It's only right on the dot… But she didn't argue.
He was her sensei, after all.
"Yes, Sensei," she replied quietly, then turned and left.
Her footsteps faded into the distance.
Only then did Arthur turn around.
His jaw clenched as he stared at the empty space she had just occupied.
You did it again, he scolded himself. All your walls, all your discipline, and still, you let worry leak out of your mouth.
He hadn't meant to sound cold. He just couldn't help it. The thought of her cutting her sleep short just to get there early, it got to him more than he cared to admit.
He had a feeling she came early just to impress him, maybe even to make him proud.
But that only made it worse.
Instead of feeling flattered, it left a tight, uncomfortable knot in his chest. And before he could stop himself, the words had already slipped out of his mouth. Again.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration.
This was going to be harder than he thought.
