Being Spoiled by Parents as a Child
I’m currently in the infirmary. Since the adjustments can’t be made today, the teachers will help me with my studies starting tomorrow. To be honest, I didn’t expect the school to help me so much, so I felt like I was dreaming.
It’s hard to stay in the infirmary all day.
I don’t have much to do, and I feel bad that I have to borrow a bed even though my body is fine.
“Aono-kun, you’re having a hard time. Are you okay?”
Mitsui-sensei came to check on me.
“Yes, I’m fine, Sensei. Thank you.”
“Good. But even though your body is fine, you’ve been through a lot, so don’t push yourself too hard. Your mind is tired.”
From a while ago, I haven’t heard anything but kind words from her. Somehow I feel a little bad.
“I feel protected by the teachers, and I feel safe.”
“Really? But Takayanagi-sensei works the hardest, so just remember that.”
“Yes.”
“Seven hours in the infirmary is a long time, isn’t it? Shall I borrow a book from the library for you so you don’t get bored? I have special permission.”
Honestly, I feel suffocated by the negative mood when I don’t do anything. I want to do something.
“Are you sure, Sensei?”
“Yes, but not too much. If the others find out, they’ll get angry.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the gap between her friendly smile and the way she was trying to play a prank on me.
“Of course.”
“Then, me and Aono-kun. It’ll be a secret between us, okay?”
I can feel more at ease with her in the infirmary.
Mitsui-sensei borrowed several books. Focus on popular books that have recently become bestsellers. General literature that ranked high in last year’s bookseller competition, classic medical manga by a master considered the god of manga, interview books written by talking with leading figures in various fields, and more.
It seems that she was concerned about my supposedly depressed state and chose books that were not too heavy. If anything, most of them are human dramas.
To be honest, I’m a fast reader. So I usually read literature in the morning. You know, it’s quite difficult for high school students to buy books that cost more than 1,000 yen, so I’m very grateful to be able to read the books I want to read this way….
“Oh, you read it already? You’re early. Want to take a break? I can make you some tea.”
Sensei, who had gone to the staff room to get some papers, came back, looked at me, and smiled.
“Is it okay?”
“Yes, it’s special. Would you like some green tea? I don’t drink coffee, so I don’t have any.”
“Thank you.”
I got to know an unexpected side of Mitsui-sensei, who seems to have a knack for serving tea.
The aroma is good. Looking at the box of tea bags, it looked like a rather expensive green tea.
It was quite relaxing and I couldn’t help but open my mouth.
“Sensei, why did you decide to become a teacher?”
She laughed at my words.
“Well, if I’m honest, I got my teaching certificate as an insurance policy. I just wanted to get a college degree. I didn’t have anything in particular that I wanted to be, so I went to the education department at a local university and got my certification.”
That’s pretty honest, I thought. She saw my expression and laughed.
“Maybe I shouldn’t tell this to my student. Well, since it’s just the two of us, I’ll answer honestly.”
“So you became a teacher right out of college?”
“No, I actually got a job in a general company and changed jobs five years ago.”
“Eh, that’s surprising. I thought you had always been a teacher.”
“Well, I kind of wanted to do something when I was in college, but I gave up as soon as I got there.”
She looked a little wistful. I thought maybe I shouldn’t go into this any further, so I stopped talking as well.
“It’s okay. It’s not like I can’t tell you. In a way, I ran away. I was enjoying my teaching internship and people around me were saying I was a good teacher. I got scared.”
“Scared?”
Mitsui-sensei is very popular among her students. I also hear that she is constantly consulted by many students.
“Yes. I was scared. Teachers are so responsible that one word can easily change a child’s future. I realized that and I was scared.”
“So you are still scared?”
That’s a rather rude thing to say. But I felt compelled to ask.
“Yes. I’m scared. It’s not necessary, since Aono-kun is in the most important time right now. But I just wanted to tell you a little bit about myself. Will you listen to me?”
“Yes.”
She looks me straight in the eye and starts to talk.
“Actually, you know, I was struggling with relationships at my last job. My mind was a wreck. I was employed by a sports company that was, for lack of a better word, a little old-fashioned….”
I nodded. It’s a place often depicted in novels. I had heard that harassment was common in old-fashioned companies and that the working environment was too harsh. Maybe it was the same environment Sensei used to work in.
“In those old-fashioned companies, my mind and body were at their limits. But all I could do was try my best. The harder I tried, the more my mind would wear out and the closer I would get to the limit. But I couldn’t talk to anyone about it. Alone, I was trapped.”
I’m sure it would have been the same for me. If Ichijo-san, Satoshi, and Takayanagi-sensei hadn’t noticed me, I would still be forcing myself to take classes and endure harassment. …
“Finally, I was overworked, rushed to the hospital, and when I woke up, my mother was crying next to me. She said, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t notice you all this time.” I lived alone at the time, so we only talked on the phone once in a while, and it should have been difficult for my mother to notice anything wrong with me.”
It was supposed to be the teacher’s story, but I couldn’t help but hear it as if it were about me.
“I said to my mother, “I’m sorry.” She said, “Why didn’t you talk to me about this?” She got mad at me and said, “I’m almost going to regret this for the rest of my life.” It’s hard for parents when their children go through difficult times and they don’t talk to them about it. She said, “I’ve told you many times that I’d rather be inconvenienced as much as possible than regret it for the rest of my life.” And as you can see, that is how I am now.”
Unconsciously, I covered my eyes with the blanket, and when she looked at my pitiful appearance, she said, “Don’t worry, we’re here for you. We’re here for you.” She said over and over again.