"Class is dismissed."

Right away everyone started packing their things up and heading off for lunch as soon as they were done.

I also started packing my things as well which caught Heisuke's attention.

"Heading out already, sensei?"

I looked up, "Come again?"

"Are you heading out already?" asked Heisuke coming up to my desk.

"Oh. Yeah, I'm leaving early." I answered gathering the class work that was done today.

"Ya gotta date maybe?" laughed Heisuke as he rested his hands on the back of his head.

Chizuru overhead and added in mumbling, "Sensei on a date? I'm not surprised, Hijikata-sensei is really attractive."

An awkward silence enveloped the room as both Heisuke and I stared at Chizuru.

Apparently Chizuru didn't think we heard her at first because she noticed us staring at her.

"U-Um, what are you guys staring at ...?" asked Chizuru nervously.

"You seriously can't mean that right Chizuru!?" questioned Heisuke as he rushed up to his friend.

"W-What are you talking about!?" asked a confused Chizuru.

Heisuke pointed back at me as he began, "You really think Hijikata-sensei is attractive!?"

The color on Chizuru's cheek turned into a deep shade of red as her eyes shot open, "You guys heard me!?"

"You were being serious!?"

I dropped my head and shook it trying to figure out how I got into this conversation.

"I'm way better looking than this old man!" said Heisuke pointing back and forth from him to me.

If it was possible for an ear to twitch along with an eye I think it just happened now.

"Wait a minute Heisuke!" I shouted as my head snapped up.

But I took it no one heard me for Heisuke was still interrogating Chizuru.

Chizuru began to step back away from Heisuke the more he advanced towards her and soon the last straw was snapped, "Stop it!" screamed Chizuru as she turned away and ran for the door.

At that same moment the door had been slid open by Souji, "Hey you two, you know lunch started like seven minutes- Huh?"

Souji saw Chizuru running towards him head-on and at the last second stepped to the side allowing her to run past him and out of the room.

Both Heisuke and I were at a loss as to what just happened, but Heisuke was first to react, "W-Wait up!"

Grabbing his white schoolbag he ran out of the room ignoring SOuji who was trying to ask what had happened.

Souji then broke the silence as he waved at me, "Sensei, what just happened here?"

I looked at him and tried to gather some words before answering but I could not for the life of me find any words to form a sentence ...

I sighed and closed my suitcase, "I honestly do not know ..."

Souji frowned seeing that he didn't get the answer he wanted and looked towards the hallway, "She looked awfully upset. Something obviously happened ..." He then raised his hands and looked at me, "Hmm, well I'll be heading off then, see ya sensei."

"Bye Souji." I muttered as the door slid closed.

I shook everything off and headed towards the door when something shined on my face, "Huh?" I turned to the source and saw that the sun was hitting a keychain that was attached to a dark blue schoolbag.

"What in the world? Don't tell me she ran out of the room forgetting her stuff here."

"Today is just not my day is it." I said looking for my box of cigarettes.

I stopped on my tracks remembering that I gave my last stick to Sanosuke after the meeting this morning, "Damn it."

He definitely owes me ...

"Maybe I can buy a new box before heading o-"

"Hijikata-sensei!"

"Huh?" I looked back towards the school and saw Chizuru running towards me, "W-Wait sensei!"

She had finally caught up to me but was out of breath as she crouched down holding her stomach, "N-Note to self ... don't run on an empty stomach ..."

"What the hell are you doing? You should be back inside!" I said looking down at her worryingly.

She took one more breath and stood up to explain her actions, "I-I'm sorry sensei, but I ran out of the room forgetting my bag! I-I need it to do the homework, can you please unlock the door for me?"

I stared down at her as she tried pleading me. I looked away and said, "No, I'm running late."

"B-But sensei!"

I then felt a pair of hands grabbing my elbow preventing me from walking, "Let go Chizuru."

"P-Please sensei, I've never missed turning in an assignment!"

Once more I stared down at her not saying a word and I could see her eyes beginning to tear up.

"I don't need to go unlock for you." I said.

Chizuru was going to say something back but before she could I pulled out her bag, "Because I have it with me."

The look on her face was of both surprise and relief.

"Thank you ... Thank you, thank you Hijikata-sensei!"

All of a sudden I felt her arms wrap around my waist as she hugged me, "Thank you ...!"

As much as I enjoyed that, I was still her teacher and here at school. I gently pushed here away from me looking to the side to hide the content I had in my eyes as I spoke, "Chizuru ... You know you shouldn't do that."

She then hugged her schoolbag to her chest as she spoke, "I-I know, but I'm just so happy that I was able to get it without any trouble."

I shook my head and turned to continue walking to my car. At the same time I could hear Chizuru's footsteps, which weren't getting farther away from me, but ... Closer?

I stopped and looked back at her seeing that she stopped as well but was looking up at me.

I thought maybe it was my imagination playing with me and continued onward but that same feeling kept creeping up on me and without any sign of me stopping, I turned around quickly that Chizuru ended up bumping into torso.

"W-Wha-?"

