The homeroom teacher standing at the door didn't comment on Naoka Ueno's remarks.
Similarly, he had no intention of forcing the entire class to learn sign language just for Shoko Nishimiya.
He just adjusted his glasses and remained silent.
In front of Shoko Nishimiya, an ordinary-looking girl stood up, raised her hand, and broke the silence. "I will try my best to learn sign language."
This small interlude didn't cause much of a stir. Everyone seemed to accept the decision to learn sign language during the morning meeting.
The meeting quickly ended, and during the break, the ordinary girl turned to Shoko Nishimiya's notebook and wrote:
"Have you seen Doraemon? My name is Miyoko Sahara. Please teach me sign language."
Shoko Nishimiya pressed her pen to her chin, thinking hard.
Then, she gestured with sign language while speaking, her voice a bit muffled, saying each word one by one:
"Sa... ha... ra... Mi... yo... ko!"
Naoka Ueno, who was talking with other girls with her hands in her pockets, turned to look at a smiling Miyoko Sahara and said disdainfully, "You're just trying to get some points, aren't you? So desperate."
After saying that, she turned back nonchalantly. Miyoko Sahara's expression froze, and the smile slowly disappeared from her face.
Ryosuke Hiratsuka watched everything that was happening. He knew very well that by getting close to Nishimiya, Miyoko Sahara was already being ostracized by the other girls.
Young girls were always sensitive. She also realized that if she got any closer to Nishimiya, she would be completely kicked out of her original social circle.
Naoka Ueno's words were just a warning.
Ryosuke Hiratsuka looked at the silent Miyoko Sahara in front of him and shook his head internally.
Sure enough, by the afternoon, Sahara had not said a word to Nishimiya.
He didn't have any thoughts of blaming Sahara; everyone had their own choices.
It was understandable. People were always afraid of loneliness, always longing for a lively crowd, and always unwilling to be idle.
Because when they faced loneliness, they often faced pain. But once they could face this pain directly, they often gained talent and courage.
Therefore, outstanding people must be lonely.
His good grades were the result of countless nights of studying.
His strong swordsmanship was from swinging his sword every night until he was drenched in sweat.
All along, Ryosuke Hiratsuka had trusted in his own strength above all else.
"Hiratsuka-kun, the next class is gym. Can you go with me?"
Shoko Nishimiya, as if nothing had happened, maintained her usual smile.
He turned his head and saw the hopeful expression on Nishimiya's face and couldn't bear to refuse.
This child can adjust her emotions so quickly and act as if nothing happened. She must be used to this kind of situation.
Just as he was about to nod in agreement, someone outside the door called his name.
"Hiratsuka, the teacher wants to see you in his office!"
For a good student with excellent grades like him, he could probably guess what it was about, especially with high school entrance exams approaching.
Ryosuke Hiratsuka said calmly to Nishimiya, "The class is starting, so you go first. I need to go to the teacher's office."
...
Inside the office, Ryosuke Hiratsuka looked at the desk, which was covered with admission invitations from various high schools in Tokyo.
He knew his grades would likely get him an exemption from entrance exams, but he didn't expect so many.
"Hiratsuka, as you can see, with your grades, you have many choices. Have you decided which school you want to go to?"
The homeroom teacher adjusted his glasses and asked calmly.
As a teacher, it was his duty to teach well. All this was just routine.
Recommending excellent students for admission didn't come with a bonus, and taking care of disadvantaged students didn't improve his performance metrics either.
If this were when he first started teaching a few years ago, he would have been proud of having a genius student.
But now?
In this country where a banker's child becomes a banker, and a worker's child remains a worker...
He now understood the logic of how this society operated, and he had gone from an idealistic, passionate teacher to the burnt-out, unmotivated person he was today.
Ryosuke Hiratsuka? He could choose whatever he wanted; there were plenty of schools that would accept him.
"Soyokaze High School." Ryosuke Hiratsuka said without hesitation, spitting out those four words.
"The junior high division of Soyokaze? That's a good choice. After all, both the junior and senior high divisions have high college acceptance rates." The homeroom teacher found the invitation from Soyokaze High School among the pile and handed it to Ryosuke Hiratsuka.
Ryosuke Hiratsuka waved his hand and calmly refused. "Thank you, teacher, but I plan to take the entrance exam myself."
His expression was peaceful, as if he were refusing something insignificant.
