger over what was essentially his friend’s love woes.
---
[*Yu-jin’s doing all this, and why are you just sitting on your hands?*]
[*I-I mean, I do try my best…*]
[*Just grab his shoulders, look him in the eye, and say, “Yu-jin, I like you as a man!” That’s all it would take!*]
[*But… that’s too embarrassing…*]
[*Your usual antics are way more embarrassing!*]
[*But still….*]
Aika’s usual talkativeness dwindled. Wearing a slingshot swimsuit to seduce her student was fine, but confessing her feelings directly was way too embarrassing.
---
[*Fine. Yu-jin mentioned he planned to stay at a hotel with you tonight, to try and make you flustered.*]
[*Really…?*]
[*So, at least show a bit of shyness. Let him see that you see him as a man.*]
[*How should I do that?*]
[*Once you get to the room, just…*]
Kkong laid out a strategy, specifically tailored for Aika’s level of embarrassment. It was carefully planned so she could give a small hint without overwhelming herself and so Yu-jin would be certain of her feelings.
Thanks to Kkong’s advice, Aika felt a surge of confidence.
---
“Humph, that Kkong. He could have stayed for dinner.”
“Well, he’s a busy guy. You’ll understand.”
-*Grin.*
*‘Thanks, Kkong! I’ll give it my all! Watch over me!’*
After a sauna outing that had been more eventful than planned…
---
“Teacher? How about staying at a nearby hotel tonight? Not that I have any ulterior motives…”
“It is getting late. I suppose we have no choice?”
“…?”
*‘It’s only 7 p.m…’*
And so, Yu-jin smoothly led her to the hotel.
---
“Yes, Haru, Winter. We’ll stay at the hotel tonight. That’s fine, right?”
“Huh? Yu-jin, you’re having your foster daughters stay with us—”
“Yes, but I only reserved a two-person room, so we’ll split into pairs.”
“Oh, well then!”
In the end, the two dumpling sisters tagged along. Nonetheless, Aika still found herself alone with Yu-jin in a luxurious hotel suite.
---
“What a nice room. Almost too much space for two people.”
“I’m glad you like it, Teacher. Or should I say… Aika.”
“How could I not like what you prepared, Yu-jin? But, actually….”
-*Fidgeting.*
*‘Now, just like Kkong suggested, I’ll act a little shy…!!’*
Hiding her happiness, Aika shifted her posture, fidgeting slightly.
According to Kkong’s plan, she just needed to subtly show that sharing a bed with her male student made her feel embarrassed. A small signal to show she thought of him as a man.
---
And Yu-jin’s response?
*‘Just as I thought…!!’*
-*Bang.*
“Teacher.”
---
He pressed her against the wall, his hand landing beside her with a loud thud—a “wall slam,” as they’d call it in Japan.
Aika’s eyes blinked rapidly in shock.
---
“W-What?”
*‘Did my student just… push me? Wait, is this… a wall slam? Why? I haven’t even done anything yet…’*
---
For Aika, the situation was bewildering.
Alone with her student in a hotel room, and then suddenly—wall-slammed by her handsome disciple. She was utterly flustered.
*Is he… planning to pin me down? He never responded to my advances before, so why now?*
*‘What’s… happening…?’*
---
-*Suddenly.*
“Teacher, I need to ask you something. Please answer honestly.”
“Huh?!”
Yu-jin didn’t give her a moment to recover.
Still holding the wall-slam position, he leaned in close, noses nearly touching, eyes locked, lips barely an inch apart.
---
“W-Well, if it’s you, Yu-jin, I don’t…?”
“Did something happen with my girls?”
“…Huh?”
Once again, Yu-jin stayed true to himself.
His serious gaze hinted at a diligent young man.
---
[*Hey, Kkong. What did you say to Teacher through telepathy?*]
[*Nothing you need to worry about.*]
*‘So, something did happen with my daughters!’*
---
From Yu-jin’s perspective, here’s what he saw:
When Aika returned from the bath with his daughters, her eyes were a bit red. She’d been listless, rejecting even the traditional rice drink and boiled eggs, and only after Kkong gave her a pep talk did her mood seem to improve.
*‘Did Winter and Haru tease her about… her complex? I know how much she’s self-conscious about that.*
‘Did those girls dare to tease my teacher about her…?’
