Real teaching, hypocritical gray life

"Even if you say so, it's difficult for us to make the special-order cake you mentioned if it's not ordered a week in advance... We really can't make it on the same day."

As we heard the answer, the cafe returned to its noisy atmosphere again, as if what had just happened had never happened.

"Cake............"

Although I wasn't interested in what Ishizaki and the others said, the specially ordered cake reminded me of my birthday celebration.

To be honest, I have no concept of celebrating birthdays as most people do.

Of course, I am not completely clueless. I also know that birthdays are the days when we receive blessings from our family, lovers, and friends.

At the same time, it is a celebration of one's birth, a commemoration of one's age growing older, or a gratitude to the mother for giving life...

It's just that I can't understand this feeling.

I don’t have that feeling at all, and even as I get older I don’t care anymore.

The only thing I can celebrate is that I am alone.

"......"

Ichinose's birthday is July 7th.

Although she seemed to be trying her best to avoid others mentioning this, I still invited her that day.

Although it was an active invitation, it was actually just to resolve her unhappy mood at the time.

If I remember correctly, I gave you a necklace as a token of my appreciation.

Does Ichinose wear it often?

By the way, when we were staying together during the summer vacation, Ichinose also wore that necklace despite the hot weather.

Why didn't I care at the time?

Or rather, I started to care after that.

"......"

I turned my head and took a look at the tiramisu in the cupboard.

I suddenly want to eat cake. Do you want to buy one?

"......"

What is my birthday?

............Forgot.

But don’t worry too much about it, because even I don’t know when my real birthday is.

No matter what day I will not care whether I am blessed or not, the kindness of others will only be wasted in my hands.

So, at least, let me celebrate myself today as my birthday.

I went to the front desk and purchased two tiramisu.

Chapter 189 Hide

"Luo, can you take up a little of your time to accompany me for a while?"

When the bell rang for the fourth period, and the results of the [Quiz] and the pairing results were announced, Ichinose turned around and invited me.

Regardless of whether I have the ability to help Ichinose, I should refuse if it would save trouble.

However, it was hard for me to ignore the pair of attractive eyes in front of me, so I thought I was looking cool and responded with the answers of the agents in the movies.

"Standby."

"Thank you."

His slightly furrowed brows showed how difficult this matter was for him.

However, with a solid force behind him, Ichinose couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

“Um… Although that’s what you said, can you tell me what you need me to do next? It can’t just be staying by Ichinose’s side, right?”

"Well, how could that be? It's about the arrangement of the partner combination results. I will go to Mr. Hoshinomiya with Kanzaki to find out the whole matter, so I want Luo to participate."

Isn't this just 'company'............?

"Although I think even if I know the whole story, it won't lead to any results, but if that's all, I think I have no problem... Has Ichinose already figured out what's going on?"

"Haha, not really. I just have a rough guess in my mind. The specific reason still needs to be explained by Mr. Xing Zhigong to know............"

I see. In order to calm down the "turmoil" just now, Ichinose made an excuse that he already had a solution, and tried his best to show that he had no signs of wavering, but in fact he was just giving us all a reassurance.

The right thing to do.

If the leader of the class falls into anxiety or fear, this feeling will spread immediately.

If the 'riot' continues, the students in the class will not be able to calm down for a while.

"Where's Luo?"

"............What?"

"Do you understand what is going on?"

"............To be honest, I still don't understand what's going on."

Or, it would be more appropriate to say that I haven't thought about it yet.

"Ha, it looks like this is a really tricky matter... Kanzaki-san, it's almost time for us to set off."

"Ah."

"Honami-chan——"

Just as we were about to leave through the back door of the classroom, Shiranami and three or four other girls called out to Ichinose. It was easy to tell from the looks on their faces that they were worried.

"What's wrong, Chihiro-chan?"

"That question about partner assignment............"

As expected, the other party directly stated his concerns.

"Ah, are you worried about me and Kanzaki-san?"

"Well, a little bit......"

"It doesn't matter. We are going to deal with this matter now. If nothing goes wrong, the study session will go smoothly as usual tomorrow, so Chihiro, just wait for our good news."

"Is it really okay?"

"Of course, Kanzaki-san has already noticed the problems in this exam."

