Chapter 239

I can't understand why that person later did those terrible things and made such a mess of everything.

Haihara felt that Lilith was probably not the same as her.

She was an ordinary, boring, and unremarkable person, and had always been so. She had neither the looks to be loved nor any personality or talent.

No matter what happens, she is always the insignificant person in the corner who goes unnoticed.

Just like... when she was little, there was that older sister next door who played the piano very well.

Just like in high school, when I left her, my beautiful and dazzling childhood sweetheart.

Just like that gentle, beautiful, and successful senior from her university days.

Just like Miss Liang, who treated her like her own younger sister.

And... Ms. Suzuki now.

The people she longed for, the people she could only look at from afar, the people she felt were unattainable—she could never believe that she could possibly receive their love.

Even if she actually got it, she would feel anxious and uneasy.

But Lilith is different.

Lilith can be easily loved by others.

Because she wasn't someone as insignificant as herself.

However, she didn't cherish that love.

She has always acted like a child, failing to appreciate what she has, and has been recklessly hurting those who love her.

Therefore, Haihara somewhat dislikes that person.

Haihara feels confused when that person still maintains a connection with her.

Confused about whether the love others have for me is genuine.

I'm confused about whether I'm like that person, constantly hurting those who love me.

As she thought about these things, Haihara lowered her head, her silent gaze suggesting that she could not find an answer no matter what she did.

What should she do...?

Just as she was thinking this, a young girl had quietly appeared beside her, silently and cautiously watching over her.

Haihara raised her head, her gaze shifting slightly.

"Haihara, are you... feeling a little down?"

She heard the girl's voice.

Under the lobby lights, the girl's silhouette appeared somewhat frail.

She gently reached out and tried to touch Haihara's hand. When she found that Haihara did not react, she slowly grasped her hand and pressed her palm against hers.

"In that case, would you like to take a look at the souvenir section over there? I think there's a bracelet that would suit you perfectly."

The girl, Kuroki Yuka, slightly raised her head to the side, her cheeks flushed, avoiding Haihara's gaze, and spoke quietly.

Written request for leave

Oops, my phone died halfway through typing. I need to take a break and try to finish the 4000 words during the day.

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Chapter 43 Teacher Suzuki

Suzuki is somewhat concerned about her colleague, Haihara.

More accurately, she is one of her few close friends at work, and in her daily life, she chats with Haihara the most frequently.

She thought Haihara was indeed a very interesting person.

Although their relationship had only been going well for less than two years, Suzuki had been very happy during that time.

Like a birthday.

Because her parents lived in their old home in the countryside and her older sister worked in another city, her rare memory of celebrating her birthday with others at this time of year was with Haihara.

Last year, she was even thinking of inviting Haihara stay at her house for one night.

However, Haihara ultimately wanted to spend time with her daughter, so she declined.

Haihara hasn't seemed to be in a good mood lately.

Haihara is always taciturn, giving people the impression of being conservative and restrained, and sometimes she seems like a cold and ascetic person.

So even though Suzuki had spent many years with Haihara, he sometimes still couldn't figure out what she was thinking.

Sometimes she feels sad, sometimes she feels depressed, and sometimes she feels tired, but Haihara never chooses to tell anyone.

Although some people may find it nice to have their own space.

But Suzuki always felt that Haihara might not be that kind of person.

"Even though they came out to play with me, in the blink of an eye, they both disappeared..."

At that moment, Suzuki realized that he had become a person without even realizing it, so he smiled wryly.

Anyway, I'm pretty free today, and the day is so long, so I'll just wait a little while.

Not long after, Suzuki noticed a lone little girl among the crowds that usually gathered in the museum.

He seemed a little lost, as if he were aimlessly waiting for someone.

Suzuki discovers that the child is Kirishima Ai.

She walked over, greeted her, and under Kirishima Ai's slightly surprised gaze, Suzuki smiled gently and then naturally asked Kirishima Ai why she was standing there alone.

After all, not long ago, Kirishima Ai was with her mother.

After politely greeting Suzuki, Ai Kirishima Ai explained:

"Mom just received a work call, so I'm waiting for her here for a while."

Kirishima Ai's mother seems to work here.

To be honest, thinking about this, Suzuki thought Kirishima Ai's mother was really amazing.

I heard he's some kind of consultant for a department at the Museum of Phantasmal Dream.

On Kirishima's side, she was waiting for her mother, while Suzuki was waiting for his niece and Haihara. So, after thinking for a while, Suzuki stayed next to Kirishima Ai.

That sounds a bit boastful.

