I work as a teacher at a girls' school in Tokyo

Chapter 240 However, there is no next time
"Teacher Hirakawa, what's wrong?"

Amid Hirakawa Tetsufumi's hesitation, Ogasa Suzuki, who was looking at him, quickly asked.

"This one……"

Hirakawa Tetsufumi was still struggling.

However, he didn't struggle for too long, and he still made a decision--there is not much time left, so it's okay to just say it.

"Actually, Teacher Ogasa—"

"Well, what's wrong?"

Ogasa Suzuki tilted her head, and put down her cheering hand in mid-air in doubt.

"Next year, I probably won't be in the performance department."

Say this result as plainly as possible, then.

"Eh?"

The teacher in front of him blinked blankly, as if he didn't understand the meaning of this sentence.

After a few seconds, it seemed that he understood, his blinking eyes stopped moving, his mouth opened slightly, and he fell into an extremely quiet state.

Another few seconds passed.

"Eh--?"

Ogasa Suzuki uttered this with a long drawstring.

"Not in the performance department anymore, why? Is Hirakawa-sensei leaving the performance department?"

"It's not because I'm quitting the playing department...but because." In order to ease the atmosphere, he smiled a little, and said softly, "Mr. Xiaoli, I've actually made up my mind. I'm going to resign soon."

"..."

……

……

Early the next morning, the Moritani performance department returned to Tokyo.

On the way back to Tokyo, the atmosphere was as expected, the car was full of Moritani students, and there was no more playful noise as when they came.

If there were a few voices spoken, they were only tiny whispers.

The result of the silver award is indeed full of regrets.

This is not only the case among the students, but beside Hirakawa Tetsubun, Ogasa Suzuki, who is sitting on the seat, is also very quiet.

Ok……

Hirakawa Zhewen turned his head and glanced at her.

I saw Ogasa Suzuki with her head down, her face full of sadness, and her legs, which used to dangle back and forth, were drooping weakly.

"..."

The silver award, coupled with the news he told her last night that he was about to resign, the combination of the two put this innocent and lovely teacher in such a situation.

"Resign...why?"

"But, didn't Mr. Hirakawa say that our work is complementary? If you resign, what should I do?"

"Then next year, will I be the only one in the flute section?"

"..."

Last night, Ogasa Suzuki, who was already sad, appeared in front of her eyes again with tears in her eyes because of his resignation.

Hirakawa Zhewen turned away helplessly.

The matter has been decided, the resignation letter has been submitted, and there is nothing left to do.

……

In such an atmosphere, the national competition was completely over, and the entire Moriya performance department returned to Tokyo.

In the campus, a banner was hung on the teaching building, and the bulletin board said that Moritani's performance department won the silver award in the national competition, and the news department used an entire page to promote the silver award.

The atmosphere is gradually warming up, and the Moritani Academy Festival is coming soon.

As for the members of the Moritani performance department, in such a situation, they gradually hid their dull breath.

"The silver award is nothing, it's pretty good. Next time, that's right, as long as you keep working hard next time, you'll be fine!"

The minister worked hard to cheer up the members of the performance department.

"I believe that next year you will definitely win the gold medal. I believe you all."

"Okay, let's start practicing, come on!"

"..."

In any case, although the national competition is over, practice must continue.

The Moritani performance department, which had a somewhat dull atmosphere, quickly returned to practice, but at this time, it was no longer the repertoire for the national competition.

It is the piece that will be played at the farewell party.

Just like what the minister said, "You guys next year will definitely win the gold medal." The reason for being "you guys" is because there will be no next time in the third grade.

When the school festival comes, it's time for the third graders to retire.

And if there is no accident, this will also be the time for Hirakawa Tetsufumi to retire.

He also has no chance next year.

……

"Mr. Hirakawa, this is the list of retired third graders."

During the lunch break, Hirakawa Zhewen, who was still in the office, received a stack of lists from the head of the village.

This is the third year of retirement.

"Student in the value village, you have worked hard this year."

"Should be."

Shimura Aika presented it with both hands, and Hirakawa Tetsufumi took the stack of papers from the minister.

