The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 37

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 37
Theo was absolutely elated. His face brimmed with smiles.
Even so, he quickened his pace. He had to tell his friends this wonderful news as soon as possible.
“Hey!”
Theo opened the classroom door and called out to the children.
“Rachel said we can start thirty minutes late!”
“Really?!”
“For real?”
The children, who had been waiting eagerly for Theo, erupted in cheers.
“Then we’ll have plenty of time!”
“No, we have to cooperate really well or we might fail. If even one person does something else, Rachel’s birthday party could be ruined.”
Six children exchanged opinions and chattered among themselves. Noah, left out of the conversation, sat alone at a desk with his head down, sighing.
“Hey, why’s your brother acting like that?”
“I don’t know. He’s like that sometimes.”
Unable to reveal Noah’s troubles, Theo played it cool. Then he turned his attention back to the others’ planning.
“But Theo, you really are sharp.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. You’re really cool.”
Eckard, who usually only knew how to tease, praised Theo with genuine sincerity.
“How did you figure out it was Rachel’s birthday just by watching Henry check the calendar all the time?”
“Just a hunch?”
It was almost unbelievable to call it just a hunch.
Theo had witnessed his Fencing instructor Henry checking the calendar and sighing several times. Convinced that something special must be on his mind, Theo casually asked Henry why he kept looking at the calendar.
Henry mentioned Rachel’s birthday, and from that moment, the children’s “Rachel’s Birthday Party Operation” began.
“You all finished writing your letters, right?”
“Of course.”
“Definitely.”
By now, Theo, who had naturally become the leader, collected the letters from the children. Having gathered six letters in total, including his own, Theo looked at his younger brother Noah.
“Hmm….”
It didn’t seem like he’d be getting a letter from Noah today.
“Noah, write your letter and bring it by tomorrow, okay?”
But he didn’t want to exclude Noah’s letter. As Noah’s older brother and the leader of this project, Theo spoke to him.
Unfortunately, Noah gave no response.
“So, everyone go prepare everything you said in your rooms?”
The children nodded at Theo’s words.
“But your brother… is something really wrong with him?”
Kana kept glancing at Noah. The others were doing the same.
Theo, however, seemed entirely unbothered. He believed Noah would snap out of it eventually.
“I’ll tell you later. For now, preparing for the teacher’s birthday party is more important.”
The children scattered to their rooms one by one, leaving only Theo and Noah in the classroom.
“Hey.”
Theo called to Noah. But Noah gave no response.
“You’re really upset about that, aren’t you? About Lucas possibly becoming a Commoner?”
Theo stood before Noah with his arms crossed and shifted his weight to one leg. Then Noah finally lifted his head.
“Don’t you have any thoughts about this at all, brother?”
“You’re the one without thoughts.”
Theo’s reply was sharp.
“You’re wrapped up in some really strange delusion right now.”
“Delusion…?”
“Yeah. A delusion.”
Theo criticized Noah without mercy. At the word “delusion,” Noah’s expression hardened.
“How could you say that!”
Noah sprang to his feet. As if he’d been waiting for just this moment, Theo lightly flicked Noah’s forehead with his index finger.
“I really didn’t want to say this, but honestly, I was ashamed you were my brother today.”
After speaking, Theo turned away. Then Noah, trembling, hurled the 100 Questions and Answers Book he’d been holding against the wall.
“Is that all you have to say?!”
“What, do you want me to say something harsher?”
“How could you say that to me?!”
“Didn’t I tell the truth? You’re trapped in strange thoughts and can’t even get along with your friends.”
Theo callously picked at Noah’s wounds.
The inability to fit in with his friends—that was Noah’s great shortcoming. And Noah himself knew this better than anyone.
Which made Theo’s words strike so devastatingly.
“Fine! You go ahead and live however you like with your friends. I’ll live alone the way I want to!”
Noah cursed under his breath.
It was at that very moment that Rachel entered the classroom.
“What’s happened?”
Rachel had sensed something amiss from the moment Noah threw the book.
She had been observing the situation quietly from outside, and the instant she heard Noah cry out, she stepped inside.
“Teacher, we’re preparing something together, but Noah won’t participate. So I said something to him as his older brother, and now he’s throwing a tantrum.”
“What exactly are you preparing?”
“That’s… something I can’t discuss, but the point is, it’s true that Noah won’t participate.”
“Noah, can you explain what’s happened here?”
Rachel addressed Noah directly. His body trembled, and tears streamed down his face.
“He said I don’t fit in with my friends….”
Rachel’s expression hardened at those words.
She already knew from several counseling sessions that Noah was stressed about his inability to fit in with his peers. It was something he needed to improve, and a tender wound.
And now his own brother, Theo, had touched that very wound.
“Theo, is that true?”
“Yes. It’s true. And it’s also true that he doesn’t get along well with his friends.”
Theo finished speaking as if he saw nothing wrong with what he’d said. Rachel felt a headache coming on.
“Theo, just because you believe something is true doesn’t give you the right to say it. And especially not when it wounds someone.”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Your way of saying it was wrong. Very much so.”
Rachel answered crisply.
“If your words can hurt someone, you must think about them again and again before you speak. Especially if it’s someone precious to you.”
“But—”
“There are no buts. We absolutely do not tolerate that kind of behavior at this school.”
Theo wore an aggrieved expression.
“Think carefully about what you’ve done wrong, and write it down on paper by tomorrow morning. Prepare an apology for Noah as well. If you don’t, history class will proceed at its regular time.”
……
“If you understand, go back to your room.”
Keeping two upset siblings together would be foolish. Rachel separated them at once.
Theo left the classroom with a snort. Soon only Noah and Rachel remained.
“Noah.”
Rachel called his name. Noah, still crying, barely lifted his head.
“Some things you just have to let pass. Of course, it’s not easy.”
Rachel spoke quietly. Noah showed no reaction.
“When someone criticizes you, it doesn’t diminish your worth one bit.”
“…But what he said wasn’t wrong, was it?”
Rachel shook her head immediately.
“Do you remember when you fought with Mare before?”
“…Yes.”
“If you were really a child who didn’t fit in with anyone, would you have been able to make up with Mare?”
……
“I don’t think so at all.”
Rachel did her utmost to convince Noah, hoping he might open his heart to her despite the wounds he’d already received.
“Noah. You’ve come a long way since before you entered this school, haven’t you? In every way.”
Noah thought for a moment, then nodded.
“What you need to work on today is how to receive wounds more lightly. A way to let someone’s words pass over you without hitting so deep.”
Rachel reached out and grasped Noah’s hand firmly.
“I’d like it if you could let what you heard just now pass lightly. Of course, the matter of your brother apologizing to you is separate.”
As Rachel gently wiped the tears from Noah’s eyes, he began crying again.
Noah thought: now he couldn’t trust Theo at all, so he would have to protect Lucas with his own strength alone.
And that thought would give rise to something far greater.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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