Sawada Shin gazed up at the Shirokin badge on the stone archway that stood in front of the school. The early morning sun was just peeking over the horizon and the grounds were eerily silent as he stood pondering. Ten years ago he had graduated and thought that he would never look upon this school again, much less enter it. But today he would cross the threshold, and once again walk along the hallways of his alma mater. A crooked smile appeared on his face as he recalled his days in this school: the fights, the friends, the fun, and, of course, the person who changed his life. "Yankumi," he murmured as he remembered her clumsy ways and foul language. It's amazing, he thought, that one person could change so many lives for the better. But he had seen it happen. He had sat back and watched as his homeroom teacher, Yamaguchi Kumiko, had challenged, inspired, and gained the respect of his classmates through her passion for teaching, her devotion to her students, and her combat skills. He grinned as he recalled his schoolboy crush that he had had for her in those days. She would have called it puppy love, he thought and snorted, imagining her face lighting up as she would laugh at him for it. Shin had spent a year after graduation in Africa, building homes and orphanages. Meanwhile, he spent a lot of time soul-searching, trying to decide upon what he wanted to do with his life. All of his classmates had dreams, designer, architect, etc., but he still didn't know! It wasn't until the last week of his stay that he had an epiphany. The only person he had ever trusted, admired, and loved, was a teacher. If only there were more teachers like her, perhaps fewer students would drop out to become thugs. His breath had caught when the thought came to him, I could be a teacher like her. After that night, picking a college and graduating from it had been a piece of cake. He began as a teacher at smaller high schools; however he had rose quickly in the ranks, his unusual teaching style and his intellect shooting him above the rest until he was at the rank he is now.

Footsteps echoing across the road interrupted his reverie and he turned to see two men approaching the archway, wearing formal suits and…were those helmets? He quickly hid behind a tree in order to listen to their conversation.

"The new principal is coming today," one said, his back straight as spoke officiously. "We must be sure that all goes well."

"Yes, yes, Head Teacher Sawatari," the other nodded anxiously. "All must go well, we cannot have an incident like with the last principal." There was a shudder in his voice as he spoke those last words.

Curious¸ Shin wondered, what incident?

"I heard this principal is young, but fierce!" the head teacher said, proudly. "Surely he will be able to whip those hooligans into shape!"

Shin shook his head. Still haven't changed, huh Sawatari? Haven't even gotten promoted yet. I wonder how you'll enjoy being the underling to one of your past "hooligans". How old are you now, fifty?

"Yes! Let's make today incident free and welcome the new principal!" Sawatari exclaimed and Shin watched from behind the tree as the two put their hands out together and exclaimed in one voice, "Fight-oooh…"

"Excuse me!" Well, he couldn't very well resist interrupting that shout, now could he? His policy was to keep people off-guard!

He barely resisted bursting out laughing as the two teachers stumbled apart and spun around, surprise plainly written on their faces.

Shin swallowed his laughter and spoke fiercely, "Are you teachers to this school?" The two startled teachers took a few seconds to compose themselves before they could answer.

"Yes, I am Head Teacher Sawatari and this is Murata Ryu, the science teacher. How can we help you?"

"I am Sawada Shin, your new principal." Shin had spoken the words loudly and imperiously, barely controlling his reaction as the two teachers jumped backwards again, almost falling over this time.

The Head Teacher was the first to bow, followed quickly by the other. "Sir! We didn't expect you so early, school has not even begun yet!"

"I like to see all the aspects of the school, from the people who arrive the earliest to those who stay the latest," Shin replied. "You can learn a lot about a place by who arrives first and who leaves last. Remember that!"

"Yes, sir!" the two exclaimed together, bowing again.

Shin could see Sawatari's thoughts go across his face. "What is it, Head Teacher? Do you have a question?"

"Ah, it is only that your name sounds so familiar!" Sawatari exclaimed, bowing again. "Have we met some time before?" He looked into Shin's eyes, but was easily cowed by Shin's "Mad-phase" which consisted of widening eyes, flaring nostrils and a puffed-out chest.

"Met?! Us?! I'm sure you would remember if we had!" Shin was laughing so hard on the inside now that he was surprised he could still keep up his act.

The Head Teacher flinched as he responded, "Hai! Of course I would remember, how stupid of me! Forgive me, Principal Sawada!" He bowed low this time, his head almost touching his knees.

Shin glanced at the other teacher, who seemed frozen in the upright position, fear in every line of his body. Shin smirked. Easy as pie.

"Well, since this is our first meeting, I will let you off this time," he told the two teachers as he turned towards the school. "Now, what can you tell me about this school?"

The three proceeded to enter the school grounds, the head teacher stuttering his way through a brief history of the school as Shin half-listened. He was more curious about the incident the two had spoken of before, but Sawatari was now on a roll about the pride of the school and that nonsense. Oh well, he'd find out about it eventually.