In the morning, Kai checked in with his appearance in the mirror. He removed the facial hair that had been accumulating over the last few days and tried to clean himself up as much as possible before pressing his clothes and heading out.
Coffee and fresh hot bread for breakfast before he caught the train, the gentle hum of the city and the softness of the morning light were more interesting to him today as a break in his routine.
School kids began to come on gradually, which was nothing out of the ordinary, but when he was due to depart, he was cut off by a group in winter blazers and he noticed that their colours matched those of the school he was headed to.
They apologised and Kai waved it off as inconsequential.
"Er, Kamina High School? I'm attending an interview there."
One of the boys nodded and stayed back on the platform to provide him with instructions for reception, but paused when he mentioned the JMA program, scratching the back of his head and smiling.
"Oh you must mean the other campus? I think they're with us officially, but we never see any of them. We never even see any of the teachers either, but I guess they only started this year. Principal Nakayama goes over there sometimes though..."
Kai frowned and showed the address he was given to the boy.
"Yeah, that's them. They're attached to our school behind the carpark, right at the top of the hill, supposed to be quiet for therapy reasons I guess?"
The boy shrugged with a polite smile and left to catch up with his friends, leaving Kai to pause briefly before deciding to move on. Checking his watch, he hurried on.
After seeing reception and receiving a visitor's pass, he exited, walking around to the teachers' car-park, Kai noted he could only see the corner of a building off at a distance at the top of the hill. It was surrounded by trees and vegetation and signs along the fenceline periodically warned of trespassers not being welcome.
Other signs informed the land was being revitalised as part of a re-vegetation program. Artificially constructed wetlands hugged around the base of the hill and school farm buildings appeared to be attached to them on the far side.
Kai noted in mild interest that a mechanical gate and intercom were present at the end of the car-park; Kai pushed the button and did his best to stand professionally in front of the camera. After a few moments of silence, the intercom crackled to life.
"Name?"
Kai held up his visitors pass to the camera.
"I'm Kai Fukami, here for the 9 O'clock interview."
A sudden buzz and a click and the gate began rattling across its tracks.
"Follow the road up until you reach the main building Mr Fukami, buzz again to get in, thank you."
Kai looked back at the school once, listening to the sounds of school commencing before turning his gaze over the wetlands as he proceeded up the driveway.
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