Recalling those faint remaining memories, I remembered him. When Blake in the photo from two years ago met me, it was probably during the cold - when it was snowing.
That day, the white snowy sky was vast and boundless. Back then, meeting him was truly by chance.
After the New Year, the snow started to melt, and the days that were a bit warmer continued. But it was only early February, and the cold of winter hadn't left yet.
This year is colder than previous years. The cherry blossoms will probably bloom at the end of March or early April. While thinking that it would be great if they were in full bloom during the entrance ceremony, I was staring at the cherry blossom branches swaying in the wind outside the window.
"It's especially cold today.... Um?"
When I was lost in sentiment by myself, there came the sound of knocking on the door from behind. After I responded softly, the door slowly opened, and a familiar colleague showed his face.
"Teacher Ben, can I bother you for a moment?"
"Ah, please come in. Isn't the corridor very cold? Come in, Teacher Mike."
I looked at Mike who only showed his face through the crack of the door, tilted my head and pointed at the chair beside. He hurriedly walked into the room and sat down in front of me.
"If there's something, just call me. The old school building is very cold, right?"
This teaching materials preparation room right now is not only far from the main school building but also feels even colder than over there because the building is old. The proof is that Mike is rubbing his hands as if he could freeze and be unable to move at any moment. He was originally a bit strange, or rather he is always slow about things and even a bit out of touch. His behavior often surprises me.
"Please have it. It's just simple tea."
I poured tea into the prepared mug and handed it to Mike. He smiled happily.
"Thank you."
He came to this school as a new teacher last year. Actually, his age isn't much different from mine. Why he chose to become a teacher after finishing his postgraduate studies puzzles me. But he is a bit slow and very inexperienced in the ways of the world.
I don't know when this person like a child in a greenhouse started to rely on me. Whenever there's something, he always comes to discuss with me first. But other teachers seem unable to understand his unique temperament and are a bit afraid of him. So it's understandable that he relies on me. However, I don't dislike him. He doesn't overly interfere with others, which makes me very relaxed.
"So, what's the matter?"
"Well, I'm having the tea."
"...Please have it."
"Teacher Ben, aren't you going to be a homeroom teacher or an assistant homeroom teacher next semester?"
Mike was looking at me while tilting his head and blowing on the edge of the cup softly. To warm his cold hands, he was holding the cup with both hands, looking like a squirrel.
Moreover, the steam fogged up his glasses.
"Ah, that..."
"Um? Ah, nothing. Next semester, next semester."
I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Mike blinked his eyes.
"Teacher Mike too. The subsequent younger teachers have more or less adapted to the school too. I think it's about time to hand things over to them."
This is just an excuse. Actually, I just want to stay away from troublesome things a bit. But Mike muttered "I see" softly and lowered his head.
"Um? Does Teacher Mike have to take on the work of a certain class next semester?"
"...No, I'm not taking on the work of a class. But I was entrusted to be an advisor. I refused, but couldn't manage to do so."
I looked at the dejected Mike and felt very puzzled. Is there a club activity that makes him so frustrated? However, for him, anywhere might make him feel uneasy. His leisurely atmosphere and his always ambiguous personality. He's not a bad teacher but is easily pushed around.
"Where?"
"The student council."
"...Um?"
I couldn't help but almost spit out the tea I had just drunk into my mouth. Of all things, it's the student council. This is another troublesome thing. Come to think of it, the current advisor teacher is resigning because of getting married.
"Well, although it will be very busy. But it's also a good experience, right?"
"I thought so..."
"How would you know without trying? The current students in the student council are all good kids. It should be fine."
Probably, even without an advisor, they can complete their work well.
"Ah, wait a moment."
The sudden ringing of the call bell made me raise one hand to stop Mike who was looking at me.
"Hello, this is Ben.... Um, um? Ah, okay."
I answered vaguely. It was very noisy on the other end of the phone. I felt that here is really a peaceful place isolated from the world.
"Teacher Mike, you escaped here, right. The staff room is extremely busy."
I put down the receiver and smiled at Mike with my eyes narrowed.
"Um, ah... Actually, I have nothing to do there either."
"Hmm."
So, the two of us here are redundant people, right?
"Is it the teaching director?"
"Um, yes. You see, the general entrance examination is going to be held soon, right. There aren't enough people. They want you to be an examiner."
Well, I'm not doing anything else either. I still have to do this kind of thing. Otherwise, I'll be punished.
