(I was so worked up about Miyoko last night I didn't get enough sleep...)
Still feeling a bit deflated this morning I head towards the living room.
As I head towards the living I almost bump heads with Miyoko.
"G-Good morning."
She is heartbreakingly cheerful again this morning, just as she had been last night.
"I...um...I'm off to class now..."
"Eh? This early?"
"Yeah! I feel like getting ahead start today!"
"W-wait, Miyoko...about yesterday..."
"See yah!"
She just brushes me off and heads off without me.
(I couldn't speak to her yet again...)
Rei then appears, coming out from the kitchen.
"Mina? Where's Miyoko going?!"
"She already left, why?"
Rei looks sad, casting her face downwards.
"She skips breakfast today."
"She did?!" (She skip breakfast?! Wow, I really need to talk to her.)
"It's unusual for her to skip breakfast, I guess she's still down after she finds out the result of her exam." Said Rei solemnly.
"It seems that she's been trying to avoid us, I think it's because she didn't want to make us feel bad, so she made sure not to meet anyone."
Even at a time like this Miyoko is thinking about us...
(I need to be there for her, especially at a time like this.)
(This is a difficult time for her.)
So...
I trudge home alone after class that day.
I asked Miyoko if we could go home together, but she refused.
(she's avoiding spending any time with us now she's failed her exam...)
(Doesn't she know that her doing that will only make us more worried...)
I immediately stop and turn around, making my way back toward college.
(I can't let things go on like this, I have to talk to her...)
Just then...
(eh?)
I can see her in the distance.
But she is going the opposite direction to the Famille'.
(Where is she off to?)
Before I know it I find myself following her.
And the place we come to is...
(This is...the place where the tournament she raced in was held!)
She enters the stadium with a dark look on her face, and I hurry after her.
(Miyoko...oh, there she is.)
She sits in the stands, gazing out at the field.
She appears to be watching a group of high schoolers training.
(Is it some kind of special training, perhaps?)
(She hasn't stopped staring at those children...)
There is sadness and pain in her expression as she sits downtrodden her hands covering her forehead as she stares into the ground.
It pains my heart to see her looking like that.
I called out to her and rushed towards her location
"Miyoko!"
"Eh? Mina?!"
"W-what are you doing here..?!"
"Sorry, I kinda followed you here, You were going in the opposite direction to the Famille' and I was worried."
"Oh! Ah-ahahaha...I see."
She tries to put on a brave smile, but the cheerfulness she heads this morning is gone.
(this might be a good chance to talk to her...)
I slowly sit down beside her.
"Miyoko, listen..."
I speak gently as I possibly can.
"I'm sorry you didn't pass your exam, but you really did give it your best."
"Yeah, apparently it's not good enough since I didn't pass right? Ehehehehe..."
She smiles weakly, still staring out at the children practicing their run below.
She then whispers sadly.
"But, I really...did want to become a teacher..."
I lose the ability to speak in the face of her true feelings.
(She's been hurting that much...)
(And only pretending to be happy so she doesn't hurt anyone else...)
"Miyoko, i..."
Just then...
"Miss Neyane?!"
We recognized the voice and turned towards it.
"Ma'am?!"
(Oh! It's Miyoko's high school teacher.)