A lone candle flickers in the dark.
That's what a dream in human life is like.
It represents hope or purpose.
I thought that my candle has always been lit, but I was wrong.
My life has always been gloomy if I really look at it.
... Because I have never had a dream.
I have never known what 'youth' is.
I've been leading an uneventful aimless life...
Rewrite EX - Forbidden Love
A Fanfiction by Takagi Akito based on Rewrite, A Visual Novel Created by KEY Visual Arts
…
"Okay, that's it for today. Be sure to prepare yourself for the upcoming quiz~"
The math teacher made her way to the door.
It's already lunch break; some of my classmates rush out of the class and the rest stay to eat their own lunch. My childhood friend, Kotori, and her new best friend, the transfer student Chihaya are among those who stay.
I wanted to join Kotori and Chihaya but I don't bring lunch.
"And that's why, Yoshino. Let's go to the cafeteria."
"Get lost," he retorted and then left.
Well, it's already too late to go there anyway. Everything gets sold out real quick at the cafeteria. It's all Sensei's fault for taking up few minutes of our lunch break.
The best thing I can get if I were to have my lunch there is an anpan, which won't satisfy my hunger at all.
"Guess I'll just buy something outside…."
It's forbidden to leave the school area before the school ends, but I need to eat!
…
I successfully slipped out of the school by climbing a fence. Just as the usual, there's no one guarding the place so I can simply did the same way as I left in order to get back into the school area.
I have done this a couple of times in the past and have never got caught.
By the way, I bought the bento at the convenience store nearby. The super tasty luxurious convenience store bento. Yeah, this really worth all the trouble of getting there from school.
It's expensive, but tastes wonderful.
You would even droll just from hearing the name.
It's 'Juicy Karaage Number 1!' [1].
They even added an exclamation mark at the end of the name. The company must be very proud of this bento's Karaage. It is always sold out quick everyday. I am lucky to be able to get one today.
"Now where should I eat this?"
I enjoy eating at an open place with good scenery. Kazamatsuri has many of them, but the park near the school is always my first choice.
Just when I'm about to walk there, I remember that the time is running out since my math teacher took up few minutes of our lunch break. It'd be safer to go to the school instead.
…
Eventually I found myself at the courtyard.
"Hm…"
I'm not the only one who's eating here, but only I sit all by myself.
I recall the day when I enjoy the lunch together with the occult club members and compare it to my current condition.
Surely, the more the merrier but… Eating here all by myself is not that bad. In fact I probably will enjoy it quite a bit.
I am glad that it has been awhile since the last time I had lunch alone.
"Ara, Tennouji-kun?"
Just when I am about to have the first bite of the bento, someone calls me from behind.
I know this voice.
"Nishikujou-sensei. Good morning."
"Good morning~"
"What are you doing here?"
"Huu~ you don't need to be so cold~"
I'm not being cold or anything. I thought that teachers are supposed to have something to do during lunch break.
Well, this is not the first time I meet her on one, so it's probably okay.
But still, she's so carefree.
"I just want to eat my lunch here~ fufu~" she said, showing me her own lunch box, wrapped in a purple cloth.
"Well, then… suits yourself, Sensei."
There's one time when we enjoyed lunch together at the courtyard just like this, but Sizuru was there that time. Eating with only Sensei screams the 'this will be awkward' words out loud in my mind.
Well, I can't judge from our first try. Compared to other teachers, she's the most friendly and not only that, she and I are pretty close. I mean; I have never been this close with a teacher. It's like we have known each other for a long time. Even teasing her is something normal now.
And I like her cute response.
"More importantly, Tennouji-kun."
"Yes?"
"Why are you not together with Sizuru-chan?"
"Eh? Well, it's not like I am always with her."
"Hee? I thought Sizuru-chan would be here…" She puts her finger to her cheek as she said so.
So she came here to be with Sizuru after all, huh.
"Are you two in a fight or something?"
"Nope. She's the moral committee chief, right? Maybe she's just busy today."
She always eats here on lunch breaks though.
If anything, Nishikujou-sensei should've learnt from Sizuru who prioritizes her job as moral committee member over her lunch.
What a teacher.
"So it's just us today…"
"Yes."
"Fufu~ isn't this exciting?"
"What?"
"The fact that you get to eat with a beautiful teacher alone at the courtyard~"
"Not in the slightest."
"Ah, so cruel~!"
She collapsed in agony.
It's true that since she's popular, I guess there'd be many students who'd kill to be in the same position as I am now. I know that, but teasing her is fun, so… heheh.
We dig in our own bentos after that.
