(L'École des Cinq Lumières)

Rin thanked whatever lord there was that the principal had come in and asked to speak to Kokoda-sensei in private, leading the two to both leave the room. Why was this good? Because it gave the redhead time to work on her newest bracelet design.

"Where's Nozomi?" Kurumi asked suddenly, turning around from her spot in the next row to face Rin. "I thought she was supposed to be back from her trip by lunch?"

"Eh, they probably just hit traffic," Rin shrugged before a smirk took over her features. "I bet you she's just sleeping in the backseat of the car, drooling away."

The Blue Rose snickered.

It was then that the door opened, causing everyone to stop what they were doing and automatically go back into backs straight, eyes forward mode.

Kurumi and Rin paid full attention when not only their teacher, but three other people walked in as well. The first was what had to be a substitute teacher, as they took Kokoda-sensei's place at the board. The second was Rin's mother, who had tears in her eyes. The last person was a familiar blond man with a solemn look on his face.

"Mom?"

"Natts-ue?"

"Is something wrong?" both girls asked in unison to their respective guardians.

"Natsuki-san, Mimino-san, would you two gather your things and come with us, please?" Kokoda-sensei asked, looking at them with all seriousness. "I'm afraid it's an emergency."

The two girls nodded and followed their elders out of the room.

Once in private, Kurumi grabbed Natts's arm. "What happened?" she asked.

Up in the third year classrooms, a certain emerald-haired girl was enjoying the peace and quiet of study hall, her best friend next to her.

"I wonder where Nozomi is," her friend whispered suddenly. "I thought she was supposed to be back at school in time for lunch."

Komachi smiled. "I'm sure they just hit traffic somewhere," she suggested, not looking up from her manuscript. She was once again revising Pirate Hurricane, adding in a scene where one of the main female leads manages to sword fight on horseback. "She's probably in the back seat of the car with her mom driving and her dad asleep, and she's just sitting there deciding which pictures to show us."

"Maybe," Karen said. "But still, it's not like her to not let us know where she is."

"Relax, Karen," Komachi said, closing her book for now. "I'm sure everything is fine. Nozomi-san and her folks probably hit traffic and she forgot to call us."

The bluenette opened her mouth to say something else when the sound of a door opening got everyone's attention.

"May I help you?" the teacher asked whoever was there.

"Hi, I'm here to pick up Akimoto Komachi and Minazuki Karen. There's an emergency that requires both of their presence," a familiar voice said. "I'm afraid they'll both be leaving for the day."

"Of course," the teacher nodded in understanding before turning to the girls in question. "Minazuki-san, Akimoto-san, you may go."

"Thank you, sensei." The girls bowed politely before gathering their things and heading out the door with Madoka.

"Madoka, not that I'm not happy to see you, but what is it?" Komachi asked. "Is everything okay?"

The older girl smiled sadly at her sister before looking at both her and Karen.

"And so if we multiply 2 by 1600, subtract four, and then multiply that by 1807, we get…" (A/N: I dare you, solve this WITHOUT a calculator)

Urara struggled to stay awake as her math teacher droned on and on about the equation. She honestly couldn't wait until 3:00.

3:00 was good. 3:00 meant going to the Natts House and hanging out with her friends (especially a certain mail carrier ;3).

Speaking of her friends, the blonde sneaked a look at her CureMo to see if a certain pink-haired girl had called yet.

"Still nothing," she whispered. She was starting to get a little worried. Nozomi had been on a trip with her parents all weekend and was supposed to be back at school by lunch time that day, but she never showed. She knew that if anything was wrong, Nozomi would call, but still, Urara couldn't help but wonder about her friend's whereabouts.

However, the blonde soon shook these worries away and let more calming thoughts into her mind. She smiled as she pictured Nozomi sitting in the back of her parents' car, her mind off in Lala Land as she dreamed about either food or imagined herself in a fairy tale scene with a certain someone (*cough*Coco*cough*).

She was shaken out of her thoughts by a knock on the classroom door.

"Come in," the teacher said.

The door opened and in walked Urara's father along with Mrs. Otaka (in her Chairwoman garb at that), who went straight to the teacher.

"Daddy?" Urara asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Before her father could reply, Urara heard her teacher and Mrs. Otaka finish their conversation.

"I see," the teacher said before turning to the blonde. "Kasugano-san, you're free to go."

"Y-yes, sensei." She bowed politely before grabbing her bag and walking out with her father.

"Your grandfather is in the car," he told her. "I've already signed you out. Shall we?"

"Wait, wait, wait. What is it?" she asked. "Why are you here?"

Her father sighed.

"I am never working on orientation day again," Syrup said to Mailpo as he collapsed tiredly against the Cures' usual lunch table. "Who knew incoming freshmen could be THAT hungry for pancakes?"

"Mai~!" Mailpo happily chirped from his shoulder, giving him a pat on the back for a hard day's work.

"You're still here?" a familiar voice asked suddenly. Syrup looked up and saw Mrs. Otaka in her Chairwoman suit. "I thought you'd be with your friends by now."

Syrup was confused. "Why?" he asked. "School doesn't end till 3:00."

"Mai~!" Mailpo agreed.

The Chairwoman looked shocked. "Didn't your brother tell you?"

"Natts? I mean, he stopped by, but I was in the middle of the rush so I didn't hear him. Tell me what?"

"There's been an accident."