His arrival was met with too much color.

The very moment he stepped out, the gastronomical amount of scent glazing his nostrils, of fried squid, plum wine, and something unnervingly floral glued themselves to his sinuses. His bandages itched. Not from wounds, but from the sheer audacity of existing so loudly. With the sheer amount of people passing by him, discussing joyfully of their lives, their plights and their desires so openly felt hollow to him.

A child's laughter burst like a firework. His flinch went unnoticed.

He should take a step. He must. His legs moved like rusted gears forced to turn, and soon, the ghost began to walk again. His earbuds did their job, as he slipped the Shittim Chest onto his hands. Arona and Plana came to life immediately, knowing exactly what information he needed in this instance.

"Hyakkiyako's practically a tourist spot, Sensei. People come around from all across Kivotos to visit and unwind, so you can expect to see a lot of familiar faces every so often~" Arona chirped joyfully. And then she began to drool. Kize immediately switch his attention to Plana.

"Direction: Northwest, in Hyakkiyako's shopping district. Prediction: 89% chance of unwanted socialization from the Yin-Yang Club. Course of action: Prepare for interaction."

Kize's eyes quickly half-lidded. First Arona with her food obsession, and now Plana basically giving him up to the sharks of Hyakkiyako. Nonetheless, it was inevitable. Phasing through the crowds, he would soon make his arrival to the 'derelict' teahouse.

The very first thing he noticed was that the teahouse was less of a teahouse intended for some kind of ritual that he perhaps had a hint of familiarity to. Instead, it was a tea cafe masquerading as a teahouse, its walls of coated blackwood being 3 stories talls. Bamboo coverings were made as shutters at the third floor. A banner overhead flapped:

Traditional Teahouse (Wi-Fi Available)

A lie so brazen it became its own truth.

And he will not enjoy it one bit.

Pushing the sliding door, he was quickly greeted by three figures and the faint smell of sakura petals. Two he recognized from the Arius Summit. And another figure with black hair and one red horn and the other broken off.

Her broken horn glinted, too sharp for comfort.

The one similarity he can point out immediately was that her outfit was similar to Kaho's, being a side-less kimono. And yet her teasing look was one that rang the danger bells in the back of his head too strongly.

"Nyahaha~ so the other Sensei is here now. This is finally getting pleasant~" The horned girl cooed smugly, only for a sigh to be let out from Kaho as she bowed at Kize. He did nothing in response.

"Welcome, Sensei. We thank you greatly for accepting our request and coming here in record time." Kaho stood back straight. "As you may have noticed, the teahouse is in a state of abandonment."

"I see desperation." Kize replied dryly. The lack of dust, having working electricity, and the authentic scent of sakura petals all indicated a role that was genuinely dedicated in ensuring that he succeed. On what? He wasn't sure.

"Well, that we won't deny, of course, but--"

"Between two worlds,

a ghost waits. The sun rises—

still, the days stretch long."

Chise's sudden, but slow thesis in haiku caught the attention of everyone in the teahouse, with Kize squinting slowly in a hint of suspicion. Did she mean anything by that? Had she seen through him just as Shun had?

Kaho seemed particularly fascinated, however.

"Chise! Could it mean...?"

"Hm? Oh, I just think evening is coming soon."

Chise's clear air headedness was one Kize deemed the most dangerous tool here. Especially since it wasn't even evening yet.

"Anyway, Sensei. We personally request for your assistance to bring prosperity to this caf-- I mean, teahouse," Kaho proclaimed, before the black haired girl flapped open her fan.

"Being Arius's Ghost certainly has a kind of pull to it, doesn't it~?" She cooed. A sigh left Kaho.

"President Niya, while I don't deny the appeal, we ask him for his efficiency."

"So a bartender." Kize finally spoke up, a cold tone overtaking his typical neutrality. Everyone froze in place.

And then Niya laughed.

"Bartender? Pffhahahah~ I didn't know the other Sensei had stronger quips than Sensei. Wow, Arius's Ghost really is a warm welcome, after all~"

Kize felt the corner of his lips move downwards ever so slightly, before he sighed, pushing out all emotion away from his body. For now.

"But no. Not a bartender. But a manager. We do have a part timer here, but she doesn't exactly have anyone to lead her. That's where you come in, other Sensei."

Kaho cleared her throat. "As our President proclaimed, you are tasked with leading this teahouse to prosperity. A permanent prosperity, as you have displayed both with Arius, SRT's RABBIT Platoon, and as of recent development, Trinity."

The news spread quite far and wide, after all... Despite his lack of reach (or so he thought).

"So you've heard."

"Sensei, don't deny your own impact. You're only here for three weeks and you've shown too much promising results to not be ignored by Kivotos as a whole."

