InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Plain Sight ❯ Chapter One ( Chapter 1 )

In Plain Sight

 

Chapter One

 

“Hiromi Azumi.”

 

Said woman stood up and weaved her way through the empty waiting room, to get to the office in which the interview would be conducted. At the headmaster's gesture to sit, she did so, smoothing her skirt over her knees while trying to look professional. A small smile sat on her lips as she watched the elderly, balding man pour over her résumé - false identification papers and all. Her nerves fluttered as he eyed the well-forged identification before turning the page to her credentials.

 

“How long have you been teaching, Ms Hiromi?” He asked straight up, still looking down at the papers.

 

“Six months. Casual work.” She answered quickly, hoping that it wouldn't be her downfall. She knew she had a lack of experience in the teaching field; in fact, she hadn't even wanted to be a teacher when she was younger - it was a cover for her, nothing more. “I know it's not a lot, but I managed to get the hang of things rather quickly.”

 

“Well, that's good.” He ruffled through her résumé once more before folding his hands on the desk in front of him. Azumi stiffened a little before forcing herself to relax, inconspicuously biting the inside of her cheek. Some of the papers in her file were fake, issued by someone who forged IDs, and some were genuine for `Hiromi Azumi', which were issued by the government. The fact that there had been a massive fire in the Tokyo Department of Records was to her advantage, as she could claim the lack of information the government had on her was due to that particular incident. Since then, she'd integrated herself into the system under her false name; she had birth records, a tax file number, a driver's license, and even a history of education.

 

Azumi sat in silence a few more moments before the man actually blinked. “I must say, you seem to be the most qualified of all the new applicants. Not many enjoy teaching at this school; you realise this?”

 

“Yes, Mister Sasaki.” She nodded. “I've done a bit of reading up on it, and I've spoken to some of the current staff and students, but I don't think it will be a problem. I've taught in a few other problem schools like this one.”

 

“I can see that.” He nodded approvingly, looking at her résumé once more. “Very well, then. Welcome aboard, Ms Hiromi.” He extended a hand to shake. Azumi blinked at his hand for a moment, before shaking herself out of her thoughts. Smiling, she gladly took his hand, shaking it firmly. “I'll expect you here bright and early tomorrow morning. About eight or so. Fill in these papers tonight, and bring them with you.”

 

“Of course.” Azumi stood and accepted the papers. “Good day, Mister Sasaki.” She bowed shortly before leaving, a huge grin on her face.

 

Practically skipping out of the school, she made her way down the street, smiling at the familiar faces that walked past. She lived in an apartment building with a lot of the students from the Junior High School, so she was fairly familiar with them and their parents - at least to nod and say hello. She shocked a few people with her smile and `good morning's, since hardly anyone had ever seen her smile before, let alone speak so sunnily.

 

Strolling down the street, she turned the corner into a busy commercial area. Suddenly wary and on the lookout for anyone that might be searching for her, as she had been expecting ever since she had first arrived four and a half years ago, she made her way to a small café on the side of the road. A young woman, named Eri, who had taken quite the shine to Azumi from the first time she had timidly stepped into the small establishment, ran it. It was a cosy place, reminding her of her old family home.

 

“I've seen that look before!” The other girl smiled as soon as she got a glimpse at Azumi's face. “Who's the lucky fella?”

 

Azumi blushed faintly. “No, no, no!” She protested, waving her free hand in front of her as she used the other to adjust her handbag. “It's nothing like that.” She insisted, sitting down at one of the stools at the counter. “I just got myself a job. No more casual work for me.” She laughed lightly as she peered at the offered menu. “I think I'll go with a regular coffee and cream, thanks.” She put the menu down as Eri turned to fix her order.

 

“Well, congratulations, sweetie.” Eri smiled as she set the mug down and accepted Azumi's payment. “Just don't forget to visit Ol' Eri every now and again.” She laughed.

 

“Of course not!” Azumi smiled as she accepted her coffee, absently stirring in the cream and sugar with the supplied spoon. Sighing absentmindedly as she watched the swirls of light and dark brown blend and become a single hue, she took a sip and allowed her mind to wander.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

“I expect the money by the end of the week, Higurashi!” Naraku snarled as he sneered down at the small woman. Shaking from head to toe, she looked back and forth between Kagura, who had a firm grip on her wrist, to Kagura's employer - Onigumo Naraku. Terror-stricken, she managed to shake her head, ever so slightly. “No?”

