There it is again. Heroic Spirit prana from one of the floors below. I feel bad that I'm not fully listening to Shino's next plans for us, but if there really is an unknown Heroic Spirit in Ousai right now, then danger isn't completely outside the realm of possibility.
Nobody seems to notice me being distracted during the meeting. Thankfully, today for the student council is relatively nonessential compared to our preparations this whole week prior. Something about brushing up on minor legal topics for our upcoming cross-council meet-up with Homurahara. I'll do my part when the time comes, but I honestly expect most of the talking to be handled by the council presidents, anyway. Moreover, the official goal of our meet-up is just to apologize for the outsiders to each other's schools, so it shouldn't prove to be a big deal. I hope.
Shino claps once she concludes the meeting. "All right. Let's head to the library and start some research." We all rise and leave the room. Once out in the hall, the urge to investigate this disturbance becomes unbearable. Now's a good a time as any to slip away, I guess.
"I hope it's okay, but I'll catch up with you guys in just a bit."
"Sure Pendragon," says Shino. "I hope everything's fine?"
"I'm good. No worries. I promise I won't be too long." At that, they nod me away with full amicability. I'm super-thankful they trust me enough to not question my intent. One or more of them probably would've asked to join me if I had to lie about going to the bathroom.
The prana goes in and out. It's strange. Whoever it is, it's like they're having trouble controlling themselves. Either that, or there's just more than one. Yes, I'm getting better at differentiating Heroic Spirit prana ever since that Wakamatsu incident. There's no real trick to making it easier. It's just trying to remember what few patterns you can identify in some magical signatures, and then applying it to recognizable patterns in others. However, that's a lot harder than it sounds. I'm pretty sure I've memorized Lancer by now, though, which could come in handy. But I doubt he's here yet because I haven't sensed him drop off Miss Koyama like he did yesterday. Besides, by the time he's within my sensing range, I can usually hear him. In any case, I push all pretense from my mind to keep a clear head and make a beeline for the direction and floor that the prana is emanating from.
Once I arrive at the source, I can't help but feel confused. This is a room for some of the arts-related electives. What would they be doing in here? Despite my hand shooting for the knob, I end up turning it much slower than I'd like. The door swings open with just a little bit of force.
The lights are off like every other classroom today, regardless of occupancy. This room also happens to be on the side of the school that's not yet touched by the sun's full grace. It's bright enough to see, of course, yet there's still enough shadow to emphasize the unsettling atmosphere of the scene now before me. There, by the windows, stands a traitorous sociopath of a Hellenic princess-turned-witch. What. In the actual. ****. Is going on here? Why is Caster in Ousai? And why is she in a dress suit?
"I sensed your arrival, King of Knights. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Turn around. Turn around right now." There's a pause. Tittering, the figure then turns and faces me to confirm herself to be Medea. I'm not imagining this. Caster is here in the flesh. In Ousai. In my school.
We circle each other around the edges of the room. If it weren't for all these desks set between us, I'd be feeling even more vulnerable to a sudden attack than I already do.
"My-my," she says. "If I'd known you were in a dancing mood, I would've worn something more appropriate."
"You are trespassing on private property. There are civilians here. Children! Leave these premises immediately before I report you to the Association."
"I hate to break it to you, Saber, but the Mages Association already knows I'm here." That stops me dead in my tracks. Nothing is computing right now. I search every millimeter of her face for a tell, but there isn't anything that stands out directly. Could Caster really be telling the truth? It wouldn't be the first time she's tricked me. Though, for as long as I'm standing, this most definitely would be the last. "You don't believe me," she continues. It's not a question. "The War is over, Saber. In fact, we're not far off from its first one-year anniversary. Perhaps we should —"
"Shut up!"
"And there it is," she says playfully. There's nothing more I'd want at this very moment than to punch that arrogant smile right off her face. However, if there really is even the slimmest chance that she's telling the truth, then I must uphold my honor. God give me strength.
