Volume 2 - CH 6.1

“I’m not mad at you. But it is wrong to steal from others. You know that, don’t you? So let’s apologize honestly. Okay?”

Her words, spoken softly as if instructing him, almost made her nod my head. The alluring and luscious sound of her words shocks the ear canals, but the Yukito Kokonoe denies it without hesitation.

“It wasn’t me.”

“Then why was it in Kokonoe’s desk?”

“I don’t know.”

Since he really did not know, he had no choice but to answer in that way.

The face of the trainee in front of her is bewildered.

It was a story that would have ended immediately if the boy, Yukito Kokonoe, had just apologized.

In fact, she was not angry at all; she was happy that he had taken an interest in her.

So, the trainee, Misaki Himiyama, was beginning to feel remorse for having questioned him in the classroom without consideration.

“Enough already! Kokonoe-kun. Why don’t you tell us honestly? What you did was theft, just like shoplifting. It’s a crime. You did something that the police would arrest you for if you grew up!”

“I see. But it wasn’t me.”

“Kokonoe-kun!”

“S-suzuka-sensei, calm down. I am not angry, and as long as he hears me say it, I am sure even Kokonoe-kun will understand. Right?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I didn’t do it.”

“Admit it! I’ll call your parents!”

“By all means.”

“Kokonoe-kun!”

Susuka sanjoji’s voice was raised, but the boy in front of her was completely unperturbed.

He did not seem to have any awareness that he had done anything wrong.

It is necessary for children to make a clear distinction between right and wrong. A teacher is not a person who only has to teach learning.

Suzuka Sanjoji believes that it is the duty of a teacher to guide and lead children so that they can grow up to have a better life and a brighter future.

And the first step is elementary school.

In a sense, elementary school teachers need to treat their students like family.

Unlike in the upper grades, where students are becoming more aware of living in a group and of hierarchical relationships, this is more the case in the lower grades.

Personal belongings of Misaki Himiyama, who was assigned to this class as an educational intern, were found in Yukitko Kokonoe’s desk. It was discovered during cleaning time when a student was carrying a desk and found it spilling out of Yukito Kokonoe’s desk. It was not an expensive item. It was not something that he would be in trouble if she did not have it. It was a small compact with a mirror that could not even be called a makeup kit.

The motive was probably that he was curious about Misaki Himiyama and ended up picking up some of her personal belongings. Just as they sometimes call their teachers “mothers,” teachers are special to boys and girls at the impressionable age of early elementary school. It is not surprising that he has a faint liking for her.

That is why, at first, both Susuka Sanjoji and Misaki Himiyama had such a light perception of it.

At the end of class, he would have to say one sentence, “I’m sorry,” and they would laugh and pat him on the head, telling him not to do it again. That was the end of it.

It was supposed to be such a trivial little incident that was easy to dismiss with a smile.

However, contrary to his eye-rolling, he denied it outright. He would not admit any fault of his own. The story changes in this case. As an educator, she must guide her students in the right direction. Unless the boy, Yukito Kokonoe, recognizes that stealing from others is wrong, he may repeat the same thing in the future.

If that happens, his life will become dark and backward. As his homeroom teacher and an educator, Suzuka Sanjoji had a sense of duty not to let that happen, and Misaki Himiyama felt the same way.

She tried to convince him of this, but no matter how many times she repeated her words, he would not apologize.

In fact, he would not even admit his guilt. Gradually, she became frustrated and raised her voice, but Yukito Koknoe still took it in stride and kept a blank expression on his face.

“I’m really going to call them! Are you sure?”

“You’re so persistent.”

“Suzuka-sensei, you don’t have to go that far ……”

“If we can’t make him listen to us, his parents will have to scold him. What Kokonoe-kun did is a crime. If this continues, he will surely have a hard time in the future.”

“But……”

“Misaki-sensei, your gentleness is a virtue, but it is not enough to be a teacher. You want to be a great teacher, don’t you?”

“Yes,……. I love children.”

“Then you have to be a heartthrob here.”

“I guess …….your right, I really didn’t want to take care of it like this, but…”

They were still in the middle of their homecoming meeting. All of their classmates were still there. In the midst of the protracted meeting, Hinagi Suzurikawa who had finished first, was waiting outside the classroom with an anxious expression on her face.

