AFTER SCHOOL, the one-on-one meeting with Kōenji Rokusuke ended, and the career counseling room fell silent.
"Phew... Kōenji is such a troublesome student."
The conversation wasn't making sense, and the sections that the teacher was supposed to fill in were a mess.
I sighed, staring at the tablet screen that I wanted to look away from.
His career aspiration was to be a free person, he didn't need human relationships, his only concerns were about improving his own body, and so on.
"If I submit this, who knows what the higher-ups will say."
But I couldn't just rewrite it and lie.
My only option would be to submit it with some minor modifications to the wording.
"If only Kōenji was the only oddball, it would be easier for me..."
The last one left was Ayanokōji, who could be equally as troublesome as Kōenji.
Honestly, I couldn't imagine what kind of one-on-one meeting it would be.
As I was adjusting Kōenji's profile, there was a knock on the career counseling room's door.
"Excuse me."
With that serious tone, Ayanokōji entered the room.
"You're finally here. Have a seat."
I switched from Kōenji's profile to Ayanokōji's, displaying a blank list.
I wondered how much of this would be filled in during the upcoming meeting.
"You seem busy."
"As a homeroom teacher, I can't help but be busy during this time. But I feel a little better knowing that the two-person interviews will be over today. It was a good decision to leave the two oddballs for last."
First, I instructed Ayanokōji to sit down, facing each other.
"Two oddballs, you say?"
"What, are you shocked to be treated on the same level as Kōenji?"
Their personalities were completely different, but there was no doubt that they were both oddballs.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't think anything of it."
"Do you think Kōenji is more of an oddball? Well, I can understand why you'd think that, but to me, there's not much difference. You're quite the oddball yourself."
One thing was for certain, he didn't want to be compared to Kōenji.
"Well, I don't have many opportunities to talk with each student. Before we talk about your future plans, let's talk about your school life. If there's anything you want the school to improve, I'd like to hear it."
"I don't have anything in particular. As an individual, I'm satisfied."
"I see. Do you have any trouble in your relationships with friends, or anything you want to consult about?"
"I don't."
He was definitely an oddball. Unlike Kōenji, he was concise and efficient, but like Kōenji, he lacked substance.
"Most students give one or two opinions, or at least show some sign of thinking, even if they don't have any. I don't think you're holding back..."
I tried to draw out as much as I could as a teacher, but Ayanokōji's responses didn't waver.
"I actually don't have any complaints."
"Well, if that's the case, it's fine... but you really don't have anything?"
"There's nothing. I'm satisfied with my school life and there's no particular trouble."
"I see... Well, that's very good."
"Chabashira-sensei, you've changed quite a bit too."
My hand, which had been typing on the tablet, stopped.
I felt as if Ayanokōji was interviewing me, which was strange.
"I don't think I've changed. But I might've become more honest than before."
The student in front of me is a whole generation younger than me. Yet, why does he sometimes seem like someone who's lived as long or even longer than me?
It took courage for me to accept this feeling.
If someone was in trouble, I would lend a hand, and if someone was wrong, I'd correct them.
A teacher's gaze upon the children in the class must always be equal.
But...
Ayanokōji would casually cross that boundary.
There were times when I felt like I wanted him to know my weaknesses.
Though, this was originally the feeling that we wanted students to have toward their teachers.
"... Anyway. If there's anything you're concerned about in your school life, don't hesitate to tell me."
I cleared my throat to dispel unnecessary thoughts.
The person in front of me now was an important student.
Nothing more, nothing less.
"I'd like to know whether you're hoping to go on to higher education or get a job. If you've made up your mind, please tell me."
I decided to move the conversation forward to distract myself from that strange feeling.