Taiki swiftly entered her father's entry code on the keypad and the door slid open. She stepped inside and found the area empty. Her father's home was cylindrical in shape, bisected by a wall which split the sleeping quarters off from the rest of it. To Taiki's left was the living room; to the right, a dining room; and farther back to the right a smaller enclosed area was the kitchen.

A figure emerged from the open frame across from her which was the single entrance to the bedrooms. It was Kakyuu-sensei, the headmistress of the school. Instead of her uniform she was dressed in a soft coral slip. The robe she wore over it hung open, leaving Taiki to gaze at the triangle of skin bared above the seductively low neckline.

The brunette turned her head to the side respectfully, resisting the desire to keep staring. Kakyuu laughed musically.

"There's no need to be shy. We're both girls," she stated in a simplistic manner.

"I'm sorry, I just came to speak with my father," Taiki explained, still turned away.

"Ah, he's just in the bedroom. Let me go back and get him."

Taiki took a seat on the curved couch which attached to the wall. Her eyes wandered about the space as she waited. It was only moderately different from the home that Taiki remembered as a child. The walls were repainted, and a few bits of furniture had been rotated out, but otherwise little had changed. The only real difference was that her mother was no longer there. Taiki began to lose herself in her memories. The sweet aroma of orange blossoms brought her back to the present. When she looked up Kakyuu was standing before her once more, alone.

"He'll be out here in just a minute. It seems he had the bad luck of receiving an important call just as you arrived. That's works out though—I've wanted a chance to talk to you in private. Would you like something to drink?" she offered kindly, already stepping towards the kitchen.

"Water is fine."

Kakyuu reemerged a moment later with a glass for Taiki and a mug for herself. She sat down next to the student, so close that her leg pressed against her through the thin layer of silk. Taiki shifted away from her and she frowned.

"Taiki…I know this must be a strange situation for you, your father and I seeing each other."

"That isn't what I came here for," Taiki said in a low voice, hoping to end the conversation there.

"Even so… I feel that you don't approve of me being here."

"Do you need my approval?"

"No, I don't. Your father and I are both adults. I just don't want you to think that I'm trying to take your mother's place."

Taiki's insides churned at the mention of her mother but she kept it hidden. "Don't worry; you could never take her place."

Her father appeared in the doorway in front of her. "Taiki-chan! How is my little girl?" He held out his arms for a hug and Taiki got off from the couch and embraced him tightly. "What news! My daughter dropping in to see me… Have you been well? How are your studies going?"

"I'm fine, school is the same. Actually, Dad, I came here for something else. I need to ask you about someone. Have you ever heard of a girl named Yaten Shita?"

Her dad's smile dropped off of his face. He looked past her to Kakyuu, catching her eye to transmit some secret message.

"Dad, what is it?"

"Nothing," he replied briskly. "Yes, I know about Yaten Shita. Listen hon, as your father, I don't think it's a good idea to get involved with her."

Taiki scoffed. "Believe me, I'm not. It's Seiya. She's become obsessed with the girl."

"Well, my best advice is to tell Seiya to stay as far away from her as possible."

"I've tried; she doesn't listen. If I had a reason—"

Kakyuu intervened here. "Taiki, you know the files of students are confidential."

"Even at the expense of other students?" she shot to her. Kakyuu pursed her lips and sighed.

"Look sweetie," her dad said, drawing her attention, "I'd love to stay here and talk but that call just now was from Climate Control. They said another storm has changed direction and is headed right this way. We're gonna have to round up all the students."

Taiki grabbed her father's arm as he made for the door. "But Dad—Seiya is out there. Her class took a field trip out into the forest."

"Administration has already been contacted. I'm sure her teacher will bring her back safely." Taiki found no reassurance in her father's words. Something was growing in the pit of her stomach, a fear of what was about to transpire.

"Please, can I go with you?"

Her father had little choice but to give into his daughter's pleading eyes. "Okay, but no more worrying about Seiya, okay? I'm sure she's already back at the dorms right now."

Taiki nodded, but her heart did not echo the gesture.