Chapter 161:
The teacher said that Jinseok frequently got into fights with other students.
Jang Sunho's expression hardened at those words. Judging by the way the teacher spoke, as if it were entirely expected, it suggested that perhaps the concern was a reality.
However, at that mont
The teacher, reminiscing about the past, added with a nostalgic smile,
"In the past, children living in facilities were often teased a lot at school. It's not drastically different now, but Anyway, that's why there were a lot of fights."
"Did he experience bullying during his school days, teacher?"
"No, not at all. Jinseok was incredibly popular. Whether it was academics or sports, he excelled at everything. Teachers liked him a lot, too; he was even a class president many tis."
"Then why did he get into fights?"
"Unlike Jinseok, many other kids were teased a lot, just because they grew up in a facility, as I ntioned earlier."
The teacher shrugged and continued speaking.
"He used to go after those kids and stand up for them, getting angry and fighting on their behalf. Once, he even went to the house of a kid who had teased his friend and gave a piece of his mind to the parents."
"Ah Yes."
"I've t many children, but Jinseok was the first of his kind. Thanks to him, the atmosphere in the facility improved a lot, and the kids gained confidence."
"Did he ever get into fights trying to protect other kids?"
"Yes. It seed like typical fights that boys get into as they grow up. However, it probably wasn't a big issue."
Jang Sunho let out a sigh of relief at the teacher's additional explanation, gently rubbing his forehead.
"Well, then. What was I even thinking?"
Jang Sunho blad himself slightly for worrying unnecessarily. However, there was still sothing that bothered him.
"But, according to the docunts Director 1 gave , there was a ntion of him being hospitalized after an altercation, not just once, but several tis. Can a fight between kids lead to soone being hospitalized?"
As Jang Sunho was cautiously pondering this alone,
"Oh, co to think of it Jinseok had a pretty big fight once. Surprisingly rough for him."
The teacher's words added another layer of complexity to Jang Sunho's thoughts. Perhaps this was the concern he had feared.
"When you say rough,' do you an he was trying to protect the kids from the facility, as you ntioned earlier?"
If this were the case, it could even be spun as a heroic tale. Jang Sunho secretly hoped that this was the reason.
"No."
""
"Jinseok had a group of friends he hung out with in high school. They got into a fight with another group, and that's when it happened."
***
The second filming location is Donggyeong University.
In the lecture room, which also served as a waiting room, while reading the script, Ha Jun handed sothing to Jang Sunho.
"Sir, you look tired, so I bought you so coffee. Would you like to have it?"
"Oh, yes. Thank you."
As I took the coffee, Ha Jun sat down next to
and spoke.
"I went to buy coffee, and there were quite a few students outside. Since it's the weekend and there are no classes, they probably heard a rumor about filming today and ca to see."
"Oh so the rumor has spread."
"No matter how much you try to hide it, fans always find out sohow."
Ha Jun continued to speak with a slight smile.
"Oh, and many people were wearing the rabbit hat you wore when you first ca to Japan. You might see it outside as well."
Sipping the coffee, I looked out the window. As Ha Jun ntioned, there were indeed quite a few people gathered in front of the building, and on one side, there was a group of people wearing rabbit hats.
*Click.*
Finding it sowhat cute, I took a picture. I would have to get permission from Manager Jang Sunho later and then post it on social dia.
At that mont, the lecture room door opened, and a staff mber entered.
"Actor Kang Jinseok, it's ti for you to co now. The set is ready."
"Yes!"
The staff guided
to the office.' In the modest room, there were bookshelves filled with what seed like hundreds of books, along with a simple desk and chair.
As I entered the office, Katahiro spoke.
"Oh, you're here. Setting up took a bit longer than expected, but can we start filming right away, or do you need so ti for preparation?"
"It's okay, Director. I'm ready."
"Great. Let's get started then."
With Katahiro's words, the office quickly fell silent. I handed the coffee I brought to Ha Jun and took a seat at the desk.
A mont later, even the faint rustling sounds disappeared.
"Ready Action."
In the quiet office, Katahiro's subdued cue signaled the beginning. As the actor playing the headmaster' slowly spoke, the scene unfolded before .
***
Here is'
A room with a sowhat similar atmosphere as before. The air was filled with the musty, old-book scent of an aging library.
In that room, an elderly man with white hair and Tadano sat facing each other.
The old man looked at Tadano in silence before speaking.
"Hmm, Tadano-kun. You want to drop out?"
"Yes, Headmaster."
The headmaster let out a deep sigh at Tadano's dry and emotionless voice.
"I roughly know about the things you've been through. The news has been making a fuss about the case involving Lawyer Katsuke and your uncle for a while now, so it wouldn't be strange if I didn't know."
""
"I don't have any intention of consoling you for what you've been through. I can't do anything about it, and even if I tried, it probably wouldn't reach you."
Tadano remained silent, offering no response. In the face of such silence, the headmaster's expression grew heavier and more severe.
"Hmm"
He let out a long sigh and pointed to the withdrawal confirmation form' lying on the desk.
"Usually, when a student cos to
saying they want to drop out, I tend to dissuade them. The reasons students want to withdraw are diverse, but most of the ti, it's sothing I can help with or resolve. However"
He paused.
