章 7: 7 - First Day In Prison
The air in the Underground Student Council office was full of tension. Mari sat behind her desk, her posture rigid, her sharp blue eyes fixed on Akihiko as he strolled in with his usual air of nonchalance. Meiko stood to the side, arms crossed, while Hana leaned against the wall, twirling a pen between her fingers with a smirk that suggested she was enjoying the show.
"Ah, the queen and her court," Akihiko said, spreading his arms theatrically. "How delightful to see you all in such high spirits this morning."
Mari's eyes narrowed. "Sit down, Mochizuki-san."
He raised an eyebrow but complied, sinking into the chair opposite her desk. "To what do I owe this honor, President? Surely you're not still mad about last night?"
Mari's fingers tapped against the desk in a slow, deliberate rhythm. "Last night, you undermined the authority of the USC by interfering in an official matter. And now, I find myself questioning your judgment in more ways than one."
Akihiko tilted his head, feigning curiosity. "My judgment? Do enlighten me, President. What have I done this time?"
"You knew," Mari said, her voice as sharp as a blade. "You knew those boys were planning to peep on the girls' bathhouse, and yet you did nothing to stop them."
Akihiko's smirk faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered. "Ah, so that's what this is about. You're holding me accountable for their stupidity?"
Mari leaned forward, her gaze icy. "You were complicit through inaction. By failing to prevent their misconduct, you share in their guilt. The USC cannot overlook such negligence, especially from someone in your position."
"Someone in my position?" Akihiko echoed, his tone teasing but his eyes sharp. "Careful, President. That almost sounds like you're singling me out."
"Shut your filthy mouth..." Meiko was seething with rage at seeing Akihiko behaving disrespectfully, but Mari's raised hand made her stop.
Mari ignored his jibe, her voice steady and commanding. "The primary goal of the USC is to crack down on any illicit sexual relations. It has been a part of the school since its inception, and I will not allow anyone, not even you, to compromise that mission."
Akihiko leaned back, his smirk returning. "And here I thought you just wanted an excuse to throw me in your little jail. Admit it, President, you enjoy having me around too much to let me go."
The tension in the room thickened as Mari's gaze hardened. "This is not a joke, Mochizuki-san. Your actions, or lack thereof, have consequences."
"Consequences?" he said, leaning forward with a challenging glint in his eyes. "Fine. If you think I deserve to be punished, go ahead. But be honest with yourself, Mari. This isn't about justice. This is about control. Don't take me for a stupid guy." Akihiko looked at Mari with murderous intent, not even hiding his disdain for her. He hated injustice more than anything. His ancestors, his grandfather, his parents, all fought for this cause. And this misandrist girl acts like a bitch just for her selfishness?
Mari's lips tightened into a thin line, but she didn't respond immediately. The room was silent except for the faint sound of Hana's pen tapping against her clipboard. What was that look just now? The vice president had even raised her arms reflexively in case Akihiko tried something.
Finally, Mari spoke, her voice calm but cold. "You're dismissed for now, Mochizuki-san. But don't think for a second that this is over. I will decide how best to deal with your... behavior."
Mari looked at Akihiko with a mixture of strange feelings, seeing his gaze she didn't know why she felt uncomfortable.
She knew those eyes. Disappointment, the same feeling she carries when she catches her father looking at indecent things.
"You disappoint me, Mari. I thought you were a smart girl, what a disappointment. Seriously, what is this stupid arrangement of my grandfather?" He muttered the last part while placing his arm protectively towards his face.
"And now, do I have to deal with your dog?" Akihiko looked at Meiko who tried to hit his face with her leg.
Meiko's glasses almost fell off from her anger, she couldn't help but try to hit him when he talked about her president with such rudeness. To her surprise, he blocked her like it was nothing.
"That's enough Meiko, let him go." Mari stared at her desk, unable to keep eye contact with Akihiko as she felt a knot in her stomach.
She reluctantly pulled away as Akihiko resumed his usual smile, ignoring everything that just happened.
As he turned to leave, he glanced at Meiko and Hana, giving them a wink. "Ladies, always a pleasure."
The door closed behind him, and Mari let out a slow breath, her fingers tightening around the edge of her desk.
"President," Meiko said, her voice low but firm. "Are you sure we shouldn't act now?"
Mari shook her head, her expression unreadable. "No. We'll wait. He'll slip up again, and when he does, we'll ensure he understands the full weight of the USC's authority."
Hana chuckled softly, her smirk widening. "This is gonna be fun."
---
Later in the day, Mari summoned Akihiko back to the USC office. This time, she sat alone, the usual presence of Meiko and Hana absent, though their imposing presence lingered in the atmosphere. Akihiko entered with his usual air of indifference, but there was a slight edge to his step, a sign that the prior meeting had irked him more than he let on.
"Back so soon?" he drawled, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Miss me already?"
Mari ignored his taunt, her blue eyes colder than ever. "Sit down, Mochizuki-san. This time, we're cutting to the chase."
Akihiko sighed dramatically but took the seat, resting one ankle on his knee. "Alright, President. Impress me."
Mari clasped her hands together, her posture as unyielding as her gaze. "You leave me no choice but to issue an ultimatum."
"Ultimatum?" Akihiko raised an eyebrow, his smirk fading slightly.
"You have two options," Mari said, her tone devoid of any warmth. "Either I pursue every avenue to ensure your expulsion from this school, or you join the Underground Student Council as an advisor."
Akihiko blinked, his confident demeanor momentarily faltering. "You want me to join your little dictatorship? You must be joking." He looked at Mari with fishy eyes. Seriously, what kind of balls does she have to say that to him? This girl is fucking crazy.
