Page 44 of Teaching the Kot'oll Coach

But what else could I have done instead? Let that kid die?

Maybe she just worried about me a bit too much.

The warmth in my stomach comes back stronger than before.

Now I miss her even more.

Maybe she didn’t like how I joked about it. I understand the situation, I just don’t want to make it too tense for her. The result is that the kid and I are both fine, so... Maybe she should let it go and stop thinking about what could go wrong.

Inside the staff room, Winnie’s seat is empty.

I silently sigh as I get into my seat and take a sip from my water bottle. I’m not surprised at all. Is that a human thing? Or a female thing? Or... Just a Winnie’s thing?

Maybe I did something wrong without knowing it. I guess I’ll look for her later.

Someone, Jackel, smacks my shoulder. “Hey, why are you looking down? Isn’t the tournament schedule announced? This isn’t like you.”

I force a smile. “I’m excited. I just can’t stop planning for the year.”

“I see. Wish you all the best. Imagine all those kids driving their gaming ship around. I’ve always thought that it was impressive to have no injuries since the tournament started, at least no major ones.”

“Yeah...” Accidents, huh?

There are some scratches here and there from ships crashing into each other, which are allowed by rules. “Yeah, I think everyone has been lucky to a certain extent, though we do train for good technique and ways to reduce injuries and stay in the game for as long as we can.”

“Makes sense.”

The bell rings and everyone moves to get ready in the assembly hall again. Sometimes, the life of teaching and coaching bores me. It feels like I’m doing the same thing again and again.

But maybe it is the same as whatever job I work. Something is going to be repetitive, and I have to find the good and fun in it.

I glance at Winnie’s empty seat again before I head out of the staff room. I wish she was there, then I could ask her about...

I shrug and follow Jackel and the others. It’s not like I can ask her in front of everyone anyway. It’s going to be worse when my question may as well be whether she is upset about the sex we had last night. No one will want to be asked that in public.

But I can’t stand not knowing the answer. I suppose...

But she invited me into her place. And she said that if she didn’t want me, she would kick my ass out of the door, so...

Maybe she’s just—

“Hey! Be careful.”

I look up at the closed door of the lift. I guess the lift hasn’t arrived yet.

A few teaching staff are clearly containing their laughter. I think I’m pretty silly for not even watching my path. At least there are no students around, which will make me look even dumber. I’d for sure never live it off.

I stand to the side of the lift to give room to whoever may be inside.

Another staff elbows my side. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes.”

“So... You haven’t had coffee?”

I give a wry smile. “Probably. Maybe I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“I see. Early training session with the floatball team is clearly not helping.”

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