Shiori Shinohara, dressed in her pajamas, sat at her desk.

The autumn morning sun poured in through the window, through the light pajamas, and the body of a young girl was visible under the bright pajamas.

But in the bedroom where no one else was, this was not worth paying attention to, and Shiori Shinohara set her eyes on the book on the table.

She reached out, opened the book, and flipped through several more pages to find the contents.

It reads:

【…… The day she went to Thomas's house, she had a copy under her arm, and at the beginning of this book, it was strange to write that Anna and Volynsky had met on the platform of a train where a man had just been killed under the train. At the end of the story, Anna is lying under a train. 】

[This symmetrical layout, the same plot appears at the beginning and end, it seems that it may be very "flavorful". Yes, I admit it, but only on condition that it doesn't mean "fictional", "apocryphal", or "not at all like life" to you. Because that's how life is made. 】

[Life is like composing music. Guided by beauty, man turns accidental events into a theme, and then records them in the music of life. Just as the composer composes the main theme of the sonata, the theme of life is also repeated, repeated, revised, and extended. 】

[Anna can end her life in any way, but the unforgettable theme of the station, death, and the birth of love combine to tempt her with a bleak beauty in her moment of despair. 】

[Man is composing the music of life according to the law of beauty, until the moment of deep despair, but he knows nothing. 】

……

Tetsufumi Hirakawa closed the book.

He sat at his desk, which received and reflected the early autumn sunlight from the window, and the sunlight reflected the title of the book on the brown cover into his eyes.

The unbearable lightness of life.

He stared without saying a word, and finally, silently, got up and set the book aside.

In this way, it may be that his last-minute visit to Shinohara's home was also guided by this sense of beauty from fate.

The beginning and the end, symmetrical distribution, the same thing happens. However, the rationale for the action has changed in the shadows.

The process from "teaching students well is a teacher's vocation" to "it is no longer suitable to continue to be a teacher" is really ......

It's emotional.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa, who was wearing pajamas and only a coat, walked out of the study and went downstairs.

Today is Saturday, November 8th, the first day of the end of my teaching career, and I am still a little unaccustomed.

It's obviously a day off, but in the past, I should be lying in bed very leisurely.

But today, when I woke up and looked at the empty ceiling, I just felt that something was missing.

Take your time, though, and you'll get used to it.

……

"Ding Dong."

After washing up and having breakfast, Tetsufumi Hirakawa, who was sitting on the sofa emptyly and idly flipping through a book, heard the doorbell ringing.

"Here we are."

He put down his book, walked to the door, and opened it.

As for who is coming...... There was no one else but Kuda.

"Good morning, Mr. Hirakawa."

A gentle greeting greeted the door as the door opened, greeted with the bright sunshine.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa looked at Moshu Kuda, and a smile unconsciously appeared together when he was infected by the smile.

Kuda-sensei...... I'm not a teacher now. ”

Then, while backing away from the position, he corrected the other party's statement.

"Eh......"

Hinata Moshu, who walked in the door, looked a little overwhelmed for a while because of his correction.

"This ...... I'm used to it. ”

"Well, it's time for a change."

"Change it to what?"

Kuda Moshu changed into slippers and got up, her fingers still wrapped around the ends of her hair.

"Well, what does Kuda-sensei think?" Tetsufumi Hirakawa asked.

"Hirakawa-san?" Kuda Moshu tilted his head slightly and asked,

“……”

"Or, Hirakawa-kun?"

“……”

"If it doesn't work, Hirakawa-chan?"

“…… Ok ok. ”

Tetsufumi Hirakawa looked helplessly at the young female teacher who seemed to be smiling but not smiling, and sighed.

Cunningly and deliberately bypassed the desired answer-

With the relationship between the two, and the agreement that was said and the two knew it, now, it should be called by name.

"Mr. Kuda, it's okay to deliberately pretend not to know."

"I'm not pretending not to know, obviously, Mr. Hirakawa...... Obviously, you haven't changed it. ”

“……”

“……”

"Right?" This time, it was Kuda Moshu who began to look at him.

"This ......" Tetsufumi Hirakawa opened his mouth, but the title was stuck in his throat, and he looked a little embarrassed.

