They were joined by Minoru and Souma a block and a half before the Aisukage's office. It was the tallest building in the village, housing other official offices, and the academy. Souma was talking a mile a minute about something or another, Koharu wasn't paying much attention. Their sensei looked about ready to just knock the blond man out when they finally reached the top of the stairs that connected to a short corridor. At the end of the small hallway was the Aisukage's office. 

Souma knocked on the door and entered before they did, instructing the two girls to stand by their respective clan heads. The purple haired man from earlier was there, standing closest to the window. With one quick glance at her teammates, Koharu took up a spot next to the man but still close enough to her team in order to not seem so distant. 
"Lighten up Osamu. You've turned the girl into your clone!" Souma chuckled, poking fun at the Wakahisa leader and his heir. They both wore similar thin-lipped expressions. 
"You need to learn to speak to your elders with respect." Osamu said, folding his hand over the sword strapped to his hip. He was their senior by twelve years, not much but enough to make a difference in his mind. Back when they were younger both Souma and Minoru had been mentored by Osamu for some time, Minoru a few years longer than Souma. He'd been nicer then, less reserved but still just as serious. Minoru assumed the loss of his sons nearly a year and a half ago changed him. 

"Father." Koharu said softly, turning to look at the man, "Can you please not look at my friend that way?" Osamu had been practically glaring at Akaya (even though that was his normal look and just how he looked at everyone.) 

Osamu was caught off guard by her request; it was very rare for Koharu to speak to him without being spoken to first. He nodded, resting a hand on her hair in an uncommon display of affection. He was a distant man, one who rarely let his emotions show, but he was still capable of providing some form of affection - she was his heir after all and they did spend large amounts of time together training and furthering her education. The action even made Minoru and Souma send the older man questioning glances. 

When the door opened Koharu's attention was drawn to the figure in the doorway. The moment the bag was placed on the table Osamu had returned her hand to Koharu's hair in a comforting gesture. He'd explained very little about the mark and what it meant, Koharu only knew that it was important for her to have. Osamu's own mother had been born with the mark. She passed just before his sons were born and it was a rather painful topic so he'd never told Koharu about her. When the little creature revealed itself the young heir mirrored Akaya's actions and brought her fingers to her forehead.


[@Arista]