Chapter 118: Today's Defeat—Hiratsuka Shizuka!
The plan to investigate what Kawasaki Saki had been doing officially began.
The Service Club members gathered in the clubroom, along with Totsuka Saika, who had volunteered to join them.
"Don't you have practice?"
Knowing Saika belonged to the tennis club, Luke asked him directly.
"With the exams approaching, our club finally gave us a short break."
So even athletic clubs took time off.
"Besides, I wanted to see what your club normally does… as long as I'm not getting in your way."
"That's fine."
Luke nodded and looked toward Yukino and Yui, who had arrived earlier.
Few people remained at school. Meanwhile, Saki had been called in for student counseling because of her repeated tardiness.
Naturally, the teacher responsible for counseling her was Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"I've thought about it, and the best solution is for Kawasaki-san to resolve the problem herself."
Yukino began explaining her view.
"Compared with being forced to change by others, recovering through her own efforts carries less risk and makes a relapse far less likely."
"That's true…"
Luke raised an objection.
"But from what I know of Kawasaki, she has strong opinions and won't easily change her actions."
"We should first find the main reason she stays out all night to work. Only then can we solve the actual problem."
"You know her well?"
Yukino asked curiously.
"We've spoken a few times. How should I describe her…"
Luke searched his memories.
"She dresses and acts somewhat like a delinquent, but her personality has the feeling of an ordinary girl. She's a little like Yumiko."
After giving that description, he continued.
"So she probably didn't suddenly decide to stay out all night for no reason. Finding the cause should come first."
"I see…"
Yukino considered it.
"However, her younger brother couldn't identify anything that caused her sudden change."
"U-um…"
Saika timidly raised his hand. His gaze moved uneasily between Luke and Yukino, like a student preparing to answer a teacher's question.
"Please speak freely and share your opinion. It may help us."
Yukino encouraged him.
"C-couldn't we ask a teacher?"
"Some things are difficult to discuss precisely because someone is too close to their parents. But perhaps she could speak more easily to another adult."
Saika suggested finding an adult with greater life experience to help.
"Then let's ask Hiratsuka-sensei."
"Mm. Hiratsuka-sensei may be unreliable at times, but when it comes to caring for students, she works harder than most teachers."
Yukino stated her impression of Shizuka.
"There probably isn't anyone more suitable."
With their preliminary plan decided, Yukino took out her phone and sent Shizuka a summary of everything Kawasaki Taishi had described about Saki's recent behavior.
"…Done. I've sent Hiratsuka-sensei the basic situation. We'll wait here for her."
It did not take long before they heard Shizuka's distinctive, powerful footsteps.
Without knocking, Hiratsuka Shizuka opened the door and entered with a serious expression.
"Yukinoshita, I understand the situation. Tell me the details."
She listened quietly as Yukino explained Saki's recent behavior and their deductions.
"Leave this to me. A student working late at night is a serious matter. I can't overlook it."
Shizuka sighed.
"I'll handle it."
Then she lowered her head and let out a sinister—or perhaps arrogant—chuckle.
"Wait here. Before coming, I told Kawasaki she could leave. She should pass by in about two minutes."
"Um… Hiratsuka-sensei, I suggest only asking Kawasaki why she stays out all night."
Luke considered it before adding, "It would be better to leave everything else to us."
"This isn't a game for children. It's a serious incident, so leave it to your teacher!"
Shizuka firmly patted his shoulder.
'Fine. Do whatever you want.'
Luke gave Hiratsuka-sensei a pitying look.
A short while later, just as Shizuka had predicted, Saki arrived downstairs.
She yawned repeatedly, with her school bag hanging weakly from one arm. She did not even have the energy to lift it onto her shoulder.
"Yuigahama, Totsuka, make sure you watch the show."
Luke looked at Shizuka's confident, proud back as she strode away and spoke to the other two.
"What show?"
Yui froze, not understanding him.
"Hiratsuka Shizuka's daily breakdown."
Luke summarized it in a single sentence.
"Eh?"
Clearly, the idiot Yui still did not understand.
Shizuka quickly stepped in front of Saki.
"Wait, Kawasaki."
"…Is there something else, Sensei?"
Saki looked at her with a tired, hoarse voice. She had no energy at all and idly kicked a small stone with the toe of her loosely laced boot.
Seeing how lifeless Saki appeared, just as unwilling to speak as before, Shizuka hardened her expression and stared at her sternly.
"Kawasaki, I heard you've been staying out all night and sometimes don't return home until dawn."
"What are you doing in places like that?"
"Sigh!"
Saki sighed like an exhausted office worker being nagged by his wife after overtime.
"Who told you that, Sensei?"
"I can't reveal that. The important issue right now is your behavior!"
Shizuka rejected the question and pressed Saki in an aggressive tone.
"This has nothing to do with you, Sensei. Staying out all night doesn't inconvenience anyone."
Saki remained lazy and listless.
"How does it not inconvenience anyone? You're still a high school student."
"If this continues, the next person contacting me won't be your—Ahem. It'll be the police."
"Then both your parents and I will have to deal with it."
Shizuka grew irritated and took out her cigarette case.
"Honestly, students these days are nothing but trouble. It would be easier if you were a genuine delinquent. Then I could solve everything with my fists."
Hearing her teacher, Saki simply turned her gaze aside. She neither responded nor openly rejected her words.
Her cold attitude made Shizuka sigh again.
She returned the unlit cigarette to its case.
"No matter what you're dealing with, you should consider your parents' feelings. They must be worried when you behave like this."
Shizuka placed a hand on Saki's shoulder, apparently trying to comfort her.
"Sensei…"
Saki raised her face and looked at Shizuka.
"Mm?"
"How my parents feel has nothing to do with me."
"Besides, you've never been a mother, so you probably wouldn't understand."
"Please say something like that after you get married and have children."
"Urgh!"
Saki brushed her teacher's arm aside.
Her words struck directly at Shizuka's greatest weakness. Hiratsuka-sensei swayed painfully as though she had received a critical blow and nearly lost all her health.
Just as Luke expected, Saki wrapped herself in a block of ice when dealing with adults such as parents, teachers, or elders.
She stubbornly insisted on handling things herself.
Calling her a little adult seemed appropriate.
"Also… instead of worrying about my future, you should probably worry about your own."
"For example, you could get married first. Then perhaps you'd understand how high school students feel."
Following Impact First came Annihilation Second.
Shizuka bent forward as if struck again, her knees buckling as anguished groans escaped her lips.
"Ughhh… Gah!"
…
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