I am a teacher at a girls' school in Tokyo

Tetsufumi Hirakawa sighed inwardly and began to comfort Ogasa Suzukiko.

"But Moritani's goal is the gold medal," said Ogasa Suzukiko.

"This... there is no way. However, this also shows that we are one step closer to the goal, doesn't it?"

“But in the end, I didn’t win the gold medal.”

"There's more than just one chance to win the national competition. It doesn't matter. We'll have another chance next year."

"But……"

"Teacher Ogasa, you know, there's a saying that goes, make a little progress every day. Actually, now that I think about it, we just won the bronze medal, and we set our goal for the gold medal so quickly. It's actually a big step."

"Can……"

Ogasa Suzukiko seemed to want to refute.

However, Tetsufumi Hirakawa did not give her a chance to speak.

“Although it is true that the goal should be set high, in fact, the competition is about strength. It is not easy to improve from bronze medal to silver medal in one year. It can prove that our efforts have not been in vain.”

"..."

"Right?"

"Don't be sad anymore. Many things cannot be achieved all at once. However, as long as you don't give up, there is still a chance. This time we got the silver medal, and next time, maybe we will get the gold medal."

"..."

This teacher, who has a childlike nature in all aspects, seems to be easy to comfort.

After a few words, he lowered his head and began to think about what Hirakawa Tetsufumi said.

Hirakawa Tetsufumi continued to smile calmly.

"Anyway, that's it. It doesn't matter. There will be another chance next year."

"..."

There was no immediate response after she finished speaking, and Ogasa Suzuki was still thinking about something.

However, if you want to comfort someone, you shouldn't leave them alone to think at this time.

It is difficult to look at problems rationally when you are sad, and in most cases the more you think about it the sadder you become.

Therefore, Tetsufumi Hirakawa did not just stand there and wait, but continued to comfort the teacher.

"It is normal to progress slowly from bronze to silver, and then from silver to gold."

"It's okay. After a period of serious practice, you can reach this level. It's not easy for Moriya, and Mr. Ogasa has also tried his best."

"It's nothing to be sorry about."

"..."

It was just like this that I kept talking to the teacher, so that she had no time to recall the somewhat difficult fact of "winning the silver medal in the national competition" by herself.

After waiting for a long time, Ogasa Suzuki finally seemed to be feeling better. At least, she no longer looked so sad.

"Okay, Mr. Ogasa."

Tetsufumi Hirakawa walked forward, took out a few tissues, and reluctantly handed them to the teacher who had just cried during the consolation process.

"Thank you, thank you Mr. Hirakawa." Ogasa Suzuki took it a little embarrassedly and wiped her eyes with a tissue.

"It's nothing. Mr. Ogasa usually does his best. It's normal that he can't accept it now. It's not like me. I can't help much normally. This is all I can do."

Tetsufumi Hirakawa said this with self-mockery, and then continued.

"Come to think of it, Mr. Ogasa, you seemed fine at the end of the game. How come you suddenly became... like this?"

"..."

When the results were obtained today, Ogasa Suzuki, who was sitting next to him, did look a little sad, but as a teacher, she still tried her best to stand up and cheer up the depressed students.

As a result…now it’s night time, and you’re suddenly sad enough to cry?

Faced with his question, Ogasa Suzukiko, who was wiping her eyes with a tissue, stopped and lowered her head slightly.

"Actually... just now, a student came to see me."

"Huh? What's wrong?"

"Because of this result, they were also very sad, so I started to comfort them. As I was talking, I also felt very sad. When they left, I just... cried."

"..."

Hirakawa Tetsufumi blinked and looked at Ogasa Suzukiko who lowered her head.

"..."

"..."

The room was a little quiet, and Ogasa Suzuki was holding the tissue sheepishly.

For a moment, looking at such a female teacher, Hirakawa Tetsufumi actually wanted to laugh.

Did you try to comfort students but end up getting yourself into trouble?

This is really...

Of course, Tetsufumi Hirakawa still held back his smile.

"Okay, Mr. Ogasa, it's okay. Also, it's getting late now, so you should go back to your room."