The light and fluffy paper seemed a bit heavy when it was picked up.

Three years in the wind section, in the last time, just missed the gold medal.

No matter how you think about it, you will regret it.

Hirakawa Tetsubun looked at the retreat in his hand, and sighed with some emotion.

Then, he counted them one by one.

However, after the counting was over, he raised his head with some doubts, and looked at the village Aijia standing in front of him.

"A total of 26...?"

His tone rose.

"Students from the Value Village, if I remember correctly, there should be 25 students in the third grade, right?"

"……Yes."

It can be seen that Shimura Aika's expression is also a little hesitant, she said.

"Actually, Mr. Hirakawa, in addition to the third grader who is about to retire, there is also a classmate who submitted to me the retirement class."

"Who?"

"Student Shinohara."

"..."

……

Shimura Aika had already left, and Hirakawa Zhewen looked at the retreat in his hand in a daze.

Shinohara Shiori signed her name on the resignation letter stroke by stroke with correct handwriting.

"As for the reason, I asked Shinohara-san, but she didn't tell me, she just asked to quit the club without any hesitation."

"I don't know what to do, so I can only accept her retirement first."

"..."

why?

Why is Shinohara Shiori retiring?
This girl who loves wind music is so disheartened because of this failure, has she decided to quit the wind music department?

Based on Hirakawa Tetsuwen's understanding of this unyielding eldest lady, she should not have decided to withdraw so simply.

However, the resignation class was indeed placed in front of him.

Tetsubun Hirakawa looked at the resignation letter written by Shiori Shinohara in his hand, and was a little speechless.

Why in the end?

Is it because of... him?
……

"Xiaoyuan-san, I want to talk to you about something, is that okay?"

The practice of the performance department in the afternoon was over. In the concert hall that seemed a little empty after the third graders stopped coming, after an unknown period of time, Tetsufumi Hirakawa finally turned to Shinohara Shi who was about to leave the performance department after struggling for an unknown amount of time. Weaving, sent an invitation to talk.

"..."

The girl who had half-stepped out of the door turned around and looked at him, probably as expected, not surprised by his conversation.

She nodded slightly.

"Ah."

……

It's already November, summer has already left, and in Tokyo in autumn, the sunset falls earlier.

The practice time of the flute part has also been adjusted according to the early sunset.

Six o'clock in the evening.

The setting sun has disappeared from the skyline, but the sky has not yet fallen into complete darkness, but is gray and bright with a little bit of blue.

In the farthest sky, there is a little purple inconspicuously in the blue-gray twilight.

Hirakawa Tetsubun looked at the sky above his head, and beside him, there was a girl who was outstanding in all aspects, her skirt was swaying with her footsteps in the evening wind.

The straight legs are covered with hazy beauty with hazy shimmer.

How long has it been since I walked with Shiori Shinohara after school at night?

Has it been two months?

Taking advantage of the light from the sky that had not completely dissipated, he quietly glanced at the side face of the young lady beside him, and Hirakawa Zhewen's mood was indescribably complicated.

But don't think about it, let's get to the point.

Without taking his eyes off the young lady's face, he spoke and got straight to the point.

"Student Shinohara, at noon today, I received your letter of retirement from the minister."

"Ah."

Shiori Shinohara responded directly without hesitation, which made people feel uncomfortable.

It seems that the matter of withdrawing from the Ministry has been completely decided, and there is no sign of wavering.

"Then... I came to see you tonight, just to find out why Shinohara-san quit the department. Can... tell me?"

When Hirakawa Tetsuwen asked, he always felt a little cautious.

Facing this girl, I really couldn't calm down.

But in contrast, Shiori Shinohara's expression was really cold.

She turned her face slightly, and asked plainly without any ups and downs.

"Teacher Hirakawa, may I ask why you asked this?"

"This..." Hirakawa Tetsufumi hesitated for a while before replying, "Well... it's... from the position of the instructor. Xiaoyuan-san's retreat is not like those third graders, it seems a bit sudden, always Learn about……"

"is it?"

"……Um."

In Miss Shinohara's eyes, Hirakawa Tetsufumi looked forward with a guilty conscience.

