A bad time.

‘Wow, did you say an old forbidden dorm? Sounds like a pretty exciting place, don’t you think, Shirohime?’ Nora turned to Yumiko and gently nudged her. ‘Maybe it’s even enchanted.’

‘It’s surely Natsu… she’s hidden there and forgotten to turn off the light,’ she deduced. The vice principal looked at her disapprovingly.

‘Natsu?’ she adjusted her glasses again. Serizawa trembled nervously.

‘I mean, the most excellent principal, Himemiko!’

‘Serizawa!’ Sawari gave her a wake-up call, imposing her authority. Yuuko straightened up and put her feet together.

‘Ma’am!’ she saluted.

‘Take care of the girls.’ She tried to go her way. ‘I make sure everything is in order.’ She was stopped by Yumiko and Yuuko.

‘Wait!’ Eleonora remained on the side-lines. The other two tried to keep the vice principal.

‘Now what?’ Mitsuko’s tone was dry. Yumiko looked at Yuuko and stepped forward.

‘I’ll take care of her.’ She looked at the teacher. ‘Miss Serizawa, can you accompany Miss Sawari? I’m sure you have a lot to talk about.’

‘Huh?’ she was surprised before realising. ‘Oh, yes, Sawari, let me accompany you!’ she was confused by the proposal.

‘What’s wrong with you now?’

‘Well, I must admit, I’m feeling tense right now. This whole situation is really weighing on me, making me feel overwhelmed, to be completely honest with you. I don’t know if you’d mind having a drink with me tonight, and we can reminisce about old times,’ she improvised on the spot. Mitsu was still quite confused.

‘What are you talking about, Serizawa?’

‘Only one beer!’ she showed, embarrassed. ‘It’s an invitation. How long has it been since we had a drink together?’ her boss crossed her arms.

‘I’m not much of a drinker, you know that, and besides the dormitory…’

‘Forget about the dorm,’ Yuuko forced a smile. ‘You know, Natsu,’ she corrected herself. ‘The principal often wanders around there. I told you it’s probably her.’ Yumiko spoke up before the vice principal could.

‘You two were like sisters, right? Miss Sawari, go with Miss Serizawa while you can still be together. You don’t know how much I would give to be with…’ Yumiko paused, remembering something, and her throat tightened. ‘My family,’ her tone became sad, and tears welled up in her eyes. Eleonora narrowed her eyes, suspecting something. Both adults exchanged glances, somewhat moved. The third-year student closed her eyes and shook her head, trying not to fall apart. ‘Surely Miss Serizawa is right, and the one in the dormitory is the principal.’ Sawari snorted and dropped her authoritative and formal manner, softening.

‘Okay, I’ll stop by the forest dormitory, and then I’ll go with you, Yuuko. Alright?’ Serizawa was surprised to hear her boss address her by her first name, which made her blush. ‘What’s wrong now!?’ the vice principal's voice was slightly strained, showing their underlying nervousness.

‘You called me by my name, without formality, and without yelling at me… You haven’t called me that in years.’

‘Shut up!’ She imposed nervously, with her usual tone, which brought Serizawa back to reality.

‘Look, if you’re so worried about the dormitory, I’ll go with you! Just wait for me at Nankaina, okay?’ Before receiving a response, she took off like a lightning bolt. ‘Alright then, come on, see you at Lala’s bar. Just don’t order expensive whiskey… or go ahead, who cares? It’s just one day!’

‘Huh? Wait!’ She tried to stop her. She looked at the two students, cleared her throat, and regained her composure in front of them.

***

The teacher reached the wooden porch, panting heavily, her face red with exertion. Yuuko’s gaze was fixed on the ground, beads of sweat fell from her forehead. She loosened her tie, and she undid the two top buttons of her shirt, revealing a plunging neckline. After catching her breath, she took off her jacket and wiped the sweat with her left arm. ‘That was close. God, I’m sweating like a pig in a slaughterhouse, but…’ she turned her gaze back. ‘If we hadn’t encountered that stubborn Onihime, God knows what would have happened to that boy.’ She touched her pendant. ‘Mitsuko is the biggest problem, but she’s not the only one. All the scenarios are terrible. It’s best not to take any risks. By using my runes, I can make him look like just another student.’ She lifted her gaze with determination and climbed the steps of the staircase. The flame of the porch lantern danced to the gentle rhythm of the spring breeze. The lights inside the dormitory were off. She put her hand on the doorknob and swallowed hard.

Ayumu tossed and turned on the mattress. Sleep eluded him. Both his console and his phone had run out of battery and were charging. He had already tried. He had no signal, so his phone was just an expensive paperweight. ‘I’d love to play for a while, but Miss Serizawa seemed genuinely concerned about someone noticing my presence here. After all, this is an all-female academy. I can’t contact Ai, besides, she would start screaming at me for ignoring her, as if I had another choice…’ He made a silly expression. ‘I better apologise to her tomorrow. As for Mom… She’ll be making a show in Kobe when she sees I haven’t written all day. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I’m not there.’ The boy sat up. ‘I think I’m going to get some sleep after I use the restroom.’ The young man walked across the room to the door, was careful to not make as any noise as he opened it and left it ajar. Advancing down the hallway, Ayu relied on his sense of touch in the dimly lit environment. By the stairs, he twisted his attention to the creaking front door, breaking the eerie silence and instantly setting off his alarm. Serizawa’s words flashed through his mind like lightning.

‘If you hear any noise downstairs, hide, okay?’ Ayumu surveyed the scene. Returning to his room was no longer an option.

‘Reminiscentiam.’ Yuuko used that spell again from below. The first wooden shelf creaked, meanwhile Ayumu dashed towards the handle of any door, no time to select thoughtfully. Something made an almost imperceptible click; he turned the handle while his unexpected visitor continued to climb the stairs. He slipped inside, closed the door quietly, and leaned against it.