Chapter 16 first quarter

Looking at the clock hanging on the wall, there were still about ten minutes before the end of the sixth class, so I called Nagase Akiho's name. "Nagase, read this passage again." Nagase Akiho, who was sitting by the window, hurriedly stood up holding the Chinese textbook, looking a little embarrassed.She didn't seem to know where to start reading, blushing and kept turning the pages.Of course she was staring out the window until I called her name.Needless to say, it was precisely because of this that I called her to read. "From line five on page twenty-fifth."

As soon as I said this, Nagase Akiho began to read with a blushing face.She is usually good at reading texts, but today she stumbled. Not only Nagase Akiho, but also the children in the second class of the sixth grade have been a little bit wrong since the morning.The girls are especially obvious, and many of them are always in a daze like Akiho Nagase. Towards the end of the sixth period, the situation became more serious, and several people became fidgety and absent-minded.Maybe I think my class is boring, but the class didn't start today.It seemed that they were distracted by some other, more important matter.

I'm starting to think they're trying to have fun, but that doesn't seem to be the case.Because the children's expressions don't look happy.Gloomy—perhaps that would be a more appropriate description of their expressions, and what's more, they looked worried at all. However, not everyone is like that.At least in my opinion, Tamiya Kohei and his few friends are as energetic as usual, or it can be said to be better than usual.It just seemed a little restless. If it's exactly as usual, it's probably the class committee member Miyamoto Takuya.He has excellent grades and is good at sports. He is sitting upright in the first row of seats, staring at the textbook.

After the sixth class, I handed out the handouts and conveyed the school's notice.I asked them if they had any questions, and no one raised their hands. "What's the matter with you today? What's the matter?" I tried to ask.But no one answered.I didn't ask any more questions.No matter what they fiddle with in extracurricular time, it has nothing to do with me as a substitute teacher. After school, everyone left in a hurry, except for the students on duty.Normally, there would always be a few people chatting in the classroom.Something is obviously wrong.Even the five people in charge of cleaning almost didn't say a word as if they were looking forward to the end soon.

Could it be some interesting TV show recently?I think.That's all I can think of that would make the kids want to go home sooner. When the students on duty were cleaning, I stood by the window and looked out.I have been to many schools as a substitute teacher.Whenever I go to a new work place, I like to observe the surrounding scenery, which is one of my pleasures. The second class of the sixth grade of Siji Primary School is where I work now.Since the original class teacher, Mr. Fujisaki, was sick and hospitalized, I will be the substitute teacher from June 1st.Today is the tenth, so far no problems.The children are cheerful, sensible, and kind.Regardless of the grades, if we only talk about the attitude towards life, everyone is estimated to be a top student.

But there are also slightly worrisome places.That is they are too classy. That was three days ago.I overheard a few boys in the class chatting together about football.They are discussing who is the most handsome among Japanese players. "No matter how you say it is M. He has speed and is good at passing and catching the ball." "No, in terms of technology, it must be N. He has gained international recognition." Opinion was divided into two camps.I thought they would have a discussion of their own opinions, so I planned to listen.But the result was beyond my expectation.

"Hmm... that's right, N should be very good too." The boys on one side accepted the other side's opinion without any resistance.And the boy on the other side also said: "Well, M is also very handsome, and he was quite strong when he played against Iran." They seemed to avoid arguing. It is good to be friendly and considerate of others.But their attitude more or less makes people feel a kind of far-fetched unnaturalness. "Teacher, the cleaning is over." The girl on duty came to report to me.I took a look at the classroom, and it was fairly neatly cleaned. "Thank you. You can go back."

As soon as I finished speaking, the five students on duty, including the girl in charge, picked up their schoolbags and rushed out.They also looked like they were in a hurry. I cast my eyes out of the window again.There is a high-rise apartment building not far from the front. The location of Siji Elementary School is said to have had many lumber factories in the past, and billboards for lumber wholesale shops can still be seen everywhere.However, it seems to me that there are not many stores that rely on this kind of business to guarantee their income.Just like this school, there are several paid parking lots, almost all of which are operated by wood shops.And those old timber sites were also demolished one after another, and new apartment buildings were built.It appears that the former lumber shop owners are now making a living off the land that was originally used to keep their lumber.

