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Being inside again was [i]really[/i] nice.

As much as she loved her dad's old coat—it was still really weird thinking of it as hers now, it had been his for so long now—as much as she loved it, she didn't really want to need it. Because, well, if she was wearing it it meant it was bad weather. And though it was really good for said inclement weather—windproof, waterproof, warm—it was for that exact reason she was sighed contentedly as, walking into the vestibule of the vaunted Ishin Academy, she undid the buttons and slid it off, barely holding back a sneeze. [i][color=999999]Stupid cold.[/color][/i] Given she was still pretty much in the entrance it wasn't exactly [i]warm[/i], but it was miles better than it was outside anyway. And the wind wasn't blowing into her face anymore, which was also a major plus.

Ah. Lockers. Good.

A moment later, and she was walking down the center of the hallway with a crisp, quick stride, relishing in the feeling of the heads turning to follow her. She felt a little naked without the trench coat already, even after only wearing it for a little while. But all the attention was so [i]comforting.[/i] It was wonderful. She felt a [i]little[/i] bit of guilt—was this how she was really going to act in high school too? Shouldn't be beyond this kind of thing by now?—but that momentary pause brought forth a host of complicated emotions and painful memories, and a jab of fear stuck a fork into her side. So yes. [i]Yes,[/i] this was how she was going to act in high school as well. [color=999999][i]Why bother changing it now?[/i][/color] she thought savagely. [color=999999][i]Nobody's going to remember it or me anyway.[/i][/color] Resolve reaffirmed, she continued her aggressive walking, occasionally roughly bumping someone out of the way. Just to reaffirm to herself that she was there.

A walk through the halls later, she was moving through the first-year section of the ceremony hall. This time, though—not [i]really[/i] looking where she was going, she ran into someone she [i]didn't[/i] expect: slap-bang into a short girl with blue hair that—oh, her hair was—were those [i]tentacles?[/i] Internally, her metaphorical eyebrows shot up. Tentacle hair. Absolutely wild.

Outwardly, though, once she recovered from her stumble she stood up to her full height, glaring down at the girl. Who absolutely did [i]not[/i] look happy with her. [color=999999][i]Alright, Kirika,[/i][/color] she thought grimly, [color=999999][i]showtime.[/i][/color] She hated this part.

"[color=999999]Are you [i]blind[/i] or just stupid?[/color]" She was almost impressed by how aggressive her snapping voice sounded. Or, not really aggressive. How...how [i]annoyed.[/i] Perfect. "[color=999999]Watch where you're going next time![/color]"

[i][color=999999]Ugh.[/color][/i]