Time passes really fast. The students I was the homeroom teacher for before are graduating in the last batch this year. Being a homeroom teacher is very hard work but also left a lot of happy memories. But now I still want to be leisurely for a while.
I try my best not to attract attention and keep a low profile. Now I even want to become like the air in this school.
"So, I'll rely on you on that day."
The teaching director handed over the schedule and materials for that day seriously. I couldn't help but give a wry smile.
"I understand. It'll be okay."
Why does he have to repeatedly remind me? I have almost no motivation now, but I also have no record of not completing my work. However, I don't want to ask further either. I just show an ingratiating smile to the worried teaching director and nod.
"Ah, is that so. Everyone still takes good care of me."
After greeting the other teachers, I walked out of the staff room and stepped into the corridor. I couldn't help but give a wry smile because of something that suddenly came to my mind.
"It's already been so long."
But while muttering, I unconsciously stroked the ring finger of my left hand and couldn't help but sigh. Maybe in other people's eyes, I still haven't let go. No, it must be like this for sure. That's why I avoid troublesome things.
The pitying gazes from others are the most unbearable for me.
"Nostalgia, still in love, it's not like this. Probably... it's regret."
Even I, who am not too attached to others, have the heart to love someone. And compared to when my father passed away, I was more shaken that day. This is for sure.
"Go home quickly."
My mood inexplicably became gloomy. To dispel this emotion, I quickly left the school building.
"Ah, I feel especially cold today. So it's snowing."
When I walked outside, small white crystals were fluttering down from the gray sky. I held my palm upward and snowflakes fell on it one after another. I didn't prepare an umbrella, but this bit of snow should be no big deal. I started walking again.
"By the way, it'll be my mother's birthday soon. I should give her something. It'll be troublesome if I forget."
My mother is still a bit childish now and attaches great importance to various festivals. Not only her own birthday, but if I forget the birthdays of my elder sisters, she will call me immediately. We don't live close to each other. It'll be difficult to go back to my parents' home this time too.
I quickened my steps to prepare a gift before the shops close and hurried towards the bus stop.
"Sorry."
When I arrived at the bus stop, there happened to be a bus loading and unloading passengers. I hurriedly jumped onto it. Because of my hurry, I accidentally bumped into the person in front. That young man just glanced at me and then turned his head away.
What a flashy kid - long blond hair dyed. Several layers of jangling necklaces were hanging around his neck. Several rough-looking rings were on his fingers.
Not only that, the shiny shirt and probably a famous-brand suit were showing from the gap of the high-quality open overcoat. In short, he is a very eye-catching kid. And obviously some passengers are a bit afraid of him. He is very good-looking but at first glance looks a bit like a handsome small hooligan.
Somehow in the bus, everyone's gazes were involuntarily attracted by this dazzling young man. Everyone held their breath and there was a subtle atmosphere. In this way, the bus rocked for about fifteen minutes and slowly drove into the roundabout in front of the station. Then, everyone hurriedly got off the bus through the opened door.
Under such circumstances, I got off the bus leisurely.
"...Sure enough, beautiful women and handsome men always gather together."
Like attracts like. There is such a saying. It means that the same things will gather corresponding things. The faces of Carl and Daniel and others suddenly appeared in my mind. But the people around me are probably exceptions.
I was agreeing by myself and looking sideways at the blond young man who also got off the bus. He quickly walked towards the young man sitting on the guardrail near the door where people got off.
In sharp contrast to the dazzling him, that young man was wearing a long black coat. He had a slender figure like a model. The slightly long bangs covered his cheeks and the slightly hidden long and narrow eyes were drooping.
"Um, a kid like an entertainer. Not wearing a suit either. Probably a college student."
The blond young man was talking to him with a smile, but he didn't move at all in response to the blond young man who was closely sticking behind him and slowly stood up.
"...Ah."
For an instant, our gazes met.
I had been looking for too long. He must have felt my gaze. But he just walked away as if nothing had happened. The blond young man chased after his back and walked closely behind him.
"Ah, that?"
For some reason, I stood there all along and stared at the young man's back for a long time until I noticed that something had dropped from where he was standing just now. I approached and squatted down to look. It was a lighter.
"It looks like an expensive lighter.... Ah, he's gone."
I picked up the lighter that made a clicking sound. When I came to my senses and looked up, the figure of him who was still in my sight just now was nowhere to be found.