Part 5 – A Classroom Filled With Worry
Daigo Morinaka entered the classroom with his usual calm expression.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, Sensei."
He placed the attendance book on his desk before looking around the room.
His eyes paused on one empty seat.
"...Yuna is still recovering."
"The hospital has advised her to rest for a few more days."
"So don't expect her back just yet."
The classroom grew quieter.
A few students lowered their heads.
Daigo closed the attendance book.
"Now then..."
"Let's begin today's lesson."
Haruto quietly glanced at Yuna's empty seat.
Then looked out the window.
Beyond the academy walls...
The village continued preparing for a war...
That wasn't coming.
The morning passed quietly.
The usual sounds of chalk against the board...
The turning of textbook pages...
The scratching of pencils across paper...
Filled the classroom.
Even Daigo noticed it.
The students weren't as focused as usual.
Whenever the lesson paused...
Whispers about the coming war returned.
"I heard the western gate has more guards now."
"Do you think we'll be evacuated?"
Daigo gently tapped the blackboard with a piece of chalk.
"Eyes up here."
The classroom quickly fell silent again.
Haruto lowered his gaze back to his notebook.
He tried to focus on the numbers written across the page.
But his thoughts kept drifting back to the letter folded safely inside his jacket.
Every word echoed in his mind.
"They're coming..."
"They're coming for us."
He quietly clenched his pencil.
A voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
"Haruto."
He looked up.
Daigo was standing beside his desk.
"You've been staring at the same question for five minutes."
The classroom let out a few quiet chuckles.
Haruto blinked.
"...Sorry, Sensei."
Daigo's expression softened.
"It's alright."
"We all have a lot on our minds today."
He gave Haruto's desk a light tap.
"Just don't let your thoughts solve the questions for you."
A few students laughed softly.
Even Haruto managed a small smile.
Daigo nodded once before returning to the front of the classroom.
Outside...
A cold winter wind brushed against the academy windows.
Inside...
The lesson continued.
Unaware...
That by nightfall...
Everything would change.