No matter where you were, openly threatening a teacher like that was a serious matter especially in Japan, where hierarchical relationships were deeply ingrained.
So, the moment Tsutsuhara Shiori finished her threat, the office fell into complete silence.
No one spoke.
All eyes were fixed on her as the girl slowly turned around.
"Sensei, I'm very sorry. But this is the only way I can do things."
The only way?
Hirakawa Tetsuya had no answer.
Conflicts within a family were rarely caused by just one side. The tension between Tsutsuhara and her mother undoubtedly wasn't solely the mother's fault…Tsutsuhara herself bore some responsibility as well.
Hirakawa was certain of one thing:
There was a serious communication breakdown between them.
Two equally difficult personalities clashing had created this bizarre situation.
The thought passed through his mind in an instant. Facing the young lady who had just threatened him, Hirakawa looked at Tsutsuhara Shiori, who had straightened up again, and spoke:
"Tsutsuhara, do you know something?"
"Please go ahead, Sensei."
He smiled faintly.
"I may not be very qualified, but I've looked into the rules of wind ensemble competitions. The number of performers on stage can't exceed fifty-five but there's no rule saying it has to reach fifty-five, right?"
Her expression immediately darkened.
"And as the club's advisor, I have the authority to make recommendations regarding the competition lineup."
The implication was obvious.
For a troublesome student bold enough to threaten her teacher, Hirakawa chose to respond in kind.
"Tsutsuhara, you wouldn't want to end up watching your teammates perform from the sidelines, would you?"
Ah
It seemed he had naturally spoken one of the system's infamous lines.
However, the system required deliberate activation. Simply saying the words wouldn't trigger its hypnotic effect.
And this situation didn't call for using it anyway.
Even so, the meaning behind his words alone was enough to shake a fifteen-year-old girl.
Tsutsuhara's expression grew even worse.
The other teachers in the office wore rather colorful expressions as well. Beside him, the innocent Kuda Mayuki looked at him with a gaze that seemed to say, I didn't expect you to be this kind of person, Hirakawa-sensei…
Well… it looked like his usual harmless teacher image was about to collapse.
Still, this was only a temporary counterattack. Hirakawa had no interest in using such low-level tactics like threats against a fifteen-year-old student.
Looking at the girl's cold expression, he finally said:
"Don't worry. I won't actually do that."
A hint of surprise appeared on Tsutsuhara's face as she looked at him.
Hirakawa smiled wryly.
"Now you understand how it feels to be threatened, right?"
If she had been a boy, he might have tapped her on the head with his pen without hesitation.
But she was a girl hardly appropriate.
So the pen in his hand spun aimlessly instead.
"Threatening a teacher isn't acceptable."
If it had been someone else threatening him, he might have fought back more seriously. But she was his student competing with his own student wasn't something a proper teacher should do.
Since he was called "sensei," he had to live up to that role.
"I'll convey your wishes to your mother."
The moment he said that, Tsutsuhara's face showed clear surprise, as if she hadn't heard him properly.
So Hirakawa repeated himself, word for word.
"Your wish not to give up music I will convey it clearly to your mother."
He spoke with complete seriousness.
Tsutsuhara fell silent for a moment. A complicated, almost incomprehensible expression appeared on her face as she shook her head.
"That's impossible. About that"
"There's nothing impossible about it."
Hirakawa interrupted her.
"Communication may not always solve problems but without communication, nothing can be solved."
"Tsutsuhara, you haven't had a proper conversation with your mother in a long time, have you?"
Silence.
Which was as good as an answer.
Hirakawa showed no surprise.
"If your intentions can't reach your mother, then as your teacher, I'll convey them for you."
After a long silence, the girl looked at him.
"Sensei, if you do that… you might get fired."
Hirakawa's expression stiffened.
Her words were unexpectedly sharp though perhaps that was simply because she understood her mother all too well.
"Even if it's not appropriate for me to say this, I still have to"
"Tsutsuhara, you and your mother really do have equally troublesome personalities."
At his blunt remark, the girl suddenly burst out laughing.
She actually laughed.
Hirakawa ignored it and continued:
"Of course, I have my own considerations."
"My willingness to convey your wishes doesn't mean I'm automatically 'on your side.'"
"The balance between free will and reality is a complicated matter."
"I don't think blindly ignoring reality or completely suppressing freedom is the right approach."
"So I'll convey both your wishes and your mother."
"In hopes of finding a balance that both of you can accept."
"What do you think?"
Tsutsuhara turned slightly.
"Thank you, Hirakawa-sensei."
"That's simply what a teacher should do."
"Then how will you convey it?"
"I'll arrange a home visit and speak with your mother directly."
"But… Hirakawa-sensei," she said, her tone carrying a hint of helplessness, "this may sound like I'm standing by and doing nothing, but when it comes to a home visit… I might truly be powerless to help."
"What do you mean?"
Just as Tsutsuhara had implied
A mother who stood above others and had no intention of listening to her child's voice likely had no intention of negotiating at all.
Even if Tsutsuhara herself were present, it would make no difference.
After several phone calls, all Hirakawa got was the assistant's response:
"I'll report this matter to my boss."
And then nothing.
No reply.
No follow-up.
And at the meeting the following week, he received a warning from the principal
Or rather, from Tsutsuhara's mother.
After all, the principal was merely an extension of her will.
The warning was simple:
"Hirakawa-sensei, please focus on your duties."
His duties?
There was something deeply ironic about that.
At the same time, the third term was nearing its end.
And the deadline set by Tsutsuhara's mother before the start of the second year was drawing ever closer.