"I didn't do anything."

"So you claim. Well, regardless, you have accepted our request. We will observe with great interest in how you achieve your goals."

The Yin-Yang Club members all stood up, with Chise being needed to hold her hand to pull her out of the establishment. Niya was the last one, but before she closed the door, she gave that smug look she had before she began to speak.

"Remember, other Sensei. As much as I do like to laze around, even ghosts can't stay a ghost for long."

Kize didn't turn around. His hand twitched in his pocket, the absence of his thermos feeling like a missing piece of himself.

"Nyahah~ And the part timer is coming soon. So prepare yourself~"

And then, the door shut closed behind him, leaving him in this teahouse. Alone. For now.

Arona's voice called out to him through the earbuds.

"Sensei! Plana and I have been busy sifting through the net for all kinds of tea to prepare!"

Kize could feel himself drained of effort.

"Conclusion: Nearly 60 tea leaves stored within this teahouse's storage. Chamomile, Mango Tango Chai--"

Kize plucked out his earbuds before Plana could even finish listing another tea plant into his ear, before making his way upstairs. The creak of the wood under his weight was somewhat of an annoyance, but unlike the AIs, who have been nothing short of disruptive, this felt strangely welcoming.

Almost reminded him of the floorboards in Plum Blos--

He stopped his trail of thought from delving into those depths.

The first floor seemed relatively ordinary, all things considered. If the ground floor was the place to take one's order for tea or, God forbid, snacks, then the first floor was without a doubt the location intended solely for tea drinkers. Tatami mats, cushions and low tables were placed all across the room, with a balcony to perhaps provide a view for those that took their seats there.

Kize made the mistake of taking a peek.

The first impact he felt on his chest was the slam of soles, followed by air time, and then cushioned by the cushion pillows. Air left his lungs, leaving him gasping while his eyes focused entirely on the individual standing before him in twos.

"Sensei~♡"

A dangerous coo of a vixen. One that was vaguely mentioned by Arona and Plana as 'the one Sensei tamed'.

Kosaka Wakamo.

Her mask was still upon her face, but even Kize could feel that radiating shine of misplaced affection. Her mask hid a smile, one that had all the sense of a feral predator eyeing its prey.

"I was wondering when you would return. You've returned to me sooner than I expected, truthfully and--"

"I'm not Sensei."

Three words that quickly cut through any pretense.

Three words that snapped Wakamo.

"Oh? Then what did the Yin-Yang Club called you, Sensei? I can tell aside from your plastic surgery that you've--"

'What is she talking about...' Kize's thoughts trailed to the unknown as Wakamo obtusely explains how he was Sensei. Not just by plastic surgery, but complete character assassination of his own self to be 'rebirthed' into a new Sensei.

"I'm not your Sensei."

An additional word that proceeded to crash reality down further onto Wakamo.

He watched as she crumbled into the floor of the balcony, leaning against the wooden railings as she sighed in despair.

"Sensei hasn't recovered yet? Oh, this continues to be tortuous. Tell me, Replacement, what would you do in this situation?"

Kize's neutrality returned.

"Get out."

Another slam of reality to Wakamo, who seem to lose her already losing footing to the void. However, her eyes landed onto the bandaged hands. She seem to stare at them as Kize began to stand up with a gruff. The faint voices of the Shittim Chest was unheard of by Kize, as he observed Wakamo's fox ears twitching.

His bandages itched where Wakamo stared, as if she saw the wounds lying beneath it.

"You've been through a lot, haven't you, Replacement?"

Kize's lips were pursed immediately, his bandages still holding strong, yet felt like they were fraying. He didn't speak another word, before Wakamo began to laugh softly. Almost bitterly.

"Well, I suppose that everyone has their secrets. I just wear mine on my sleeve. You should do that, Replacement. It's liberating."

He watched as she then jumped to who knows where, her laughter lingering like foxfire; gone before he could parse if it was mocking or mournful. However, he quickly noticed the mask she wore, left behind on the railing she leaned against. His eyes squinted in suspicion, before he plugged in his wireless earbuds.

"Sensei!! That was awesome!!" Arona's excitement was enough to flinch. The volume didn't help matters.

"The chances of Sensei coming out unscathed was 10%. But the chances of Sensei being able to walk it off and get Wakamo to leave? Abysmal. Conclusion: Sensei had provided a correct path.'

Plana's analysis was met with a sigh. Ignoring the mask, he leaned down once more. This time, it was the proper sights of people walking through the shopping district, some going in and out of the shops all over. Many go in, some come out empty handed, others with shopping bags.

Decadent.

