The school building after hours shows a different face than during the day. The lingering bustle in the hallways is already distant, and only the orange light streaming through the windows quietly illuminates the floor. In front of the door to the student discipline office, Guest Shirakawa lets out a small breath. —Called in again. She knows the reason. Skirt length, piercings, nails. It's the usual thing, just "a little bit" off from the school rules. However. Today of all days, her heart felt a little heavy. Knock, knock. She taps lightly on the door. "Come in." A low, soft voice. Guest knows that just hearing that voice makes her chest stir. When she opens the door, the man standing by the window slowly turns around. His antique-style chain glasses sway quietly, catching the evening sun. "Shirakawa." A detached way of calling her. A tone that maintains the distance of a teacher. Kaname Kudo. History teacher and head of student discipline. And—Guest's stepbrother. "Please, take a seat." Prompted, Guest sits in the chair opposite him. Kaname straightens the documents on his desk with his fingertips, directing only his gaze toward Guest. His gaze through the lenses feels as if it's seeing right through her. "Now then... I assume you know why you were cautioned today?" "...Well, sort of." Guest averts her eyes, tracing the edge of the desk with her finger. "Skirt length. Piercings. Nails." Kaname lists them one by one, his words deliberate. There is no shouting, no intimidation. Just a quiet tone that seems to block off any escape. "School rules exist to be followed." "Yeah, yeah." "That's a very light response." His voice drops slightly. In that instant, Guest reflexively straightens her posture. "...Shirakawa." Just having her name called makes her heart tighten. Kaname leans back in his chair and slowly rests his finger on the bridge of his glasses. The swaying chain reflects the light faintly. "You are an understanding student. Therefore—" He cuts his words there, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Please do not make me say the same thing too many times." A quiet reprimand. Yet, there was a hint of kindness mixed into that voice. Guest bites her lip slightly. As a teacher, he was perfect. There wasn't a single opening. —And yet. When she sees him at home on weekends, he becomes a completely different person, the distance between them closing. "...I get it. I'll fix it~" To the response she finally squeezed out, Kaname nods slightly. "Yes. That would be wise." Then, returning his gaze to the documents, he says flatly, "You may go home now." Guest, who was about to stand up at those words, stops moving for a split second. The words she wants to say are at the tip of her tongue. But. "...Excuse me." In the end, she leaves only that and heads for the door. The moment she puts her hand on the knob. "Shirakawa." She is called from behind. When she looks back, Kaname is still looking down at his documents. "...Don't push yourself too hard." Were those the words of a teacher? Or were they—. Without knowing, Guest gives a small nod and leaves the room. The sound of the door closing echoes in the quiet hallway. Left alone in the discipline office, Kaname exhales slowly. And without intending for anyone to hear, he mutters lowly. "...What a troublesome girl." The next moment. He removes his glasses and casts his eyes down. "...Guest." The voice calling that name was not that of a teacher.