Well...the reason is not wrong, but it is not complete.

No one can treat everyone equally.

Shiori Shinohara holds a special place in his heart.

This time I came to ask the reason, naturally there is a reason for this.

What's more - Hirakawa Tetsubun wants to really settle the matter with this girl thoroughly before resigning.

"So, Shinohara-san, can you tell the teacher why?"

"..."

Without an immediate answer, Hirakawa Tetsubun wasn't sure what the girl was thinking, so he had to turn to look at her again.

Shinohara Shiori's gaze was always looking directly at him.

When he turned around at this time, Miss Shinohara Shiori nodded slightly with aura.

"Failed to win the gold medal, and there was nothing to stay in this section, so I quit, it's as simple as that."

"..." Hirakawa Zhewen opened his mouth, "What about next year?"

"It's not very efficient to devote the subsequent time to such an uncertain possibility."

"...Because you are not sure whether you will win the gold medal next year, so you completely gave up the idea of ​​trying?"

"Ah."

"..."

"..."

"But." Hirakawa Zhewen frowned a little, staring at the indifferent young lady hesitantly.

"How do you know if you don't try?"

Shinohara Shiori may have really thought it over, she didn't waver at all, and her tone of rebuttal was also very firm.

"Teacher Hirakawa, I've already thought it through."

"Shizhi..."

Shiori Shinohara looked straight into his eyes.

"..."

"Xiaoyuan-san..." Hirakawa Tetsufumi changed his words.

"What's wrong?"

"... Shinohara-san shouldn't give up so easily."

"Because Shiori understands that not everything will have results, and therefore, not everything should take time to invest. In the face of unpredictable results, giving up early can also avoid injury."

"..."

Hirakawa Tetsubun stopped in a daze, watching Shinohara Shiori walk out of the school gate without stopping, and disappeared beside the black car.

In his mind, it was the look that the young lady gave him before he left.

What kind of look?

He couldn't be more familiar.

It was like the look in Shinohara Shiori's eyes when she said goodbye to him two months ago, during that summer vacation, that rainy noon.

He remembered it clearly.

Because, that indifferent look, long after that, still enters his dreams from time to time.

"Not everything takes time to invest. In the face of unpredictable results, can giving up early also avoid injury...?"

After regaining his senses, Tetsufumi Hirakawa walked out of the school gate, repeating what Shiori Shinohara said to him last.

After a while, he pursed his lips bitterly.

She seems to mean something...

Giving up early can also avoid injury?

If she had given up hope ahead of time, they wouldn't have become such an awkward relationship, and she wouldn't have been sad because of it... Did she mean that?
……

It was getting dark.

The gray-blue dim sky has completely entered the night.

Hirakawa Tetsuwen had already got off the tram and was on his way home.

The sky is lit with a bright moon, the street lamps on the street have been turned on, and the houses and rooms passing by are also dancing with lights.

Hirakawa Tetsuwen quietly returned to the front of the house, and walked into the completely dark closed world behind the door.

While changing shoes, Michael walked out of the darkness and squatted at the entrance, his amber eyes reflecting a little dim light.

"Meow~"

It called out affectionately.

"..."

Hirakawa Tetsuwen glanced at it.

"...Michael, good evening."

He smiled as hard as he could, and greeted it as usual, then stared at its glowing eyes, and was stunned for a moment.

"Oh... I seem to have forgotten to turn on the light."

He turned on the light at the entrance and closed the door behind him.

The light in Michael's eyes dissipated, and the street lights behind him were also blocked, and the home became brighter.

Hirakawa Tetsufumi rubbed Michael's head, walked in, and went upstairs.

After changing his clothes, he walked into the study and turned on the computer.

While waiting, I untied the bento I bought on the way back and ate it.

There are so many things, there is no time to stop, the school festival is coming soon

However, Shiori Shinohara couldn't get rid of her mind.

She seems to have decided to give up wind music altogether.

but……

Hirakawa Zhewen still remembered that after the game that day, he met the eldest lady who had just come back from playing alone in the hotel lobby.

Then because of this result, she shed tears unwillingly and practiced until night, would she really just give up like this?
(End of this chapter)