Long legs crossed below, business attire included black skirt, heels, and blazer on a white blouse. Crisp, sharp padded shoulders besieged by a slender neck and long black hair. Teardrop shaped glasses framed piercing red... No, hazel eyes. He thought they were red at first, it was a trick of the light. Her presence in the room was commanding, she was obviously spearheading the interview.
She appeared to be judging him silently too, her knowing stare silently sizing him up. She held an open hand to the seat in front of her. As she spoke, all he could focus on were the orders spoken by two very confident lips and the smile that followed.
"Please take a seat Mr Fukami. My name in Akane Takahashi. Hmm?"
She glanced to her right with a slightly different smile to the man beside her. It was a subtle change, but enough for Kai to come a little to his senses. It seemed, mechanical, as if she was hiding some level of irritation at the man's presence.
"Ohh, yes, School Principal, Mr.-"
"Nakayama, Shin Nakayama" he interrupted with a smile. He appeared to be a man in his mid to late 50's shaved head and a tidy grey moustache, he dressed in a teal suit with a green tie sporting the school emblem. "Nice to meet you Mr Fukami."
Kai replied appropriately, but something drew him back to the woman's gaze, a cold sharp stare of contempt she held towards the man, but only for a split moment before she snapped forward with a tilt of her head and a smile.
"Though our program is officially independent to the school, we share a contractual duty to comply with their policies, so Mr Nakayama will be a part of today's interview panel, please be seated."
"You're most certainly correct Miss Takahashi". The principal gives Kai a generous smile, before changing to a more serious expression.
"When I was informed we could be allowing just anyone within our school walls"
"This is not the ti-" Akane attempts to interject with a sharp glance
"I was angry... I have always valued studious staff with only the very best qualifications, BUT, when I saw the way results landed as they did with several previous teachers, I realised I needed to broaden my mind, so I'll allow the interview, if it's a matter of having the right personalit-"
Kai was surprised at the open conflict before him, but what he was most concerned about was another momentary death stare from Miss Takahashi. Again it was only for a split second, but he could swear it looked at though her eyes were about to burst out of their sockets.
"Do you like baseball, Mr Fukami?" The man looked at Kai expectantly, almost hopeful as he waited for an answer. He gently picked up a bat that had been leaning against the desk and held it gingerly in front of him with both hands.
Kai paused a moment, taken aback by the question... "Eh-I can't say I would know sir".
His moustache stretches a little in disappointment, but he goes on with a shrug;
"It's a team sport, like any other, but quite popular here. But on a world stage, it's not really taken very seriously. The Olympics unfortunately refuse to accept it on a professional level. I know the committees have their reasons, but someday I'd love to see it become an Olympic recognised sport. But it must be given a chance, much like the children Miss Takahashi represents. And perhaps, much like you."
Mr Nakayama smiles warmly again at Kai who is a little taken aback by the kind analogy before he clears his throat to respond.
"Uh, thank you sir"
"Very good" Miss Takahashi responds in a dry undertone, one eyebrow raised as she shuffles some papers on the desk, "I think we will proceed now."
"Oh yes of course", Mr Nakayama responds politely. "Your qualifications are not particularly strong, but I have verified their authenticity, here you go Miss."
"Yes, good." She scans through the documentation quickly before shuffling to the next page.
Kai begins to answer their questions, the veritable hum of bureaucracy dulls his senses as he proceeds through the interview process. He proceeds to smile and answer politely, making the necessary hand gestures to occasionally emphasise his good points as he has rehearsed in his mind time and time again and tries his best to appear enthusiastic, but despite all this his eyes are dead and lifeless.
"Final question Mr Takahashi, are you happy to sit through a psych test? These students you must understand are uh... hmm, well." She smiles a moment before speaking a little more slowly. "They need stability or there'll be a problem".
"Oh, uh, of course", Kai responds automatically, but notices it again, just for a moment, her eyes appear completely different, like she can barely hold back an intense emotion or something, then it's gone.
Scary
He was now rethinking whether this job was good to take. Maybe they're bad to work for and can't find the staff. Maybe he's walking into a-
"Oh you're so cooperative with my requests Mr Takahashi, I have a good feeling about you." She stands up with a smile, gesturing to Mr Toki, who has been mostly silent the whole time. Come to think of it, all he really did was observe and take notes. "Mr Toki will see you to the room next door for testing and then see you out."
"Thank you for your time, I look forward to a favourable outcome", Kai responds standing straight and nodding in response.
No he didn't, what on earth was this place and what was he thinking even considering the job?
As he stood up to leave, he noticed the Principal stand up and head out whilst Miss Takahashi's focus remained on Kai.
She continued to watch as Mr Toki closed the door, then alone, her pouty lips stretched into an eerie smile across her face, wicked, cruel and calculating.
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