At the end of the month, the headmaster, Satsubatsu Kirigaya, was holding his usual interviews with the teachers, to check on how each class is progressing. On the very last day of May, it was my turn. Of course, being the homeroom teacher of the 1st Year E Class, I was the last teacher to be interrogated.

I knocked on the headmaster's door gently. Today was more hectic and stressful than usual, but I managed to get by somehow. Thankfully, I managed to finish up on the student and class reports. Pouring over all that information gives me a headache sometimes.

"Come in."

I opened the door, and entered the room. Directly across me was the headmaster, sitting at his desk with a smile across his face. His office was strangely atmospheric, with the sunset casting an orange light into the dark room. Closing the door behind me, I bowed in his presence.

"Excuse the intrusion."

I sat down in front of him. He extended a hand, and I shook it.

"Good afternoon, Shizuka-san."

"Good afternoon, headmaster. Are you doing well?"

Since we've known each other since the school started, which is nearly a decade, I gave him permission to use my first name. However, due to formalities, I still refer to him as the headmaster.

"Naturally, yes. This year of students are shaping up to be quite an interesting bunch, aren't they?"

"Yes, they are."

"Oh, that reminds me."

The Headmaster went over to his mini-fridge, opened it, and took out two cans of beer. He placed one in front of me, and cracked opened his own one. I stared at the beer's label. It was an expensive import from Germany.

"Well, don't be shy. I know you like alcohol."

"Yes, but... this one is a bit too extravagant, isn't it?"

"It's a fitting celebration drink."

"What even is there to celebrate?"

I picked up the can and read all over. I couldn't understand a word that was printed on there.

"This year's E Class is one thing to celebrate about."

I raised an eyebrow. My class this year was worth celebrating? They were just like any other E Class I've had before.

"Besides that, you're a hard working sensei. Please, just drink it. It must be stressful taking care of the defective class for now the seventh year in a row. I don't think any other sensei has had to endure that."

That was true. I was unlucky enough to take care of E Class longer than anyone else at this school. Still though, if this is a reward for putting up with E Class, I don't want it.

Quite frankly, it was more difficult seeing those students suffer than it was to teach them.

"This seems like a bad idea, Satsubatsu-sama—"

"Kirigaya is fine, Shizuka-san. Formalities aren't necessary in a casual place like my office."

I wouldn't particularly call his office a casual place... well, we were colleagues at least, so at the very least I can honour his request.

"My apologies. It just seems more fitting to talk to you as a superior."

"Well, I'm your superior in one more ways than one."

Kirigaya chuckled, taking a sip of his beer.

"You know that I drive home, right? I wouldn't want to be driving while drunk."

"I'm aware. You hold your alcohol well, though."

"It's pretty scandalous for the Headmaster to suggest I try and get away with a crime."

He laughed again. I didn't think it was funny, though...

"Your dry humour always amuses me, Shizuka-san."

"It's not a joke..."

"It'll be fine. If you want, I can get someone to drive you home. Plus, a beer at the end of the month really washes away the stress."

I looked at the can in my hands. I sighed, giving into temptation.

"You really know my weak spots, don't you? I guess I'll have to ask Akusa-san to drive me back..."

I cracked open the can, and drank the beer. Immediately, I could tell how luxurious this was from the taste and texture. It was on a completely different level to normal Japanese beer.

"Wow... that's strong."

"Right? The Europeans don't hold back at all."

Kirigaya leaned in his office chair, relaxing with a brisk sigh. Putting down his can, he sifted through his folders and brought out a couple files onto the table.

"Well, let's get started then. Like I said before, this year's E Class really is something else, aren't they? Your reports have been mostly positive or neutral, which is a complete opposite in other years."

He pulled out the two reports from the files, Matsushita and Sakigamiya, and presented them to me.

"I suppose certain students are an improvement over ones I had in the past. However, I don't think they're that much different as a whole. However, I'll admit the class representatives are both very skilled. Sakigamiya-san is one of the strongest students I've had in a long time."

"I suppose it helps that their defects don't interfere with their school lives."

"Well, it does affect Matsushita-san in some ways. To be honest, I have more hope for Sakigamiya-san to lead the class due to her headstrong personality. Matsushita-san... the past still weighs down on him. The way he acts reminds me of Todoroki-san."

"Todoroki-san was one of the E Class representative of your last class, wasn't he?"

"Yes. They both displayed similar personality qualities and were the respective leaders of their class. Unfortunately, Todoroki-san's defect got to him and he dropped out. Makoto-san replaced him shortly."

"I see. Has Matsushita-san made any improvements?"

"No, I think he's getting worse. Ever since the midterms, Matsushita-san has been acting different. He's not involving himself in the class as much."

"How about Sakigamiya-san? You sung high praises for her."

