Chapter 138 Bristol Branch School
Sawako patted her friend's shoulder and said earnestly, "Shizuka-chan! Haven't you heard this saying? A relationship without the intention of marriage is just fooling around!"
"Is there such a saying!? Which great person said that!?" Hiratsuka Shizuka asked in astonishment.
"So I'm counting on you for duty this week, my dearest friend! You have to help me!" Sawako flung herself at Hiratsuka and hugged her, pleading.
"Why do I have to cover for your class?" Hiratsuka asked, clearly annoyed.
"We want to go out and have fun! You're the only free one here, so please handle the daytime activities with the students. Thank you! We'll remember your kindness forever!" Sawako pressed her hands together in a gesture like praying to a deity, earnestly requesting.
"Let go! Let go! I don't have friends like you! Didn't we agree to attend this year's single female teachers' drinking party together?" Hiratsuka struggled, trying to shake Sawako off, but Sawako's arms clung like octopus suckers.
Sawako held Hiratsuka tightly and said, "At a time like this, as good sisters, shouldn't you be wishing me well? Shizuka-chan, don't you remember the oath we all swore last year? Whoever gets married will receive everyone's full support, or else face a lifetime curse of never marrying!"
"Damn… people like this… shouldn't you reconsider, Takishō-sensei?" Hiratsuka looked at the bespectacled, honest-looking male teacher.
"No, in this day and age, women as straightforward as Sawako are rare. I think as long as the feelings are good, flaws can be mutually tolerated, and difficulties overcome together," Takishō-sensei said sincerely, then smiled shyly.
Hiratsuka looked shocked, eyes wide, and dragged Sawako into a corner, asking, "How did you manage to get a man this good?"
"Isn't it obvious? At first, he seemed unremarkable, but once I noticed him, of course I had to seize this opportunity during our outing. Even if I had to force it, I'd make him responsible!" Sawako said, clenching her fists with deadly determination.
Hiratsuka hooked her arm around her friend's shoulder and said in a deep voice, "Sawako… remember the promise we made, that whoever gets married would do their best to introduce a good partner to the other?"
"Don't worry, sis, I won't abandon you," Sawako promised.
"Then when you have your wedding, the bouquet has to be thrown to me," Hiratsuka said, a ferocious light flashing in her eyes.
"I know. Even if they ask me, I'll refuse," Sawako answered resolutely.
With that unspoken agreement, Hiratsuka took over the duty of watching the students, while the teacher couple went on their date after finishing necessary tasks. The students seemed unfazed, as if it were normal. Shirou picked up the food with his chopsticks, savoring the flavors.
Though it was a Chinese-run restaurant, they had clearly put thought into it. Charcoal-grilled mackerel and wild vegetable tempura were excellent. The soup was carefully simmered, and combined with seafood, tasted fresh. While the seasoning was adjusted for British tastes rather than traditional Japanese flavors, it was still quite good.
"By the way, Shirou, was it fun in China?" asked some second-year male students curiously.
"Yes, Jiangnan in China is very beautiful. We spent two days at Lushan together," Shirou replied.
"Shirou, I heard you went there for competitions. How did it go?" another student asked.
"We competed in table tennis, badminton, and so on…" Shirou said.
"Eh? How do you even compete in that?" the students asked in confusion.
"Aren't exchange competitions like that? Haven't you had competitions here?" Shirou asked curiously.
"No, we only performed at the evening party. I play the violin," a female student shook her head.
"I just know a bit of piano, so you're probably the only one competing, Shirou. I heard this school also has an archery range," a male student added.
"Seems like each place has its own arrangements. By the way, where's Eriri?" Shirou asked a few girls.
"Ah, Sawamura? She seems to have done something wrong. The Head Maid caught her, and now she has to clean every day… if she doesn't finish, she can't eat," the girl explained, trembling like a tiny hamster.
"Head Maid? She's really strict. But for this gathering, she got left out? Can't the teacher say something?" Shirou asked, puzzled.
"No! In the girls' dorm, no one can go against the Head Maid's will!" the girl said, her face turning pale as she shivered.
"Yes, I've seen it myself. Don't be fooled by her small, cute appearance. She looks our age, but she has the strength to lift a large motorcycle and is merciless to anyone who offends her."
"I've also heard she punished a pervert trying to invade the dorm, chased away suspicious people secretly filming near the school, and even the principal and dorm supervisors obey her decisions."
"Exactly! The Head Maid is the greatest person here. Even if the Queen of Britain came, she couldn't overrule her. She's like the king of the girls' dorm."
"Sawamura really offended such a person…" The girls all looked sympathetic but helpless.
"So… Sawako-sensei only brought us here."
"We'll pack some good food to take back for Sawamura," they said.
"Haha…" Somehow, Shirou seemed to hear a lonely, cold whimper from the girls at that moment.
From talking with the students, Shirou gained some understanding of the local situation.
As a European city that enjoys life, the focus here differs from Asian regions. The Bristol branch emphasizes art and cultivation rather than competition.
As a port city, Bristol has historically been an important commercial center. Famous buildings from various eras have been preserved, making it feel like a British architecture museum, perfect for experiencing the old British atmosphere.
The international high school Bristol branch is renowned for its art programs. Most students are children of nobility, wealthy families, or artistic households. So the visiting students are mostly from art backgrounds.
During free time, students would play music or paint, and the Bristol students would invite Chiba students for afternoon tea on an old street, chat, and enjoy the day.
The next day, they might visit a well-preserved 12th-century Gothic cathedral in England, take a stroll there, and on subsequent days visit a museum, an art gallery, a graffiti street founded by the father of world street graffiti, and the famous Bristol Suspension Bridge—the birthplace of bungee jumping.
Each day in Bristol passed leisurely with such activities. Unfortunately, poor Eriri, besides participating, was still forced to do various chores for the girls' dorm when returning.
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