A Core Ship From The Start-Chapter 1548 - 1043: An Unexpected Reunion

Soon, winter passed and spring arrived.

When Duanmu Huai and the others returned to school, it was the start of a new school year.

But for Duanmu Huai...

"Women are just trouble, I’ll never take you on a trip again!"

"It’s all your fault, uncle! Why do you have to be so cruel!"

"I just wanted to try the taste."

This trip to the Antarctic, the thing that annoyed Duanmu Huai the most was not achieving his goal of having a barbecue.

That’s right, he had originally planned to nab some penguins and seals to try out.

After all, if there were polar bears there, it wouldn’t be bad to try a taste of bear paws too.

But those girls kept stopping him, saying "Why eat such cute seals?"... So in the end, Duanmu Huai returned home without tasting them.

Why can’t something cute be eaten? Rabbits are cute too, isn’t spicy rabbit head delicious?

Besides, there are so many penguins and seals in Antarctica, what’s the harm in eating one or two? It’s not like they would go extinct, is it? It’s not like they’re those mystical creatures from Westward Journey World...

Even Mary wasn’t on his side, making Duanmu Huai truly sad. In the end, he had no choice but to grill the frozen chicken meat he brought from the mainland... Penguins are birds too, why can’t we eat fresh ones? Why must they be frozen!

However, he still found a chance to grab a few penguin eggs and made an omelet to taste something fresh.

...Okay, have to admit, wild penguin egg really doesn’t taste very good. Just like ostrich eggs, they look huge but when you eat it, the taste is just so-so, it’s simply for the novelty. Thinking about it, if penguins really tasted good, they would probably have been domesticated like chickens, and not running around freely on the Antarctic continent, right?

Walking into school, the first thing to see is the new students and clubs recruiting them. Of course, there is also the Wind Band Club playing music. After the original third years graduated, the members of the Wind Band Club changed. Who knows how many students will join this year — that’s certainly not Duanmu Huai’s concern.

"Ah, Teacher Duanmu, back from the Antarctic."

"How was Antarctica? Was it very cold?"

"Did you bring back any souvenirs?"

Walking into the staff room, other teachers greeted Duanmu Huai one after another. After all, they knew about Duanmu Huai’s Antarctic trip. It’s impossible not to be envious, but most people are self-aware, knowing they couldn’t make it to Antarctica, so they’re not extremely envious — after all, it’s Antarctica, not Hawaii.

"I did want to bring back a penguin, but unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to."

Faced with his colleagues’ inquiries, Duanmu Huai spread his hands, and everyone laughed.

"If you caught one, could it live in the school?"

"Penguins are probably afraid of the heat, summer here is quite hot."

Duanmu Huai couldn’t possibly bring back any souvenirs from Antarctica, but luckily the girls had thoughtfully taken a ton of photos of Antarctica and the animals, so he shared those with the other teachers, satisfying their curiosity, and they dispersed with the photos. Only then did another teacher come over.

"Teacher Duanmu, the principal wants to see you."

"The principal? Alright, I got it."

Why does this feel familiar?

With questions in mind, Duanmu Huai went to the principal’s office. The old principal behind the desk still had a friendly smile. After a brief chat about Antarctica with Duanmu Huai, the principal cheerfully got to the point.

"Teacher Duanmu, the reason I called you is to ask you a favor."

"A favor from me?"

"Yes, perhaps you didn’t know, Teacher Matsumoto has already gone on maternity leave, so her position is currently vacant. Thus, I hope you can take her place and become the class teacher for class 2-3."

"Class teacher? Me?"

Have to say, just returning and hearing this news, Duanmu Huai was also taken aback. To be honest, he never imagined that someone who teaches PE could also be a class teacher — in Duanmu Huai’s memory, the class teacher position was exclusively for language, math, and English teachers, someone like him who teaches PE could be a class teacher?

"That’s right, didn’t you do well in the Wind Band Club? The students respect you a lot."

"Wind Band Club is Wind Band Club... Alright, I got it."

Duanmu Huai shrugged his shoulders, what else could he do? Being a class teacher is part of a teacher’s job, just like being a club advisor, anyway, he teaches PE, there’s plenty of time... at least he doesn’t need to mark tests like language, math, and English teachers.

"Hahaha, I’m very optimistic about you, so I’m counting on you. Oh, by the way... there’s one more thing..."

"Knock knock knock."

Before the principal could finish, suddenly there was a knock on the door, followed by a strange female voice from outside.

"Sorry for interrupting."

"Oh, you came at the right time, come in."