"Uh-huh."

Ogasa Suzuki nodded and stood up from her seat.

However, when he was about to walk out, he suddenly turned around, raised his hand in a cheering gesture, and said.

"Teacher Pingchuan, next year, let's keep working hard and win the gold medal together, right?"

"..."

however……

Faced with Ogasa Suzukiko's words, Hirakawa Tetsufumi's expression suddenly became hesitant.

next year……

Chapter 238 However, there will be no next time

"Teacher Hirakawa, what's wrong?"

While Hirakawa Tetsufumi was hesitating, Ogasa Suzukiko, who was watching him, quickly asked a question.

"This one……"

Tetsufumi Hirakawa is still struggling.

But he didn't hesitate for too long and finally made a decision - there was not much time left, so it didn't matter if he just said it out loud.

"Actually, Mr. Ogasa——"

"Well, what's wrong?"

Ogasa Suzukiko tilted her head and put down her cheering hand in confusion.

"Next year, I probably won't be in the wind band anymore."

Try to state the result as calmly as possible, and then.

"Eh?"

The teacher in front of him blinked blankly, seemingly unable to understand the meaning of this sentence.

After several seconds, he seemed to understand. His eyes, which had been blinking blankly, stopped moving. His mouth opened slightly and he fell into a state of extreme silence.

A few more seconds passed.

"Eh--?"

Ogasa Suzukiko said this with a long tone.

"Not in the wind band anymore, why? Is Mr. Hirakawa going to quit the wind band?"

"I'm not going to quit the wind band... but because..." To ease the atmosphere, he smiled and said softly, "Teacher Ogasa, I've actually made up my mind. I should be resigning soon."

"..."

……

……

The next morning, the Moritani Band returned to Tokyo.

On the way back to Tokyo, the atmosphere was as expected. In the carriage filled with Moritani students, there was no longer the sound of playing and laughing as on the way here.

Even if there were a few voices, they were just tiny whispers.

The result of the silver medal was indeed full of regrets.

It's not just the students who are like this. Ogasa Suzukiko, who was sitting next to Hirakawa Tetsufumi, was also extremely quiet.

Ok……

Hirakawa Tetsufumi turned his head and looked at her.

Ogasa Suzukiko lowered her head with a sad face, and her legs, which used to swing back and forth, now hung down weakly.

"..."

The silver medal, plus the news he told her last night that he was about to resign, the two combined have put this teacher who usually looks innocent and cute into such a situation.

"Resign...Why?"

"But didn't Mr. Pingchuan say that our work is complementary? What should I do if you resign?"

"So next year's orchestra will only have me?"

"..."

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

Hirakawa Tetsufumi turned his face away helplessly.

The matter has been decided and the resignation letter has been submitted. There is nothing we can do.

……

In this atmosphere, the national competition came to an end, and the entire Moritani Wind Orchestra returned to Tokyo.

On campus, a banner was hung on the teaching building, and the bulletin board announced that the Moritani Wind Orchestra had won the silver medal in the national competition. The news department used an entire page to promote this silver medal.

The atmosphere is gradually getting heated up, and the Moritani School Festival is about to arrive.

In this situation, the members of the Moritani Wind Ensemble gradually hid their depressing atmosphere.

"It's okay to get a silver medal. It's pretty good. Next time, yes, as long as I keep working hard, it will be fine!"

The captain tried hard to cheer up the members of the wind band.

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

"Okay, let's start practicing. Come on!"

"..."

Regardless, even though the national competition is over, practice must continue.

The atmosphere in the Moritani Wind Orchestra was a bit depressing, but they soon returned to practice. However, the music they were practicing this time was no longer for the national competition.

But it is the piece that will be played at the farewell party.

Just like what the minister said, “Next year, you will definitely be able to win the gold medal.” The reason why it is “you” is because there will be no next time in the third grade.

When the school festival comes, it is time for the third-year students to retire.

And if nothing unexpected happens, this will also be the time when Tetsufumi Hirakawa retires.

He won't have a chance next year either.

……

"Teacher Hirakawa, this is the list of third-year students who will retire."