CHAPTER THIRTY ONE:
Vivian's eyes widened as she saw Obanai's perplexed expression. "Oh, Hi." she exclaimed.
Kyojuro scratched his head, looking a bit flustered. "We didn't expect to see you here, Obanai. Where's Mitsuri?"
Tengen quickly jumped in, a mischievous grin on his face. "You know how it is, Obanai. We were just having a friendly debate about which food tastes better!"
"Mitsuri went home." Obanai arched an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Food? You three don't exactly look like you're discussing culinary preferences."
Tengen shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, you know, food is serious business. We're just really passionate about our choices."
Obanai's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Passionate, huh? Interesting choice of words."
Kyojuro chimed in, trying to diffuse the tension. "Absolutely, Obanai. It's all in good fun."
Obanai's skeptical expression didn't waver, his gaze still fixed on Tengen, Kyojuro, and Vivian. However, when Vivian spoke up, his attention shifted to her.
"Obanai," Vivian began tentatively, "can I ask you something?"
Obanai's eyebrow quirked upward, his curiosity evident. "Go ahead."
Vivian took a deep breath, her eyes determined. "Is it true that a romantic relationship between a student and a teacher is not allowed?"
Tengen and Kyojuro exchanged uneasy glances, the tension in the air growing palpable. Obanai's gaze remained steady, his expression inscrutable.
After a moment's pause, Obanai nodded slowly. "Yes, that's correct. Such relationships are generally considered inappropriate and can lead to severe consequences."
Tengen's fingers tapped nervously against his leg, and Kyojuro's eyes flitted around as if searching for an escape route.
Vivian pressed on, her voice unwavering. "And what kind of consequences are we talking about?"
Obanai's eyes held a hint of seriousness. "For the teacher, it could result in disciplinary actions, suspension, or even termination from their position. There's a breach of trust involved, and it can negatively impact the learning environment."
Tengen cleared his throat, attempting to break the tension. "Right, it's all about maintaining a professional environment for the students."
Kyojuro nodded vigorously, a nervous smile tugging at his lips. "Absolutely, professionalism is key."
Obanai's gaze shifted between the three of them, his expression softening slightly. "Is this a hypothetical question, or is there something specific you're concerned about?"
Vivian's determination remained resolute as she exchanged that quick glance with Tengen and Kyojuro.
She took a breath and addressed Obanai, "Actually, Obanai, I wanted to talk to you about something. I would really appreciate your help with this."
Kyojuro's fingers tapped nervously on his thigh, and Tengen's playful grin faded into a more uncertain expression.
Before Vivian could continue, Obanai's voice, barely audible, cut through the silence. "I think I've heard your voice before... but I can't quite remember where."
Vivian's eyebrows furrowed, surprised by Obanai's unexpected statement. "My voice? Have we met before, Obanai?"
Obanai shook his head, his eyes distant as he tried to recall. "I'm not sure. It's just a feeling, a fleeting memory perhaps."
Kyojuro leaned slightly toward Tengen, whispering under his breath, "Do you think he's onto something?"
Tengen shrugged, his eyes fixed on the unfolding scene. "Who knows? Maybe it's just a coincidence."
Vivian's gaze remained fixed on Obanai, a mixture of curiosity and concern in her eyes. "Well, regardless of that, there's something I wanted to report. It's about a situation that's been bothering me."
Obanai's attention snapped back to Vivian, his expression attentive. "Go on."
Just as Vivian was about to speak, a new and unexpected presence entered the conversation.
Sanemi stumbled into the scene, looking unmistakably drunk. His disheveled appearance, the scent of alcohol, and his flushed cheeks were impossible to miss.
"Sanemi!"
Tengen, Obanai, and Kyojuro exchanged surprised glances at Sanemi's condition, while Vivian's expression shifted from determination to a mix of disbelief and shock.
Tengen chuckled nervously, attempting to break the awkward silence. "Well, well, Sanemi, looks like you're having quite the party!"
Obanai's eyebrow twitched, clearly puzzled by Sanemi's sudden appearance and state. "Sanemi, what brings you here in this condition?"
Sanemi's laughter echoed through the air as he carelessly draped his arm around Obanai, his alcohol-induced state obvious. "Hey, Obanai! You should've been there, man! I had a hell of a drinking session with Kokushibo!"
Tengen's eyes widened, his eyebrows shooting up. "Kokushibo? That guy can really hold his own."
Kyojuro nodded in agreement, though his concern for Vivian remained evident in his gaze.
Sanemi's unfocused eyes landed on Vivian, his speech slurred as he addressed her. "Hey there, pretty lady. Have we met before?"
Vivian's heart raced, her shock giving way to a quick, adamant denial. "No, we haven't. I'm sure of it."
Obanai's gaze shifted between Sanemi and Vivian, his voice measured as he spoke. "Actually, Sanemi, Vivian does look familiar to me too, but I can't quite place where I've seen her."
