[right][img]https://i.imgur.com/1L1xq1m.png[/img][/right][hr]
[indent]It took a moment for Laki to realize that Seiho was talking to him.

[color=#9CB795]"Ah, Seiho. You were in my class last year, but we didn't talk much at all, did we?"[/color]

And thank God for that. Laki didn't have a problem with Seiho–the guy was friendly to basically everyone and wasn't bothersome. However, Laki had heard about Seiho asking around about the [color=yellow]Yellow Plague[/color]. He couldn't have Seiho dropping any information or acciedentally spreading any rumors around.

It certainly didn't help that the rumors involved the idea of "sin," that those who were affected by the [color=yellow]Plague[/color] had committed some sort of misdeed to warrant their affliction. His mother already suffered enough–a damaged reputation would just be fuel for the fire.

Plus, he couldn't have any of the teachers finding out about his part-time jobs. Kenkōichi let their students work, yes, but certainly not the amount of time that Laki did. If the school found out that he was bending local labor laws, he could even get suspended. His mother would be deeply disappointed if that happened. [b]"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest,"[/b] she'd say, quoting either a revolutionary inventor or a musical lyricist–Laki could never remember which.

Laki had to choose his words carefully. He bookmarked his book and laid it in his lap.

[color=#9CB795]"In case you forgot, I'm Hirata Laki. What were you up to, coming in late like that?"[/color][/indent]