"It's justifiable if you consider her positive impact on the class. Despite her defect, she's incredibly smart and encourages others. She got all A's on her midterms and socialises with other people really easily. She could easily rise up in the system through individual movement. She and Ichinose-san from B Class even made an alliance between the two classes, something I thought would never happen."

"Ah, yes, that intriguing alliance. You know, I was really shocked to hear about it too, especially considering some of the students in B Class hate E Class. It seems like they had some trouble first with Machida-san, but he was persuaded to sign on with a new contract."

I think the contract that E Class has with Machida right now is a load of crap.

"Yes. It's one of the reasons why I think Matsushita-san has been getting worse. At first, he was staunchly against it when Machida-san first brought it up, but with the new revisions, Matsushita-san signed on without fighting it."

"Perhaps Machida-san offered a better deal?"

"No, the new deal proposed was Machida-san takes 20% of the private points. That's still quite a considerable amount for Matsushita-san to agree to."

"True. Though, class politics aside, I think the midterms that really let the potential E Class shine."

"Definitely. E Class's stand-out student is without a doubt Nora-san. He ranked within the top ten of the year group."

Kirigaya took out Nora's report and put it on the table. I was extremely proud of Nora, since I've never had a student that got grades that scored in the top ten.

"His academic ability rivals A Class. It's a shame he's so weak in many other places. Considering he has the legacy of his older brothers to look up too, he really needs to get over his defects quickly."

"It's still impressive that he beat out so many other students."

"What didn't impress me was Kouji-san asking to fail all the midterms... ha ha, okay, it impressed me a little. I've never had a student at this school request this before. It's insane, isn't it?"

He put Kouji's report on the opposite side of Nora's, as if to show the huge contrast between these two.

"Yes. It goes to show how broken he is."

This sort of self destructive behaviour from students is what makes it so difficult to teach E Class. Back in middle school, Kouji was one of the top scorers in his class. I know he has the potential, but he's thrown everything away due to his defect.

"Considering the people who made him this way are also in E Class, it's no surprise he's gone down this path."

"Yes. I'll make sure to guide him properly so he faces his issues and gets over it."

"It's good to hear that you're working hard to help them. There was also another surprising moment with another E Class student, Mitsuba-san. Wasn't he the one that gave you that nickname? Shizuka-chan-sensei?"

He put Mitsuba's report slightly to the left of Kouji's.

"Yes. Mitsuba-san's grades in the midterms were really bad due to his disqualification. At the very least, he managed to refrain from being disqualified from the other tests."

"The lack of disqualifications for this year's E Class is also impressive. Moreover, Mitsuba-san was the first student this year to realise that private points can be used beyond just purchasing normal items."

"I wouldn't place too much emphasis on it. Mitsuba-san's intelligence fluctuates wildly. He's consistent at being social butterfly however, but still rough around the edges in many other aspects."

"Fortunately for him, his defect isn't as extreme as the others. His academics are severely under the average, and some aspects of his personality are unwanted in society. If we can correct that, then there is grounds for him to be moved to D Class. In fact, what about Yukimura-san? He might've gone through that trial, but his growth is the best in E Class."

Kirigaya held Yukimura report with honestly impressed eyes.

"Correct. Yukimura-san's attitude has grown considerably better these past two months. He's still violent and quick to anger, but he's become softer towards certain students, like Nora-san and Sakigamiya-san. He was also noted to been consistently studying for the midterms, and the results he got in his science grade is proof of that. Ike-san predicted that Yukimura-san would get an E grade on his forecast report, but Yukimura-san got a C grade. Aside from the suspension he's received, Yukimura-san's been less troublesome than when he first started. He's gotten into less fights and arguments within the class, and is starting to see the value in his friends more."

"It's a good thing he's correcting himself slowly. Would you say he's gotten over his defect?"

"No. It's clear that the past still haunts him. However, I believe he won't do anything extreme like that ever again. After nearly getting expelled, he's learnt his lesson. All that's left is up to him to decide where to go from here."

"Though... I think the real dark horse of E Class is him. The worst one."

Kirigaya put down Takanori's report in front of me. Leaning back in his chair and intertwining his hands, a half-smirk, half-smile formed on his face.

"Takanori-san...?"

I couldn't understand. Takanori-san has made the least amount of progress in the class.

"Yes. This boy was the only 1st Year student to figure out what the midterms were really about. His assertion about the lead up to the midterms mattering more than the grades was correct. Everyone else was focused on getting the highest scores, but the S System was only interested in how the students react to the midterms, especially after the school revelation. Would they work harder? Or work less hard? Would their confidence be higher? Or lower? This is the best indication of what kind of students make up that class, and would add or detract class points. Though, the fact he took no action is very interesting. He tried to play to E Class's strengths, but failed to do so. On the surface, he's not changed, but..."

Kirigaya looked at me with sharp eyes. I bit my bottom lip and lowered my gaze, falling onto Takanori's image attached to the report.