"Tennouji-kun, isn't that…"
Sensei stares at my bento, and then drags herself closer to me.
"'Juicy karaage number 1!'?"
"Yes."
"Ara~ you're a bad boy, Tennouji-kun~ I know that the cafeteria don't have one of those. You went out of the school to buy that, didn't you?"
She's sharp!
"Tennouji-kun is bad!"
"Ouch!"
I just got dekopin'd by a grown-up woman!
"That really hurts!"
If this was a mainstream battle manga, I would've thrown back a few meters by now!
"You know that students are not allowed to leave the school area before afterschool, right?"
"Yes…"
"That means you deliberately broke the rule."
"Yes…"
"So, as a teacher, I have to give you detention..."
Ha… it is so obvious where this conversation is leading to.
I thought we are close enough for her to just forget about this and let me off the hook.
Seems like I've got to bid my way out here.
"Wait, that dekopin just now was not a punishment?"
"Noooope~"
"Eeeeh?! But that was really hurt!"
"No way~ I know how strong you are, Tennouji-kun~"
She must be talking about that one time when I helped her carrying the art club's equipment.
"You definitely overestimate me."
"Haha~ I wonder about that~" she giggled. "Put that aside now. I've got to give you proper punishment."
Man, she sounds serious.
"Come on, all I did was trespassing the fence. It's not like I hurt anyone!"
Apparently breaking that rule will suspend me from any school activity for 2 days. Such cruel penalty! I don't want that. I've just started to like the school life, thanks to the Occult Club.
What should I do? Can I really reason with her?
Well, here goes nothing!
"Okay, fine. I'll tell you the truth."
"Truth?"
"Nishikujou-sensei, actually…"
"Yes?"
"I bought this bento for you."
"…"
She's not responding to that. Is it working?
"This is the last 'Juicy karaage number 1!' at the store! I went all the way there as fast as I can to get you this, Nishikujou-sensei."
"But you've already eaten some of it…"
"Oh no!"
"Fufu~ are you trying to bribe Sensei?"
"Uuu…"
"Please let me off the hook, Sensei!"
In the end, I have to resort to my secret technique: begging for forgiveness.
"Ah, that's right! I have quiz tomorrow! I won't be able to attend the quiz if I got suspended~!" I said that in a sappy, sad tone. It's almost as if I really regret what I've done.
"Hmm…"
"Come on Sensei…"
She frowns a bit before she smiles again.
"Well, can't helped it I guess… I never intended to report you anyway~"
"Yaay! You're the best! I promise, I won't do it again!"
You should've said it earlier, dammit! What a troublesome teacher! Is she trying to get back at me or something?!
"Good. Don't hurt yourself again, okay?"
You're the one who hurt me a while ago.
"But well, I guess that's what you get for being young," Nishikujou-sensei turn her head towards me. "Youth is life's tightrope walk. You can't be too scared to step off the edge and onto the rope. Every step is risk, but you have to take it or else you won't move forward and reach your dream.
"To take few bruises on your foot is alright, as long as it brings you forward," she remarked.
"Wow."
Nishikujou-sensei spouts nonsense every time, but that one's a pretty good analogy.
And not only that…
"Sensei, are you quoting someone?"
I think I have heard that one before, from a long time ago.
"Hmm…" She just puts her usual smile. "Now, now. Let's eat our lunch okay?"
Sensei cast aside my question and brought her bento to her lap to start eating.
But that was really close. If it was another teacher, I might not get away with this. I understand why they're taking that rule seriously.
If a student goes missing while it's still in a school time, the school will have to take responsibility for being unable to keep their students.
If that was the case, why are there no guards around?
What a half-assed school.
"…"
She's staring at my bento. It's easy to tell that she does really like this karaage.
"Sensei. Would you like to trade this karaage with something from your lunch?"
"Is that okay!?"
She replied with a blast. Looks like I was right.
"Well, yes."
"Kyaa~ thank you, Tennouji-kyun!"
KYUN?! You've just made my name sounds moe!
I almost reacted like that.
"Okay~ you can pick anything from my lunch box~"
"Then I'll go for the tamagoyaki."
I pinch the eggroll with my chopstick and put it on my plastic convenience-store-bento-box. Nishikujou-sensei also picked one of my karaages.
"Hmm~ it's so juicy~" Sensei said, happily.
"This tamagoyaki is also delicious."
"Fufu~ thank you~"
"Eh? Did you cook it by yourself?"
"Yes~"
Then, Sensei must be a really good cook.
Wait… did she just affirm that she cooked this tamagoyaki?
That means… I've just eaten Sensei's homemade meal!
