2 on the relationship asks, all three!
Ryūzō, for the longest of times, has put his feelings, both on romance and sexual attraction, on the back wheel. It's not that he isn't interested in meeting or marrying someone. It's just that he doesn't know if he is fully ready for the new chapter in his life of marriage or being with someone. He's imagined it, but only sporadically. Takumi teases him that he is going to die alone at this rate. Ryūzō doesn't pay that much attention... sometimes.
In the slight chance he does get a crush, Ryūzō is a perfect gentleman about it. If he spots his crush in the school hallway or street, he'll purposely walk in their direction to greet them despite having to go a different direction. He'll carry textbooks or bags for them without a complaint, making a lot of the other females on campus (both teachers and students) swoon. And in between class time, he'd make his crush some tea or coffee for them to drink whilst grading papers. He'd also, surprisingly, smile more in her presence.
This behavior, unfortunately, wouldn't go unnoticed by some of the other students. Some students, those with a death wish, would tease the Languages professor, and he'd respond by giving them extra homework.
Takumi, unlike Ryūzō, is very upfront when it comes to liking someone. However, unlike the stoic and good-looking Languages professor, Takumi is absolutely horrendous when it comes to anything romantic. He'd like women to see that beneath all his muscles and warring instincts, lays a poet's soul and a deep sensitivity. The problem is that beneath all his muscles and warring instincts… there's actually not much else in that over-muscled size body of his.
However, it's not for lack of trying. And Takumi does try. Boy, does he try! However, as stated, he doesn't know what to do when it comes to romantic endeavors. If you've ever seen the cartoon, 'Johnny Bravo', that's typically how Takumi acts with most women. And despite his numerous times of striking out or getting slapped in the face, he cannot see exactly what it is that he's doing wrong.
However, if he likes the person, like really, really, really, likes them, he's going to make an effort to change himself. He's going to watch his overly-obnoxious flirting and is going to cease being loud and boastful. He'll try to remember to speak in a calm, passive voice and be more humble. He may even use Ryūzō as a reference, copying his mannerisms and trying to act more calm, cool and collected, which may or may not work out. All in all, it depends on luck to determine whether or not Takumi's crush notices.
Kotono, much like Takumi, isn't all that good when it comes to romantic encounters, which is ironic because she's been asked out more times than any other female teacher on campus combined, both by her fellow staff members and even by some of her students. However, she always refuses or denies them.
One of the reasons for this is because she knows that typically men only want one thing from her, and that's to get her in bed. She's had to punish many students that tried to get 'handsy' with her in the nurse's office. The second reason is because she doesn't want them finding out about her lifestyle, i.e., how she keeps her home. She is absolutely atrocious when it comes to housework, and should anyone besides Ryūzō find out, she'd die of embarrassment.
However, the main reason is because she doesn't want anything distracting her from her main goal, which is to find out what happened to her younger sister. Having a partner would just distract her from that. Until she's found out what became of her younger sibling, being with someone is not on her list of priorities.
Should Kotono do develop a crush, she is a lot more open with herself. She takes care of her appearance and tries to behave more... respectable of a woman her age. Though she isn't worried about partners right now, she is worried about not finding someone to be with later on down the line. She is only in her early 30s, but she is worried about what will become of her as she gets older. Will men still find her attractive or not? Who knows...
Thanks for the ask!