 

“I… I don't have it.” She managed to answer, biting her lip. “I won't be able to get it. I just don't have the sources.”

 

“You've had six months to get it.” He reminded her. “Look at what happened to your parents. Do you want the same thing to happen to the rest of your family?” She shook her head violently. “By the end of the week, Higurashi.”

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

“Hiromi?”

 

Azumi was shaken out of her memory at the sound of someone calling her. Smiling uncomfortably as the young man took it upon himself to sit next to her, she shifted awkwardly. Looking for Eri, who usually rescued her in these instances, she was dismayed to find that she was deep in conversation with an employee. Sighing in resignation, she turned herself to face the new arrival. “Yes? What can I do for you, Houjo?”

 

Houjo Akitoki sat next to her, his greyish eyes twinkling in anticipation. Azumi had to remind herself that she wasn't interested in dating anyone. Not now, not ever. Sure, she conceded, he was good-looking, and sweet, and charming, and a perfect gentleman, but she just wasn't interested. If she were perfectly honest with herself, she actually found him rather dull; and besides, she couldn't afford to let anyone get close to her, lest they find out her true identity. That was a risk she just couldn't take.

 

“I was wondering…” he rummaged in his jean pockets for a moment, before pulling out some kind of receipts or tickets, “…if you would be interested in going to the fair with me tomorrow afternoon? I'd gladly take a day off work to go with you.” He put the tickets in front of her with a hesitant grin.

 

Azumi bit the inside of her cheek, mentally counting to ten before facing him again. “I'm sorry, Houjo.” She said sunnily, not at all regretting turning him down. “It's my first day at work tomorrow. I'll have to pass.” She had to actively resist the `aww' that threatened to bubble out of her at the sight of his crestfallen face. He looked like a child who had just been denied his favourite candy.

 

“Then… this weekend?”

 

“I'm sorry, Houjo.” She shook her head. “I'll be overloaded with paperwork. I've just started teaching at the local Junior High.” She explained.

 

Houjo looked concerned. “You shouldn't be working there.” He lectured good-naturedly. “The kids there are supposed to be horrible. I've heard that they've run teachers out of classrooms in tears before.”

 

“I'm sure I can handle it.” She bit out dismissively, getting fed up with his cluelessness. “Besides, you shouldn't always believe what you hear on the grapevine. It might be a load of bull, for all you know. Give it a chance.” She took a gulp of the scalding hot coffee, wincing a little as it burnt her throat. “I'll see you around, Houjo.” She stood and left him staring after her, agape, as she fled the coffee shop without even finishing her coffee.

 

Houjo blinked for a second, before looking down at the fair tickets sitting innocently on the counter. “But what am I supposed to do with these?” He asked himself.

 

“Mornin', Sugar.” The only other free waitress of the establishment, Ayumi, blinked at him as she bent over to retrieve him a menu. “Ooh, the fair!” She burst out, a little too excitedly. “I really wanted to go this week… but they were sold out.” She pouted, a little too obviously.

 

However, Houjo was just a little too dense to catch on. “Yeah, I had a lot of trouble getting these. I guess I'll have to take my cousin, or something.” He put the menu down and stood. “I think I'll give it a pass today, thanks. See ya.” He waved over his shoulder as he departed, oblivious to Ayumi's scowl.

 

“Don't worry, honey,” Yuka patted her on the shoulder as she walked past to serve another customer, “he's bound to catch on sooner or later.”

 

Sighing in disappointment, Ayumi got back to work.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

“I don't know what you're talking about.” She bit out dismissively at her cousin's hounding. “I'm not hiding anything.”

 

“Yes you are!”

 

“Look, sweetie, I promise,” she sighed, “I'll tell you if it's anything big, ok?”

 

“Alright.” Her cousin sighed. “I'll hold you to that.”

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

“So, which one are we looking for?” Miroku asked as they settled into their hotel room.

 

Inuyasha looked at him before rummaging in the files for the pictures. “Her.” He held one out, putting the other down on the table.

 

Miroku looked at them critically as he placed them side to side on the table. “But who's to say that they didn't screw up the photo ID?” He asked, somewhat comically. “The one we have listed as Kikyou could be Kagome, and the one we have listed as Kagome could be Kikyou.”

