"He hasn't even started teaching, and I'm already bored out of my mind," Makoto muttered.
He stretched his arms, the stiff fabric of his blazer pulling slightly at his shoulders.
A cool breeze slipped in through the open classroom window, carrying with it the faint scent of spring grass.
Cherry blossom petals drifted lazily outside, some brushing against the glass with a soft tap that drew his eyes for only a moment before he sighed and slouched lower in his seat.
"If I have to sit through a whole school year with this guy," Makoto groaned, dragging a hand down his face, "I'll probably keel over before midterms out of sheer boredom."
His voice carried just enough for the students nearby to chuckle under their breath.
He slumped forward on his desk, cheek pressed against the cool wood, eyes half-lidded as the spring breeze ruffled his bangs.
The faint scratch of chalk on the blackboard only made his eyelids heavier, as if the teacher's presence alone was draining the life out of him.
Class finally ended, the sharp ring of the bell echoing through the room.
Chairs scraped against the floor as students rushed for the door, chatter filling the hallway.
Makoto shoved his hands into his blazer pockets and strolled out, shoulders slouched, eyes fixed ahead.
"Uh—M-Makoto, w-wait up!" a timid voice called from behind, barely rising above the noise.
Makoto's shoulders stiffened at the sound, and he let out a quiet groan before glancing back.
And here comes the other pain in my ass, he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing as he caught sight of Shino shuffling nervously, fingers fidgeting with his bag strap and cheeks faintly pink.
Makoto resumed walking, hands buried in the pockets of his blazer, the soft scrape of his shoes against the hallway tiles echoing behind him.
Shino jogged up beside him, sneakers squeaking lightly, a slight chill in the air making his breath puff faintly in little clouds.
"Um… M-Makoto—" Shino's voice wavered, barely rising above the murmur of passing students, and his fingers fidgeted with the strap of his backpack.
Makoto came to an abrupt stop and turned, brows already drawn into a frown.
"What do you want this time?"
His tone was sharp, annoyed, but his posture remained relaxed, shoulders hunched slightly as if daring Shino to answer.
Shino hesitated, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, fingers nervously twisting the strap of his backpack.
A small, tentative smile appeared on his face.
"S-So… um… would you maybe… want to join the basketball team with me? I-I mean… you're super good at it! You'd… make the team way stronger."
His voice wavered, and a faint pink dusted his cheeks as he avoided Makoto's eyes.
Makoto's expression darkened, eyebrows knitting together.
He shoved his hands deeper into the pockets of his blazer, shoulders stiffening.
"No thanks. You probably haven't heard from the upperclassmen, but I quit basketball over a year ago. I'm not going back. Made a promise to myself… and I stick to it."
Shino hesitated, fidgeting with his backpack strap, and whispered, "B-But… you played with us today, and… you actually looked like you were enjoying it."
His cheeks were faintly pink, and his voice trembled just enough to betray his nervous hope.
Makoto glanced away, hands buried deep in the pockets of his uniform blazer, jaw tight.
"I only played today as a favor to you. That's all."
His tone was flat, almost cold, but the slight twitch of his shoulder suggested he was bracing for Shino's next words.
Shino swallowed, stepping a little closer, trying to steady his voice.
"I… I understand, but—couldn't you at least think about it? We really need you."
Makoto turned his back, the spring air ruffling his hair as he strode forward, shoulders rigid.
His footsteps echoed softly against the hallway tiles.
"No. I'm leaving. See you around."
Shino watched him go, exhaling slowly as petals drifted across the walkway.
I don't know what to do to get him to join… What will it take?
"Thanks again! We hope you come shopping here again soon," the cashier said with a practiced, cheerful smile.
Tetsuo nodded politely, lifting the grocery bags with a careful hand.
The evening air was thick and humid, carrying faint wisps of smoke and the savory scent of grilled food from a nearby shop.
"That's everything on the list," he murmured to himself, adjusting the strap of his shoulder bag.
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, the slight ache in his arms a reminder of the day's work.
"Time to go home."
When he opened the door, he stepped onto the cool tile floor and removed his shoes.
"I'm home."
"Welcome home, big brother!" Usagi's cheerful voice rang from the kitchen.
"I prepared a bath for you, and I'm cooking dinner right now. Go ahead and relax!"
"Thanks, Usagi."
He nodded once, then walked past the hallway mirror.
Wet bangs clung to his forehead, and his eyes briefly caught his own reflection before he turned away.
Minutes later, he stepped out of the bath, towel draped around his neck.
Steam hung in the air, thick and warm, curling around the edges of the room.
The soft clatter of plates from the kitchen reached him as he dressed, his movements measured and precise.
"Oh, you're done!" Usagi's voice chimed as she popped her head into the room.
"Please sit down—I made your favorite today: curry and rice balls, with some veggies for balance!"
The warm, savory smell of the curry reached him, making his stomach growl softly.
"Thanks for the meal," he said, sliding onto the small wooden chair at the table.
"So… how was school today?" Usagi asked, setting her own bowl beside his, her eyes bright with curiosity.
Tetsuo picked up his chopsticks, methodically adjusting the food on his plate before answering.
"It went fine. Just like any other day," he said evenly, his gaze briefly flicking toward the window before returning to his meal.
