Urban Legend Myth

CHAPTER 3: THE WITNESS

I cherished the students like my own children. That's why I'd never forgive anyone who would lay a hand on the students in our school. Absolutely not.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

"Good morning, Teacher!"

"Oh, good morning, Minegishi. You're full of energy today too."

On this pleasant morning, feeling the arrival of spring, I watched the many students passing through the school gate. It seemed like everyone was coming to school without any problems today.

As I looked at the girls arriving at school every morning, I couldn't help but feel that a new day was beginning once again.

It has been 15 years since I came to this school. I had a hard time finding a job, but thanks to a relative's introduction, I ended up working at a prestigious all-girls high school in the city. As expected of a "prestigious all-girls high school," it's relatively peaceful compared to other schools around here.

here were, unfortunately, some problems like bullying, though not to the extent of becoming a major issue. Perhaps it couldn't be helped, as they were children, or rather, human beings.

However, thanks to early detection and intervention before problems escalate, parents feel reassured about sending their children to our school. It may not be possible to completely eliminate bullying in the future, but we can strive to make it close to zero.

Before I knew it, I was in my forties and still single. Of course, I had no plans for marriage. It's not an excuse, but my job was so busy that I had no time for romance. Yet I found fulfillment in my work.

All the students were good kids. Despite the challenges unique to an all-girls school, it was enjoyable to witness the growth of the students. Graduation day was always a tearful event, embarrassing as it may sound.

When I first started working at an all-girls school, I had thought that maybe some of the students would develop feelings for me... It was a fleeting thought that couldn't be denied. However, that idea quickly vanished. It was gone in an instant.

From my perspective, the students are like my own children. Even though I would never say it out loud for fear of being seen as creepy, I interact with them as if I were their father. That's why I am determined to do everything in my power to protect the students in case anything happens.

"...So that's why, everyone, please avoid looking at your smartphones while walking, regardless of the time or place. And be cautious about your surroundings when you're out at night. That's all from me," I said, finishing my speech from the stage of the gymnasium.

"Thank you, Mr. Miyata," replied the announcer from the broadcast club. "Next up is the next program..."

As I listened to the announcements, I descended from the stage of the gymnasium. It was a school-wide assembly, and as the head of student guidance, I had decided to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted walking due to smartphone use. There had been a spate of accidents involving pedestrians using smartphones in the vicinity of the school recently.

Fortunately, none of our students had been affected yet. However, I believed it was better to be proactive and take preventive measures before any incidents occurred. It's always best to be prepared.

The patrol man.

It was an urban legend that was circulating among some of the students. It was said that if you were walking at night while looking at your smartphone, you would be suddenly pushed from behind. Although the story hadn't spread widely, the students who told me about it seemed to believe it.