Chapter 295 The Last Summer (1)
A faint marigold color spreads across the sky at dusk.
Mrs. Kujo raised her arms, stretched her body, and after a long sigh, she turned her head and said:
"Rin-chan, Miki, Watanabe-kun, would you like to have dinner together?"
Qingye Rin hesitated for a moment and nodded in agreement.
The four of them stood up, and Watanabe Toru lowered his voice and asked Kujo Miki:
"Shall I talk to them?"
Kujo Miki hugged her elbows with both hands and glanced at him.
"Teacher, senior, goodbye." Watanabe Toru raised his voice and said to the two of them.
Asu Mai nodded.
"Goodbye." Koizumi Aona responded, and then she said to Mrs. Kujo: "Kujo mother, goodbye!"
"Goodbye. Teacher Koizumi, I'll leave Miki to you at school." Kujo Maki responded with an elegant and calm smile.
After saying that, she took the arms of Kujo Miki and Kiyono Rin and walked towards the exit.
"I'm suddenly very hungry. Is there anything I want to eat? Let's go to Minato-ku? Find a restaurant by Tokyo Bay and enjoy delicious food while watching the sunset?"
"It's up to you to decide." Qingye Rin responded indifferently .
"Where is Watanabe-kun?" Mrs. Kujo turned around and asked.
"All is fine." Toru Watanabe picked up the coat on Miki Kujo's chair, shook it twice, and followed.
After walking a few steps, five or six girls from the cheerleading team suddenly ran over.
"Watanabe-kun, today's game was amazing!" said the leading third-grade girl in an admiring tone.
"Thank you for your support. I can always hear your cheers."
"This is what we should do! Watanabe-kun, we will continue to support you! Can you give us an autograph?"
Everyone looked at Watanabe Toru expectantly. He was about to refuse, but when he saw someone among them, he changed his words and said:
“You can sign it, but there is no guarantee that it will be worth money in the future.”
"It's okay, it's okay, thank you Watanabe-kun!"
Toru Watanabe took the brand new notebooks, diaries, and calendars they handed to him one by one and wrote his name in the appropriate place.
"You are here to support, why do you carry these things with you?" he asked while signing.
"Today is Sunday, and we went out to go shopping on Takeshita Street in the morning!" The petite girl with a voice like a lark answered, handing over a cute calendar with both hands.
"That's it." Watanabe Toru nodded, "Please be careful and stay safe when you go back."
He wrote in the lower right corner of the calendar:
"I wish Asuka-chan good luck in her studies, by Toru Watanabe"
"Okay." He returned the calendar and pen to them. "If you don't leave now, Meiji will kill me. Goodbye everyone, please continue to support the baseball club."
"Goodbye, Watanabe-kun (senpai)!"
"We will continue to support you!"
Toru Watanabe took the clothes and turned to walk towards the three people waiting for him not far away.
"Watanabe-kun is very popular." Mrs. Kujo said with a smile.
"When you were young, you must have been more popular than me."
"That's not a given. All the girls in school confessed to me!"
"girl?"
"It's a girls' school. What can we do?"
Watanabe Toru ignored Mrs. Kujo Maki who had entered girl mode again and said to Kujo Miki:
"I just signed autographs to thank them for their support."
"As long as there is no physical contact, you don't need to report this to me." Miki Kujo doesn't care about her boyfriend's popularity.
In fact, the more popular Toru Watanabe became and the more envied she was, the happier she was.
While the three of them were talking, Qingye Rin glanced at the girls who had just asked for autographs.
When she noticed the appearance of one of the girls, she understood why Watanabe Toru agreed to sign an autograph, which was beyond her expectation.
"Let's go. I'm really hungry." At Mrs. Kujo's urging, the four disappeared into the audience.
The girl who had just asked for an autograph returned to the cheerleading team.
"Oh, I'm so envious. If I had known this earlier, I would have mustered up the courage to go!"
"Even if you go, you don't have anything to sign, right?"
"Besides, there are so many people going there, maybe Watanabe-kun won't sign. Let me see it quickly, I haven't seen Watanabe-kun's signature yet!"
"Huh?"
"What's wrong?"
"Why is Lihua the only one different?"
