Why You Should Be Responsible For Him - Chapter 3 Part 2

When he tried to turn his head to the right, the small black thing on his shoulder tried to extend its wings.

“Ash!! Stay still. Don’t you dare move! If you move, I’ll kill you!”

A couple of cockroaches were enjoying their date on Ash’s shoulder. Yes, a couple.

Watching couples, I never thought I would see a couple cockroach right in front of me!

Ash, the innocent lamb who is indifferent to most shocks, is an exception when it comes to bar teachers. Who can casually look at a bar teacher who scores 100 out of 100 in both disgust and technical scores!

I looked at the couple and said, ‘You cockroaches!’ out of the corner of my eye, not expecting to see an actual cockroach couple in front of me!

Despite being someone who doesn’t easily get shocked, the cockroaches are an exception. Those seemingly unnecessary gleaming black antennas, long ones at that, and those slender legs. If we were to assess with a sense of disgust, one could say that the art score and the technical score for the cockroach are both perfect, 100 out of 100!

However, Ash, the innocent lamb who knows nothing, tilted his head with a puzzled expression.

Don’t move your head! Ah! It’s about to fly, please stay still!

However, despite my desperate shout, Ash turned his head anyway, and his eyes met the eyes of the cockroach. It was the historic first encounter with the cockroach couple.

“…Senior, what is this…”

“Calm down, calm down, Ash Kindroper.”

“Senior… um…”

Ash’s fingertips showed signs of trembling. His white face looked completely pale, as if pleading for mercy.

“I’ll go. I’ll chase it away. Stay still.”

Holding the book we had just studied, I approached the stiffened Ash. However, the clever cockroach easily noticed my dark shadow.

Fwoosh!

The bar teacher’s wings flapped as if it could fly at any moment. It sounded so loud that it could send shivers down anyone’s spine. How terrifyingly loud it must have been in Ash’s ears.

As if that weren’t enough, Ash spoke up.

“Senior!!”

Ash suddenly ripped his shirt off. With a snap, the buttons came off and rolled across the floor.

Ash jumped to his feet, leaving his upper body exposed.

“Calm down!”

“Senior!”

Ash was running towards me with a cockroach on his right shoulder, revealing his upper body.

What a horrifying sight!

I continued sprinting without looking back, Ash ran towards me with his arms wide open, looking somewhat like a pervert.

“Agh! Stay away!”

“Get off me! Get off me!”

We rushed out of the old building and ran under the blazing sun. The attention of everyone in the academy was drawn to us due to this unexpected chase. The guards, who were on duty to protect the statue, tensed up as they saw me approaching.

I shouted at them with my eyes.

“Help! A cockroach is chasing us!”

The guards immediately relaxed their stance as soon as I passed by the statue.

No way!! A statue that looks like me is more important than the real me!

My heart sank at the realization.

* * *

“Senior……!”

We ran for quite a while, and eventually, both of us slowed down to the point where we were gasping for breath.

Panting.

“Haah, haah.”

“Senior.”

“Stop calling me. Haah, give me a moment.”

I stop first, under the shade of a large tree.

Ash followed, panting heavily, and grabbed my sleeve.

“It’s gone……?”

After running like that, it’s obvious.

Without even bothering to look, I nodded.

“Haah… Thank goodness.”

Ash’s messy hair was soaked with sweat to the point of looking pitiful. I may have short hair that I can brush away behind my ears for relief, but Ash’s hair was stuck together messily, clinging to his face. It was so hot that I felt hotter just looking at it.

I raised my arm and swept Ash’s blonde hair back from his forehead. I thought his cool forehead and nose line looked quite manly.

And I stared mesmerized for quite a while into his blue eyes, which were slightly wet as if they were filled with rainwater. Ash didn’t avert his eyes either, so for a moment I thought I was looking at a beautiful painting. Until he blinked once.

“My hair must be damp because of the sweat.”

“So are my palms.”

I realized a bit late that I had been holding onto Ash’s hair. It was slightly awkward, but I replied nonchalantly to cover it up. Then I ruffled his hair again.

He’s filthy handsome.

Ash ran a hand through his hair, just as I had done.

“While running, I thought about it. I think my dorm room is better, after all.”

Rather than meeting that cockroach again… Even if it’s a bit farther, I thought it would be better on my end.

“Right.”

He tilted his head and smiled.

“See you tomorrow. In my room.”

* * *

Since the incident with Mr.Cockroach, we conducted our lessons in Ash’s VVVIP dormitory. We arrived a little earlier than the agreed time on the first day, and when I opened the door, I thought I had the wrong room because the maids were pouring out.

“Oh, it’s dazzling.”

The room sparkled, as if it had been wiped and polished extensively. The floor, reflecting like an ice sheet in the sunlight,  and I thought I might fall if I took a wrong step. Luckily, that didn’t happen.

We continued our lessons smoothly without major incidents compared to the first day.

Oh, if there was a minor issue, it was Ash calling me “Teacher” persistently.