I'm sure there's no student here that has tasted Sensei's homemade cooking. Let alone a boy like me.
That makes me feel a little bit special.
*ding dong*
"Ara."
The bell has rung, but Sensei hasn't finished her lunch. Still has a meat cutlet in that box.
"Well, you can still make it."
"No, this is fine."
"Are you on a diet?"
"No~" She replied as she closed the bento with the lid.
"You are not going to put them in the trash, are you? If so, you can give it to me instead."
You shouldn't waste your food.
And Sensei is a good cook; I can't just let the leftovers end up at the garbage.
"No worries~ Sensei will eat it later. I have something to do at the teachers' room now."
"I see."
In that case, you should just eat it at the teachers' room.
Anyways, doesn't that mean that she'll eat it after school? It won't taste the same by then, right?
"Ah~ you just want to eat sensei's homemade lunch, don't you?" she teased.
"Well, you're not wrong, but it's nothing like that. It's such a waste to throw such delicious lunch at the garbage."
"Y-you like it that much?"
She blushed when she said that.
"But this is just a leftover… Ah, but if you want, Sensei can make one extra lunch for you tomorrow."
"Eh, really?"
"Yes~ that way, you don't have to go out of the school just to have lunch!"
I was just being nice, but now that it has come to this, I can't reject her.
I also have that quiz tomorrow so I probably won't be able to go to the cafeteria on time.
That's because I tend to stay at my seat for a while after a test to give my overheated brain a good rest.
It would take approximately 20 minutes to cool off my head. By that time, the cafeteria is already full and I won't get a seat or the delicious menu.
Sensei's homemade lunch will be a big help.
"Alright, then~ I'm counting on you, Onee-chan!"
"!?"
She seems really happy that her closed eyes are gleaming.
"Hm? Aren't you going back to the school building?"
"Sensei has something to do~"
"Well you did say you have something to do at the teachers' room."
Whatever. I decided not to pry.
"Then, see you tomorrow Sensei. Thank you for letting me go today."
She puts on her usual smile.
"You're welcome. Don't do it again, okay?"
...
…
"OK~ I will return the result tomorrow. Class dismissed."
"Huououo…! That was hard…! My brain melts!" Kotori said as she holds her head.
The class is pretty crowded after Sensei left. Kotori isn't the only one who reflected her frustration.
"I think I might barely make it. How about you?"
"I definitely will fail…"
"Come on, have more faith on yourself~"
Seems like my classmates are fussing about the quiz right after it's done regardless how well they've done the quiz.
Typical classmates.
On the other hand, my forehead kissed the table the moment I dropped my pen.
"Damn it…"
Another grunt in foreign language came from my good buddy who's sitting on my left.
I think Yoshino is also doing as well as me.
Well, the quiz was certainly not an easy one.
"Kotarou, you alright?" Kotori comes to my table.
"Heeh? Hahaha hahaha~"
"Looks like he has lost it, huh~"
"You! You're supposed to be a stupid character! Howcome you don't even looked bothered?!" I pointed at the orange-haired girl who's sitting behind me.
"Who's an idiot!?" she crosses her arms as she continues her speech, "Just so you know, I could do it just fine! I read many thick books at home!"
"No way!"
"Yes way! I'm not an idiot!"
She's in total denial.
Perhaps she did mean it.
"Damn it. To think I'd lose to her… I must be at critical level already."
"Yeah, you probably are!"
"…"
"…"
"I'm indeed at critical level. Perhaps I have to go train myself at the mountain or the garden of time and space."
"It will take a long time, but I have to do it…"
"The robot sent from the future, C1800, is destroying the cities for every 1 hour of her time as she waits for my comeback. Only I can save the world!"
"Who's destroying the cities?! And why did you suddenly say that?" Chihaya questioned my monologue. Seems like she gets my banter this time. Probably because I hinted her name's initial there.
"That was a pretty mainstream unoriginal background story," Kotori, on the other hand, focuses on the story instead.
...
...
After exchanging banter with Chihaya and Kotori, I left the classroom for the courtyard.
"Haa…"
I feel depressed but at the same time relieved that the quiz is finally over.
To be honest, I have never really pay attention to my grades.
As far as I'm concerned, they're always… at least average. I even did pretty well last midterm exam, but at this rate, I'll fail on this term's.
"And that was only math… Huff…"
What about other subjects?
I let out another sigh.
Well, there's still a few weeks before the mid-term.
"… hm?" I caught a violet-haired woman sneaks her way to the backyard. "Just now, it's her, isn't she?"
So she managed to escape from her cage again, huh?
