Chapter 312: Heart-Stinging
The Grade Director whom Kaede and Eriri were going to see was actually the teacher who came to counsel Aisaka Taiga after she caused trouble before. She was a very nice person.
After entering, Kaede and Eriri sat down opposite her.
Putting down the documents in her hand, the Grade Director looked at the two and said with a helpless expression, "It's only the first day of school, and I've already heard that you two have caused quite a stir? Tell me, what exactly happened?"
Actually, the Grade Director had already understood the detailed situation; she mainly wanted to hear the two students explain it themselves and confirm it again.
Kaede and Eriri exchanged glances, then Kaede said, "It's actually not complicated. The main thing is that during the New Year, Eriri and I got engaged, and then after coming to school today, the rings we were wearing were seen by everyone, so it probably spread a little bit in a small circle."
Although Kaede's narration seemed very calm, the Grade Director was still a bit bewildered even after confirming it a second time.
Taking a sip of water, she looked at the two students in front of her, unsure what to say.
Regarding Kaede, his academic performance has always been first in his grade since enrollment, and there has been no fluctuation even after he started dating. In terms of character, every teacher who taught him had only praise.
As for Eriri, although her academic performance was a bit lower than Kaede's, it was still above average, and she was even steadily improving, which likely meant Kaede helped her with some tutoring. Not to mention, Eriri's family background was also not simple. This society is very realistic, and these teachers also know what they can and cannot say.
Toyosaki does not prohibit students from dating, but if dating seriously affects a student's studies or even life, teachers will still intervene.
Honestly, no teacher would say much about these two dating, as they are both excellent.
It's just that no one expected such explosive news to come out on the first day of the third semester, right after the New Year.
Recalling her more than twenty years of teaching experience, the Grade Director couldn't remember any student who got engaged while still in school; instead, she had seen too many breakups and makeups.
Looking at the two students with slight smiles, the Grade Director sighed and said, "It seems like you won't listen if I tell you not to wear rings at school, huh? Well, I understand. After all, you're young, especially since you just got engaged; you must be very joyful inside. But please, do pay a little attention. After all, so many students are single; don't provoke others too much."
When she said this, the Grade Director herself couldn't help but laugh. Kaede was much the same; they wouldn't actively talk about it, as it would feel like showing off.
Before letting them leave, the Grade Director asked one last question: "Um, was your engagement arranged by your parents?"
"That's right!" Eriri was finally no longer nervous and said with a smile, "After coming back from New Year's prayers, they suddenly discussed this with us. I was startled at the time, but we still decided to do it, and then the original New Year's banquet the next day was temporarily changed to an engagement party."
Hearing Eriri say this, the Grade Director nodded, thinking that since their families supported it, there was even less for her, as a teacher, to say. Both Kaede and Eriri were sensible students, so there certainly wouldn't be any problems.
After understanding the situation, the Grade Director let the two leave.
Out of the office, Eriri completely relaxed, and her steps became much lighter.
"Ahhh, thankfully it was just a question. At first, I was so worried, afraid that the Grade Director might say something!"
Patting Eriri's head, Kaede said, "Didn't I tell you? There wouldn't be anything to worry about."
"Hehe, that's good."
Eriri smiled, raised her hand, looked at the ring on it, and unconsciously hummed a tune.
Although there were no issues from the teachers, this kind of thing, just like when they first started dating, wouldn't end until it had spread completely.
So, by the time classes ended in the afternoon, basically all the students in the school, including the teachers, knew about it. The students' reactions were nothing more than shock and envy, while the reactions of some individual teachers were more interesting.
Because more and more people are single now, many young teachers are also single. And upon hearing that two students in the school were not only dating but also engaged, after a brief moment of daze, they all showed expressions of losing hope in life, vowing to find a boyfriend or girlfriend this year and get out of being single.
The same thing also happened at the Sichuan Bunko.
After class, Utaha came to the Bunko to discuss novel matters with Machida Sonoko, and incidentally brought up the matter of Kaede and Eriri.
"Eh? What did you say? Engaged?!"
Machida Sonoko, who was originally seriously looking at the anime adaptation proposal in her hand, was completely dumbfounded upon hearing this. The pen in her hand also dropped to the table with a "thump," and she stared blankly at Utaha with her mouth agape.
As if she had expected it and guessed that Machida Sonoko would react this way, Utaha smiled triumphantly, raised her hand, and waved it in front of Machida Sonoko's eyes, saying, "Wake up, come back to your senses, come back to your senses."
"..."
Blinking, Machida Sonoko swatted away Utaha's hand and said speechlessly, "Tell me properly, is it true or false? Are they really engaged?"
"How could I joke about something like that?"
Utaha leaned back in her chair and said with a light chuckle, "It's true! I even saw the engagement rings they were wearing. The engagement ceremony was held at a family banquet on the second day of the New Year. You don't know, probably because they haven't announced it on social media."
After speaking, Utaha even took out her phone and showed Machida Sonoko a photo she had taken a few days ago of Eriri wearing the ring.
As the two talked, even Editor Nakajima nearby, and several other editors, couldn't help but gather around to see the photo.
"Tsk tsk, young people nowadays are amazing, can't compare, can't compare."
"Exactly, exactly. But I'm not too surprised by these two; it was bound to happen sooner or later."
"That's true."
After looking at the photo, Machida Sonoko looked up at Utaha and said, "Utaha, are you deliberately trying to provoke me?"
Utaha narrowed her eyes and nodded, saying, "That's right! After seeing this, I think Sonoko, you'll be even more motivated, right? Go on those blind dates, you can do it!"