I am a teacher at a girls' school in Tokyo

Then, amid the music, he quietly read out the words on the sign next to Ogasa Suzukiko:

"Moritani Girls' High School Musical Instruments Club".

Finally, the first road show of the Moritani Wind Ensemble ended with the applause of the audience surrounding them at the end of the wind music.

-

The roadshow is over.

The spectators had already left, and the students who had played the instrument over and over again were taking a break in the open space of the square. Moreover, the foreheads and faces of these high school girls in neat white uniforms were covered with sweat.

High-intensity performance is a very physically demanding activity. Today we are outdoors, the weather is very good and the sun is shining brightly.

The water we bought earlier had basically been distributed during the break, and it was totally not enough.

So now, looking at the sold-out mineral water, the most leisurely Tetsufumi Hirakawa naturally took on the task of buying water again.

After saying something to Ogasa Suzukiko, who also looked a little tired from commanding, Hirakawa Tetsufumi turned around and prepared to leave.

But at this time, Shinohara Shiori's voice rang in my ears again.

"Teacher Hirakawa, I'll go with you."

"..."

Tetsufumi Hirakawa stopped walking and turned around.

Shinohara Shiori was standing behind him - of course, because he turned around, she was now in front of him - her fair face was flushed, with traces of sweat, and there were a few strands of hair on her forehead stuck to her delicate face.

When the lips are slightly opened, white and neat teeth can be seen.

The girl was panting, like a steamed dumpling just out of the steamer, or something.

She looked very tired. As a soloist, she was the most tired one among all the performers.

Ogasa Suzukiko, who was beside Hirakawa Tetsufumi, obviously thought so too. She also stared at Shinohara Shiori's tired cheeks and spoke with concern.

"Shinohara-san? Why are you going? You'd better not go. Just have a good rest."

The girl pushed her hair aside, stopped to catch her breath, and after calming her breathing rhythm, she responded with a smile.

"Mr. Ogasa, it's okay, I'm fine."

"Just let Mr. Hirakawa go."

"Teacher Pingchuan doesn't know the way and might get lost or something. I need to take him there."

Tetsufumi Hirakawa next to him: “?”

He looked at Shinohara Shiori who was talking nonsense in confusion, but the girl ignored him.

As for Ogasa Suzukiko, faced with such words, she actually held up the frame of her glasses, blinked her eyes, and thought seriously.

And after finishing thinking, he nodded in confusion.

"So that's what it looks like."

"..."

"..."

Shinohara Shiori obviously understood Ogasa Suzukiko's confusing personality and could come up with such a messed up reason.

Then, when Ogasa Suzukiko urged, "Then Shinohara-san, drive slowly and remember to bring back Mr. Hirakawa," the girl nodded and turned her gaze to him.

"Teacher Hirakawa, let's go."

"..."

Tetsufumi Hirakawa didn't know what to say.

However, he did have something to say to her, a topic that had not yet been concluded, or rather, a debate.

-

Still keeping our distance, we walked and after we were some distance away from the wind orchestra students, the topic naturally started.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa spoke first.

"Shinohara-san, let's continue with the previous topic."

"Yes."

"You should also understand that this is absolutely not possible between a teacher and a student, right?"

It can be said to be a rather ambiguous topic, but when Tetsufumi Hirakawa opened his mouth, his tone could be described as cold, without any trace of ambiguity.

Shinohara Shiori didn't care about the tone and looked at the teacher beside her without any concealment.

"It's definitely not acceptable by normal standards."

"There is no such thing as special standards, and even if there were, it wouldn't work."

"But from a personal perspective, what's wrong with being free to pursue what you like according to your own wishes? Mr. Hirakawa, I believe that the constraints of identity cannot hinder the free expression of emotions."

"…The constraints of identity." Tetsufumi Hirakawa repeated the words.

"You should also understand that I don't like this."

"..."

Perhaps due to physical factors, Shinohara Shiori slowed down her pace and took another deep breath.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa also slowed down his pace.

Then, he responded to the girl's gaze, his eyes piercing through the transparent air under the clear sky and meeting the girl's eyes.

"Mr. Shinohara, your idea is not correct. The constraints of status are necessary, and there should be no other relationship between teachers and students."

