The next morning, Dairo was on his way to His cover, Kizaki High School. He looked in the mirror of his drab bathroom, wiping the steam fron the mirror with his fingers and taking a moment.
“I am Mr. Tanaka Mori..”
He was now before a class room in a black suite that came to a high circular collar of clinical white. Sitting in rows of desks before were students, many of the girls giggling as they batted their eyes at him and whispered to one another. Among them was a young woman with hair as green as apples, at once he recognized her as his neighbor.
Reading the roster, he came to “Otome Kazami?”
To which she raised her hand and said, “Hai (yes).”
Her voice was quiet, and her expressions reticent. Dairo or Mrs. Mori took note that this Young Woman had the same surname as Mizhou Kazami.. very strange.
Around the class room was a table like that of a U, cabinets beneath and equipement and phials of glass. Dairo instructed the students to begin mixing chemicals per hus instructions.
There was beep on holo screen that signaled the end of class. The classmates began filing out the door, when Otome stopped and turned to Mr. Mori.
“We are neighbors, correct?”
Dairo looked up from a screen,
“Hai. I saw you last night on the balcony.”
She straightened her stance, and said,
“I was rude. To make atonement, I invite you to dinner.”
Dairo raised a brow,
“I.. I am not sure the faculty would feel about a teacher and a student having a meal together..”
She turned, her golden eyes fixing on him.
“I have no romantic inclinations. I seek to rectify a wrong.”
Dairo nodded,
“Very well, we are neighors.. so..”
Otome turned to look at the door and said.
“Good, be at my home at 7:30pm. Do not be late or you will have to make amends.”
She then walked off. Dairo sat then and sighed.
“I have had more pleasent conversations with computers..”
Dairo walked back to his apartment. The light was on in His Neighor’s window and as he came to his door he heard noises that sounded like she was cooking. He opened the door and went inside for a change of clothes. At 7:27pm he knocked on the door and it opened automatically, taking off his shoes he came to a similar den area that shared space with the kitchen. There he saw long peridot locks of Otome, who was preparing ramen and straining hot water. She had s piece of chocolate, like a cigarette hanging from her mouth. At the table Dairo saw red packet of the stuff that said Pocky, Otome quickly came and took it,
“Pardon.. I forgot that was there.”
She took it as He said, “you like sweets.”
She continuing to prepare the meal gave a nod, she brought two bowls of ramen with lettuce, egg, and teriyaki beef on top which she set down ar exactly 7:30pm.
“You are most efficient..” said Dairo. He was use to this being in the military but had to play the part of thinking it worthy of praise.
“I believe time is precious.” Said Otome.
Dairo sipper some Saki and nodded. He was suprised she was serving alchole being a minor or was she? Her age was hard to determine, in some ways she seemed sixteen or seventeen in the hair style and figure, but her eyes and words denoted a maturity that made him believe she was much older, college senior even.
“What did you think of the first day of class?” Asked Dairo as he took two jade chopsticks to pull some noodle to his mouth.
Otome sipping some broth said after a pause,
“Entertaining.”
He had to admit her choice of words was a welcome surprise.
“If you ever need help with the course work, my door is always open.”
Her golden eyes sparkled when he looked into them.
“And if you need anything like help moving something or milk, I am next door.”
She gave a half smile, the first he had seen and said,
“That is most kind.”
As Dairo began to slurp some noodles Otome asked a question that almost made him spit them out.
“Do you believe in aliens?”
Swallowing a noodle he responded,
“Aliens?”
Otome nodded her head, the supple apple green locks shimmering,
“The Lake is said to have been visited by them.”
Dairo wiped his clean shaven chin and replied,
“I have heard stories of sightings, yes. Bodies of water always have strange phenomenon people
puport to have seen. I hear in Scotland there have a Plesiosaur.”
Otome straightened her posture, her shoulder tensing,
“You do not believe in such things?”
Dairo replied,
“I am a Man of Science.”
Otome rose up from the table and took her bowl to the sink, and began to wash it. Uncertain what to do, Dairo stood up with his bowl and walked over to the counter, Otome taking it with one swift movement and placing it under the faucet.
“Well this was a pleasure..” said Dairo, when Otome pulled the Pocky box out and said, “dessert?”
He was feeling uncomfortable as he sat down on the coach, and she offered the sticks of chocolate. Taking one, he leaned back.
“You are rather young for a teacher.” said Otome.
Dairo coughed,
“Exuse me?”
Otome’a golden eyes fixed on him.
“Most male teachers are older are they not?”
Dairo swallowed and said,
“Depends.. times have changed.”
Her inquires began to have a feel of military, as if she was probing him for information.
“Its getting late.. I best bid you good night.”
Otome rose ans gave a bow.
“Thank you for your visit.”
Dairo smiled as he made his way to the door. As he stepped out and head to his apartment, he began to wonder. Another Kazami, and she brought up Aliens.. either history was repeating or he had been made, and she was giving him the gentle nudge that she knew his mission…
