Silent Knight (OHSHC)

1

Everything, and nothing, had changed.

The uniform was the same. My chestnut brown hair, and my chocolate eyes, they were the same.

My shoes, my skin, my 5'0" height.

And yet...

Today, I became Yamazaki Nao, daughter of Yamazaki Harou.

"Nao! Are you ready?"

I flinched. Had my thoughts summoned him? "Just a moment...."

"I will not allow you to be late," Uncle Harou commented from the other side of my bedroom door. "Now that your adoption is official, you are not simply representing yourself at that school. You are representing the entire Yamazaki clan. I expect you to uphold that title."

"Yes, Oji-san."

I stepped over to my desk, shoving my school items away into the crimson shoulder bag I used for class. An annoyed click of my uncle's tongue was audible despite our barrier.

"Otousan."

"Yes, Otousan."

"Be ready in ten minutes. The car is outside and waiting."

Biting back a sharp retort, I agreed and finished gathering my things. Harou found backtalk as distasteful as tardiness. Two things I'd once had a bad habit of. The learning curve had been harsh, but manageable.

I counted ten heartbeats after the sound of his footsteps faded--then stepped into the hall. I could feel his eyes on me the moment I reached the entryway. Some seed of rebellion sprouted, and as I knelt by the door, I took a full minute to don my shoes.

"Do you have club activities today?"

I wasn't sure whether to be relieved, or annoyed that he decided not to comment on my speed. Pushing aside both emotions, I focused my thoughts towards the question. "No, I don't believe so."

"Very well. I will be dining with business partners, so I won't be here later. I expect to hear that you practiced in the dojo since your club isn't meeting."

I nodded. Then, shoes tied, I stood to offer a shallow bow.

"I will. Goodbye, Otou-san."

He studied me with narrowed eyes. His glasses reflected the light, but I could see the skepticism behind his expression. He wasn't sure whether my respectful tone was real. Unwilling to face the consequences of upsetting him so early in the morning, I bit back any expression, keeping my face a careful neutral. After a moment, he curled his lip and gestured towards the door behind me.

"Don't embarrass me."

✯¸.•'*¨'*•✿ ✿•*'¨*'•.¸✯

"It's them!"

The high-pitched squeal grated on my nerves. You would think after repeating the same announcement every day for a week, my classmates' fan squad would grow tired.

They hadn't.

I pursed my lips, but said nothing as I carefully organized my journals for class, before opening to the previous day's notes. I knew from experience that it would take a full ten minutes before I could lose myself in my early-morning studies--the girls wouldn't calm until our teacher hushed them. Even then, their whispers would fill the air.

Why did those boys have to be in my class?