On Saturday morning, after Hiratsuka Shizuka met a friend outside, she checked the time, bought some fruit, and drove to visit Isshiki's house.
Iroha had taken three consecutive days off from school since Wednesday and hadn't attended class. Her parents had also called in to request her absence.
It was said that she was unwell, but the specific cause of her discomfort—whether she was sick or injured—was not clearly explained.
This left Hiratsuka, who had a strong sense of professionalism as a teacher, unable to ignore the situation.
Coming to visit without informing anyone in advance felt helpless, as calling ahead would give them a chance to refuse her visit.
By showing up unannounced, she hoped they wouldn't turn her away even for a quick chat. At the very least, she needed to understand her student's situation to put her mind at ease.
Hiratsuka's thoughts were simple and straightforward.
"Ding dong——"
Mrs. Isshiki opened the door. She had the same flaxen hair as her daughter, which simply hung over her shoulders.
Hiratsuka noticed the fatigue that could not be concealed between her brows; her eyes were red and swollen.
It seemed she hadn't had a good rest or had encountered something very distressing, making her look quite haggard.
"Ah, Hiratsuka-sensei," Mrs. Isshiki greeted her.
Having met the young teacher at the opening ceremony, she recognized her.
"I'm really sorry for coming unannounced. I'm quite worried about Iroha's condition," Hiratsuka said as she bowed and handed over the fruit.
"A small gesture," she added.
"Really, you are too kind," Mrs. Isshiki replied quickly, bringing out some slippers and inviting Hiratsuka inside.
Once they settled on the sofa, hot tea was quickly served.
After Hiratsuka politely praised the tea's sweetness, she didn't hesitate to ask what she was most concerned about regarding Iroha.
"Mrs. Isshiki, Iroha has taken so many days off in a row. Is she sick?"
Mrs. Isshiki sighed.
"It doesn't sound like she is sick. It seems Iroha has encountered something; her mood hasn't been quite right these days."
"Her mood?" Hiratsuka prompted.
"Yes. After she got up Wednesday morning, she seemed a bit distracted."
"When it was time for breakfast, I went to her room to call her and saw her covering her ears, crouched in the corner of the bed with a frightened expression."
"I called her for several minutes, but she didn't respond. It wasn't until I walked over and shook her shoulders that she slowly fell into my arms and started crying."
As Mrs. Isshiki elaborated, her distress over her daughter's state was palpable.
"That child became sensible very early. Occasionally, she would act sweetly toward me, but she hasn't cried since she graduated from elementary school."
Hiratsuka quickly comforted Mrs. Isshiki and made a conclusion.
"Iroha is acting like this because she's having nightmares, right?"
"I was thinking the same thing at the time. She didn't answer me when I asked her about it, so she must have acquiesced."
"But she refused to tell me what the dream was about and wouldn't eat. I was a bit panicked; all I could think about was her well-being that day."
"I was worried that something bad would happen if she went outside like that, so I requested a leave of absence."
"That was the right choice. Her safety is more important than anything else," Hiratsuka affirmed.
But Mrs. Isshiki shook her head bitterly. "But it didn't help. Iroha's condition hasn't improved; it has only worsened."
Hiratsuka felt anxious at these words, but they were within her expectations. If Iroha could have recovered that day, she wouldn't have taken three days off.
Mrs. Isshiki continued, "Iroha locked herself in her room on Wednesday, unwilling to talk to me, and she didn't come out to eat."
"It wasn't until her father came home in the evening and scolded her that she ate a little. After that, she locked herself away again and sat in front of the computer watching videos."
"Watching videos?" Hiratsuka asked.
"Yes, Tom and Jerry. I guess she wanted to watch something relaxing to calm her mood."
"I asked how she felt, but she didn't answer. She just forced a smile and said goodnight."
"I told her father to rest, as I had to work the next day. I kept going out of the room to secretly check on Iroha, and I discovered that she hadn't slept all night."
Mrs. Isshiki rubbed her temples. "She brewed a large pot of coffee for herself and even went to wash her face in the bathroom."
"Despite being tired and yawning all the time, she refused to go to bed when I persuaded her. It seemed she was... afraid of sleeping."
"Is she afraid that she will continue having nightmares?" Hiratsuka asked.
"I think that's it," Mrs. Isshiki replied.
As she narrated, things began to seem strange. Would a high school freshman be so frightened of nightmares that she couldn't sleep?
Iroha was not a child anymore.
And from Hiratsuka's understanding of Iroha as a student, she shouldn't be so timid.
"What about Thursday and Friday? Was she still in the same condition?"
"On Thursday morning, the child's father went to work, and I took Iroha—who hadn't slept all night—to the psychological clinic."
That was a realistic judgment.
But one thing confused Hiratsuka Shizuka. "Did Iroha go willingly?"
"Yes, I was surprised too. I thought she would refuse, but she seemed even more proactive than I was. Maybe she realized she needed professional help."
"What happened after that? What did the doctor say?"
"The doctor told me not to worry. He spoke with Iroha and said that teenagers' minds and emotions are very delicate, and sometimes dreams can affect their feelings."
"He prescribed some medication to help stabilize her mood and calm her nerves."
"I need to pay more attention to Iroha's diet and rest, and I've been encouraging her to exercise more. Sweating can help in this situation."
"Well, since the doctor said so, there doesn't seem to be much to worry about. Did Iroha take the medicine afterward?"
"Yes, she took it, but her condition didn't improve."
Mrs. Isshiki looked pained. "She fell asleep after taking the medicine on Thursday afternoon, and I fell asleep too."
"But when she woke up Friday morning, her condition was worse than before. She hasn't closed her eyes or eaten since."
"Her father is going to take a rest tomorrow. We plan to take her to a bigger hospital. If that doesn't work, we'll have to consider going abroad."
The situation had become so serious. Hiratsuka glanced at the ceiling. "Is Iroha in her room now?"
"Yes."
"Can I go see her?"
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