Might as well say this now, I'm really weird when choosing the titles of characters. I used a mixture of the Japanese and English names. Therefore SHSL becomes Ultimate, but in the case of Ishimaru I'd use Hall Monitor over Moral Compass, ending up with the Ultimate Hall Monitor.
Hopefully this doesn't bother you too much~!
Chapter Two - Say That Again
Mondo Owada stared. This wasn't happening right? No way. No way in fucking hell. No way in a million fucking years in fucking hell was this happening.
Mondo watched as some brat sat in his desk, eating his lunch. Sure, technically this was a different classroom, but whatever. The kid had short blonde hair, with two lines shaved into the sides of his head. He wore a fancy suit, but his face was that of a baby. Besides him stood a girl, with silver hair and piercing red eyes. On her back appeared to be some stick wrapped up? Kendo? She adjusted her glasses as she noticed Mondo walk in.
But this didn't matter to Mondo. He set his targets on the kid eating his burger.
Mondo started slowly walking up to the kid, raising his fists and cracking his knuckles. A sadistic smile began to form on his face, but before he could reach the runt the girl intervened, stepping in between the two.
"Hey missy, get outta the fucking way. I got some beef with this kid." Mondo grunted, cracking his knuckles again.
"What would some street thug like you want with me?" said the blonde kid, talking with his mouth open. As he spoke he sprayed bits of Mondo's hamburger everywhere.
Does this kid have no fucking manners? Mondo looked back and forth between the boy and the girl. Looks like I'll be beating two lessons into his head.
"Listen up you snot-faced brat. You see that hamburger you're eating? That's mine. You see who's eating it? Not me. That right there is a fucking problem!" Mondo yelled, punching his fists together.
"Honestly, I couldn't care less." laughed the boy, taking another bite. "And you look fucking ridiculous. What the hell's up with your hair? It's like you attached some ridiculously large deformed corn cob on your head." The boy smirked. "Or maybe you're compensating for something else?"
Oh, this kid is definitely going to end up a smear on the road.
While Mondo thought of ways to beat him up, a loud voice suddenly reverberated throughout the classroom.
"What is the meaning of this, comrades?"
Mondo looked towards the door and saw one of his classmates, Kiyotaka Ishimaru standing at the entrance. The girl quickly stepped down, standing back beside the boy.
The boy groaned. "Another one?" He finished the rest of the burger, and pulled a napkin from his pockets to wipe his hands and mouth.
This kid. At first Mondo had thought they would be at each other's throat. I mean the Ultimate Biker Gang Leader and the Ultimate Hall Monitor being friendly to each other? After Mondo's first display of, ah, 'reckless violence disturbing the peace', Ishimaru had challenged him in a contest after insulting his strength. However, they quickly discovered they actually had a lot in common and since then have developed a mutual respect for the other and became fast friends.
"What are you doing here, bro?" Mondo said, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. He lowered his arms and put them to his sides, looking down.
"What am I doing here? I was called upon here to keep the peace after hearing reports of yelling and fighting going on within this very classroom!" Ishimaru stated, pointing a finger. "Bro, I expected better of you! To fight with our fellow students in this temple of learning! Especially with students of the class above us!"
"You know this runt?" Mondo pointed towards the boy, who visibly stiffened.
"Of course I do! I not only patrol and keep peace within our classroom, but the halls of this school as well! It's in my title! It is my duty to know the names of every student!" Ishimaru crossed his arms, looking satisfied with himself. "The boy is Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu, the Ultimate Gangster! The girl is Peko Pekoyama, the Ultimate Swordswoman!" Ishimaru turned towards Kuzuryuu and Pekoyama. "Let me formally introduce myself! I am-"
"Look, I don't really give a fuck." sighed Kuzuryuu. Ishimaru looked aghast, lost for words that he had been cut off. "But I dare you to open your mouth again thug. Say that again. I fucking dare you." Kuzuryuu finished, glaring at Mondo.
"What? That you're a fucking runt? Or that you're some baby faced brat who has no manners? Because hell yeah, I'll say it all I want!" Mondo cried, raising a fist.
"You're fucking dead! They're gonna find your body in the sewers!" yelled Kuzuryuu, getting up from his seat.
"Classmates! Fighting is not welcome in a School Environment! I demand that you two cease and desist immediately!" Ishimaru swiftly moved, standing in between the two and raising his arms to their chests to separate them.
"Piece of shit!" bellowed Mondo, pushing Ishimaru aside, fist hurtling towards Kuzuryuu.
With almost impossible speed, Pekoyama took the bamboo blade from her back and intercepted Mondo's fist, mere inches away from Kuzuryuu's face. Mondo looked at Pekoyama, realizing he might've hit her. The colour drained from his face.
"Shit!" he said, pulling his fist back. "Man, you need your guard to fight your fights?" Mondo jeered, but he wasn't about to punch this girl. "Fuck, whatever I'm tired of this shit anyways." He turned to leave. Kuzuryuu made a move as if to speak, but Pekoyama stopped him.
"Wait."
Mondo looked back, realizing this was the first time he heard Pekoyama speak.
"What is it classmate? Do not be afraid to let your voice be heard! Sharing your ideas is encouraged for an enriching learning experience!" said Ishimaru, one fist to his chin. He was giving Mondo the look, and Mondo knew that look.
Fuck, he's probably disappointed in me and I'm going to have to sit through one of his goddamn speeches again.
Pekoyama opened her bag, and pulled out her wallet. "Let me make payment for your hamburger." Kuzuryuu's eyes bulged.
