People in Tokyo, the world is clear

Then there was no more loneliness, only the joy of encountering each other.

Lin Sen let most of his upper body show.

The waving arms startled the stunned neighbors.

She smiled back, reached out her hand to the rotating handle, and moved the window.

⒏14 The Age of

"what happened?"

"I almost forgot something, Ito. Next time you go out, close the windows and don't leave them open for ventilation."

"Senior, are you afraid of a thief breaking into your house again and want to find someone to take the blame?"

"...I'll knock you on the head if you mention this again."

I could barely explain the story of a kitten who climbed over a window and a wall while at work, and then risked climbing up a small platform that was too small for a person to stand on to get food and water from a stray dog ​​in the house next door.

The girl's bright eyes opened even louder. He lowered his head to examine the cat, which had a dead pig's indifferent expression, and suddenly used his little hands to grab the cat's thick skin.

A twist.

"Meow~"

The kitten who was obediently being punished cast a look full of resentment, but was naturally ignored by the young man who was even more shameless.

Afterwards, the mother cat, who learned about her child's mischievous behavior, gave her baby a severe scolding and education on safe travel on the spot.

In the end, I could only sigh and try to change the habit.

"Okay. I'll be careful about that next time I go out."

"It's quite late. Ito should go to bed early too."

"Ah."

The girl raised her hand and was about to close the window, but then she remembered something and was startled.

"Speaking of which, Senior."

"What's the matter."

Under the light of the stars and the moon, the girl smiled and said something.

The voice leaked through the last remaining crack in the window:

"It seems like it's been a long time since we said goodnight to each other."

"That's it."

I don't know when I forgot about this ceremony that I used to care about.

But the degree of concern between them seems to be no less.

Perhaps it was the original agreement, and the implicit responsibility that came from it, that had slowly seeped from the throat into the heart.

From empty words to more advantageous actions.

Thinking about it, he spoke leisurely:

"Maybe I slept well recently, so I didn't pay attention to this blessing. Where's Ito?"

"me too."

Finally, the girl said nothing more, but kept a cute half-smile on her face and pressed her palm against the window glass.

"Snapped."

Turning around with your back to the window, you stuff your little feet into the slippers one by one.

Then squat down and put the Scottish Fold cat on the ground.

Standing up again, Ito Xiguo stretched.

"Ok!"

I'm feeling sleepy.

It's time to go to bed.

In the end, I still didn't say that meaningless good night to each other.

[Perhaps it’s because the silent encouragement we give to each other is already more powerful than words.]

[Written by Ito Nishika on April 14th.]

Chapter 58: The Unclaimed Son

Lin Sen actually had some mental preparation on how abstract the concept of so-called "poor public schools" was.

But the facts before us still shocked us.

"This is a bit too shabby."

The main campus is located near an old industrial area in the southern suburbs of Tokyo. Compared to the urban center centered on Minato Ward, it seems physically closer to the industrial city of Kawasaki, nestled on the inner bay.

Therefore, the most eye-catching scenery around is not the buildings or green spaces, but the towering chimneys projected from the heavy processing plants in the distance.

How could there be a school in a place like this?

"Let me tell you, this is how it is in a lawless place!"

The security guard who claimed to be Datian's ex-son finally found someone to talk to.

He took a sip of water and started to talk to Lin Sen about science.

"Originally, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government planned to use the cheap land to build a charitable school and provide other supporting facilities. But it turned out to conflict with the industrial zone's development plans, so some plans couldn't be implemented. But the buildings are already built, so we just have to go ahead with it."

"That sounds a bit abstract."

Lin Sen's comment made the old man throw the empty cup onto the table and slap his thigh.

"Oh, just having a place to study is enough. Let me tell you, the tuition here is low! The students who study here are either the kind of slackers whose families have given up on them, or those from poor backgrounds with subpar grades. Just being able to study here and not cause trouble for their parents is enough! Besides, every year during high school graduation season, there are factories nearby that come to recruit young people, offering them on-the-job training before they go to work. It's a good way out!"

Lin Sen, who was listening, glanced quietly to the side.

The high school student lowered his head and stared at the ground, not saying a word.

But the fists hanging down to the sides of his legs that tightened from time to time made people realize that the child was resisting the future just described.

Recalling the posters in the other person's bag that he had picked up from somewhere and used to write notes on the blank back, I gradually felt a sense of empathy, hoping that the other person could change his fate.

