Chapter 104 – Dark days
Let’s summarize what happened.
First, a new chemistry teacher appeared.
His name was Soga Taketo-sensei.
He had a lot of things to tell, and had many ideas. He was the kind of person who could do anything with confidence. He had stylish fluffy hair, and clear features.
He was 22 years old.
He had just graduated from college, but he seemed like a dignified person. He was confident in everything he did.
It was around the time when the recommendation exams were approaching.
I thought love was a joke.
Rinne was a calm girl.
She knew what kind of future was expected of her.
Her grandfather, who raised her, said that she was a hawk born from a kite.
She tried to live by stacking one block at a time.
A teacher and a student, huh.
I thought it only happened in the world of drama.
But he acted as if it was his natural right.
As if it suited them.
He appeared next to Rinne.
Soga Taketo was a very good teacher at kissing, I think.
▼
Let’s think back to what happened.
It was one day.
Soga-sensei brought up the girl who was nicknamed “Haku”.
“She’s always quiet, but she’s actually a very smart girl.”
She wasn’t a noticeable girl.
She always looked down in the corner of the classroom, reading books. She was that kind of student.
“But I’m better at studying…”
“Sure, she’s not the type to show off her talents. But she’s more observant than most girls your age.”
Soga-sensei said that in a tone that sounded like he was praising his sister.
It was just a casual conversation. Soga-sensei didn’t mean anything more than that.
But still.
A flicker of jealousy ignited in Rinne’s heart. Why?
He had praised me in many ways before.
But he never said I was “smart” or “observant” like that.
Or maybe I was just naive… maybe it was just that.
But for some reason, only then, I couldn’t stand him praising another female student.
I must have been possessed by something.
The test papers for math that he entrusted me with.
Her answer sheet caught my eye.
Why did I do such a thing then?
The fall of my senior year. It was supposed to be an important time.
“Haku” must have been preparing for college entrance exams too.
But still.
Before I knew it, Rinne quietly slipped “Haku”’s answer sheet into the trash can nearby.
▼
I don’t want to remember what happened after that.
It caused a little commotion.
It turned out that someone had stolen it, and there was no other explanation.
I wasn’t suspected by anyone much. That’s how much I was trusted by my classmates and teachers. Everyone thought that Rinne would never do such a thing. That kind of thing.
The ones who were suspected were rather the other students.
There were many students who had bothered “Haku”. – After all, she stood out for being like that. Being shy is not a sin, but being too distant from others is also conspicuous. In a community of classmates, such students are nothing but foreign objects stuck in the back teeth.
“Haku” had to take a supplementary test.
Before the exam. A time when you don’t want to think about anything extra.
For a while after that, Rinne shut out the information from outside.
Studying for the entrance exam was perfect for escaping reality.
But
Two months later, one day.
I heard from a classmate by chance. – In the end, “Haku” didn’t have to take the supplementary test.
Apparently, she found the answer sheet herself.
I felt a chill down my spine.
She knew. She knew that I had thrown away her answer sheet. There was no other way to think about it. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been found.
She had been watching all along.
How I lied in front of everyone with a straight face.
The exam, or something like that.
University and all.
Now it all seems like something I saw in a dream long ago.
But still, I can imagine how “Haku” sees me.
One of those who have ill will towards me.
One of those who gave me humiliation.
That would create such cruel acts in this world.
I tried to live by doing only what I believed was right until now.
Rinne had little resistance to retaliation for legitimate reasons.
If “Haku” wants revenge… What would I do?
Would I still be able to be the “nee-san” everyone wants?
“Hello hello!”
A knock on the door of the room.
It’s “Haku”.
“We’re leaving soon, so please get ready.”
“…Yeah.”
Embarrassingly enough, my voice was a little hoarse.
“Can I come in?”
“…Sure.”
Then “Haku” came into the room with a forced smile.
“Your room is neat and tidy. You’re such a model student.”
“…Thanks.”
I muttered and pulled out my travel bag.
“We’re saying goodbye to this place today, too.”
“You never know. If the world becomes peaceful again, we might live here again.”
“I wonder.”
“Then we can go to school together again.”
“Don’t be silly. We’re supposed to have graduated by now.”
“Oh, …now that you mention it. I was still feeling like a high school girl.”
She’s a carefree girl.
“Well, we haven’t received our diplomas yet. I guess we can still pass as high school girls.”
“I suppose.”
“Haku” chuckled cutely.
“Oh, by the way, I wanted to tell you before I forget. …You know, the thing I was talking about yesterday? Is it the incident where you threw away my answer sheet?”
