“That was uncalled for. You’re definitely getting suspended for at least 2 weeks from all your student council duties and other respective clubs as a penalty for this stunt you pulled.”
Taishin felt a throbbing headache pouring forth from his ears to his temple as he recalled what the heads of academics had said a few hours ago. He wanted to believe they were overreacting and pinning all the blame on him because they wanted to kiss royal ass. He also wanted to believe it was completely and utterly Anzu’s fault that this happened.
“No really, what did you think you were doing out there, Taishin? The king has sent a formal complaint! We are disappointed, Taishin.”
But he knew he was being delusional. He felt… like a failure. He felt like a failure who couldn’t differentiate between his emotions and the job he was supposed to perform. It was more that he failed himself in losing his calm.
“Yo, Taishin! Had a fight with your girlfriend?”
Taishin sullenly lifted his head resting on the edge of the table and gazed at the person on the doorway.
“I don’t have a girlfriend, professor.”
“My bad, imaginary girlfriend then.”
“I’m not you, professor.”
Professor Hiiragi Satsuki strolled his way to the bench where Taishin stood and faced him. They kept staring at each other in a staring contest and as soon as Taishin retracted his eyes, saw the professor subtly smile in victory.
Taishin sighed. “What do you want, Prof?”
“Nothing much. I just wanted your help with some student enrollment numbers and stuff.” Professor Hiiragi smiled and narrowed his eyes at the last bits. “Since I reckon you’d be free for the next two weeks.”
“I don’t have access to the enrollment numbers anymore. I have been suspended from the council for 2 weeks.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Professor Hiiragi crossed his arms, eyeing him as he asked, “Are you alright?”
Kjlrtlc rtgeuufv. “P mjc’a mtjcuf ktja’r jigfjvs tjqqfcfv.”
Ugbofrrbg Lllgjul ibbxfv lcab tlr fsfr, “Ccv sbe’v mtjcuf atf beambwf lo ulnfc atf mtjcmf?”
“Rb.”
Ugbofrrbg Lllgjul ijeutfv. “Ktja’r ktja P atbeuta,” tf rjlv jcv atfc ibbxfv ja Kjlrtlc. “Qtja tjqqfcfv, mtliv?”
Ugbofrrbg Lllgjul tjv yffc afjmtlcu Llrabgs obg bnfg 20 sfjgr ja njglber eclnfgrlalfr jr j uefra ifmaegfg ecali tf byajlcfv tlr rfmbcv ULG gfmfcais lc mbcafwqbgjgs tlrabgs jcv jqqilfv obg afcegf ab yf j qgbofrrbg ja Kfcpbe Fclnfgrlas olnf sfjgr jub. Ccv tf yfmjwf atf ecvfofjafv ojnbglaf ifmaegfg bo fnfgs raevfca klatlc 3 vjsr bo tlr qfgwjcfca qbrlalbc.
This was owing to one single question a student once asked during a lecture.
Professor Hiiragi looked 30 with light flecks of silver lining his mostly black hair and his smile with all his neat teeth on display, was heartwarming to say the least. He often wore shirts with sleeves rolled up when he taught and had prominent cheekbones with mysterious eyes above that toned jaw.
When a student once asked, “Sir how old are you?” and he replied with a,
“Oh me? I’m turning 50 this year. Man, I’m old huh.”
Yes, the whole Uni exploded after that. In more ways than one. And he’s been a constant topic and looming shadow in every crevice of gossip forums in the Uni. There was practically nobody who didn’t know of him at the university-even parents’ group chat had a sub group dedicated to discussing things related to Professor Hiiragi because he’s an award winning researcher that came from a family with significant influence in high society.
However his startlingly younger appearance was not the only reason students felt pulled in by him. He was a man who oozed radiance and playfulness; he was essentially capable of breathing life into every person and life. And beneath the frivolity he actually cared for his students.
So even if this level of affection was quite the norm, Professor’s ‘what happened’ was so gentle that Taishin was taken aback for a second.
“That… I don’t know either.” It seemed he couldn’t avoid this confrontation forever so he might as well be honest.
