Game Developer in the World of Anime

Ichin's comment didn't come across as bragging to Hiratsuka Shizuka. She gave him a helpless look and said, "I know you're capable, but during the exam, I want you to solve everything using high school-level knowledge. No need to show off what you've learned beyond that, understood?"

"Okay, okay, got it."

"And you, Utaha?"

"Me?" Seeing Hiratsuka turn to her, Utaha smiled and replied, "I'm fine as well. I've been ready for a while now. All that's left is to adjust my state of mind a little. There's not much else that needs improvement."

Compared to Ichin, Utaha was always the more reassuring one in Hiratsuka's eyes.

Satisfied, Hiratsuka nodded and said, "Alright, that's all I had to say. The next period is about to start—head back to class. Oh, and take these two boxes of candy too."

With that, in addition to the chocolates she had given earlier, she handed Ichin and Utaha two more boxes of sweets.

Ichin glanced at the sweets in his hands, exchanged a look with Utaha, then thanked her before the two left the office.

As they exited, Ichin glanced back to see Hiratsuka slumped over her desk, idly playing with a pen, and whispered, "Tsk, tsk. A wedding among the teachers, huh. For someone like Hiratsuka-sensei, who's been single for ages, that must've been a tough blow."

Hooking her arm around his as they walked back toward the classroom, Utaha proposed, "Ichin, why don't I ask my mom to see if she knows any suitable men for Hiratsuka-sensei?"

"Sure. Let your mom keep an eye out, then we can check if Hiratsuka-sensei's interested."

When it came to Hiratsuka Shizuka, it really was a bit of a shame. She had good looks, a great figure, and a respectable job. Her personality was straightforward too. If she had any "flaws," it'd be that she smoked and drank, and she wasn't the type to become a housewife.

In Japan, women like Hiratsuka often had a hard time finding an ideal partner.

What Ichin hadn't expected was that her chances were that slim.

Hopefully, Utaha's mom could help.

Not just her, though—Utaha's editor, Machida Sonoko, was another beautiful but single woman in her thirties.

Were romantic issues really that common among the younger generation these days?

Ichin didn't quite understand. Then again, he was already a winner at life, so he had no reason to dwell on it or rub salt in the wound.

---

Noon, at the Service Club Room.

It was the first day of the new semester. Yukino had come early in the morning to clean the room herself, so they could all have lunch together here.

Of course, the other activity room that Ichin and Utaha used to occupy had already been vacated. They'd returned the key to Hiratsuka and now spent their free time in the Service Club instead.

After sipping some of Ichin's homemade soup, Eriri let out a content sigh. "Haah, first day back in class… really takes some getting used to. Oh right, you third-years have the center exams this month, right? Are you all in revision mode now?"

Utaha nodded while eating. "Yeah, everyone's studying hard. The closer we get to the exam, the more nervous people are. Some of them even come to Ichin and me during breaks to ask questions."

"Tch, so dedicated."

Eriri sighed in amazement. "We've still got a year before we go through that ourselves. Thank goodness—we can relax a little longer."

Having already locked in her future in the arts program at Tokyo University of the Arts, Eriri didn't need top scores in her academic subjects. As long as she maintained her current level, she'd get in just fine.

But then, Eriri's face lit up with a mischievous grin.

"Hehehe. Once you two graduate, Yukino and I will be the new third-years—we'll be the oldest ones at school! Then all the first- and second-years will have to call us senpai!"

Can't deny it—Eriri had always been a bit of a gremlin. Clearly, she was still bitter from all the times Utaha teased her into calling her senpai.

That said, Eriri had long since dropped the "senpai" and now just called Utaha by name. Only Yukino still used the respectful form of address, which reflected their very different personalities.

And speaking of Yukino, a year from now, she'd likely get into Tokyo University as well—becoming Ichin and Utaha's underclassman again.

Soon, the four of them finished lunch and began reading or relaxing in the clubroom.

While taking out his review book, Ichin also brought out the candy Hiratsuka had given them that morning.

"Here, courtesy of Hiratsuka-sensei. Apparently, one of the first-year teachers got married, and she couldn't handle the emotional damage, so she passed the wedding sweets on to me and Utaha. Try some."

"Huh? That's what happened?" Eriri popped a candy into her mouth. "I don't know many first-year teachers, but yeah, poor Hiratsuka-sensei. She's been on so many blind dates and mixers, and still hasn't found a boyfriend. And it's not like her standards are that high."

Outside the classroom, Hiratsuka was pretty easygoing. When they'd gathered for tea, Eriri had even asked about her ideal partner. Her requirements really weren't that demanding.

Yukino picked a mint-flavored candy, unwrapped it, and popped it in. Squinting thoughtfully, she said, "I've heard a bit about Hiratsuka-sensei from my mom and sister. Her situation has been quite a concern for her family. I think they arranged a blind date for her over the New Year, but… it didn't go anywhere either."

"Why not?" Eriri asked in disbelief. "Hiratsuka-sensei's family is well-off, right? Any guy they set her up with wouldn't be bad."

"They weren't," Yukino replied with a complicated expression. "After I heard about it, I asked my mom for details. She said the man was successful in his career, but… quite a bit older."

"How much older?" Ichin asked, curious.

"Thirty-seven."

Ichin sucked in a sharp breath. "That's way too big a gap! No one would accept that, come on."

Hiratsuka was only 30 this year. And based on her looks, no one would doubt it if you said she was 25. She was in the same league as Hazuki, Akane Akasaka, and Machida Sonoko—women whose age you couldn't guess from appearances.

Utaha nodded in agreement. "Exactly. It's not that a seven-year gap is always bad. If the man were 30 and the woman 23, nobody would blink an eye. But at Hiratsuka-sensei's current age, I think a difference of three to four years is probably the most acceptable. Her family's matchmaking sense is seriously off. I'll ask my mom to keep an eye out."

"I'll tell my mom too," Eriri quickly added. "Hiratsuka-sensei's just too pitiful."

Just outside the Service Club room, Hiratsuka's lips twitched at what she overheard.

She didn't knock.

Instead, she quietly turned and walked away.

Her students knew this much about her situation?

She needed to go find a quiet place… to be alone.

*

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