With the principal’s words, Duanmu Huai then saw the door of the principal’s office open, followed by two girls walking in. One looked like an adult, dressed in ordinary business attire. The other stood behind her in a Ryuo Academy uniform.

Seeing Duanmu Huai, the woman in front seemed startled, while the principal chuckled and reassured her.

"Don’t worry, although Teacher Duanmu looks fierce, he’s actually a highly praised teacher."

"Ah, I see... I’m really sorry, my apologies."

As she spoke, the woman lowered her head and bowed to Duanmu Huai. At this moment, the principal also stood up, walked to the woman, and smilingly introduced her to Duanmu Huai.

"Let me introduce, this is Teacher Yōna Tachibana, who will be taking up a position here this year, and her sister Tachibana Rui, who will be transferring to this school. Oh, Teacher Yōna, this is Teacher Duanmu Huai, he will be responsible for Class 2-3 as the homeroom teacher, and you can temporarily be his assistant since you’re new to the school and not familiar with things."

Saying this, the principal also looked at Duanmu Huai.

"So, Teacher Duanmu, could I trouble you to lend a hand?"

"Ah... um..." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

Duanmu Huai looked at the two people before him with a complex expression, nodding slightly. He did not know the woman in front of him, but her sister was all too familiar to Duanmu Huai... Isn’t this Xiao’Lu?!

Xiao’Lu—Lu Yi, goodness, your alias is way too casual.

"........."

Tachibana Rui also seemed bewildered, unable to speak as she looked at Duanmu Huai. Clearly, she had never imagined she would run into someone she knew at a new school.

And someone she knew extremely well at that.

After the introductions, everyone left the principal’s office. In the hallway, Duanmu Huai also fell into silence as he looked at the two, finally coughing lightly and extending his hand.

"Hello, Teacher Tachibana, I’m Duanmu Huai, pleased to meet you."

"Ah, yes, I’m also pleased to meet you."

Looking at the hand Duanmu Huai had extended, Yōna Tachibana quickly grasped it, while Duanmu Huai glanced at the silent Tachibana Rui before looking away.

"This... is your sister?"

"Yes, she’s a first-year this year. Because of some family issues, she came here to study."

Family issues, huh...

Hearing this, Duanmu Huai’s expression turned a bit strange. Even if Yōna Tachibana hadn’t said much, he could guess what kind of "family issues" she referred to.

After all, he had already heard from Xiao’Lu—no, Lu Yi—about her family’s situation, right? She had mentioned her mother had a new boyfriend and planned to remarry. Judging from things now, has she already remarried? Then she moved here? If that’s the case... one has to say, this is quite the joke.

But speaking of it, you’re only a first-year this year.

Looking at Tachibana Rui, Duanmu Huai felt speechless.

He hadn’t thought of it before, so that means last year... well, whatever, the past is past, it’s meaningless to bring it up now, right?

After this, Tachibana Rui went to report to the first-year classroom, while Yōna Tachibana arrived at the staff room to greet other teachers. It’s undeniable that a young, beautiful, and energetic female teacher can indeed boost everyone’s spirits, and many greeted Yōna Tachibana. Quite a few young teachers seemed very enthusiastic, clearly having taken a liking to Teacher Yōna.

However, sitting in his chair, looking at Yōna Tachibana before him, Duanmu Huai felt rather complicated. Yōna Tachibana, no matter how you look at her, seemed like an optimistic, cheerful, and bold yet beautiful woman, one who easily draws male attention. Yet if what her sister said is true, this one is acting as a mistress at the moment.

Truly, people are difficult to understand... Just looking at appearances, who would think this one is acting as a mistress? But then again, appearances aren’t exactly reliable, are they? For instance, Lu Yi looks like a good kid; judging from her older sister’s appearance, she probably wouldn’t think her own sister would be working another job outside, right?

Duanmu Huai silently shook his head, then picked up the student roster because if he was going to be the homeroom teacher, he couldn’t slack off like in a PE class. In any case, he should look at what students he has in his class.

Having a look, Duanmu Huai finally understood why the principal specifically assigned him as the homeroom teacher for Class 2-3. Many of the students were part of the Wind Band Club. Then there were Mary and Naruse Mio in this class too, along with Tower City Kitten and Banriya... No wonder it was left to him, anyone else wouldn’t handle it well, right?

Alright then, a lot of sheep are easy to take care of too.

"Ding-dong."

As Duanmu Huai was going through the student list, his phone’s notification sound went off. Opening his phone, he saw a message from Xiao’Lu.

[Uncle, I have something I want to talk to you about]

Seeing this text message, Duanmu Huai paused for a moment, then replied with a text message.

[Meet me at the old place after school]