07 Classroom Observation

The break at the elementary school ended.

The fifth period began.

Parents were quietly seated at the back of the classroom, their mouths closed, their movements restrained.

Students glanced sideways, checking whether their parents were present.

Among them, Mio spotted Jin and her face lit up.

Then she spotted Shirley beside him and lit up even more.

What are you doing here? The sideways glances asked, but there was no answer.

Earlier, when Mio had mentioned it, she’d said there were students who made noise during class.

But today was a classroom observation, so no one was playing tricks.

Or perhaps Mio had completely taken control of the class, a thought that crossed Jin’s mind.

Too far-fetched, he dismissed it himself. Definitely the former.

(Mathematics…)

He recalled Mio’s grades.

That astonishing mathematical performance.

Considering it, Jin wondered if Mio might be bored—yet when he glanced over, she was solving textbook problems with apparent enjoyment.

A slight respect stirred; she truly was born to study.

Sharon, unaware of Mio’s academic record, watched her solve problems effortlessly, her mouth forming a silent exclamation.

Among the other students, some appeared to struggle.

The girl seated beside Mio—the one rumored to be either Hasegawa or Carmine—suddenly accelerated her pace after receiving a hint from Mio.

“Mio-chan’s good at math, huh?”

She whispered it just loud enough for Jin to hear.

“Good at it…?”

The thought that she could probably manage at about the same level as him was swallowed.

He feared he’d make some odd sound if she said it aloud.

“Don’t start a sentence and stop mid-sentence.”

“Shh. I’ll explain later.”

She held a finger to her lips.

A novice, though somewhat unusual, Jin was still a teacher.

He did not wish to disrupt the lecture hall with such antics.

The instructor currently on the podium—she, too, must be tense under the watchful eyes of guardians.

"Is there anyone who can solve this problem?"

Students eagerly raised their hands in response.

Yet Mio remained composed, her hand still lowered.

An unexpected sight.

She seemed the type to act boldly in such moments.

Perhaps speaking in front of others was not her strength.

The class proceeded.

When it reached a more complex advanced problem—

"Who can solve this one?"

At that moment, deliberately and without hesitation, Mio raised her hand.

No other student raised theirs.

Mio stepping forward, solving a problem of moderate difficulty for a first-year student with effortless precision on the electronic blackboard—Jin found himself, unexpectedly, proud of her.

"Yes, correct."

As she turned to return to her seat, she gave Jin and Sharon a faintly smug glance.

"...I want to take a photo."

Jin felt the same.

After the classroom observation, the parent-teacher meeting began.

Parents introduced themselves to one another.

When Mio’s father announced his name, attention focused instantly.

Something about it—was Mio’s name already known among the parents? Jin felt a flicker of unease.

He hoped it was in a good way.

The teacher’s gaze felt slightly intimidating.

Instructions were given on how the class would proceed in the future.

Jin made notes on anything that might prove useful for his instructor duties.

Though he had not studied education, such insights were valuable.

With all that concluded.

The guardians departed one by one.

Jin had just begun to follow when he was called back by the homeroom teacher.

"Mr. Higashi, may I speak with you for a moment?"

"Yes?"

"It's about Mio's academic performance..."

The teacher spoke in a hushed tone.

"Overall, her level exceeds that of first-year elementary school. Advancement to the next grade is possible. What are your thoughts?"

Jin had not noticed, but Mio’s academic standing had risen to that point.

Yet, if advancement were to occur, it should have been decided at enrollment.

Jin valued academic achievement, but he also believed interaction with peers of the same age was essential.

If she advanced, the class would be filled with older students—equality in relationship would become difficult to maintain.

"I’m not considering acceleration. She’s made friends, and seems to be enjoying herself..."

Besides, he sensed that if Mio found study interesting, she would pursue it on her own.

"Please do what only you can do—now."

Is that so... I spoke out of turn. I apologize.

No, thank you for your concern. I ask that you continue to look after my daughter.

Jin bows in return and exits the room.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Walking alongside Shirley, who had already exited and been waiting.

What were you talking about?

They said I could skip a grade.

Isn't it incredible?

Sharon’s startled expression. Shoulders hunched in disregard.