"I expect great things from his son."

Even staring into that boy's apathetic eyes terrifies me. I looked away, squeezing the hands in my lap together tightly.

"Am I scaring you?"

"No... it's not that."

I raised my head slightly, glancing at Takanori image once more, before meeting Kirigaya's apathetic eyes. I noticed they looked similar.

I shook my head, taking a sip of beer to keep my composure. I apologised for my uncharacteristic behaviour.

"Sorry. For a moment there, I..."

"Ha ha, your unprofessional side is slipping out. Your face is all red. Maybe you're not as resistant to alcohol as you thought, Shizuka-san."

"Don't say those things, Kirigaya-san... that's embarrassing."

"For a supposed ice queen, you can be sensitive too."

"I'm not a monster."

"You're a monster in other ways."

"Pervert..."

"Ha ha ha! Now that's an embarrassing thing to say to me."

"It can't be helped... is there anything else do you want to discuss?"

"Two more things, actually. I noticed that you mentioned some recommendations to move up to D Class in the reports. Are you okay with these two students to move up?"

"Yes. The war solidified my choices for them. Both have displayed the overcoming of their defects and have grown considerably, so I'm okay with letting them go."

"Perfect, since Ryuzaki-san recommended two students to move down to E Class as well."

"Oh? Who are they?"

He passed me two files from D Class's folder. I looked over both students briefly, and nodded.

"I see. I understand why he would want to move them down."

"Please take good care of them."

"So, what was the other thing you wanted to talk about?"

Collecting up everything on the desk and putting the reports away neatly, Kirigaya opened up his drawer and rummaged through it. Taking out a small box, he held it in front of me, and opened it.

"Will you marry me?"

In the box was an engagement ring with two diamonds embedded in it.

"...no."

"Figured you'd say that line."

He closed the box and put it away in his drawer.

"Didn't you learn your lesson after the second try?"

"Well, they say third time's the charm."

"Why do you want to marry me anyways...? We're not even dating."

"Shizuka-san, we're both in similar positions, you know."

"I don't see how..."

He placed a finger on my lips to shut me up.

"Because of the nature of our jobs, we both lost our partners. With your boyfriend, he broke up with you because he couldn't handle long-distance. With my wife, we divorced because we couldn't continue the marriage while living in different places. I have two daughters that would love to have a caring mother to come home to. I know that beneath that icy exterior of yours is the same kind woman I met when I first came to this island."

Back then, Kirigaya was still a history teacher working in the same department to me. I looked up to him since he was extremely knowledgeable in the subject, even more so than me. We got along fairly well, and even went out drinking a couple times.

"Shizuka-san. How old are you now?"

Removing his finger, he let me speak.

"I'm... 33."

"Time has been kind to you. Your face is still attractive as it was 9 years ago, you know?"

"I can't say the same about you."

"Ha ha. The white hairs are slowly appearing, and the wrinkles under my eyes are getting worse, aren't they?"

"Unfortunately. I understand that we're in similar positions, but... I don't see how that's reason enough for you wanting to marry me."

"Despite your beauty, you'll be out of your prime soon. Being unmarried at this age is concerning. Don't you want to start a family?"

"Of course I do... my parents have been nagging me to give them grandchildren for awhile now."

"Being a teacher at this school means relationships are hard to keep, but since we both work here, it's not a problem. Not to mention, if you marry me, your status would also increase. How does the title Vice Principal Chabashira Shizuka sound, hmm?"

"I'm not interested in things like that. Teaching history to these kids is fine by me. Are you sure you're really doing this because you like me, or are you doing this because you like my body?"

"Don't get me wrong, I like you, Shizuka-san. You're a good person to be comfortable around. It's just, for a long time, I've wanted to get remarried for my little girl's sake. Himura, my oldest daughter, hasn't seen her mother since she was 11 and Yuuna, my youngest daughter, hasn't seen her mother since she was 8. When I think about them, I feel guilty, since it's my fault they don't have a person to call "mom" anymore."

It was rare to see Kirigaya open up about his personal life to us faculty members. He usually keeps to himself unless it's about school related matters. Seeing him talk about his family like this... my heart does hurt.

Even if I did reciprocate his feelings (which I don't), I don't know if I'm ready to love again, especially due to my job and age. I honestly thought me and my last boyfriend would get married for sure, and we'd make things work out. We were together for 5 blissful years, and made silly plans together, like what we'd name our child.

But one day, it all vanished... like it never happened. A fairy tale dream I wasn't allowed to keep.

"I-I'm sorry, Kirigaya-san... please excuse me."

"Oh, right. Sorry, I got lost there too. Good job this month, please keep it up. Get home safely too."

"Yes, you too. Good work."

It's fitting, really. That a defective teacher like me teaches for the defective class at this school.