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Ranmaru hummed as he strolled around Hyakki Academy. He inhaled deeply and sighed loudly out into the mostly silent area. Everyone was in class, so no one was really walking around, aside from a few students here and there.
“Ahhh… working here was oh, so long ago…” He looked around. He’d been in the school before, but seeing as how he was getting chased then, he didn’t get too good of a look. “Man, Acchan really cleaned up the place.”
“Is there a reason you’re here, Sensei?”
He sharply turned around and saw Akira sitting on the fence on a floor above him. In a swift jump, he made his way down to Ranmaru and smiled at him.
“Just looking around, Akira-kun~!”
“Oh, is that so?” He slowly pulled out a syringe and pointed it at him. “Well then, would you like to help me test something, Senseeeiii?”
Ranmaru’s eyes widened at the weapons and slowly shook his head. He began to slowly back up and smiled nervously.
“Ah… um… w-well– not really, I woul– Yamazaki-kun!”
Akira quickly turned and saw the cop walking past them. Akira was distracted and rushed over to his best friend and began talking to him. Ranmaru took the chance and dashed away from the duo. He found his way over to Douman’s office and stepped in.
“Oh, Acchaaaan~!”
Upon hearing his voice, Douman sighed and removed his mask, watching the man step through his door.
“Oh lord, why are you here?”
“It’s my day off! So, I wanted to come and see you!”
“Day off?” He scoffed. “Wouldn’t that simply be every day? You are, currently, unemployed, my friend. I mean…”
“Hey, I work!”
“Gambling in pachinko parlors don’t count as ‘work’, and you know that.”
Ranmaru crossed his arms and huffed. “Well, it’s earning money.”
“In a way, yeah. Only works if you actually earn money.” Douman frowned at him and crossed his arms. “Why won’t you work here again? You’d get a more stable income and actually earn money to keep the lights on.”
“And what?” Ranmaru scoffed. “Just to teach more smart alec-y youkai, none of which who are filthy, filthy rich.”
“Ah yes… you did take a liking to the more wealthy students.” Douman clicked his tongue. “Well, they may not be as rich as Akira, but Nyuudou-kun and Maizuka-kun are both rich themselves. Not to mention Akira’s kids.”
“That guy has kids…?”
“Adopted, but yes.”
“Huh… but those other two…”
“Though, Abe-sensei is their teacher.” Douman pulled out a box of cigarettes and handed Ranmaru one, before lighting them both.
“Damn…”
Douman rolled his eyes, before going quiet. “...You know, there is always a spot for you here. …In case you want–”
“Acchan, you’ve already paid me back.”
He looked up and glared at him. “I haven’t pai–”
“You’ve done enough.”
Ranmaru stared at him while Douman stared at the ground. He watched Douman for a bit and considered walking over to do… something. But… he didn’t. He had to decide against it, but… he kind of wanted to.
“Acchan.”
“What.”
“You paid me back by keeping me as long as you had. That was more than enough, especially for keeping me for some-hundred years.”
“...But… are you sure it was enough?”
“Absolutely certain.”
Douman frowned deeply at him and sighed. “But… you gave me so much , and I feel like… I haven’t given enough back.”
“Listen… I really didn’t give you that much. …I really didn’t. With everything that I did… honestly, I should be the one who has to give back to you.”
Douman looked up at him and nodded. Ranmaru nodded back at him and turned to walk out, before giving him a bright smile over his shoulder.
“I’m gonna go spend the rest of my day off on other things! Bye-bye, Acchan!” He skipped out of his office, putting the cigarette out on the doorway.
Douman watched him and took a puff of the smoke. He was left alone in his office, watching the sunbeam move across his floor, before sighing softly.