[center][color=hotpink][h1]~ Imamura, Seika ~[/h1][/color][/center]

The patter of rain that had started outside grew to a heavy staccato. Putting her bag and jacket in her locker, Seika glanced at the drops streaming down the window. Good thing she'd avoided the downpour. If she hadn't, she'd make a terrible first impression on the newcomer - wherever she was. She looked towards the door to the hallway, hoping the new recruit had arrived in time to keep out of the bad weather too.

Footsteps sounded, not in front of her, but behind her. She turned to see a girl burst in, damp dark hair hanging in her face as she bowed with a frantic apology. Seika approached her, only to freeze in place when the other girl stood up. That familiar face bore the same look of surprise she probably did.

[color=hotpink]"Hito..."[/color] A flood of buried emotions welled up, choking off the name Seika tried to utter. Her formed friend hadn't changed much, but everything else had, turning all those happy memories too sour to savour. Just looking at her brought on the same stabs of anger and regret the fights had. [color=hotpink]"Ogasawara,"[/color] she said instead, body stiff as she folded her arms and inclined her head. [color=hotpink]"Welcome."[/color] Glimpsing an odd look from the manager at her frosty greeting, Seika sighed and forced her muscles to relax. She couldn't let herself drop the act, no matter what.

[color=gray]"So I see you already know each other,"[/color] their boss commented, an edge to his voice that didn't ease the tension any. [color=gray]"Imamura-san, I trust you to show Ogasawara-san around and help her learn the basics."[/color]

Face impassive once more, Seika nodded. She had to steel herself to meet Hitomi's gaze. [color=hotpink]"Well,"[/color] she muttered, [color=hotpink]"once you're ready, we'd better make a start."[/color]