This answer was a bit unexpected for the teacher. He already had the ticket in his hand, yet he still wanted to take the exam?
"Okay, you can go back now."
As Ryosuke Hiratsuka left the office, the teacher made a phone call, but Ryosuke didn't hear it.
"Is this Ms. Hiratsuka? He rejected all the admission invitations and plans to take the Soyokaze High School entrance exam himself."
"Ah, I see. Thank you. You've looked after Ryosuke so much."
A pleasant female voice came from the other end of the line.
After the usual pleasantries, the call ended.
On the rooftop of Sōbu High School, it was deserted during class.
Shizuka Hiratsuka stood alone on the roof, looking into the distance in the direction of Ryosuke Hiratsuka's school.
She put out the cigarette in her hand and let out a helpless sigh.
In front of Ryosuke, she never smoked because he would always snatch the cigarette away, saying it was bad for her health.
She had a feeling about Ryosuke's choice because she had graduated from Soyokaze High School herself.
Ryosuke cared about her, so how could she not care about her only younger brother?
That child, because he cared about her, was unconsciously influenced by her.
He kept following in her footsteps, wanting to walk the same path she had.
Because he cared about her, he had unknowingly started to become like her.
The wind on the rooftop was strong, and Shizuka Hiratsuka's white coat and long black hair danced in the wind.
At this moment, Shizuka Hiratsuka was intellectual and mature, with no trace of the relaxed manner she had when she was with Ryosuke.
She came back to her senses, chuckled softly, and whispered, "What a troublesome kid."
...
Meanwhile, just as Ryosuke Hiratsuka left the classroom for the office, the class bell rang.
Most of the students had already left the classroom, but a few, including Shoya Ishida, remained.
"Hirose, you draw over there."
Shoya Ishida and his friends were scribbling and drawing on the blackboard.
"What are you doing, Ishida?" Naoka Ueno asked, laughing lightly as she saw the content on the blackboard. "This is a bit too much."
While her mouth said "too much," the smile on her face showed she didn't find it excessive at all.
"Too much? That's just 'Nishimiya language'."
"You're so mean, Ishida," another friend with blond hair chimed in.
After writing the last exclamation point, Shoya Ishida casually threw the chalk, sat on the teacher's podium, and admired his "masterpiece."
He sighed proudly, "Not bad, not bad!"
The chalk had been used to write large letters all over the blackboard.
"Congratulations, Nishimiya-san!"
"Sahara ran away somewhere."
"Teach me 'Nishimiya language' next time."
"That's so well-written~"
Shoya Ishida deliberately drew out his words in a sarcastic tone.
Whoosh~
The classroom door slid open.
Shoko Nishimiya, on a task from the teacher, had returned with a potted plant.
As soon as she entered the room, she saw the writing on the blackboard. She walked to the front and stood there silently, unmoving.
Shoya Ishida's face was full of anticipation. He was eager to see her reaction.
He hoped this special girl with a hearing impairment would bring some excitement to his boring daily life.
"Oh~ Who wrote this? So mean! Let me help you erase it~"
Shoya Ishida pretended to be completely unaware, speaking in an exaggerated, drawn-out tone.
His behavior now made Naoka Ueno, Miki Kawai, and the other onlookers uncomfortable. Their expressions were a little stiff; they felt awkward.
After all, talking bad about someone behind their back was one thing, but saying it to their face was another.
"Let me help you erase it~"
Shoya Ishida pretended to be kind, and after erasing the board, he casually tossed the eraser under the podium and turned to look at Shoko Nishimiya.
"All erased~"
A boring life needed a little flavor. Courage and bravery needed to be proven. The arrival of Shoko Nishimiya, a "special person," was the best seasoning for their mundane routines.
No one else dares to target Nishimiya to her face. Only I do!
This was the best whetstone for proving his courage.
A new "test of courage" had begun, and Shoya Ishida was in the lead!
After all, besides me, Shoya Ishida, who else would dare to make fun of Nishimiya to her face?
Shoya Ishida did all this as if nothing had happened, and his heart was filled with anticipation for Nishimiya's reaction.
Will Nishimiya cry?
Or will she feel wronged, throw away the flowerpot, and run away?
Or will she get angry and curse me out with her "Nishimiya language"?
I'm looking forward to it. What will you choose, Shoko Nishimiya?