Chapter 25: Onee-chan’s secret (2)
Tanaka led the way, her usual brisk teacher’s walk replaced by a more measured, almost contemplative pace. Haruto followed, he hadn’t expected it today, but the signs had been there for a while now. He could hear the distant sounds of club activities starting up – the faint thwack of a tennis ball, the rhythmic bounce of a basketball, the faint melody of the brass band practicing. Normal school stuff, while he was heading into anything but.
They didn’t head to the staff room, or the principal’s office. Instead, they took the stairs, climbing higher and higher. Each flight seemed to stretch on forever, the silence between them growing heavier with every step.
Finally, they reached the top floor. Tanaka pushed open the heavy, metal door leading to the school rooftop. A gust of wind immediately swept through, whipping at their clothes and hair.
Tanaka walked to the railing, looking out over the sprawling city below. Haruto stood a few feet behind her, a familiar sense of guarded readiness settling over him. Seeing her like this, quiet and almost secretive, wasn’t unsettling for him; it was an expected shift.
Then, Tanaka turned, taking a step towards Haruto. Then another. And another. She kept coming, not stopping until she was so close Haruto had to take a step back or they’d practically be nose to nose. Her presence, always a little commanding in the classroom, felt amplified up here, under the open sky. Haruto stood still, not from nervousness, but from the sheer intensity. He was acutely aware of her. Of the way her white shirt stretched slightly across her chest, of her faint perfume, of the intense, unwavering look in her eyes. It was... direct. She was much closer than any teacher had a right to be in a normal conversation.
"Haruto," she began, her voice low, but with an underlying current of seriousness he knew well from his occasional, less formal interactions with her. "Miki already spoke with you, didn’t she?"
Haruto simply nodded.
"We are part of a government organization," Tanaka continued, her eyes fixed on his. "The one that monitors the activities of Awakened individuals."
Haruto’s gaze was steady. He just nodded again, a subtle dip of his chin.
"Good," she said, a hint of something like relief in her voice. She took another slight step back, giving him a little more breathing room, though she still remained much closer than normal. "That makes this easier." She paused, gazing at him thoughtfully. "You have potential, Haruto, more than I expected."
"We believe you could be a valuable asset," Tanaka continued, her eyes never leaving his. "We’re always looking for new recruits. People who can help us maintain the balance, protect society from those who misuse their abilities." She gestured vaguely towards the city of scape below. "It’s a dangerous world out there, Haruto. More dangerous than most realize."