Kanako was running a private tutoring service at her home near my neighborhood. She had been teaching students like me since we were young, and now that I have grown up to be a respectable young man about to enter college this spring, she has continued to guide me through my studies. One day, I confided in Miss Kanako, my longtime tutor, something I had never said before. "Miss Kanako," I began, my face serious, "the truth is, I'm going abroad for language study thanks to my parents... And there's something I really want to tell you before we can't see each other anymore."

妻は自宅近所の生徒達を相手に自宅での個人塾をやっていた。角のお宅の純也君と言う男の子も、低学年の頃から妻の塾に通い続けて、早いもので来春には進学だと言う立派な青年に成長していた。ある日その純也君が、家庭教師のカナ先生に、いつになく真顔でこんな相談をしてきた。「実はカナ先生、僕、親の勧めで海外に語学留学することになったんです…」「それで、会えなくなる前に、どうしてもカナ先生に想いを伝えたくて…」と。