Ding-ding-ding—
The crisp dismissal bell echoed through the hallway, breaking the classroom's silence.
Sakai Shion's hand holding the chalk paused slightly, leaving an unfinished stroke on the blackboard.
She turned to face the class, her voice steady.
"Class dismissed."
After gently returning the chalk to the tray on the podium, Sakai Shion began gathering the lesson plans and documents scattered across her desk, preparing to return to the faculty office.
The classroom immediately came alive, filled with the scraping of desks and chairs and the noisy chatter of students.
Just then.
A girl who had been concerned about Natsume Chikage's absence cautiously raised her hand.
"Ms. Sakai, why didn't Natsume come to school today?"
Another girl quickly chimed in, concern evident in her voice.
"Did he take leave? Or..."
The question immediately drew the entire class's attention.
After all, Natsume Chikage had become the center of attention in the class. It was clearly impossible for them not to care about his absence at all.
Saionji Nanase was just as concerned.
More than once during class, she had looked toward the classroom door, hoping that familiar figure would appear.
But an entire period had passed, and Natsume Chikage still had not come.
No matter how she looked at it, this did not seem like simple tardiness...
Sakai Shion had not expected a student to take the initiative and ask about Natsume Chikage.
But as a teacher, she had a duty to protect her students' privacy.
No one in the class knew that Natsume Chikage had gone to participate in a competition, which meant he had not told his classmates himself.
Since that was the case, she could not casually reveal his personal schedule either.
Maintaining a professional calm, Sakai Shion explained evenly, "Natsume took leave today for personal reasons."
The girl