That morning's lesson finally ended. Mafuyu closed her notebook, then slowly put her marker and folder into her bag, as if trying to calm herself down. Her face still carried traces of surprise—throughout her teaching, she rarely encountered a student who could grasp lessons this quickly.
Raku, who had been sitting neatly in his chair, looked at Mafuyu with a calm smile. "Sensei seems impressed."
Mafuyu turned, slightly awkward. "Eh? Ah, yes… I just didn't expect it. Usually students take time to recall formulas or historical events. But you… answered quickly, even without me giving hints."
Raku lowered his gaze for a moment, then looked at his hand still holding the pencil. In a flat yet honest tone, he spoke softly,
"Maybe… because I have amnesia, Sensei."
Mafuyu frowned. "What do you mean?"
Raku took a slow breath. His eyes stared straight at the desk, as if searching for the right words.
"Ever since I woke up from the hospital… my head feels empty, like a blank sheet of paper without any marks. I don't have past memories, nothing weighing me down. So… when Sensei teaches me something, everything I hear sticks directly in my head. It doesn't get mixed with old memories… because there aren't any."
Mafuyu fell silent. That simple explanation sounded logical, yet at the same time made her chest feel heavy. 'This child… lost something precious, but because of that he can easily accept new things.'
Raku continued, with a faint smile.
"So maybe… that's why I quickly remember today's lessons. Not because I'm smart, but because my mind is still empty."
Mafuyu looked at him for a few seconds. A strange feeling stirred in her heart—between admiration and pity. She wanted to say something comforting, but her lips could only utter a simple sentence:
"…Even so, your effort is still great, Ichijou-kun. Not just because you can remember, but because you truly put in effort."
Raku looked at her, then nodded slowly. "Thank you, Sensei."
For a moment, the room turned silent. Only the soft rustle of notebook pages could be heard, blown by the wind from the half-open window. Mafuyu then stood up, straightening her blazer, and spoke in a soft yet firm voice:
"In that case, that's enough for this morning's lesson. Tomorrow we'll continue with practice exercises. Don't forget to rest, okay."
Raku smiled and answered briefly, "Alright."
As Mafuyu stepped out of the room, she realized one thing—this child might not have a past to remember, but because of that, every day with him would become a new beginning she had never experienced before.
The corridor of the Ichijou family's large house felt quiet as Mafuyu left Raku's room. She closed the door gently, as if not wanting to disturb the peace of her new student still sitting inside. She let out a long breath, trying to ease the tension still lingering in her chest.
'He's different from other students…' she thought. 'Not only quick to remember, but there's something behind his calm eyes. As if every word I say directly embeds so deeply.'
"How was the lesson?"
A heavy yet calm voice came from the end of the corridor. Mafuyu flinched slightly, then turned. Issei Ichijou stood there, his hands folded behind his back, his gaze sharp yet filled with the dignity of a Yakuza family head.
Mafuyu quickly straightened up, trying to maintain professionalism. "Ah Mr. Issei. The lesson… went smoothly. No problem at all. Ichijou Ichijou-kun… even though it was the first day, he showed the ability to absorb lessons quickly. I… honestly was quite impressed."
Issei gave a faint smile, then stepped closer. "I see… that's good to hear. Thank you for taking the time, Kirisu-sensei."
Mafuyu bowed politely. "No need to thank me, it is my duty after all."
Issei glanced at his watch, then spoke in a casual yet commanding tone:
"It's already noon. How about we have lunch together in the dining room? Consider it also to honor a guest who has come from afar."
Mafuyu was a bit surprised, then hurriedly raised her hand. "Ah, no need! I… don't want to trouble you. Besides, I usually eat after I return home."
But before she could finish her refusal, a strange sound echoed in the quiet space.
gruuukkk…
Mafuyu froze. Her eyes widened, then slowly lowered as her face flushed bright red. That was clearly her stomach, undeniable.
Issei paused for a moment, then a low laugh escaped his lips. "Hahaha… it seems your stomach is more honest than your words, Sensei."
Mafuyu lowered her head even further, covering her face with her hand. "Ugh… sorry… truly embarrassing…"
Issei shook his head while smiling broadly. "No need to be embarrassed. That's normal. Besides, in this house food is always plentiful. Consider it part of our gratitude since Sensei has gone through the trouble of teaching my son."
He signaled with his hand, and one of the servants approached, bowing deeply.
"Please escort Kirisu-sensei to the dining room. Serve the best lunch."
The servant responded briefly, "Yes, Mr. Issei."
Mafuyu could only lower her head in resignation, her cheeks still red from embarrassment. In her heart, she let out a long sigh. Why did it have to be my stomach that gave me away…
Meanwhile, Issei simply smiled with satisfaction, then walked alongside Mafuyu to the dining room. The aura of the family head remained firm and dignified, yet there was a trace of gentleness that made Mafuyu feel—that even though she was in a Yakuza family's house—the atmosphere wasn't as frightening as she had imagined.
The Ichijou family's dining room that afternoon felt warm with sunlight streaming through the large window at the side of the room. The long table was neatly arranged, filled with white porcelain plates adorned with golden linings. The aroma of dashi, roasted chicken, and fresh vegetables filled the air, tempting anyone who entered.
Raku was already seated in his chair, waiting for his father to arrive. He was slightly surprised when he saw Mafuyu entering with Issei. His blue eyes widened.
"Eh? Kirisu-sensei…?" Raku looked confused. "You… are joining the meal too?"
Mafuyu blushed, her hand reflexively fixing her hair. "A-ah, yes… by chance, your father… invited me. Sorry if it feels awkward…"
Raku smiled faintly, innocently. "Not at all. In fact, I'm glad to eat together. Usually I only eat with Father and Ryunosuke."
Issei sat calmly at the head of the table, then signaled the servants to serve the dishes. "No need to be shy, Sensei. Consider this an ordinary lunch feast. In this house, when it comes to eating, we never do things halfway."
Soon, servants came bringing an array of dishes: a large plate of fresh sashimi, roasted chicken glazed with honey sauce, hot miso soup, various stir-fried vegetables, even crispy tempura with the fragrant aroma of sesame oil.
Mafuyu unconsciously widened her eyes. 'This much…?'
She swallowed hard. In her small apartment, she often only managed to buy simple bento before going home. Sometimes instant noodles became the savior. Seeing the abundant food displayed before her, her heart beat a little faster.
Ryunosuke, sitting beside Raku, only smiled while pouring hot tea. "Please, Sensei. In this house, guests are always treated like family."
Raku bowed slightly, then began taking rice. "Itadakimasu…" he said softly, with his calm demeanor after amnesia.
Issei turned to Mafuyu. "Please, don't hold back. If you don't take quickly, Ryunosuke usually finishes it first."
"Oi, Master…" Ryunosuke cleared his throat, though his face clearly suppressed laughter.
Mafuyu finally picked up her chopsticks, still a little stiff, then tasted the miso soup first. Warm, smooth, with broth flavor perfectly balanced on the tongue. Her eyes softened unconsciously, and she let out a small breath. "So delicious…" she muttered without realizing.
Raku, hearing that, smiled too. "I also like the miso soup here. Somehow it feels comforting."
The conversation at the dining table gradually flowed. Mafuyu was initially awkward, only nodding and answering briefly, but slowly she began to open up. She listened to Issei casually asking about the busyness of a teacher, Ryunosuke telling stories about Raku's cuteness while learning to cook that morning, while Raku himself occasionally chimed in with his innocent smile.
Though the atmosphere carried the dignified aura of a Yakuza family, the warmth was still clearly felt—a warmth that Mafuyu rarely experienced outside.