I, who advocate giving up, feel like a disqualified person

"I always think, 'Oh, there's still a lot of time left, so it won't be too late to work hard in second or third grade.' But when I really want to study, I realize I've already fallen far behind."

"Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not like that. We've been together for a while, don't you know me? The reason I talk like I've been through it is because most of the people around me are like that."

"I'm worried about them, and I think they've misunderstood the meaning of high school life... but what's the point? The path we take is the one we choose."

"So, what path have you chosen?"

"Ah...it doesn't matter if you don't have an answer. You still have time. Just think about it slowly."

"Remember to remind the rest of my friends, after all, that kind of thing is just a side job. To put it bluntly... 'A student's main task is to study.' But even after you're no longer a student, you still have to study, but you need to learn more than just what's in the books or what the teacher says."

"There will be a lot... I'm feeling strangely worried now, wondering if I can adapt to life in the future."

"It's been caged for too long. If it's released all of a sudden...it'll get lost."

"Oh my, it's too early for you to worry about that."

"It's just too early... well, just give it some thought."

"So, is it pleasant to get along with them?"

"Oh, that's good. Speaking of which, three years is certainly not a short time, but compared to the life you have to go through, it is definitely not long either."

"So, when you look back on these three years, which weren't too long or too short, five, ten, or even twenty years from now, what interesting things and people will come to mind?"

"Isn't that too absolute? The other two would probably be sad if they heard it... Haha... Well, it's great that you can think like this."

"Ah... Of course you can. Anyway, there are so many ways to contact me now, how could you not find me?"

"...Well, thank you~"

"This is a common occurrence. It's inevitable. You'll be facing something like this soon. If you want to do the same then... how can you be worthy of your status?"

"You mean him... I don't think he would be like that."

"Well, just like you have hopes for him, I also have high hopes for you. Don't mess up the club after I leave."

"...Oh... For things like this, figure it out yourself."

Chapter 10: Should I Laugh at My Wandering Spirit?

"I heard you went home in the rain... Are you feeling okay?"

Facing Brother Nan, who had a different look than usual and was now showing concern and shining with kindness, I couldn't help but feel a tightness in my heart. I felt that something was fishy, ​​and then I quickly dodged the hand that was about to touch my forehead.

What is this? A new attack method?

"...What are you hiding from?"

Brother Nan asked me with an annoyed look on his face.

"...Nan...Teacher Nan, I didn't do anything bad. Besides, going home in the rain doesn't count as a mistake in school..."

"I know, I know. It has nothing to do with this." She withdrew her hand and picked up the homework book that was open on the table. "Here, look at this. Is this your homework book?"

"yes..."

That familiar font and the answers that don’t look quite right all come from my forcing myself... Sometimes if I don’t force myself, I don’t realize how deep my resistance to homework is, and how stupid I am.

"Um... look here." She said, flipping forward the notebook filled with homework. It was basically empty. "Do you feel something is wrong?"

"...You don't think it's normal for me to do my homework, do you?"

"Although there is one aspect..." She continued flipping through the pages, "Look, this is also your work... It's been several months since you last did your homework. I was wondering... Is there any connection?"

"Teacher, have you become obsessed with mystery novels recently?"

"..." She was obviously stunned for a moment after hearing my question, then she clenched her right fist to her mouth and coughed lightly twice.

"Ahem...No."

Even though he denied it, the look in his eyes, as if he had avoided it, showed that it was true.

"Well, let's not talk about that for now." I pointed to the notebook, "Teacher, you teach Chinese, why did you get my math homework?"

"Ah... this was brought to me by my math teacher. He seems to be very concerned about you doing your homework."

“Ah… Really…”

I thought he wouldn't even remember that I was his student.

"There seemed to be tears in his eyes, and he came to me and said, 'The student named Yi Sheji finally wrote his homework, although there were many mistakes...'"

"Huh? Are there a lot of mistakes? I clearly checked the book..."

And saying it like that would only dampen my enthusiasm.

"Will you please just listen to me? It's rude to interrupt someone. Even if I haven't taught you that, didn't your mother teach you that?"

"...sorry."

"Well, I forgive you." She sighed and then began to imitate the math teacher's tone, "But I can see from this homework his persistence and hard work. I was about to give up on him, but now it seems that this is what they call a prodigal son returning home!"

Wow...it's not like I did anything excessive...

"So, to help him learn better, I decided to ask him more questions during class." Congratulations, you've successfully caught the teacher's attention. This kind of special attention isn't available to most students.

I don't want this kind of privilege!

"...But teacher, what were you originally going to talk about?" You just talked about other teachers.