"Caster?"
"Yes, Saber?"
"What are you doing here?"
Chuckling, Caster saunters off to sit behind the desk in the corner. It's not one meant for students. You have got to be kidding me. "I'd advise you to drop that attitude of yours, Saber. This is no way to be treating Ousai's newest staff member."
"You . . . you're trolling me, right? Tell me right now, Caster. Have you been hired as a teacher here in Ousai Private Academy?"
She holds out her palms. "Guilty as charged!"
My stomach churns instantaneously. "Oh, God no."
"I hope that isn't a problem for you —" I'm at her desk and in her face so fast, she flinches. There might've even been a gasp. That felt good. Sure, this hardly constitutes a reason for using unsanctioned magic, but you know what? Screw the Association's detection runes. I'm pissed.
"Fine, Caster. You're a teacher. It's none of my business what you choose to do for a living, but you owe me an explanation for why you chose Ousai!"
You know how in cartoons, there's often a vein on someone's forehead to indicate that they're angry? I'd always thought that was a bit much. Until today, that is. I swear I can feel that thing pulsing right now. It only intensifies as I await her answer. She's taking her sweet time, of course. The conceited look she's giving me is utterly infuriating. I can't believe the audacity of this witch. The narrowed eyes. That growing pout. Those drops welling up at the sides of her — Wait, is she about to cry?
"I didn't know you were here, okay?" Now it's my turn to flinch. I stand erect to process just what on Earth I'm now witnessing. Her face is buried into her hands. The wailing sobs coming out of her pie hole are dramatic, though that's frankly par for the course for Caster. I can't help but simply stand there blinking.
"Are you a grown woman crying about her new job?"
She looks back up with a noticeable flush in her wet, defiant eyes. "How was I supposed to know that you'd be posing as a student in Fuyuki's most prestigious high school? I had no idea!"
"I'm not posing as a student. I am a student. I passed the entrance exam and the interview just like everybody else."
"With the help of the Association, no doubt." I groan at that, scratching my cheek with a middle finger. She scoffs. "I see your manners haven't improved."
"They're perfectly fine towards all those deserving."
"As would be expected of such a famed knight of the Round Table, I suppose."
"Caster, don't you start talking shit about my court."
"Okay look, Saber! I get it. We have a certain history together, and I'll admit it's not great. That being said, we should try to put that all behind us if we're going to be seeing each other somewhat regularly now."
I hold up a full set of fingers, counting down one by one as I speak. "You don't hurt anybody. You don't do any of your stupid experiments. You don't speak to me or my friends unless you really have to. You don't abuse your authority as a teacher . . ." She smirks at the middle finger I'm giving her right now. "And finally, you will always give a fair amount of homework."
"Hey, I'm totally onboard with that. In return, my only stipulations are that we keep each other's identities secret, and that we don't call each other by our Servant titles while we're here."
"So what the hell am I supposed to call you, then? Medea? Missus Medea? Missus Kuzuki?"
"Language, girl. And yes to the latter. You will refer to me only as Missus Kuzuki. Nothing more. Nothing less. You know what? That will stand with, or without, any humans present. Treat that with the authority of an official Command."
"You can't give me Commands anymore."
She leans over to pinch my cheek. "Then consider it as a strongly worded suggestion, Miss Pendragon." I swat her hand away as soon as her sentence ends.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I wish Lancer were here. He always knew what to say to knock you off that pedestal you keep trying to balance yourself so desperately on."
"Ah, yes. That one. Troublesome incarnate."
"God, the way your face used to get all red and puffy whenever he out-sassed you? It was hilarious every time."
"That's —"
"And we used to gang up on you at every opportunity, too. Remember that?"