She casually hit the core of the matter, and Rinne looked away.
“So you noticed.”
“Well, yeah. Because, there was no one else but you in that situation. And, it wasn’t hard to figure out where the answer sheet was thrown away by thinking about the route from the classroom to the staff room.”
She said that, and puffed up her chest like a detective.
“Well, don’t worry about it. I’m totally okay with it. I just remembered it myself.”
“…I wonder.”
“It happens when you act like a model student every day. You get frustrated and want to do something bad.”
She said kindly, and I looked down.
“Besides, it’s just a test. Who cares?”
“It’s not just a test. It’s a test before the exam. …Didn’t you feel bad?”
“That’s the thing. For me, it was the same as any other test.”
Then “Haku” smiled bitterly and said,
“I didn’t take the college entrance exam.”
“…What? Why?”
“Miyabigaoka” was a decent school for advancement. It was rare for students not to go to college.
“I didn’t have enough money to do that. I was planning to relax for a while after graduation, and then find a job somewhere.”
I opened my mouth in surprise.
“…How did your parents let you do that?”
“I’m an orphan.”
I heard a series of new information.
“You’re a poor kid?”
“That’s not uncommon these days, is it?”
That might be true, but still.
“Also, at our Miyabigaoka, due to the long-term evacuation, we are implementing preventive measures against economy class syndrome under the guidance of Suzuki Asaka sensei.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we have plenty of work to do.”
Suzuki Asaka sensei.
I think she was the physical education teacher who spoke in Kansai dialect.
“We’re going to take over the land in the school building and start farming or something like that. If you don’t like that, you can do some work like mending torn clothes. We also need people to take care of children under elementary school age. And also Rika-chan said we don’t have enough hands to cook. Of course, if you want, you can join the supply team.”
“I see.”
“Well, that’s how it is. Forget about the past world and try to be more positive, Rinne-san.”
…Hmph.
To my annoyance, I realized that I was starting to become more positive.
“Hey! Rinne-! We’re leaving soon! Grandpa’s already on the bus!”
Outside the bicycle shop, my grandfather, who had regained some of his energy, was calling me.
“Well, let’s go then.”
“…Yeah.
The dark days were about to end.
Chapter 104 – Dark days
Let’s summarize what happened.
First, a new chemistry teacher appeared.
His name was Soga Taketo-sensei.
He had a lot of things to tell, and had many ideas. He was the kind of person who could do anything with confidence. He had stylish fluffy hair, and clear features.
He was 22 years old.
He had just graduated from college, but he seemed like a dignified person. He was confident in everything he did.
It was around the time when the recommendation exams were approaching.
I thought love was a joke.
Rinne was a calm girl.
She knew what kind of future was expected of her.
Her grandfather, who raised her, said that she was a hawk born from a kite.
She tried to live by stacking one block at a time.
A teacher and a student, huh.
I thought it only happened in the world of drama.
But he acted as if it was his natural right.
As if it suited them.
He appeared next to Rinne.
Soga Taketo was a very good teacher at kissing, I think.
▼
Let’s think back to what happened.
It was one day.
Soga-sensei brought up the girl who was nicknamed “Haku”.
“She’s always quiet, but she’s actually a very smart girl.”
She wasn’t a noticeable girl.
She always looked down in the corner of the classroom, reading books. She was that kind of student.
“But I’m better at studying…”
“Sure, she’s not the type to show off her talents. But she’s more observant than most girls your age.”
Soga-sensei said that in a tone that sounded like he was praising his sister.
It was just a casual conversation. Soga-sensei didn’t mean anything more than that.
But still.
A flicker of jealousy ignited in Rinne’s heart. Why?
He had praised me in many ways before.
But he never said I was “smart” or “observant” like that.
Or maybe I was just naive… maybe it was just that.
But for some reason, only then, I couldn’t stand him praising another female student.
I must have been possessed by something.
The test papers for math that he entrusted me with.
Her answer sheet caught my eye.
Why did I do such a thing then?
The fall of my senior year. It was supposed to be an important time.
“Haku” must have been preparing for college entrance exams too.
But still.
Before I knew it, Rinne quietly slipped “Haku”’s answer sheet into the trash can nearby.
▼
I don’t want to remember what happened after that.
It caused a little commotion.
It turned out that someone had stolen it, and there was no other explanation.
I wasn’t suspected by anyone much. That’s how much I was trusted by my classmates and teachers. Everyone thought that Rinne would never do such a thing. That kind of thing.
