Chapter 131: The Questionnaire

"Students, please fill out these survey forms. For those facing significant financial hardship, there will be subsidies and tuition waivers available after review." Kazuo Matsushita, wearing his hat, stood at the podium and handed a family background survey form to Kokomi Teruhashi.

"Teruhashi-san, please distribute these to the class and return them to my office by tomorrow noon once they’re filled out." As soon as Kazuo Matsushita caught sight of Kokomi Teruhashi, he trembled instinctively and reached up to clutch the hat on his head. He coughed twice and handed the stack of forms to her.

"Certainly." Kokomi Teruhashi nodded, though she cast a worried glance toward Tsukasa Aoki.

*If he has to fill out this family survey, will it stir up painful memories for Tsukasa-kun again?*

Kokomi Teruhashi pursed her lips and began distributing the forms. When she reached Tsukasa Aoki's desk, she leaned in and whispered comfortingly, "Tsukasa-kun, just fill it out casually; there's no need to take it too seriously."

Tsukasa was slumped over his desk, his brain swimming from the Traditional Chinese Medicine textbooks piled before him—a dizzying mess of meridians, the interactions of the five elements, and the complex principles of yin and yang.

Seeing Kokomi handing him the form, he forced himself to focus. "What is it?"

Looking at Tsukasa's weary expression, Kokomi felt a pang of pity. "Are you too tired lately, Tsukasa-kun? Please make sure to get some rest."

"Thanks, I'm fine." Tsukasa grinned, rallying his strength. "I'll just take a quick nap during lunch break later, and I'll be refreshed. Don't worry about me."

Kokomi nodded anxiously and continued handing out the forms.

Tsukasa picked up the sheet, stared at it for a moment, and began to fill it out nonchalantly.

*Father's name, mother's name... and the current workplace?* Tsukasa pondered for a moment before writing "Heaven" for his father's workplace. If souls truly have a destination, he sincerely hoped his family in this world was living happily there. If he had the chance, he should go back and visit—dust off the urns at the old funeral home and change the offerings; it was the least he could do.

*Mother's workplace?* Tsukasa twirled his pen and wrote "Unknown."

*Family situation... how should I put this?*

Tsukasa was stumped. He wasn't sure if he was technically adopted or just boarding with the Kasugano family. After thinking it over, he wrote "Very complex."

*Yeah, that’ll do.*

As for the miscellaneous address details, he filled in what he could and scribbled random things for the rest, not really caring about the form.

Once finished, he set it on the edge of his desk and waved at Kokomi.

Kokomi had just finished distributing the rest of the forms when she saw Tsukasa waving at her. A smile bloomed on her face involuntarily, and she quickened her pace. "What is it, Tsukasa-kun?"

"I'm done. You can take it." Tsukasa handed her the form, lazily slumped back onto his desk, and went back to his book.

Kokomi took the paper and smiled at him, though she couldn't help but think: *What should I do? Should I look, or shouldn't I?*

*If I read this, wouldn't I be prying into his privacy? But if I don't, I'm so curious...*

Kokomi agonized over it until class started. Finally, unable to resist, she snuck a peek at the form while keeping it tucked near her textbook, justifying it to herself: "I’m not looking on purpose, but if I happen to glance at it by accident, then it can't be helped."

And so, Kokomi spent three seconds looking at her textbook and a dozen seconds glancing at the survey.

The more she read, the more her heart ached.

*Tsukasa-kun... he’s so pitiful.*

Especially when she saw the word "Heaven," Kokomi felt like she might burst into tears. *Tsukasa-kun is just too strong. He must have been heartbroken when he wrote those two words.*

She stole a glance at him; Tsukasa was slumped over his desk, his eyes dull as he stared at a book she couldn't even begin to understand.

*Tsukasa-kun must be wanting to cry so badly right now...* Seeing his hollow eyes and his defeated posture, Kokomi thought this man’s life was simply too tragic, yet his resilience was extraordinary. Not only did he have to go to the Kendo Club every day to get beaten up as a sparring partner, but he was also so diligent and studious. Seeing how he could barely keep his eyes open, he might even be working other part-time jobs on top of everything else.

On top of that, he had to take care of his younger sister. She had heard that Sora Kasugano had a terrible personality; he must be stressed out every single day. He was just a boy who hadn't even reached adulthood yet—how could he carry all of this without a single word of complaint?

In her mind, Kokomi couldn't help but imagine Sora Kasugano's parents threatening Tsukasa.

*Sora-san’s father must be a terrifying man, waving a liquor bottle and threatening Tsukasa-kun, telling him that if he doesn't do as he's told, he won't get any food!*

The moment she imagined that Sora’s parents might have only given him a hundred yen—no, maybe not even a hundred yen—while forcing him to do all the housework and take care of Sora, serving the whole family like a slave just to afford his tuition...

Kokomi’s brain immediately completed a male version of the Cinderella fairy tale. Her heart ached so much she wanted to rush over to Tsukasa right now and tell him to come live at her house instead!

*But Tsukasa-kun never shows any of this at school... he must not want anyone to know about it!*

As Kokomi thought, she felt torn. She covered her face, her eyes red as she looked at Tsukasa, on the verge of tears. *How can I help you find happiness, Tsukasa-kun!*

Tsukasa sneezed, rubbed his nose, and looked up, scanning his surroundings in a daze. He felt as if someone were staring at him.

*Ah, it must be Sora missing me at home. I’ll just check in at the Kendo Club, say hi to Senior Toudou, and then head home early to cook for Sora.*

At the thought of Sora, the corners of Tsukasa’s mouth curled up slightly. Thinking about how much more obedient and well-behaved she had been lately made him feel warm inside.

He patted his face to keep from dozing off, then lowered his head to continue reading.

Kokomi saw Tsukasa patting his own face as if to comfort himself and not lose heart, revealing such a heartbreakingly brave smile. She finally couldn't hold back anymore; she laid her head down and wept silently.

*Tsukasa-kun is just so fascinating!! Oh... oh-ho... oh-hoo....*