Collision of Heaven and Hell ✅

Chapter Nine

August 26th, 2029

School was set to start tomorrow, but while we were eating breakfast our house phone rang. Mama hurried to answer it, and spoke briefly but quietly. When she returned to the table, she had a look of confusion and worry on her face. "Tae, what is it?" Papa asked her.

"...That was Sumire Suzuhara," Mama said quietly.

"Kouchou-sensei?!" I exclaimed, dropping my chopsticks. "W-Why is she calling on a Sunday, Mama?"

Mama looked at me. "She want us to come in to the school today."

"'Us'?" Papa echoed nervously. "As in...all three of us?!"

Mama nodded. "She requested to see us at 8 am. Is your uniform ready, Mai?"

"A-Ah, yes," I said. I started to stand but Mama motioned me to sit back down. "Finish your breakfast, dear. We still have time."

We all finished eating and got ready. I wore my summer uniform, Mama wore a white dress, and Papa wore a full suit to cover up his tattoos. When we left the apartment building...it was strange. It felt like several eyes were watching us.

Papa drove us to Shirahime. Even though I had gone to school during the summer break for Dance Club, Shirahime always felt strange when it was mostly empty. As tomorrow was the first back to school, the property was mostly deserted. Most students were either out enjoying their last day off, or they were rushing to get the summer homework done.

We parked in the visitor parking and walked towards the main doors. When we reached the shoe lockers I was stunned by who I saw standing there. "I—Inaba-seijin!"

"Good morning!" Inaba-seijin cheerfully greeted us. She was dressed in summer business casual, and her smile put me at ease like it was always did. "Takasoto-kun, have you finished your summer homework?"

"I have," I said, hurrying to my shoe locker to get my shoes. "But Cry, the Beloved Country was very sad. Maybe next time you could choose a happier book, Inaba-seijin?"

"Hmm," Inaba-seijin seemed to give this a lot of thought before she responded. "What book would you have in mind, Takasoto-kun?"

"Like Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen?"

"That's a very good book, Takasoto-kun. I'll take that under consideration." Then she addressed my parents with a bow. "Baku Takasoto-san, Tae Takasoto-san. It's been awhile."

"I'm pleased to see you again, Inaba-sejin—sensei," Papa quickly corrected himself, bowing. "Thank you for the trouble of taking care of our daughter."

"It's no trouble at all. Takasoto-kun is one of my best students."

I smiled when I heard that, but then Mama pressed, "Do you know why Sumire Suzuhara has called us here?"

"I'm afraid I do not know, Takasoto-san," Inaba-seijin admitted. "Kouchou-sensei called me to come here this morning, and so I am here." She motioned to a pair of school shoes on the floor beside her. "You may both use these shoes. I told Kouchou-sensei I would bring all of you to her office."

We followed Inaba-seijin to Kouchou-sensei's office, my heart in my throat every step of the way. The only reason I could think that all of us were called to the school before classes resumed was that I was in serious trouble, but I couldn't think of anything I had done that would have gotten me into trouble. I was doing everything I could to avoid trouble!

Is it about the...war that's been going on? I looked at Papa, but he was frowning and his face was set in stone. But...But Papa hasn't been participating in the war! He's a Shatei at an izakaya!