Mission: Damage Control

As Takeshi walked down the hallway back toward the teachers’ lounge, he encountered Shizuka. Her aura was gloomy, and her expression seemed almost broken. Shizuka looked lost, nervously fumbling with her fingers. Even though the evening sun was shining on her face, it looked like a shadow hung over her. She had never been good at hiding her emotions, and her face spoke louder than words.

She looks like a child who lost her mother.

Takeshi had planned to leave her be, but as he passed, she grabbed his sleeve. When he turned to look at her, he noticed she was on the verge of tears. Her eyes met his, wide with fear and pleading.

“Please… help me,” she said with a trembling voice.

“What happened?” Takeshi asked calmly.

“W-When I entered the classroom… I tripped over my shoelace and fell flat,” she whimpered. “What am I supposed to do now? No one will take me seriously anymore… Everyone’s going to laugh at me…
Why did this have to happen on my first day?!”

Seriously? Does she have a Clumsy-Curse?

Takeshi hesitated. Should he tease her? Comfort her? What could he possibly say to make her feel better? Just before his thoughts spiraled, something came to his mind. Shizuka still looked at him desperately.

“Don’t worry,” he said, not quite sure if he sounded convincing. “No one will make a big fuss unless you do. Everyone’s clumsy sometimes. No shame in it. Hold on for a sec, breathe, and move on. Like nothing happened.”

Shizuka relaxed a little but still seemed embarrassed.

“Hngh, h-how am I supposed just to carry on? I-it’s so embarrassing!”

“It’s not. You just had the bad luck of it happening in front of everyone. It might sound strange, but once you try it and see it works, you’ll feel better.”

Shizuka lowered her gaze and thought about it until Takeshi spoke again.

“I’ve got something to do. Just remember: stay calm and breathe.” He walked away, convinced there was nothing else to say, but after a few steps, he looked over his shoulder.

“Oh, and one more thing… Avoid shoelaces for the next few days.”

Shizuka puffed her cheeks, a bit annoyed by his teasing. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but said nothing.

He was already walking away when Shizuka looked after him. The evening sun cast long shadows, but none stretched as far as his. Something about his figure looked… lonely. Not sad, but as if he had grown far too used to being alone. She couldn’t explain why, but something about the sight weighed on her. Maybe it was the contrast. He seemed untouchable and unreachable. However, there was that shadow...

She swallowed and hurried after him.

“K-Katou-sensei, wait!”

He didn’t turn around, but he slowed his pace just enough for her to catch up.

“I, um… I’ll walk with you to the teachers’ lounge. Because… well, I need to go there too, and all…”

She laughed awkwardly. She could have gone separately, but decided otherwise.

They walked together in silence for a few minutes. Shizuka clutched her sleeves, fingers fidgeting as she searched for something to say.

“Ah, Katou-sensei, have you decided on a club yet?”

“Club?” he repeated, raising an eyebrow at her.

“Uh… Tomorrow’s Club Recruitment Day. They’re trying to get the first-years and sometimes even second-years. I heard from Suginami-sensei that they’re also looking for teachers to supervise.”

“I don’t intend to take on a club.”

“Eh?! B-But why not? That’s expected from new teachers! And besides… forming a bond with the students wouldn’t hurt, right?”

“They reached the stairs in the entrance hall, heading toward the first floor.

“I’m a teacher, not a babysitter.”

“You’re not supposed to babysit! Just offer some advice and keep an eye on them.”

Shizuka tried to play it down, but it bounced right off him.

“Isn’t that exactly what babysitters do?”

Shizuka hadn’t expected that. Uncertainty flickered across her face as she searched for words.

“Well… yeah… but… I mean… You do want to get to know the students better, right?”

“Personal bonds with students are a disadvantage. They hinder objectivity and create bias. Not advisable,” he replied dryly.

“You really have an answer for everything…” Her voice carried a subtle reproach.

“Usually.”

“Just take a look tomorrow! Maybe something will catch your interest.”

“Unlikely.” A sober analysis. Bonds are a risk, and he had learned that lesson more than once.

Shizuka wanted to give up, but simply couldn’t. She took a deep breath, reset her thoughts.

“Why are you like this?”

There was no reproach in her voice, only curiosity. She clutched the sleeves of her blazer and looked up at him.

“What do you mean?” Takeshi barely turned his head, his eyes fixed on the hallway.

“Well… um… you’re just… strange. It’s hard to explain. Sometimes it feels like you don’t even want to be here. I don’t get it… “

I’ve heard that before…

“Why are you here?”
I’ve thought about that question more times than I care to admit.
I know the answer now. I wish I could tell you, Rin.

The picture of someone flashed before his eyes. He remembered her face as if it were yesterday. That cheeky little grin he saw so often. No matter how hard the situations may be, she always had that smile.

“Sens—sensei?”

Takeshi hadn’t noticed he’d stopped walking. His thoughts had pulled him far enough away to bring him to a halt. Shizuka stood before him, her head tilted slightly.

“Hmm?”

“Please excuse me if I spoke too freely, Katou-sensei. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I was just remembering something.”

More like someone…

“You didn’t do anything wrong. No need to get so formal,” he added.

“Eh?” Shizuka blinked in surprise. She had feared she’d stepped on his toes.

“Come on. The teachers’ lounge is just ahead.”

“What? Uh… yeah, of course.” She walked beside him again, though this time she kept a little more distance.