In order to make his statement more authentic, Ichinose called in his own reinforcements. Kanzaki naturally nodded helplessly in agreement.

Although there wasn't much action, it made the other party feel a lot more at ease.

"Huh, I won't bother you guys anymore... Luo Jun, do you want to follow us?"

"Yes, I want Luo to pay attention to his surroundings."

Before I could think of a good way to speak, Ichinose stepped forward to explain for me, and I learned from the side that my mission was to go to the teacher's office.

Prevent people from eavesdropping around.

"I see... Please get the good news."

"Will do."

Shiranami's last words sounded like a request, but in fact, they were closer to prayers. In order to reassure the other party and get a response, Ichinose touched Shiranami's head to comfort him.

Immediately afterwards, the three of us left Class A one after another.

"............Is what you just said to Shiranami-san true?"

Although I had already reached a conclusion in my heart, Ichinose seemed so firm in her emotional expression just now that my certainty was a little hazy.

"Well, you can only believe half of it. If I don't explain it this way, Chihiro and the others will always be worried... And didn't I make it clear to Luo before?"

"You don't need to hide anything from me."

"Well, if it's falling, then there must be no problem."

I couldn't help feeling a little itchy when I was praised.

"............Even if the matter is not resolved in the end, do we have to keep it secret from them like we are doing now?"

"Probably... I can't let my accident affect everyone's performance. This is a rare head-on battle, and I don't want to lose to Class B in this special exam."

"It's really hard work......"

Perhaps, if it were someone else, Ichinose's words would make me think that she is a narcissistic person; but if it were Ichinose, there is no doubt that she has such ability.

As the center of the class, Ichinose's every move affects the hearts of all the students. It is precisely because of this central force that the trust placed on Ichinose becomes heavier and heavier.

If it is not handled properly now, it may cause serious damage in the future.

Because of my first semester's grades, I was already familiar with the classroom and office. After a while, we knocked on the door of the teacher's office. After getting permission, we stepped into the restricted area for ordinary students.

Teacher Hoshinomiya is putting tea leaves into his cup.

"As expected, it's Honami and Kanzaki-san... and Raku-kun. From the looks of the two of you just now, it felt like there was something you hadn't asked."

After seeing us, Mr. Hoshinomiya greeted us one by one and continued to discuss with the other two people who came forward.

If I hadn't accepted Ichinose's invitation, I wouldn't be here. After realizing that I was a dispensable person, I leaned against the corner of the teacher's office and listened to the conversation of this person.

"I'm sorry to bother you. There are some things that are hard to say in front of the whole class."

"No, it's our responsibility as teachers to answer students' questions... It's still about the partner combination table, right?"

"Yes, I have a few questions that I would like to get confirmation from Mr. Hoshinomiya."

"If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I will do my best to answer them as long as they are within my ability."

"Thank you, Mr. Hoshinomiya............."

While Ichinose was organizing his thoughts, Mr. Hoshinomiya consciously glanced in my direction.

Something went wrong. I sensed something was wrong from the look in Hoshinomiya's eyes.

No, it's more like I realized something.

If this is the case, then this will definitely be an activity targeting Ichinose.

Errors in partner combination results can also be explained.

[But...what's the reason? ]

Is it just to defeat the central leader of the class?

Or is there an even more painful price to pay?

The deviation of their respective reasons made it impossible for me to infer from my own actions.

I could get stuck in a quagmire because of this.

"......"

"Teacher Hoshinomiya, you said before that you can't 'lie', right?"

"Yes, as a teacher this is a matter of course."

Mr. Hoshinomiya turned his gaze and nodded.

"Have you been asked for help by anyone else?"

"............Huh? What did you mean by that just now?"

As if she had not expected Ichinose to say this, Hoshinomiya-sensei made a sound of surprise.

"Have you ever been asked by other students to answer 40 when we asked, 'How many people in our class A actually took the [Paper Shuffle] special exam?'"

"This kind of thing... I am not allowed to do it unless we teachers believe in a legitimate reason or the majority of the class wishes."

"So it's totally fine to understand this?"

"I have already given a positive answer just now."

"Sorry, because of some people's speaking habits, I need the most direct answer."

Ichinose reluctantly gave me the reason and glanced at me with dissatisfaction.