I work as a teacher at a girls' school in Tokyo

Chapter 105 Shiori Shinohara and Her Mother

This is a Japanese classical room.Elegant and exquisite decoration reveals an elegant atmosphere everywhere.

The light that spilled into the room from the window was facing a clean and tidy desk. In front of the desk was a young girl who was dressed dignifiedly and sat upright even when she was at home.

The light shone on her fair face, on both sides of her cheeks, and a few strands of hair floated gently on the desk from her forehead, passing by the white paper that exuded the fragrance of ink.

Shinohara Shiori scanned the pages with her white and tender fingers, brushing her hair out of the book, and then gently turned a page.In the quiet Japanese-style room, there is the sound of a girl turning a book.

This silence lasted for a long time, until it was interrupted by a few knocks on the door.

"Tuk Tuk Tuk."

The knocking on the door was very soft, but the room was quiet enough that it could be easily heard.

"Please come in."

Shinohara Shiori said softly.

Then there was a slight sound of the door being opened.

But Shiori Shinohara didn't read it, but continued to read her book.After waiting for a few seconds and finishing reading this paragraph of the book, she didn't look away from the page and looked towards the door.

The maid at home was standing by the door, her eyebrows lowered slightly.

"Miss, it's almost time."

"Ok."

Shinohara Shiori nodded slightly, and looked at the time by the wall, it was 55:[-], which was close to [-]:[-] in the afternoon.

She picked up the bookmark that had been prepared by the side of the desk, put it in the open book, then closed the book, and put the book on the desk.

Because of this, the soft sunlight shining into this room can glimpse the cover of this book——

The whole is bright yellow, with the title of the book printed on it: "Lolita".

After closing the book, Shiori Shinohara left the desk and walked out of the room.

The slanted skylight shines in from the side of the Japanese-style verandah and sprinkles on Shiori Shinohara.While looking at the courtyard in the atrium, she walked to her mother's tea room alone.

Every Sunday afternoon at three o'clock is the afternoon tea time for the two of them stipulated by her mother.

It lasted half an hour and consisted of small talk.As for the significance of this afternoon tea time...

Maybe it was "to enhance the relationship between mother and daughter", which is enough to make Shiori Shinohara unbearably smile, who knows.

Anyway, her mother was always happy to observe such etiquette on the surface.

In short, this weekly tea time has existed since childhood, and today is no exception.

Because the house is very big, Shiori Shinohara spent a lot of time on the road.

Finally, when the minute hand of the clock stopped three small spaces behind the number 11, Shiori Shinohara, who was walking slowly all the way, arrived at the door of the tea room.

She knocked on the door.

When her mother's "please come in" came out of the room, she slowly opened the door and walked in.

After walking into the room, he didn't look at the familiar room, but turned around and closed the door.

After that, look at the tea table in the center of the room.

Her mother, dressed in a yellow color, sits quietly at the table.

Shinohara Shiori walked to the tea table and sat down.

Her mother just started to move at this time, holding the sleeves of the kimono, and pouring tea in a leisurely manner.

At the moment when the minute hand of the clock stopped at the number 12, the bottom of the teapot lightly touched the table.

"Shiori," her mother said.

"Yes." Shiori Shinohara lowered her head slightly, her eyes slanted downward, facing the teacup in front of her that was emitting a faint white mist.

She held the teacup in both hands, took a sip and put it down gently.

In this way, the afternoon tea time of their mother and daughter officially began.

"How is your studies recently?" Her mother's tone was very gentle, just like ordinary wives in ordinary families.

"Never relaxed." Shinohara Shiori replied.

"How are you eating?"

"very good."

"How are you getting along with the children of the Yugong family?"

"pretty good."

"Last week, you went on a trip together. Where did you go?"

"went……"

"..."

"..."

Between mother and daughter, one question and one answer.

The question is very simple and involves various aspects, just like the content of conversations common between mother and daughter in ordinary families.

It contains the mother's concern for her daughter's life——

Ah.

Perhaps only her mother would believe such words.

A long time ago, Shiori Shinohara thought this so-called afternoon tea time was weird, but she couldn't tell where the weirdness was.

Until one time, she herself got in touch with how those "real mothers and daughters" get along with each other, and she finally realized where the weirdness of this "afternoon tea time" lies.

Between a normal mother and daughter, the care from the mother is intermittent, from time to time, and permeates daily life.

And her mother...

There is no such care in daily life.

Of course, she herself may have realized this, so she had this "afternoon tea time".

As if to make up for the lack of care in daily life, in this tea room, the care from the mother can fill this empty tea room.

But here's where it gets weird.

This kind of care only exists in this tea room.When half an hour passed, everything returned to its original state.

So it's not caring, still, it's a facade her mother is keen to follow.

It's like a play for herself, immersing herself in the identity of "mother".

When the play is over, her "mother" role is complete.

As for Shinohara Shiori, she is another actor who accompanied her in acting.

"How's the flute section?"

"there are some problems."

"Well, what about Hirakawa-sensei? He is not only Shiori's homeroom teacher, but also the instructor of the flute department, right? But I seem to have heard that he doesn't manage the affairs of the flute department very much."

"...Yes. The mid-term exam is coming soon, Mr. Hirakawa is busy with other affairs."

"Hmm... If Mr. Hirakawa is so busy, do you need to change the instructor for the performance department? After all, I still want to see you, Shiori, standing on the stage of the national competition. It would be good to have a professional music teacher."

"...Shiori thinks that Hirakawa-sensei has done a good job and doesn't need to change."

"Anything is fine, as long as you are satisfied, Shiori."

"..."

"..."

The faint voice, like the mist on the hot tea, floated a few times in this simply furnished tea room, and slowly dissipated.

(End of this chapter)