Chapter 126: Kondo Soichi's Transfer Record (Long Chapter)
In the afternoon, Akishin and Shizuka went rowing on Lake Itomori. They held fishing rods over the side of a small boat that shimmered in the reflection of the setting sun, having even set up a tea table to enjoy a drink on the water.
Like a single fallen leaf, they floated peacefully atop the surface.
Swaying gently, adrift with the wind.
For the record, this was one of the more complete projects in Miyamizu Toshiki's tourism plan. This meant it cost money, though it wasn't expensive—one boat went for 1,000 yen and could carry up to five people.
Kondo Soichi would occasionally pace around the boat, but he quickly lost interest and sat down next to Akishin to fish.
In the end, though, not a single fish was caught.
It was likely just a case of terrible luck.
Shizuka took plenty of photos with her camera. Once she grew tired of playing photographer, she sat back-to-back with Akishin, quietly feeling the passage of time.
As evening fell, the opening sequences of the ritual continued. Yuika led Akishin and the others around the vicinity of Miyamizu Shrine, snacking on street food and watching the dances, only heading back together once the ritual was nearing its end.
The Miyamizu sisters performed the Kagura dance atop the Kagura-den once more, but today, there was no Kuchikamizake being made.
That night, Sakurai Kaiko stayed over at the Kondo household to sleep in Yuika's room. The occasion was a family dinner—the Kondos were having a hot pot, or more accurately, Sukiyaki. It was a Japanese-style pot that wasn't spicy at all.
Akishin took charge of the cooking himself.
First, he heated the specialized iron Sukiyaki pot and tossed in a large cube of white beef tallow. As the fat melted under the high heat, he added thick slices of green onions, stir-frying them with long chopsticks until they became fragrant.
Once the aroma of the onions filled the air, he laid down plenty of sliced beef along with onion rings, giving them a quick sear. Just as the beef began to curl naturally, he added a splash of water to settle the seasoning.
When the broth came to a boil, he added tofu, shiitake mushrooms, konnyaku, and konnyaku silk knots in order. Finally, he tucked in the chrysanthemum greens, and once it simmered again, the dish was ready to eat.
When eating, the food could be paired with grated radish or raw egg wash—though usually, the egg wash was the way to go.
As a side note, Sukiyaki has evolved over a long time, so these days it's quite rare to add much water—or any at all—instead relying on the juices released by the ingredients themselves.
The proper way to eat it is to enjoy the original flavors of the ingredients, prioritizing freshness and fragrance.
The group gathered around the low table, chatting and laughing together. In the center sat the Sukiyaki, bubbling away with rising steam as the aroma wafted through the room, surrounded by various side dishes and two bottles of fruit juice.
At this moment, even the Kondo grandmother, who usually spoke the least, joined the conversation, recounting legends of the past with vivid detail. Soichi and Kaiko held their small bowls of raw egg, staring at the beef in the pot without blinking, waiting for Akishin's signal to start eating.
Akishin checked the ingredients in the pot, judged that the timing was just right, and said with a smile, "Alright, it's ready to eat."
The first to move were Soichi and Kaiko's chopsticks. Both aimed for the exact same slice of beef, their utensils clashing mid-air.
Their eyes met as if a spark of electricity had passed between them. Their chopsticks continued to parry and thrust like two samurai wielding katanas, clashing with a powerful aura.
And then...
The beef was snatched away by Yuika's chopsticks.
"Here, Mom, try Chishima-sensei's cooking. It's delicious. No one else can make food this good..."
As she placed the slice of beef into her mother's bowl, Yuika turned and flicked her younger brother's forehead before glaring at her best friend.
"You two, eat properly!"
"Yes..."
Both hung their heads and answered, though they continued to glare at each other under their breath.
Shizuka poured juice for everyone, not showing a hint of the rowdiness she usually displayed when eating with people she knew intimately. Under normal circumstances, she likely would have joined the scramble for the meat.
Now, she simply maintained a graceful and calm demeanor, smiling without showing her teeth, radiating the aura of a Yamato Nadeshiko. This was for the benefit of the outsiders and because there was a child present—she had to maintain her dignity, even if her chopstick movements were unconsciously speeding up.
Akishin watched the scene and laughed. He felt this was actually quite nice. He rarely ate with so many people, especially people he was familiar with, so it felt somewhat fresh.
If he ever had a family this large in the future...
Akishin couldn't help but steal a glance at Shizuka.
...
A harmonious day passed.
The following morning, Akishin woke up early to go to Itomori Elementary School to handle Soichi's withdrawal procedures.
Joining him were Shizuka, Yuika, Kaiko, and the party concerned: Soichi.
The transfer school had already been settled. Yesterday morning, he had sent a message to Director Okazawa asking for help in finding a school, with the criteria being a good public elementary school.
