CLUE 10: The Substitute

POV: 3rd Person

In the peaceful atmosphere of her office, Chie-sensei, the sole teacher of the quaint school nestled in the heart of the modest village of Hinamizawa, was bent over her desk. The building, housing a limited number of students across various grades, seemed calm and isolated from the tumult of the outside world.

With papers in hand and chopsticks within reach, she diligently attended to an administrative task, savoring a generous portion of curry rice, her favorite dish, between each signature. The enticing aroma wafted through the air, creating a warm and inviting ambiance.

Chie-sensei beamed with happiness, her face illuminated by a benevolent smile that underscored her contentment. She skillfully juggled between her professional duty and the gustatory pleasure, turning this daily moment into a small parenthesis of joy in her routine.

... ... ... ... ...

Suddenly, a gentle knock on the door broke the comforting silence of the room. The sound, both subtle and deliberate, suggested that someone wished to meet her. Chie-sensei's eyes lifted from her papers, a hint of intrigue sparkling in her gaze. Who could be the author of this impromptu visit? A thrill of anticipation ran down her spine, and she prepared to welcome the unknown visitor into her educational sanctuary.

Chie-sensei savored the last bite of her delicious curry, delicately placing her chopsticks on the edge of her plate. Slowly swiveling in her chair, she found herself facing the door of her office. Her face, unchanged by indulgence, reflected an apparent tranquility, but a spark of anticipation glimmered in her eyes.

The question lingered in the air: was this sudden visit expected by the sole teacher of Hinamizawa School? Judging by her reserved yet attentive demeanor, an obvious conclusion was forming. The unexpected seemed to have found its place in Chie-sensei's usual routine, awakening in her a curiosity mixed with a certain readiness to welcome this mysterious visitor.

Chie-sensei: Oh, you're already here? Great, come on in!

It took only moments after Chie-sensei uttered these words, gracefully rising from her chair and gently wiping her mouth. As soon as she assumed this posture, the door opened slowly, revealing the long-awaited silhouette of the person who had chosen this precise moment to enter Chie-sensei's office.

The newcomer, confidently entering the modest office, had an undeniably teacher-like appearance, though her demeanor markedly differed from that of Chie-sensei. The distinct click of her heels echoed in the room as she advanced with measured assurance, her face marked by severity that contrasted with Chie-sensei's gentle expression.

Teacher: Miss Chie, my apologies for this late arrival. Finding the way to this somewhat isolated school from the village proved a bit complicated.

In response to the other teacher's serious remark, Chie-sensei let out a light, sweet-tinged laugh, offering a response that contrasted with her colleague's formal and stern demeanor.

Chie-sensei: Hey, no worries, Miss Chabashira! It wasn't really urgent, you know. Classes don't start until tomorrow, after all. And besides, you're only a couple of minutes late, no big deal. No problem at all!

The newly appointed "Miss Chabashira" let out a slight sigh, crossing her arms before responding in an equally habitual manner, maintaining her characteristic posture.

Chabashira-sensei: All right then... Anyway, I'd like to know a bit more about the details of this contract, if you don't mind.

Chie-sensei: Oh, shoot, sorry, where was my head? I was just dealing with that, actually. Give me a second.

Chie-sensei walked back to the desk where she had been moments before, where her famous curry rice still lay, deliciously warm. Returning to Chabashira-sensei a few moments later, the latter looked at her seriously, holding what appeared to be a document attached to a clipboard. With her characteristic good cheer, Chie-sensei handed the file to Chabashira-sensei.

Chie-sensei: There you go, take a look if you want. Then just sign at the bottom, if you don't mind.

Chie-sensei flashed a slight smile, captured by Chabashira-sensei's gaze. However, the latter sighed lightly before firmly taking the contract handed to her by Chie-sensei. She began to peruse it with evident interest, delving into the attentive reading of the document.

Chie-sensei: Just so you know, Miss Chabashira, I'm really thrilled that our school is finally recognized as a proper educational institution, despite everything surrounding it... And I'm, of course, delighted to finally have a colleague. We can share lunch breaks with curry if you'd like, and the coffee machine here makes delicious coffee! I'm sure you'll feel right at home here, in addition to your teaching at Okinomya! The students are all full of energy, you'll see.

After Chie-sensei's enthusiastic words, she couldn't help but glance at the latter, offering a small smile. Then, she took a pen from her pocket, pressed the end to reveal the writing tip, and confidently clicked on the document.

Chabashira-sensei: Things seem rather peaceful around here. I'm glad to be part of your colleagues, Miss Chie. I've heard you're an exceptional teacher, is that right?

Chie-sensei: Well, 'exceptional' might be a bit much, but I do my best for the sake of my students. It seems you're quite competent yourself, though, an elite teacher, no less. I'm really glad you're here to lend us a hand.

Once again, Chabashira-sensei responded to Chie-sensei's smile with a slight smile of her own. She gently tapped her pen on the bottom of the document, refocusing on the task at hand, while echoing the conversation initiated by Chie-sensei.

Chabashira-sensei: If I understand the terms of the contract correctly, I'll be in charge of teaching your students here at the school on Mondays and Wednesdays, leaving you free to handle administrative tasks and important documents. The rest of the week, I'll continue my regular classes at Okinomya, right? So, if all goes well, I'll start here tomorrow... She flashed another sly smile.

Chie-sensei: Oh, absolutely! That's exactly it! Don't worry, my students are really great, you'll see.

Chabashira-sensei: I have no doubt, looking forward to it... Do you have a list of students so I can get familiar with them tomorrow? Since they're not many, I think I'll probably have them all memorized by the end of the day.

Chie-sensei: Oh, sure!! No problem, I'll get that for you right away.

Finally, Chie-sensei stood up to retrieve the list of students from her desk. Meanwhile, Chabashira-sensei, sporting a somewhat sadistic smile directed at her future students, quickly affixed her signature to the document. With a sharp click, she retracted the pen tip before neatly stowing it in her pocket.

Chabashira-sensei: "Well, things are about to get interesting with this new contract... I wonder at what level these students are, each at their own little level, of course. But well, I'm really looking forward to seeing how all of this will unfold. I'll turn them into true elites by teaching them everything I know. And it starts tomorrow. I'm really eager to see how they'll react to the special exams I've prepared for them."