"It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if Mr. Pingchuan thinks it's not correct. As long as I think it's correct, it's fine. After all, this is a one-sided emotion."

"..."

There is no doubt that in the view of Tetsufumi Hirakawa, Shinohara Shiori's views are absolutely wrong. As social animals, humans play various identities in society, and it is necessary for them to abide by the norms that should be followed in this identity.

This is how society works, around various norms, written or unwritten, laws and regulations, or moral constraints.

However, Shiori Shinohara obviously doesn't like the constraints brought by her identity.

It should be said that she had had enough of the constraints from her mother.

She hated this kind of restraint.

In her opinion, it is obviously more important to be free to choose what one cares about.

This girl's idea is really problematic.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa silently analyzed Shinohara Shiori's inner thoughts, but in the end, he could do nothing about her thoughts.

The concepts formed by family education are profound and influential, and it is impossible to change them in a few words.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa could only helplessly ignore this debate on the rationality of the concept of teachers and students.

Since this concept cannot be changed, the only thing to do is to let the girl give up such a ridiculous idea of ​​"pursuing him".

"Shinohara-san, you mean one-sided feelings?"

"Of course it is."

"Then whether from the perspective of identity constraints or personal emotions, I can't respond to you."

"is it?"

"No need to question."

"Teacher Pingchuan said this to make me give up, right?"

The girl saw through his thoughts.

"Of course." There was nothing to deny.

"But, Mr. Hirakawa, have you ever thought about——"

Shinohara Shiori said in a nonchalant tone.

"As it happens, Shiori is someone who will never admit defeat."

"..."

In the silence of Tetsufumi Hirakawa, the proud young lady who claimed that she would not give in easily, added.

"Even if Mr. Hirakawa's views are like this now, it doesn't mean that they won't change in the future."

Hirakawa Tetsufumi frowned: "Shinohara-san, according to this sentence, does it mean to be persistent?"

"That's true." The proud eldest lady was no longer proud about this matter and admitted it directly.

——She has thought it through. There are some things that cannot be achieved without striving for them. Therefore, Shinohara Shiori now has a clear goal, just like the national gold medal.

"..."

Hirakawa Tetsufumi fell silent.

If a boy does this to a girl, it is almost synonymous with sexual harassment and is a preparation for a crime.

However, girls always have privileges, not to mention Miss Shinohara. If it weren't for the teacher-student relationship, some people might think it is an honor to be entangled by such a beautiful girl.

But Tetsufumi Hirakawa would never think so.

After walking slowly, I finally saw a convenience store.

He spoke.

This was the first time he spoke to this girl in such a serious tone.

"Shinohara-san, seriously, this might make me hate you."

"..."

He saw that when she said this, especially when she said the word "hate", there was some fluctuation in Shinohara Shiori's eyes.

However, the girl touched her long hair and spoke calmly.

"Teacher Hirakawa, this is useless, because, for me, if I don't do this, I won't have any chance at all."

"..."

With this sentence, the debate between the two came to an end.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa was unable to shake Shinohara Shiori's ideas at all, and the girl's thoughts remained firm.

He was speechless for the moment.

Of course, the power of language has its limits, and he has long known that.

If that is the case, he can only prove with his actions that what he said is not false.

Let the girl's one-sided feelings be hers. No matter what happens, he will never respond.

Thinking about this, the two walked into the convenience store.

-

Inside the convenience store, Tetsufumi Hirakawa walked towards the location where the mineral water was placed.

He picked up two bottles of mineral water and prepared to walk to the cashier.

As for Shinohara Shiori, the long solo must have exhausted her physical strength, so there was certainly no need for her to fetch water again.

However, when he stood up, the girl behind him still had something to say.

"Teacher Hirakawa."

"..."

To be honest, judging from the current situation between the two, Tetsufumi Hirakawa doesn't really want to respond to Shinohara Shiori.

However, if we put aside this absurd emotion, she is still a student and he is still a teacher.

In Tetsufumi Hirakawa's opinion, it is also incorrect not to respond to normal conversations with students.

Finally, with a lot of thoughts in his mind, Tetsufumi Hirakawa took a deep breath and calmly responded to the girl's voice.

"Shinohara-san, what's wrong?"

"I want to drink that—"

The girl's slender white fingers appeared from his side, and following the direction of the pink nails, her target was a soda in the freezer.