Reach out and put your hand on the junior's shoulder.

"So, please contact Mr. Tachibana. I need to come to the school for an interview."

While the security guard turned around and squinted his eyes to dial the phone, he gently patted the back of the person next to him.

"You said that teacher is difficult to get along with?"

"Yeah, he sounds a bit aggressive. But, actually, he's a very nice person."

Lin Sen thought that it was his innate fear of faculty and staff that made this description a bit exaggerated.

But when I actually met him, I realized that he was already quite conservative.

The most eye-catching thing is the slightly angled sword-like eyebrows, which, combined with the bright eyes, give people the feeling of returning to the school days when they were caught stealing snacks.

The hand wearing the wedding ring quickly closed the lesson plan and pulled two chairs over.

"Sit first."

Perhaps it was because she had been through so much hard work in this environment filled with problem students. Although she looked much younger than Lin Sen, Ms. Ju exuded a sharp aura and an undeniable ruthlessness.

It is an aura that makes parents feel at ease.

"Yuzuru didn't come to school yesterday. Did something happen?"

"That's what I was going to say. This kid was bullied by his classmates."

His arms, which were swinging up and down as he was organizing the lecture notes, paused.

Then that sharp, burning gaze pierced over.

"Who?"

Several parties involved were quickly called over.

His face, which had a dead pig fearless expression, became extremely stiff when he entered the office and saw someone sitting on the chair.

Lin Sen just smiled without saying a word, and was stared at by a few big brothers who were used to bullying others in the school because they thought the teachers and staff would not really teach them a lesson.

Finally, they took turns finding the "Niwa-san" they had mentioned, apologized obediently, and promised that they would never do the same again.

Of course, you can just listen to this kind of nonsense.

But no matter what, the matter was temporarily resolved, and I also came to the school in person to intimidate the so-called bully, so it can be considered a complete success.

Lin Sen planned to leave first and then think of a way to help the child later.

But I seem to have overlooked one thing. There was a teacher who didn't let people go so easily.

"Could you please stay?"

When the high school students returned to the classroom, she stopped Lin Sen who was about to leave with her.

"can."

He agreed and simply sat back in his chair.

"Who are you to Yuzuru? The child has never wanted to talk to me about his family, and my requests for home visits have always been rejected."

Perhaps the excessive concern from the responsible teacher was too much for Niwa to bear.

It is probably because of self-esteem that he concealed his identity as an orphan.

It was understandable, so Lin Sen had no reason not to help this child whom he admired so much to continue to keep up the lie that he was unwilling to reveal.

"elder brother."

I thought the subsequent topic would extend to the family environment, but the subsequent questions raised were shocking.

"So, has your family ever really cared about Yuzuru?"

There is a tone of accusation.

Teacher Tachibana crossed his arms and practically glared at me.

"You didn't care that he was so hungry at noon that he had to slump over his desk. You didn't care that he couldn't afford notebooks and had to borrow paper from me. You didn't care that tuition was delayed again and again every year, almost making him unable to go to school. You didn't care that he even had to come to me to borrow his most important table tennis equipment. I really want to know: do you and your family really care about this child?"

"...I'll pay attention next time."

From the description, one could feel that the little guy's life was much worse than Lin Sen had imagined.

I wanted to take the opportunity to ask about other situations, but I found that the teacher in front of me seemed stunned for a moment.

He frowned, as if he had heard some information from the previous answer.

The gaze that had been slashing at him like a knife also became more restrained.

"You raised this child alone?"

Maybe it was because I subconsciously used "I" instead of "we" just now, and I got caught with my chicken feet.

In order to make a lie come true, more lies need to be developed.

Lin Sen had no choice but to take advantage of the situation:

"almost."

Then he suddenly realized that the sharp attitude of the person in front of him softened a little.

"I understand. I understand your hard work. My sister also raised me and my younger sister alone."

Then the subject changed again.

"But even so, you should take the time to pay attention to Yuzuru. It's really too much to let him do what he wants."

"I didn't expect this child to be in this situation at school."

Later I realized how difficult it was to aim for college in this high school.

Half the class slept in class, and of the remaining half, another half had no interest in listening. Most teachers taught with the attitude of just getting paid for the course, and were too lazy to bother with the discipline they couldn't manage.

It is really too difficult to be a sponge that absorbs knowledge in such an environment.