“I’m not a teacher.”

“But you’re too cool to just be called senior.”

“Such meaningless titles are unnecessary. If you want to show respect, do it with money.”

The next day, Ash handed over a large check. It was two weeks’ worth of allowance.

I ended up cutting my hours at the bakery in half because Ash insisted on extending my tutoring time (tutoring fees are directly proportional to tutoring time) with Imperial History class. I can’t say I don’t enjoy teaching him because he soaks up knowledge like a sponge.

But sometimes it felt like he wasn’t really paying attention to the lesson and was just staring at my face. I’d look up from my book, pretending to explain something, and Ash’s eyes would glaze over and he’d look down at his book like he’d done it before.

“Did you see Mr. Cockroach’s face on mine?”

“No.”

“Focus.”

Despite these minor hiccups, we continued our tutoring sessions normally until an embarrassing incident occurred.

* * *

It was a day when it was raining like crazy. Even though it was broad daylight, it was as dark as evening because of the clouds. Umbrellas are supposed to protect you from the rain… but for some reason, the wind was blowing raindrops everywhere.

By the time I entered Ash’s room, I was already soaked.

“Senior, are you okay?”

“I need to wash up a bit.”

Casually, I entered the attached shower room, letting the rainwater drip off me onto the floor. I sensed Ash’s hesitation but ignored it. In my current state, even sitting down for a lesson felt uncomfortable.

I nonchalantly walked into the shower attached to his room, rainwater dripping onto the floor. I could feel Ash flinch, but I ignored it. In my current state, even sitting down for a lesson felt uncomfortable.

“Can you give me some clothes to change into?”

“My clothes?”

“I can’t just come out naked.”

“…….”

Thunk!

Ash’s neck visibly reddened.

He’d been shaking too much.

He paced in front of the closet, whimpering, and then shoved his upper body into it as if he were going to be sucked in. Whatever he was doing, it made an unpleasant sound inside.

Ash’s panicked reaction made me stiffen up. I couldn’t take back what I’d spit out, and I didn’t really have any clothes… so I stood in the shower doorway, scratching my cheeks and waiting for him.

“All my clothes are too big, could you at least wear this robe for now?”

At a glance, it looked brand new. However, what caught my attention was the emblem of the royal family on the left chest, adorned with golden threads.

“This…….”

“It’s a robe that only royalty can wear, so I had it engraved like a badge of honor. Don’t worry, it’s a pretty good fabric, so it won’t rub against your skin.”

…If it were someone else, they would probably say it’s a family honor and never forget this moment for the rest of their lives.

I quickly hide my hands beneath my robe, trying not to show them.

I need to get cleaned up as soon as possible.

…Unlike what I had expected, the warm water melted away the tension in my body. Showering until my hands and feet wrinkled, I started to worry about possible dehydration symptoms. Finally, I managed to step out of the shower.

I washed my rain-soaked clothes and underwear and hung them inside, then changed into a roomy robe. The robe was large enough that it barely dragged on the ground as I slipped it on. I don’t know how many times I rolled up the sleeves.

“Have you finished washing?”

“Yeah, thanks. Oh, and I left my underwear inside, so don’t freak out.”

“…….”

“You seem surprised.”

Ash’s eyes were falling below my face. Suddenly, he turned his head with a start.

“Let’s continue with the tutor.”

I couldn’t concentrate at all during that day’s class. Whether it was because my hair hadn’t completely dried yet, the sound of rain tapping on the window, or maybe because of that guy blushing as if he were about to explode.

Somehow, I made it to the end of the class, but I didn’t feel as exhilarated as I usually do.

After finishing the class, it was right to go back immediately, but it was hard to do that now. My clothes weren’t dry yet.

Listening to the pattering sound of the rain, I rested my chin and looked at Ash on the opposite side.

“You don’t have to sit here, you can lie down on the bed or whatever, I’ll be right there as soon as my clothes are dry.”

Ash nodded, but didn’t budge.

“I feel uncomfortable if you’re here.”

“Then, Senior, please make yourself comfortable on the bed. I’ll stay here.”

“My hair is not even dry yet.”

“It’s okay.”

“I’m not okay.”

Squeak.

With the sound of the chair being pushed, Ash stood up and came behind me with a towel.

“I’ll dry it for you.”

Before I could give permission, Ash spread the towel and carefully wiped my hair. His hands were so big that it felt like he could grab my whole back of the head with one hand.

Although I tried to refuse, the gentle massage and the soft touch of the towel felt good, so I let it be.

Ash gently pushed my forehead back, and I leaned my head against his hand, completely relying on him. I stretched out my body as he meticulously wiped away the strands of hair. The careful touch of his hands made drowsiness gradually wash over me.

Ash’s voice rang out like a soothing lullaby.

“Actually, I’ve seen you cut your hair before.”

It was an unexpected statement. I was half-asleep, so I didn’t respond properly, but I murmured something like, “When?”

Ash somehow understood me and replied with a chuckle.