"What's the difference?" Asuka quickly took it back and compared it with the others.
Among those who wanted autographs, others said “I wish you good luck in your studies”, but she was the only one who said “I wish Asuka-chan good luck in her studies”.
"Rika, do you know Watanabe-senpai?" a first-year cheerleader asked curiously.
"Well, we haven't talked to each other." Asuka Rika answered while recalling.
"Oh, right, isn't Rika the freshman representative? Maybe she wrote it down at that time! Watanabe-kun is so smart, he must have remembered it after just one look!"
"I also want to be remembered by Watanabe-senpai! Rika, I envy you so much——"
Asuka Rika, who was surrounded by everyone, didn't want it to be for that reason.
Maybe, Watanabe-senpai thought she was cute and had noticed her a long time ago?
Koizumi Aona looked at the cheerleaders laughing and playing, and said to Asu Mai, "Is that your sister?"
"Yeah." Asu Mai nodded without much reaction.
"Because of you, Watanabe seems to take extra care of her." Koizumi Aona smiled gently.
In her opinion, it is a very beautiful thing to favor the relatives of the person you like because of the person you like.
"Yeah." Asu Mai still had no reaction.
Her eyes, as clear as summer spring water, stared at Koizumi Aona:
"Travel, I will go too."
“…”
…
This year's rainy season, according to the Meteorological Agency, will last until July 20th.
Ever since that short trip to Atami when Watanabe Toru promised to take her on a trip after the rainy season, Koizumi Aona has been filled with joy every day.
As the baseball team continued to win in the Koshien preliminaries and even had newspapers come to the school to interview us, the rainy season began to draw to a close.
When she heard the clear chirping of cicadas and decided to go to Furano, Hokkaido to see the flowers, her whole body began to burn.
Apart from attending classes, even when she was in the teacher's office, looking at the roses sent to her that day, she was thinking about the day of departure.
Every time I wake up, I feel full of energy when I think that the plum rain season is one day closer to the end.
The days become more lively and the spirit becomes more refreshed.
The final exams are over and there are only a few days left before summer vacation, so it’s time to relax.
"Teacher Koizumi has become more and more beautiful recently!" exclaimed a female teacher in the same office.
"How can it not be beautiful to have a rose every day! " said another slightly older female teacher with a smile.
"It was mainly because of yesterday..." Akiko stretched out his tone.
"What happened yesterday?" the female teachers asked one after another.
"Akira!" Koizumi Aona called out shyly.
"I won't tell you!" Akiko said proudly to everyone.
"Stingy!"
“Boring!”
After everyone dispersed, Akiko asked Koizumi Aonai in a low voice: "I went to see him off yesterday, but he didn't come back for a long time. What happened?"
"Nothing." Koizumi Aona sorted out the lesson plans that had already been sorted out.
"Nothing?" Akiko took out his phone, "Look at how you looked when you came back yesterday."
In the video, Koizumi Aona has a happy look on her face. She sits on the sofa hugging a pillow, staring at the TV. From time to time, she suddenly laughs and buries her face in the pillow.
When he raised his head, his face was already red.
The camera flickered and pointed to the TV, which was playing a documentary called "Searching for the Best Ramen in Tokyo", a show that would not make you laugh no matter how low your sense of humor is.
"You secretly filmed me?!" Koizumi Aona looked at herself laughing inexplicably in the video, blushing and snatching the phone, "Delete it quickly!"
"Tell me what you did yesterday!"
"I didn't do anything! Delete it now!"
"I don't believe it!" Akiko protected his cell phone.
Seeing that the robbery was impossible, Koizumi Aonai blushed, looked around, made sure no one heard, and whispered to Akiko:
"He got first place in the country, so..."
The sound is getting smaller and smaller.
Akiko slowly widened her eyes: "You did it?!"
"No way!" Koizumi Aina hit her and looked around: "I hugged her."
"that's all?"
"And... kissed."
"Kiss where?" Akiko's expression was focused, like a student who was listening to the class more seriously.
Koizumi Aona lowered her head, her face flushed, and slowly raised her hand and touched her soft lips.
Even as a woman, Akiko couldn't help but be moved by the shy Aonai Koizumi in front of her.
