I am a teacher at a girls' school in Tokyo

"..."

She saw her mother with a gentle smile on her face.

"Oh? Shiori wants to change her mind?"

The gaze from her mother was full of pressure, but Shinohara Shiori still confirmed: "Yes."

"Can you tell your mother your reasons?"

Shinohara Shiori glanced at the teacher next to her, and then answered: "Because the teacher of the wind orchestra, Mr. Ogasa, still wanted Shiori to stay. He had approached me many times before. The same was true for the classmates in the wind orchestra. Therefore, under their persuasion, Shiori changed her mind."

"So that's it, I know."

After a response, Shinohara's mother stopped talking, picked up the tea and took a sip.

The living room fell into silence.

Shinohara's mother seemed to be thinking seriously about Shinohara Shiori's reasons, while Hirakawa Tetsufumi and Shinohara Shiori were waiting.

I waited until Shinohara's mother put down the teacup.

"boom."

The bottom of the exquisite teacup touched the wooden tabletop, signaling that the silence was broken.

Shinohara's mother came up with a conclusion after thinking it over.

"But, Shiori has already told me before that she has decided to quit, right? Did you change your mind because others asked you to stay?"

Shinohara Shiori continued to lower her head and spoke.

“Changes in ideas are out of control.”

"Being swayed by other people's opinions is not what a qualified heir of the Shinohara family should do."

"…I'm sorry. But when Shiori said that she wanted to quit the wind band, she didn't think it through. Now, it's only because of the others' persuasion that I've reaffirmed my determination to continue playing the band."

"It's not very good of you to express your opinion without thinking it through, Shiori."

"Mother is right, but Shiori is very determined now."

"is it?"

"Yes." Shinohara Shiori replied, "So, I beg mother to consider Shiori's current opinion again."

Shinohara's mother's expression did not change and she remained gentle and graceful.

"Of course I will consider Shiori's opinion."

"That……"

"but--"

"..."

The words that Shiori Shinohara was about to say were blocked by her mother with a "but".

"Shiori, you should understand that as the heir of the Shinohara family, you can't change your words so casually. Of course, I respect Shiori's opinion - her previous opinion. Since I have already agreed, there is no room for discussion."

"..."

Shinohara Shiori shut her mouth.

All I can say is that she had actually anticipated her mother's reaction.

The situation this time was different from the last time. Last time, she disagreed with her mother and forced her to leave the orchestra.

This time, it was she who agreed with her mother's request to let her quit the wind band.

Last time, she could refute her mother at will because she thought she was on the side of justice.

This time, she clearly felt overwhelmed.

However, after a moment of inner silence, she still tried her best to refute her mother's words.

"Shiori feels that I should make my own decisions regarding the brass band. Although I said I wanted to quit the band before, that was Shiori's own wish. And now, I don't want to quit the band, and that's also my own wish. All decisions are Shiori's own wishes, and mother... shouldn't interfere."

In an ordinary family, whether or not to join the wind band is definitely a matter of the child's own decision.

However, her mother is not the same as other mothers in ordinary families.

Even for matters like this, she must have complete control.

She saw her mother and glanced past her.

Although the tone was still gentle, it carried a majesty that left no room for negotiation.

"We cannot change what we have promised. Besides, we have already given Shiori a year. Since she hasn't done it, there is nothing more to say. That's it."

"..."

That was all they said, bringing their conversation to a close.

Shinohara Shiori lowered her head in silence with no room for argument.

At the same time, Shinohara's mother returned her gaze to Hirakawa Tetsufumi.

She smiled and asked, "So, Mr. Hirakawa, are you here today to tell me that Shiori wants to return to the wind orchestra?"

"...Yes." Hirakawa Tetsufumi nodded.

"Then I'm sure Mr. Hirakawa has heard my opinion as well."

"Yes."

"Do you have anything else to say?"

"I……"

"By the way." Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by Shinohara's mother. She expressed her apology for interrupting him with her eyes, and then.

"Before that, I would like to ask Mr. Hirakawa——"

"..."

Tetsufumi Hirakawa waited.