"A-Ah!"

I caught her and thankfully was able to stop myself from falling backwards.

"What are you trying to do, Chizuru?" I asked still having my hands on her shoulders.

"Is it true that you have a date today?" she asked looking up at me with a faint shade of pink on her cheeks.

"You really believed Heisuke about that?" I asked raising an eyebrow at her.

She was quiet for a moment but finally she shrugged, "I don't know for sure?"

I sighed and moved her back a bit, "I'm heading to Shimabara Girl High School."

She gasped and covered her mouth, "You work there as well!?"

"No!" I responded back.

"This Wednesday the school is having physical examinations. The principal assigned me to go and ask Shimabara if they'll let you have your examination there being that it is an all-girl school." I explained.

"You're going to Shimabara ..." muttered Chizuru to herself, slowly a small smile appeared on her face, "Do you think I can go with you, sensei?"

"Can you what?" I don't think I heard her right.

"Can I go with you to Shimabara? Sen goes to that school and I want to say hi!" she said with a big smile on her face.

"I just can't take you with me to another school Chizuru, and let alone the fact that school isn't over yet."

"In a way it is for me!" she said trying to convince me to change my mind.

"How so?" I asked amusingly. I definitely want to hear her reason.

"My last class is PE and I have a doctors' stating that I can't participate in the exercises we do in class." Explained Chizuru.

"That still doesn't give you the excuse of being absent for the class." I said back.

"Actually, I spoke with Shinpachi-sensei and he said that I could leave early until the doctor gives me the okay to participate." She said with a confident tone.

Did she rehearse this or something? Cause something is telling me that she was well too prepared for this.

"So in a way, I'm finished with school for today."

"And if I go and ask Shinpachi-"

"He'll tell you I have his permission."

"And that doctor's note-"

"He has the original and I have a copy as well."

"Are not going to let me finish my-"

"Nope~"

In a way I face-palmed myself seeing that she had outsmarted me. I sighed and pointed to the car, "Get in."

ooo

"Thank you for letting me come along, Hijikata-sensei."

We had just pulled out of the parking lot and were on our way to Shimabara now. Chizuru was in the passenger seat looking out the window as she spoke, "I can't wait to see Sen and the others."

"Just try to remember that this isn't necessarily a field trip, okay?." I said paying attention to the road.

"Yes sir!"

The rest of the ride was pretty much quiet for majority of the time we were on the road, but thankfully Shimabara was a few blocks from the campus that we made it there in a short amount of timing thus saving us from that awkward silence back in the car ...

"We're here." I announced taking out my keys from the ignition and facing her, "Are you ready?"

She looked at me and nodded her head.

We both stepped out of the car and I locked it when she closed her door. After that we both headed to the office where I had to speak with the principal.

Upon arriving someone called out Chizuru's name-

"Chizuru?!"

She stopped and saw her friend Sen running towards us, "What are you doing here, aren't you still in school at this time?!"

Chizuru rushed towards Chizuru and the two hugged each other after they were face-to-face, "I got out early and wanted to visit."

"Chizuru." I said.

Both girls looked back at me to hear what I was going to say, "Don't wander too far, I plan on making this visit quick, okay?"

She smiled back nodding her head, "Okay sensei."

She then turned towards her friend and started slowly walking down the hall while chatting and giggling with Sen.

I smiled to myself seeing just how happy Chizuru was here visiting Sen, but I couldn't let myself get side-tracked I had to go discuss the examination.

I made my way to the office and knocked on the door even though it was open, "Excuse me."

A lady looked up and saw me, she had long black hair though it was tied up but she had a pretty attractive face.

I chuckled seeing exactly who it was, "Kimigiku, what are you doing behind the counter?"

The lady named Kimigiku saw me and smiled, "Hijikata? My, what a surprise! What brings you here?"

"I need to talk to the principal, is she in?" I asked walking into the office.

"She is, but she's in a meeting right now with a parent." Said Kimigiku.

"Tch, dammit ..."

"Something the matter?" she asked.

"I need to ask if Chizuru can come have her physical examination here. All the students are taking there's on Wednesday and we think it'd be best if she took hers here." I explained.

"What a coincidence! Tomorrow the girls were going to be taking their examinations."

"Really?"

Kimigiku nodded her head and continued, "You should know that when your boys take their examinations, our girls take it the day before."

The door in the back of the office opened and a lady with light brown hair stepped out with a man behind her, "I'll be sure to send you the documents you requested. I'm really going to miss your daughter here, but I know she'll be just fine and her new school."

The man bowed to her, "She loves this school very much, but thank you for your wishes."

The man left and the lady walked up to Kimigiku, "Are there any calls for me?"

"No, but there is someone here to speak with you." Kimigiku then nudged her head towards me.

When the principal looked at me seeing her face more closely, I noticed she had deep emerald eyes. A lot like someone I know ...

Her mouth slowly formed a grin as she also took a deeper look at me.

"Are you ..." the lady began having Kimigiku finish, "Toshizo Hijikata."