"I'm completely serious," Mari said sharply. "If you're part of the council, I can keep a closer eye on you. And if you refuse..." She let the sentence hang in the air, her meaning clear.
Akihiko let out a short laugh, leaning back in his chair. "So that's your grand plan? Force me into your fold so you can micromanage my life? Hate to break it to you, President, but I don't care if I get expelled. The only reason I'm here is because of my grandfather's ridiculous wishes. Do your worst."
Mari's eyes narrowed, but her expression remained unreadable. "I thought you'd say that. Is this your last choice?" It was the best choice for her rather to have him around.
Akihiko's smirk disappeared entirely, replaced by a scowl. His grandfather's words echoed in his mind: "Endure everything, Akihiko. This school is important to you, you don't know it yet but you will discover it very quickly. Stay there at all costs."
He clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he fought back his rising frustration. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath.
Mari's gaze remained steady, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes as she watched him struggle with his decision.
Finally, Akihiko exhaled sharply and sat up straight, his voice laced with bitterness. "Fine. You win. I'll join your council."
Mari's lips curved into a small, victorious smile. "Good. But don't think for a second that this means I trust you. I'll be watching your every move, Mochizuki-san, and the moment you step out of line, I won't hesitate to act."
Akihiko rose from his seat, his movements stiff with suppressed anger. "And don't think for a second that I'm doing this for you."
Mari's smile didn't waver. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."
Without another word, Akihiko turned on his heel and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
In the silence that followed, Mari allowed herself a moment of satisfaction. He'll crack eventually. They all do.
She didn't know why she liked this feeling, the broken facade of this man gave her satisfaction. It was weird but not unpleasant, she understood that this man was special. But no matter what, a man is still a man.
But as she stared at the closed door, she couldn't shake the unease she felt from the look in Akihiko's eyes. It wasn't fear or submission. It was something far more dangerous: defiance.
---
Hana was waiting for Akihiko just outside the USC office, her arms crossed and her lips curled in a faint smirk. She'd clearly overheard some of the conversation.
"Looks like you're stuck with us, Mochizuki-san," she teased, her tone mockingly polite.
Akihiko shot her a side glance, uninterested. "Lead the way, Midorikawa-san. I'd hate to keep your beloved Vice President waiting."
Her smirk faded for a moment, replaced by a flicker of irritation. "You really don't know when to shut up, do you?"
He shrugged lazily, stuffing his hands into his pockets as they walked through the hallways. The tension between them hung in the air. Despite her annoyance, Hana couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity about this arrogant boy who had the audacity to mouth off to Mari.
"I don't get you," she said after a moment.
"Good," Akihiko replied, his tone flat. "Let's keep it that way."
Her eyes narrowed. "You should be grateful. Mari could have expelled you. Instead, she's giving you a chance to be useful."
Akihiko snorted. "Useful? Is that what you call it? More like being her puppet."
Hana stopped in her tracks, stepping in front of him to block his path. "Watch your mouth. Mari is ten times the person you'll ever be."
Akihiko looked down at her, his face calm but his tone edged with mockery. "And yet she sent you to babysit me. Must be a real blow to your ego, huh?"
Hana's fist clenched, but she forced herself to take a deep breath. "You're lucky she sees something in you, even if I don't."
He smirked and gestured for her to continue walking. "You're right, I am lucky. Lead on, guide dog."
Hana's eye twitched, but she bit her tongue and turned, muttering under her breath as they resumed their walk.
When they arrived at the prison yard, the boys were already hard at work, or at least pretending to be. Gakuto was attempting to balance a plank on his head, Andre was staring at Meiko with hearts in his eyes, and Shingo and Kiyoshi were bickering over the proper way to hammer a nail.
Meiko stood nearby, arms crossed and her piercing gaze drilling into the boys as she barked orders. "Stop slacking! This wall isn't going to build itself!"
The boys scrambled to look busy, their fear of Meiko overriding their lack of enthusiasm.
Akihiko took one look at the chaotic scene and sighed. "This is what passes for punishment? No wonder they're not taking it seriously."
But something is weird, it's like they're being lazy on purpose to get punished. Seeing the expectation towards Meiko in some of their eyes, cold sweats formed on his face. These guys definitely don't have tendencies like that, right? Hell, what kind of punishment does she give them?
Meiko turned sharply, her glasses glinting in the sunlight. "Mochizuki. You're late."
"Blame your President," he said with a smirk. "She kept me busy."
Her jaw tightened, and she strode toward him, her whip slung across her shoulder. "I don't need your excuses. You're here to help me, not to crack jokes."
Akihiko raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Relax, Vice President. I'm here to help." He glanced at the boys, who were watching the interaction with a mix of amusement and dread. "But let's be honest, this isn't working."
It's only been one day since these boys started working. He had heard that they were supposed to make some sort of barricade around the prison in a few days, probably Mari's idea. But at this rate, they'll never finish in time. They haven't even done a third of the wall.
Meiko's eyes narrowed. "And what exactly do you suggest?"
If his hypothesis is correct, he has an idea to make things go faster. These boys make him feeling pity, a little help is not to be held back.
He smirked, stepping closer until he was right in front of her. "A little competition."
Before she could respond, he reached out and lightly tapped her lips with his finger, silencing her. "Relax, Shiraki-san. It'll be fun."
Her face turned crimson with a mix of rage and embarrassment as she stepped back, gripping her whip tightly. "You arrogant..."
Akihiko raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, hey, no need for violence. Just hear me out."
The boys watched in stunned silence as Akihiko outlined his plan.
"Listen to me, whoever contributed the most to the construction of the wall will receive a punishment from the Vice President."
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