The other party hadn't said a single word of complaint and agreed immediately. Akishin sent over Soichi's information, and by the afternoon, he received a reply stating the matter was finished.
It was a public elementary school with an excellent overall rating.
The Director had undoubtedly used his connections.
Of course, knowing this was exactly why Akishin had asked for his help. How could someone hold the position of Director at Sobu High without having a few strings to pull?
"Soichi, it's time to say goodbye. Are you reluctant to leave the school?"
Akishin looked up at the elementary school in front of them, which consisted of only three small buildings—one of which was the cafeteria—and asked without turning his head.
Since leaving the house, Soichi's expression had been incredibly listless. After arriving at the school and seeing the familiar sights, his face looked like he wanted to cry but was trying his hardest to hold it back.
The side walls were made of red brick without any white cement coating, the ground dipped slightly when stepped on, the paint on the walls was peeling, and green vines resembling Parthenocissus clung to and covered large areas of the building...
This elementary school showed both its youth and its age in every aspect.
This was a countryside school, the kind that held the childhood memories of most people from the last century. These schools were gradually disappearing from the map. A declining birthrate and a shrinking population meant these rural schools had almost no source of students left.
In the end, only decaying buildings would remain.
If Miyamizu Toshiki's tourism plan succeeded, this school still had hope; if not, in a few years at most, it would likely be nothing more than a ruin.
"Yeah, a little, because I'm the leader here... Chishima-sensei, can I still come back?"
Soichi lowered his head, his small hands balled into fists, yet he couldn't stop himself from looking around. Having not been here for just a few days, he already felt a sense of estrangement from the place, and his heart felt heavy.
Akishin looked at Kondo Soichi, reached out to ruffle the boy's hair, and said, "Of course you can. Come back whenever you want. I want to visit again too. I'd like to play in a place this beautiful a few more times, and I still want you to take me up Mount Ryujin to see the real view."
"Okay, it's a promise, then. You can come back anytime, and next time I'll take you to the peak of Mount Ryujin."
Soichi looked up at Akishin seriously, asking for a promise, even if it was one so small it was almost meaningless. Perhaps in the future he would forget this place, but at least for now, Soichi felt the weight of the parting.
Akishin was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "It's a promise."
The other three didn't speak, simply watching quietly.
The five of them entered the school. Since it was during class hours, there wasn't a soul on the field.
Kaiko looked at the school building, then at the cafeteria, and finally sighed. "It's been so long since I was here. It's exactly the same. I really miss it..."
Beside her, Yuika, who was also looking around, nodded in agreement.
Their childhoods had also been spent in this school. The memories from that time were blurry, but returning here, a sense of familiarity instantly flooded their hearts.
It was as if there were many things to say but no words would come out. The mood wasn't exactly sad, nor was it happy—it was best described as a complicated feeling.
...
Despite the sun being in the sky, the atmosphere felt somber. Small, lattice-like clouds were scattered across the heavens, blocking most of the sunlight.
The five of them entered the school building. Once inside, they realized the interior had been renovated; it looked much neater and cleaner than the exterior.
They first looked for Soichi's homeroom teacher on the second floor—a stout man who looked a bit sketchy but was actually very kind, and who also happened to be Kaiko's former teacher.
According to Kaiko, her first impression of this teacher was fear, but after actually spending time with him, one would realize that he was a very, very, very good teacher!
The use of the word "good" three times in a row was enough to explain the stout teacher's place in Kaiko's heart.
After a very cheerful greeting, Kaiko did most of the talking, and the teacher responded with a constant smile.
Even if that smile looked a bit shady...
Soichi was also much more well-behaved in front of this teacher.
The stout teacher had already spoken over the phone with Kondo Keiko and knew Soichi would be leaving Itomori to transfer schools. Although he felt reluctant to see him go, he immediately led them to see the Principal.
Arriving at the Principal's office, he knocked on the door, and an old-sounding voice called from within, "Please, come in."
The six of them entered.
It was a room of modest size. Flat white light streamed in from the window. The decor was very simple: a low table for receiving guests, a desk with a computer on top, and a shelf for storage—that was all.
The most eye-catching thing in the room was likely the contents of that shelf, which was packed with trophies, medals, and certificates of merit. While the rest of the room felt aged, only this shelf and the items upon it felt new.
Soichi walked to the side of the desk, bowed, and greeted, "Grandpa Principal."
Behind the desk sat an old man with thinning grey hair. He looked to be about sixty, or perhaps fifty-nine since he hadn't retired yet, and his eyes were slightly cloudy.
He wore a suit that looked a bit old but was meticulously maintained. He had an old-model watch on his wrist, and his aging fingers were slender and clean, giving off an overall impression of someone very thorough.
The old man smiled at Soichi. "Haha, hello Soichi. It's been a while. You haven't come to see me in quite some time."
