New installment ho!
This is another one that's based on a school assignment but while it's a bit constrained due to a character limit, I'm still pretty glad with the fact that there's more than just descriptions going on in this one.
Chapter 3 A Tiny Clever Psychology Teacher
Satori had been sitting by herself at a cafeteria table for some time before she?s decided what she would do. She then snatched up her cellphone from a pocket in her light-blue blouse and found Keine?s number.
Three signals went through before she picked up. "Hello? Kamishirasawa here."
"Hello this is Komeiji, psychology teacher at Gensoukan; college section." Satori felt it was always good to introduce herself properly, even if she knew the person she was calling
"Ah, it's been a while Komeiji-san, how can I be of assistance?" Keine sounded a bit surprised to hear her.
Satori cut straight to the chase "I?d like to talk with you about one of your students, is there anywhere we can meet?"
Keine paused for a second "I?m currently having lunch with my trainee at a restaurant nearby; the Sparrow?s, do you know where it is?"
"I?ll be there in five minutes" Satori hung up without further pleasantries and headed towards the restaurant at an uncharacteristically brisk pace.
Mokou, trainee at Gensoukan was in the middle of a discussion with her responsible teacher (and friend) about a subject that will go unspecified for the time being when said teacher?s phone
rang. Keine picked up the phone and checked the number? then a surprised expression spread across her face.
"Who is it?" Mokou leaned forward to see the screen.
"An acquaintance of mine" Keine answered the call without further explanation. "Hello? Kamishirasawa here."
Mokou couldn?t stifle a grin when she heard her teacher?s/friend's name, it was such a mouthful.
Keine was silent as the caller introduced herself. "Ah, it's been a while Komeiji-san, how can I be of assistance?
More silence, then Keine glanced around the restaurant before answering; "I?m currently having lunch with my trainee at a restaurant nearby, the Sparrow?s; do you know where it is? ? Alright good b?"
It seemed like the caller had hung up on her, Keine frowned.
"So, who?s this Komeiji person that's joining us?" Mokou asked while weighing back on her chair.
"She's Komeiji Satori, psychology teacher at the school..." Keines brow was slightly furrowed, as if she was trying to decide something.
"You looked... surprised when you saw the number, I guess you weren't excpecting a call from her." Keine's hesitation had piqued her interest.
Keine gave Mokou a look, eventually deciding to speak up. "I gather you?ve never heard anything about her during your time here?"
Mokou tilted her head, evidently giving it some thought. "Not that I can remember, should I?ve?"
Keine gave a little sigh, Mokou wasn't the type to keep track of rumors an gossip "Probably not, just thought I?d check."
Keine put her elbow at the table and rested her chin in her hand. "You could say Komeiji is a bit infamous at the school, for two reasons." she started
Mokou leaned forward as well, putting both her elbows at the table for support.
Keine waited a moment before continuing. "Firstly, she doesn?t look completely normal, something I guess you can relate too."
The last part was said with an understanding look at Mokou? or rather her head, with its long white hair, pale skin and red eyes, typical for an albino. Mokou self-conciously stroked her hair.
"Second" Keine continued "she has an ability to... 'read' those she?s talking to. And not just how they feel either, sometimes it seems like she knows what her subjects are thinking.
Mokou's eyes widened in realisation "Aha, I can see how that would start some rumors."
Keine nodded "Exactly... not that you're alert enough to pick up the rumors either way." Mokou laughed.
"The problem is that she doesn?t seem to be able to keep quiet about what she picks up? not everyone enjoys having their thoughts broadcasted to anyone who?s listening you know."
Mokou nodded "Understandably enough?" then, after a moments thought she added "You said she looked different, how exactly?"
"You?ll see when she arrives." Keine said, offering no more explanations on the matter.
It turned out that Mokou did not have to wait long. The next person who entered the sparrow was what looked like a little girl, no older than thirteen or fourteen years, with a pink skirt, blue blouse, yellow headband and pink hair (her hair was not too unusual, there were all sorts of hair colors around here). Mokou had not given her a second glance if Keine had not beckoned her over to the table and she?d not introduced herself as professor Komeiji Satori from Gensoukan, college division.
Satori walked at a brisk pace and arrived at the Sparrow?s in three minutes with slightly elevated pulse. After entering it was no hard task to spot Keine and who she assumed was her trainee (Mokou if she remembered correctly), one with blue highlights in her hair and an odd square hat that looked like a pagoda, the other completely white with several bows in her hair. She headed over to their table and sat down, giving each of them a glance, a glance that collected a lot more information than it seemed.
Satori turned to Mokou first, giving her another glance "I see Keine has told you a bit about me? though I?m not quite what you expected. Still I guess its common courtesy to introduce oneself; Komeiji Satori, psychology teacher at Gensoukan college division.
She extended her arm to Mokou who, after some initial confusion, took it and introduced herself in turn.
"Ah, err? M-Mokou, Fujiwara no Mokou, nice to meet you." She had a bit of trouble finding her words... how often do you encounter someone who looks like a thirteen year old yet talks like an adult?
Satori simply gave her an understanding look, as if this was everyday business for her
"You seem a bit shocked" she stated "Don?t worry I?m used to it; stare as much as you want."
With those words the little psychology teacher turned to her colleague, who had been quietly watching the exchange.
"And you?re still impressed by how well I handle people and seem to be trying to find a reason why I called and asked to come and interrupt your cozy little break."
Keine's brow furrowed once again, Satori really didn't know what to keep quiet about.
"I wouldn?t say ?cozy? myself but otherwise you?re correct... why did you want to talk to me again?"
Pleased that she hit the mark Satori once again cut to the chase.
"What can you tell me about a student in your class by the name of Kirisame Marisa?
Keine gave it a moment, thinking back on the morning lesson.
"I don?t think there?s much to say, she?s energetic and I?ve heard she does well in other classes? she just doesn?t seem interested in history."
"Anything special about her social life?" Satori pushed on.
Keine shrugged "She?s rather popular, got a bunch of girls she usually hangs out with and a couple of admirers."
"Have you ever seen her talk to Koishi?" this was the heart of the matter for Satori, Koishi had said she'd "met" Marisa but she usually used the word only in the loosest sense.
"Your sister?" Keine shook her head. "Not what I can remember, she?s normally so unnoticeable I?ve started double checking during class that she?s still there."
Satori had stopped listening after the first part and was now lost in thought.
"Hmm, that?s not very helpful." She shook her head. "Something to work with I guess, not much, but something."
Satori seemed to be talking to herself more than anyone else. Suddenly she rose as if to leave but first she turned to Keine and gave a small bow.
"Thanks for the information; I?ll have to look into Miss Kirisame myself and see what it is about her that caught Koishi's attention."
She turned to leave but threw a last glance at the duo.
"It seems like you know each other rather well so I'd assume you met outside of the job so I won't feel bad for saying this. One of you is going to have to take the first step you know, unless you want to stay at the same stage forever" she smirked "just a tip."
She then left the Sparrow?s restaurant, leaving behind a furiously blushing teacher and her shocked trainee.
Mokou regained her composure first. "You were right about one thing." She said. "She really can?t keep quiet."
Keine simply nodded while staring at the table.
Nothing to add really except I'm happy I didn't make Satori seem quite so depressing this time