However, Suzuki has always been quite popular with students and has a good relationship with many of them.

However, as for Kirishima Ai, because she was always very quiet and well-behaved, and Suzuki was just a music teacher, he rarely had the opportunity to talk to Kirishima Ai.

She tapped her fingers lightly on the strap of her bag:

"Is studying very tiring lately?"

Suzuki inquired about it.

Kaedehara High School is a college entrance exam prep school, so students leave much later than at other schools, and the academic requirements are strict and demanding.

Especially top students like Kirishima Ai.

To maintain good grades, you basically have very little time outside of studying to do your own thing.

"I'm finding it a little difficult. My results on the recent class tests haven't been very good... It's probably because I didn't study properly during my recent vacation."

Kirishima Ai raised her head and answered with a serious tone.

In early winter, the school gave her a three-day holiday, which she spent entirely soaking in hot springs with her teachers.

And of course, there's the fact that she's been feeling down lately because of Silver Feather.

Suzuki nodded and listened attentively.

After listening to Kirishima Ai about academic pressure, Suzuki thought for a moment:

"Don't push yourself too hard, or you'll break your health. I heard you had to take sick leave a few times before because of a fever. Your parents have a hard time taking care of you, so you should cherish yourself more."

Upon hearing Kirishima Ai slightly raised her eyes to look at Teacher Suzuki.

Ms. Suzuki's words always have a gentle and heartwarming quality, no matter when they are spoken.

She went from being tense to relaxing a little.

As a student, especially one who frequently makes mistakes, even though Teacher Suzuki is the kind of teacher who is very close to her students, she was still a little afraid.

In particular, Teacher Suzuki and Teacher Haihara have a very good relationship.

After finishing the discussion, Teacher Suzuki looked out of the museum at the pristine white snow, and as if lost in thought, she said with a touch of melancholy:

"However, time really flies. By the time this winter is almost over, this semester will be finished, and I don't know if I'll be able to continue teaching you then."

Yes, the semester will end around the end of winter, which is around March. In other words, they will officially move from the first year of high school to the second year.

As a music teacher, Teacher Suzuki has far fewer insights into this matter than other teachers.

Moreover, she was responsible for teaching music to several classes by herself, and she would probably still encounter most of the students even after the second year of high school.

However, Kirishima Ai slightly raised her head, her mouth slightly open, and stared blankly for a moment. When she came to her senses, her gaze wavered somewhat.

"... That's true when you think about it."

After Teacher Suzuki reminded her of this, Kirishima Ai suddenly remembered a question.

It seems that she will be a junior in high school after this semester ends.

Whether she'll be taught by Teacher Haihara then is another matter; perhaps she won't be able to see Teacher Haihara like she does now.

Furthermore, she and her fellow Magic girls might not necessarily be in the same class.

What should we do then?

"But once you get Kirishima. After all, the other teachers probably won't be as good-tempered as Haihara."

Suzuki said jokingly.

Upon closer reflection, although in her memory, Kirishima Ai was a very well-behaved and quiet child, in Haihara, this child was often described as a delinquent girl who frequently skipped classes maliciously.

Even so, Haihara is the kind of person with a good temper.

Furthermore, although she always criticizes Kirishima Ai harshly, for some reason, Haihara seems to tolerate Kirishima Ai skipping class time and time again.

Kirishima Ai blinked, her eyes slightly downcast.

"... What if, in my second year of high school, I'm still assigned to Teacher Haihara's class?"

She tried her best to hide her thoughts, but she couldn't help but say it out loud.

But soon, she heard Suzuki say this:

"Haihara isn't planning to be a homeroom teacher anymore after this semester, right?"

Kirishima Ai's expression froze for a moment.

Her hands clasped nervously together, her fingers gently rubbing against each other, before her head drooped.

Suzuki quickly noticed that Kirishima Ai's mood had dropped a little.

Although Teacher Haihara is known for being lazy, it would be normal for her not to want to continue being a homeroom teacher, but after hearing the news, Kirishima Ai still couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

She mumbled "Oh, I see," and then remained silent, unsure of what to say next.

Suzuki was both curious and amused by her appearance.

"Kirishima, you... actually quite like Haihara?"

That's quite rare.

After all these years, Suzuki remembered that Haihara had never been very popular with students, or rather, her relationship with students had always been just so-so.

Kirishima Ai's face turned pink:

"... Um."

Although her preferences might differ from those of Teacher Suzuki.

Perhaps it was because the atmosphere was quite good after exchanging a few words, but the two of them, who were initially a bit awkward, became much more relaxed as they chatted.