225 Mika Uehara Wavers (1/2)

A guest arrived for Mika.

It was Kaede Juumonji.

Originally, she didn’t want to say anything to her, but after chatting for a while, she was overcome by a talkative mood.

No, perhaps it was better to describe it as her curiosity.

”Juumonji-sensei, I’d like to ask you something.” She looked at the blonde beauty sitting across from her. ”As a young lady, you left your family and started living here by yourself. You even applied for a job at Genhana High School… why is it that you can do this much just for him?”

Kaede's eyes shone with a resolute light when she heard this.

Mika’s considerate mother had already gone to another room, leaving them to chat alone. Mika and Kaede were the only people in the living room.

”Why…” Kaede slowly sipped on her tea. ”Because I like him and want to get closer to him… but that’s not the answer you’re looking for, is it?”

”Mmm… What I want to ask is… what I mean is this: even when liking a boy, doing things to such a degree isn’t easy. Haven’t you… ever hesitated before?” Mika asked in a low and heavy tone of voice. ”Before you did all this, haven't you ever considered that even if you do all this, you might not necessarily succeed. It might not even be worth it for you to do all this, and your efforts could all end up going to waste… something like that? Honestly, he… Seigo told me before that he only has a good impression of you, but… he wasn’t moved by your actions; he was only surprised— even bothered slightly. Everything you did… everything you did for him, he only feels… just like that! Don’t you feel… bad about all this?”

Moving, finding a job… it wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

Considering it carefully, this was basically akin to changing your entire life.

Although she'd made such huge changes for the person she liked, he wasn’t moved by it. Wouldn’t this… cause her to feel regret?

Normally speaking, wouldn’t feeling regretful be the first reaction? Even some complaints and hatred wouldn't be unusual.

However, the blonde teacher sitting across from her remained quite calm.

”Indeed… if you put it like that, I do sound rather pitiful.” Kaede smiled at her situation.

This definitely wasn’t an expression that someone who truly felt she was pitiful could have.

”But I don’t believe I’m pitiful… honestly speaking, I am a little sad that he wasn’t moved by it in the end, but… it’s still only natural, isn’t it?”

”Eh?”

”Simply speaking,” Kaede continued, ”doing something for someone doesn’t actually have much to do with that person. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

”This…” Mika felt as if she had received an impact.

”Let me give you an extreme example. If a crazed fan committed suicide just because the fan’s favorite idol found a boyfriend, does this incident have anything to do with the idol?”

Mika was unable to answer.

”The answer is no. Even though the answer may sound cold and cruel, that’s the truth. What this fan did wasn’t what the idol would have wanted, nor is it what anyone would have wanted. The fan did it of his own volition, that’s all. For his idol… for love—for the person he loved—he was willing to die… well, I suppose you could phrase it like that. But at the same time, you could also say that he selfishly used the name of the idol to commit a foolish act of his own volition.”

”Of the above two ways to look at it, which do you agree with, Uehara-san?”

Mika was unable to answer.

”No matter what you believe to be accurate, the idol has zero responsibility for the fan’s death. Perhaps she’ll feel guilty, publicly apologize, or even retire because of it, that’s all because of the idol’s personal opinion, not their responsibility.”

Kaede finished talking about her example in a light voice and began sipping tea again.

The scene remained silent for a few moments.

”How cruel… this…” Mika muttered softly.

The example that the blonde teacher had given, or more accurately, what she expressed to Mika through the example, left her with a huge impact!