"Good morning, Kitahara-san." Hayakawa Tazuna said, bowing slightly as he entered the Director's room.
"Salutations!" Director Akikawa said with a cheerful grin, showing a fan with 'Good Morning!' written across it in ink. "Apologies for the sudden call, Kitahara-san! I understand that it is still very early in the morning!"
Kitahara smiled as he shook his hand. "No, no, it's fine. I was already awake anyway." He grinned. "And besides, it's not like I have anything to do."
He wasn't exaggerating on that part. The last week had been a complete whirlwind. His Final Exam, waiting for Star's recovery, the [Arima Kinen]; it was a lot, and he was practically left with nothing to do now that it was all over. Hell, he was even able to watch some morning anime in the clubroom—a luxury he hadn't been able to afford in what felt like months.
"So, what is it?" He asked, his smile deepening slightly with worry. "There isn't another surprise Final Exam I have to do, right?"
Director Akikawa laughed cheerfully as she unfolded another fan. "Apologies! I had not meant to spring such a surprise on you! However, I believed that with your capabilities, you would have completed it without issue!" And she grinned as she snapped her fan close. "And you have performed wonderfully! You are, without a doubt, the most exemplary trainer amongst your peers!"
He sighed in relief. He was more than happy that he was in the clear. A week before, his heart had actually stopped when Director Akikawa abruptly brought out another exam after he finished his Final Exam. She'd apparently said that it was a test by Secretariat, but he didn't really register that in his panic.
…Hmm?
"Wait, are you saying I passed?" He asked.
"And with flying colors." Tazuna said, smiling proudly as she brought out a small stack of papers, with a bright A+ stamped across the front in red. "Some of your answers were certainly…novel, but there were few to no mistakes to be corrected."
"Indeed! And thus it is my honor to present to you this!" The Director pulled out a Central license—one that had Kitahara's identity stamped onto it. His eyes widened slightly, and she grinned as she walked over and placed it in his hands. "From this day onwards, you are officially a Trainer!"
"Congratulations, Kitahara-san." Tazuna said, her smile soft.
…
Tazuna's smile dimmed. "Kitahara-san?"
He remained quiet for a little longer, staring at the Central license in his hands. He didn't look all that happy, nor did he seem upset by any means. He simply stared at the license with little feeling.
Eventually, he took a small breath. "Sorry-, it's just," He smiled wryly as he waved the license around. "It feels kinda anticlimactic."
After all, even without technically a license, he'd been Team Kitahara's Trainer for two years and a half. And while being an Apprentice would've normally barred him from quite a few things, it seemed no one actually bothered to confirm his status. Everyone just assumed that he was already an official Trainer.
While other Trainers might've held onto their licenses with their lives on the line, Kitahara couldn't really find it in himself to care much.
This little card in his hands had never defined him, nor would it ever do so.
Director Akikawa hummed, frowning deeply. "Agreement. Nothing has truly changed, has it?" She asked, followed by a soft 'meow!' from the cat atop her hat. "Indeed. Something as simple as a license will not be enough as a gift to congratulate the great progress you have made."
"Hrmmm…" Director Akikawa tilted her head slightly as she fell deep in thought. She was clearly distraught over the idea of not giving him a gift that was 'grand' enough, and a budding feeling of concern quickly rose in him.
"Very well!" She shouted, and ignoring Tazuna's concerned words, she climbed atop her desk and unfurled another fan. "As the most exemplary student of your generation, you deserve a gift just as exemplary!"
"In that case, we shall hold a grand celebration to commemorate your graduation!" She shouted, snapping open a fan with 'Party!' written across it. "It shall be one of grandeur, and I shall ensure that–"
"Please don't." He said with a small grimace. "I don't mind being ultrakill, but even that's a bit too much."
"Akikawa Yayoi." Tazuna whispered, her voice as cold as ice. "Get down. Now." The Director meeped as she quickly climbed down from the desk, and her shoulders drooped as she faced Tazuna's glare. "I understand your excitement, but please refrain from doing something like that."
"S-Sorry…" She said.
He smiled wryly. The previous officials from the URA would probably have a stroke if they saw what he was seeing now.
His expression then turned thoughtful. "A party, huh?" He whispered, mulling the idea over in his head. Of course, having a celebration dedicated solely to him was a bit much even for him, but a party sounded kinda nice. It'd be a good way to bring everyone together and relax, especially after how busy everything had gotten over the past week.
And then, an idea popped in his mind.
"Why don't we have a Christmas party?"
The Director blinked. "Christmas?"
He nodded. "It's just-, I don't think anyone really here managed to celebrate Christmas, since things got a little busy." He grinned. "We might as well have a little in-school celebration. Something to bring everyone together for one last time before we go our separate ways."
Tazuna smiled. "That would be wonderful!" She hummed for a moment, before her eyes lit up. "Why don't we make it a New Years' celebration as well?"
"Ooh! A perfect suggestion!" Director Akikawa's cheer returned as she grinned, unfurling another fan as she laughed brightly. "Agreement! A party to celebrate the careers of our trainees would be perfect!" She clenched her fists in determination. "I shall do my best to invite as many guests as I can!"
He paused for a moment, before he decided to ask, "Can I invite a few people as well?" He asked, thinking of one particular person.
"Of course!" Director Akikawa smiled brightly. "This party shall be a celebration for all!"
He smiled. "Right." He then turned to Tazuna. "Can I ask you to try and invite Roppei-san as well? I would try doing it myself but–" He smiled wryly. "He'll probably just try to kill me if I tried."
Tazuna giggled before she nodded. "I shall try my best."
He hummed. "Right, in that case–"
Before he could finish however, he suddenly felt a wave of warmth wash over him. It was an all-encompassing heat, but it was also gentle, washing away the cold brought on by Winter's snowfall. He blinked for a moment, confused if he'd begun hallucinating or something.
But he then saw Tazuna and Director Akikawa's similarly shocked expression, and he narrowed his eyes. "I wasn't the only one to feel that, right?"
"No, I felt it too." Tazuna agreed, frowning slightly in worry.
"Agreement! Your senses do not deceive the both of you!" Director Akikawa quickly glanced out the window behind her, trying to see if she could spot anything strange. "Confusion! What could that have been?"
He frowned, before he smiled. "Well, why don't we look around?" He suggested. "Maybe we can find out whatever caused that."
Director Akikawa nodded, her expression turning serious. "Then let us scour this place!" She grinned brightly as he brought out another fan. "It is time for Detective Akikawa to take on the scene!"
Tazuna giggled at the Director's enthusiasm, and he couldn't help but chuckle as well.