The Degree
New Curriculum

After a long journey Ray finally arrives at the tea garden. In this place there are absolutely no people, maybe the tea garden is not a popular location.

Although it brings calm and peace, this scene is incomplete without the blue sky and light from the natural sunlight. Tea gardens are beautiful when viewed in the mountains, not artificial gardens.

“What Terumi is really here?” Ray felt unsure because he really did not find anyone in this place.

Ray decided to wander around the tea garden for some time. He plucked the fresh leaves and inhaled them, until finally the sound of sobbing was heard.

Right next to Ray was another path and there a crying woman hugged her knees like a child. Ray did not know why but his chest had an unusual turmoil.

‘It's a foreign feeling. Instead of being sad, this feeling is a feeling I'm anxious to squeeze something.’

Ray didn't know what his name was so he could only define it that way.

“At last I found you.” Ray said so, even so he just stood his back to Terumi.

“... Ray,” Terumi just said softly. “Why are you here?” continued.

Ray then looked at Terumi who was hiding her face while hugging her knees. Ray chose to sit by his side and stare at the ceiling that messed up the beauty of the garden.

“There are some things I need to get straight on you, Terumi.”

“What needs to be straightened? That was very clear. You brought the girls to your room.” Terumi said with a little anger.

Ray just kept quiet and let Terumi say whatever she wanted to say. This woman tried to suppress her feelings, so Ray would let her overflow.

“You know that I harbor feelings for you, right? You may be stiff, but not stupid enough to not realize it.”

Ray was a little quiet before admitting it, “Ya. Ever since we met on the fifth assignment, I've known.”

Terumi vibrates once again, “That's since very early.”

“If you knew from the beginning, why not pass it on to me as soon as possible? Do you really like watching me try to chase you like a dog that won't turn away from you?”

Dogs are the most loyal animals. Many humans keep it because their loyalty is so great that humans cannot be compared with it. Terumi considers herself a dog who surrendered her loyalty to Ray.

Ray's own opinion, if you have to be honest the answer is no. Ray never thought Terumi was like that. Ray never equated humans with animals.

A dog can only bark to get its food and surrender loyalty. Humans may not be equal to dogs in terms of loyalty, but human degrees cannot be equated with animals.

There are more things that humans can do than animals. And, there are very few things that humans cannot do but animals can.

“Definitely fun for you, huh? I keep chasing, you keep dodging.”

“I'm not avoiding you. I don't think of you as a dog either.”

“Don't lie,” Terumi said quietly, her body trembling getting stronger. “You said that out of worry I revealed your secret, right? Just relax, Ray. I won't bother you by saying it. You can calmly be happy with those two women.”

Ray took a breath. Dealing with women, especially the chapter of the heart is the most troublesome part.

“I have nothing to do with those two women, Terumi. At least please listen to the explanation—”

“WHISPER!”

Terumi raised her voice, she looked at Ray with tears and anger. Ray only looked at her with an apathetic face as usual, although there was a hint of shock from Terumi's unexpected anger.

“You may not understand about feeling like this given your miserable life!”

“Born without knowing who his mother is! Raised by a cruel father! Life as a cold-blooded killer—”

“Ya.” Ray interrupted Terumi's words.

Terumi seemed surprised to herself, she realized she had said things that should not have been said. Guilt filled his heart. Before he could say anything further, Ray started talking.

“As you said, I don't understand much about human love and affection. Beyond what the book explains, I don't know anything.”

“I just understand everything with every sentence I remember from the book without having any real experience about it.”

Ray never felt petted or hugged from his parents. How do you respond to someone's feelings? What does it feel like to love? Those things were foreign to him.

“What do you feel, I know but not. But one thing I can assure you, I have no intention of hurting your feelings. Slowly, I try to learn it because when I accept your feelings without understanding them. The end that happened was I incised an incurable wound to your tender heart.”

Terumi did not accept those words with her head. As his blood boiled, he cut the distance with Ray, grabbed his collar and shouted: 'Read more:

“Then why you—”

Reid pulled Terumi's head closer, silencing her mouth with his. Terumi had trembling eyes, she tried to resist and distance herself, but Ray held her back and pushed her lips so Terumi could not stay away.

Ray is able to feel the softness of Terumi's lips and tongue, the woman initially refuses but slowly begins to accept it and take the initiative.

As Terumi calmed down, Ray let go and held her hip to keep her not far from him. Terumi stared with a withered gaze, which would only appear from a woman who was lulled.

This is what Ray was after. A time where lies are clearly easy to accept.

“When you opened my room, I wasn't there. Last night I didn't stay in my room for keeping Erina's mental state in check. I don't know how but it seems that woman came into my room in some way. With Market, it is not impossible the availability of tools to break into.”

Ray makes Rani and Rina a scapegoat. He instilled a stigma that the two boys were trying to create this kind of misunderstanding.

“You know that I am not a person who will be moved in any way. Besides, that girl's degree is like a shackle that leaves me unable to do anything. I just accompanied him until the morning without doing anything.”

Fortunately Ray has destroyed the evidence of what happened at night so there is no need for any bragging concerns about him. The problem that Reid needs to overcome is to silence the two girls.

“I have absolutely no idea of their whereabouts in my room. Up here you should understand.”

“Say that you still doubt something.”

Terumi remained silent and shook his head, Ray pulled the woman into his lap and dropped the last bomb by making the face distance between them remaining a few centimeters. Surely Ray had no intention of adding a kiss, with this close eye contact Terumi would not think of a crack in his lie.

“I don't know the ins and outs of romance. Therefore, will you slowly teach it to me?”

Terumi slightly blushed and smiled gently at it. He then nodded.

“... yes.”

At least for now Ray managed to calm Terumi down. In addition, Ray will get a new curriculum called love.

...****...

Maybe different than usual, the chapters at this stage will contain some small plays, although I am amused every time I write a few words.