The Gray Booklet never reached Iruka's hands.
When Che saw it happen, he was standing in the shade of a tree outside the Academic Affairs Room.
Before morning class, Iruka had sent him to get a new portrait box. The reason was perfectly legitimate—the box had been left in the Academic Affairs Room after yesterday's makeup assessment. When Che reached the door, he heard voices inside and naturally slowed his steps.
Mizuki's voice came first.
"I'll finish sorting through these records tonight and give them to you tomorrow morning."
Iruka said, "The Gray Booklet should have stayed in the Academic Affairs Room."
"I'm only taking it back to copy the grouping recommendations. You know things have been busy since the classes merged."
Papers snapped shut.
Through the crack in the door, Che saw Mizuki slip the Gray Booklet into his document bag. Iruka stood beside the desk, his expression unpleasant. The Office of Academic Affairs clerk was absent, and only several stacks of practice forms lay on the desk.
"You can write the grouping recommendations here," Iruka said.
Mizuki smiled. "Aren't you being too nervous? They're just student records."
"That is precisely why."
Neither of them raised his voice. Yet the air in the Academic Affairs Room had tightened like a wooden stick about to snap. Mizuki did not put the Gray Booklet back, merely fastened his document bag shut.
"I'll return it before afternoon."
He turned and headed out.
Che had no time to hide, so he simply raised a hand and knocked on the doorframe.
"Sir, the portrait box."
When Mizuki saw him, he smiled. "You always arrive at just the right time."
Che smiled back. "My luck's been busy lately."
Mizuki passed by him with the document bag pressed against his arm. From the corner of his