Soichi's face turned red. In the past, he usually ended up in the Principal's office because he had caused a significant amount of trouble. Because of how often he was sent here, he had gradually become close with the "Grandpa Principal."
And the Principal never scolded him. Every time, he would ask for the reason first, then patiently explain the mistake involved and why Soichi had to be brought here. Finally, he would have him write a symbolic apology letter, and the matter would be settled.
Moreover, the trouble he got into was rarely his own fault—like the time he beat up those three punks; his original intention had been to protect his classmates.
The Principal hadn't blamed his actions; in fact, he praised him for being heroic. However, he told him not to do it again because it was dangerous. The best way was to find a teacher, and if they were far away, to call the police...
The Principal himself hadn't sounded very confident when saying it back then, likely knowing that both methods were often ineffective, but he still told him not to do it.
First and foremost, protect your own safety.
After that, every time Soichi visited, the routine remained the same. The Principal would also share some simple life principles with him, so that he might have a better understanding of the world.
There was no denying that the fact Soichi had become as mature as he was now—besides the factors at home—the Principal had played a major role.
He was an old man worthy of respect.
The older generation actually has many people like this; they have convictions and dedicate their entire lives selflessly to the fields they love.
After speaking a few words with Soichi, the Principal looked toward Akishin's group waiting in front and stood up from his desk.
From a distance of about two meters, he lowered his head slightly in a gesture of respect and said, "You must be Chishima-sensei. I have heard of your name for a long time. Regarding Soichi's transfer, Sakura Elementary has already discussed it with me..."
...
Leaving the Principal's office, Akishin couldn't help but look back at the closed door. He hadn't expected the business to be concluded so quickly.
In just a short conversation, the Principal had completed the handover for Kondo Soichi's transfer.
"Truly a good Principal. He's likely happy that Soichi can go to a better school!"
"Is that so? Shizuka, you don't seem happy?"
"It's not that I'm unhappy. It's just that seeing this Principal reminds me of my own teacher from back then. He was that kind of person too..."
Noticing Akishin's questioning gaze, Shizuka shook her head, let out a long breath, and walked forward. "Let's go. Next is for Soichi to say goodbye to his classmates."
Goodbyes are always sad. When I graduated, my teacher felt sad like this too, but his actions didn't hesitate for a second. He probably wanted to cut the painful separation short...
Guided by the stout teacher, the six of them walked toward Soichi's classroom.
As they reached the door, the class period happened to end. The stout teacher took over from the teacher who had just finished, asking the students not to leave just yet. He then called Soichi inside and announced the news of his transfer.
As soon as the words were spoken, the small students in the classroom erupted into a commotion, both boys and girls alike. Even for those who weren't making a scene, their expressions didn't look good.
"What? Soichi-aniki is transferring..."
"Why? Soichi-nii is doing fine, why does he have to transfer..."
"Sensei, please explain it clearly! We don't want Soichi to leave!"
The stout teacher tapped on the desk, asking everyone to quiet down, and said seriously, "I also feel sad about Soichi's transfer, but everyone has to accept it. Besides, it's not like Soichi will never come back. You can still see each other later..." He then looked down at Soichi. "Soichi, say goodbye to everyone."
"Okay!"
Soichi fought back his tears as he walked down into the room. A group of his playmates immediately swarmed him.
"Saburo, I'm just moving schools, it's not like I'm never coming back. Remember to protect everyone..."
"Yota, don't let yourself be bullied anymore. If anyone messes with you next time, you have to hit back hard. Pay attention, let the other side strike first, so when you talk later you'll have the upper hand, but don't go so far as to injure them..."
"Koiko, don't cry. I'm going to the big city, to Chiba. You know, when I come back, I'll bring you something cool. How about a doll...?"
"Ryuji, after I'm gone, don't play pranks in class. If you're still like you used to be, I'll definitely beat you up when I get back..."
Soichi said his goodbyes to his friends one by one. Many were crying, especially a few of the little girls; they truly felt the sorrow of the moment.
The fact that Soichi was so popular in class made everyone feel the weight of letting him go.
In an atmosphere like this, Soichi finally couldn't hold it in anymore and began to cry. Instantly, the classroom was filled with an air of grief.
Other classes that heard the news led to many elementary students running over, most of whom were Soichi's "underlings," making the classroom even more "crowded."
It wasn't until the bell for the next period rang that the students returned to their places after being coaxed back by their respective teachers.
Soichi walked out of the classroom, wiping his tears with bloodshot eyes, and said with a sobbing voice, "That's... that's enough. Chishima-sensei, Sis... let's... go."
Yuika stroked her brother's head with a look of pity and said softly, "It's okay. Parting is for the sake of a better reunion."
Even if their relationship might grow distant in the future, at least for now, her brother had proven himself.
The five of them left the school, the total time spent being about half an hour.
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