========== Meanwhile, back at the IS Academy ==========
Ichika and Lingyin stands in a hallway, with their backs leaning against a wall opposite the instructors’ office. Lingyin’s patience soon begins to fade as they wait for Chifuyu to exit the office.
“Orimura-sensei’s late…!”
“Well, we are kinda early… She did tell us to meet her at six-twenty. We’re like five minutes early!”
“I guess you have point there…”
“Let’s just wait abit longer, she should be coming out any time now.”
Minutes later, the office door opens as Chifuyu then exits the office. The two immediately stand away from the wall upon seeing her, who’s hardly surprised to see them waiting for her.
“Well then, what is it that you two wanted to consult me for?” She firmly asks.
Ichika the reaches for the pockets on his pants, then pulls out the two photos that he found in his photo album.
“This, Sensei. I found them in our photo album.”
“What about them?”
“Well… We noticed a couple of familiar faces in the photo aside from yourself, Sensei. We were hoping if you could help us clear our doubts…”
“You went all that way just to clarify about this… But since you’re already here, show me.”
Ichika then points to a couple of people standing at the foreground in one of the photos.
“These two people… Are they…?”
Chifuyu briefly looks at the individuals that Ichika pointed out then slowly begins to recognize the familiar features.
“…You found
this… in our photo album…?” She asks with a hint of deep curiosity while looking at Ichika.
“Yes, Sensei. Since you’re in the photo as well, we figured you’re one we should be asking for clarification.”
“I see. Unfortunately, I can’t give you a clear answer at the moment… Then again, I’ll be borrowing these photos for now.”
“Ah… but Sensei, those two people…” Lingyin anxiously asks before Chifuyu was able to walk away.
“They do look like them all right. But as I said, I don’t have a clear answer for now… I need to look into this further.”
“Understood, Sensei.” Ichika replies with a somewhat disappointed tone.
Chifuyu then begins to walk down the hallway as she slips the photos into a pocket on her blouse while Lingyin and Ichika look blankly at each other and then heads off in the opposite direction.
As she walks down the corridor, Chifuyu takes out the dated photo and looks closely at the two people that Ichika pointed out.
‘…The Katami dojo…! No wonder those two had such a familiar aura around them…’