I am a teacher at a girls' school in Tokyo

"Row."

The footprints turned ninety degrees on the hazy beach and began to extend forward parallel to the coast.

"It seems like there are quite a few people." Shinohara Shiori stepped on the sand, looking at the shadowy figures.

"Yes, there are quite a few." Tetsufumi Hirakawa also saw it.

After all, it is Christmas, and they are certainly not the only ones who want to watch the sunrise at this special time.

If it is New Year's Day, there will be more people.

"And they all seem to be couples."

Those vague figures, barely visible through the dim light, were all holding hands.

"I've said it before, there are a lot of couples coming out at this time."

"Then what about us, Mr. Pingchuan?"

“It probably looks similar.”

“Does it just look like it?”

"Isn't that enough? It wasn't in the first place."

Shinohara Shiori did not respond and moved a little closer to Hirakawa Tetsufumi.

Hirakawa Tetsufumi looked at her.

The girl's beautiful profile was hidden in the dim light, but it couldn't be hidden no matter what.

Even in dim light, one can see that the beautiful girl next to him has a stunning face.

"a little cold."

Shinohara Shiori noticed his gaze and explained.

She tucked half of her palm into the sleeve of her uniform jacket, raised her hand, and used her exposed fingers to tidy up her long hair that was blown by the wind.

When I lowered my hand, it naturally rested on his arm.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa glanced at the girl's hand and left it there without saying anything.

"After all, this is the seaside." Tetsufumi Hirakawa was talking about the cold.

He was also a little cold.

"It's very windy."

"The difference in specific heat capacity between the sea and land materials causes a temperature difference, which in turn causes a pressure difference, thus forming wind... Now it is still a land breeze."

Shinohara Shiori laughed.

"Teacher Pingchuan, who asked you this?"

Hirakawa Tetsufumi also smiled softly.

The two of them stopped talking and walked over the gravel, making a small rustling sound.

Until their footsteps had covered an unknown distance, when they turned around, they could see two rows of footprints left by the two of them extending into the distance on the slightly bright beach.

The light was getting a little better and dawn was approaching.

"Sunrise is about to begin, right?" Shinohara Shiori first turned her gaze away from the beach where their footprints were left.

"Yeah." Hirakawa Tetsufumi also retracted it.

I don’t know how long these footprints can last, probably no more than a day, before they are wiped away by the constant blowing wind and the rising tide.

Everything will go back to the way it was before.

"Teacher Pingchuan, let's find a place to wait for the sunrise."

"All right, but where do we wait?"

"Hmm..." Shinohara Shiori thought for a moment and looked around.

The dim beach seemed to extend to the end of the sight...it seemed that there was really no place to sit down.

"Just stand here."

Shinohara Shiori made a decision.

She held Hirakawa Tetsufumi's arm, turned around, facing the sea, facing the direction of the sunrise.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa was forced to turn around as well.

"Stand here and wait?"

"Ah."

"..."

"..."

"Teacher Hirakawa, let Shiori lean over for a moment."

After a brief silence, Shinohara Shiori moved a little closer to Hirakawa Tetsufumi and their bodies pressed against each other.

The girl's head rested on his upper arm.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa didn't react at all.

He was thinking about a question... What is the meaning of trying so hard to leave footprints on the beach?

After all, it won't last long before all traces are wiped out and everything returns to its original state, as if it had never existed.

There doesn't seem to be much difference between a footprint that exists for a moment and one that has never existed.

From this point of view, this behavior seems to be meaningless.

Unless... you firmly believe that your footprints can last forever? Do you believe that your behavior can change?

Of course, the charm of a beautiful girl cannot be ignored. For example, the way she leans gently on him at this moment is indeed so beautiful that people want to keep her.

Face your inner thoughts honestly. These are the inner feelings that cannot be ignored.

But if this could be changed...

For him, facing it calmly has a special meaning. It is a test of his inner self and a prelude to forgetting.

In fact, for the other party, such frankness should also have a corresponding effect, for example...

"Teacher Hirakawa, Teacher Hirakawa?"

"…Hmm? What's wrong?"

Hirakawa Tetsufumi came to his senses and looked to his right at Shinohara Shiori.

The girl leaned against him and looked up at him sideways.

"What are you thinking about?"

"No, nothing." Tetsufumi Hirakawa shook his head slightly.

"Ok."

Shinohara Shiori didn't ask any more questions and turned her gaze back to the front.

The light coming from below the horizon illuminated the dim blue sky a little.

The sunrise is getting closer.

"Are you just going to stand there and wait like this?"

After waiting for a while, Tetsufumi Hirakawa suddenly asked.

"is it not OK?"

"Why do I feel a little stupid? I've been standing for a long time."

My legs are a little sore and the wind is a little cold.

"Is it stupid? Shiori thinks it's quite romantic."

"The word romance is usually used between lovers."

"Aren't we?"

"No." Hirakawa Tetsufumi denied.

"Then Mr. Hirakawa..." Shinohara Shiori asked again, "You like Shiori, right?"

"Yeah." Tetsufumi Hirakawa nodded slightly.

"Shiori likes you, too, teacher."

"Ah."

"Since we like each other, romance is fine."

"Okay." Hirakawa Tetsufumi didn't refute.

Shinohara Shiori was also satisfied and continued to lean back, waiting, waiting for the sunrise.

……

The arrival of sunrise seems to be just in an instant.

The dark blue sky was like the sky under the deep sea. At the horizon, the golden rising sun suddenly jumped out from the bottom of the sea while they were waiting quietly. It suddenly appeared in the sight of Tetsufumi Hirakawa and Shiori Shinohara.

Brilliant beams of light streaked across the sky and came straight towards us.

The color in front of my eyes instantly turned golden, brilliant golden.

The sound of the wind in my ears mixed with the sound of waves, and the surging waves shattered the golden light into pieces, sparkling.

The vast sea surface turned into a mirror, reflecting the sunrise and the light and shadow.

Just like Monet's "Impression, Sunrise".

Tetsufumi Hirakawa and Shiori Shinohara remained silent.

Ahead is the sunrise, the sea, the sky and the reflection.

There was wind behind him, blowing the long hair of the girl beside him forward.

The beautiful girl pressed closely against his side, leaning on his right shoulder; if he lowered his head slightly, he could see her face illuminated by the morning sun.

If it's romantic, it is indeed romantic.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa narrowed his eyes slightly and quietly admired the sea and sunrise in front of him.

Until a few minutes later, the golden morning sun completely jumped out of the sea level, and the entire sunrise process ended.

Shinohara Shiori was still leaning on Hirakawa Tetsufumi's shoulder.

Tetsuo Hirakawa glanced at her. She was not looking at the sea, but at him.

It was he who was reflected in the illuminated eyes.

When their eyes met, the girl blinked.

"Teacher Hirakawa?"

"It's about time to let go, Shinohara-san," said Hirakawa Tetsufumi, "The sunrise is over."

"Shiori wants to lean on me for a while longer." The girl's tone was somewhat willful.

“…Okay.” For the time being, Tetsufumi Hirakawa did not refuse.

"..."

"..."

"Actually, this isn't Shiori's first time watching the sunrise."

"Well, this is my first time... I don't usually get up this early."

"Hmm... I see. But this is indeed the first time I've watched it with Shiori and Hirakawa-sensei."

"Ah."

"It's not much fun to watch the sunrise alone. It's more fun to be with Mr. Hirakawa."

"Thank you."

“Should I say thank you here?”