The Magical Girl’s Unexpected Reprimand

“Wake up, Chloe! The teacher’s calling your name!”

Pushed gently on the shoulder by the student in front, she was roused from her slumber, still caught in a haze of sleep. Chloe let out a long yawn, acutely aware of the stifled laughter from her classmates, as she rubbed her eyes, still sticky from the physiological tears that had welled up during her nap.

“Haaah… what’s going on…?” The sunlight streaming through the window struck her recently awakened eyes, causing her to squint instinctively.

“What do you mean, ‘what’s going on’?” The voice emanated from the front of the classroom.

Chloe looked up to find her Chinese teacher, who also served as her homeroom teacher, staring daggers at her. The oppressive sensation that the title of homeroom teacher once evoked in her school memories now, having traversed time to inhabit her current self, sent a jolt through her heart. Her eyes brightened instantly, and she felt considerably more alert.

Yet, a second thought quickly followed: she was a magical girl now, a member of the hidden privileged class. Why should she fear a mere homeroom teacher?

Consequently, Chloe brushed away a few stray strands of hair that clung to her cheek and rose to her feet, her expression utterly blank.

“Why are you standing?”

“I’m feeling drowsy; I’m standing to clear my head.”

The moment these words left her lips, the entire classroom erupted in a clamor. ‘Isn’t this the quintessential rebellious student?’ the collective thought seemed to echo, as everyone turned their expectant gazes towards the homeroom teacher.

However, the anticipated sight of the homeroom teacher boiling over with rage failed to materialize. This homeroom teacher, inherently gentle yet remarkably stern when it came to academic matters, would typically deliver a thorough dressing-down to such a student.

“You may sit down. Come to my office after class.” With that, she resumed her lecture, eliciting a collective gasp of surprise and disappointment from the students.

Chloe herself was utterly dumbfounded. Why? Could it be because I’m so adorable?

Settling back into her seat, a cloud of doubt still lingering, Chloe fixed her gaze on the homeroom teacher. She tried to discern an answer from her expression, much like a psychologist analyzing a patient, yet she found nothing. Pursing her lips, Chloe slumped forward onto her desk, closed her eyes, and resumed her nap. In truth, however, she couldn’t genuinely fall back asleep.

Was this merely the calm before the storm? Would the teacher transform into a raging tigress once they were behind closed office doors?

The moment the dismissal bell chimed, Chloe, a knot of unease twisting in her stomach, prepared to make her way to the office.

“Hey!” Just as she was about to depart, a tug on her sleeve made her turn. It was a classmate she barely knew. With a subtle hint of disdain, Chloe gently dislodged the hand. “Is there something you need, classmate?” she managed, forcing an awkward yet polite smile.

The mere brush of Chloe’s small, warm hand sent a blush creeping across the unfamiliar classmate’s face. She quickly tucked the touched hand behind her back. “When you come back, could you… tell us what the teacher said to you? Everyone’s really curious…”

Behind her, Chloe saw a group huddled together, whispering animatedly, punctuated by occasional snickers.

“I’ll see,” Chloe simply stated, then walked away.

How utterly boring, Chloe thought. What’s so interesting to inquire about? It’s undoubtedly just the usual lecture.

The fact that the homeroom teacher’s office was a private room significantly eased Chloe’s apprehension. Taking a deep breath, Chloe gave a soft knock on the door. Upon hearing the homeroom teacher’s response, she depressed the doorknob and cautiously slipped inside.

“Close the door.”

“Oh.”

The office windows were obscured by curtains, rendering the room rather dim. Only the desk lamp on the teacher’s table cast a bright, white glow. Why set the scene like this? It’s like an interrogation room, so unnerving…

After silently grumbling to herself, Chloe approached the desk, observing the homeroom teacher who was engrossed in grading assignments, and nervously swallowed.

“Chloe, please have a seat,” the homeroom teacher said, setting down her pen and removing her glasses. She then clasped her hands together and regarded Chloe with a serious expression. Her gaze inadvertently fell upon the nameplate on the desk, which bore the name “Rona.”

“Don’t be nervous,” Rona smiled, tapping the table with her index finger, exuding the comforting aura of a wise older sister. Gone was the oppressive demeanor she held during lectures.

“Alright… Teacher, please go on…” Chloe, still visibly nervous, began fiddling with her fingers, her eyes fluttering rapidly. Her delicate beauty was such that Rona couldn’t help but marvel at it.

“While the school has indeed instructed me not to interfere with your activities in class, as a responsible educator, I still feel compelled to have a conversation with you. Chloe, the number of times you’ve been absent has truly exceeded my expectations. Even when you are present, I frequently observe you simply sleeping. Surely, this must impact your studies? Is there perhaps a physical ailment preventing you from concentrating? Naturally, there’s no pressure if you prefer not to disclose it.”

“Uh… thank you for your concern, Teacher. I don’t have any significant physical issues, and it won’t affect my studies.”

Evidently, Rona was not entirely convinced. “Sigh… even if your family circumstances are quite comfortable, Chloe, you mustn’t neglect your education. Otherwise, as a physically delicate young woman, if you lack knowledge and skills, you could still be vulnerable to exploitation and bullying by all sorts of people in the future.”