Seeing my dead-looking eyes reflecting on the floor, I knew I had mopped too hard. Maybe it was the stress. Or maybe I'm just naturally good at mopping. Not that I have anything wrong with either case. In the end, the floor is clean. The clubroom once filled with dead mosquitoes is now… if I am to borrow words from Remelia, looks like a palace.
Ayane crisply nods. "Sure seems like we did a good job."
I at least should appreciate their... attempt to help, "Well, thanks to you — ehem, to you two. We've got to finish this before school ends… which is about… now." I check my phone.
5:00 P.M..
The school bell is singing.
Remelia lets out her arrogant laugh. But this laugh is a lot more silent than usual. Because she is stuffing her face on the couch. "Awl twanks top mwe hai suhpphose."
Let me translate that for people who are not familiar with Remelia couch talk: (All thanks to me, I suppose.)
Ayane's posture perks up as she glances at her way. "You're still awake. Thought you were taking a nap."
"Hai wash. Twe tahuwn's bhell wohke meh aup."
(I was. The town bell woke me up.)
"Town bell?" Ayane hmmed. "I think you're still dreaming." And then she mumbles, "Not that you did anything that could be hard, anyway. You even abandoned them."
Thirty minutes ago, Remelia threw down the broom. 'This is enough.' And then threw herself on the couch, claiming that she's done everything she can and has to take a nap now. 'I have to recharge my energy.'
Anyway, right now, Remelia heard what Ayane said. She raises her face and turns to us to say, at least she's speaking well now. "Without me, this clubroom or whatever will never look this clean."
Without you, this clubroom wouldn't have a thousand dead mosquitoes to begin with.
We decide to let her have it. She gladly claims that with a smug.
Ayane turns around. "Let's go back."
"We're not done yet," Remelia beckons her.
"I'm just tired of repeating the same thing," Ayane says.
Remelia laughs. "Ha ha ha ha… haa…" And once again, drops her face on the couch.
"Bepore hu leavp, gnow twat hai wohun tobay,"
(Before you leave, now... know?) Er, whatever… it seems my couch language is falling off too. Can she stop speaking on the couch? How can she even do that? Wouldn't that suffocate her? Because she's a vampire? Now that's just lazy writing.
Ayane shakes her head, swaying her small bang on the forehead. "Can you speak normally?"
Remelia pushes herself up and continues, "But I admire your courage to even face me today. Try again next time."
"Next time?" Ayane repeats.
That line surprised me too. I don't expect Remelia to look forward to their next meeting. Well, I guess I was the only person she saw when she woke up from centuries of slumber, so seeing another face must be refreshing to her.
"Yes," Remelia says, "I just like to see you wiggling under my successful feet! Mwahahaha…"
…Way to kill the wholesome.
"Hm," Ayane smirks, "I didn't even struggle today. Let's just see what's going to happen the next time we meet."
... These two… I might even shed a tear from a heart at this rivalry moment.
Hold up, rivalry of what exactly? All they did was never a competition. It's just more like they are trying who can hurt the other more.
"You'll regret your words later."
"I'll not."
"You'll see soon."
"I'll not."
"You'll soon will realize how outstanding I am."
"I'll not."
"You will soon kneel before me."
"I'll no--"
I push Ayane out before they could show their rivalry spirit again.
"Wait, Sensei." Her eyes still on the smirking Remelia. 'Is she not leaving? School's are over."
She really knows how to ask the best (worst to me) question. I answer vaguely, "There's so much going on. All you have to know is, she's going to be all right in there, if that's what you're worrying about."
"I—I'm not worried!"
"Sure you are."
"I'm not!"
I finally closed the door behind us. The cross on the knob jingles.
I sigh… All of my tension is gone, carried by the evening wind. Mission was successful. The exorcist and the vampire didn't kill each other. For now.
Ayane still has her eyes on the door. "Is she some kind of CEO's daughter or something?"
"What gives you that impression?"
"She's pretty. Real pretty. Her skin is all smooth. Her hair is white and fluffy. It's almost as if she never went outside. And her clothes are not to be messing up with, with that kind of design and quality... That's something you can find in a movie.
"Or from a cosplayer."
"Loaded cosplayer. She's gotta be something like the daughter of Google's CEO."
"No, Ayane. Remelia is not Sund*r's daughter. But... well, her father is close to that." Is Dracula a CEO of something? Vampire industrial? Vamp. Inc, hey, that's a name.
With a quiet tone, Ayane says as she glances at the clubroom again. "Hmph, what a brat."
Ayane is smiling.
"Despite her unreasonable attitude, I had fun today. That's not every day. Sensei, I know this sounds a little weird, but I was... kinda attracted to her."
Somehow I get what she meant, but it sounds so wrong… "Uh…"
Ayane waves her hand dismally as her brown pupils enlarge. "No—not like that — I meant attracted like, like… the non-lesbian way you can think of."
"Oh, sure." I close the topic with a teasing laugh. It's better not to bring up Remelia out in public again.
Ayane sighs. Her posture is a lot more relaxed now than when she's in the clubroom. She watches the orange sky in peaceful until something makes her eyebrows wrinkle. "Huh, it's already this late? Is this what they call time flies? I really feel that now."
So it wasn't just me. Ayane also unconsciously felt the fresh flow of time in the clubroom.
"Well, that's just you becoming old, I suppose."
Ayane glares and her lips are pursed. Oops, she doesn't like that, but at least she's distracted.
Fortunely, Ayane ignored my comment and let out a long exhale. "Are you going back to your office?"
I nod. "I have to grab my things."
"Is that so? Well, I'm going first. See you soon, Sensei."
"See you tomorrow, Ayane." I smile.
She frowns.
Di—Did I say anything wrong? All I said was to see you tomorrow…
She's waiting for me to get it...
I shrug.
"Goddamit, Sensei." Ayane sighs. "Just grab your things. I'll be waiting for you at the gate."
She'll be waiting for me at the gate? What does that mean? "You're not going back home?"
Her hands drop to her waists as she pats her school's uniform. "Are you serious right now? Aren't you forgetting something, Sensei? Something important… like, a promise?"
I am? Promise? Man, why can't I recall anything? Ha… What's with me and forgetting stuff lately?
I spot-check my brain.
Promise. Promise. Aha! Now I know what she meant by that.
"Is this about the pen that I borrowed from you back then?"
"Pen?" Ayane cocks her head. "What pen? Wasn't that two weeks ago?"
"I—Yeah. I'm sorry."
Ayane has her fingers curled on her chest. "You better be. And also, you're wrong. Like usual. Like you do."
"Hey now."
She crosses her arm. "How are you always forgetting promises?"
"I'm just… not good with memory, ha ha."
Ayane stumbles. She quickly regained her stance. "To think you're a teacher…" Ayane sighs. "I'm just going to say it now. I'm talking about the ramen you promised me."
"Ah yes, the ramen…" I swallow my throat, "packs of ramen."
"It was supposed to be just two packs of ramen. But since you've hurt my feelings by forgetting this… I want us to go to the ramen store now."
Ramen store, huh? Hey, I know one store. I wonder how's the granny doing.
I shrug, "Well, it's not everyday I can hang out with you. I guess that'll do."
A bright red flash on both of her cheek, "Re—really? You'll do this? I thought you're going to find your way to decline, knowing you and your human stuff-to-do… (when in reality, there's not much work you have as a science teacher in this school.)"
Owch. I heard that.
Ayane jogs as she waves behind her at me. "All right, now I'm excited. Ramen! Ramen. Come to the gate as quick as you can."