Lesson Twenty Six: Party Time Is Over

The surprise welcome party for Rei turned out more exciting than anyone would’ve anticipated. Very on brand for Torii Heart School.

Everthing began as a simple nabe dinner and escalated into what the children later referred to as ”TheGreat Sensei Observation Event”.

After the girls had returned, the doors slid open again. Saegusa Shigure appeared with arms full of grocery bags.

‘I brought more food,’ she announced briskly. ‘In case…’

‘The plot thickens.’ Meow said.

Honey gasped. ‘She brought food!’

‘She’s a serious contender,’ Gon whispered.

Shigure’s eyes swept the room, then landed on Rei. She tried to hide her fondness but failed.

‘You’re… alright my Rei? Are you doing well here?’ she asked.

Rei bowed slightly. ‘Yes, Sensei. I am being treated with care.’

Shigure exhaled like she’d been holding her breath for days. ‘Good.’

Youchan smiled and gestured her inside. ‘Please.’

Shigure moved closer to Mutsuki instinctively. She didn’t touch him but she was close enough to be noticed. She tried very hard not to look like she was trying to get Mutsuki’s attention at all.

Mutsuki, unfortunately, was focused on checking the broth.

Shigure cleared her throat. ‘So. This is a welcome party.’

‘For Rei,’ Youchan said.

‘Thank you…’ Shigure shyly whispered to no one. But had hoped that Youchan and Mutsuki heard it.

‘And for surviving so far!’ Mon added. ‘Two weeks now?’

‘And for romance discourse,’ Gon said cheerfully.

‘That part is over,’ Mutsuki said quickly.

Shigure glanced at him. ‘Is it? Anything can be relit again.’

He missed the tone completely. The children suffered in silence. They felt bad for Shigure who tried so hard to be seen. They also felt bad for Youchan, who was being far too graceful about this. It was deeply uncomfortable in a way that felt educational. Or maybe gossip-y.

Eventually, Mutsuki turned to face her. ‘Oh. Shigure, thank you for coming. And for the food.’

Her eyes lit up instantaneously. ‘Of course.’

She leaned closer. ‘I made sure it pairs well with miso.’

‘That’s very thoughtful.’

She preened despite herself. Youchan smiled sadly after seeing the interaction. The children quietly panicked and was about to intervene when the door bell rang.

‘That’searly for Maria-sama,’ Honey said.

The door slid open again.

‘Am I late?’

Rin stood there with two insulated bags and her cheerful and helpful aura. She was dressed casually and was completely unbothered. She slid naturally into the kitchen space like she’d never left Mutsuki’s orbit. The tiny yokais sensed no jealousy on her part, no malice, just warm familiarity and extra food.

‘Rin!’ Mutsuki said. ‘You came fast.’

She laughed. ‘You sounded tired. And children were involved. So, I brought food.’

‘More food?’ Mon complained.

After introducing herself to the other ladies and saying hi to the kids, Rin moved beside Mutsuki naturally, slipping into the kitchen space and tying on an apron like she’d cooked with Mutsuki a hundred times. ‘Where do you want this?’

‘Anywhere,’ Mutsuki said easily. ‘Thank you.’

They moved around each other with practiced ease.

Shigure’s jaw tightened. Youchan’s smile looked even more sadder. They didn’t know Rin was married. They didn’t know this closeness was like that of a sibling-like care.

Shigure saw competition. Youchan saw an avenue of Mutsuki’s life she doesn’t know. Preparation resumed with intensity.

Shigure hovered. Rin chatted. Youchan focused very hard on cutting vegetables perfectly and not on anything else. The children watched like they were witnessing a slow-moving disaster. All three ladies tried to be within two meters of Mutsuki.

After realizing that being coy didn’t work, Shigure flirted with Mutsuki more openly. She praised the broth a little too much, stood a little too close, and made it very clear she was trying.

‘This is worse than the romance talk,’ Honey whispered.

‘Sensei is popular,’ Gon nodded solemnly.

‘This is dangerous,’ Kojiro said. ‘Women are dangerous.’

Finally, everything was ready. Bowls were set. Food were all placed in neat orders. Everyone gathered. But one unspoken question hung heavy.

Who sat next to Mutsuki? The children began betting immediately.

After everyone absolutely killing the cousin stance, Mon changed views and insisted Shigure would win because ‘she’s scary-pretty’. Gon argued Rin had ‘home-field advantage’. Honey thought Youchan was ‘obviously the endgame’. Akashi did not understand the rules but participated anyway ‘’none of the above’’.

Kojiro said nothing and watched with judgment. Kishin whispered that everyone was beautiful and was ignored. Meow tried to stop them and failed. Rei hesitated in joining but couldn’t help but cheer for her former teacher. Sumire threw a wild self-suggestion.

Shigure stepped forward. Youchan hesitated, but slowly moved towards Mutsuki. Rin pulled out a chair casually and started taking it to Mutsuki’s side.

Mutsuki, who felt the tension eventually, didn’t have the chance to sort things. The doors slammed open before he could say anything.

‘Ah! Perfect timing.’ Maria said cheerfully.

She walked in, surveyed the scene, and sat down beside Mutsuki without hesitation.

‘I’m starving,’ she said as she looked over the food in front of her.

‘Serve me some of that, Mutsuki dear.’ She pointed.

Not a single mouth was closed. Maria shrugged at everyone’s reactions and turned to Mutsuki. ‘Oh! You look exhausted.’

Mutsuki laughed bitterly. ‘Hello to you too, Maria.’