“…… It doesn't seem to be easy to change for a while. ”

"That's it."

After all, I've been called "Mr. Kuda" and "Mr. Kuda" all day long, and I've long been used to it, and it's really a little uncomfortable to think about it when I change it to "Jasmine".

But......

As a first step, this is a necessary change.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa made up his mind.

He looked back at Kuda Moshu, the young teacher, still responding to his gaze, waiting.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa opened his mouth.

In the quiet atmosphere full of ambiguity, the name that represents the change in the relationship between the two is slowly brewing in his throat.

Eventually, a tiny, indistinct syllable was the first to be pronounced, composing—

"—Mr. Kuda."

Such a salutation came out.

Kuda Moshu suddenly burst out laughing.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa glanced away a little embarrassed.

"This, sure enough, is still a little difficult to change, and I am completely used to it."

"yes, Mr. Hirakawa, and talk about me."

……

"But—"

After Kuda's laughter dissipated, Tetsufumi Hirakawa took a breath and made up his mind again.

In one go, this time it's going to be real.

"One more time."

“…… Well. ”

Nodding slightly, the young teacher waited for him again.

A little shy gaze, with anticipation.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa responded with anticipation and stared directly.

Maki Kuda, a young and beautiful female teacher, has helped him a lot since he joined Moriya from the very beginning.

After that, the two got along with each other in a peaceful way, everything went naturally, like a matter of course, and the emotions they liked were manifested in simple daily life.

From greetings after meeting each morning, to small talk in leisure time, to relationships close enough to visit each other's homes and celebrate each other's birthdays.

She made a bento for him, and on the eve of his birthday, in order to send blessings as soon as possible, she called until late at night, and even accidentally fell asleep because she talked too late, and woke up the next morning after good morning before hanging up the phone.

The surprise on the birthday day was also impressive, holding the cake in hand, the firelight swaying in the night wind, and the cheeks that were reflected......

The scene of that day has become a memory that must never be forgotten.

Later, after he broke his promise, the gentle teacher tolerated his willfulness and went straight from Tokyo to Kyoto to find him. Spent her birthday together.

And when he said that he was going to resign before, he was even more considerate to express his understanding and even comforted him.

Such a gentle teacher is still very beautiful, how can you not like it?

- The answer to this question is: no.

Only the great Kuda sensei, absolutely no one can face her gentleness without sinking into it in the slightest.

Anyway, Tetsufumi Hirakawa has already fallen into it.

So......

"Jasmine."

In the quiet brewing, a slightly unfamiliar name suddenly sounded and was spoken.

“……”

Kuda's eyes lowered.

The young teacher, after a moment of silence, spoke in a small, shy voice.

“…… Sure enough, it sounds a little unaccustomed. ”

"You'll get used to it, but ...... Now it's your turn. ”

"Huh...... Does it have to be now? ”

"Well, I've said it all, right?"

“……”

After the same quiet brewing.

“…… Zhewen? ”

In a quiet, lovely, tentative upward tone, Kuda Moshu finally said the name.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa couldn't help but smile at the corner of his mouth.

……

successfully took the first step, and then, the two of them who had been talking for a long time finally remembered-

"Ah, by the way, that's- we've been standing here for a long time, so let's go in first?"

Tetsufumi Hirakawa held back a smile and said.

“…… Well. ”

Kuda Moshu seemed to be in a mood that had not calmed down, and was still immersed in the change of title, nodded slightly, and responded.

Followed by the sound of quiet footsteps, the two walked towards the living room one after the other.

- until Tetsufumi Hirakawa sat down on the sofa first.

“……”

“……”

He looked at Maki Kuda, who was standing in front of him.

Kuda Moshu blinked.

After a long time, it seemed that he finally understood something, and his eyes couldn't help but drift away.

"This ...... Mr. Hirakawa......"

"Huh?" Tetsufumi Hirakawa reminded loudly.

“…… Zhewen. ”

"Hmm." Tetsufumi Hirakawa nodded in satisfaction.

What to do next, the two who have a tacit understanding can know just by making eye contact.