Imagine the scene at that time:
Aona Koizumi closed her eyes and raised her face with a shyness that was a little timid and expectant. Toru Watanabe slowly approached and tasted the softness of her lips.
The more he thought about it, the more Akiko felt like there was a fire burning in his heart.
"Akira! What's wrong with you?" Koizumi Aona suddenly shouted, horrified.
"Me? What's going on..." Liquid flowed out of her nose, she reached out and wiped it, it was all blood.
"Don't move, here's some paper!" Koizumi Aona quickly gave her some tissue.
Akiko covered his nose with a tissue, which soon turned red, and he quickly changed the paper for new one.
"Have you been getting irritated recently?" After getting over the initial panic, Koizumi Aona calmed down and asked with concern.
"It's all your fault." Akiko's nose was blocked and his voice sounded dull.
"Blame me? Did you make some irritating food recently? But you're the only one with a nosebleed." Koizumi Aona handed her a tissue and said, "Go to the infirmary and let Miyuki take a look."
"Help me go." I have a nosebleed and I am a patient, Akiko said coquettishly.
"Okay, I'll help you." Koizumi Aona helped her up.
"Bring some tissue paper." Akiko reminded.
The campus is filled with noise.
For the students of Shenchuan who have to study very hard, they can only truly relax in these few days when the final exams are over and the summer tutoring classes have not started.
When I got to the first floor, I saw a reporter interviewing the ace pitcher of Koshien, but I can’t remember his last name.
It is said that he performed quite actively in the semi-finals of the East Tokyo Regional Tournament.
"I heard that your team promised that if we fail to make it to the Koshien finals, the entire team will kneel in front of the school gate and apologize to all the teachers and students in the school?"
"Yes. Burning our boats and having no way to retreat can stimulate our greatest potential and desire to win. Moreover, the school supports us more and more every year, especially the principal, who has allocated a lot of funds to allow us to use the best equipment and the best venues. We must live up to it..."
The two went to the infirmary, and by then, Akiko's nosebleed had stopped on its own.
After the afternoon classes, students left school early and the teacher attended a general meeting.
The three female teachers sat in the corner.
The principal, the dean of studies, and the physical education teacher sat at the top.
After the dean of studies reported Shenchuan's first semester final exam results, the principal began to praise outstanding teachers.
"Teacher Tanaka Ayaka is in Class 1 of Grade 1. In her class, Rika Asuka ranked ninth in the country in the first grade."
"Teacher Aonai Koizumi from Class 4, Grade 2..."
Akiko nudged Koizumi Aona with her elbow.
Because the principal was looking at this side, Koizumi Aona had a serious expression and did not dare to make any unnecessary movements.
"Tetsu Watanabe-san has retained first place in the country, while Kiyono-san and Kujo-san are tied for second place."
"After the efforts of the school, four imperial universities, including the University of Tokyo, promised that as long as three students can maintain such grades in the second semester, they can be admitted without taking the entrance exam."
"This is a great honor, even for our prestigious private school!"
"You've got connections, right? Once the word gets out, it'll be easier to attract students next year?" Akiko stared straight ahead, his lips barely moving.
"Probably." Miyazaki Miyuki also kept her lips still.
"Even if they use connections, it's because Watanabe and the other three have that kind of ability." Koizumi Aona said in a low voice.
The principal above praised a teacher in the senior year.
"In addition to the above news, the main purpose of this meeting is to arrange summer work," the principal continued.
"Last year, our school decided to strengthen the clubs while maintaining the admission rate to Imperial University."
"The club we decided on at that time was the baseball club."
"We spent a lot of money and recruited players from all over the country, and we became the representative of East Tokyo in the first year."
"At the same time, last year, the wind band, which only bought some instruments but didn't hire a conductor, won the gold medal in the national competition with the help of Seino Rin and Watanabe Toru."
"Tetsu Watanabe has been selected by several music universities, including Musashino University of Music, and can enroll directly as long as he graduates successfully."
"Isn't that guy too awesome?" Akiko started whispering again.
"This is genius." Miyuki Miyazaki exclaimed.
"Not only that, Watanabe also works very hard," said Koizumi Aona.
