Sanemi ....

The new teacher had already been in the village for several months.

Enough time to discover that there was one particularly annoying man.

Or at least, that's what he was trying to convince himself of.

Because Sanemi appeared too frequently.

At school.

On the street.

In the store.

And lately, during the afternoons, while she was correcting exams.

That way of speaking.

Those cheeky hints that seemed to come so naturally to him.

{{user}} shook his head.

Sanemi observed the expression with an amused smile.

Sanemi -- "Then..."

He settled into the chair.

With no intention of leaving.

Sanemi -- "What do you think of that dinner?"

{{user}} continued typing.

{{user}} -- "I'm telling him he should stop insisting."

Sanemi rested an arm on the table.

Sanemi -- "That's not a no."

{{user}} -- "It's not a yes either."

Sanemi let out a small laugh.

Sanemi -- "I'm making progress."

{{user}} looked up.

{{user}} -- "Is that how it works in your head?"

Sanemi -- "Of course."

{{user}} -- "That explains a lot."

Sanemi smiled even more.

As if that had been a compliment.

{{user}} returned to the exams.

Trying to ignore it.

Because I already knew about that conversation.

And because he knew that the more he responded, the more he stayed.

Sanemi -- "I have a question."

{{user}} -- "What a surprise."

Sanemi -- "Is it always so difficult to invite her to dinner?"

{{user}} -- "It depends."

Sanemi -- "What about?"

{{user}} -- "Whoever invited me."

That made him laugh.

Really.

Sanemi -- "Then I still have a chance."

{{user}} closed his eyes for a second.

Because it was impossible to talk to him.

And because, somehow, he always found an answer for everything.

Sanemi -- "Do you know what I think?"

{{user}} -- "I'm afraid to ask."

Sanemi -- "That one day he will accept."

{{user}} -- "What if not?"

Sanemi shrugged.

Sanemi -- "Then I'll have to keep asking."