I was asked to decline, though.

Yes. A waste.

It’d be a shame to pull apart friends, now that they’ve finally made each other.

When she spoke the thought she’d had when the teacher had spoken earlier, Sharon still turned her head.

Hmm. But I think providing an educational environment suited to their intellect is equally important.

That might be true, though.

In that case, those around them become adults—almost exclusively, in their early twenties.

Jin did not consider that environment favorable.

"Ah, well, that's just how my family's educational approach is."

"Ah... yes, you're right. I'm sorry. I'm an outsider—"

Sharon takes a step back.

She immediately concludes that the only reason for her retreat is her own previous remark.

"No, that's not it. I'm not dismissing your opinion, or anything like that..."

Jin stammers, flustered. Sharon lets out a quiet chuckle.

"Hardly the kind of person who loses composure in training, I'd have thought."

"Warfare and daily life are different, you know..."

He glances around, thinking the conversation had been a little too ambiguous.

No one around. Safe.

"About that skirt incident earlier—there are countless things I wouldn't notice on my own. It'd help if you spoke up freely... if you're comfortable with that."

"I don't mind at all. I like Mio-chan too."

Sharon agrees without hesitation.

Walking silently to the lockers.

In the hushed corridor, Shirley murmured.

"But I’m not skilled in human matters. I’ll surely make a mistake someday. Please don’t expect too much from me."

"...I’ve heard that before."

He wanted to deny it.

He said so, in words.

But Shirley did not accept it.

Jin, in his heart, rejected his own words.

Thus, Jin and Shirley became Lieutenant and Sergeant.

"If only I could heal humans. If I could mend people. We might have been—"

Shirley swallowed the rest.

Jin never spoke the remainder.

Already.

It was a story that had ended.

Ended before he met Rei.

"Come, let’s go pick up Mio. Sergeant."

"Yes. Let’s go. Lieutenant."

The roleplay ended.

With that, both switched their roles—without words.

Continuing any further might bring back memories from six years ago.

The two approach Mio, who waits on the schoolyard.

Mio notices and rushes toward them.

"Surprised to see you too, Dad—and Sharon as well!"

"Ahaha. Glad you're happy?"

"I am! Oh, Dad looked happy too!"

"Good. Then... aren't you being a little distant toward your father?"

Jin, who had worked hard today just to be discharged, feels a quiet loneliness.

"Is Dad's hospital stay over?"

"No. Back to the hospital tomorrow. I still have to do rehabilitation for a while..."

"Rehabilitation?"

"Been bedridden for so long. I need to get my body fixed."

Mio nods thoughtfully, then suddenly turns her gaze to Sharon with a bright idea.

"You said Sharon's good at fixing things!"

"Sorry, Mio. I'm not trained for humans."

"Too bad..."

Mio lowers her shoulders.

"You can stay at home tonight. We can sleep together."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Really."

"Then will you listen to Mio's request?"

"Sure. Anything you want."

An unusual request from a girl.

Jin intended to listen to anything, no matter what it was.

"Again, making promises without thinking..."

Sharon sighs, but ignores it.

"Um... I want to sleep with the two of you."

"Three... people?"

"Mio, Otosan, and Sharon."

Sharon tilts her head, a fixed smile on her face, as if surprised by her own name.

What does that mean?

Jin’s thoughts freeze—unexpected.

In truth, this man is weak at improvising outside battle.

"Is it not possible?"

"Ah, well. There are duties as a sergeant, you know..."

Jin gestures subtly toward Sharon, who nods vigorously.

Then Mio shifted her target to Sharon.

"Sharon... please... can't you say no?"

Sharon met the pleading look with a steady gaze.

"Of course not."

She surrendered without hesitation.

"Hey."

"I couldn't. That kind of plea... it's impossible to refuse!"

"Dad..."

Jin hesitated under the weight of expectation.

A conflict between duty and betrayal.

And beneath it, the desire to fulfill his daughter's wish.

The wish prevailed.

"Sorry, Sergeant... please, help me out..."

"Of course. It's Mio-chan's request. Yes, for Mio-chan."

Sharon, unexpectedly, would be staying overnight at the Higashi family residence.