This might be interesting. I decide to follow her to the backyard.
…
"Hum~ hum~"
She looks suspicious. What's she doing here at the backyard?
"!"
She suddenly turns her head this way!
I quickly hid myself behind the wall. I don't think she managed to find me.
Wait, do I really have to spy on her? This makes me look like her stalker, doesn't it? Stalking a popular teacher surely doesn't sound cool!
And so, I decide to walk to her only to find her squatting down across a small cardboard that is hidden under the bushes.
Inside that cardboard I see something white and fluffy…
"Oh?"
It's a puppy.
"Woof!"
"Arara~ you hungry? Hehe, don't worry~ for nee-chan has something for you~!"
Nishikujou-sensei picked a beef cutlet from her bento box and feed the puppy with it.
"Here you go~"
"Woof!"
The puppy is waving its tail as it feasts upon the cutlet.
"Fufu~ is it delicious?"
Of course the puppy is not answering her, but she asked it anyway.
That makes her cute...
The puppy is eating as if it is in a race.
I wonder how long it has been there. The fur looks worn out even though the cardboard still look strong as new. But it's weird that there is no news or gossip about a wandering dog around the school seeing how fast rumor are spread. I'm also pretty sure that this is my first time seeing it.
That means Nishikujou-sensei keeps it without telling anyone.
I decide to walk closer to get a better look. She instantly reacts to my footsteps.
"Ara, Tennouji-kun?"
It took her a few seconds till she realizes that I have just found out her secret.
"Umm… th—this is…!"
She tried to hide the cardboard behind her tiny body. Of course it's futile.
"I've seen the puppy."
"Oh no, I'm found out!" Tears are coming out comically. I ignore her cute retort and ask a question.
"So, what's the story?"
"Well… Sensei found it with its leg limp on the way to school yesterday... I can't just leave it at the street, so I brought it to school to treat its wound…"
Now that she mentioned it, the paw is neatly wrapped in bandage.
"And then I remember that I can't bring animals to school, so I hid it here."
"Eeh? So it's been here since yesterday?"
"Yes. Unfortunately, I was too busy to go to the vet or the animal shelter yesterday and my apartment does not allow pets. That's why I left it here in a cardboard."
"Hmm… Isn't that kinda dangerous?"
If, let's say, there was a storm yesterday, this little guy would've been in deep shit now.
The animal shelter should be able to keep it until the owner comes for it, but Sensei said she couldn't make it yesterday. It can't be helped."
"Well, I don't have much choice, do I?"
"Hmm… I guess."
Leaving it here all night yesterday is a harsh though.
"Tennouji-kun…"
"Y—yes!?"
She suddenly closes in, which has startled me a bit.
"Keep this between us, okay?" She winked. Or so I thought. Her eyes are closed as always.
"I have no intention to tell anyone."
"Good! Promise?" She said it as she stuck her thin pinkie out. What, you suddenly feel 20 years younger or something?
… but I keep that tsukkomi to myself.
"Fine…"
Well, she did keep her mouth shut about yesterday. So we're even now.
Her smile never leaves her face and it gets even wider when I entangle my pinkie to hers.
"Ah, that's right!"
"Have you had your lunch, Tennouji-kun?"
"Aah…"
I think she said something about making me a bento yesterday.
"Ta raa~! It's Sensei's homemade bento!"
"W—whoa…"
Is it just me or is the bento box really shining for a moment there?
This will be my very first time ever to receive a girl's homemade bento. I once shamelessly asked Kotori to make me one, but she refused. She said that I have got to pay her 10.000 yen for that. It was ridiculous.
It's not that big of a deal, but…
I admit that I'm really happy.
I still don't know that Sensei really meant it when she said she would make me an extra. She did say that I wouldn't have to go out of the school for lunch this way, but now that I think about it, that argument was too shallow. It's almost as if she's planning for it.
Planning?
No way…
I have never thought of that possibility, but could it be…
"S—Sensei…"
She's the only teacher I'm really close with, thanks to Sizuru being her best friend or something.
But Nishikujou-sensei is your typical friendly teacher who's kind to every students, so I must be wrong.
But, I decide not to ask her. This must be the case of her being a very nice teacher to me. Maybe, she also does this to some of her students. Who knows that this is actually a normal thing to do for her?
"What is it, Tennouji-kun?"
"Thanks," answered I. I can't believe I've just thought the likelihood of Nishikujou-sensei having an affair with me, a student she doesn't even teach. That was silly and embarrassing. Good thing I kept it in my mind only.
…
The break ends short after we finished our lunch.
"Thank you for the food, Sensei. It was delicious."