Although Hinata Moshu was not used to it and was full of shyness, in the end, she walked towards Tetsufumi Hirakawa with her head down.

Then, sitting down next to him, next to him.

Although, for the two, it is not without such a close distance between them.

But it is clear that at this moment, in Tetsufumi Hirakawa's home, sitting next to him clearly has a more special meaning.

“……”

Tetsufumi Hirakawa felt his side, his shoulder touching his shoulder.

In this enclosed space, an ambiguous breath has lingered on the tip of the nose -

Sniffed lightly, it was the aroma from Kuda's body.

"Kuda ......"

"Huh?"

“……”

This time, it was he who was reminded.

Sure enough, I'm still not used to it.

Tetsufumi Hirakawa smiled and changed his words.

"Okay, Jasmine."

"Hmm." Kuda Moshu responded gently.

"I like you."

“……”

“……”

In the sudden confession, Hinata Moshu turned his face away, not daring to look at Tetsufumi Hirakawa's gaze.

"This ...... It's so sudden......"

"Somewhere suddenly."

"Suddenly I said it......"

"Anyway, I've said it before, and I've known it for a long time."

“……”

That's right, the relationship between the two has long been known in normal times - even the teacher next to her has said it more than once.

Now that the atmosphere is in place, I have already guessed it in my heart.

But—

"It's different."

Now the occasion is...... The so-called confession, right?

No matter how you understand it, I even rehearsed it in my mind a long time ago, but when it really comes to this time, I will still be embarrassed.

"I like you."

- Seeing that she was shy, she actually came again.

"I like it."

"It's been a long time coming, so I can't wait to say it."

“……”

Kuda Maki plucked up her courage and turned back.

The eyes are sincere, the emotions are hot, and there is a smile at the corner of the mouth, a gentle, reassuring smile.

"Jasmine, I like you, I like the teacher who is always gentle and by my side."

"This is what I have long understood, I said it a long time ago, and now, I will tell you again."

"I like you, I like it, I like it very much."

"I'd like to hear your reply."

"Is that okay?"

“……”

Tetsufumi Hirakawa's upper body stepped forward slightly and was close.

The young and beautiful cheeks of the female teacher are close at hand.

The goose egg face, gentle lines, beautiful facial features, and a little makeup highlight the charm of this teacher working woman.

Her cheeks flushed, and her gaze drifted around and she didn't know where to look.

But ah......

There is nowhere to run.

It's already this time.

After his eyes wandered for a long time, Hinata Moshu finally understood this truth.

She tried to restrain herself, and spat out a sweet breath, and her eyes finally stopped escaping.

"Hirakawa ......"

Tetsufumi Hirakawa looked at her with a smile.

“……”

In the midst of the nervousness, I still made a mistake, and said the title in passing.

"Zhewen." Correct oneself.

"I ......"

The tail note is long, reflecting shyness and entanglement.

But...... There will be an exit.

"I ...... Like you. ”

In the autumn of this November, the wind was blowing clearly, and in the living room of Tetsufumi Hirakawa's house, he finally heard the mind of Moshu Kuda.

I've known it for a long time, but ah......

"I like this sentence, I've been waiting for a long time."

"Yes, yes?" Kuda's eyelashes fluttered.

"Well, this is the first time you've said it."

“…… Because I'm not as frivolous as Hirakawa-sensei. ”

"Huh?"

“…… Zhewen. Kuda Moshu bowed her head cutely and changed her words.

"Can you say that again?"

“…… No, it's embarrassing. ”

"Really?"

"No, just do it once."

"Then I say - like, like you. Hisada-sensei, Moshu, do you hear me, I like you. ”

"I don't know when I liked it."

"Maybe it's the daily routine, maybe it's your gentle and lovely appearance, or maybe it's both."

"Anyway, I like you."

"So, may I ask if this great, gentle, and lovely teacher can answer my heart—Jasmine, please stay with me."

“……”

The blazing sight is enough to penetrate all the defenses.

In Tetsufumi Hirakawa's gaze, he saw the lovely teacher in front of him, and nodded shyly, almost invisibly.

“…… Well. ”

His face was pressed against it.