All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

Tokyo.

”Professor Kanagawa, how about another round?”

Having just downed his drink in one gulp, Sota Juta looked at Eiren Kanagawa, who was about to stand up, and asked with a smile.

”No thanks. I guess after becoming a teacher I don’t drink as much anymore. I feel like my tolerance has gone down. Better to head back to the hotel before you all get to see me drunk and laughing like a fool.” Eiren Kanagawa shrugged and spoke half-jokingly.

”Then I’ll walk you out.” Juta set down his glass and followed Eiren Kanagawa out of the restaurant.

When they reached her car, Kanagawa patted Juta’s shoulder before getting in. ”I’m really looking forward to your private exhibition in ten days. Do your best.”

”Mm!” Juta nodded firmly. She realized that even though it had been six, nearly seven years since graduation, her old advisor Eiren Kanagawa hadn’t changed one bit: ”I’m really grateful that you’re coming to my exhibition. Honestly, when I first sent you the invitation, I was worried you wouldn’t come.”

”Haha, it’s no big deal. What teacher wouldn’t want to see their students succeed? When I got your invitation, I really had to marvel—who would’ve thought the student who was always failing classes back in school would now be hosting her own private exhibition.”

Eiren Kanagawa spoke with satisfaction. Juta hadn’t been her most outstanding student, nor the most naturally gifted, but she had certainly been one of the most memorable.

Absences, failed classes, constant lateness—this girl had been the bane of her advisor’s existence in college. She was always being called into the office for heart-to-heart talks. Forget grades—could she at least show up on time for roll call?

If not for her exceptional entrance exam results in high school, Kyoto University would never have let her in. Otherwise, given her record of failed courses, she probably wouldn’t even have graduated.

Back then, Juta was full of pride and arrogance. She had told her then-advisor Eiren Kanagawa directly:

”I think the knowledge taught in college is boring. It’s stuff I’ve long since mastered, so why repeat it in class? Each class is two hours at minimum. Sitting there feels like a waste of time and life. I’d rather skip and paint in the studio.”

”Even in freshman year at Kyoto University’s Fine Arts Department, there are still differences in students’ abilities. Naturally, the first-year curriculum is going to be on the simpler side.”

”I know, that’s why I can’t be bothered sitting with them wasting my time. Besides, your teaching level is really low.”

Kanagawa, who was never known for her mild temper, curled her lips at that. ”I keep it simple so the majority of students can follow along. If I always spoke at a high level, maybe you’d understand, but what about the others?”

She rolled her wrist as she continued:

”Seems you really doubt my teaching ability. Fine then, let me show you exactly why I earned the position of advisor in Kyoto University’s Fine Arts Department. And by the way, even though I haven’t been here long, the next professorship in the department is already guaranteed to be mine.”

Two hours later, Kanagawa picked up her glass of water, took a sip to moisten her throat, and looked with satisfaction at Juta, who now sat dazed, eyes wide, as if a whole new world had just opened before her.

The once arrogant and dismissive Juta had been completely overwhelmed.

After that, Juta did indeed show up on time for class—but only for Eiren Kanagawa’s lectures. For everyone else’s classes, she still skipped out to the studio.

Juta shrugged and smiled. ”Of course I’d be able to hold my own exhibition. I’ve got the skill for it. But I owe graduating smoothly to you, Professor Kanagawa.”

”You really… it’s been six years since you graduated, and your personality hasn’t changed at all. Don’t get too cocky. I’m not even talking about a world-class prodigy like Mashiro Shiina—”

Not long ago, at the first exhibition of the Tokyo Metropolitan University National Youth Art Award, one student’s work drew the attention of the Tokyo Five Beauties, as well as professors from both Kyoto University and Tokyo University’s Fine Arts departments.

Even though she was only a first-year high school student, some professors, upon seeing her paintings, immediately slammed the table and said: ”Why waste time in high school? Give her a guaranteed admission! Get the paperwork ready now! Let her enter university immediately—I’ll take her as my student personally!”

When she was in Kyoto, I tested her more than once, but she didn’t seem interested in guaranteed admission. Sigh… I had even prepared the paperwork to admit her directly into Kyoto University’s Fine Arts Department.”

Eiren Kanagawa let out a wry smile. If Kotomi Izumi had been a fine arts student, she might not have been the one with the strongest technical skill, but she would definitely have been the most socially adept, the one who knew exactly how to talk.

She spoke well, looked beautiful, yet her personality was unpredictable. While you were here trying to persuade her to skip high school and jump straight into a prestigious university, she would sidestep smoothly, seizing the chance to change the subject before you realized it.

Eiren had been confident she could make Kotomi agree to the offer within three days and join Kyoto University’s Fine Arts Department. She too thought it was a waste for someone with such talent to spend three years of high school instead of moving forward at university.

She had listed every advantage of early admission, and Kotomi had seemed to listen seriously. But when asked directly if she agreed, Kotomi would blur her answers, and whenever pressed further, she would successfully shift the topic elsewhere.

”Maybe she just wants to continue enjoying high school life. Teacher, you spent most of your student years abroad, so maybe you don’t understand—those three years of high school might be tough, but for most students, they become unforgettable memories for a lifetime.” Juta gave a playful look that said You just don’t get it, and smiled.

”Oh? I praise another student’s talent and you’re not jealous?”

”Why would I be jealous? It’s not like I’m your girlfriend. I admit I was arrogant back then, but after graduating, I’ve come to understand there are always people stronger than me, skies beyond the sky.” Juta shot back.

Eiren Kanagawa blinked, then patted Juta’s shoulder again. ”Looks like you’ve grown up—become a little more mature.”

