Disclaimer: I do not own KHR it's owned by Akira Amano

Chapter Seven: Goodbyes

After a lot of confused explaining on my part, the teachers could only reassure me that it was fine to take Nagi back with me. I expected them to share the same rage that I had felt towards the girl's mom. How could a mother pay a stranger to take care of her daughter? However the teachers hadn't seemed phased as I explained the situation, as if this was a regular occurrence, which only caused me to worry.

I was thankful only my mother was home for the night. There was a small part of me that feared Nagi would be too overwhelmed with meeting exuberant and touchy people like my brother. However Akaya-nii was staying at a friend's place and father was in Okinawa for a business trip. Upon meeting the meek girl my mom had fussed over how adorable she was, Nagi could only hide behind me in embarrassment.

Dinner was an awkward affair.

Whenever mother asked Nagi a question, the pre-teen would only stare demurely at the adult. I quickly intervened every time, and commented on how delicious the dinner was or how spring was coming soon.

I glanced at my smiley mother and the timid ten year old next to me, feeling uneasy leaving the two alone as I left the room to go shower. I told my mother to tone down her excitement. I feared that Nagi would withdraw into her shell, due to the older woman's jubilant personality. However I was pleasantly surprised to come back to a slightly cheerful looking Nagi and my chatty mother teaching the dark haired girl how to bake.

I knelt down next to the girl and asked, "What are you making Hayama-chan?"

"Um, i'm helping Harada-san make chocolate chip cookies." She fiddled with her fingers as she looked at my mother.

The older woman smiled warmly as she handed the girl a scoop of cookie dough, "Yes and she's doing such a wonderful job. Thank you very much."

The girl flushed scarlet as she stuttered, "You're w-welcome."

The tips of my lips twitched upwards as the preteen brightly handed my mother another ball of dough.

Perhaps the night wouldn't go as awkwardly as I thought.

-x-v-x-v-x-v-x-

"Bye Nagi-chan! You're welcome back anytime, sweetheart." My mother smiled widely as the girl blushed and darted outside the house and into the sleek black van.

In surprise my eyebrows shot up into my bangs at the usage of the girl's first name.

"Nagi-chan? Sweetheart?"

Wasn't my mom being a bit too familiar?

Her smile turned pensive as she stared at me with sorrowful eyes, "She's reminds me of you when you were younger."

I blinked, confused by her sudden sadness, "What do you mean?"

Then there it was, an unexpected pang of loneliness I felt resonate in my heart coinciding with the look of apprehension in the older woman's eyes.

"Oh, you mean that time when Akaya-nii and I were younger don't you?"

I was bluffing at least, that's what I thought I was doing until water welled up in my eyes while I crossed my arms in front of my torso. I couldn't stop the small quake going down my arms as I shakily gripped my elbows.

Tense shoulders loosened as a weak smile accompanied my mother's sympathetic eyes as she embraced me in a warm hug.

"I'm sorry sweetheart."

Sniffling I mumbled a quiet, "It's okay."

I wept confused tears as I buried my head into the crook of my mother's neck.

-x-v-x-v-x-v-x-

I peered at the blond boy across from me, "You haven't tripped at all today."

Red hues dusted his cheeks as he tripped over his words, "What? No that's, I just, um..."

I quirked an eyebrow and pursed my lips, clearly not impressed with his sub par cover up.

The European faltered as he laughed in defeat, "Yeah you're right."

We were lulled into a comfortable silence as he walked me home from our not-officially-a-date-but-I-am-going-to-consider-it-a-date.

"The weather is nice," he commented.

I nodded as I glanced at the trees as I breathed in the warm spring air. Fresh green leaves sprouted from the previously bare trees branching out into the cloudless bright blue sky.

"Will the weather be similar in Italy tomorrow when you get back?"

I smiled at the blond man's dumbfounded face, silly boy of course my brother was going to tell me.

