After leaving Director Liu's office, Eichi returned to his dormitory and stood on the balcony, watching the students coming and going downstairs.
They had already finished their exams and were preparing to go home. Some were even discussing where to travel during summer break.
Eichi was leaving too. But when he returned next time, it would no longer be as a student. By then, he would be a graduate.
He glanced back at the room. He had lived here for two years, and the thought of leaving made him feel a little reluctant.
Just as Eichi was about to pack his things, his phone rang.
When he checked it, he saw it was Teacher Xiao Lin.
He answered. "Hello, Teacher Xiao Lin. What is it?"
Eichi stood on the deck of the ferry, staring out at the distant sea. As he watched, his mind drifted away.
That day, Teacher Xiao Lin had called to tell him that his classmates wanted to get together and give Eichi a farewell.
So he went. Everyone gathered for a meal, and many of them expressed how reluctant they were to see him go. They also shared some things they had kept in their hearts.
To be honest, he had been rather moved at the time.
After leaving this time, they might not necessarily meet again.
After the gathering, Teacher Xiao Lin spoke with him alone about various matters concerning their classmates.
Before he knew it, Teacher Xiao Lin had mentioned some things she normally would not talk about.
For example, certain relatively confidential matters within the Joy Family.
One of Teacher Xiao Lin's cousins was a researcher in the Kanto region, and a researcher of particularly high rank at that.
She was close to Teacher Xiao Lin and often shared her work-related frustrations