 

“Or they might not.” Inuyasha pointed out. “Besides, the photo ID on the body shows her face.” He tapped the picture on the right. “Why would the government not pick up on that?”

 

“Hunted by Onigumo.” Miroku pointed out. “Maybe they switched identities beforehand to try to confuse their pursuers?”

 

They looked at each other blankly for a moment.

 

“Bullshit?”

 

“Definitely.”

 

Sighing in frustration, they returned to their thoughts. They both knew it was likely that it would prove extremely difficult to find the woman; she'd had about five years to integrate herself into the system following the fire in the Department of Records - if they could only find her alias, they would be in some serious business. Aside from her alias keeping them at bay, she'd had five years to alter her appearance; the photo on the table featured a sunny smile with slightly chubby cheeks and short, thick hair to the bottom of her ears. Inuyasha figured that they'd better hit the hospitals that did major cosmetic surgeries in the area - there was no telling how much damage she may have suffered to her features in the accident.

 

Voicing this thought to his partner, the two of them decided to get lunch, and then hit the road. Inuyasha knew of a major hospital in the district - he had grown up in the area, and knew it pretty well - that, as far as he was aware, still performed major cosmetic surgeries. They decided that Room Service would be the way to go - especially when they didn't actually have to pay for it themselves. Inuyasha left Miroku to order the food, while he went to explore the hotel.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

“What are you doing, Gramps?” She asked curiously, trying to peek into the box he had his hands in.

 

“Nothing, dear.” He jumped, quickly closing it. “Why don't you go outside and get some sunshine? You look deathly pale.”

 

“I'm sick, Gramps.” She sighed, settling herself into the chair. “Doc said not to go outside for a few days, remember?”

 

“Oh… that's right… you'd better get back to bed and rest.” The old man sighed, standing up. “I'm sorry, but I can't tell you what's in here. It'll ruin the surprise!”

 

She grimaced as he fled the room; she hated Gramps' surprises.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

“Sango is gonna have kittens when she sees how much shit you ordered on the invoice.” Inuyasha grunted, coming back to find that the entire table had been laden with many different kinds of food an alcohol. “And you can't go and get wasted, you idiot! We're working, remember? Stupid moron.” He muttered under his breath as he snatched the offered pair of chopsticks and began to hoe into the ramen.

 

Miroku grinned. “I ordered a porno, too.”

 

Inuyasha choked on his mouthful of noodles. “Oh, fuck no!” He spluttered, the food in his mouth flying out and coating Miroku in the brown-colored goo. He was oblivious to Miroku's sounds of disgust as he leapt up, shaking his hands and head to try to get it off his skin. “You call and cancel that shit! Now!”

 

Miroku whimpered, finally getting the last of it off as he took off his now-filthy shirt. “I was only joking! Geez!” He tossed the shirt over Inuyasha's head. “Wash that while I shower. Your germs are all over me, you pig!”

 

Inuyasha ripped the shirt off his face, tossing it after Miroku's retreating back. “You're the pig, you freak! What kinda shitty joke is that?!” Miroku waved him off as he shut the door. “I'm serious, Monk!” He shouted, once again teasing Miroku about the circumstances in which he had been raised.

 

On the other side of the bathroom door, Miroku chuckled in the middle of undressing. He'd never told anyone but Inuyasha and Sango - his partner and commanding officer - about how he'd been abandoned as a child and raised in a Buddhist temple. He often blamed his hyper-sexuality on being raised in an environment where he was completely denied female company - lest it distract the monks from their holy duties - but knew that it was a cock-and-bull story.

 

“I'm no monk, Inuyasha!” He called back in a strange voice as he started the water flowing. He could have sworn he heard a retaliatory snort from the other side of the door, and knew that he'd have to be quick. Inuyasha was like a bottomless pit - which was why he'd ordered so much. If he wasn't fast, Inuyasha would eat everything and he would go hungry.

 

On the other side of the door, Inuyasha was doing just that. There was nothing that he would not touch - things with chilli and curry in them being the only things he avoided. There were only two small dishes that contained said onerous ingredients, and so Inuyasha was two thirds of the way through the rest when Miroku emerged from the bathroom, wearing nothing but jeans and having a towel around his neck as he dried his hair with another. “You ate all that?!”