Regaining his composure he said weakly, "Probably not, it's supposed to be cloudy. Not sunny at all like today."

We walked in contemplative silence again, only this time the atmosphere dampened between us. Arriving at my house he smiled a small smile, the edges of his lips not quite reaching their usual spot I was accustomed to and his dimples weren't as prominent on his face. "I guess this is goodbye?"

I frowned.

No.

I wasn't going to let it end like this, I wasn't willing to let him slip through my fingers like I had let Robert.

I pecked him quick on the lips, I couldn't help but giggle a little at the way his cheeks turned a rosy red.

"It's see you later, not goodbye. Have a safe trip back home and don't forget to call me!" I gave him a warm hug before walking into the house, entirely missing the heart-wrenching expression of remorse decorating his face.

-x-v-x-v-x-v-x-

"Ladies and gentlemen, congratulations. You have all successfully passed the teacher's certification through our program. It is our job as mentors to raise the next generation into outstanding individuals. My hope is that you will all aid and guide your students with your new power as a teacher. Now I bid you all farewell and wish you good luck on your futures."

The chancellor stepped down from the podium and bowed, the audience which now composed of newly minted teachers erupted into applause.

"We did it!" Riko exclaimed next to me in excitement. She engulfed me in a large hug and squealed, "We did it, we did it, we did it! Can you believe it?"

I giggled at her cheerful demeanor, "Without a doubt."

"I'm so glad we don't have to go through all those job interviews. I wonder where we'll be placed?" The teaching program Riko and I were in, was associated with several public secondary schools and high schools. After completing the certification requirements, instead of going through the process of applying to schools, graduated students were placed in them instead through the program.

"I'm not to sure, but I hope it won't be somewhere we didn't list." We had filled out a preference form, to send to the district which also listed what subject we wished to teach. From there, the schools would review our applications and we would be chosen based on their availability. I had stuck with science, mainly biology as my selected subject. Even though I could no longer be a doctor, at least I was teaching something I enjoyed.

"That would be terrible," Riko frowned as she walked. Riko had chosen to teach social studies, she was a history geek after all.

But she brightened up again and smiled brightly, "Come on, let's go celebrate! Akaya-kun said he was treating us to fatty tuna tonight!"

I felt myself smile as well, my brother couldn't stop celebrating today. The first thing that happened when I stepped out of my room, was being enveloped in a crushing hug, where I was spun around like a doll. After making our rounds with congratulating fellow classmates, we enjoyed a meal with our families. . As I laughed around family and friends I couldn't help but think maybe this life wouldn't be so bad after all.

After the dinner, I spent a week lounging around the house. I was getting slightly nervous as I waited for my letter to arrive. I almost tripped as I dashed out of my room when I heard my mother call, "Midori, honey, there's a letter for you!"

My hands shook in excitement as I opened the letter.

However the euphoric happiness disappeared as soon as I read the first few lines of the letter.

Dear Miss Harada, Midori

Congratulations on your acceptance to Namimori Middle School. You will be stationed in the science department. Orientation for new teachers start at 9AM on April 3rd. Please arrive ahead of time to receive your identification card. Classes will begin on April 15th.

Sincerely,

Principal Oowara, Daisuke

I choked.

What?

AN: Sorry for the late update and it's shorter than usual whoops, but i'm super excited for the next chapter, Namimori here we come! Expect two canon characters to have an appearance, i'm sure you can guess who.

Also here is some shameless advertising, if you're bored and waiting (because I am such a slowwwww updater) for the next chapter of Parallel Fate check out my other stories that I've been working on! I am alternating between this story and my main story, Amongst Summons and Contracts: A Kuroshitsuji SI that I strive to make dark and full of angst.

Response to: Flor(guestreview):I'm glad you find my story interesting! However i'm sorry to tell you that the plot I have for this story won't deviate much from canon. However most of what I plan on writing will be like behind the scenes of what happens in canon, so it'll all be new info. Hope you're still interested in reading!