Ecchan-sensei: POV

"Here. The rice porridge is ready, Ecchan-sensei."

"Thank you, Tachibana."

"Come on. I’ll feed you. Say ah."

What is this...

Even in my dreams or fantasies, I’ve never imagined something like this.

To be cared for like this by a boy I’m supposed to protect.

The scene in front of me feels unreal, and I space out, opening my mouth just as he tells me.

"Hot!"

"Ah, sorry. Did I heat it too much? Fuu, fuu. Maybe it’s cooled down now."

"Nom... It’s delicious..."

"Why are you speaking politely, Ecchan-sensei?"

Laughing, Tachibana blows on the porridge again and feeds me another bite.

...This feels nostalgic...

Oh, right. When I had a fever as a child, my mom used to feed me rice porridge just like this.

Lost in that homesick feeling, I simply chew and swallow the porridge placed at my mouth.

"Oh, you finished it all. Here, take your medicine. And you shouldn’t lie down right after taking medicine, so even if your back hurts a bit, let’s stay sitting for a while."

Watching Tachibana’s back as he takes the bowl to wash it somehow makes me feel calm.

"Alright. Let’s lie down now. I’ll help you."

"Sorry, Tachibana... I acted my age poorly and got carried away at karaoke..."

"What are you saying? You were just trying to get everyone excited for the students, right? Everyone’s waiting for Ecchan-sensei to come back to school healthy."

Saying that, Tachibana smiles at me.

Maybe the brace and medicine are starting to work, because the pain in my back feels lighter than before.

...Ah, Mom... thank you for giving birth to me.

Because of you, I was able to meet an angel like this.

"Alright. I should get going now."

"Ah..."

After confirming I was lying down on the futon, Tachibana said his goodbye.

Moments that feel like dreams always pass by so quickly.

"Um..."

...Ah, this is bad...

"Hm? What’s wrong, Ecchan-sensei?"

The gentle Tachibana catches my faint voice and comes back to the bedside.

"Don’t... go... Stay with me..."

...I said it...

Even though a selfish request like this shouldn’t be allowed when the other person is a boy.

Just the fact that he came to take care of me like this is already luck equal to winning the lottery first prize several times.

And yet here I am greedily asking for more...

This definitely makes me a heavy woman...

"What? Are you feeling anxious? You’re cute, you know."

Eh? I just said something that heavy, and he’s smiling and forgiving me?

And now he’s patting my head...

Even though I’m an older woman like this...

The feelings overflowing inside me break past the wall of reason.

"Papa..."

Ahhhhhhhhh!!

Gross! Gross! Gross!

I was born through artificial insemination.

I don’t even have a father to begin with.

And the person in front of me is my student, a boy more than ten years younger than me!

I’m not even a cool adult.

I’ve been scammed by men again and again and have no money.

Living alone in this shabby apartment.

Not young anymore, yet getting excited and throwing out my back at karaoke like a fool.

And now a pathetic older woman like me is calling him papa...

Tachibana must feel overwhelming disgust...

"Yep. Papa’s here."

Wait.

He’s even accepting this kind of play?

Is Tachibana’s generosity as vast as the open sea?

"That’s right. Teachers can’t rely on anyone, so it must be tough. But it’s okay. At least in front of me, you can become a baby."

Ah... ah...

I can’t take it anymore.

I’m at my limit.

I’m going to cry.

Cry like a baby.

I’m going to start crying like a baby.

Forgetting everything, in front of my student, I discard my mask as a teacher and become nothing more than a newborn, innocent baby.

"Tomoki-kun, you’re late. Let’s go home already."

A terribly cold voice came from the entrance.

Standing there was Kannonzaki Haruto from Class 1.

"Huh? Haruto. Didn’t you go home already? I told you not to wait."

"I was worried about you, Tomoki-kun."

Saying that, Kannonzaki-kun turns his gaze toward me.

That somewhat cold look instantly brings Oogusu Etsuko (her name) back from the baby she had been moments ago.

"S-sorry about that, Tachibana. You took such good care of me... I feel much better now, so it’s fine if you go home."

"Really? Then I’ll head back now. Take care."

I send Tachibana off with a stiff smile as he prepares to leave.

I am Oogusu Etsuko.

I’m almost thirty years old.

A teacher at Mitsutsuki Academy.

The baby from earlier was just a fleeting dream.

But even for a moment, I was happy to call him papa.

"Oh, right."

Saying that, Tachibana comes back to the bedside once more.

What is it?

"I’ll be your papa again next time, Etsuko, so be ready to become a baby."

"B-babu..."

Whispering that secretly by my pillow, Tachibana turns me back into a baby again.

That surprise attack after making me think it was over is unfair...

Wait...

Kannonzaki-kun didn’t hear that just now, did he?

Thinking that, I glance toward Kannonzaki-kun standing in the entrance with his arms crossed.

He’s looking at me with cold eyes.

Being stared at by such a cute young boy would normally be the best situation for a woman.

But right now my heart doesn’t move at all.

Instead, I can only wait eagerly for the next time papa comes home.