The first thing that Shiki registers when she opens the door is a sword to her face.

' An unusual welcome, and not one that she can say is very appreciated here.

Her immediate reaction is to tilt her head aside and raise her sheathed sword, avoiding the blow whilst simultaneously knocking the offending weapon askance. The blade whistles past her ear, sending a few strands of long white hair flying up into the air.

Behind her, Okkotsu-san lets out a small, startled yelp, even though he 's standing a safe distance away from any immediate danger. His apparent lack of confidence in Shiki 's ability to protect him is ' mildly vexing, in a way, but it 's also completely understandable from Okkotsu-san 's perspective. They

had

been forcibly separated upon entering the school with no forewarning whatsoever, after all, mere moments after Shiki had told him to stay close to her so she could defend him with her cursed technique.