Chapter 43 A Homecoming After Two Years

A Homecoming After Two Years

Both I and Iroha-san are aiming to acquire teaching certificates for elementary and junior high school teachers, so we need to go on two teaching practice experiences.

And the first one has to be in our third year.

Also, because it depends on the school’s arrangements, it’s usually done in May or June. If it’s in May or June, we have to consult with the school we want to practice at in April, make an appointment, go there to greet them and have a meeting, and at the university we have to take care of various procedures and prepare documents, and so on and so forth. In short, not only the practice period but also the preparations before it are very busy.

So Iroha-sa and I decided to do our teaching practice at our respective elementary schools.

Since the teaching practice in our third year is for the elementary school, I introduced myself as “Taichi Sakamoto, a graduate of XX year of this school” and consulted with the school about letting me do my teaching practice there, and they kindly agreed and quickly set a date for the meeting.

So I went back to my hometown at the beginning of April of my third year.

In preparation for the meeting, I got a haircut at the barbershop, went shopping with Iroha-san for clothes to wear during the practice, went to see my professor for advice, and consulted with Iroha-san about registering for third-year courses and preparing textbooks. April was a very busy month.

By the way, Iroha-san’s plans for her teaching practice at her elementary school were also going well, and the date for her meeting had been set. However, our schedules were kind of reversed, and I would be going home first.

Iroha-san seemed to understand that I was a little nervous about returning to my hometown after two full years, so she came to stay in my room the night before I left, even though it was a weekday.

As usual, I was treated to Iroha-san’s home-cooked food; we had se_x, and as we lay na_ked in each other’s arms, she seemed to be trying to cheer me up, saying,

“Taichi-kun has been working hard for two years. I, who have been watching you all this time, can guarantee that. So go back to your hometown with your head held high.”

“Thank you. But I was able to do it because Iroha-san was there for me.”

“When you say that, the same goes for me. Thanks to you, Taichi-kun, I didn’t feel lonely living alone.”

“But you’ll be fine on your own, right? You’re responsible and good at cooking, so you’ll be fine without me, right?”

“That’s not true. …When I first came here two years ago, I was so scared and lonely living alone in a strange place. But you talked to me on the first day of college and said, ‘Let’s do our best in college life together!’ I was so encouraged by your words. Even though you were far from home and alone, you were so bright and positive. I was so encouraged and saved by you. I was always encouraged and helped by your positive and bright attitude. That’s why I respected you and fell in love with you.”

“Wow! An unexpected confession of love from Iroha-san! If you say things like that, I won’t want to go anymore.”

“Oh, come on! I’m going through this too, you know! So please be responsible.”

“Okay, but can I have one more? If I hear your passionate love confession again, I’ll want to do it again.”

“It’s early tomorrow, so try to get some sleep.”

“Oh, come on, just a little bit?” Rubbing.

“Don’t touch me in weird places! Okay, just a little bit, then you’ll go to sleep.”

“Okay!”

***

On the train back to my hometown for the first time in two years.

As I looked out of the train window, a wave of nostalgia washed over me.

Back then, I had jumped on the train as if to escape, too worried about what others might think to pay attention to the view outside.

But things are different now.

I no longer feel the same shame that made me want to run away.

Iroha-san told me that.

I guess it’s okay for me to hold my head high.

When I arrived at my local train station and stepped onto the platform, the station and the surrounding area looked exactly the same as they did two years ago.

Because it’s a rural area, new things don’t keep popping up like they do in the city. I felt a sense of relief, and when I got out of the station, my sister was there to pick me up.

My sister, whom I hadn’t seen for two years, looked the same except for her hair.

“You look healthy. Actually, Taichi, have you gained any weight?”

“Yes, I may have gained a little weight from happiness. My girlfriend’s cooking is so delicious.”

“Don’t be so smug! It’s kind of annoying.”

“Actually, I’ve been sitting on the train for so long that my butt hurts. I just want to go home and rest.”

“Okay, okay. I parked the car outside, so let’s go.”

When I got home, my mother was there, and when I gave her the matcha dorayaki I bought as a souvenir, she started to lecture me.

She scolded me for studying hard, eating right, and worrying about not coming back for two years.

I was studying hard, and she knew my grades weren’t bad because she received my report cards every year. She also knew about Iroha-san and that I ate well because of her cooking. I was sorry that I hadn’t come back for two years, but she didn’t have to be so angry.

I thought that, but I knew that I was being selfish and causing her worry by going to a university outside the prefecture, so I listened to her lecture in silence.

That day my mother said she would have a feast that evening when my father came home, so she was cooking in the kitchen. My sister told me to go with her to the liquor store to buy beer.

The liquor store was near Chika’s house, so I went by her house. Seeing her house didn’t bring back any unpleasant feelings, and I felt completely fine.

“Did you take this route on purpose?”

“Huh? This is the closest way, right? Was there something wrong?”

“It’s not wrong, but….”

When we arrived at the liquor store, got out of the car, and entered the store, there was a clerk. My sister talked to her and said, “I’m the person who called earlier.”

While I was waiting, I heard the conversation between my sister and the clerk. My sister seemed to know her.

After a while, the clerk brought a case of beer on a cart, and we carried it to my sister’s car and put it in the trunk.

“This is so heavy!”

“You are so weak. That young female clerk over there lifted two crates easily.”

“She’s not human, she’s a gorilla!”

“Wow, that’s harsh. I’ll tell her you said she’s a gorilla.”

“No, I don’t know her, and she doesn’t know me.”

“That’s true.”

“What’s wrong with you? Let’s go home when you’re done shopping.”

“Okay, okay.”

That night, the four of us drank alcohol until we were all drunk.

It was my first homecoming since I turned 20, so it was like a celebration of my adulthood. Both my father and mother drank happily, and I got carried away and drank until I passed out. The next day, I was the only one with a terrible hangover.

The elementary school meeting was scheduled for that afternoon, so I took a cold shower while groaning, took some medicine for my hangover, and sent a message to Iroha-san saying, “I’m going to die of a hangover.” She called me and scolded me, saying, “What are you doing on the day of your important meeting!” But she also encouraged me, saying, “Make sure you tidy up and leave home early.” I followed her advice and visited my old elementary school early.

It must have been about eight years since I last visited it.

When I was in elementary school, there were earthquakes and other difficult times.

My condition was terrible at that time, but I didn’t have time to be sentimental now. I quickly visited the principal’s office, greeted him, discussed certain dates and subjects, and successfully planned my teaching practice.

I was still feeling the effects of the hangover that day, so I went to bed early that night. The next morning, my mother sent me to the train station, and my two-year homecoming was over in an instant.