Disclaimer: All character belong to Takaya Natsuki with the exception of Koishii.

'Kana was my vibrant, fresh, spring.' I thought sadly, placing her picture on top of my new desk. I could never dream of giving it up. Thousands of times I tried to shove it away in a desk drawer, but I never ha the strength. It's difficult to let go. The icy snow will never melt from me again, I will never be free again, this is the fact I have accepted.

I stared the heavily lit ceiling. It was a little too bright. Perhaps I should ask to get it fixed.

Akito had died perhaps three weeks ago. The curse was liftd temporarily until a new child was born who bore the weight of the curse. After he died, I had much more time considering he was the patiet that most consumed me. Shigure suggested that I got a ob outside of Soma house until the curse came back. With no other options, I managed to grab a job at a local college as a Human Anatomy teacher.

At first I wasn't very willing to teach. But for some reason I felt more and more drawn to the profession.

So here I was in my classroom. It was rather large, there were about ten small tables, each had four seats around them. There was a sink at each table. At the front there was a chalkboard, it had traces of chalk dust smeared on it. It was most likely left by the previous person who taught in this room.

Today was when Freshman would sign up for their classes. I was required to set up my own table and sign-up sheet. I was to stay down at that table until every single freshman had left. It seemed that this task was tedious and pointless, buton the other hnd, i would get to meet my students indivdually.

I lightly brushed some of the ebony hir fomr my eyes and began to silently walk down the steps of the steiwell which led to the entrance hall.

The school itself was rather smafor a univiersity. Despire its size, it was very hard to get into. I reached the entrance hall and jostled my way through the rest of the bustling teachers. Even though i was the lateest teacher down there, I was oddly the one who was least stressed out.

I wasn't intimidated by thes students, after all, I knew more than they did. I was teching them for Christ's sake. I sat bordly a my table.

I couldn't really converse with any of the teachers, considering that to me, they were all strangers. None of the teachers had made themselves known to me. Being the "newbie", I was ignored.

It didn't eactly bother me like it would other like Shigure.

Butthen again, Shigure would have introduced himself already, and mostlikely would have a few restraining orders against him. Ever since the curse was lifted, he was hugging every pretty girl he saw. The police had been called mby numerous women. I was astonished that he had not been arrested yet.

Soon after I sat down, the frshmen poured thoruhg the double doors. I say many diverse expressions on their young faces. Some looked pale and scare, other seemed ectastic and eager, or they were just plainly bored.

Looking through the rowd of students, i had no idea who would be joining me cass. Some people looked at my table with interest and others acted as though they hadn't even seen it. After a fewminutes, a boy with mousy brown hair and frackles approached me and began to speak rapidly.

"I took anatomy i my senior yearof high school and it was really fascinating! My brother is a second year here and he took anatomy last year, put Professer Mituki taught it. She was a great teacher, I'm sure you will be too! What did you do before you taught here?" he said while writing his name on the sign-up sheet.

I had to stop for a minute and saok in what he was blabbing about.

"I was a family doctor. I only really treated the Soma's, my family." I explained.

"Oh really? What kind of doctor were you? A pediatrition? A dermatologist? A chiropracter? A Gynachologist?" he asked interestedly.

He was the only boy I knew who wouldn't blush when he said 'gynachologist', or even knew what was.

"All of the above, I suppose. I treated my whole family. Young and Old, Male and Female." I replied shrugging.

"That's impressive! My name is Mitari Yamazaki, by the way. I can't wait to start your class Professer...?"

"Soma. Professer Hatori Soma."

"Right. Professer Soma. Pleasure meeting you sir!" he said politely bowing and then runing off.

He was an interesting boy, quite energetic. I was surprised about how much he knew about doctors, but he said his brother was going here too. Maybe it was a family profession. I had a feeling that might enjoy having him as a student.

Aftere Mitari, none of the other students really talked to me unless it was to ask for my name. Many of the freshmen had already headed out to their dorms. There was still a fair amount of them left wondering.

I saw a group of younf girls talking and giggling. They were perhaps five or six of them. The majority of the group seemed to be party girls, wearing tight or revealing clothes. And then there were tow girls who dressed normally. Only one in psrticular stood out to me for some reaon.

She was standing in the front of the group. She had light blonde hair that was tied up in a loose knot, a few stads og her bands whisped the tips onher long eyes lashes. Her eyes were an orangey-brown. She had a tiny nose, and a beautiful , sweet smile. Her skin was a creamy color and it held not a single blemish. Her figure, now I want to kick myself forlooking at her figure, was so petite. I could have been head and a half taller than her. She wore a ple-pink sweater that pulled across her chest (God help me). A short, common, periwinkle, pleaded skirt with white knee highs and maryjanes.