Up ahead, the principal slowed down a bit.
"Our school's goal this year is for the baseball club of the sports club to reach the Koshien finals."
"In this regard, the baseball club's president, Uchida, has already assured me, so the school must fully support them."
"I have decided," the principal looked at the teachers, "to organize all the teachers and students in the school to go and support!"
There was a faint murmur from below.
"The cheerleading team, the brass band, and the rest of the students must also participate in the cheering, Mr. Yanagida."
"Yes!" The physical education teacher named Yanagida stood up and bowed to everyone. "The main ways to support you are to shout slogans in unison, use black and white signs to spell out the school emblem, 'Shinkawa', 'Must Win' and other words."
Bowing again, the PE teacher sat down.
"Thank you, Mr. Yanagida," the principal said, "Please inform all the teachers and contact their parents to ensure that the students come to school for summer training and cheering practice."
"Also, in order to ensure the safety of students and avoid accidents - it is summer now and it is easy to get heatstroke. All homeroom teachers must stay in Tokyo before the end of Koshien and go to school every day to supervise the students' training."
“As for wages, it’s twice as much as usual.”
"If we win Koshien, it will be three times as much."
"Except for the class teachers who are required to participate, the rest of the teachers can sign up voluntarily. The salary will be doubled, and the winning teacher will get doubled."
"Principal, it's me!" Akiko raised his hand.
"The meeting is over. Go find the Dean to sign up."
"Yes——" Akiko drawled out the words.
Everyone laughed, and the principal also smiled. He was in a very good mood.
Watanabe, Kiyono, Kujo, this guy will almost certainly get early admission to Imperial University;
In terms of cultural clubs, the wind band won national gold last year;
The baseball team is very strong this year, and now there is only one final with almost no suspense left to qualify for Koshien.
The reputation will attract a strong source of students, which will ensure a high admission rate. Coupled with the increasingly powerful club activities, as a principal, in one or two years, you can be recommended by the school board and join the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
To this end, in addition to making achievements, he also tried to please the Kujo family.
Everything is basically foolproof as long as the baseball team doesn't make any mistakes this year and isn't eliminated in the first round, even if it only makes it to the Koshien quarterfinals.
"By the way," the principal came back to his senses from his beautiful ideal, "Mr. Miyazaki, as the school doctor, please be on call at all times and prepare more plans to deal with heat stroke."
"yes!"
The principal showed his sitting posture, and the dean of studies immediately said, "The meeting is over, adjourned."
Compared to before entering the meeting room, the school building was empty and quiet, with no one in the corridor.
At this time, Kamikawa High School looked like a ruin where the people suddenly disappeared and the buildings were preserved.
Apart from the occasional mournful cries of crows, there was no other movement. Even the wind band and baseball clubs, all of the other clubs that had competitions in the summer, were dismissed early today.
The sky is full of sunset glow. The weather has been good recently. If it doesn’t rain again, it means that this year’s plum rain season is over.
"The rainy season is about to pass!" Koizumi Aonai was very dissatisfied and complained to the principal, "Why is the homeroom teacher forced to stay in Tokyo?"
"Because the salary is high," said Akiko.
"I'd rather not!" Koizumi Aona said affirmatively.
"I see that you are willing to be fired in order to go traveling with Watanabe." Miyuki Miyazaki put her hands in her white coat, looking indifferent.
As a school doctor, she stays in school longer than the class teacher, and of course her salary is not low.
"How about resigning?" said Koizumi Aona.
“Hey!” Akiko was startled. “We finally passed multiple written tests and interviews to get a job at Kamikawa!”
"If you quit your job to go on a trip, you won't be able to see the boy during the day anymore, Qingna, think it over carefully." Miyazaki Miyuki said.
"Oh." Koizumi Aona sighed.
"Wait until Koshien is over, which is summer vacation, right? Can't we just go then?" Akiko said.
"Okay!" Koizumi Aona clenched her fists, as determined as a girl, "I hope the baseball team can't qualify and lose in the regional finals!"
"That's our school's baseball club! And the longer the baseball club sticks around, the more salary we get! Aren't you going to save money to buy clothes and toys for your future children?"
