I’m glad my back is turned as I return my iPhone to my purse on the shelf. I think my heart just skipped a beat. Where have I heard that phrase before?

“I just rested all day,” says Ryoko. “Too tired.”

“Me, too,” Kana says. “I was so burned out. So many kids!” She shudders. “I’m already looking forward to the next holiday.”

“February twelfth,” Yoshino examines a calendar on the wall. “It falls on a Monday, of course.”

“Boo. Isn’t there something before that?”

“You’re thinking of Setsubun. That doesn’t count. Especially since it’s going to involve spring cleaning this whole school on a freaking Saturday.”

“So, it’ll be the exact opposite of a holiday.” Kana pretends to melt. “Ah mou, shindoooi!”

We all laugh, but I find myself rubbing my chest. Maybe I too am looking forward to another holiday. Or maybe I’m weirded out by the mental image of Yoshino laying the smackdown on a grandma half her size. Either way, I psych myself up in time for the sounds of another wave of clients stepping off the elevator. No time to dwell. School has officially begun.

The teachers all gather their boxes from under the counter and head off to their respective lessons. While I arrange my work on the counter, I notice Yoshino is the last teacher to collect her things. “Can’t believe it’ll only be three months until we’re done here,” I say to her.

Yoshino pouts. “I know. What is this school going to do without our awesomeness?”

“I doubt they’ll even notice.”

“Oh, they will. When it’s too late.” Yoshino temples her fingers and steps out into the reception desk just as Manager barks her name. On the other side of the door I can hear them talking about arranging makeup classes from October’s “emergency holiday.” The holiday our school is still reeling from, despite all the new students we managed to enrol.

I sit down and take stock of the staff room. I feel … I don’t know. Different. Like everything changed so suddenly, and I didn’t even notice until now. Yuki and Yuri were sorely missed when they were transferred to the Osaka branch. Jun got married and moved to Yokohama. Misaki quit in the blink of an eye. Yoshino and I are the only teachers who will finish off a complete school year. Seri will be gone soon, now that kids are starting to ask hilarious questions: “What happened to your tummy? Are you sick? A BABY?! But Mama says you’re not married! Who’s your husband? Why doesn’t he make you wear rings? How did a baby get in your tummy?” Scandalous stuff on top of all the abrupt departures.

Manager slides the staff room door open and steps in, rubbing his neck in a nervous gesture. “Ah, Cybelle?”

“That’s my name.”