That morning, after having breakfast with the family, the large Ichijou household returned to its quiet atmosphere. The servants cleaned the dining table, while Raku walked toward his room. His heart was beating a little faster than usual. Today was the third and last day of private lessons with Mafuyu Kirisu—the teacher who, ever since the first time she entered this house, had always seemed awkward, but gradually became more open.
When his door was knocked on gently, a soft voice was heard.
"Excuse me, I'm coming in."
Mafuyu Kirisu stepped in carrying a large folder filled with test papers. Her long pink hair flowed neatly over her shoulders, and her green eyes sparkled even though they looked a little tired. She pulled a chair and sat in front of Raku, who was already prepared at his study desk.
"All right, Ichijou-kun. Today will not be an ordinary lesson. I will give you the final test from our three days of private study." Mafuyu placed the stack of papers on the table. "There are fifty multiple-choice questions and five essays. The contents cover mathematics, history, geography, physics, language, and several other basic subjects."
Raku looked at the test papers, his eyes calm, showing no sign of panic. "Is this… like a school exam?"
Mafuyu nodded, smiling faintly. "More or less. The difference is, this is to assess your readiness. If you can do well, I'll feel more at ease letting you enter school later. Remember, there's no need to rush. you have two full hours."
Raku took a deep breath, then said firmly, "All right. I'll do my best."
With the rustling sound of paper, Raku began reading the first question. His eyes moved quickly from top to bottom, his hand immediately writing the answers on the answer sheet.
—
Minute by minute passed.
In that room, only the sound of a pencil dancing across paper could be heard.
Mafuyu occasionally glanced at her student. She was stunned. The way Raku worked on the questions was not like a panicked student rushing through, but rather full of calmness. His eyes focused, his brows furrowed slightly, then slowly relaxed every time he found the answer.
A math problem about quadratic equations was solved in just three lines. A history question about the Meiji Restoration he answered correctly, mentioning important years he had only studied three days ago. Geography? Raku drew a small line on a blank map of Japan to show the course of the Shinano River. Physics? He wrote down the formula for gravitational acceleration calmly, then applied it to the problem of a free-falling object.
There was hardly any doubt on his face.
An hour felt short. When the clock on the desk pointed exactly at 11, Raku put down his pencil and exhaled. "It's done."
Mafuyu blinked, a little in disbelief. "A-already? All of it?"
Raku nodded calmly. "Yes. I think I've done everything."
Mafuyu immediately pulled the test and answer sheets, then began checking. Her eyes scrutinized line by line, scribble by scribble. The room was filled with tense silence, only the sound of paper being flipped could be heard.
A few minutes later, Mafuyu closed the folder. Her lips parted slightly, as if it was hard to believe what she had seen.
"…95% correct," she finally said, her voice mixed with astonishment.
Raku turned with a doubtful look. "Is that… good?"
Mafuyu sighed, then smiled. A smile that this time was not awkward, but sincere. "That's… incredible. Ichijou-kun, even a normal student who studies for months doesn't always get scores this high. Out of fifty multiple-choice questions, you only missed three. And from the five essays, all were answered clearly and concisely."
Raku lowered his head slightly, his hands gripping his knees. "Maybe… it's because I'm like a blank sheet of paper. No memories mixing in, so every new lesson sticks easily."
Mafuyu was silent upon hearing that. She could see the sincerity on her student's face, and somehow her heart felt a little ache. But she quickly straightened up, delivering the results with a proud tone.
"What's clear is, these three days have been enough proof. With your current ability, I can be sure you won't struggle following school lessons later. The rest—and this is the most important—is how you interact with others. Socializing, making friends, learning together. That can't be taught through books alone."
Raku looked at her, then gave a small smile. "I understand, Kirisu-sensei. Thank you so much. Because of you, I've made it this far."
Mafuyu blushed slightly, then stood up. "In that case… I declare you passed as the fastest private student I've ever taught. Only three days, but the results are very satisfying."
She tidied up the folder, then looked at Raku with a gentle expression rarely seen. "I… am glad to have met you, Ichijou Raku."
Raku stood, bowed deeply, then said sincerely, "Me too. Thank you, Kirisu-sensei, for teaching me many things… not only lessons, but also about school and life within it."
For a moment, the room was filled with warm silence. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the faces of the student and teacher who looked at each other with meaningful feelings.
Mafuyu smiled faintly, then stepped out, carrying with her a sense of relief—and a bit of loss—because that brief encounter had already come to an end.
Meanwhile, Raku looked at the door slowly closing, whispering in his heart, 'I… am getting closer to something. But… who am I really?'
...
The corridor of the house felt silent after Raku's door closed softly. Mafuyu stood still for a moment, taking a deep breath as if to calm the warmth still lingering after testing her private student. A faint smile appeared on her face—not just pride as a teacher, but more a sense of relief that the boy with amnesia had exceeded expectations.
Her steps slowly traced the wooden floor that gleamed under the reflection of morning light. From the opposite direction, the sound of wooden sandals echoed rhythmically. Issei appeared, wearing casual home clothes: a gray yukata with a simple belt, his brown hair slightly messy, but his gaze remained warm as always. He was holding a teacup, the fresh aroma of green leaves spreading in the air.
"Kirisu-sensei," Issei greeted softly, his smile like that of a father ready to hear news about his son. "How did it go? Today was the final test, wasn't it?"
Mafuyu bowed politely for a moment, then answered in a professional tone, though with a hint of sincerity she couldn't hide.
"Yes, Mr. Issei. Today I gave a combined test—fifty multiple-choice questions and five essays. The material covered Mathematics, Physics, History, Geography, and even general logic. Honestly, I didn't expect too much, considering it was only three days of lessons… but the results—" Mafuyu stopped for a moment, as if to ensure her words wouldn't be exaggerated.
Issei watched her attentively. "The results?" he asked again in a calm voice.
Mafuyu took a breath, then smiled faintly. "Extraordinary. The score was nearly perfect. Only a few mistakes on the multiple-choice, while the essays he answered with neat logic and simple but precise language. If I grade it by school standards, the result is ninety-five percent. That… was surprising, even for me."
Issei was silent for a moment. The steam from his teacup rose slowly, as if filling the quiet pause. His gaze softened, then a proud smile spread across his face.
"I see…" he muttered, more like talking to himself. "That child… even though he lost his memories, he can still stand on his own efforts."
Mafuyu continued in a more personal tone.
"For three days, I saw consistent progress. He grasped explanations quickly, wasn't afraid to ask, and most importantly—he didn't give up easily even when facing some difficulties. I think, with this foundation, he won't struggle in formal school lessons. The rest… is just how he adapts in a social environment."
Issei lowered his teacup, looking at Mafuyu with gratitude. "I thank you, Kirisu-sensei. In such a short time, you've already given him something big. Not only knowledge, but also confidence."
Mafuyu felt a little awkward, her face blushing slightly at such sincere appreciation. She looked aside, then spoke softly,
"I only did my duty as a teacher… though, honestly, results like this are rare. Usually, it takes weeks or even months."
Issei smiled warmly, then nodded deeply. "But for Raku, three days were enough to prove himself. That's thanks to your guidance. Thank you, Kirisu-sensei."
Mafuyu responded with a small smile, then bowed once more. "I am also glad to have met him. Even though it was brief, I feel… there's something special about him. I don't know what."
Issei only gave a faint smile, gazing far away as if he knew more than he could say. The soothing aroma of tea filled the air, while the morning went on. Their conversation ended in a silence full of understanding—two adults equally aware that the boy named Raku was not just an ordinary child.