Ding Dong!
The doorbell rang and I made my way toward the door while wiping my hands on my apron.
'That is the second guest of today. Though at least this one knows how to ring the bell, unlike someone.'
I subconsciously turned my face to the vice principal, who was hiding behind a wall and sticking her head out. Her curiosity towards the sudden guest of the morning was evident on her face.
Not like I could say anything to her curiosity as I too was curious who came to my door in the morning.
"...!"
Noticing that I was looking at her, the vice principal carefully revealed herself. Her fear toward me was clearly lesser than before, truly, delicious food was the best thing to lower the guards of wary people and beasts.
Not saying anything to the vice principal, I turned my attention back to the new guest and opened the door.
To my surprise, I found Seraphina in front of the door.
'Why is she here?'
To this question, my brain found the most convenient and emotional answer.
'Aw, my little sister has now grown into a beautiful young adult and worries about me!'
Secretly wiping the small tear that came from my eye, I suppressed my brotherly emotions. I didn't want to be seen as overprotective and bothersome. After all, I knew how rebellious young adults could act.
"Morning, Seraphina." I was about to invite my sister after greeting but I didn't. Her mood seemed not good.
'Is she annoyed? Why?'
'Would she find it bothersome to come inside my room?'
'I cleaned the blood spots, right?'
'I hope her nose isn't sensitive to blood.'
'Is there any strawberry in the freezer? Maybe they can improve her mood, she always liked strawberries the most.'
'She really has grown up that it is hard to believe that she is now just a head shorter than me.'
'Would she accept the teddy bear I bought for her now that she become a young adult?'
'Why did I even buy a teddy bear for a grown girl?'
All kinds of thoughts, relevant or irrelevant, passed through my mind. I was both anxious and joyous about Seraphina's visit.
I didn't know the exact reason for her visit, I could just guess.
'No, there is no need to overthink.' I internally shook my head at my indecisiveness and stepped back.
"Come inside. Don't wait like that, Seraphina." I gestured to her.
"No, thanks. I just wanted to check on you, and now that I confirmed you are in good health, I will go to my class."
'...what!?'
I couldn't believe my ears. Was this girl really my sister? Did she not miss me, her brother, like how I missed her?
'Don't tell me she is afraid of me too? Or maybe she doesn't want the rumors around me to stain her image...'
Although this thought caused my heart to ache, there was nothing I could do. After all, young people cared about their reputation and image most.
However even though I knew this, I couldn't just simply shut up.
"I see... I guess you don't want to be seen with me. It is understandable. Have a good day, little sis."
The vice principal looked at me with a shocked expression. Her previous wariness strangely vanished. 'Did she not even do a background check on me?'
"She is your sister?" The vice principal asked me. The tone of her voice was telling me that she was having a hard time believing it. After all, me and Seraphina looked so different from each other.
"I am, so what?" Seraphina answered with a flat voice and stormed inside my room. For some reason, she changed her mind.
I didn't care for whatever reason Seraphina changed her mind. Her proud affirmation was enough for me.
Throwing a sneaky gaze at the vice principal, I followed after Seraphina.
'No,'
For a moment I wanted to send the vice principal away so that I could talk with Seraphina privately, but it would be disrespectful of me to send her away when she came here for my sake and got scared to death because of me.
Entering the living room, I pulled a chair and sat backward. Resting my arms on top of the backrest, I looked at Seraphina who was sitting on the couch — directly in front of the pancakes I made — with a strange look on her face. Her hands were clasped on her knees not uttering a word.
After me, the vice principal came inside — with a more dignified look, as if she didn't want to look bad in front of a student — and seated at Seraphina's side with a smile.
Seraphina's eyes followed the vice principal's hand that grabbed a pancake and brought it to her mouth.
The awkwardness in the room rose a little bit more as the vice principal munched on the pancakes without noticing the awkward atmosphere.
"Ah..."
Noticing now my and Seraphina's gaze, the vice principal stopped eating and she too succumbed to the awkwardness.
After a minute later, Seraphina parted her lips and asked:
"So, why is Vice Principal Cassi here, Caelum?"
"Um....?" The Vice principal looked at me as if she didn't know if she should hide the real reason why she came here or not.
So, I decided to save her from this interrogation.
"Well, something came up and I was away for the last two days, and as you know I am an assistant professor in charge of the highest freshmen class, so she came here to check with me why I was absent."
"Is that so?" Seraphina asked with a doubtful tone.
"Yes."
"Alright then," Seraphina said and got up. "Can I use your bath, bro– Caelum?"
"You don't even need to ask, Seraphina. Go out, turn left, and enter the rightmost room. Don't enter the rooms that are in the middle of the corridor."
After saying this, a slight smile found its place in my mouth and I couldn't help but feel proud. After all, my sister was intelligent enough to not even take my words at face value.
'She didn't fully believe me.'
I could see it from the little movements of her eyes, lips, and hands. She was doubtful of my words about if I was absent or not. This was a good quality to have.
Though it was a saddening fact that she didn't trust her own brother.
'Being suspicious of everything is good and all but let's see if you are too curious for your own good, little sis~'