He noticed some pairs of eyes looking up at him, whisper to themselves or to others, and then simply walk past the establishment. He said nothing, gave out nothing. And naturally, he decided that it was better to be nothing.

And then he noticed a peculiar student. There was little in the way of conversation, but from the way she walked and the way she carried herself. An air of uncertainty, yet attempt to come off as a hint of confidence. The only reason he caught his eyes onto her was the haori they wore.

She had long purple hair with cherry blossom flowers on the right side of her hair and wore a typical white pristine sailor uniform and should seem perhaps regal.

An 'ojou-sama' kind of appearance.

And yet the undeniable fact of the matter was that she donned a sky blue haori with white five-petaled flower motifs. It was clear she is in association with someone. With a group.

But who?

Their eyes met. Kize quickly pretended that his eyes were focused more on the crowd as a whole rather just her.

It failed.

He saw how her eyes widened ever so slightly, before she quickly moved through the crowds. Kize wisely moved away from the balcony and head downstairs, waiting.

Soon enough, the door slid open.

"Ghost Sensei!"

That was new.

Kize blinked slowly. The lack of thermos still a lingering touch he shouldn't have missed.

"Is this your new residence?"

"It's my assignment."

"... Eh?"

Kize pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Who are you?"

"Ah, apologies."

The girl closed the door behind her, before bowing.

"I am Kadenokouji Yukari, it's sole member of the Hyakkaryouran Conflict Resolution Council."

Sole member. A phrase that quickly made itself familiar to the echelons of his mind. He knew how clubs tend to operate, and assumed it works just the same here.

The less club members there are, the chances of disbandment rise. And now with only this girl as its only apparent club member.

The risk of disbandment is all but certain.

"Take your order," he proclaimed, walking towards the counter with his hands in his pocket.

"Hm? Oh, but I am not drinking tea today."

"........."

Kize knew that she had ulterior motives. And considering her introduction, it had to be that.

"It's not my assignment to help you find members of your club numbers."

"It's not that."

Kize's grip stiffened ever so slightly in his pocket.

"I believe the Yin-Yang Club informed you of my arrival, for I would like to request for your help in finding the members who had yet to officially leave."

Somewhere in his body twitched. He couldn't tell anymore where it was.

First he was brought to provide prosperity to a cafe attempting to appear as a teahouse.

A girl who was desperate to find her former members.

And now apparently everything was a ruse to bring him here to get the Hyakkaryouran Conflict Resolution Council back to its former glory.

Why is it so obtuse?

"They didn't inform me of this."

Yukari blinked at Kize's statement. A slow realization overtook her, before she sighed and took a seat.

"So they did not inform you of the matter. I see. Would you like a summary?"

"No."

Yukari blinked again. Her lips parted open to speak.

"Then perhaps you will help me?"

"Depends."

"On?"

"Whether you will bring this teahouse back together with working students--"

"Can do. Will do."

The sheer candidness of Yukari's proclamation froze Kize on the spot, as she walked right out of the teahouse. He assumed that she would return empty-handed, considering the circumstances involving the whole lot of this.

He was wrong.

When the door slid open, several students in Hyakkiyako's various uniforms appeared and looked up to Kize.

"Ghost Sensei is here!"

"Wow, he looks cool up close."

"Kinda handsome too..."

The word sat in his throat like a fishbone. When had anyone looked at him long enough to decide that? Kize felt a frown forming on his face, especially so when he noticed Yukari standing at the doorway with a victorious smile on her face.

She won with the most minimal effort exerted, all by simply using his deeds.

"State your business," Kize groaned out, his eyes darting away soon after.

"Oh! We'd like to work here!"

"Yeap! Been tight on cash recently, and uh..."

"We kinda wanna see you too, ya know."

'But why?' Was Kize's thought, before covering his face with his hand. Soon, a sigh was exhaled.

"Fine. Just keep the cafe in working condition. You can bring more students here to work or something, I don't care."

A fanfare of cheers followed, and then a bow.

"Thank you, Ghost Sensei. We won't disappoint you!"

Kize said nothing, before he stepped out of the counter and making his way to the door. Before he reached Yukari, however, he heard them whisper.

"Do we call this the Ghost Teahouse Club?"

"Personally, that works with me."

"Fits Ghost Sensei's aesthetic too!"

Why were they so attached to that? Why are they so attached to a ghost?

An answer he couldn't find, as Yukari proceeded to pull him close.

"Ghost Sensei, do you know where to start?"

"What do you think?"

Kize's execution of words, followed by a deadpan, was all the indicator that she needed to know that he doesn't.

"Well... Uhm... Let's start with the clubs then!"

Kize could only pull himself together at the haphazard planning this sole member had conjured.

This was going to be a long afternoon.