"Big brother, couldn't you give me more details?" Usagi pouted, her lower lip jutting slightly as she leaned forward.
Tetsuo gave a small nod, adjusting the chopsticks in his hand before placing them neatly on the table.
"Alright. I met a lot of classmates who are really into sports and clubs. Played basketball during gym too."
"That's great! Wait—on that topic, did you sign up for the basketball team?"
He paused, chopsticks hovering over his plate.
His movements were deliberate, measured.
"I was asked by some upperclassmen… but I turned them down."
Usagi's cheerful face drooped.
Her chopsticks rattled against the plate as she set them down, the clatter loud in the quiet room.
Her hands trembled slightly.
"Why would you do that?" Her voice cracked, betraying the weight behind her words.
Tetsuo leaned back slightly, hands resting on the table, his gaze steady on her.
"I've got responsibilities," he said evenly. "My job… making sure we're stable… you have school to attend. You come first, Usagi. As long as you're happy, that's all I need."
She stared at him, eyes glossy with unshed tears.
The scrape of her sleeve against the table echoed in the stillness.
"You don't understand, do you?" she whispered, voice trembling.
"My happiness… it came from watching you be happy."
Tetsuo blinked once, slow and deliberate, his expression unchanged.
The faint scrape of his chair on the floor punctuated the silence.
"I remember when you used to play basketball with Dad," Usagi said, voice wavering.
She hugged her arms to her chest, fingers pressing into the fabric of her sleeve.
"You laughed, you cried, you shouted. You were alive. I was just a kid watching from the side, but those moments… they were everything to me."
Her gaze dropped to the floor for a moment, then back up at him.
"So now, it's the same. Your happiness is mine. Please… just join the team again. For you."
Tears shimmered in her eyes, catching the light from the window.
Her shoulders shook slightly with the effort of holding herself together.
"But…"
"Didn't we come here to change? We're not here to dwell on the past—we're here to move past it for good," Usagi said, voice small but firm, her fingers twisting in her lap.
She looked up at him again, eyes shining.
"I want you to be happy like back then, so please, just join. I don't want to be the only one that's happy—I want to see you smile every once in a while too."
Tetsuo said nothing.
His posture remained straight, hands resting on his knees, expression unreadable.
The quiet hum of the room filled the pause between them.
Tetsuo looked down at his half-finished meal.
The curry had cooled, steam no longer rising from the plate.
He pushed his spoon slightly through it, the faint scrape against the bowl the only sound in the quiet room.
"I understand," he said after a pause, voice calm and measured.
"I'll give it some thought."
Usagi wiped at her eyes quickly, leaving faint streaks on her cheeks.
"Thank you…" she whispered, her fingers trembling slightly as they brushed her sleeve.
He glanced at her gently.
"So, how was your day? Everything alright?"
"Well… I made three friends," she said, perking up slightly, her fingers drumming lightly on the table.
"But… a girl in my class already seems to hate me."
"That so? Best to avoid her for now. Don't let it grow into something worse," he replied evenly, voice calm, eyes steady on her.
"I know. I'll be careful." She nodded, biting her lip in thought.
Tetsuo stood, picking up his plate, the weight of the dishes firm in his hands.
"I'll handle the dishes."
"No, leave it to me!" Usagi said with a bright smile, her hands brushing at the edge of the counter.
"You should rest. Go lie down."
He hesitated, then nodded once.
"Alright. Goodnight, Usagi."
The soft clatter of her footsteps echoed as she moved toward the sink, leaving him standing quietly in the dim kitchen light.
The next morning, just before the first bell, Sachiko knocked gently on the door of the student council room.
Her fingers fidgeted briefly with the hem of her uniform, the nervous movement barely noticeable.
"Morning. Is anyone here?" she called softly.
"Come on in, Takahashi," came the calm voice from within.
"I've been expecting you."
Yoshida sat behind the desk, hands folded neatly, posture straight, her gaze steady.
"I'm glad to see that you came. So, you're interested in becoming a student council member, right?"
"Yes, I am," Sachiko replied, stepping inside.
Her shoes clicked softly against the polished floor.
"I ran some background checks on all the first-year students," Yoshida continued, her voice measured, "and you stand out the most. You're from a prestigious family, you were student council president in junior high, you're intelligent, composed, and people listen when you speak."
Sachiko's expression barely shifted, but a flutter ran through her stomach.
"You're the most suitable candidate for vice president. But it comes with weight—responsibilities, time, expectations. If you're ready to carry that, then I want you for the role."
"I will gladly take it," Sachiko said, bowing slightly, her hands pressed lightly at her sides.
"Good," Yoshida said, nodding once.
"Now, your first task."
Sachiko tensed imperceptibly, her fingers curling slightly.
"There's a student with no recorded background—Tetsuo Kawaguchi. But he scored perfectly on the entrance exams. Since you're in the same class, I want you to learn more about him. And if possible, convince him to join the council. Someone like him could help fix real problems at this school."
Sachiko's mind swirled.
Tetsuo? How am I going to convince him to join the student council when I can barely say two words to him? But… I have to do this.
She straightened her back, took a small breath, and nodded firmly.
"I will do my best to convince him."
"I'm counting on you, Sachiko." Yoshida's eyes held hers, calm but unwavering.