"Oh... I was wondering if you were running a fever and mistook your homework for a game. If that's the case, you should explain it to your math teacher to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings."

"Teacher... do you have so little confidence in me?"

"It's not that I don't have confidence in you." She looked at me and smiled, "I no longer have any thoughts about you."

"At least try to salvage it!"

"Well... okay, okay, I was just joking." She waved her hand at me to calm down and continued, "Actually, based on my experience as a homeroom teacher, when a guy like you who doesn't normally work hard encounters a situation like this, it's most likely because you're in love with a girl, so you're working hard."

"Ah? Me?" I couldn't believe what I said.

"It would be nice if I just said that to you, really." With a complaining tone, he tapped my head lightly with his notebook.

"It's because you're an exception that I want to find out what happened..."

I see...but nothing has happened to me recently...

"Remember last time you acted out of character because Ling Shen left you? So what happened this time?"

"..."

I don’t know how to answer, because I didn’t act like that for that reason... It seems like she is just overthinking it.

"It's okay, it's just... someone asked me to do it."

"...I'm surprised you still listen to others."

"Well...it was just a coincidence."

.......................

A cool breeze with moisture blows in your face. If you feel it carefully, there seems to be a hint of earthy scent in the wind, which makes people feel very safe.

"Hey, little brother, where are you from?"

A passionate voice suddenly came out, as if talking to me.

"I'm asking you, little brother, are you drunk?" I felt someone patting my shoulder and looked aside quickly.

The fat man who looked like a monk was looking at me with a smile, holding a wine glass in his hand.

"...Where...is this place?"

I looked around with some confusion, but the scenery seemed to be covered by a layer of mist and could not be seen clearly at all.

"Oh, it seems that I am really drunk. I don't even know where I am. Ahahaha~"

The laughter was unusually hearty, not like the laughter that an ordinary monk could make... Besides, do monks drink alcohol?

"Hey, see? There's a guy here who's just like you, who can't figure things out when he's drunk!" The monk shouted towards the distance, and then I noticed that I seemed to be on a boat, and the man in the distance was looking into the distance with his back to us.

"Don't argue, I just thought of the next sentence. Besides, when have I ever been drunk?"

"Oh? You're so bold! Is there anyone in this world who knows you better than me? Never mind. Just tell us the sentence you just came up with and let us evaluate it."

"...Yeah, that's fine."

The man turned around...Oh, his forehead is so long.

"Could it be that 'last year's tear of longing has now reached my cheek'?" the monk suddenly asked.

"Don't talk nonsense! How can I continue my conversation if you interrupt me like this?" His eyes suddenly met mine, and he smiled at me. "Please don't take it to heart, little brother. This guy is used to joking with me all the time, and it's hard for him to change in front of others."

"No...it's okay."

What kind of people did I meet?

"Well, let's begin..." He cleared his throat. "I am like a mayfly in the universe, a grain of sand in the vast ocean. I lament the brevity of my life and envy the infinity of the Yangtze River."

and many more...

"Isn't this the Red Cliff?"

Then the one in front of me...wait...

"Ah, yes, it is."

Accompanied by a burst of laughter, a familiar voice suddenly rang out.

Hmm... I think I understand something...

"I just finished talking to you and you're already sleeping in class again!"

The Chinese textbook rolled into a stick hit me hard on the head...The face of the great poet Su was replaced by Brother Nan's.

"Do not..."

I was clearly just hanging out with the great poet Dongpo! How could this be considered low-level sleep? Well, perhaps a better explanation would be "wandering in my homeland."

"Hey~" I was successfully amused by my own thoughts.

"How dare you laugh!"

"No...I'm not...I didn't..."

“Ah?! No?!”

As Brother Nan was questioning, he was hit on the head a few more times.

"Yes... yes..." I quickly changed my words.

"Stand up and listen to the class..."

Ah, when can I sleep peacefully like Zhuangzi who dreamed of a butterfly... If I turn into a butterfly and sleep, I won’t be beaten by Brother Nan... But there is a high possibility that I will be caught by others.

"...Hehe~"

"Still laughing!"

It's just a game

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault!"

As soon as the get out of class was over, Lin Yi walked quickly towards me and bowed twice to apologize.

However, I, who witnessed this process, had no idea what was happening.

"Um, so what are you apologizing for..."

Besides, get out of class had just ended, and the students around me hadn't left yet... though not many people noticed. But... there seemed to be some unfriendly glances from those around me.

"..."Forehead.

When Rinzenkawa realized that I noticed her, she immediately left the classroom... her back seemed to reveal dissatisfaction.

This reaction makes me super worried, okay...

"I'm apologizing for pushing you to finish your homework."

"...No, that's entirely my own free will."