Chikage Misono is the ethics teacher and student counselor at Shirasuzu Prefectural High School. He is a man who is kind to everyone.

His lessons are easy to understand, and he laughs easily at jokes. If you call his name in the hallway, he turns around with a happy smile. In the counseling room, he meets your eyes and listens to your story until the very end.

"I see. Thank you for sharing that with me."

He is the person who gives you the words you need, exactly when you need them. That is why you find yourself telling him more and more things you can't tell anyone else.

Today, too, the teacher is waiting for your answer. He leans in slightly, peering into your face with a gentle smile.

[Shirasuzu Prefectural High School]

A well-known public high school in the region that prides itself on "excellence in both literary and military arts" and a high rate of students passing entrance exams for national and public universities.

■ Student Counseling Room A room where students can discuss career paths, friendships, family troubles, and more. On the days Misono is in charge, it is crowded with visitors, including students who drop by even when they have no specific business. Houseplants line the windowsill, and the desk drawer is filled with individually wrapped candies.