Hiratsuka Ryosuke didn't get a response from Mrs. Nishimiya. Instead, he got a familiar iron fist from Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"What kind of offensive things are you saying in front of a girl's mother, Ryosuke!"
Shizuka pounded her brother's head, then held it down to make him bow. "Mrs. Nishimiya, please excuse my brother's rudeness. Let me introduce myself. My name is Hiratsuka Shizuka, I'm this boy's older sister, and I'm currently a teacher at Soubu High School in Chiba."
The principal stood up, interjecting. "Chiba? It took you only about 20 minutes from when I called you to when you arrived. How did you get here?"
"By car, of course," Shizuka replied normally.
The principal nodded. "Well, you really went to a lot of trouble." Just as I'd expect from the Hiratsuka family's young lady. She's always in a frantic hurry, just like last time. Soubu High School is over 60 kilometers away from here, isn't it?
Nishimiya Yaeko was about to lead Shoko away when Shizuka's next words ignited her anger once more.
"You're a mother who loves her daughter very much, but in pouring this heavy love on her, did you ever ask for your daughter's opinion?" Shizuka spoke with confidence. As a teacher, she was very serious about her profession and refused to give up on any good child, even if their personality was a little pathologically twisted. In her eyes, Nishimiya Shoko's submissive and people-pleasing nature had already become a bit unhealthy. Even if it wasn't for Ryosuke, she couldn't bear to watch a girl like Shoko spiral into the abyss. This was her conviction and belief as a teacher.
"How typical of a brother and sister. You don't need to trouble yourself. I will have my daughter transfer schools," Yaeko said, holding back her fury. Her eyes grew colder, and her tone turned hostile. "And I have never forced my will on my child. Shoko, tell me yourself, has your mother ever forced you to do anything?!"
But Shoko let go of her hand, bowed her head, and remained silent.
Ryosuke gave Shoko a brilliant smile, one that melted the winter snow.
"Say what you want to say. If you want others to accept you, you need to first express your true feelings. Only then will they understand and accept you. Be brave, Shoko."
He knew there was a major obstacle in Shoko's life, one she couldn't get around: her mother, the person she was closest to and who could never be replaced.
Her next words made Yaeko feel like she was meeting her daughter for the first time.
"Mom, I don't want to transfer schools," Shoko mumbled.
"What did you say?" Yaeko's brows furrowed.
"I said, I don't want to transfer schools!" This time, her voice was completely different. It was a deafening cry from the depths of her soul.
"I've tried so hard, Mom!"
"I've tried hard to study."
"I've tried hard to make friends."
"I've tried hard to take care of my sister."
"It's supposed to be a good thing that you love me, but your love is suffocating me..."
"I've found a real friend at this school. Isn't that what you always wanted?"
"So... this time, I'm not going to transfer!"
Shoko's voice was hoarse and weak, but she was confronting her mother's authority for the first time.
Yaeko raised her hand. Shoko instinctively closed her eyes. After a moment, she didn't feel the slap she expected. She secretly opened her eyes. She saw her mother's hand trembling in the air before slowly lowering.
"Do as you wish," Yaeko said, turning around to face Ishida Miyako, who was kneeling on the floor. "Please discipline your son properly as well," she said coldly.
"Thank you, thank you so much! Shouya won't bully Shoko again, I promise you!" Miyako said, as if granted a great pardon. Her forehead was already bruised and bleeding from her constant kowtowing. She took a thick envelope from her bag and offered it to Yaeko with both hands.
Yaeko didn't even look at it. With her back to everyone, she walked toward the door. She had come alone, and she left alone.
"Shoko won't disappoint you. Please have a little more faith in her!" Ryosuke called out from behind.
Yaeko paused for a moment before leaving without turning back.
Seeing that Yaeko had not accepted the money, Miyako quickly stood up, bowed to everyone, and then, pulling the stunned Ishida Shouya with her, followed Yaeko.
The parent-teacher meeting, triggered by the children's actions, came to a temporary end.
Outside the school.
"What do you plan to do?" Shizuka asked softly, rubbing her temples.
Ryosuke held Shoko's hand behind his back. "Don't worry, I have a plan."
Shoko was kind, but her humble, people-pleasing kindness was a form of a twisted personality. The first step was to build her confidence and make her less submissive. She had never had friends her own age, and being around real friends would subtly change her. The second step was to help her restore her ability to speak. With the help of her hearing aids, if she could hear and speak normally, others wouldn't look at her so differently.
Because of her hearing impairment and her mother's strictness, Shoko always put herself in a low position. The more she yielded, the easier it was for her to be bullied, which led to a cycle of transferring schools.
The three of them walked toward the school gate. From behind the wall, they heard a crisp, sweet exclamation.
"Wait, really? Shinka, you're saying that the top student, the Ice Prince, is your Guardian Knight?"
"Yeah, Ryosuke, no, my Guardian Knight, is my childhood friend!"
"That's so cool!" The girls' surprise turned into adoration.
Ryosuke's fists clenched. This person is getting more and more outrageous. He had not seen her, but he had heard her. For some reason, he really wanted to imitate his sister and punch Nibutani Shinka. He sped up and walked out of the school gate. He turned and saw two cute little girls standing by the wall.
One of them saw Ryosuke, her eyes widened, and she waved at him with a smile. "Guardian Knight~ Over here, over here~"
"How many times have I told you not to tell people that? It makes a really bad impression," Ryosuke said seriously, walking toward Shinka. What if she leads other children astray?
"Don't worry, this girl is a comrade!" Shinka said, patting the shoulder of the blonde girl next to her.
Ryosuke followed her gaze. It was a girl he didn't know. She was wearing a red and white frilly lolita dress. She had long blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and long, pointed ears, like a fairy from a fantasy story.
"It's nice to meet you. My name is Emily Granger," the girl said, her demeanor elegant and polite.
Huh? She's normal? It would be rude not to respond.
Just as Ryosuke was about to introduce himself, the girl's next actions made him completely drop the idea. Emily Granger put her left hand on her waist and used her right hand to cover half of her face. A mysterious smile appeared on her face. Her voice was solemn and deep.
"Of course, you can also call me by my 'true name,' the Forest Sage—Yamada Elf!"
Then, she raised an eyebrow and continued in her crisp, pleasant voice.
"Heh, I've heard a lot about you, Sir Guardian Knight of the Forest Mage!"