“Thank you, Kobayashi-sensei,” the students of class 2-5 say in unison in varying degrees of enthusiasm after a 2 hour Maths class.

Kobayashi-sensei regards them with a smile and puts a hand up as he picks his files up to leave the class. “See you in P.E, kids,” he calls out, already out.

He could hear the class become rowdy right after his departure. Such is youth.

The 31 year old teacher has a skip in his step as he heads to the faculty room. The PE-slash-Maths teacher is looking forward to the dancing veggies broadcast they always show on TV at 12.

Life is made of simple joys, he thinks. Even if he’s been single all his life and has taught here for 6 years, he is content.