Takayanagi and the Fateful Encounters at Kitchen Aono
Takayanagi’s PoV
I ended up at Kitchen Aono. I had planned to enjoy a simple bowl of ramen, but earlier, I saw a picture of a fried oyster set on Uncle Gourmet’s SNS that looked delicious, and I couldn’t resist.
To be honest, as a teacher, visiting a student’s home feels somewhat questionable. Nevertheless, I opened the door.
“Oh, Takayanagi-sensei. How can I help you today?”
Aono’s mother greeted me with a warm smile. I was on good terms with her and had built a solid relationship of trust. When I emailed her about Aono’s special classes being held this coming Saturday, she replied, [Thank you for your hard work. Please come and eat my food if you have time.] So, I decided to take her up on her kind offer.
Apparently, Aono’s father passed away when he was young, and his mother and brother now run the restaurant. Only as an adult could I truly appreciate their determination and resilience. Strengthening the relationship between the school and the family is essential in Aono’s case, so we’re actively sharing information.
“I’m a customer today. I’d like to order a seasonal fried oyster set, please.”
“Oh, sure. To make it even better, I’ll give you an extra serving of cabbage.”
I laughed at her cheerful response.
She always reads our reports thoroughly and emails us questions about them. We always answer as thoroughly as possible.
As a result, the family seems to trust the school more. I’ve noticed a much softer tone in her phone calls.
“Sensei, please take care of Eiji.”
His older brother came out of the kitchen and handed me a bowl of minestrone. He seemed deeply devoted to his younger brother, working hard from a young age without indulging in the typical youthful distractions.
Recently, Aono and I have started having casual conversations again, like we used to. Seeing this, I can sense just how much Aono appreciates his mother and brother.
His brother’s gaze made it clear how deeply he cared for him.
“Yes, we’ll do our best to support him.”
At school, I’ve noticed a clear decrease in the number of students who are suspicious of Aono. This is partly due to the high level of trust in Ichijo Ai, with whom he spends a lot of time, but it’s also largely a result of his admirable character.
Some students from last year and even some of his current classmates still seem hesitant, but it’s clear that many have distanced themselves from the bullying and rumors.
For example, during discussions with the chemistry teacher about how to handle practical credits, a first-year classmate of Aono’s, Endo, approached me, saying, “If that’s the case, I can help him with the experiments after school. Aono-kun is an important friend, and I want to do what I can for him.”
It’s heartening that Aono has friends who are willing to help him during tough times. It’s all thanks to his kind personality.
“Excuse me, may I have a rice refill?”
A tall man called out, and Aono’s mother responded promptly, “Yes, right away!” I glanced at him and recognized him as Uncle Gourmet, a streamer I frequently watch. Ah, so he was still here—I’d seen his photo earlier.
I felt an unexpected sense of happiness at the coincidence.
And I was grateful for the serendipity.
In one of his videos, which I watched to choose a restaurant, he mentioned something that had been bothering me.
He talked about a boy who got beaten up over a love affair last week.
Fights aren’t uncommon, so the chances are slim. But I thought it wouldn’t hurt to investigate.
Even the slightest possibility is worth pursuing if it could resolve this issue. If it could end Aono’s troubles sooner…
I decided to take a gamble on that possibility.
I found myself standing up and approaching him.
“Excuse me, but… could I ask you something?”
I reached out toward the door to the truth.