Chapter 7
"Huh, kids these days are really hard working. You guys must have gotten up really early this morning to be at school before the principal."
The three delinquent artists gulped. Despite his calm words, the principal had a dark gaze and a threatening aura.
Shin continued, "I like how hardworking you are. I'll tell you what... I will expect you three to be here this early everyday."
"Ehhh?"
"But school doesn't even begin for another hour!"
"Oh yeah?" said one particularly brave boy, "And what will you do if we don't?"
"Oh, believe me, I will find you if you aren't here at exactly 8 a.m. every morning." the threatening aura increased dramatically as he said these words, making the students jump in fear.
"Now, let's get some cleaning supplies, eh? It's a good thing the paint is still wet, it'll be easier to clean off." He tossed them some sponges and cleaning supplies he had retrieved from the janitor's closet while the three had been arguing.
"Awwwww," the three boys said in unison, though Shin wasn't sure if it was the fact that they had to clean they were complaining about or the destruction of their artwork before anyone else could see it.
"Now, come on. You don't have much time, you don't want to be late for your homeroom, do you?" Shin said with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. He only received very dirty looks in reply.
Shin opened the door to go into his office, wary of the wet paint, but stopped and turned around before he closed the door. "Oh, one more thing."
"Ehh? What is it now?"
"I'll be leaving this door open, so you better do a thorough scrubbing."
Oh, to be young and stupid again, he thought as he turned and walked towards his desk, listening to the muttered curses from the students. After a moment's thought, he checked his desk and chair for any traps that may have been laid by the students. Finding only a tack on his chair (what an old trick!) he removed it and sat down, starting to go through the seemingly endless paperwork that was involved with running a school, especially one like Shirokin. He hoped that he would be able to get Yankumi here soon. They were running out of substitutes that were willing to come to Shirokin. He wasn't sure what he would do with Maths for the third years until she came.
He sighed. Just then the phone rang, and he hurried to answer it. "Shirokin, this is Principal Sawada... Really? That soon? ... No, of course, I want to meet with her as soon as possible... 8:30? That'll be perfect... Ah, thank you for this favor. You are very hard working... Ok, thank you again."
He put the phone back on its base, wishing he could jump for joy. Yankumi was available today! And could even be here before classes began! He allowed a grin to come to his face and almost let out a chuckle.
Then he paused. Those boys were awfully quiet... He looked up in time to see the three trying to sneak off with the job half done! 'Showtime' he thought, standing up silently.
By a seemingly bit of magic (actually is was just a really fast jump he'd learned from Yankumi) he managed to get in front of the boys just as they turned the corner.
"Ahh!" they screamed, sliding to a halt.
"And where do you think you are going?" Sawada asked, arms crossed, turning his threatening aura up several notches until the boys were trembling with fear.
"We were...ahh.."
"That is...we..."
"We were trying to get away!" One said quickly. 'obviously not the smartest in the group' Sawada thought.
"Shut it!" Another said, punching him in the back of the head. "We were..ahhh..just going to get some more water!"
"Yeah, that's it! More water!" the other two agreed hastily, nodding quickly.
"Really?" Shin said, raising an eyebrow. "Well, you'd better hurry. I have an important appointment in..." he checked his watch, "5 minutes. I want it to be sparkling."
"Ehhh? Why so sudden?"
"Yeah, you said we had until school started!"
"Things change," Sawada replied. "GET THAT DOOR CLEAN NOW!" He yelled, turning his "Kill" aura on.
With a terrified "Yes sir!" the three young men raced, tripping over each other, back to the door, scrubbing ferociously at the paint. Shin noted that the paint was already almost washed all away, then turned and walked down the hallway. He straightened his tie as he walked calmly out to the front gates, preparing himself mentally to meet his precious teacher for the first time in ten years.
However, as he reached the gate he was sideswiped by someone running too fast to stop, knocking them both over and the breath out of Sawada. When he got his breath back, he sat up to check on the other person, only to find a woman in pigtails and a jumpsuit staring at him like she had just won the lottery.
"Yankumi?" he whispered.
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A/N: Boo!
