If she expected an answer from me, she did not let it show.

She slowly reached out her hand towards the side of my face. I could not move, paralyzed by authority.

Deeta gently parted the hair to the side of my head and caressed my right ear. She spoke to me, in a voice one might use to tell a young child a nugget of exciting information to stimulate their young mind.

"Did you know, Miss Wakabayashi? Back in the day, Tolks used to send spies, elves that can pass for humans usually, their knife-ears mutilated to blend in, hidden under layers of yellow hair. Just like yours."

My response was insolent.

"Back in the day? l-like fifty years back in the d-"

I immediately clenched my jaw to shut myself up. I did not know why I gave that smart answer. Well... that's a lie I suppose. I knew exactly why I said it. It's the truth. On her end she said that to intimidate me, to shame me. And maybe...well maybe I should be ashamed. I do have Tolk blood, thank you for the blonde hair, but I've been pure for three generations now.

"What did you say?" asked Principal Deeta as she straightened up and let go of my ear.

I swallowed saliva. As my liquid goes down my throat, I made a decision.

To double down.

"We are taught in history class that in the last Confederate of Tolk spies we're deported home as part of a trade to retrieve our own Commonwealth of Sol System States spies back in the 2350s." I said trying to shake and falter. "I-I was making reference to that."

Uncomfortable silence as she moved away from the desk and started walking away from the desk and off to my left. I dare not turn to look at her uninvited. Her steps were so light I could not hear them. Her next words came from somewhere behind me.

"One peculiar...note from Principal Ikari was to be aware of a certain blonde student named Wendy Wakabayashi." My eyes darted from side to side, itching to make sense of where she was, to see the expression on her face. I was being silly, of course, she had no attention of assaulting me. Still, my body tensed up.

"Now I know why, well know more why," said Deeta, her voice suddenly on my right. Thankfully I didn't jump out of my seat. Not even when she stopped and closed on me, speaking so close I can smell her perfume. "But I want to hear it from you, can you tell me why your previous principal would give me such a note, or was it a warning, hmm? Or am I supposed to anticipate something from you..."

"I-I..."

"You want to quit." she said.

"H-hai."

"But not just quit in disgrace, you want to have an honorable release from the Idol Program."

"Hai,"

"You want to be released and live your own life away from the pressures of being vessels of Mirai's message!"

"Hai!!!"

"Have you lost your faith completely, Miss Wakabayashi?"