Even If the Flowers Scatter, With You 2

Chapter 1: Colorless Spring
April 10th, overcast.
Standing at the podium of Seinan Gakuin High School, Kyoichi Yoshino instinctively rubbed his fingertips together at the chill in the classroom air. Even though it was spring, he felt as if only the warmth was avoiding him as it blew through.
"I am your homeroom teacher, Yoshino. I teach Japanese—specifically, classical literature."
Kyoichi delivered what was the students' first "high school teacher's voice" as flatly as he could. Outside the window in the back, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, but the gazes within the classroom remained rigid.
He opened the roster and called their names one by one. The replies were high-pitched and fresh, typical of new students.
Among them, there was one voice that was exceptionally soft.
"I am Ouka Kurauchi. It is a pleasure to meet you."
At the far left of the seating chart—the second row by the window. The girl stood up slowly and gave a small bow.
Her pale cheeks, a slightly large mask. The way she gripped the cuffs of her uniform looked helpless, and it sparked a faint sense of déjà vu in Kyoichi's chest. The character for "cherry blossom" (sakura), the same as Sakurako's, seemed to blur slightly on the paper.
Once he finished calling the names, Kyoichi distributed the lesson schedule.
"In high school classical literature, the texts are longer than in junior high. Let's get used to it little by little. We will also cover the Hyakunin Isshu, but I intend for us to read them not for memorization, but to grasp their 'atmosphere'."
"On a spring day of gentle light..." A melody swayed in the corner of his mind, but he did not speak it aloud. He was not yet ready to bring that poem into the classroom.
When homeroom ended, the classroom began to buzz with questions for the homeroom teacher and talk of club activities.
"Mr. Yoshino, when should we submit the career counseling form?"
The boy in the front seat—Toda—asked in proper honorifics. Kyoichi replied, "Next week is fine," and straightened the stack of handouts.
Every time he met a student's eyes, he found himself taking a step back. He had to make sure no one realized that he held no passion for being a teacher anywhere in his heart.
Suddenly feeling a gaze, he turned toward the window to see Ouka with her hand against her cheek, looking up at the distant cherry blossoms.
Her profile as she gazed at the flowers—a love so intense it was almost painful welled up, and Kyoichi hurriedly looked away.
Personal sentiments like "looking at cherry blossoms makes my heart restless" should not be brought into the classroom. But that resolve was as fragile as thin ice.

Lunch break. In the center of the staff room, Vice Principal Ishikawa held up the meal duty roster and loudly preached discipline.
"New teachers, please be sure to go through me for reports of tardiness or absence. The first-year students who entered from outside are still nervous. Homeroom teachers, please pay special attention."
At the word "homeroom teacher," Ishikawa's gaze turned toward Kyoichi without a hint of error.
The son of the board chairman—that title illuminated Kyoichi's back too brightly. To Ishikawa, it seemed Kyoichi was not someone to be protected, but someone whose "strict treatment would justify his own reputation."
As he silently organized the distributed academic materials, the math teacher at the next desk, Rika Wakamatsu, offered him a paper carton of tea.
"Are you low on sugar? You look a bit pale."
"Thank you, I appreciate it."
As he accepted it with thanks, the sweet scent slightly eased his headache. It was rumored that since losing her younger brother, Rika had become sensitive to the physical condition of those around her. But even her kindness was a burden to Kyoichi. The guilt of not being able to save Sakurako did not allow him to accept people's goodwill honestly.

After school. While pretending to research teaching materials in the classical literature preparation room, Kyoichi skimmed through the "New Homeroom Teacher Guidance Manual."
It was filled with notes added in red ink by the vice principal, such as "Be cautious with individual responses to students in poor health" and "Do not conduct evening tutoring sessions alone."
"Ouka Kurauchi—requires consideration due to heart disease."
A memo shared from the infirmary was clipped to it.
—Again, cherry blossoms and a heart.
The letters on the document blurred and swayed for a moment. A dull pain deep in his head.
Then, a modest knock.
"Excuse me..."
The owner of the voice was Ouka Kurauchi. Her complexion was paler than it had been during the day.
"I thought I would return this printout on my way home."
The answer sheet was held out. As Kyoichi took it, he noticed the shallowness of her breathing.
"You don't have to push yourself when you're not feeling well. It would be a big deal if you collapsed in the classroom."
Ouka lowered her eyes and shook her head slightly.
"Before the cherry blossoms scatter, I wanted to burn the school scenery into my memory..."
That whisper touched his heart like the reverberation of "Sakurako." Before he could reflexively ask her back, she said, "Thank you very much," and left quickly.
Left behind, Kyoichi placed the answer sheet face down on his desk and exhaled deeply.
No matter how many years pass, the cherry blossoms arrive with pain.
And this year, a sickly girl who gazes at the cherry blossoms has appeared.

Is this a coincidence, or—. A faint dizziness. Deep in his head, he heard the sound of flower petals quietly crumbling and falling.

To Chapter 2→

Prologue —The scattered voice falls into my heart—
Chapter 1: Colorless Spring
Chapter 2: Premonition of Pale Crimson
Chapter 3: Cherry Blossom Tutoring
Chapter 4: Father's Shadow, Daughter's Resolve
Chapter 5: Swaying Teachers
Chapter 6: Twilight Promise
Chapter 7: Rainy Donor Notification
Chapter 8: Hospital Room Confession
Chapter 9: White Dawn
Chapter 10: Shattering Flash
Chapter 11: Quiet Handover
Chapter 12: New Heartbeat
Chapter 13: Classroom After the Rain
Chapter 14: Hill Road of Fragrant Breeze
Epilogue

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