"Stop!" he yelled, and Pekoyama's arm froze. Mondo noticed he was starting to sweat, and his face growing red.
He stared angrily between Mondo and Pekoyama, as if he didn't know what he was going to say after yelling stop. "... I'll fucking pay!" he eventually cried out, digging into his own pockets and throwing some bills at Mondo. "There, you happy? Maybe you can buy yourself a decent haircut with the change." Kuzuryuu sneered, but Mondo saw the unease in his eyes. He left towards the door. "C'mon Peko, we're outta here."
Pekoyama closed the door gently behind her as the two made their exit, and Mondo stared.
"What kind of fucking nutcase eats another man's lunch and then pays for it?" he wondered aloud, then looked sheepishly towards Ishimaru.
Ishimaru stood there with his arms crossed, looking quite angry at Mondo, staring him into the eyes. Mondo stared back.
After a brief moment of silence, Mondo hung his head in defeat and stammered "I'm sorry bro..."
"Mondo Owada! We've discussed this! You don't need to prove your strength to anyone else; as long as you yourself believe you are strong! In fact, you may be a little too strong, and such strength can be detrimental to your well-being! So you must learn to contain your anger bro! You hear me?" he shouted, pointing a finger at Mondo. "I'll let you off with a warning this time, but this stops here!"
"Yeah bro... fuck... I'll work on it..." Mondo said, embarrassed. "I just need to blow off some steam; I can't believe he insulted my awesome hairdo..." He looked at the cash in his hands, thinking. "Yo Ishimaru, wanna hit the convenience store after school? We can load up on some snacks and shit!" He grinned, raising a thumb.
"Preposterous! Tomorrow is still a school day! We must be studying for our classes!" stated Ishimaru, crossing his arms once more.
"Man, who shoved a stick up your ass? Live life a little!" moaned Mondo, before an idea came to him. "Anyways, I invited Chihiro to come, and if you aren't coming..." He looked to his right."I mean, didn't you say building relationships with people is important for a friendly School Environment?"
Ishimaru looked troubled for a moment, before stating "Fine! I will accompany you after school! But once we're done with our purchases, we will allbe returning to my dorm for a study session! You hear me bro?"
Mondo smiled. "Sure sure, whatever floats your boat! See you at the front gates!" He got up, leaving the classroom in a considerably more cheerful mood. Now he just had to find Chihiro...
Ishimaru watched him leave, then put his hands to his sides and let out a sigh. What have I gotten myself into...
"Is there something wrong Young Master?" Inquired Pekoyama, head tilted in mock puzzlement at Kuzuryuu's sudden actions back in the classroom. She followed behind Kuzuryuu, their steps echoing throughout the empty hallway.
"Peko... I've said a million times to stop calling me that." he sighed, looking quite flustered. He stopped and turned around to face Pekoyama. "And I know why you did what you did back there. Trying to pay for the meal. You knew I couldn't stand the idea of someone else paying for my meal right? You knew that I would refuse to accept help from anyone else... even from you." He looked down, clutching his fist.
"I have no idea what you mean Young Master." Pekoyama said innocently, trying to repress the urge to smile. "I am nothing but your tool, with no thought of my own."
"What did I just say?" cried Kuzuryuu, writhing his hands.
"Apologies." Pekoyama said, curt and quick.
"Peko, I don't need a tool. You should know this already! I don't needany help from the Kuzuryuu family!" Kuzuryuu said, hands in his pocket now. "I don't want to be recognized because of my family, to have all my successes credited to the fact that I am a 'member' of the Kuzuryuu family... I want people to remember the man behind the name! Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu! When I become the next head, I don't want to be leading the family because I'm next in line, I want to be leading it because I'm the strongest there is!" he shouted, looking at Pekoyama. "I don't want to rely on my family's power... And I hate it when people like him just think that I just rely on you to do my dirty work! That I rely on the power my family gives me. I can fight my own fights! So that's why... can you just be Peko?" He finished, exhaling.
"Whatever you wish of me..." Pekoyama smiled. "But if there is anything bothering you, feel free to tell me. Let me help you as a... fellow student." Yet I am your tool, and your well-being is my well-being. She thought, but she kept that to herself. Kuzuryuu looked at Pekoyama for a moment, then closed his eyes and continued his brisk pace.
They walked in silence for the next few minutes, towards Kuzuryuu's dorm room when he suddenly broke the silence.
"Ah... there is something you can help me with..." stuttered Kuzuryuu, his face flushing red.
Is he embarrassed?
"What is it?"
"Ah... Well..." Kuzuryuu's eyes darted everywhere, anywhere but Peko's eye. "Er... It's just that..." He finally made eye contact with her. "Goddamnit, come closer... You're way too tall for me..."
Pekoyama leaned down immediately, and Kuzuryuu cupped his hands around his mouth and whispered into her ear.
"I've been having trouble with math..."
Pekoyama sharply raised her head, staring at Kuzuryuu. She tried to repress her laughter, and instead allowed a faint smile on her face.
"You need help with math?" she finally said.
"Damnit Peko! Don't repeat it!" he hissed, writhing his hands once more. "Other people don't need to know! Fuck! Fuck it all!" Kuzuryuu put his hands over his face, trying to hide how embarrassed he was. Pekoyama found it adorable how distraught he was over something as simple as this, but again she kept it to herself.
"It's ok, I'll help you." smiled Pekoyama, and Kuzuryuu slowly lowered his hands, watching her.
"...Thanks." he finally said, a half-smile on his face, still slightly red. Then he turned around and continued walking.
"..."
"..."
"So, why did you eat that burger anyways?"
"Peko!"