“Have you finished your story? Hi-chan is waiting for me and I want to go home.”

“I haven’t finished! Admit it!”

“About what?”

“You know, Kokonoe-kun. Stealing someone’s things is wrong. What you did was stealing. It is a very bad thing.”

“I heard that before, and it’s not me, so I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Misaki-Sensei, let’s call his parents.”

“Suzuka-sensei,……. Is that the only way……”

“Are you done? Hi-chan is waiting for me, so I’m going home.”

The farewell party, which was supposed to end soon, was beginning to take a turn for the worse.

Some of the people, perhaps bored with the party, began to shout, “Thieves, thieves!” and some of them started to make a loud noise.

By now, Suzuka Sanjoji and Misaki Himiyama were beginning to regret having told this story here. It was a complete blunder that could not be undone.

Elementary school students are always sensitive. What should have been a minor incident that should have ended here and now was deeply etched in the memories of their classmates because it had gone on for so long.

If such a mindset prevails in the class, there is a danger that it will lead directly to bullying.

He should have been called to the staff room or an empty classroom and dealt with individually.

There is no way that he would not be hurt by being exposed in this manner. Despite his expressionless face, he must have been deeply hurt. It was a mistake to press him to admit it in front of his classmates. If he had asked the question to just one person elsewhere, he might have admitted it. He was probably just being stubborn. Perhaps he was just embarrassed.

It was their own lack of response that made it happen.

Even Suzuka Sanjoji is still just an inexperienced teacher. There was no way she could have handled everything. She was inwardly tongue-tied at her own lack of awareness.

She had no choice but to decide that it was not a good idea to continue pursuing the matter.

“Kokonoe-kun, go home and ask your parents what went wrong.”

It is not that she hates Yukito Kokonoe. He is an important and precious pupil. It’s a boy with a future. In fact, this is out of concern for that boy.

Suzuka Sanjoji and Misaki Himiyama watched anxiously as Yukitko Kokonoe walked out of the classroom, hoping that their feelings would be conveyed to him.

“Hi-chan, I’m sorry. I’m late.”

“No problem, don’t worry. But how awful! Yu-chan would never do such a thing!”

Although she was not aware of all the events, she was still watching them from the hallway, and her left hand, opposite her right hand on the chain, was moving up and down, angrily. She was expressing her anger.

“Hi-chan, do you believe me?”

“Of course I do! Yu-chan and I are childhood friends. I know that Yu-chan would never do such a bad thing.”

“Thanks, Hi-chan.”

“Ehehe.”

The smile on her face lightens Yukito Kokonoe’s heart as well.

Then again, how did it end up in my desk ……?”

I don’t know. Maybe the person who picked it up thought it was Yu-chan’s?”

“Hnmm. But only girls have those things, right?”

“My mom has one, too!”

“Right?”

It was always just the two of them going to and from school. Chatting about trivial things as they walked, they would soon arrive at their destinations. It was just a normal day. But even so, Yukito Kokonoe liked this time. He thinks it is important.

Suddenly, he feels something tugging at his heartstrings and stops walking.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong, Yu-chan?”

“Himiyama-sensei said it disappeared after school yesterday.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. but something is not right. I went home with Hi-chan right after school yesterday, didn’t I?”

“We played together at the park.”

Then again, I can’t steal anything.”

If the compact was stolen after school yesterday, it is impossible for him to do it.

“That’s right! Yu-chan was with me!”

“When I was going home with Hi-chan, we passed by the usual store. And I also met Yamamoto’s grandfather.”

If one walks along a busy street, one encounters so many different people. Neighbors walking their dogs, shopkeepers, strangers, and acquaintances. If so, all the people he met yesterday would prove that he was not the culprit.

“When I get home, I’ll make a record of my activities!”

“Yu-chan, did you come up with something again?”

“”Yes, I did. Hi-chan, I can’t play with you today.

“I’ll help you!”

“Don’t worry, Hi-chan. I don’t think it will take that long. It’s getting late today, so let’s play another time.”