”I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Juta said, then glanced around to make sure no acquaintances were nearby before leaning in and asking quietly:

”Professor Kanagawa, my private exhibition isn’t for another ten days. You came to Tokyo this early—was it really just for work? Or… did you maybe get yourself a girlfriend here in Tokyo, or in a nearby city, and you’re planning to spend these ten days having a sweet time together?”

Just as Eiren Kanagawa was about to take out her car keys, she looked at Sota Juta with a hint of confusion and asked:

”Why did you immediately assume it’s a girlfriend?”

”Back when you were still our advisor, weren’t you dating a woman? I remember once, when I went to your apartment to borrow an art reference book, I saw a woman lying on your bed, clothes scattered on the floor. At first I thought she was your sister or something, but later I found out she was your girlfriend. Then when I asked you again at graduation, you said she dumped you.”

”Oh, you still remember that? I thought you were only curious about that sort of gossip back when you were my student. Didn’t think you’d still remember after graduating all these years.”

”So am I right or not? You came to Tokyo this early—not because you couldn’t wait for my exhibition, but most likely because you’ve found yourself another girlfriend nearby.” Juta said confidently.

She really hit the mark… Eiren chuckled inwardly. Lighting up a cigarette, she took a few drags before continuing:

”She’s not my girlfriend yet. She probably doesn’t even know I like her… I’m just preparing to pursue her.”

”How old? 28, 29?” Juta asked.

Eiren shook her head.

”25 or 26?”

”Not that either.”

”21, 22? Damn, what makes you think you can go after such a young girl?”

Eiren frowned slightly. She didn’t think she was that old herself, so she said: ”She’s still a second-year high school student.”

The moment the words fell, silence settled between them.

Juta stared at her for a long while before slowly forcing out: ”Professor Kanagawa, you’re seriously a beast. Even calling it robbing the cradle doesn’t cut it!”

”Watch your words. I’m not that old, okay?” Eiren shot back, displeased.

”So what, you’re really planning to pursue her? Someone that young? Not even in college yet?”

Eiren smoked quietly until she finished the cigarette, then said:

”When I first met her, if you judged her as a student, her talent was so low you could already see the end of her road in art. But she never gave in—she kept drawing, kept grinding away, no matter how many pencils she wore down or how many sheets of paper she filled.

”At first, I despised that kind of blind effort, thinking she was just indulging in self-satisfaction. I treated her differently because of it. But then, one day, I saw her standing in front of her painting, with an expression full of satisfaction yet tinged with regret.

”Maybe for her, just having her work displayed in an exhibition was already something wonderful. But since the competition had three phases, and with so many talented students, her work would most likely be eliminated after the first round.

”I watched her staring at her painting, and when I realized it, I had already fallen for her.”

”Love at first sight?”

”Yeah. I want to pursue her, help her improve, stay by her side. If possible, I even want to marry her. Why would a Kyoto University Fine Arts professor fall for a girl with such ordinary talent? There’s no answer. And I don’t need one.”

Eiren laughed softly, pressed the car key, and opened the driver’s side door to sit down.

Juta stood outside the car. ”Professor Kanagawa.”

”Mm?”

”When will I get to meet this way-too-young girlfriend of yours?”

”At your exhibition. I’ve already promised to take her there.”

”So you’re not coming to my exhibition for my art—you’re just using it as a date spot.”

Juta laughed, then waved her hand.

”Drive slow on your way back—wait, no, you drank! Get out right now. I’ll call a chauffeur.”

She quickly pulled Eiren out of the driver’s seat and called for a designated driver.

The chauffeur drove the car to the hotel parking lot where Eiren Kanagawa was staying. After parking, he handed the car keys back to her.

”Thanks. Here, a tip.”

”You’re too kind. Here’s my number—call me directly next time if you need me.”

”OK.”

Back in her hotel room, after taking a shower, Eiren lay on the bed and picked up her phone to send Hibiki Naegi a Line message.

Eiren Kanagawa: [I drank too much.]

Even after waiting an hour, there was still no reply. Feeling a little annoyed, Eiren tossed her phone aside and went to sleep.

A bit tipsy, she didn’t realize that when she sent the message, it was already past midnight. And at that hour, even if Hibiki Naegi wasn’t asleep, she was ”busy” with Seiko Kirigiri, so how could she possibly notice Eiren’s message?

Beep beep beep.

The alarm clock rang. Kotomi stretched her hand out from under the blanket, and with a practiced motion, shut it off while still half-asleep.

She instinctively wanted to keep sleeping, but her mom suddenly opened the door, yanked the curtains wide open, and let the sunlight flood in. Kotomi groaned:

”Mom, it’s Sunday… let me sleep a little longer.”

Akina Izumi smacked her daughter’s blanket, making Kotomi yelp.

”Sleep, my ass! Didn’t you promise Yui you’d go sing karaoke with her today?”

”Oh… right…” Kotomi mumbled groggily, only then remembering that she was supposed to go to karaoke with Yui today.

”’Oh right’ my foot! That poor kid Yui’s been waiting at the gate since early morning in the freezing cold. She’s so considerate she wouldn’t even ring the doorbell for fear of disturbing us. If I hadn’t woken up early to bring in the bedding from the clothesline and happened to see her crouching there blowing on her hands for warmth, she would’ve kept waiting until you came out.”

Akina spoke with exasperation, her words dripping with heartache for Yui. How could that silly girl be so stubborn? What on earth does she even see in Kotomi?

”What?! Dango’s already here??!” Kotomi snapped fully awake, jumping out of bed. She glanced at the clock—it was only 6 a.m.!

Which meant Dango had shown up at 5 o’clock to wait for her.

Sure, Kotomi had told her yesterday not to be late. But this silly Dango… there was no need to wait outside in the freezing cold from 5 a.m. just to make sure of it!

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