"It seems your reasons are sothing I might find difficult to assist with."
.
"You were a student I had high expectations for. Smarter than anyone else, with a clear belief in law and justice. Yet, you had the qualities of a leader who could guide others, and you were a cheerful young person who could be friends with anyone. So, I believe you would undoubtedly beco sothing remarkable. Honestly, I saw you as a hope that could rebuild the crumbling Japanese economy and society."
.
"Because you were that kind of person, let
ask you once more. Instead of dropping out, how about taking a leave of absence, calming your mind, and then coming back?"
Throughout the headmaster's words, Tadano looked at him with an emotionless expression. In response to Tadano's reaction, the headmaster nodded solemnly.
"Well, if that's your decision, there's not much I can do. However, as the headmaster, I have a few things I need to ask students before they leave school. May I ask you so questions?"
"Yes."
"Thank you. So, what do you plan to do after dropping out?"
"I don't have any specific plans."
"No plans, hmm. Then, is there sothing you want to do or have wanted to do?"
"That, too, I don't have."
"If you don't have any plans and there's nothing you want to do"
The headmaster mumbled for a mont before asking in a aningful tone.
"So, what you should do?"
"What should I do Are you asking about?"
"Yes. Everyone should have one of the three: future plans, things they want to do, or things they must do."
Without much hesitation, Tadano responded promptly.
"Neither of those. I don't have plans, things I want to do, or things I must do."
"Hmm Then why did you bother coming to formally withdraw from school? You didn't have to co just for that."
"I wanted to tidy things up."
"Tidying up?"
"Yes. I wanted to erase the footprints of my life so far. It's not that I want to die. I have to live until I die, after all."
Upon hearing Tadano's words, the headmaster took a deep breath. After pondering sothing deeply, he placed his fingers together and spoke with a heavy voice.
"Since you say you have nothing you must do, how about I give you an assignnt?"
"An assignnt for a student withdrawing from school?"
"Even if you're withdrawing, you were my student. If you agree to do the assignnt, I'll sign this withdrawal form right away."
The headmaster's words seed odd, but for Tadano, it didn't matter much. Once he got confirmation on the withdrawal form, he wouldn't have any more business with this old man.
As Tadano nodded, the headmaster spoke as if waiting for that.
"I hope you can forgive yourself."
"I'm not sure what you an. Forgive myself?"
"I read the reason for withdrawal' you wrote on the withdrawal form. It seems like you hate yourself more than anyone else. You ntioned that your parents were murdered because of the many blessings and grace you had since birth, and that's why you find yourself in this situation now."
"You didn't write those exact words, but you implied sothing similar, didn't you?"
Faced with the sharp words of the headmaster, Tadano neither affird nor denied. He simply continued to gaze indifferently at the headmaster.
The headmaster continued speaking.
"People can live without forming connections with others, but they can't distance themselves from their own selves, even if they want to. It's an obvious statent, isn't it?"
.
"So, forgive yourself for the sake of your future life. That's the only way you can live."
"I don't particularly hate myself."
"That's your perspective. From what you've written and said, I can be sure that you truly hate yourself."
After the headmaster spoke firmly, he handed Tadano a notebook.
"To forgive oneself, a person must first look at the past objectively. The best way to do that is by writing a diary. Start writing a diary every day. The content can be anything. If you can't think of anything, you can even write about sothing that happened in the past."
.
"And go on a journey. To sowhere where no one knows you. There, as you make new connections, you'll realize that the world isn't filled only with bad people."
The headmaster continued to speak with a lot of emotion. However, Tadano's expression remained unchanged. Regardless of what the old man in front of him said, he showed no interest or thought.
He just wanted to get the signature on the withdrawal form as quickly as possible.
"I understand. I'll do as you suggested, Headmaster."
"Good thinking. But for so reason, if I let you go like this, it seems like you won't write a diary or go on a journey. You might just end up holed up at ho."
.
"We can't leave it like that. There's a saying that you should seize the opportunity when it arises, so I think I should send you sowhere right away."
"What do you an by that"
Before Tadano could say anything more, the headmaster stood up, grabbed his bag, and prepared to leave.
"Coincidentally, I'm done with classes today, and there's no class tomorrow, so we can go on a trip together. Oh, we'll only travel together until we reach our destination, and once we arrive, you're free to go as you please, so don't worry."
"A sudden trip? If we're going on a trip, we should prepare-"
"A trip that's prepared isn't a real trip. A proper journey is one embarked on without proper preparation. I've got the money ready for now. When it's ti to pay it back, I'll check if you've been writing your diary and completing the assignnt properly."
As if Tadano's opinion didn't matter much, the headmaster spoke quite decisively.
However, as a third party, I could understand. The reason the headmaster was going to such lengths was because he genuinely felt sorry for and cared about Tadano.
Of course, Tadano probably just wanted to go ho.
But if I resist, the headmaster will probably try to convince
one way or another. It might be better to just go along and co back ho right away. I can figure out how to repay the borrowed money later, maybe through the mail.'
Having finished his thoughts, Tadano followed the headmaster outside.
Taking a bus, and then a train, they arrived at their destination around sunset when the moon was rising. The place they reached was Sapporo Station.
It was the Sapporo Station with the ran shop that Tadano had asked
to watch out for him.
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