I will sound like a dirty old man when I say this, butshe was incedibly cute. I have neevr thouht of anyone as "cute" before, "beautiful" yes, but never "cute". She was too young looking to be "beautiful".

The girls al stopped at the other tables before they made their way towards the door. But the blonde girl sent them toa hault and took a glance bac at my table, she motioned somethingto her friend. Then she began to walk confident over to my table, the sweet smile till resting on her face.

"Hello! Mitari, I'm pretty sure you've met him, told me that I really sould sign up for this class. I took anatomy with him last year. He said that you know a lot about our previous proffession," she explained brightly.

Her voice was soft and sweet, just like her smile. However, tat Mitari kid, was already giving me a reputation. I wantedto make my own reputation.

"Yes, I was a doctor before this. Mitari, is he always so eager?"I asked half-joking.

She let out a short laugh.

"Pretty much. But it's nice to have someone as fun and energetic as he is, you know?" she said, cocking her head to one side.

"Yes," I replied shortly.

Kana was enthusiastic, she enjoyed life almost as much as Mitari did. Not only was there life in her personality, but there was life in her whole body. Her eyes, they were filled with excitement and joy. I looked up at the girl for a moment, for a split second...I thought I saw Kana's eyes in her. But it was just a hopeful memory.

"Oh! I never told you my name. I'm Koishii Hagisira," she said politely.

I smiled. Koishii...that meant 'beloved', didn't it? Well, her parents must've thought highly of her. But who wouldn't? I hadn't seen a single flaw in the girl from the minute she walked up here. Was it possible to be so perfect?

"I'm Hatori Soma. It's my pleasure to have you in my class Ms. Hagisira," I replied in a shooing manner.

The other freshman had left so it was me and Koishii and all of the other teachers, whom were all busy taking down their tables.

Koishii looked around the room and realized everyone was gone. She gave a nervous laugh and then cleared her throat.

"My friends probably went up to their dorms. Do you need any help taking your table and things back to your classroom?" She asked bouncing up and down on her heels.

"Oh, no, It's all right. I think I can-..." I started to say but she interrupted almost as soon as I opened my mouth.

"No, I insist!" She replied cheerfully taking the sign-up sheet off of the table top.

As soon as she did, she slid on her heels to do an about-face, but her feet fell out from under her and she landed on the ground flat on her backside. Okay, I was wrong, she wasn't perfect. She now has the title of 'accident prone'.

I smiled at her as I lifted up her arm for support as she got back to her feet.

"Sorry, I'm a big klutz. Sometimes I trip over my own feet, stupid, huh?" she laughed smiling warmly.

For some reason, that smile began to raise my spirits as a small grin appeared on my lips.

We both had entered my classroom, I carried half of the table and she carried the other half. Her eyes widened in awe at the sight of my bookshelf. She practically dropped the table and ran to the books. I shook my head and smirked as I slid the table back into the storage closet.

"Professer Soma, this is amazing! You have so many books!" she exclaimed running her fingers over spines of the novels.

I walked over the the bookshelf and bent down next to her.

"Yes, I have aquired quite a collection over the years, haven't I?" I nodded.

"Are these for your students? Or just you?" She inquired.

"Just me really, I have a lot more books at my house, but I wanted to take these with me."

"Oh, 'Pride and Prejudice'. I've never read that one. Mitari said it was interesting. I just haven't had the time to read it. But, since I'm only taking four classes now that I'm in college, I should have more time than I did when I was in highschool."

"You can borrow it, I've read it lots of times."

"Really? Are you sure?"

I nodded.

"Thank you!" she replied happily.

"So, do you live close to here?" She asked placing the book in her lap as she sat on the carpet floor.

I sat down next to her. It was almost childish. We were sitting up against a bookshelf, our knees drawn to our chests, talking quietly to eachother.

"Yes, it's maybe a twenty minute drive. I live in a neighborhood which is all occupied by the Soma's." I explained as best I could.

She nodded her head, though I could tell that she didn't understand. It was hard to explain the Village of Soma I suppose. Not many families had their own village.

"Did you live with your parents before you came here?" I asked.

Her cheeks reddened and she looked away. Something about this subject was making her uneasy

"No, I lived with my friend, she's 27, since I was in 9th grade," she whispered.

I decided it was best to leave this topic alone, unless she had brought it up again. She suddenly stood up and tripped, falling backwards onto the bookshelf. She laughed nervously as she picked herself up again.

"I should be going Professer Soma. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I hope to get to know you more!" She bowed respectfully as she exited my classroom.

I smiled. I was feeling odd after the conversation. I felt slightly...warm? Is that How I should put it? It seemed that, a small portion of the frozen snow around me had melted to a few drops of water. Yes, I would like to know her more.