After climbing some stairs, Hinata and Callisto followed the hallway until they stopped at a door. The words "Principal's Office" were written on the name plate stuck on the door.
"This is it," Hinata turned to Callisto, a glint of confidence and support shining through his eyes as he gazed down into Callisto's. "You've been working hard with your studies for the last month, so there should be no worries. You just take your time and enjoy it."
Callisto's cat ears twitched eagerly at the young man's words, her heart warm with gratitude for his support. "Yeah. I got this."
Just before Callisto could move forward and reach for the doorknob, Hinata spoke again.
"I get why El is so eager to be classmates with you again," he started, Callisto turned to face him, tilting her head to the side in wonder. "It's fun being with you, Calli. And I feel the same way."
Callisto's breath hitched in her throat as she straightened her posture, her eyes going wide while looking at Hinata.
It wasn't just the young man confessing what he thought about being with Callisto. Much like Elesis, Hinata also wanted to become classmates with Callisto.
Hinata only said it once. Only this time when Callisto was now standing before the culmination of the efforts she made for the past month. So it caught the young lady off guard.
Until now, Callisto always felt distant despite the intimacy and closeness she shared with everyone thanks to her secret. Because of her secret, Callisto felt like all of her connections were both real and not at the same time, no matter how much she wanted for it to be only real.
This uncertain situation had been a constant, gnawing pain in her head since the start.
It was like trying to untangle an annoyingly tangled line and you couldn't seem to get anywhere around it no matter what.
It was annoying. And it was only one of many annoying tangled lines you would have to deal with after the first.
But for the first time, Callisto felt like her uncertainty didn't feel like how it was supposed to be.
For the first time, despite her secret, Callisto felt her connection with Hinata real.
It made her heart flutter in her chest, a slight, rosy hue of pink coloring her cheeks. Then, a tender smile pushing the corners of her lips up as she made her own confession.
"The truth is, I don't really mind being classmates with El again. But now, I'm not so sure anymore. Well, whatever happens, it's not like there's gonna be much of a change anyway. You guys are stuck with me whether you like it or not."
Hinata cracked into an amused laughter at the young lady's confession, his heart warm in his chest as he made a simple response.
"I guess we are. I'll see you later, Calli."
With that, Hinata walked back the same way they came from.
"Yeah."
Callisto's gaze lingered on the young man's back for a moment before turning toward the door in front of her.
One hand reached for the knob and twisted it.
Slowly, in a polite manner, Callisto pushed the door open and entered the Principal's Office.
Her curious eyes immediately scanned the surroundings after closing the door behind her. It was completely different from what she had expected.
The young lady's expectation, just like in a typical high school anime, was that of a big room that could fit multiple beds with elegant decorations and a small desk sitting in the middle.
No, this office was modest. It wasn't built to boast and indulge in one's high position, it was made with a sole purpose—to accomodate for the principal and their work.
It didn't take long before Callisto's marbles landed on the desk in the middle of the room. A man seemingly in his late 40s or early 50s was sitting there, watching the young lady in silence with a serious gleam in his eyes.
"Welcome, Miss Mandjet," the man greeted first, his tone calm and clear. "I am the Principal of Silangan High, Edmond Saranyo. I've worked here as a teacher for twelve years before I took over as the new principal of Silangan High. I've been in this position for about thirteen years now, but this is the very first peculiar situation I've been involved to."
Callisto understood he was talking about the EPT she was about to take, which was supposed to happen only during november. But because of her father, this EPT was arranged solely for her.
Callisto let out a polite chuckle, carefully thinking of the right words to respond. "You're right, it is indeed a peculiar situation. But I'm grateful that Papa, no, father was able to arrange this EPT for me."
The principal scoffed, the sound rich with amusement. "You can call Raymond Papa if that is more like it."
The young lady noticed how Edmond addressed her father's name in such a casual manner as if they've known each other for a long time now.
"Principal, are you perhaps good friends with Papa," Callisto tilted her head curiously while looking at Edmond.
Edmond bobbed his head, a delightful glint shining through his eyes before schooling his expression into that of a dignified principal. "Yeah. Raymond is a good friend of everyone in our generation. However, this doesn't mean that I'll be going soft on you for old time's sake."
"Yes, I know that."
Callisto understood the principal's statement very well. She did not come here expecting to get through the test and jump to a grade without putting in the effort.
This was what Callisto had been preparing herself for in the past four weeks and more.
"Very well," Edmond pulled a stapled sheets of paper under his desk, beckoning the young lady to seat at the chair situated in front of his desk. "You will be taking the test right here in front of me. Are you ready?"
This is it.
Steeling her resolve, Callisto made her way forward. On the way to the empty seat, the young lady's hand reached inside her handbag, grabbing the pen Hinata gave her.
Clenching her fingers around the pen as if it was Hinata's own hand she was holding for support, she sat on the chair and faced Edmond. "I'm ready."
"Well then, you may begin."