(no subject)

[shadowed-god.livejournal.com]

Who: Sei and Ichi
What: High school flashback
When: Afternoon
Where: Shin Gensokyo High School
Warnings:

At times, Sei was convinced that the gray sky could feasibly pass for the massive blanket of the night. Rarely did she get to witness any day that wouldn't evoke this thought, and the probabilities were only worsened by her job. Though Sei took joy in teaching, if not interacting with the people she tried to improve, there were times when she had no choice but to simply sit and work while her students completed an assignment.

Today was one of those days. Sei, after a long year of acting as the replacement for the class' elderly history teacher, waits until her students finish going through the Gensokyo invasion. An interesting topic, yes, but not quite as much when almost all of the curriculum focuses on it. For obvious reasons, not a lot of emphasis was put into learning about events prior to the rebellion. Sei had spent a fair bit of the school year recounting human history, as well, particularly in regards to their technological advancements. Through this, she had acquired an extensive knowledge of the workings of modern tools, even if she wasn't too keen on using them. Perhaps she would try to substitute a physics teacher after this.

The musing is interrupted as she's brought back to earth by the school's bell. She wouldn't think it would take them this long to finish the assignment. With a sigh, she stands up, already beaten to the punch by nearly half of the class. Not even weather like this could deter their enthusiasm, it looked like. Not when it was so frequent. She did not bother to calm them down. After all, the day had ended, and anyone who missed her announcement could only place the blame upon himself.

"Please bring the activity finished for tomorrow. We have to go through a general review before the final exam, so you can't waste any time on it tomorrow." she said. The students had already learned to listen intently at Sei, who seldom raised her voice to the level appropriate for a teacher. This didn't mean they actually had to pay any attention to her. Were she a more expressive person, she would have sighed.

"Is there anyone who can hand it in right now?"

Comments

[junctio.livejournal.com]

Actually, there is.

The student that had been sitting on the front seat nearest to the window raised his right arm, and waved it, as if trying to get the teacher's attention.

Several students groaned at this boy's action, some even voicing a small vocal complaint:

"There goes Ichi, always the teacher's pet, that nerd."

If the teen heard the complaint, he didn't show it, as he kept waving, trying to get Sei's attention.

[shadowed-god.livejournal.com]

"Ichiryu." Sei stated. A good eye would have noted that she didn't even turn to look at the student's arm. Her prowess at learning extended beyond physical applications, and she could easily recognize the pattern of who would have been most likely to have it ready.

Of course, you didn't exactly have to have that power to do so.

"Impressive. Could you hand it to me?" she said. Unfortunately, Sei's skills weren't complemented by particularly good hearing, and the comment completely gets through her. In this regard, at least, she lacked as a teacher. Not only because of the inability to recognize offenses, but oftentimes, the lack of disposition to chastise them, deciding that her job's main preoccupation should be to impart knowledge to the best of her ability. She excelled in that regard, which is why she was much more compatible at teaching students like Ichi, who were more than willing to learn.

[junctio.livejournal.com]

"Yes ma'am!"

The teen said as he rose up from his seat, and started walking in the direction of his teacher. Judging from his posture, you'd expect that this nerdy looking student to be someone who can't tell the difference between jogging and running, as well as soccer from football.

Thing is though, beneath that sort of cheery and nerdy exterior lies a person who had seen what life is as an orphan, never knowing what true love is, and also of one who will do anything to reach his goal, even by shedding blood.

Fortunately, as he has not developed into such a person yet, the cheery and weak facade only hides this single truth: His magecraft.

[shadowed-god.livejournal.com]

Sei nods her thanks and starts reading the assignment. Ignored by the rest of the class, it isn't long until only a handful of student remain inside, talking about their plans for the afternoon.

"Impeccable." Sei said, actually giving a small smile in return. The disposition to improve one's knowledge was one of the traits she most admired in an individual.

"As always. You really enjoy this subject, don't you, Ichiryu?"

[junctio.livejournal.com]

"Of course I do, its interesting to hear about how events unfold, even if it is through the interpretation of another."

He replied, actually being very excited to talk about this subject, even if its to his substitute teacher.

[shadowed-god.livejournal.com]

"I see. I'm glad to hear that." Sei keeps going through the assignment.

"I hope you will devote the same diligence to your eventual career." she continues in approval.

[junctio.livejournal.com]

"Err, about that..."

He sheepishly scratched his head.

"I'm not really sure on what I'm going to be after I graduate."

[shadowed-god.livejournal.com]

"Hm?" That actually gets a surprised reaction out of Sei. She had met many people with ambition, and a fair amount of them lacked the drive to go through with them. However, she had never witnessed the opposite. To see someone who put so much effort into something without a set goal in mind was encouraging, yes, but not something she wanted her student to hold on to for too long.

"Try to obtain a job you'll like and you'll never have to work at all." she said, paraphrasing a saying she couldn't actually attribute to anyone. Sei had an incredibly exceptional memory, yet this sort of situation still happened from time to time. Lapses of deja vu came and went, sometimes simply leaving nothing but the impression of being knowledgeable behind.

Even more odd, however, was Sei's expression. In an effort to be encouraging towards her student, she was actually now donning a cheerful expression. Not the confident half-smile she could wear from time to time, but actually beaming at Ichi.

Perhaps it wasn't truly honest, no. In fact, the chances of it being so were incredibly minimal. However, this didn't change the fact that, facade or not, it was being set up with the intention of helping someone else. That was not a feeling Sei was acquainted with.

It didn't feel as bad as she thought it would.

[junctio.livejournal.com]

To be precise, at this point of time, Ichiryu does have his goals set, except for that one small setback. Money. He was kinda touching this subject in his mind lightly.

At least, before Sei's smile blindsided him like a truck running over a roadkill.

"Uh, ah. Err... thanks for the advice."

Judging from the redness of his face, Ichi looked quite uncomfortable, as well as possibly harboring a crush to his substitute tea-

What are you thinking!? She's way older, don't fall for her dammit!

Oh good his rational side kicked in at the last moment, saving him from a potentially embarrassing situation. Re-gaining his composure by fake coughing a bit, he then continued speaking.

"...s-say, would you mind joining me for a small walk?"

[shadowed-god.livejournal.com]

Sei falters for a moment, but upon further consideration, considers this a perfect opportunity for trying to figure out what interests drive Ichiryu, and so, what type of career he could have. Any social awkwardness she's completely, painfully aware of pales in comparison to being able to teach something, even if it's as personal as that.

"Very well." she begins, trying to disguise the awkwardness of the situation with professional vocabulary. "Considering your completion of the assignment, I should certainly devote the same amount of time outside of school to my duties." she continues, almost trying to give herself an excuse.

Perhaps this was due to how mysterious Ichi was. In a way, that was akin to one of the puzzles Sei took so much delight in solving. Her ability to take in new knowledge was matched by her joy in doing so, after all. It could be that she simply wanted to figure out what pushed a man like Ichiryu, who seemed to have no visible motivation.