Masterpiece: One final Test

Chapter 6: First piece.

Me: Meet me at 8. Faculty Annex, Study Hall Room 3. Don't be late.

The Faculty Annex was an unassuming part of the school's premises. The Study Hall rooms were simple, lined with desks and large windows that let in just enough light to feel secluded but not suffocating. It would serve as an ideal place for a private conversation.

Her response came within a minute.

Horikita: Fine, but you better not try anything weird.

I put down my phone, eyes narrowing slightly as I considered the subtleties of today's plan.

Standing up, I adjusted my uniform, making sure everything was in place. The early morning sun had started to brighten the room, casting sharp angles of light across the floor. The quiet hum of the air outside filled the silence, a small reminder that, though the school was calm, it was far from idle.

Today's conversation wasn't just about reinforcing Horikita's newfound understanding. There were other eyes to consider, ones that had been lingering just out of sight. The setting was intentional, but explaining that to Horikita would be unnecessary. Let her be curious, or even suspicious. That was fine.

"Time to see where this leads," I muttered under my breath as I stepped out of the dorm room, locking the door behind me and making my way to the Faculty Annex.

The walk to the Faculty Annex was a quiet one, as expected on a Sunday morning. The pathways were mostly empty, populated only by the occasional student heading out for an early run or a trip to the convenience store. A few scattered birds chirped, their voices the only signs of life as the campus stretched awake beneath the pale sunlight.

Despite the tranquility, I caught a few glances from passing students. The red button-up blazer of uniform set me apart, a stark reminder of the day's irregularity. 

A small group of upperclassmen lounging near a bench caught sight of me. One of them, a tall student with a self-assured posture, smirked and nudged his friend.

"Hey, look at that guy," he said, loud enough for me to hear. "Did someone forget what day it is? Or maybe he's just trying to score points with a teacher by showing up on a Sunday."

Another chimed in, chuckling as he spoke. "Or maybe he's so clueless, he thinks class is in session. Must be desperate or just plain weird."

Their laughter rippled through the group, the kind of laughter that carried an undertone of mockery, aimed to needle and provoke. I kept my gaze forward, my steps unwavering as their voices faded behind me.

The remarks bounced off me like pebbles thrown at a wall. Unimportant. I moved on, approaching the school entrance without a change in my stride.

As I neared the main entrance to the school complex, I adjusted my pace, slowing deliberately. Instead of heading straight for the Faculty Annex, I took a detour through the adjacent hallways, weaving between turns and passing by rooms with frosted glass panels. It was a subtle maneuver, ensuring that anyone who might be following me would struggle to maintain a seamless tail. The hallway lights flickered once, catching my eye, and I used the brief distraction to glance sideways at the empty corridor behind me. Empty, as expected.

Kamuro's last few appearances weren't lost on me. If she, or anyone else for that matter, had decided that a Sunday meeting was worth spying on, they'd need to be craftier than this.

Satisfied, I navigated a set of stairs leading to the Faculty Annex. The building itself was quiet, its polished floors reflecting streaks of morning light streaming through the narrow windows. The Study Hall Room 3 was at the end of the corridor, set apart from the others. I approached the room, my footsteps muffled by the carpet runner. The silence of the annex was almost palpable, pressing against the senses, broken only by the sound of my hand gripping the door handle.