Hirakawa Tetsuya gave up struggling.
His fate of going to the brass band club was sealed.
After changing into indoor shoes and parting ways with Rainomiya Yoru, he headed toward the club building alongside Tsutsui Shiori.
Just as they stepped onto the stairs—
"Hirakawa-sensei."
Her voice rang out from behind.
He paused mid-step.
At that moment, his mind was still trapped in a spiral of self-reflection.
Why, as a teacher, was he being lectured by a student about not slacking off?
The more he thought about it, the more absurd it felt.
So naturally, he spaced out.
Only after a brief delay did he turn his head.
Being a teacher really was inconvenient sometimes.
Every time a student spoke from behind, he had to turn around.
At this rate, would he end up with neck problems one day?
Not that he actually knew if the two were related.
Maybe he should look it up later.
Health was important.
"Hirakawa-sensei, are you listening?"
Her voice pulled him back to reality.
He met Tsutsui's slightly suspicious gaze.
He had completely missed what she said.
That was a bad habit.
"Ah, sorry. I didn't catch that. Could you say it again, Tsutsui?"
The moment he finished apologizing, he heard it.
A faint sigh.
His eyes flicked toward her lips.
That sigh definitely came from her.
There was no one else on the staircase.
Even a quiet sigh would echo here.
Tsutsui Shiori.
Showing such obvious dissatisfaction toward a teacher was not exactly polite.
Then again, he was in no position to criticize.
Call it even.
With that conclusion, he turned forward again, this time actually listening.
Their footsteps echoed in rhythm as she spoke again.
"Hirakawa-sensei, earlier you said you would come to the brass band club after resolving something. Did that refer to Rainomiya's situation?"
So that was her question.
"Yes. It was about Rainomiya."
He nodded.
"Then the reason you are willing to come today is because that matter has been resolved?"
"Resolved?"
He considered it for a moment.
"Not really. So I might still not have time for the club later."
"I see."
"Well, I am quite busy, after all."
He nodded firmly.
Yes.
Not slacking.
Busy.
Very busy.
He successfully convinced himself.
His steps even felt lighter.
He had a perfectly valid reason for not showing up before.
Tsutsui, however, did not seem to care.
Or perhaps she simply did not believe him.
Either way, she let it go.
Then she returned to the topic.
"So earlier, when you were with Rainomiya, were you handling her issue?"
"Not exactly."
"Then what were you doing?"
"She found four stray cats. I've been taking care of them for now. She came to check on them."
"Cats?"
"Yes. Do you like cats, Tsutsui?"
She paused briefly.
"I don't dislike them."
"Then would you consider adopting them?"
The idea came to him naturally.
If Tsutsui adopted the cats—
Then Rainomiya could still visit them.
And more importantly, it would create an opportunity.
An opportunity for the two girls to become friends.
A single move that could solve everything.
With that thought, he looked at her expectantly.
They locked eyes.
For a few seconds, neither spoke.
Then, unexpectedly, Tsutsui shifted her gaze away.
Her hand brushed lightly against her hair, a rare hint of awkwardness.
"If it would help you, sensei."
Hirakawa froze.
That was a yes.
That was way too easy.
"So, um, how should I put this."
He hurried to clarify.
"If you adopt them, you might need to become friends with Rainomiya."
"Friends?"
"Yes. She is not very outgoing."
A polite way of saying it.
The meaning was obvious.
"So she is struggling to find a solution where the cats are well taken care of, while she can still see them often."
"The solution is to find a friend."
Tsutsui understood immediately.
"Exactly. So if you are willing to help—"
He did not finish the sentence.
It was clear enough.
He was asking her to take the initiative to befriend Rainomiya.
Silence fell between them.
Only the sound of their footsteps remained.
That made sense.
Friendship was not something to decide lightly.
It required both sides.
If Tsutsui reached out and was rejected, it would be awkward.
And forcing it would only make things worse.
Such concerns were unavoidable.
They continued walking.
Up the stairs.
Step by step.
Until they reached the fifth floor, just outside the club room.
The sound of instruments grew louder.
Hirakawa hesitated.
"About that. Maybe we should—"
"I agree."
She cut him off instantly.
At the same time, both of them stopped.
He turned around.
Tsutsui stood before him, her expression serious.
"Sensei. I agree."
Her tone was firm.
Too firm.
Strangely, that certainty made him hesitate.
"Ah. Well. You don't have to decide so quickly."
She ignored that completely.
"Hirakawa-sensei."
"Yes?"
"As long as Rainomiya's issue is resolved, you will no longer have an excuse to skip the brass band club. Correct?"
He froze again.
Excuse.
Did she just call it an excuse?
"That is not—"
Ignored again.
"So as long as this is resolved, you will have time."
"Then, for the sake of the brass band club, I am willing to assist you."
With that, she walked past him.
Into the fifth-floor corridor.
Her voice drifted back.
"As part of the exchange, please stop slacking off, sensei."
He stood there, watching her back disappear.
Then, unwillingly, he called out.
"Tsutsui. No matter what, I am not making excuses to avoid the club. Please remember that."
No response.
Only silence.
At that moment, Hirakawa once again confirmed something he had already realized.
Tsutsui Shiori's personality
Was indeed a bit terrible.
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