Sanemi's unfocused gaze began to clear as he blinked a few times, the pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place.
He scratched his head, his words slurring less as realization dawned on him. "Wait... I remember now. I've seen you before, Vivian."
Vivian's heart raced even faster as Sanemi's words registered. She read the situation unfolding before her and realized she was at a loss for how to proceed.
Kyojuro and Tengen exchanged concerned glances, sensing the tension building in the air.
Vivian stammered as she tried to find an excuse to leave the conversation, her voice shaky. "Um, well, I should probably... excuse myself... Someone's calling me."
As Vivian attempted to excuse herself, Sanemi's arm shot out, preventing her departure.
His brow furrowed in concentration, his words still slurred from the effects of alcohol. "You gave me, like, 20 bucks for... a quickie in the closet."
The shock was palpable as Tengen, Kyojuro, and Obanai exchanged wide-eyed glances, unable to believe what they were hearing.
Tengen, his playful demeanor briefly overshadowed, couldn't help but voice his disbelief. "Wait, did he just say what I think he said? Where did this happen?"
Kyojuro's face flushed a deep shade of red, clearly flustered by the unexpected revelation.
In a scene that bordered on comedic, Sanemi grinned widely and offered a description. "Yeah, it was next to the Canteen, the door to the right."
Tengen's hand shot forward, connecting with a resounding slap against Sanemi's head. "No, you stupid drunken cow. I'm asking where!"
Obanai shook his head in disbelief, a mix of surprise and amusement in his expression. "This is... quite the turn of events."
Vivian covered her face with her hands, mortified by the situation but also struggling not to cry at the absurdity of it all.
Everything fell into an awkward silence as Sanemi continued his drunken recounting.
Tengen's eyes widened as he processed the information, and Kyojuro's face turned a shade redder than before.
Vivian's embarrassment deepened, her face buried in her hands, unable to believe the turn the conversation had taken.
Sanemi slurred his words as he continued, "Yeah, it was at the Hospital where she worked. My little brother was there, and she started flirting with me. Gave me twenty bucks to follow her to the closet room."
Tengen's eyebrows shot up, his voice laced with disbelief. "Flirting? In a hospital?"
Sanemi grumbled, his drunken annoyance evident. "Yeah, don't act like you're surprised. Anyway, I gave her three O's, and I only get 20 bucks? I'm worth more than that."
Vivian's voice trembled as she tried to regain her composure. "Look, I honestly don't know you, and you don't have any proof of what you're saying. Maybe you've mistaken me for someone else."
Sanemi's drunken confidence persisted as he shook his head, his words slurring slightly. "No mistake, it was you. I know for sure."
Then, in a moment that seemed to freeze time, Sanemi dropped a bombshell. "I even have a video of our... quickie time."
The mention of a video sent a shockwave through the room. Vivian's face turned pale, her eyes widening in disbelief and dread.
She glanced at Kyojuro, a desperate plea for help evident in her eyes, but he was as stunned as everyone else, his ability to respond seemingly paralyzed.
Tengen's jaw dropped, his usually cheerful demeanor replaced by a mix of shock and uncertainty. Obanai's stern expression remained, but his eyes betrayed his surprise at the unexpected turn.
Vivian's voice was barely a whisper as she turned to Kyojuro, her desperation clear. "It was an accident."
As Sanemi began to fumble for his phone, the tension in the room reached its peak. "Hold up guys, lemme show y'all the vid."
His words hung in the air like a threat, and Vivian, Kyojuro, and Tengen exchanged nervous glances, unsure of how to navigate this unexpected and embarrassing situation.
But before Sanemi could escalate matters further, Obanai sprang into action, using a diversion to defuse the tension. "Sanemi, hold on a moment. I need a drink, and I could use your help."
Sanemi's face lit up with enthusiasm at the prospect. "YAAASSS- Let's have Sake, there's also champagne, I hid a bottle behind my butt. Wanna see?"
With Obanai's guidance, Sanemi allowed himself to be led away from the group.
He gave Kyojuro, Tengen, and Vivian a curt nod, his demeanor momentarily shifting from confrontation to camaraderie. "Enjoy the night."
And with that, Sanemi disappeared, leaving the trio in a state of disbelief. The room seemed to let out a collective breath, tension dissipating as they processed the rollercoaster of events that had just unfolded before them.
Kyojuro's voice finally broke the silence, a mix of disbelief and humor in his tone. "Well, that was... certainly unexpected."
Tengen let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I don't think I've ever been part of a conversation quite like that."
Vivian finally lifted her hands from her face, a mixture of embarrassment and relief in her expression. "I can't believe that just happened."
Tengen chuckled, a lighthearted grin returning to his face. "You're right, Vivian. You've got a lot of explaining to do. I'm definitely curious to hear the backstory behind all of this."
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