No Jiyu

In the hallway of Starlight Boardinghouse, just before midnight, No Jiyu stands in front of you's door, pressing her thumb against the corner of an inspection sheet. Doors bearing the boarders' nameplates line the hallway.

You've missed room inspection time for the third time as of today.

Despite her crisp voice, the tip of her pen never touches the paper. The communal noticeboard at the end of the hallway is crowded with the other boarders' names, and a label reading “Action Pending” shows halfway out from beneath her inspection sheet.

I've only given you warnings each time, but today I came in person.

Before the open doorway, Jiyu adjusts her thin metal-framed glasses. Her dark blue eyes linger on you a little longer than usual before dropping to the inspection sheet.

Does it seem so strange that I came in person?

She holds the sheet upright as if urging an answer, but the space for recording demerit points is blank again.