The table went silent. A small voice spoke.

‘See?’ Mon said. ‘Cousins.’

Every small head snapped toward him. ‘NO,’ they all shouted.

Mutsuki applied barrier shield on all the food before anyone could pick anything up to throw to Mon. Maria greeted Rin by name and casually revealed that she had been keeping tabs on Mutsuki during his idol years through Rin.

Rin was surprised that Maria had used her in such a way and thought she was genuinely a concerned family to Mutsuki and a friend to her. Maria’s composure cracked a bit and apologized.

Mutsuki shrugged and said, ‘If it’s Maria, I can live with it.’

The children lost their minds. What Mutsuki meant was, he didn’t mind Maria keeping tabs on him. What the kids heard was entirely different. For them, that sentence was the end all be all.

Mon won the bet instantly and would not stop gloating.

The kids loudly concluded that this was what happened when Mutsuki stopped hiding in a female form and started presenting as a man again. Women just kept appearing. Mutsuki tried to swat the conversation away, insisting he was simply more ‘unisex-looking’ now.

The adults all wondered what the ruckus was about. Mutsuki could only shake his head. He was torn between disappointment on the kids bets and barely contained laughter on their simple happiness.

When the last bowl was cleared, the children’s voices rose again in renewed chaos.

‘Everybody, settle now, the portal will soon open to take you all home.’ Mutsuki said as he wiped down some soiled faces.

‘Youchan. Mutsuki. Shigure,’ she said. ‘Office. Now.’

Rin blinked. ‘What about the kids?’

Maria glanced at her. ‘Please, Rin. Just for a while.’

Rin smiled faintly. ‘Haiiii.’

The children barely noticed the adults leaving. Someone was arguing about ladles again. The office door slid shut behind them. For a moment, no one spoke.

Maria turned first to Shigure.

‘Saegusa Shigure,’ she said evenly. ‘I’ll start with you.’

‘Yes.’

‘If Rei wishes to return to your class,’ Maria continued, ‘and if her parents approve, that option is open.’

Shigure held unto her chest in both relief and disbelief. ‘You’re allowing that?’

‘Rei was not expelled for malice,’ Maria replied. ‘She was removed for safety. Circumstances have changed.’

‘She’s doing well here.’ Shigure lowered her gaze. Better than in my class it seems…

‘She is,’ Maria agreed.

Shigure bit her lips. ‘I don’t want her to feel like she’s being taken away from somewhere she belongs.’

Maria studied her. ‘Let her choose.’

‘Thank you.’ Shigure nodded slowly. ‘What changed?’

Maria turned. ‘Mutsuki.’

He looked up, already feeling uneasy.

‘The incident during the evacuation,’ Maria said. ‘The children’s conduct. Their restraint. Their cooperation with humans.’

Mutsuki swallowed. ‘They followed instructions. They were good.’

‘They exceeded them,’ Maria corrected. ‘Word has spread.’

His brows knit together. ‘Spread… how?’

‘Across the yokai world,’ Maria said. ‘Schools have contacted the Bureau.’

Youchan stood more closer to Mutsuki, ready for when he needs her, but, she didn’t reach out to him just yet.

‘Some schools that previously expelled your students,’ Maria continued, ‘are requesting their return.’

Youchan covered her mouth with both hands.

‘No.’ Mutsuki shook his head faintly. ‘I mean, yes!..’ This isn’t about me. It’s about them.

‘Others are offering early advancement,’ Maria added. ‘Transfers. Accelerated programs.’

Mutsuki was so excited and sad at the same time.

‘In short,’ Maria said calmly, ‘the children have passed. They are all ready for graduation.’

‘And by extension, Mutsuki, you had completed his punishment.’

Mutsuki opened his mouth. Nothing came out.

‘I—’ His voice broke. He pressed a hand to his face. ‘They… they’re ready.’

If they were ready… what about me? Am I ready?

Shigure opened her arms instinctively to catch him. ‘Mutsuki—’

But he didn’t see. He had already turned to the direction opposite of Shigure. Into Youchan’s arms. He gripped her sleeves as he cried into her shoulder.

‘I did it,’ he whispered. ‘They’re going to be okay.’

Youchan held him firmly, one hand steady between his shoulders, the other at his back. ‘You gave them that,’ she said softly. ‘Of course they are.’

He cried silent overwhelmed tears as he thought of the meaning of everything. His heart welled with pride for the children, relief for their futures. And, underneath it all, the sudden realization that his role was changing. Now what? What am I going to do now?

Maria watched Shigure meaningfully. Her look said everything. You did well. But you can see who he chose.

Shigure lowered her arms slowly. She didn’t resent it, but it still hurt. So is this how my chapter also ends?

From the kitchen came laughter. Raised voices. Someone shouting about destiny again.

Maria closed her clipboard.

‘Graduation will be arranged formally,’ she said. ‘But yes. This chapter is ending.’

Mutsuki breathed shakily while still clinging to Youchan.

‘Huh… children does grow up fast,’ he murmured. ‘Ending, huh…’

‘Beginnings,’ Youchan corrected.

That was the cruelty of success. Torii Heart had been formed suddenly, out of punishment and necessity and misplaced expectations. And, just as suddenly, it was no longer needed in the same way.

The class had outgrown the room.

The shrine lights glowed warm against the evening sky. Paper charms fluttered gently in the breeze. Somewhere nearby, a bell rang. Life continued. Graduation had arrived. And so had goodbye.

Mutsuki exhaled. I had done my job.