The Beginning is Blue Spring

The other day, a 'groundbreaking ceremony' was held at the former parking lot of the Terakoya.

Since it was a parking lot we were renting, a neighbor's house is going to be built there, but

When I happened to see them preparing, I saw a familiar face...

The student who had attended from after his first test in the first year of junior high until the middle of his third year was the Shinto priest.

I asked him how he had been doing until everyone gathered.

He is a young man with whom I have many memories.

He was a student whose words and actions were considered legendary at the Terakoya, and he was famous among his generation. Although he sometimes came up in conversations about graduates,

this was the first time I had a proper conversation with him since he left the school. I did greet him briefly when I went to the first shrine visit of the year, but...

There were many things, and he caused us a lot of trouble back then, but...

We also had many arguments, haha

The problems of the current students are different in terms of psychological burden.

He also did all sorts of things, but...
Now, it's a good memory that has become a nostalgic, funny story.

The problems and challenges of today's children too,
believing that they will become like that someday,
the feeling of wanting to do my best...

It was a reunion on a clear, sunny morning that gave me that feeling once again.

When he was 13, to me who was 33

"Teacher, in 20 years, I'll be 33. That's an old guy, right?"

That is what he once said to me.

—"If 33 is an old guy, then I must be an old lady."

When I replied with that, he suddenly realized and panicked, but

since I heard he is already 34, I brought up that memory

and told him, "You're an old guy now." Haha.

"No doubt about it," he laughed.

"Come visit again!"

I said, and he laughed and replied, "Okay!"

...The thing is, he hadn't come to visit that day; he had come for work... haha.

I look forward to the day we can meet again.