Shinohara's mother asked a fatal question.

"Why are you here today?"

"..."

Hirakawa Tetsufumi remained silent.

Shinohara's mother smiled slightly. Seeing that he was silent, she was not in a hurry. She picked up the tea and took a sip.

The tea was emitting misty white vapor, and Tetsufumi Hirakawa's thoughts were like white fog.

Shinohara's mother did ask a very fatal question.

Last time, Tetsufumi Hirakawa's position was obvious.

As the class teacher, he has the right to intervene to a certain extent when students’ conflicts extend from family conflicts to conflicts on campus - after all, the impact has spread to the school.

Moreover, as a teacher, he was forced to expel his students from the wind orchestra without any reason. He disagreed with this injustice and could certainly come and state it in person.

But...this time.

What is his position?

Shinohara's mother has not interfered so far, and Shinohara Shiori withdrew voluntarily.

However, under his persuasion, the girl changed her mind and decided not to quit the orchestra.

——As for the disagreement between Shinohara Shiori and her mother after making this decision, to be honest, it is entirely a matter between the mother and daughter.

It has nothing to do with him as a teacher.

At least, it's totally fine to call him "meddling" when he came to your house for something like this.

Shinohara's mother questioned his position in coming here, which was quite fatal.

——Of course, this fatality is based on the premise that Tetsufumi Hirakawa is still preparing to be a qualified teacher.

But...

In the last moments before leaving, even he would think of being willful when facing Shinohara Shiori, a girl who had special meaning to him.

Really capricious.

Because he came here this time out of selfish motives.

——So what?

He's leaving his job anyway.

That's the position.

After finishing his thoughts, Tetsufumi Hirakawa turned to Shinohara's mother again.

"I would like to talk to Mrs. Shinohara alone about this. Is that okay?"

Chapter 250 Departure (End)

Even if it can be said that Shinohara Shiori made the decision today based on her own determination not to give up, the ultimate blame lies with Hirakawa Tetsufumi.

Because of his persuasion and such nosy visits, the current situation has come to this.

So, since he caused it, he should solve it.

And to be honest, Shinohara Shiori had no way to deal with her mother.

Her presence here would cause unnecessary impact.

After Tetsufumi Hirakawa asked for a private talk, she left.

So in this reception room, on the tea table, separated by a little mist, the scene once again turned into a familiar one-on-one confrontation.

Just like nine months ago.

Of course there are some differences, for example, the answer to the question that Shinohara's mother is waiting for now -

Regarding his position on this visit.

but……

It is an obvious fact that his position cannot be spoken this time.

"Because I was with your daughter before, and we broke up and now I am leaving, I feel sorry for your daughter, so I decided to do something at the last moment to make up for it" -

Such terrible words must never be said.

Otherwise...it's hard to imagine how Shinohara's mother would react when she heard these words, but the consequences would definitely be serious.

So, if this cannot be said, what can we say?

——There’s actually nothing much to say.

He had experienced last time that Shinohara's mother had a will that was either firm and unshakable to put it nicely or dictatorial to put it bluntly.

Shinohara's mother cannot be changed by just a few words.

Therefore, when he came this time, he did not expect to solve the problem through normal channels.

It just so happened that Shinohara Shiori was no longer here, and only he and Shinohara's mother were left here.

……

Hirakawa Tetsufumi sat up straight and faced Mrs. Shinohara.

This well-maintained young lady, wearing a red kimono that highlighted her noble and aristocratic temperament, sat calmly, not showing any impatience because he had not spoken for a long time.

Only when he made the slightest movement did the lady think he was about to answer. She looked at him gently, waiting for his answer.

If you only look at her outward appearance and demeanor, Shinohara's mother really gives people the impression that she is quite easy to talk to.

However, Tetsufumi Hirakawa, who had already known the truth, had already made his choice.

He chose -

"Mrs. Shinohara..."

A softly whispered greeting began with this. Between the opening and closing of Tetsufumi Hirakawa's lips, a mysterious, magical spell, like the vapor of tea floating in the air, lightly occupied this unusually quiet reception room.

"You don't want to either..."