Pirate's Freedom

The ruthless words were like a sword coming towards her, sharply cutting through the euphemisms in her words. Karina took a breath and said with dissatisfaction.

"Besides, what do you mean by peers? Even if they are the same age, I don't think they are my peers."

"You are right...but...although it is neither gentle nor correct, the real world is like this, alas..."

Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't know what to say, so she could only let out a long sigh.

"I'm sorry, this is also a last resort..."

wow~

Porusalino turned over the newspaper in his hand and shook it slightly.

Karina stretched her right hand out in front of her body, and Nami, Ira, and Nokiga put their hands on it one after another. She raised her head and looked directly at Shizuka Hiratsuka with her big, clear eyes.

“It’s because I didn’t do this that I met my partner.”

"..."

Speaking of which, Shizuka Hiratsuka also gave up.

"I shouldn't have said these words, and I shouldn't have said them now, but—"

Her next words sped up, as if she wanted to quickly throw out what was lingering on her lips.

"How about just simply [getting along well]? You don't need to be good friends, don't be enemies with everyone, don't stay away from everyone, just have a business-like mentality and get along with each other."

After speaking in one breath, Hiratsuka Shizuka paused.

"If that's the case...can it be done?"

"This is not a difficult thing, but just showing kindness on the surface is just hypocrisy, suspicion and deception in the final analysis."

These words did not come from the mouth of anyone present, but hit them like hailstones from the door.

"It's how humans adapt to society."

Hiratsuka Shizuka turned her attention to the cold figure walking over, like a flower on a high mountain.

"Also, Yukinoshita, it's still class time now. If you skip class for no reason, your points will be deducted from my review materials for admission to higher schools..."

"Teacher Hiratsuka," Yukinoshita said sharply.

"I will take care of them only after accepting the entrustment. Teacher, you should also consider the issue of joint liability."

"Ugh..."

"Oh yo yo~ Time flies so fast...Is it already the time for the third period? It feels like I haven't done anything. The whole morning has passed like this."

A sighing voice suddenly broke in. He put down the "Yomiuri Shimbun" he had just finished reading, and Porusalino looked up at the clock hanging on the wall.

"Ring again... I'll do the math... After three bells, remember to come back here during the lunch break. Okay, let's dismiss now -"

"clear!!"

"retreat!!"

In the blink of an eye, the four little girls had already rushed out of the office door and disappeared without a trace.

"and many more……"

Even with Shizuka Hiratsuka's reflexes, which he had practiced hard in fighting skills, when he stretched out his hand, he only felt lonely.

"Mr. Porusalino."

Her tone was a little accusatory.

"..."

Porusalino looked away from the door and said calmly.

"Teacher Hiratsuka, didn't you notice? The atmosphere just now was already very dangerous. For the sake of dignity as a teacher, it is better not to say the word "everyone" easily."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Teacher Hiratsuka, in my opinion, they are not weak. Rather, they are the strong ones."

Yukinoshita lowered her gaze, her voice calm but powerful.

"There is a difference between being able to do it but not doing it, and wanting to do it but not being able to do it. There is a difference between the two. If they are allowed to go back without explanation, maybe, no, something worse will happen."

"Then how about letting the service club solve this problem?"

Porusalino turned his attention to Yukinoshita.

"Forgive me for refusing," Yukinoshita responded coldly, and then explained, "The service club only accepts commissions from people who really need help. Nami and Ira are obviously not in this category."

"Perhaps. Judging from their attitudes, there is a high probability that they will not be harmed by then."

Porusalino's tone at this time was unpredictable.

"Yukishita, you have lived together for several days. With your observation skills, you should be able to tell something, right?"

"Indeed... they have something that I don't have..."

Yukinoshita murmured so low. Although her voice was small, her words contained rich emotions.

She cast her gaze into nothingness, as if staring at something dazzling.

"Without concealment...without any stinginess...in order to keep moving forward, let yourself collide fiercely with others..."

If someone could live with this counterbiological attitude, it would certainly be pretty dazzling.

"Compared to them, I just stood there unable to move. Deep down in my heart, I was probably still hoping that someone would reach out to me. Why... didn't I..."

When I realized it, a strange feeling overflowed my heart for a moment, longing, no, it was darker and deeper, it should be said to be jealousy.

In the past few days, as time went by, living under the snow under the same roof with them, my attitude became a little distant.

"Under the snow..."

Until now, even Shizuka Hiratsuka can't tell whether the original decision was right or wrong.

A mixed smile appeared on her lips.

"But if they continue like this, they will definitely get a bloody blow."

"Oh yo yo, this is hard to say——"

Porusalino picked up the tea cup, took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, and then said.