"You're welcome. Please take a good care of yourself from now on."
A good care of myself…
All I did was trespassing the school gate. It's not like I'm gonna die from that.
Well, of course there was a possibility, but…
Isn't she just exaggerating it?
Well, it doesn't matter.
We're about to leave the backyard now that the break is over. Sensei is now making sure that the puppy is in the cardboard.
"Stay here, okay~? I will come for you afterschool and get you back to your owner!" She pats its head and then walks to me.
"Is it okay to just leave it there?"
"It turned out alright yesterday, so he should be fine today as well."
"Well if you say so."
I gave it a glance before we left.
...
"There's no new lead today, huh?"
I take my eyes off of the laptop screen and observe my surrounding out of boredom.
Kotori is making tea.
Chihaya is looking for snacks, I think.
Sizuru and Class Rep are not here yet. I heard that they are having a meeting with the committee so they probably won't come to the club room today.
And Prez is…
"… fufufu… fools."
She's lost in her own world. Once in a while, I could hear a glimpse of the sound of an assault weapon from her headset.
That's too loud… I'm afraid it would damage her hearing.
"Prez, here's your tea~"
"..."
Akane still has her eyes glued to the screen. Kotori has to wait for a few seconds until Prez noticed her.
"Thanks."
Kotori then serves the tea for Chihaya and I.
"Uuuu~ I couldn't find anything at the kitchen either…"
Chihaya sighed. She looks very disappointed. Really, is food the only thing that ever crosses you mind?
"Don't worry, Chihaya-san," the door is suddenly opened and a figure of a tall man with refined look appears.
It's Sakuya.
"I brought you cakes."
"Yaaaay~! Thank you Sakuya~!"
"It's my pleasure."
"I also have one for you and Oujou-sama."
"Waii~ Cake~!"
"…"
Unlike Kotori, Prez doesn't even budge against the luxurious looking cake.
"Wait, how about me? Where's my cake?"
"Hahaha. Do you really expect me to come all the way here to give you a cake, Fatarou-kun?"
"It's Kotarou!"
I never get along with this guy.
"Whatever. It's because it looks like you still have two left in those plastic bags. Give me that."
I assume that they are for Sizuru and Class Rep.
"Sakuya, another please."
"Right away, Chihaya-san."
That glutton monster!
"Fine! I'll just buy my own snack!"
I jump on my feet and left the clubroom.
"Hmm."
After I closed the door, I gave myself a thought.
I am not even hungry. Maybe I shouldn't get worked up just for that.
Oh, well.
I will just stroll around the school.
"Ah."
I suddenly remember something. It's the promise that I made with Sensei. Has she gone to the animal care yet? Or more importantly, is the puppy still there?
What if it recovered enough to walk on its own legs? That could create a ruckus around the school.
I have nothing to do at the moment. I think I'll just go to the backyard to check it out.
After a few minutes of walking, I'm arrived at the backyard. It is pretty far from the Occult club's room, which is located at the third floor of the building.
Glad to see that the puppy is still there.
Heck he didn't seem to move an inch.
"He's good."
He deserves a pat on the head.
"Good job for staying here."
"Ara, Tennouji-kun."
"Nishikujou-sensei."
She's finally here.
Sensei stretched her arms towards the puppy.
"Come here, little boy."
"Woof!"
It wiggles its tails as it landed in Sensei's arm.
"Now, let's go~!"
"Eh? I'm coming too?"
"You are not?"
"Well…"
I do have a club activity, but there are no new leads today, so I won't do a thing at the clubroom.
Also, this is probably interesting. I have never gone to the animal care before.
Besides…
Looks like she does expect me to come with her.
"Ok, let's go~"
"Yay~! Tennouji-kun is coming with us~!"
"Woof!"
As if it understands what Sensei has just said, it responds by giving me a friendly bark as Sensei playfully waves its paw at me.
Author's Note: It's been A LONG WHILE since the last time I write a story, so this is definitely not my best work. Bad English, repetitive boring words, OOC-ness, etc, etc. But I will improve it when I can. I'm very serious in writing this route that I considered to turn this to a fanmade VN.
As the title suggests, this story is my version of Touka Route. Why her of all people? Because I like her character. Touka is cute; she likes to tease, but is also fun to tease. She also ends up to have an important role at the end of the VN.
You don't need to finish the VN to read this; at least until the point where the real Touka Route starts. The flow may be slow just like the VN's common route but things will move faster when we reach the main part of the plot.
Thanks for reading! If you have spare time, please tell me your opinion after reading this.
[1] Steins;Gate reference.