Teachers and Mother
Takayanagi’s PoV
I came to Kitchen Aono with the principal.
Originally, we were supposed to visit during the lunch break, but Aono’s mother wanted to talk to me right away, so we scheduled the meeting for 9:30 a.m., before the restaurant opened.
At school, Aono is now under the supervision of Mitsui-sensei. His special classes also started today. Thanks to the arrangements made by the principal and vice principal, it looks like he will only be one day behind. The school is currently discussing how to handle Aono’s credits for P.E. and Art. Final arrangements are being made for him to take remedial classes and submit written reports on his days off and after school.
This time, Aono himself was not present at the meeting—only his mother and the teachers attended.
“So this is Aono-kun’s home?”
The principal carried a paper bag. Inside was a set of documents we had prepared, containing all the information we currently had and the school’s proposed future plans for Aono.
“Yes.”
“Takayanagi-sensei, I will take full responsibility. It’s my duty as the principal. So, I ask you to be truthful, and for the rest, please stand by Aono-kun and his family. Honestly, I’m not worried—it seems like I don’t even need to tell you this.”
“Well, I’ll do my best. But to be honest, my hands are still shaking, and my heart is racing, Sensei.”
In a situation like this, I can’t help but feel nervous. If I could run away, I would.
“It’s natural to feel that way—I’m nervous too. But as teachers, we have a huge responsibility to make a difference in our students’ lives.”
“That’s right.”
So, I can’t run away.
“I’m sure his mother will understand, Takayanagi-sensei. Let’s go.”
Eiji Mother’s PoV
“I’m very sorry for what happened.”
The principal and Takayanagi-sensei bowed deeply as soon as I opened the door. I had thought they might just offer a formal apology, explain the situation over tea, and then leave. But…
Their honesty and sincerity gave me a sense of security. As Minami-san had said, the principal truly seemed to be an excellent educator.
Eiji’s Onii-chan cares deeply for him. He’s worried he might lose his temper, so he asked me to handle this instead.
“Please raise your heads, Sensei. I just want to know—when did the teachers first notice something was wrong?”
The thin homeroom teacher answered,
“During homeroom after summer vacation. When I heard that Aono-kun wasn’t feeling well and had gone to the infirmary, I noticed scribbles on his desk. I immediately informed the vice principal, and we began discussing how to handle the situation.”
“You noticed so quickly. Did Eiji consult with the teachers right away?”
I was honestly surprised. I know how hard teachers work, but their attentiveness caught me off guard.
“No. In the end, Aono-kun left the infirmary without returning to class. That’s why Mitsui-sensei called you from the infirmary a few days later.”
“I see…”
Indeed, I had received a call from the infirmary teacher.
“That day, I asked Imai-kun to contact Aono-kun. The next day, I questioned him about the situation. Here’s a summary of what we know so far…”
“I see. I’ll read it…”
The report stated that Eiji had been involved in a romantic relationship and that strange rumors about him had spread because of it. Although the names were kept confidential, it mentioned Miyuki and the person she had been involved with. Two classmates suspected of bullying were also under investigation. It also outlined plans to support Eiji academically through special classes starting today.
“Sensei, are you serious about that last statement?”
The report included this: [In relation to the various acts identified, criminal actions such as property damage and defamation have been confirmed. The school is considering severe disciplinary measures against the students involved, including consultation with the police and potential expulsion or suspension.] I often hear that schools hesitate to involve the police in bullying cases…
Takayanagi-sensei responded immediately,
“Yes. The school cannot tolerate such behavior. Of course, whether to report slander and other acts to the police will be up to Aono-kun and his family. However, regarding the property damage, such as the scribbles on desks, the school has already consulted the police, as this constitutes clear damage to school property.”
“Don’t schools usually try to avoid involving the police in these matters?”
I asked. Before Takayanagi-sensei could answer, the principal spoke.
“Two hundred fifty-nine. That’s the number of high school students who died by s🬀🬀cide last year. Of course, that includes students who took their own lives due to health issues or family circumstances—not just bullying…”
“…”
The weight of the statistics hit me like a knife to the back.
“If we include s🬀🬀cide attempts, the number of students whose lives have been irreparably damaged by bullying is likely much higher. These figures barely scratch the surface. And then there are incidents like this one.”
The principal’s voice was firm and resolute.
“When a situation becomes a matter of life and death, our first priority must be the victim—Aono-kun. As adults, it’s our responsibility to safeguard his future. That’s what I believe. Preserving the school’s honor is a trivial matter compared to this. Moreover, shielding the perpetrators from accountability could harm their development in the long run. Facing the consequences of their actions and making proper amends is also part of their education.”
The principal fixed his gaze on me, his voice steady but urgent.
“To protect Aono-kun, we need your help.”