 

“Your own stupid fault you missed out.” Inuyasha bit out in between mouthfuls of an egg roll. Miroku managed to snort before sitting down and recommencing his eating.

 

“We should head out soon.” Miroku managed to get out, in between stuffing his own face. Inuyasha, who was reaching for something on the other side of the table, nodded.

 

“Give it a half hour.” He shrugged. “I doubt it's even visiting hours right now. The doctors will all be busy.”

 

“Right.” Miroku reached for the soy sauce. “We should come up with a game plan, eh?”

 

“Mhmm.”

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

“Look at this one!” She pointed out a picture in her biology textbook.

 

Her cousin peered over at the large printed photograph, before her face began to redden. “Oh, God!” She giggled. “How do you find those things?!”

 

“Wouldn't you like to know?” She grinned. “Aren't they fascinating, though?”

 

Her cousin patted her back. “Geez, woman! A week out of the loony bin and you're ready for the nut house! Come back to school soon so we can all tease you, mmkay?”

 

“Yeah, sure.”

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

“Are you sure?” A pause. “Good. I'd hate to imagine what Mister Onigumo would do if she were not located.” Another pause. “Yes. Thank you. Bye.” A soft click sounded as the telephone was hung up.

 

“Well?”

 

Kagura sighed. “He's trying, but no luck so far. That woman is as slippery as an eel.”

 

Kanna grimaced. “Not good.” She sighed in frustration. “Definitely not good. Mister Onigumo is going to have a fit when he hears.”

 

“Let me be the bearer of bad news. You're only a kid.” Kagura snorted. “Why're you here, anyway? Shouldn't you be… oh, I don't know…at school?”

 

“Mister Onigumo is paying for me to have a private tutor.” Kanna brushed her older sister off. “He says I'm wasted in public schooling. He wants me here, where he can find me. Mama said it was all right before she died. She wanted the best for me. Unlike you.” She shot Kagura a dirty look. “You'd be happy for me to waste away in that unintelligible cesspool of illiteracy and stupidity.”

 

Kagura grit her teeth, mentally counting to ten before releasing her breath. “Of course not, sweetie.” She purred, placing her hand on top of the albino child's head as they walked side by side. “It's just that I worry about you here. This is no place for a child. You know that. And you are only a child, Kanna. Don't argue with me on that.” Her tone hardened a little toward the end of her speech.

 

“Why not?” Kanna sniffed. “I'm a strong girl. Nothing fazes me.”

 

Kagura winced as her sister shook her hand off. Slowing her walk until she eventually came to a stop, she sighed. Kanna's retreating figure disappeared into the gardens. Feeling the bun on her head, since it felt a little loose, she muttered something unintelligible under her breath as she yanked out the ornamental feather. “Soon, and we'll both be out of here. Kanna will hate me for it… but I've no choice. Her safety is most important. Mother didn't know what she was getting into when she teamed up with Mister Onigumo.” Eyeing the small, pretty feather warily, she carefully placed the quill back into her hair, patting it as she continued onward, into the house.

 

Watching her go, Kanna's face was impassive, her mind suspicious. “I see what you're up to, sister.” She muttered under her breath. “I'll give you until the girl is found to change your mind. Then I'm going to Mister Onigumo, and he'll take care of you. I won't let you ruin my chances.”

 

Kagura's form disappeared into the shadows of the large office building, unsuspecting of the plotting against her from the last of her family members.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

“Hey, Sugar!” Her cousin smiled, draping an arm around her shoulder. “How's life on the inside? I heard you have a nasty cold!”

 

She sneezed. “Yeah,” she complained, “and I haven't been outside in days. I hate being cooped up like this!”

 

Her cousin tittered, waving a finger in her face. “Never fear! Your favorite cousin to the rescue!” She opened her book bag and extracted magazines. “Mushy-brained and pointless girlie-mags and chocolate, ho!”

 

“I love you!” She squealed, as well as she could with her stuffed-up nose. “Gimme!”

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

Azumi's eyes skimmed the pages of the magazine, not taking a word of it in. It was one of those pointless girlie magazines that she and her cousin seemed to take such an interest in, when her family was still around. Shaking her head with a sigh, she made an honest attempt at reading the article - about a girl who had survived a brush with cancer - failing to find anything particularly interesting about it. Deciding that she needed to get going if she were going to make her doctor's appointment, she put the magazine down, and made her way to the bathroom.