“You’re not usually the type to blast in people’s faces,” Professor Hiiragi said, “You took it tactfully even at the incident of the inter-departmental war when the medical faculty ganged up on you. So why now?”
“Professor, are you really here to console me?” Taishin pursed his lips. “Because it feels like you’re just here to have fun with the situation I’m in now.”
“Oops. Don’t expose me like that.” the Professor gasped but quickly proceeded to ask, “So, can you think of why?”
“Hell if I know.” Taishin shrugged again. “I guess some people don’t mesh well with each other. I guess.. some people could exist and just manage to piss others off. And that shithead hits every single one of my nerves- even his face is annoying. He looks like a roasted fly and I don’t do well with flies. He’s somehow everything I hate in people poured into a single mold.”
He was a symbol of every opportunity and luck in this world melded into the wrong shape. He had everything the common man couldn’t have and he still managed to end up like that; dumb, ridiculous, inefficient, vain and arrogant. Taishin hated that.
Or perhaps because he managed to render Taishin’s initial reading of his character completely null, something Taishin never got wrong until now. His initial reading of a person has never gone wrong until the 3rd prince came along and shattered it. Taishin hated that too.
Or just maybe… maybe he was too unhinged a person for Taishin. He’d seen people being ridiculous. But not to this extent.
And he hated that too.
“But Taishin, we can’t live life denying the world and its hierarchy. If you exercise your honesty at all times, despite what the circumstance demands, it just makes you a situational fool. You could lose a lot in the long run.”
“What can they do, really?” Taishin looked away. “Sure, they might strip me of my position or at worst send me home with an expulsion letter. But there’s other ways I can survive- I don’t need this degree. Not at the expense of my self-worth. I know my worth.”
“So an apology is not an option?”
“Do you see that balcony, Professor?” Taishin pointed at the open verandah. “I’d rather—“
“Jump down from there than apologize to that bastard,” Professor Hiiragi cut in, “I know.” He then paused. “I’m just worried for you.”
“You don’t have to worry sir.” Taishin smirked lightly. “Right now Tenjou won’t last without me. They won’t find a better puppet to dump all their responsibilities even if they scour the whole Uni. I’m the perfect carpet to rub all their dirt. I doubt they’d do anything to me while I’m a student here.”
Professor Hiiragi hooted out a laugh. “Stop making me feel bad for worrying about you. Either way, the stuff I told about defying people was all…” Professor Hiiragi flapped his hands, “Bullshit.”
“I know.” Taishin smiled. “I don’t want to hear that from someone who eloped their house at 15.”
“Shh… we don’t talk about that here. I thought the incident with the prince might have ruffled your feathers a bit,” The Professor traced his chin with his thumb and laughed lightly as he said, “but I think not.” He then patted Taishin’s head softly and Taishin was visibly shaken.
“Let me know if you find it difficult to handle. Those academic jerk heads won’t get away with doing shit to my students.”
Taishin fell silent. Then said, “No thanks. The academic heads probably can’t do anything worse than you.”
Professor Hiiragi laughed again and asked, “This is the last time I’d ask you this. Could you not apologize to him once? For me? Because I don’t want you getting in trouble.”
“No, Professor. My dad has told me that every person alive would have at least one person in their life whose presence they can’t stand.” Taishin’s eyes blazed. “So, I’m sorry but I can’t. Because he’s that one for me.”
Double update because it’s been a while. ( ´ ∀ `)ノ～ ♡ How’s everybody doing? I’ve been super productive the past few days and am feeling real proud about it. I hope a great week ahead to everybody!
Also life update: I just found a another flavor of my favorite candles. (Yes, I’m a candle lover!)
Thoughts on Professor Hiiragi? I hope you enjoyed reading his character. Taishin is going through a rough patch during this chapter and is feeling extremely emotional over the facing the consequences of something so serious in his life for the first time. (；⌣̀_⌣́) Aaand yes, he’s not taking it well. Don’t forget to comment your thoughts because I LOVE reading them!
This one is promising.
Cannot wait for new chapters!