The ceiling fan turned lazily beneath the morning light drifting through the window.
"How is your sister, Joshua? Is she feeling any better?"
"She is, sir. Because of the photo you took for her… she said she wants to try getting up and doing something again."
"Hm... is that so..."
He tilted his head slightly. The eyes that always seemed drowsy softened a little more than usual.
"And Grim? Do you still remember the language lesson I taught you one-on-one? You're the only one who asked for extra lessons after class."
His voice was quicker than yesterday, leaving no pause for anyone to prepare.
Then his voice halted for a moment.
"And Joanne... will you come study the language with Grim?"
"..."
Silence filled the room. Not even a sheet of paper moved on the desks.
"Joanne..."
Mr. Blue called again.
"...Yes, sir."
This time the answer came back—yet somehow it sounded even quieter than before. He avoided eye contact and sat upright like a student who never had anything to say. Mr. Blue said nothing more—he simply let his gaze rest upon the boy before him, as if he knew that if he stepped even a little further across that thin line, what would return might not be silence.
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The first morning class ended with the golden sunlight still lingering. Students closed the windows and turned on the air conditioner, preparing for the next teacher.
Everyone said goodbye to Mr. Blue.
Everyone—except one voice.
Before he slowly walked out of the classroom. Those golden eyes that had been facing forward turned slightly— and met his gaze.
In the golden light slowly fading away, no one realized that the thin line between teacher and student had begun to tremble.
? ? ?
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
A collective scream burst out as if the entire classroom had shattered into pieces. Recently the students had been in turmoil because a new female teacher had suddenly arrived. The once quiet side of the school was now drowned beneath music harsh enough to squeeze tears from the eyes. Fingers that had once been confident could no longer strike the piano keys one hundred times within a single minute.
The pride of the male students... had been taken away.
After that, the name of the female teacher could no longer remain unheard.
"Damn it... this has to be because of that incident!" one student shouted angrily.
"The other side wants to punish Mr. Blue, so they sent that teacher to destroy us from the inside!.
"So she never intended to teach us in the first place?" another student added, and whispers spread further and further.
In the middle of the lawn, students gathered in restless groups, seriously discussing the new female teacher.
The center of the problem this time was Class 2 / 14, the class where that woman had become the homeroom teacher.
Joanne stood not far away, listening.
With so many students gathered together, judgment arrived faster than thought.
"She's a fake."
Just a machine disguised as a teacher.
Then suddenly—
a voice unfamiliar to everyone rose from behind them. A tall figure stepped forward, a thin strip of bamboo held between his lips.
His voice was loud, yet gentle and calm, like a quiet stream.
"Everyone... don't jump to conclusions."
The one who pushed through the crowd was Mr. Blue, in a new look. A thin black cloak draped over his shoulders, and glasses reflecting the cold sunlight.
"The one you should be angry at... is only me"
The courtyard before the pale European-style building fell silent at once.
The eyes of those who were angry—and those who were not—
all turned toward him. The one standing in the correct light.
Except for one person.
The only one who noticed that his shadow
was beginning to do something else.