As the Blazing Dragons began their song on stage, Ms. Smith watched her students sing their hearts out.

I remember dances like this back at St. Hermelin... Heh, I chaperoned most of those dances since I started teaching there... My God, they were just like this... Frank, Ellen, Alex, Brad, and Nate would usually provide the entertainment...

Saeko Smith took one last sip from her cup. Noting that it was now empty, she turned to the teacher beside her.

"Excuse me, Jennifer. I'll be back in a moment." The Japanese-American teacher said before making her way back over to the refreshment table. As she was refilling her cup, a young, deep voice spoke out. It wasn't one of the students, but someone just a little older.

"Um... er... The voice said nervously. Ms. Smith turned and was looking at Jim Vagger. She looked up, and noticed the golden fur, along with brown around one eye, looking down at her nervously.

Wow... his eyes... They're beautiful... I could get lost just looking at them... one gray, one green...

"Jim! I didn't know you were behind me..." Ms. Smith said with a chuckle, before turning back to the stage. In a moment, the woren beside her turned to look at the students who were currently singing, "I'm a Believer".

"Jim, I honestly thought this dance would be different..." Ms. Smith started before taking a sip of her punch. "It's like the ones back at the school where I used to work... Even three of the students up there used to be in my homeroom class..."

"Saeko, right?" Vagger asked as his ears flicked lightly. When he got a nod of approval from his coworker, he continued. "They used to be your students? Who?"

Ms. Smith just turned to the woren and smiled, before turning back to the stage. "Those students up there..." Saeko said as she pointed her former pupils. "Frank Maynard, Ellen Johnson, and Brad Terranama." Ms. Smith said before turning back to Vagger. "Nate Trinity also used to be my student... and that girl over there?" Saeko said before pointing to a Japanese teenager who was currently taking pictures. "That's Yuki Kauro... Another former student of mine..."

"Trinity?" Vagger said as his tail flicked back and forth. "He's in my first period history class. He's a nice kid, but sometimes..."

"He can be a handful. I know, Jim..." Saeko said before sipping her punch.

"So...um..." Vagger said rather nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Where did you used to teach?"

"St. Hermelin High School..." Ms. Smith said as she set her cup down.

"St. Hermelin?" Vagger asked as his tail waved back and forth in confusion. "I've never heard of that school..."

Ms. Smith just chuckled before she looked back up at the woren. "I wouldn't be surprised, Jim. It's a lot like this school... the staff was nice... save for George Harding..." Saeko said with a sigh.

"Oh?" Vagger said before staring down at the Japanese-American teacher. "What was he like?"

"He hated students, Jim... He hated them with a passion. How he held on to his position as Dean of Administrations for so long is beyond my comprehension. In fact... he was the one who came here to kill them..."

"I remember that..." Vagger said quietly. Truthfully, he was in shock after hearing what George Harding was like.

There was an awkward silence shared between both teachers, before the woren decided to break the silence.

"I actually went to school here... It was such a nice place, I decided to come back..." Jim said with an awkward smile. Ladon, she probably thinks you're a loser now...

Ms. Smith just chuckled before looking back up at the woren. "Funny you should say that... I did the same thing back at St. Hermelin... I came here as a substitute, and... well... The kids grew on me. I couldn't bear to leave them. So I decided to transfer..."

Once more, both human and woren shared an awkward silence. Again, Jim Vagger broke the silence.

"Saeko... er... would you like to dance? I mean, this is a dance and all..." Vagger said as his tail swished back and forth nervously. Ladon, now you've done it, Vagger! You really do sound like a loser.

Ms. Smith just smiled warmly at the woren. "I would love that, Jim..."

Jim Vagger's ears perked at Ms. Smith's answer. In an instant, both teachers were on the dance floor, dancing with one another. Most students gave them an odd look, but otherwise left them to their privacy.

The two teachers continued to dance close to one another, and despite the tempo of the song, they danced slowly.

Ms. Smith looked into Vagger's eyes once more as they continued to dance. Oh my... He's... wow... Is he...

"Saeko?" Jim said quietly as he looked at the Japanese-American teacher. "Is it okay?"

"Hmm?" Ms. Smith said as she looked up at the woren. "Is what okay?"

"Saeko... um... is it right? Is it professional to be doing this? I mean, we work together..." Vagger said as the tip of his tail flicked nervously.

Ms. Smith just smiled, and leaned up, kissing him on the cheek lightly. "I think it would be okay... Jim... I..."

Vagger just smiled at Ms. Smith as they continued to dance. When the song came to a close, he looked at Saeko nervously. "So... would you like to go out for dinner after the dance?"

"Jim... I'd love that..." Ms. Smith said with a smile. Around them, students began to clap, thoroughly embarrassing both teachers.

"Ahem..." Mrs. Wireman said as she came up to both teachers. "I am certainly hoping..." The grassrunner teacher said as she removed her spectacles and cleaned them. "That I will not have to chaperone the chaperones tonight."

"Oh my! Jim! I'm sorry!" Ms. Smith said in embarrassment. "I'll see you later tonight, okay?" With that, Saeko Smith disappeared into the crowd of students, leaving Vagger there, who had the widest smile known to anyone on his face.

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