 

Staring at the vanity mirror for a full five minutes, she took a moment to study her reflection. In the five years since the accident, even her face had changed drastically. Her cheeks were less rounded; her hair had grown to her mid-back. Her ears were now pierced, in which she wore simple quartz studs. Her coffee-colored eyes were no longer bright and shining with happiness; instead, they contained a shrewd, calculating gleam that analyzed everything she came across. Her rosy cheeks had since dulled, becoming a more pale tone than they had once been.

 

Sighing and running a hand through her long hair, she turned from the mirror, unable to stop thinking of her whenever she looked at her reflection. She looked just as her cousin had appeared, minus the spark of life and cheerfulness. The two of them had always looked alike, but she had never imagined a day when they would look exactly alike.

 

“Damnit…” she shuddered, instead hanging her head over the basin, “I really have to get rid of that mirror.”

 

Deciding that simply brushing her hair would be the way to go, she searched the bathroom for her hairbrush. Cursing under her breath, she finally found it by the tub, under a small mountain of empty shampoo and conditioner bottles. Blushing a little at herself about the state she'd allowed her bathroom to get into, she silently vowed to clean it the instant she got home… after she'd recovered from her tetanus shot.

 

Fixing the false black wire-framed glasses on the bridge of her nose, she decided it was finally time to leave. Stepping out of her small apartment, handbag over her shoulder, she gave a calculating glare to a girl that she'd more than likely be teaching the next day. The girl averted her eyes, nervously fidgeting as she tried to open her apartment door, giving a little squeak as she dropped her keys in her agitation. Azumi swooped down, picking up the keys for the small girl.

 

“Here.” She dropped them in the stunned girl's upturned hand with a genuine smile. “Be careful, now. Next time you might lose them, and get into trouble.” She warned softly. Invariably, this act of kindness seemed to freak the young girl out even more, as she nodded vigorously, just before disappearing into the apartment. Shaking her head in amusement, Azumi continued down the stairs and into the lobby.

 

Emerging on the busy street, she easily blended into the crowd, tucking a wayward lock of dark hair behind her ear. The sun was high in the sky; noon had been a little less than two hours ago. Upturning her face as she weaved her way through the crowd, she allowed a small smile to grace her features as the rays from the sun warmed her slightly chilled cheeks.

 

`It really is a beautiful day…' she mused. The trees were just beginning to show signs of winter's approach; fall had been well underway for two months and was now coming to a close. Hugging her jacket tighter around herself, she sped up, wary of being out in public too long.

 

Two busses, a train, and a third bus later, Azumi found herself standing outside one of the five major hospitals in the area. Biting the inside of her cheek, she stepped inside the heated lobby, casually making her way to the reception desk. After a brief exchange, she found herself in the examination room, awaiting her doctor's arrival.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

“Hey, what'cha up to?”

 

“Hm?” She turned a little to regard her cousin. The other girl was sitting on her bed, legs crossed and a packet of chips in hand. “What's up? Something wrong?”

 

Her cousin shook her head. “Come sit with me.”

 

“But… I have to do this for Gramps…”

 

“Do it later.”

 

“But…”

 

“Sit with me!” Her cousin ordered.

 

She was quick to obey.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

“So, we hit this one today, and which tomorrow?” Miroku asked, looking at the list of hospitals he had on his notepad.

 

“Kyoto East and that English one.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Their rental car pulled up outside the hospital, the two men climbing out of it and stretching to loosen their tense shoulders. They were staying at a place that was a fair way away from the hospital, and so decided that they would get it out of the way first. They'd driven for forty-five minutes to get there, and Inuyasha was more than a little grumpy. He despised car trips. He didn't like the things. In fact, cars were the things he hated most.

 

Well… cars and shoes…

 

…evil things…

 

“Are we ready?”

 

Inuyasha snorted. “You make it sound like you're about to go hit on some chick.”

 

Miroku grinned.

 

Shaking his head, Inuyasha pushed the lobby doors open, immediately being hit in the face with a blast of indoor heating. Pointedly ignoring Miroku's satisfied chuckle at the grimace he made at the smells that hung in the air, Inuyasha trudged up to the desk, flashing his badge. The nurse looked up, startled. “Is there something I can do for you, officer?”