"Saber —"
"Probably the only scenario where me and him never argued, but it was worth it to watch you get all shaky and flustered and —"
"I do not want to hear another word about that finger-painting wannabe-giga chad!" she roars, hunching over. Swish. Point for me. After a pause, Caster stands up straight with a dainty cough into her hand. "You know, if it hadn't been for that fishmonger poisoning your mind, you might have actually turned out to be a sweet kid."
"Don't call me a kid."
"Back to girl, then."
"Whatever."
Caster takes a moment to recreate her perceived control of the situation. "If I'm being honest, Lancer was the main reason I chose to work at the opposite end of the city. I have to deal with that moron's insufferable antics enough at the Mount Miyama Market. At least now, I'll have some distance put between us for two days out of the week."
I narrow my eyes, snickering internally. Guess she doesn't know that Lancer's become a regular face around these parts now that Miss Koyama's reeled him in. Caster tilts her head at me, suspecting that I know a funny secret. I opt for leaving it as a surprise that she'll need to find out for herself. To cover my thoughts, I continue the previous topic. "Two days out of the week, huh? I take it you're part-time?"
"Correct. For now, at least."
"What are you even teaching, anyway? Is it really art? We already have an arts teacher."
"Not for Tuesdays and Thursdays anymore. Mister Matsuno traded workdays with his wife so they can take turns watching over their newborn." Oh, God damn it. That's right.
"You know, I've never seen you do anything even remotely arts-related."
"That's because I've never let you or Lancer into my workshop. Nor would I ever with the way you two used to stomp around."
"There's a couple of schools out in the boondocks, you know. Couldn't have gone to either of them?"
"Oh, please. Like I'd waste my time commuting by train just to teach a bunch of yokels who can't go five minutes without sniffing a crayon."
"Well, that's harsh. I hope you realize we have a couple dozen of those former yokels as our students here. I'm friends with some of them, too, so you watch your mouth."
"Ever the protector, I see. Sort of nostalgic, really. It's just like old times, Saber."
Damn it. I can't win. She has an answer for everything. I grind my teeth, still refusing defeat. I suppose if I were desperate enough, I could remind her some more of how Lancer got the best of her, but everybody loses when you talk about Lancer too much.
Truthfully, I don't even know why I'm interrogating Caster so randomly at this point. Maybe it's because I'm trying to fight her with words in lieu of a traditional battle. With that, though, flashes of the War strain my brain without invitation. I have to lean back into a wall, arms crossed, to hide my discomfort. Caster says nothing throughout my internal struggle, so I look back up at her smug face to give me some more motivation to continue the attack. Surprisingly, the smugness in her face is gone. I refuse to believe that Caster is capable of sympathy, but the expression she's giving me pulls the words right out of my mouth.
"The things you made Lancer and I do . . . that won't be so easy to forgive. I just want you to know that."
"Regrettable, to be sure. Though, I must remind you that each and every one of those sacrifices proved to be necessary to stop Gilgamesh. Did they not?"
"We should've just surrendered to the Association."
"Should've, would've, could've. Nothing short of another Grail War can change that now, Saber. This planet has already been altered by one Wish. Do you want it to undergo another just for a slim chance at making yourself feel better?" Looks like she's still pretty good at asking those armor-piercing questions that I never know how to answer. After my silence, she chuckles. "Look on the bright side. Nobody but our team remembers the full details, anyways."
I sigh quietly at that, staring at the lines on the floor. "We were never a team, Caster. You used us like pawns in a game of chess. We trusted you. I trusted you." Caster has no retort. Some seconds pass before she replies in a tone that's unexpectedly much softer than I've ever heard it. Almost soothing, even.
"That's enough of that talk now, Saber. We're all here. It's like nothing even happened."
"Those memories will never go away."
"So, fill your head with new ones. Happy ones!" She gives a laugh that sounds borderline spiteful, though knowing Caster, she just might be making a genuine effort to be encouraging in her own deranged way. "Besides, if Lancer's over it, you should be, too."