The ones who were suspected were rather the other students.
There were many students who had bothered “Haku”. – After all, she stood out for being like that. Being shy is not a sin, but being too distant from others is also conspicuous. In a community of classmates, such students are nothing but foreign objects stuck in the back teeth.
“Haku” had to take a supplementary test.
Before the exam. A time when you don’t want to think about anything extra.
For a while after that, Rinne shut out the information from outside.
Studying for the entrance exam was perfect for escaping reality.
But
Two months later, one day.
I heard from a classmate by chance. – In the end, “Haku” didn’t have to take the supplementary test.
Apparently, she found the answer sheet herself.
I felt a chill down my spine.
She knew. She knew that I had thrown away her answer sheet. There was no other way to think about it. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been found.
She had been watching all along.
How I lied in front of everyone with a straight face.
The exam, or something like that.
University and all.
Now it all seems like something I saw in a dream long ago.
But still, I can imagine how “Haku” sees me.
One of those who have ill will towards me.
One of those who gave me humiliation.
That would create such cruel acts in this world.
I tried to live by doing only what I believed was right until now.
Rinne had little resistance to retaliation for legitimate reasons.
If “Haku” wants revenge… What would I do?
Would I still be able to be the “nee-san” everyone wants?
“Hello hello!”
A knock on the door of the room.
It’s “Haku”.
“We’re leaving soon, so please get ready.”
“…Yeah.”
Embarrassingly enough, my voice was a little hoarse.
“Can I come in?”
“…Sure.”
Then “Haku” came into the room with a forced smile.
“Your room is neat and tidy. You’re such a model student.”
“…Thanks.”
I muttered and pulled out my travel bag.
“We’re saying goodbye to this place today, too.”
“You never know. If the world becomes peaceful again, we might live here again.”
“I wonder.”
“Then we can go to school together again.”
“Don’t be silly. We’re supposed to have graduated by now.”
“Oh, …now that you mention it. I was still feeling like a high school girl.”
She’s a carefree girl.
“Well, we haven’t received our diplomas yet. I guess we can still pass as high school girls.”
“I suppose.”
“Haku” chuckled cutely.
“Oh, by the way, I wanted to tell you before I forget. …You know, the thing I was talking about yesterday? Is it the incident where you threw away my answer sheet?”
She casually hit the core of the matter, and Rinne looked away.
“So you noticed.”
“Well, yeah. Because, there was no one else but you in that situation. And, it wasn’t hard to figure out where the answer sheet was thrown away by thinking about the route from the classroom to the staff room.”
She said that, and puffed up her chest like a detective.
“Well, don’t worry about it. I’m totally okay with it. I just remembered it myself.”
“…I wonder.”
“It happens when you act like a model student every day. You get frustrated and want to do something bad.”
She said kindly, and I looked down.
“Besides, it’s just a test. Who cares?”
“It’s not just a test. It’s a test before the exam. …Didn’t you feel bad?”
“That’s the thing. For me, it was the same as any other test.”
Then “Haku” smiled bitterly and said,
“I didn’t take the college entrance exam.”
“…What? Why?”
“Miyabigaoka” was a decent school for advancement. It was rare for students not to go to college.
“I didn’t have enough money to do that. I was planning to relax for a while after graduation, and then find a job somewhere.”
I opened my mouth in surprise.
“…How did your parents let you do that?”
“I’m an orphan.”
I heard a series of new information.
“You’re a poor kid?”
“That’s not uncommon these days, is it?”
That might be true, but still.
“Also, at our Miyabigaoka, due to the long-term evacuation, we are implementing preventive measures against economy class syndrome under the guidance of Suzuki Asaka sensei.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we have plenty of work to do.”
Suzuki Asaka sensei.
I think she was the physical education teacher who spoke in Kansai dialect.
“We’re going to take over the land in the school building and start farming or something like that. If you don’t like that, you can do some work like mending torn clothes. We also need people to take care of children under elementary school age. And also Rika-chan said we don’t have enough hands to cook. Of course, if you want, you can join the supply team.”
“I see.”
“Well, that’s how it is. Forget about the past world and try to be more positive, Rinne-san.”
…Hmph.
To my annoyance, I realized that I was starting to become more positive.
“Hey! Rinne-! We’re leaving soon! Grandpa’s already on the bus!”
Outside the bicycle shop, my grandfather, who had regained some of his energy, was calling me.
“Well, let’s go then.”
“…Yeah.
The dark days were about to end.