Yu-jin had a suspicion about what might have happened. As a married man, he knew his wife’s insecurities all too well, and he was fully aware of how sensitive Aika was about… her complex. Though he personally adored her just as she was, he’d been simmering with a quiet fury ever since he’d noticed her red-rimmed eyes.
After all, his motto was simple: Anyone who makes my wife cry will pay dearly.
“Did they act disrespectfully toward you, Aika?”
“Uh, well, that is… sort of.”
‘Forget that, just kiss me already, Yu-jin!!’
Aika, however, had already brushed off the incident and would’ve been perfectly content if Yu-jin kissed her then and there…
“Just tell me, Aika. I’ll make sure they’re properly disciplined.”
“Well, I’m fine, really. They’re just kids, after all—”
“I can’t stand to see you cry, Aika. If you were hurt, then they need to learn their lesson, down to the last tear.”
“….”
‘Oh my, this is wonderful in its own way?’
Hearing such fierce words from him while he held her in a wall-slam felt like being treated like a princess, and Aika couldn’t help but feel overjoyed.
After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded slightly, completely forgetting about the pact to keep the bathhouse incident a secret.
“Well… to be honest, they teased me, calling me a ‘32-year-old lady’…”
“Those little brats! Thirty-two is practically the peak of youth!”
“…Hehe. And then they said since you’re their dad, I’m trying to be their mom and told me to stop being so clingy.”
“Are they out of their minds? They should be grateful to have a mother as beautiful, kind, and talented as you!”
“Ehehe. Right? And they even complained about how close you and I are together.”
As a result, there they were, locked in another warm and tender moment, separated by only three centimeters, with affectionate banter filling the air.
Aika felt herself melt under the happiness washing away the memory of what had happened earlier.
“And… also, I know my… um, chest is a little….”
“That’s it. Teacher, hold on a moment. I’m going to go teach those two a lesson!”
With that, Yu-jin abruptly left.
Just before her heart could melt completely, he was gone, leaving Aika standing there in the suite, dumbfounded, with her mouth agape.
“Wait, that’s not the point right now! I was about to show you, you fool of a student!!”
Her delayed outburst was the very definition of exasperation.
***
Yu-jin stormed through the hotel, his rare anger driving him forward with purpose.
It didn’t take long for him to reach the room where Winter and Haru were staying.
-Bang, bang.
"Winter, Haru. Open up."
"…!!!"
‘Dad’s here!!’
Winter and Haru exchanged a quick, wide-eyed look.
-Whispering.
"See? I told you he’d come running, probably just can’t wait to marry me."
"Unni, you’re so cool!!"
"Of course! Now, Haru, find a good hiding spot. I’ll go to Dad first, and then you can jump in after. Got it?"
"Got it!"
With that, the two of them sprang into action. Haru slipped into the bathroom she’d already scoped out as her hiding spot, while Winter adjusted her clothes—or what little she had on—cleared her throat, and prepared herself by the door.
Caught up in her own fantasy, Winter opened the door with a soft, expectant smile.
-Creak.
“You’re really late, Dad?”
“…And what exactly are you wearing?”
“Well, since it’s just the two of us here…?”
“Enough. I heard you made my mentor cry.”
“…What?”
Winter’s confidence shattered in an instant.
“So Ninomiya the rice-cake tattled on you.”
“You’re in for some discipline. You’ve been a very naughty girl.”
“N-No! Dad? Listen, it’s just that—”
“On the floor. One hundred smacks as punishment.”
“Eek!!!”
One hundred smacks.
“B-But, Dad…”
“Down. Now.”
-Ding.
[Skill ‘Total Hypnosis’ activated.]
-Thud.
“H-Heek…”
“What are you crying about? Turn your head forward.”
“Hiii…”
Winter complied, lying down with her head turned forward, trembling as she braced herself.
Winter lay down beside Yu-jin, her face down with her backside raised, bracing herself.
“C-Could you go a little easy…?”
“——I’m pulling them down.”
“…Eh!? Wait, if you pull them down like this, even I—!!”
-Smack!!!!!!!
“Hngghhh?”
A fierce wave of discipline swept through the room.
The instructor: Yu-jin.
The student: Winter.
-Ears perked.
"Is this sex..." ? "Sister, are you having sex with daddy yet?"
Additionally, there was an uninvited observer—a hidden eavesdropper—secretly taking in the entire scene from the sidelines.