 

Inuyasha grunted, putting his badge back in his pocket. “My partner and I need to speak to all the surgeons that were on duty five years ago.”

 

“Pardon?” The woman blinked. “Do you know how much of a turnover we have each year? I'm afraid you'll have to be a little more specific.”

 

“We'll need to see surgeons who were on duty from January to March from five years ago.” Miroku came up from behind, flashing the young lady a charming smile. “It would be most appreciated if we could have a list of staff who were on call during that time.”

 

The woman, predictably, melted. “Of course.” She nodded, slightly blushing. “I'll be right back with the lists!”

 

Inuyasha fixed his partner with a flat look as the woman fled the room. “How the fuck do you always do that?” he asked in a deadpan tone.

 

“Skill, my friend.” Miroku patted the slightly older man on the shoulder. “Skill.”

 

“Skill, my ass.” Inuyasha muttered, his gaze sweeping the room. People of varying degrees of sickness were scattered about the sparsely decorated waiting room, some watching him and his partner with barely concealed interest. A few older biddies were whispering amongst themselves by the time the nurse came back, with a list of doctors printed out on a sheet of paper.

 

“I'll need you to sign these out.” She cleared her throat, drawing Inuyasha's attention back to her.

 

“Thank you.” Miroku grinned. “We'll let you know if there's anything else we need.”

 

Signing the logbook, Inuyasha took the list from her with a grunt. “Let's move it.” Inuyasha grumbled, stomping off towards the exit.

 

Unfortunately for him, he had not been watching where he was walking; instead, he had fixed a rather heated glare at his partner. As a result, he barged into a rather petite woman, sending her reeling backwards and off balance with a small `oof!'. Years of martial arts training, however, allowed him to reach out and grab her by the waist before she hit the ground. As soon as he had her upright, he snatched his hands away from her as if he had been burnt. “Sorry.” He grunted.

 

“It's alright.” The woman uttered softly, a small blush on her face, mixed with genuine alarm. Squeaking a little, she scrambled to pick up her scattered belongings, which had flown through the air and strewn about the place with the force of the impact. Picking up her fallen glasses, she eyed them in surprise as she noted that they were not broken. Smiling slightly, she perched them back on her nose, and stood. “No harm, no foul.” She smiled as she hurried off ahead of them, out of the lobby.

 

Miroku whistled low. “Sweet! Of all the luck, man!” He clapped Inuyasha on the shoulder. “What a piece to run into!”

 

Inuyasha slapped him hard across the back of the head.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

“Hey, sweetums…” she cooed.

 

“What is it?” Her cousin grunted, eyeing her warily as she turned the page of the magazine she was flipping through.

 

“Help me…?”

 

“With what?”

 

“My geography project?” She fluttered her eyelashes. “I have to make a model of the food chain in the savannah for Monday.”

 

“…it's Sunday.”

 

“I know.”

 

“And how far are you?”

 

“…”

 

“Well?”

 

“…I… haven't started.”

 

She ducked from the path of the pillow that her cousin threw at her.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

“Shit…” Azumi muttered to herself on the final bus before she arrived home. “I know I've seen that man before… but where?!”

 

Wracking her brain for any information about the strange man, she sighed. Grateful that she hadn't missed anything when picking up her scattered belongings, she decided to let it go for the moment - if it truly were important, she would remember it eventually. Anyway, it couldn't have been anyone she knew very well - she had a tendency to remember the people she'd actually come into physical contact with.

 

Relaxing her tense shoulders as the bus finally rolled to a stop at the end of her block, she hastily made her way inside, eager to be off the streets. She'd never felt comfortable out in the open, even before the accident. Rubbing her abused shoulder lightly, she felt around the area of the injection. The man had knocked it rather roughly when he had run into her; it was still aching.

 

Once she was in the solitude of her home, she kicked her shoes off in the entryway and made her way to the kitchen. Though it was past lunch, and not yet dinnertime, she managed to find herself something to munch on as she got to work with filling out the paperwork that Mister Sasaki had given her.

 

“I wonder who that man was, though…?” She murmured to herself, chewing on the edge of her pen as she stared at some of the empty fields. “He seemed so familiar…” she sighed, “…concentrate, Hiromi! Get this done now, daydream later!”

 

And so, with renewed vigor, set herself to tackling the huge amount of paperwork in front of her.