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Just as Lucian was about to kill some more time chatting in the group…
The office door swung open.
Hiratsuka Shizuka strode in, still in her white coat, moving with her usual sharp efficiency, though there was a hint of exasperation on her face.
"Teacher? Didn't you go to the cafeteria? Back already?" Lucian looked at her, a little surprised.
"Didn't even get to eat," she sighed, stopping in front of his desk. "Got intercepted halfway. Someone came looking for you by name, our brand-new genius homeroom teacher."
"Looking for me?" Lucian raised an eyebrow. "It's only my second day here. I haven't even met all the staff yet. Who would go out of their way to see me?"
"A student's family member." Hiratsuka leaned forward slightly, her tone turning serious. "Yukino Yukinoshita's older sister. The eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family… Yukinoshita Haruno."
At the name, Lucian paused mid-sip, fingers tightening slightly around his cup. A flicker of understanding passed through his eyes.
"What does she want with me?" he asked calmly.
"She heard the school hired a nineteen-year-old prodigy math teacher. And since her sister happens to be in your class, she got curious. Said she wants to 'chat'."
Hiratsuka narrowed her eyes in warning. "Lucian, Haruno Yukinoshita is not someone to take lightly. She looks sweet as a flower, but cut her open and it's all black inside. Don't get fooled."
"When did she schedule it? After school?"
"If only." Hiratsuka rubbed her temple and pointed toward the door. "She's already here. Sitting in the VIP reception room downstairs, drinking tea. Asked if you're free right now."
…
Sobu High – VIP Reception Room, First Floor
Lucian pushed open the heavy wooden door and immediately spotted the woman seated on the leather sofa.
She wore a black turtleneck sweater under a beige trench coat. Her short black hair fell neatly to her shoulders, styled with care.
Her face bore a striking resemblance to Yukino's—about seventy to eighty percent—but where Yukino carried an icy, unapproachable chill, this woman radiated a mature, effortless charm that felt warm and inviting.
Haruno Yukinoshita.
At the sound of the door, she set down her teacup and looked up.
The moment her eyes landed on Lucian, her face lit up with a bright, familiar smile. She stood and walked toward him without hesitation.
"Well, well… I thought it might just be someone with the same name. Who would've guessed—it really is that once-in-a-century genius junior from back in university!"
She casually patted his shoulder, her tone teasing, like greeting an old friend. "It's been a few years, and you've only gotten more handsome. But seriously—ditching a promising research career to come teach high school? That's quite the leap."
"You're flattering me, senior. I just prefer a more relaxed life. Teaching suits me fine."
Lucian didn't seem the least bit awkward under her enthusiasm. He sat down across from her, poured himself a cup of tea as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The two of them had known each other for years—and not casually, either.
Their connection went back quite a while.
Back then, Lucian had just arrived in this world. His "summoning system" hadn't activated yet, and he was still relatively powerless.
One day, in a quiet alley, he ran into a terrifying hanging ghost about to attack a girl.
Relying on nothing but his sharp mind and some unconventional tricks from his past life, he used the terrain and a bit of physics to interrupt the attack and save her.
Unfortunately, without his system, he couldn't capture the ghost—it slipped away.
And the girl he saved… was none other than Haruno Yukinoshita.
That incident exposed her to the hidden "other side" of the world—and to Lucian's second identity as a ghost hunter.
Later, Lucian advanced rapidly through his studies with his absurd intellect and entered a top university. By coincidence, Haruno was his direct senior.
A life-saving favor plus a shared secret naturally made them closer than most. And Haruno, as always, loved teasing her brilliant junior.
"Relaxed life? Yeah, right. I don't buy that for a second."
Haruno sat back down, resting her cheek on one hand, her fox-like eyes scanning him with a playful glint.
"Funny timing, though. You just became homeroom teacher yesterday, and my little Yukino—who's always been alone and never had friends—suddenly didn't come home last night. Said she was staying at a 'classmate's' place."
She leaned in slightly, her voice tinged with amusement. "With a face like yours… don't tell me you charmed her and hid her at your place?"
Lucian didn't react at all.
Not even his tea-drinking paused.
He knew Haruno too well. Her instincts were sharp, sure—but this was mostly playful probing, not a serious suspicion.
After all, in her mind, her little sister was the textbook definition of an untouchable ice queen.
"Haruno, with an imagination like that, you should be writing light novels."
He set his cup down. "I'm a teacher with strong professional ethics. Besides, even a rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its own burrow. There's no way I'd go after my own student. I'd like to keep my career."
In his head, though, he added silently:
Not only did I go after it—I cleaned the plate. And even signed a long-term 'once a week' agreement.
"Heh, I was just joking. Look at you getting all serious."
Seeing him completely unfazed, Haruno dropped the topic. Her teasing smile softened into something more composed.
"Anyway, I didn't come just to confirm you really took this job. I actually have a favor to ask."
She pulled out a thick kraft envelope from her coat pocket and slid it across the table.
"What kind of favor?" Lucian glanced at the thickness, eyebrow lifting slightly.
Haruno took a breath, and for a moment, genuine concern flickered in her eyes.
"Recently, something… evil seems to have set its sights on the Yukinoshita family. We've already brought in professionals from a shrine, but I still don't feel at ease."
She paused before continuing.
"Yukino is stubborn. She insists on living alone to prove herself to our mother. We have people watching her in secret, but when it comes to… those supernatural things, ordinary bodyguards are useless."
"Since you're her homeroom teacher—and a ghost hunter—I'd like to entrust you with keeping an eye on her. At school, or on her way to and from it."
For a brief moment, Lucian's expression turned a little strange, but he quickly masked it.
Keep an eye on Yukino?
He had just saved her from a succubus-like spirit last night… and would be "treating" her regularly from now on.
And now her own sister was paying him to protect her?
So what was this—paid detox sessions?
Seeing his silence, Haruno tapped the envelope.
"There's thirty thousand in there. Consider it coffee money for you. If you run into something serious and need to step in, we'll discuss additional payment. The Yukinoshita family won't shortchange you. So?"
Ah. So I protect Yukino… and they cover the expenses?
"Ma'am's already gone this far. If I refuse, it'd just be rude."
Lucian smiled, reached out, and pocketed the envelope smoothly.
"I'll take the job. Don't worry. As long as she's within my sight, I won't let anything 'evil' lay a finger on Yukinoshita."
"With that, I'm relieved."
The moment he accepted, the tension on Haruno's face vanished. She returned to her usual smiling, fox-like demeanor.
She stood, straightened her coat, and walked toward the door in her heels. Before leaving, she glanced back and gave him a playful wink.
"I'm counting on you. But even if you're looking after her, don't take the opportunity to make a move on my innocent little Yukino. Otherwise… your big sister might get jealous~"
With that loaded joke, she opened the door and left in high spirits.
Lucian stared at the closed door, then touched the thick envelope in his pocket, letting out a wry smile.
"Sorry, Miss Haruno…"
"That warning… came a bit too late."
"....."