I saw something in her eyes spark as she leaned over the counter, "You sure have a lot of nerves coming here to see me."

What? I don't even know who this woman is, this is the first time I've ever seen her!

"Taking my little brother's cell phone away for using it during school hours." She said drumming her fingers on the counter.

Taking a phone away?

"From what he told me, it was during lunch!"

W-Wait-

"Are you Souji Okita's sister!?" I asked backing a bit away from the counter. I had no idea his older sister was the principal of Shimabara!

"Are you here to give me his phone back, perhaps? Cause I also want an apology!" she said as a deadly atmosphere began to swallow the room.

Kimigiku sensed the change and spoke, "M-Mitsu, Hijikata came to ask about Chizuru."

In the blink of an eye, the principals' attitude changed-

"Chizuru?! Has she finally decided to leave Souji's school and enroll here?"

"No, it's about her examination." I said killing the idea of her switching schools.

Souji's sister Mitsu looked at me with a glare but shook it off, "Let me guess, you want her to take hers here?"

I nodded my head.

"I see ... In that case, of course she can come, we'll welcome her anytime here. Be it as a student of Shimabara or a visitor." She said smiling softly.

"So when should she come tomorrow?" I asked.

"Just give her the day off for tomorrow." Said Mitsu.

"Give her tomorrow off?" I said surprisingly.

Nodding her head she continued, "It's only one day, also you can't make her walk around that much right now."

Well that sentence put me in more confusion ...

"It involves her doctors note, she can't walk around that much." She stated.

"I think I know what's going on, I remember my sister having things like this happening when she was around Chizuru's age." I said to myself but at the same time to them.

"Let's just say it comes and goes every month." Said Kimgiku.

"Then yeah, I understand everything now." I said stuffing my hands in my pocket.

"What's the matter Hijikata? Feeling uncomfortable?" asked Mitsu mockingly.

I glared at her and responded, "Shut up."

She giggled and then asked, "So do we have a deal? Give her tomorrow off and she'll be in school the next day?"

If she had to rest then it was for the best. I took out my right hand and offered it to Souji's sister, "Yeah, we have a deal."

She took my hand and shook it commenting during the shake, "Maybe you aren't that bad as Souji says."

Just what the hell does he say about me!?

I sighed and made my way to the door, "Thank you for seeing me, I'll tell Chizuru about the details."

Kimigiku waved bye to me as Mitsu watched me leave with a smirk on her face.

She really reminds me of her brother now ...

ooo

"Chizuru, are you around here?"

I turned the corner and saw she and Sen sitting on a bench.

"There you are." I said walking up to the two girls.

"O-Oh, Hijikata-sensei! Are you done talking to the principal?" asked Chizuru.

I nodded my head as I brushed my hair back a bit, "Yeah, I'll explain everything on the way back."

Chizuru nodded her head and stood off the seat, "Okay, I guess I'll see you next time Sen?"

Sen smiled back and waved, "Till next time!"

With that me and Chizuru left the school and entered the car.

"So am I allowed to take my examinations there sensei?" asked Chizuru a little quietly.

I looked at her and then nodded my head, "Yeah, tomorrow you'll be coming here. You don't have to go back to school after that, consider it a free day."

She looked at me surprised, "R-Really?"

I nodded my head and started the car, "Looks like you get to see Sen again, huh?"

Chizuru then smiled happily as she agreed, "Thank you for bringing me today Hijikata-sensei, it really means a lot."

I smiled back at her though she didn't see it for she was looking at the entrance to Shimabara during that moment. I thought about how happy she must have felt seeing her friend. I then remembered what she told me last week, about it being nice to not always be surrounded by boys. This must've been what she meant.

"Did you go to hang out with some friends from here that day I caught you around my car looking at the trees?" I asked.

Chizuru looked at me tilting her head to the side, "Sensei?"

"Saturday yesterday, after class. Did you go to the mall to hang out with some girls?"

I heard a faint gasp come from her before she answered, "How did you know? Are you stalking me sensei!?"

I quickly responded, "No! I am not! I-I ... Was just wondering, seeing you with Sen made me think about what you said that day."

It was quiet for about a minute but Chizuru finally spoke, "You're right ..."

"Huh?"

"You're right about Saturday. I went to the mall to go window shopping with some students here. It was really fun." Said Chizuru with a smile on her face.

"I see ... Then you'll probably have a lot fo fun tomorrow, huh."

She shrugged as she put her seatbelt on, "Who knows. It's a shame I'll be missing your class ... Heisuke doesn't take that well notes, so I can't ask him for the materials for tomorrow."

"There's Saitou." I suggested.

"Maybe ... But he's been busy with his student disciplinary duties so I don't want to bother him." She said.

"You're just making this really hard, you know." I said jokingly.

Chizuru giggled and responded, "I'm a tricky student, aren't I?"

"Oh I don't know about that Chizuru ... I think I have you figured out now."

Chizuru looked at me with a smile on her face, "Really?"

I chuckled, "I think. But first, let's get you something to eat."

I put my seatbelt on and backed out of the parking lot as we set off to get something to eat.