Yu-Chara Counseling Room | When a child who was always at the top stumbles for the first time

The staff room during lunch break was a little quiet.

Mugi-chan slowly approached Akai-chan, who was organizing documents.

"Do you have a moment?"

Akai-chan looked up and nodded softly.

"Sure. What's wrong?"

Mugi-chan took a breath to steady herself before sitting in a chair.

"It's not exactly a consultation, but... there's something that's been bothering me."

A moment of hesitation.

Then, she let the words fall.

"There's a child who was always at the top in junior high school. Since entering a preparatory high school, she's hit a slump and her grades have dropped."

Akai-chan didn't reply immediately.

"...I see."

Just that.

Mugi-chan continued.

"She doesn't say anything herself. But I can tell just by watching. A child who was always on the capable side is struggling for the first time."

A brief silence.

"In times like this... is the shock really that big?"

The question was straightforward.

Akai-chan put down her pen and shifted her posture slightly.

"Well, it must be huge."

Mugi-chan nodded slightly.

"I thought so."

At that moment, Akai-chan narrowed her eyes.

"...You're talking about your sister, right?"

For an instant, the air stood still.

Mugi-chan was a little surprised, then gave a small smile.

"...Can you tell?"

Akai-chan shrugged lightly.

"Of course I can. You're too close to the story."

Mugi-chan lowered her gaze slightly.

"It's my sister. Her name is Saya, and she was always at the top in junior high. But since entering this school, her ranking has dropped, and she doesn't seem to be enjoying herself much anymore."

Akai-chan listened quietly.

Mugi-chan continued.

"But she doesn't say anything. That's why I'm even more worried."

Akai-chan let out a small sigh.

"That must be tough."

Mugi-chan nodded slightly.

"Yes..."

Akai-chan leaned back in her chair and looked out the window.

"Kids who were always at the top often take their own competence for granted."

Mugi-chan listened in silence.

Akai-chan continued.

"When that collapses, it's not just their grades; sometimes their very sense of self feels like it's shaking."

Mugi-chan gasped slightly.

"To that extent..."

Akai-chan nodded slowly.

"There are kids who go that far."

Her tone wasn't accusatory or judgmental; it was just a way of laying out the reality.

Mugi-chan said quietly.

"It's a bit tough for the person watching, too."

Akai-chan replied immediately.

"The fact that you find it tough is proof that you're really watching her."

Mugi-chan was a little surprised.

"Is that so?"

Akai-chan laughed lightly.

"If you were indifferent, you wouldn't be worried in the first place, right?"

Mugi-chan fell silent.

Akai-chan lowered her tone slightly.

"But you shouldn't carry it all on your shoulders."

Her voice was a little stern.

Mugi-chan looked down.

"...I suppose so."

The air became a little heavy.

Then, Akai-chan suddenly laughed.

"And you know,"

Mugi-chan looked up.

Akai-chan's expression softened slightly.

"Maybe she just thinks she's fallen."

Mugi-chan narrowed her eyes.

"Just... fallen?"

Akai-chan nodded.

"The world where she was always at the top was just her whole world, that's all."

"But now, she's just stepped outside of that."

Mugi-chan thought for a moment.

"How... should I convey that to her?"

Akai-chan smiled slightly.

"Don't try to give her the 'correct' answer."

Mugi-chan looked up.

Akai-chan continued.

"First, just accept that it's tough for her."

"And then, just gently suggest that this isn't the end of everything."

Mugi-chan nodded slightly.

"That's difficult."

Akai-chan replied instantly.

"It is difficult."

After a short pause, she continued softly.

"But you know, helping someone doesn't mean fixing everything for them."

Mugi-chan listened quietly.

Then, Akai-chan suddenly laughed.

"Well, even I..."

Mugi-chan tilted her head.

"Even you, Akai-chan?"

Akai-chan waved her hand lightly.

"I'm not that great of a person. I'm just a part-timer, after all."

Mugi-chan replied immediately.

"But you were hired mid-career and became a chief right away, didn't you?"

Akai-chan's eyes went wide.

"You're going to bring that up?"

Mugi-chan smiled slightly.

"It's a fact."

Akai-chan said with a wry smile,

"Let's not talk about that (laughs)"

and shrugged.

The air lightened a little.

Mugi-chan let out a small breath.

"I feel a little better."

Akai-chan nodded quietly.

"That's good."

And finally, she said a little more softly,

"Mugi-chan, you're someone who really watches over people."

Mugi-chan smiled slightly.

"I'll make sure I don't just stop at watching."

Akai-chan laughed and leaned back in her chair.

"That's enough."

The air in the staff room was a little softer than it had been before.