And Chitose Hitose walked down the corridor, looking unusually serious as he did so.
Rather than slouch along as he was normally used to doing, he kept his stride even and firm, never allowing himself to show even a small sign of lethargy. He knew that something important was coming his way, and rather than letting it roll over him, he was going to meet it head on. With his jaw set and his gaze unwavering, he headed to his destination without showing a sign of going to back down.
After a few minutes of walking, he began to slow his pace, but not due to any reluctance to go forward. What he did have was a door between him and what he came to face, and next to that door were his five teacher-mamas, all looking as serious as he was. Not a word was spoken, but then there didn't need to be any. They just looked at each other, and knew that they were there for each other no matter what. As one they nodded to each other, and then turned to face the portal that would lead to the step to what would happen next.
Reaching out, Chitose took a firm hold of the knob and opened the door.
"Glad to see that you made it," Fujioka said as he sat at the head of the conference room table, his arms crossed over his chest. "I did have a moment when I wondered if you were going to make it."
"You don't know us if you think that we're going to run from something like this. We're not going to risk having anything hurt our family."
"But I am not here to hurt your family at all. In fact, I want to make it even more secure."
"Yeah, well...."
The government official leaned forward and raised his brows. "Now, it seems that you don't trust me."
"Well, we really don't know about you and your plans, whatever those are."
"I assure you that I'm not looking to cause you and your lovely... 'mamas' any harm. Come, sit and we'll get started."
"Alright, but if you're up to anything...." Chitose trailed off.
"That is something that I'm sure that you can understand. I will be getting something at the same time that you all get the security of your family."
Each of the teachers and Chitose looked warily towards the official before moving towards the free seats around the table. Even as they pulled the chairs back, they kept that cautious expression on their faces, sitting slowly and carefully. All attention turned to the one who'd called them there, and each of their gazes was questioning as they waited for the next shoe to drop.
"Shall we get started?" Fujioka asked them, and then seemed to give some sort of silent signal.
A woman in a dark suit came into the room holding a stack of papers, and walked around the table, placing documents in front of each of those at the table. She didn't say a single word, leaving the sound of her heels against the floor being her only sound. Once she was finished, she moved to the side, standing against the wall like a silent sentinel, standing guard over the proceedings.
"What you have to do is sign on the indicated lines, and there will be no question that you all can be a family."
Satsuki frowned at her portion of the documents, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Mind telling us what these things are?"
"You might say that they are a testimony to how far you are willing to go to be a family."
"And if we don't agree to sign them?"
"Nothing direct, if that is what you fear. However, I can't promise that you won't face something that will come to break up your family."
"Damn it," the gym teacher growled as she grabbed the pen that had been left for her.
"What of you, Mister Hitose?"
"Huh?" grunted Chitose. "What about me?"
"Are you going to sign?"
"Well..."
"It's the most certain way to keep your relationship with Miss Ichimonji safe," the official murmured.
That made the teenager's eyes widen and he turned to look at his homeroom teacher. As their eyes met, he saw her expression turn to one of understanding and love, and found that he couldn't be fierce in the face of that emotion. Apparently resigning himself to whatever would allow him to keep that feeling with him, he picked up his own pen and began to scratch down his own signature. In that, he was joined by the teachers, who clearly shared the sentiment.
When the pens went back down and the signatures were made, Fujioka smiled as his subordinate went around collecting the documents. "Perfect. This will be of much help to what is to come."
"What happens now?" Chitose asked.
"The documents will be taken to the city offices to be registered and secured."
"And what about us?"
"You all get to accompany me to your homeroom, Mister Chitose," the government agent told them.
"Does this mean that you're going to be going to class with me too?"
"In a manner of speaking. And I've already had it set up so that Miss Rokumatsuri will meet us there."
"Mina?!" the teenager snapped, and practically jumped out of his chair to loom towards the older man. "What do you think you're going to do to her?!"
"Nothing much for the time being, to be honest."
"Then why have her there?"
"Because we're going to be making an announcement in front of your class, and as your 'little sister', she should be there."
"Oh, right.... huh?!"
"I'm going to make sure that everyone knows to think of you as a family. And it's a little late to back out now," Fujioka reminded them.
Chitose and his teacher-mamas looked at each other, all a little lost at the moment as to what they should do, while:
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(Posted Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:25)
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