"There's a little bit."
Nozomi Mizutani didn't hide it and openly admitted.
"Is that so, Teacher Mizutani, do you still love your husband?" Haruka Yuzan said, touching his clean-shaven chin.
Nozomi Mizutani remained silent.
A gentle breeze blew across her cheeks, and Teacher Mizutani sighed softly, "Actually, our marriage is political and lacks feelings."
"Moreover, he's mostly uninterested in me."
Haruka Yuzan's mind went blank.
"Teacher Mizutani, stop joking, you're so beautiful, how could there be a man in the world who is uninterested in you?"
"Aren't you one?" Nozomi Mizutani said with a smile.
"'The arsonist in Tokyo's deep love tale?' 'After being kept by a mafia daughter, I can't interact with classmates?' 'The language of steel wool: It's all just tasks assigned by the two misses?'"
Her voice was playful and teasing, like she was provoking a child.
Leaving Haruka Yuzan stunned:
"What are all these!"
"It's the heroic tales about you spread around the school!" Nozomi Mizutani raised an eyebrow, her eyes full of mischief.
"Kid, I really didn't see it coming!"
Rumors may not be true but are certainly wild.
"It's all rumors, aren't I talking with Teacher Mizutani now?" Haruka Yuzan decisively dismissed those rumors.
No wonder he sensed something odd in the way people looked at him since the beginning of the semester.
"Let's talk about your problem, Teacher Mizutani."
Nozomi Mizutani, lacking interest, pinched a piece of sushi and stuffed it into Haruka Yuzan's mouth.
He chewed the fish roe sushi, inadvertently tasting Teacher Mizutani's fingers too – the rich texture of the roe was truly eye-opening.
As he ate, Haruka Yuzan said with a laugh, "Right, Teacher Mizutani, didn't you say that I'm Tokyo's city arsonist? Maybe I could actually help you solve your problem."
Nozomi Mizutani, who was very kind to him, if possible, helping the teacher alleviate life's hardships was indeed the duty of a handsome Tokyo guy.
"That's true, dealing with two misses at once, you must have your unique perspectives and experiences," Nozomi Mizutani said as if she had an epiphany.
But when Haruka Yuzan heard it, he wasn't pleased: "Hey, hey, hey, Teacher Mizutani, don't make me sound so disgraceful, this Tokyo handsome guy is well-rounded in morals, intelligence, physicality, aesthetics, and labor."
"Whether in studies or sports, do I have a weakness?"
"Hey, now that you mention it, it really seems so, you sneaky guy!"
Nozomi Mizutani thought about it and realized it was true as Haruka Yuzan said.
Despite him being a complete playboy, countless cherry blossom maidens in the school dreamed of throwing themselves at him, but couldn't get a chance!
Though Haruka Yuzan was already taken, love letters still filled his shoe cabinet every day.
"So, can you give me some advice? How can I salvage this failing marriage?"
Nozomi Mizutani had resigned herself to fate and unabashedly shared her problems with Haruka Yuzan.
"So, Teacher Mizutani, you still want to save this marriage, right?"
Haruka Yuzan asked tentatively.
"Of course, kid, I'm not Chiba Shimizu or Otome Yumeko, there are six other direct descendents in my family, I'm not entrusted with any property management, my biggest contribution is learning various etiquettes, to eventually help with alliance through marriage."
She said indifferently.
These words seemed to have been pent up in her heart for a long time, she felt relieved sharing them.
Actually, Haruka Yuzan had guessed it.
After accompanying Miss Otome to various gatherings, he noticed, not only were there disparities between families, but there were also internal conflicts.
Like the Mizutani family, they mainly ran a hotel business.
There were limited assets, but the family size kept growing, hence there weren't enough businesses needing heirs to manage.
And for Nozomi Mizutani and others, they naturally became the tools for family alliances – their last bit of brilliance.
"Alright, I won't talk much, it's almost time for class." Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs NoveI★Fire.net
After finishing her lunch, Nozomi Mizutani stood up and left the rooftop.
Her figure appeared extremely desolate.
Haruka Yuzan sighed and quickly finished his lunch.
There was only one class in the afternoon.
After school, most students would stay to rehearse, preparing for the cultural festival happening in a few days.