The apartment building in front of me was undoubtedly built as a result.In this old and low-slung residential area, the high-rise buildings standing like chimneys are particularly abrupt. Thinking so, I looked at the apartment building, and I happened to see a few teenagers walking out of the grand gate.I couldn't help opening my eyes wide.Because those four people are all children in my class. The four-person gang of Tamiya Kohei, Yoshii Ryota, Kaneda Masahiko, and Kimura Yusuke always act together.They seem like a bunch of bad guys, but they never seem to have done anything excessive to their classmates.

Strange, I thought to myself.Of the four, none should live in that apartment building.Or is there actually another person in this small gang, and that person lives in it? Tamiya and the others looked very happy, and ran away somewhere with a smile on their faces. What the hell are those guys doing—I thought, closing the window. After locking the classroom door, I returned to the office.The school does not prepare desks for short-term substitute teachers like me. I use the desk of Mr. Fujisaki who is in the hospital, and I can’t open the drawers without authorization. At best, I just borrow his office temporarily for grading and writing. It's just a table.

"Is there something going on today?" I asked the grade director, Mr. Yamashita, after packing up my things. Mr. Yamashita has long gray hair and has the temperament of a doctor. "What is it?" "Something that will get the kids' attention. Like an event, a special TV show or something." Yamashita-sensei tilted his head, looking at the calendar hanging on the wall. "Hmm... I don't know. The students in my class didn't say anything." "yes?" "What's wrong?" "Ah, it's nothing." After I said goodbye, I left the office. Walking out of the teaching building, across the playground, I walked straight to the school gate.The playground at Siji Elementary School is so small that if there is a softball game, there is no room for other activities. Walking out of the gate, I inadvertently glanced up at the apartment building next to me.It was the building that Tamiya and others walked out of just now.There seemed to be movement above the apartment.My gaze continued to move upwards.At that moment, I couldn't help but widen my eyes. A girl is standing on the balcony on the fourth floor.I certainly wouldn't be surprised if she was just standing there normally.She stood on the fence of the balcony, holding on to the wall with one hand, as if she might fall down at any moment. Immediately afterwards, I was struck by another panic.Because I seem to have seen that girl somewhere.No, it's not to the extent that we seem to have seen it somewhere, not long ago we were in the classroom of the second class of the sixth grade together. That's Akiho Nagase!It was Akiho Nagase who was reading the text tens of minutes ago! I was about to yell, but I swallowed it back before the sound came out.Because I'm afraid she'll stumble and fall at the sound of my voice. Akiho Nagase didn't seem to notice me below.She just stood there on the balcony railing, motionless, and she didn't intend to look down. She's going to jump off the building—I immediately thought.I looked around and planned to call the police.But even then, there was no guarantee that Nagase Akiho would be able to wait until the police arrived.what should I do?To rush upstairs at once, and break into the room where she was?However, there is an automatic electronic lock at the entrance of the apartment, so you should not be able to enter at will.If I tell the apartment manager the truth, will he let me in?No, there is no time.Even if he entered the room, he didn't know if he could persuade her. From time to time, students who were still in the school came out from the main entrance of the school in twos and threes.They didn't seem to notice Akiho Nagase, which was lucky.If someone makes a fuss, she might jump off impulsively. I glanced at the asphalt road directly below where Nagase Akiho was.If she jumped, there would be nothing to cushion her. Just then, I saw Akiho Nagase close his eyes.Since childhood, the thing I have had the most confidence in is my eyesight. No, she's going to jump - I'm sweating profusely. A truck is slowly passing by.It is a truck for recycling waste paper, and there are a lot of old newspapers and cardboard piled in the truck. That's it.I run to the truck. "Hey, lend me this car first." The young driver in the turban looked surprised. "What are you talking about? Don't be kidding." "Look at that." I pointed up.The driver let out an "ah" and opened his mouth wide. "I borrowed the car." I drove the driver to the passenger seat, and I got into the driver's seat and put it in gear.The car moved slowly. At this moment, some idiot yelled loudly. "Ah! There's a man standing there!" As if stimulated by the sound, I saw Akiho Nagase's body shake violently. I slammed on the gas pedal hard.With the screeching sound of tires, the truck rushed forward quickly.I'm going to pull the truck up next to the apartment building and turn the steering wheel hard. "It's falling!" cried the driver, looking out the window. Just when the truck I was driving reached the apartment building, there was a sound of the truck body falling, accompanied by a violent impact.