Chapter 7: Dr. Narimoto Invites Hana for Tea

He was already there when third period ended.

Hana came out of mathematics with chalk dust on her left sleeve and found Sekigawa-sensei waiting in the corridor with the particular expression she used when delivering information she found inconvenient — lips pressed together, eyes slightly averted, as if the news were a smell she was trying not to inhale.

"There's a gentleman from the university," Sekigawa-sensei said. "A welfare liaison. He'd like a few minutes. I've said you'd come to the faculty room."