I am a teacher at a girls' school in Tokyo

During the lunch break, Tetsufumi Hirakawa, who was still in the office, received a stack of lists from the on-duty village chief.

This is the third grade withdrawal class.

"Student Zhicun, thank you for your hard work this year."

"It should."

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

The light paper seemed a bit heavy when I picked it up.

After three years in the wind orchestra, I missed the gold medal in the final period.

It's regrettable no matter how you think about it.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa looked at the retired diploma in his hand and sighed with some emotion.

Then he started counting them one by one.

However, after the inventory was completed, he looked up with some confusion at Zhicun Aika who was standing in front of him.

"A total of 26 copies...?"

His tone rose.

"Chimura, if I remember correctly, there should be 25 students in the third grade, right?"

"……Yes."

It can be seen that Zhicun Aika's expression was a little hesitant, and she spoke.

"Actually, Mr. Hirakawa, in addition to the third-year student who is retiring, another student has submitted a resignation application to me."

"Who?"

"Student Shinohara."

"..."

……

Chimura Aika had already left, and Hirakawa Tetsufumi looked at the retirement certificate in his hand in a daze.

Shinohara Shiori signed her name on the resignation certificate in neat handwriting, stroke by stroke.

"As for the reason, I asked Shinohara-san, but she refused to tell me and just asked to quit the club without any hesitation."

"I don't know what to do, I can only accept her resignation."

"..."

why?

Why did Shiori Shinohara quit the club?

Has this girl, who loves wind music, become so disheartened by this failure that she decided to quit the wind band?

Based on Hirakawa Tetsufumi's understanding of this unyielding young lady, she would not decide to quit the club so easily.

However, retirement from the ministry was definitely in front of him.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa was speechless when he saw the letter of resignation written by Shinohara Shiori herself.

Why?

Is it because of... him?

……

"Shinohara-san, I want to talk to you about something, is that ok?"

The afternoon wind band practice was over. In the concert hall, which seemed a little empty because the third-year students no longer came, after hesitating for an unknown amount of time, Tetsufumi Hirakawa finally extended an invitation to talk to Shinohara Shiori, who was about to leave the wind band.

"..."

The girl who had taken half a step out of the door turned around and looked at him. She was probably expecting this and was not surprised by his conversation.

She nodded slightly.

"Ah."

……

It's already November, summer has long gone, and in autumn in Tokyo, the sunset sets even earlier.

The practice time of the wind band was also adjusted as the sun set early.

Six o'clock in the evening.

The sunset was no longer visible on the horizon, but the sky had not yet fallen into complete darkness. Instead, it was a grayish light with a hint of dull blue.

In the farthest sky, there was a hint of inconspicuous purple in the blue-gray light.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa looked up at the sky above his head. One meter away from him, there was a girl who was outstanding in every aspect. The hem of her skirt swayed in the evening breeze as she walked.

The straight legs and the dim light give them a hazy beauty.

How long has it been since I walked together with Shinohara Shiori after school in the evening like this?

It's been two months, right?

Taking advantage of the light from the sky that had not yet completely dissipated, Hirakawa Tetsufumi secretly glanced at the profile of the young lady next to him, and his mood was indescribably complicated.

But let’s not think about that anymore and get to the point.

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

"Shinohara-san, at noon today, I received your resignation letter from the department head."

"Ah."

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

It seemed that the decision to quit the organization had been made completely, with no sign of wavering.

"Well... I came to see you tonight because I wanted to know why Shinohara-san quit the club. Can you... tell me about it?"

When Tetsufumi Hirakawa asked questions, he always felt a little cautious.

I couldn't calm down when facing this girl.

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

She turned her face slightly and asked calmly with no fluctuation in her expression.

"Teacher Pingchuan, may I ask why you ask this?"

"Well..." Hirakawa Tetsufumi thought about it hesitantly and answered, "Well... it's just... from the perspective of a teacher. Shinohara's resignation from the club was not like those third-year students, which seemed a bit sudden. I have to find out..."

"is it?"

"……Um."

Under Miss Shinohara's gaze, Tetsufumi Hirakawa looked forward with a guilty conscience.

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

No one can treat everyone equally.

The position of Shinohara Shiori in his heart is special.

The reason I came to ask for the reason this time is naturally due to this aspect.

Also, Tetsufumi Hirakawa wanted to completely resolve the matter with this girl before leaving his job.

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

"..."

There was no immediate answer. Tetsufumi Hirakawa was unsure of what the girl was thinking, so he turned around and looked at her again.

Shinohara Shiori's eyes were always looking straight at him.

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

"After failing to win the gold medal, there was no point in staying in this band, so I quit. It's that simple."

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

"It's not very efficient to devote all your time to something that is not certain."

"… Because you're not sure if you can win the gold medal next year, have you given up the idea of ​​trying?"

"Ah."

"..."

"..."

"But." Hirakawa Tetsufumi frowned a little and stared at the cold young lady hesitantly.

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

Shinohara Shiori may have really thought it through. She was not shaken at all and her tone of rebuttal was also firm.

"Teacher Pingchuan, I have thought it through."

"Shiori..."

Shinohara Shiori's gaze went straight into his eyes.

"..."

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

"What's wrong?"

"...Shinohara-san isn't someone who would give up so easily."

"Because Shiori understands that not everything will have a result, and therefore, not everything needs to be invested in time. In the face of unpredictable results, giving up early can also avoid getting hurt."

"..."

Hirakawa Tetsufumi stopped in a daze and watched Shinohara Shiori walk out of the school gate without stopping and disappear beside the black car.

In his mind, he could see the look the young lady gave him before she left.

What kind of look is that?

He knew it all too well.

Just like the look in Shinohara Shiori's eyes when she said goodbye to him on that rainy afternoon two months ago during the summer vacation.

He remembered it clearly.

Because, that indifferent look would occasionally appear in his dreams for a long time afterwards.

"Don't you have to spend time on everything? When faced with unpredictable results, giving up early can also help avoid getting hurt... right?"

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

After a moment, he pursed his lips bitterly.

She seemed to be hinting at something...

Can giving up early also avoid injuries?

If she had given up hope in advance, their relationship wouldn't have become so awkward, and she wouldn't have been so sad at that time... Is this what she meant?

……

The sky gradually darkened.

The dim gray-blue sky completely fell into darkness.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa had already gotten off the train and was on his way home.

There was a bright moon in the sky, the street lamps were on, and lights were flickering in the rooms of the houses we passed by.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa quietly returned to the front door of his home and walked into the completely dark and closed world behind the door.

While changing his 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.

"..."