Mission: Comfort Zone

Takeshi flipped through his students’ files, hoping to understand them better. The golden light of the sun, hanging low on the horizon, cast long shadows as the spring breeze rustled through the trees. Most of his colleagues had already left for the day, but he decided to stay a little longer. His goal was to find certain incidents in the school records. To his left, Shizuka stretched, raising both fists into the air.

“Phew, I’m totally wiped out,” said Shizuka, smiling with satisfaction.

As she turned, she noticed Takeshi still sitting there, eyes fixed on the papers.

“Whoa! Katou-sensei, I didn’t even realize you were still here,” she exclaimed, startled.

He looked up at her and apologized.

“That wasn’t my intention,” he said quietly.

I didn’t even try to hide. Maybe you were just too absorbed in your work. Never take your eyes off your surroundings. That was the first lesson I learned in the military.

“Maybe I should tie a little bell around your wrist so I can notice you sooner,” Shizuka joked, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

A bell? That would be a death sentence. “Enemy located by suspicious jingling…”
Absurd and tactically suicidal.

“Oh right! Your advice worked. I went into class today and just acted like nothing had happened. Even though I was a bit unsure at first, that feeling faded pretty quickly.”

She trusts my judgment… might be a mistake.

“Glad to hear it,” Takeshi replied flatly.

What else was I supposed to say? Anything else would’ve been rude, even if politeness isn’t exactly my strength.

“Aren’t you going to head out soon too?”

“I’ll go through a few more files before I go home.”

“Why not take them home with you? It’s more comfortable there. Sitting on the couch, a cup of tea, something tasty to eat…”

A dreamy look crossed her face.

“Makes no difference to me.”

His eyes returned on the papers.

“Uh… okay? That almost sounds like home isn’t a place to relax.”

Shizuka scratched her head, puzzled.

Relaxing makes you careless. That can be fatal.

“What for?”

His voice was flat but doubtful.

“What for?? Doesn’t… everyone need a place to let lose sometimes? I mean, to calm down, relieve stress… You know what I mean, right?”

She didn’t wait for a reply and pressed on.

“Sometimes… it’s good… just to run away. From the pressure, the expectations… a place where you can forget all that. A sense of security, where you can chill…”

Her gaze wandered out the window, and it seemed more like she was talking to herself than to Takeshi.

Security… that’s… been a long time.

“S-Sorry! I didn’t mean to get all serious and ruin the mood. I guess the topic just triggered something in me…” She waved her hands quickly, flustered, like she thought she’d said too much.

“No need to worry. You should head home, it’s getting dark. And don’t worry, you’ll get the Workaholic-Award.”

“You kidding me?” she said, frowning and judging eyes, “What does that mean?”

“First in the morning, last in the evening. Never slacking, always focused and prepared. That’s what I call a workaholic.”

“And you think that’s a bad thing? I am just passionate,” she rebutted, slight tension in her tone. Her answer came quicker than usually.

“I haven’t said that.”

“Huh? What the hell?! What are you talking?!” her voice raised a little and her brows furrowed even more.

Probably angry. No rational thinking allowed. Now I know what I wanted. Time to let her off the hook.

“Don’t worry. I was just kidding. Sorry, if I made you angry.”

“…Eeeh? You have a weird sense of humor…,” said Shizuka, hands on her hips, glaring doubtfully at him.

“Maybe it’s just my wish for the same passion you have. Again, sorry!”

His voice calm and composed, but calculated.

Diffused.

“Ah, well, I am sure your gonna be a good teacher!”

Shizuka, giving him a thumbs up, tried to encourage him.

“Sure. But you should go. Otherwise its dark before you left the building.”

“Yeah, maybe you’re right. B-But you should go home too… The exam periods are still ahead of us, and we’ll spend enough time here then.” She smiled gently, finger raised like a playful warning.

Shouldn’t you be looking out for yourself instead? I thought I’d have to look after the students… not the teachers…

“I’ll keep it in mind,” he answered flatly.

“Well then, have a nice evening.”

“Mhm.”

Shizuka left with a short bow. The silence that followed was broken only by Takeshi’s breathing. He sat motionless for a while, looking out the window at the few students still making their way home.

Passion means loving something no matter what others might think, those people just smile, joke or ignore it. But your perfectionism is a symptom of fear. Fear of failure.

Every day since we started at this school, you are checking over and over again. Not because you’re doubting the material. You are doubting yourself.

You’re not passionate, Maki-sensei, you are scared.

He decided to stay a bit longer and prepare the next lesson. In the end, he didn’t head home until long after the sun had disappeared.