FOR ME, SAE-CHAN is my best friend.
For me, Sae-chan is also a rival.
It might seem contradictory, but surprisingly, it works.
And having these two feelings coexist isn't so unusual, I think.
Despite my appearances, I have quite a few friends.
Friends from elementary and middle school, ANHS, friends I met in college, and friends I made after becoming a working adult.
But the relationship where I could really share my true feelings continued only with Sae-chan.
I don't know what she thought about it.
Even if I were to lose to anyone else, I just can't lose to Sae-chan.
We were in the same class, and the days we spent together aiming for Class A instilled such feelings in me.
Originally, Sae-chan didn't want to become a teacher.
But on that day, the day she understood that she couldn't graduate from Class A, I realized that Sae-chan wanted to become a teacher and aim for Class A again.
That was why I decided to become a teacher too.
Honestly, it's a profession far from what I want to do.
Every day, I'm disrespected by cheeky students, and I can't expect much in terms of salary.
Yet, I became a teacher.
There was just one purpose.
To eliminate all hopes from Sae-chan's dream, her goal of graduating from Class A.
It makes sense, right?
That day, because of Sae-chan's worthless feelings of love, I couldn't graduate from Class A.
Otherwise, I wouldn't have become a teacher and could've had a more glamorous life.
Yet, only Sae-chan gets to graduate her students from Class A?
And she feels satisfied with herself, settling her past?
I can't allow that.
I'm still trapped by the past.
So as long as I can breathe, I absolutely wouldn't let her win.
(TL NOTE: Literally "So as long as I can see")
If my class loses in the year-end special exam...
If Sae-chan's class becomes Class A—
At worst, I would have to stop it by any means necessary.
I don't care if I'm branded a failure as a teacher.
I'm fine with being driven out of this profession.
Even if it means dragging others down, I absolutely have to stop it.
I swore that in my heart.
The end-of-year special exam for the second years is about to begin.
Depending on the outcome of this exam, the fate of my class, which has been pushed to the brink, would be decided.
For me and my students, an important battle that we absolutely can't lose is about to begin.
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[ILLUSTRATIONS]