"Lancer never takes anything personally! Unless it's betrayal . . . but I guess I'll never know what you said, or did, to get him to forgive you."
"Maybe try asking him sometime. I assure you that the ending is quite wholesome." I've already tried, damn it. He always shrugs it off. "Well, it's been fun catching up, Saber, but I believe we've played this game of twenty questions of yours long enough. I've still got a curriculum to finish writing up, and I'm sure you've got your own duties to attend to. You must have some sort of prestigious position here since you're one of the few students already on campus the Saturday before opening."
"I'm on the student council. Just so you know."
"Noted."
There's yet another long silence between us. She won't stop smiling at me, and I can't stop glowering at her. This is probably as good as it's going to get. I said what I wanted to say, and so did she. We are so done here. "Very well, then, Missus Kuzuki. I consider this hatchet of ours to be buried six feet under. If there's nothing else, I'll need to take my leave for now."
"That will be all, Miss Pendragon."
At the door, I stop and nod at her. "By the way, welcome to Ousai." Bitch. It takes some effort to resist slamming the door shut.
I don't remember walking back to the student council room. The others must be waiting for me at the library, but I need a few more moments to myself. Caster being a teacher in my school now is still a fact I'm struggling to comprehend. With no other coping mechanism on hand, I approach the window to watch the cherry blossoms in the front courtyard. They provide the comfort I seek. The petals dance in circles on the wind, lulling my rampant thoughts.
Oh. There's Miss Koyama. She's looking as lovely as ever in that dapper pantsuit attire. There's even a mile-long smile on her face which makes my own grow in kind. Then it's gone in a flash, because reality comes rushing back.
Once Koyama's halfway up the courtyard, Lancer peeks out of the driver's side window of his car to shout something happily before driving off. His words were muffled through the glass, but whatever he said is the reason for why Koyama's now walking on sunshine. She's even giggling to herself as she practically skips the rest of the way into the building. Someone ****ing slap me silly, please. Burn this whole block down, too, because the Cu Chulainn Plague might very well be contagious. I might've been a bit too serious earlier when I'd wished out loud for Lancer to be here. I mean, I knew he was going to make his little cameo this morning sooner or later, but still. Kind of feels like I just tempted the frickin' universe or something.
At least Caster's absolutely losing her shit right now. Knowing how pinpoint her sensing abilities are, I'm certain she felt Lancer's approach from several blocks away. I can only imagine the dread she must've felt as he got closer and closer to Ousai. From what I both heard and sensed, she must have magically sprinted to a window at the front of the school to confirm it; just in time to piece together that he's dating one of her coworkers. The look on her face right now must be priceless.
Man. First Lancer, now Caster. The hell's next? Yokoshima simping for Gilgamesh? Archer teaching Home-Ec? I don't even know how I'd react if Berserker shows up one day in a PE coach's tracksuit. The possibilities are feeling endless now. I'm getting the willies just thinking about it.
I wonder. Would a fall from the roof directly onto my head be enough to put me in a nice, long coma? Nah. I doubt it. Not even if I hold my prana close to zero. Besides, it'd just cause an unnecessary ruckus in my life, and also generate a bunch of terrible publicity for Ousai.
Little white girl jumps off roof at Japanese school. Miraculously survives, and still looks pissed off!
I bet Hata would have a field day spinning that story to suit her needs. I can already see her pinning a tabloid onto the wall, and then shouting to a gathering crowd as she strikes a bunch of spectacular poses. "A love confession denied? Sudden pregnancy and abortion attempt, perhaps? Vice President Tsuda suspect number one!"
I don't know why I just acted that out loud in her voice. Hope no one heard me. Great. Now I'm feeling even worse. Since a fall is out of the question, I opt for taking my seat to smash my face into the table a couple of times. What sucks is it doesn't hurt as much as I kind of want it to. Damn my high parameters sometimes. Though, I'll take Caster's hissy fit as a consolation prize.
