Uncle Hikigaya is Forever Young [80]

“Another peaceful day! Mafuyu, you’ve got to work hard again today! Your own classes are just around the corner!”

The pink-haired young woman gave herself a pep talk in the mirror, fists raised with energy.

After lightly adjusting her neatly trimmed bangs, she bit into a slice of bread, slung her bag over one shoulder, and dashed out the door.

Two steps later, she broke into a jog.

“I’m gonna be late! I’m gonna be late! Ahh, if only I hadn’t cleaned last night—!”

Behind her, the door clicked shut on a spotless room.

Well, she had just moved in yesterday, after all. Naturally she’d wanted to tidy up.
It just hadn’t gone quite as smoothly as she’d planned…

Still, her new apartment was close to Sōbu High, so she should make it in time.

Even so, Mafuyu—still technically a part-timer—didn’t dare slack off. She pressed the bread deeper between her teeth and ran gracefully on her long, toned legs.
Not a single crumb fell.

Kirisu Mafuyu, twenty-one years old—mature yet still young—was an aspiring professional teacher who’d left her hometown and parents behind to make her own way in Tokyo.

Life hadn’t been easy.

Since graduation, she’d spent over two months job-hunting, mailed out more than a hundred resumes, and gone to over a dozen interviews.

With a standard education degree, landing a teaching position in Tokyo was already tough under normal conditions—let alone during an economic downturn.

At her second-to-last interview, she’d even met someone like Hikigaya Ryōhei, an elite Tōdai graduate, scooping up jobs meant for younger teachers.

After that, Mafuyu had seriously considered giving up and returning home. She could easily find a stable teaching job at the local middle school.

But that wasn’t the kind of life she wanted. The moment she pictured herself teaching in that same familiar classroom, she could already see the end of her life from that spot.

A life whose ending was visible from the start—she absolutely couldn’t accept that.

Mafuyu believed she had more to offer. She was determined to make her mark in Tokyo’s education world.

She’d become a famous teacher!

Of course, even if she managed to stay in Tokyo, becoming renowned was still uncertain and full of challenges.

But that was exactly what youth was for—
to chase the unknown.

At the moment, Kirisu Mafuyu still didn’t look much like a teacher. She still carried the aura of a student.

No pencil skirt, no lethal black stockings—just simple slacks. No air of authority either; she greeted everyone with a bright, unguarded smile.
Fresh-faced and naturally pretty, but not skilled at dressing up.

She knew this all too well.

Just last week, some boy had even slipped a love letter into her desk drawer.

“It’s really time I changed my image. I look way too much like a student. Those kids even joke around with me, uwah—!”

Turning a corner mid-thought, the pink-haired girl executed a graceful pivot—only to collide with something soft.

“Oof! Ow—!”

Even when distracted, Mafuyu managed to keep her balance.

But Yuigahama Yui, who took the same route to school, wasn’t so lucky. Though she hadn’t been running, she was anxious, rushing and glancing around. The sudden impact with the athletic young teacher sent her tumbling right onto her butt, legs sprawled.

…Pink, huh.

Kids these days—really. I would never have had the nerve to wear something like that as a student.

“I’m so sorry! Ah—you’re from Class F, Yuigahama… Yui, right?” Mafuyu quickly bent down to help her up, her memory kicking in.

“Huh? Ah! Y-you’re the intern, Kirisu Mafuyu-sensei! Um, I’m sorry, but I have to go—I’m gonna be late!”

The dango-haired girl froze for half a second, then bowed quickly and took off running.

Yuigahama Yui—ran away!

“Huh? Am I really that unpopular?”

Seeing the girl’s flustered “Why me?” expression left Mafuyu oddly deflated.

For a brand-new teacher, every student’s opinion mattered.

Things would get better with time… right?

“Oh! Kirisu-san, don’t you live pretty far away—train, then bus? How come you’re here so early?”

That familiar voice was a blessing in her moment of doubt.

The dependable senior who always guided his juniors kindly—Hikigaya Ryōhei-senpai.

Just yesterday, when Mafuyu had called home to say she’d settled in and mentioned him, her father had gone off on a tangent praising Senpai’s reliability.

“Mafuyu, when you meet a senior like that, learn from him! He’ll help you avoid mistakes. Is this Hikigaya-san married? Three kids already? That’s fine—er, I mean, have you thanked him properly yet? No?! Foolish girl! I didn’t raise you to be so clueless! Short on money? I’ll send you some. And invite a few female coworkers along when you treat him, got it?”

Her father’s scolding still rang in her ears—she had to find a way to thank Senpai properly.

…And there he was.

The very same reliable Hikigaya-senpai, in the flesh.

Honestly, it was a little embarrassing. The reason she’d even found an affordable apartment near Sōbu High was thanks to his detailed report: “Analysis of Low-Cost Rentals Near Sōbu High.”

“Actually, I just moved nearby. See that single-occupancy apartment? That’s mine. All my neighbors are women.”

She pointed in that direction, then casually asked, “Senpai, is it really okay for you to be walking so slow? There’s only fifteen minutes left.”

“No worries. My place is right there—see that little house? I timed it myself: five minutes to Sōbu High on foot. I’ll even have time for a glass of water before class. Your place is about the same, right? So relax.”

Ryōhei’s easygoing tone made her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

Theoretically, they were both newcomers—but Hikigaya-senpai just radiated confidence. Every move was calm and practiced.

The power of a Tōdai grad, huh…

Of course, Ryōhei knew she was overthinking it. Back when he first started teaching, he’d arrived ten minutes earlier than the earliest student every day for a month.

Since they’d met, Mafuyu couldn’t very well rush ahead alone. She decided to walk with him.

After just a few steps, she nervously tugged at her sleeve and said, almost whispering, “Um, Senpai… would you be free after work today? Maybe we could—”

Her voice froze mid-sentence.

Because just behind Senpai, a few meters away at the corner—stood Hikigaya Hachiman, face gloomy as ever.

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This is a fan translation of 比企谷大叔永远年轻 by Stargazer All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!