Harumi Junko walked out of Aomine Cram School, walking a couple of steps down the street with her head down before she couldn't help but look back at the window that still retained a faint light and had the four Chinese characters "Seiho Academy" pasted on it.
That Mr. Tsubota didn't seem to be in a hurry to leave yet; it looked like he still had a lot of things to be busy with.
"How I envy them, having a goal to strive for..."
The corner of Harumi Junko's mouth turned up slightly, forming a bitter smile.
The cool night breeze blew through her long beautiful hair; even with such an excellent appearance, it couldn't hide her dejected inner self.
Did she, already over thirty, look like the 'obasan' the students teased about?
At least before getting close to Harumi Junko herself, there used to be quite a few young rascals who wanted to hit on her.
But the final result was probably that after being shocked by the dispiriting aura about her, they would change their tune, then laugh at her while running away.
Life goal!
This is what Harumi Junko lacked right now.
Even without the solemn prefix "life," for over a decade, Harumi Junko hadn't even achieved one small goal.
After being fired from her previous Academy, Harumi Junko was once in despair.
Failed blind dates, facing unemployment, a life that couldn't be planned again – how much of a failure could one be!
"At least I still have a job now!"
Harumi Junko patted her cheeks. Life wasn't too bad yet!
Thirty-one years of life, never truly having been in love, and then getting a job when her career was almost completely doomed – compared to before, she couldn't be any luckier!
Now, being so optimistic, Harumi Junko still didn't plan to seriously plan the rest of her future life.
Unemployed during Golden Week, re-employed during Golden Week – as a semi-independent woman, it wasn't a complete failure yet!
Harumi Junko, be optimistic!
There couldn't be a more miserable situation than this. At Aomine Cram School, where the pressure was relatively less than her previous Academy, Harumi Junko felt she could still shine and show her worth.
Of course, as long as she didn't have to deal with that student preparing for Tokyo University!
Thinking this way, Harumi Junko felt that helping other students get into relatively good private Universities also counted as fulfilling a Teacher's responsibility.
Just then, a boy wearing a stand-collar school uniform walked out of the 24-hour convenience store ahead. He was carrying a ready-made bento box in his hand, and as soon as he stepped out, he entered Harumi Junko's line of sight.
"Ah, a Tokyo University student!"
Harumi Junko looked at the boy wearing glasses and subconsciously blurted it out.
Aki Tomoya looked expressionlessly at Harumi Junko on his right, and after hearing the phrase "Tokyo University student," he coughed as if he had choked.
As the new tutor at his Academy, Aki Tomoya couldn't possibly not know Harumi Junko, especially since comparing her to Mr. Tsubota highlighted her dejection even more.
Although he hadn't interacted much with her, Aki Tomoya still had a deep impression of her.
"Good evening, Harumi Sensei."
Without realizing it, he had gained the nickname "Tokyo University student" in this Teacher's mind, and Aki Tomoya couldn't help but chuckle at that moment.
Facing Harumi Junko, Aki Tomoya really couldn't treat her like a normal Teacher.
If he were to use a typical example to describe Harumi Junko, "failed adult" would be a very fitting description.
"Also, my name is Aki Tomoya, not Tokyo University student. If Harumi Sensei is wishing me well, then I truly thank you!"
Aki Tomoya said this as if he were making fun of himself.
For the new tutor who came to their Academy, Aki Tomoya didn't know if he should have any expectations for her. Being pretty was one thing, but ability was another.
As it stood, before interacting with students, Harumi Junko should probably think about how to rein in that subtle sense of defeat about her.
Such a gloomy aura would more or less affect the people around her.
"Good evening! Aki-kun!"
Harumi Junko realized she had misspoken in front of a student, and her expression instantly became somewhat self-pitying.
Not properly calling out the other person's name in front of a student, but instead subconsciously shouting out her inner thoughts – that was too rude!
As a Teacher, she should set a good example for the students.
Etiquette is a basic requirement!
"Tokyo University student... I really hope I'm not misunderstood!"
Harumi Junko felt a bit depressed. She didn't mean anything by it, but the listener might take it differently. If this title was taken as sarcasm, she really wouldn't know how to explain herself.
Leaving a bad impression on a student on the first day of meeting them – this kind of thing was definitely not the first time, and it might not be the last.
In short, if she wasn't careful, she might not even have the last chance to prove her worth.
Harumi Junko thought that Aomine Cram School shouldn't have as much pressure as Sannoh Cram School where she was before. She had been thinking maybe this time she could do well.
As a result, on the first day after work, she showed her true colors in front of a student. Just thinking about it made Harumi Junko feel like crying without tears.
Accepting the president's kindness and hoping to seize the opportunity, but the beginning still showed no signs of being able to change her fate.
In Aki Tomoya's eyes, Harumi Junko's appearance at that moment was a bit startling to him.
"Harumi Sensei?"
Aki Tomoya called out cautiously.
"I'm here, Aki-kun!"
Harumi Junko replied stiffly, not yet realizing that her current state had somewhat startled the student in front of her.
Aki Tomoya looked carefully at Harumi Junko, who was pretending to be composed in front of him, and then seriously asked, "Are you really okay?"
Suddenly being cared for by a student, but Harumi Junko couldn't feel happy at all, because she had already noticed that Aki Tomoya's gaze was a bit off.
She gave a slight bitter smile and said, "I'm really fine!"
Even though Harumi Junko said this, the pessimism in her heart was completely plastered on her face!
Aki Tomoya had seen many dejected people, but someone like Harumi Junko was rare.
The other person's pessimism made even Aki Tomoya couldn't help but wonder how much of a failure this Teacher had been in the past.
"Enough about me, Aki-kun, aren't you heading back yet? It's getting late!"
Harumi Junko, who couldn't hide her flaws in front of a student, could only choose to change the subject.
Being pitied by a student was equivalent to taking a high-multiplier critical hit for Harumi Junko.
Rather than having a student worry about the Teacher, it's better for the Teacher to worry about the student. Not going back so late, her family must be worried.
Aki Tomoya raised his hand without thinking, "I'm heading back now."
Only then did Harumi Junko notice that Aki Tomoya was carrying a ready-made bento box in his hand.
After noticing this detail, Harumi Junko's mind started working at the speed it did during her spirited student days.
This was a great opportunity to show her good qualities as a Teacher!
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