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Chrno sat calmly in the waiting area, keeping a good eye on the door. He wasn't used to being this excited, and waiting like this built up the tension like nothing else could. He had almost memorized every detail of the name plate on the principal's door by now. Every time the receptionist turned her head to the left, the glare of her desk light off of her glasses added a barely visible tinge to the gold-tinted plate. Otherwise, it made about as much sense as a barcode. Shiny, shiny, dark, dull, bright, shiny, a little less shiny.
Chrno was brought violently back to reality when a boy, looking about fifteen, burst out of the door principals door, slamming it loudly and giving it a rude hand gesture. As soon as the angry boy was out in the hall, the principal's door opened once again, only this time a bit more gently. He looked around the room, pausing for a moment on a girl on the opposite side of the waiting room reading a book, and then moving to him.
As soon as the man's eyes fell on him, Chrno was painfully aware of how much he looked like a student. He'd neglected any formal dress, hoping more for recognition from Rosette that recognition as a government employee.
Swiftly, before the principal of the school could say a word, Chrno stood up and put out his hand. "My name is Chrno. I've been sent to deal with a missing ID." He paused, "You are the principal of this school, are you not"
He had to hold off laughter at the principal's bewildered face. He obviously hadn't been expecting someone who looked so young.
"Yes. I'm awfully sorry to have kept you waiting so long, sir. Would you like to come in"
"Yes. Thank you." As soon as he got through the door, he gave the room a quick look, finding he was the only one in it. He heard a voice coming from behind him.
"Miss. You can come back in now"
It took all of Chrno's self control not to beat his head on the door. The face behind the book had been Rosette's all along. He'd been sitting across from her for fifteen minutes almost, his Rosette, and he hadn't even noticed! His fist clenched tight as he barely held himself back.
"You must be Miss Christopher," he managed, not without struggle.
She stuck her hand out, making Chrno pause for a minute wondering what to do with it.
"Rosette," she provided, as he shook her hand. After a small silence, she added "Have you come to take me off somewhere? Lock me up? 'Cause I'll tell you now you'll never manage it. I don't get dragged off easy"
Chrno chuckled. She sounded exactly like the Rosette he knew.
"Well, I am going to have to take you off somewhere, whether you're dragged or not is your own choice. All I need is a reason for your lack of ID, and some information on your background and whereabouts for the past few years"
Rosette gave this a moment of thought.
"You got a badge or something? Prove you're who you say you are"
"Miss Christopher!" the principal interrupted the conversation "You've no right to say something like to-" Chrno put a hand up to stop him.
"She has every right to. Frankly, I'm a bit surprised you didn't, sir." The principal frowned a bit, obviously not used to being outranked.
Rosette was inspecting his card from every angle, even taking a moment to bite it like one would a gold coin. Chrno almost laughed aloud.
"OK, you're good." She handed the card back to him, teeth marks adorning one corner. He pocketed it.
"Good. If you don't mind, sir, I'd like to take her over to my office building, so I can get this done, and hopefully tomorrow she'll legally be able to enter class"
"You may go, miss Christopher"
"Rosette!" she hissed at his back as he turned, but he didn't notice.
He offered her a hand. "Would you come with me please, Rosette"
She took his hand tentatively.
"You know, you're the first person that listened to me"
"What?" he gave her a puzzled look
"When I say I want to be called Rosette. You're the first person that has"
"Oh." He hadn't even thought about it. It felt so natural to be in her presence again.
They set off into the street, Chrno being peppered with questions about where they were going and why he had no car.
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Woot. I'm free. It's been summer for a few days, my last exam was... well I've already forgotten what day it is!
Anyways, here's chapter 4 to show for it.