Four short bursts of sound, and then a dissonance of squeaks and groans. School was officially out; classes for the day had ended.

Ciel was free.

The relieved ninth grader journeyed to his locker, where he met and bade Lizzy farewell. She was a loveable and caring classmate, and Ciel found himself liking her despite her overbearing nature. She was an improvement over Alois, at any rate (whom Ciel was taking great pains to avoid).

Ciel was so happy to be out of class that he even waved goodbye to Soma when they passed each other in the hallway. Soma waved back and pointed Ciel out to the tall Indian gentlemen escorting him, who smiled indulgently.

The little Phantomhive found it much easier to navigate the school once it was empty of students. He reached Sebastian's classroom on the second floor in less than five minutes.

However it seemed Ciel's presumption that all the students had left was premature. As he neared the room's doorway, he heard Sebastian speaking sternly with what must've been one of his pupils.

The boy tightened his backpack around his shoulders and leaned in the doorframe, keen to get a better view of the situation. His stepbrother stood at his desk, and across from him was a short young woman with odd, cone-shaped hair ornaments.

"…But you can read, correct?" Sebastian was inquiring. Ciel marveled at how tired the man looked- his eyelids sagged, his face was paler than usual, and his lips were a firmly pressed line. It was almost frightening.

The student nodded, and Ciel thought he heard bells jingling.

"If you plan on graduating this year, you'll be required to write an exit paper," Sebastian explained with a sigh, "and to write that paper, you'll need to prove to me that you can wield the English language."

"Don't speak."

The girl's voice was low and monotonous. Threatening, in its own way.

Sebastian ran a hand through his hair. Ciel surmised this pupil had given him grief in the past as well.

"Miss Ran-Mao, if you don't prove that you can speak English orally, I cannot give you a passing a grade."

The conversation lapsed into an apprehensive silence. Ciel found it about the right time to make his presence known.

He knocked lightly on the open door and then took a few steps in. Both Sebastian and Ran-Mao turned to greet him.

Ciel couldn't help being taken aback by the shade of the struggling student's eyes. They were bright and golden, like a cat's, and just as fearsome. Though she lacked much in the way of impressive height, Ciel could discern serious power in this girl's composure.

"We will resume this discussion tomorrow."

Ran-Mao nodded solemnly and came about. She marched soundlessly from the room, and for some reason Ciel found himself unwilling to talk until she left.

As soon as the classroom was fully deserted of pupils, Mister Michaelis cracked his knuckles and stretched out his arms. He let out a lengthy yawn and then leaned heavily against the desk, resting his eyes a moment. Ciel couldn't help smiling.

"Had enough, eh?"

Sebastian grinned and lazily opened an eye, "Enough for today."

The two Brits exited the building and walked to the car in quiet contentment. Despite the day's many grueling and oppressive hardships, both were satisfied when the vehicle's engine started and they began their voyage home.

And in spite of all the humiliation and embarrassment Sebastian had caused him that day, Ciel was very glad to be in his company once more.

"One day down," Sebastian yawned again as they pulled out of the school's lot, "Three-hundred more to go."

"Yes, but don't worry," Ciel assured, "you're going to love it."