"It's impossible to draw a conclusion without actually colliding with each other about who is tougher. The final outcome may be the collapse of Japan's education system."

It should be said that it is humorous or absurd. In short, Porusalino's words successfully dispersed the heavy atmosphere in the air.

"So, in order for the vast group of teachers like us to avoid collective unemployment, which will lead to social unrest and eventually trigger World War III, I think it is better not to let them go back."

After putting down the tea cup, he came to the following conclusion.

"What about the middle process? The plot development is too jumpy! Where did this third-rate fantasy novel come from? Is it unfinished?"

Unlocking his frown, Hiratsuka Shizu took advantage of the situation and complained.

"Teacher Hiratsuka, reality is often more exaggerated than fiction~"

Porusalino said with a smile.

"Anyway, if anyone dares to let me work for free without paying, I don't know what I will do."

There is still one week left before wages are paid, and the island country's regime must at least hold on until then - for the sake of world peace.

"So, what's next?"

Hiratsuka Shizu sighed helplessly.

"The elementary school teacher will be here soon, so I can only apologize honestly."

She covered her head and muttered softly, looking like she was in serious trouble.

"However, the procedures for visiting and enrolling...if we stop like this, it will become very troublesome if we try to go through it again..."

"fair enough."

"what?"

"You too, Hiratsuka-sensei, please say [this is okay], I think now is the right time to say this."

Porusalino didn't look at anyone, his eyes seemed to be looking at a very distant place.

"..."

Hiratsuka Shizu tilted her head to one side, thinking about what kind of response she should make, and finally sighed as if giving up.

"Nami... Nokigo... your name and appearance, and you, Mr. Porusalino, sometimes I really feel out of tune with the real world, like a visitor from another world."

Turning his head to look at Porusalino's profile, from this angle, the cynicism disappeared.

"Is it a coincidence? However, such a coincidence is no different from a miracle."

"what?"

Yukinoshita on the side was confused.

"It's Yukinoshita after all. I can't imagine how she looks at JUMP."

"Ah...yes...I do..."

Her eyes were quite confused, and there seemed to be question marks on her head.

"but……"

After sighing for an unknown number of times, Hiratsuka Shizuka finally laughed, and she took over everything just now with a smile.

"fair enough."

"Yes, that's fine. Just leave those things to think about tomorrow. Mr. Hiratsuka, I know a ramen shop with good reviews. Do you want to invite me to eat there?"

Porusalino smiled and changed the subject.

"Huh? Do people usually talk like this? At least it's a little harder to say."

Hiratsuka Shizuka raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"What should I eat with ramen? Let me take a look..."

Porusalino picked up another newspaper and paused deliberately.

"Of course it's top-notch! Add noodles and mustard greens!"

Shizuka Hiratsuka's performance effectively explains what it means to be willing to take the bait.

"Is that so... Oh yo yo~ There is miso ramen~ But tomatoes are required as a side dish..."

"What's that? Not at all!"

"Oh yo yo, I feel the same way."

"..."

Although he always seems to have an indifferent attitude on the surface, there is some kind of harshness hidden secretly.

After excluding those unclear parts, Yukinoshita gained a new understanding of Porusalino.

The conversation between the two people on the side continues——

"Where's the cucumber?"

"No, but it's not bad as a pickle."

Shizuka Hiratsuka talked enthusiastically.

"Oh, when I was young, I thought pork chops were the best! Fat is what tastes delicious! I can't accept anything other than rich thick soup. Now, I can also accept refreshing clear soup or soy sauce soup base."

"You sound like an uncle, Hiratsuka-sensei, this is not okay."

"Hey, Mr. Porusalino, please restrain yourself. I am the strongest strongman in Hanamigawa District. If you really piss me off, I don't know what I will do."

"Strongest? What a terrible word..."

Porusalino tapped the tip of his right index finger on the newspaper.

"Teacher Hiratsuka, did you go to the teachers' party again last weekend?"

"……indeed so."

"I heard that, someone even kicked me out halfway."

"Hmm, cough, cough, cough, cough..."

"Oh yo yo, do you really want to marry yourself off?"

"...Uh-huh...wuwuwu..."

……

Before Hiratsuka Shizuo cried, the four little people were running quickly in the corridor, classrooms passing by them.

"Hey, Nami, who is [everyone]?"

Ila suddenly asked.

"who knows!"

Nami kept her head down and ran.

"I know! Well... [everyone] says that, [everyone] does that, that's who [everyone] is!"

Nokigao gave an example.

"This is really strange. There is no one called [everyone] at all, okay..."

Nami couldn't help but express her feelings.

"Yeah, it's really weird..."