Ch. 33

                                    

                                          
𝑹𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒊𝒙 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒇 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒐.
   "𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧? 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 2 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤." Yaga uneasily studied his favorite pupil, noting the straight posture she wore and how neat the uniform adorning her was. She appeared to be the same student he began to teach months ago, if one would factor out the mostly white hair, but something had changed in a good way. 
   Rintaro perkily sat in the chair directly across from her teacher to maintain his everlasting attention. This morning, it was her goal to leave the dorm earlier to make sure she caught him while he was still in his office, so they could talk privately.  "Are you sure, Gojo? You know I'm not fond of jokes." 
   "Yeah, I feel energized and I have the motivation to get out of bed again, so why not?" A wide smile spread across her cheeks as the thought of returning to class with her friends and brother brought her comfort. "Plus, I crammed all of Suguru's notes in yesterday and I need to cement it while I can." 
   "You we're supposed to study them over a period of time, that's how you engrave it in your mind." Yaga kept his attitude at bay and decided to disappointedly roll his eyes behind his dark shades instead. However, he knew he couldn't expect anything less from a Gojo. 
   "Please, Sensei. I haven't been in class in so long, I just want to get that last mission out of my head." Rintaro's hands found themselves pressed forcefully together at the growing frustration the stubborn adult before her caused. "That mission was a mistake Rintaro, and I'm sorry for that." Yaga's voice loudly filled the square shape of the small office. 
   "If you want to repair that mistake, then just let me have a normal school life again. It won't harm you, I like to answer questions in class, you know this." Rintaro silently fell uncomfortable in the atmosphere created by the memory of her death day. 
   The white hair neatly tucked behind her ear fell forward with the tilt of her head. Now, breaking Yaga's meeting gaze to pitifully stare at her shoes. She absolutely hated hearing about the mission. 
   "Gojo listen, as much as I'd love to finally have someone eagerly raise their hand in class, I think we should give it another day." The dark haired adult watched the top of her head and began to focus on the cursed energy lingering in her small frame. "With that being said, I'll let you return to class tomorrow, after you spend the day with Panda. He's been asking for you." 
   "Wait, you're letting me see him?" Rintaro quickly looked up, stars beaming from her Six Eyes. Her hands found themselves gripping at the sides of the cushion beneath her, the excitement within growing and ready to explode. "I kinda thought I lost your trust with him, since I couldn't defend myself." 
   "You were targeted, it was unavoidable." Yaga lifted his ankle that crossed over his supporting knee before brushing invisible dust from his clothed thighs. 
   "You're dismissed, Rintaro. The real test starts now, if you can make it to that room easily I'll know you're back for sure, and if not then we may have to postpone your return." The teacher leaned forward and shifted his weight onto his toes as he stood menacingly before the young girl. 
   "I won't let you down, Sensei!" Rintaro deeply inhaled to fully fill her lungs before exhaling. Her feet slammed against the ground loudly, signaling her determination. With a quick push from the arm rests, she stood before the teacher. She bowed before him in gratitude and respect and took her leave through the sliding door.