“I see. ……”

Her twin tails drooped down as if to show her emotion. Hinagi was a very easy girl to understand.

When he arrives home, the hands that had been holding each other’s hands parted, as if regretting the absence of the other.

A faint feeling of loneliness comes over him. The warmth of his slightly warmer hand seemed to tell him that it was okay for him to be here, that he didn’t have to leave, and that’s why he loved this time.

“See you tomorrow, Hi-chan”

“See you tomorrow. Yu-chan, bye-bye!”

The only thing he could do was to think that he wished they could keep their hands linked forever.

Around 8 pm the phone rang.

Yukito Kokonoe knew what it was about. It was her mother, Sekka Kokonoe, who had also returned home.

While receiving the call, Sekka Kokonoe’s expression gradually becomes one of bewilderment.

From the conversation that leaked out, there was no doubt that the person on the other end of the line was her homeroom teacher, Suzuka Sanjoji . Her older sister, Yuuri Kokonoe, was also looking at the situation with a suspicious expression.

After the phone call was over, Sekka opened her mouth in a probing manner.

Originally, there was not much conversation in the household. In fact, they rarely spoke to each other except on a need-to-know basis.

And it was all because of Sekka Kokonoe, and she was aware of it. Perhaps that is why she does not know how she should treat or talk to her beloved son, Yukito Kokonoe.

She doesn’t know how to deal with her child. That is why she makes mistakes.

She never really meant it, and she never wanted to say it that way.

Yukito, you know. Did you steal something from an intern teacher who was on a teaching?

“What?”

Yuuri muttered, wrinkling her brow and not even hiding her annoyance.

“I didn’t steal anything.”

But the teacher said so. What happened today? Tell me. If there’s something you want, just tell me. I’ll buy you anything you want. But don’t steal anything, okay?”

“No, that’s–!”

Yuuri tried to stop her in a panic, but it was no use.

“I see. You don’t believe me after all.”

Yukito mutters to himself. It is just a confirmation of the fact.

There was the usual Yukito Kokonoe there, without any emotion, without any inflection.

However, when Sekka and Yuuri hear those words, they clearly understand that it was a mistake. They realize that they made another mistake.

Obviously, she had misplaced the first word she should have said.

“I’m sorry to cause you trouble. But I didn’t steal anything and I don’t want anything. I’ll fix it right away.”

He got up from the living room to go back to his room.

“W-Wait! You got it wrong. I just want to talk to you, I didn’t suspect you…!”

“I believe you, Yukito! You would never do such a thing.”

“You don’t have to believe me.”

“I’m not forcing myself ! I’ve always believed in you!”

“I see. Thank you.”

The attitude was contrary to the words. The back of the departing boy refuses to say any more words. Only a sense of emptiness remained.

Without knowing what had happened, all that remained was a stunned blank stare.

Maybe if they had been able to trust him from the beginning, he would have told them something. Maybe he would have asked for help. He said he didn’t steal. What does that mean? Different stories.

That is exactly what the parents should have asked their son, and it was their role to fill in the gaps. Nevertheless, she assumed that her son had stolen the item.

As a mother, she should have been on her son’s side, but instead, she betrayed him again.

It was too late to repent. She muttered to herself, “You don’t believe me after all”.

From the beginning, as his mother, he never thought that she would believe him.

And, as it turned out, she did not believe him. Ironically, her son knew better than she did, or so she thought.

“Why is it always, always, always, always!”

Angry, Yuuri also went to her room.

Yuuri’s frustration is unbearable. Yuuri, too, has a great deal of hurt. The family relationship is broken.

She is the one who has created it, there is no family reunion, she is always unable to express her true feelings, and she is always spinning out of control despite her deepest feelings.

“What are you going to do …… when you say, “I’ll fix it right away?”

Her son is always ready to do what he says he will do. Without knowing anything, without understanding anything, surely he will end up taking it all on his own again

He will not rely on his mother, whom he doesn’t believe in anyway.

If that is the case, what is the purpose of being here? What can she do for him?

“What can I do for him when I can’t even trust him ……”

What is a mother to do for her children if she can’t even trust them?

“Yukito….”

There was no one here anymore to answer when she uttered the name of her beloved son.