Disclaimer: Gakuen Alice is owned by Tachibana Higuchi.
The thick, mahogany doors swung closed with an odd sense of finality, as if this was the turning point with no chance of ever returning to the past. Across the room, there lounged the elementary school principal: dark, sly, and infinitely dangerous. However, any fear she may have had had long since faded, and now, there was only self-loathing and bitter rage.
This should never have happened— her junior feeling so pressured, so trapped, that he needed to resort to those methods to try and unravel his nerves— but it had, so all she could do now was prevent similar outbursts in the future.
"Narumi L. Anju," she began, steeling herself for the oncoming verbal spar and approaching the neatly organized desk. "Assign every one of Narumi L. Anju's missions to me." A thin eyebrow rose slightly, and the message was clear. Why should he do that?
Not to mention, "You yourself have only just returned from a mission of your own not two days ago, and you are requesting for another person's workload to be added to your own?" he asked laughingly.
It was a valid question, one that she would have to answer carefully so as not to appear vulnerable, and it was with the image of bruised eyes and sallow cheeks that she answered in kind, making the files she clenched in her hand visible and gesturing to them. "You've gathered more than enough information. You no longer need him."
"I always forget how versatile your Alice is, Watanabe-san," the principal mused. "You are correct, though. I do have more than enough information. However, I am sure that some other use could be found for your… friend. He himself is rather versatile as well."
The teenager steadfastly ignored his comment. "According to these documents, what you need now is someone to clean up the trash. Narumi can't do that, not in a way that would send the proper message."
"Oh, and why wouldn't he be able to? Narumi-kun's Human Pheromone Alice is quite useful in approaching targets, and there is little more terrifying than being betrayed by one you trust, as I am sure you are well aware."
Now, Watanabe Harumi usually prided herself for her impeccable control, but at that moment, she desired for nothing more than to skewer the bastard before her, understanding now why Yukihira-sensei had wanted to kick the door down himself all those years ago. She didn't though, using her resolve as a balm against her anger.
"Kuonji-kocho, the Human Pheromone Alice requires the user to be within a certain radius of the target," she explained as if speaking to a young child and counted it as a victory when her opponent sneered slightly. An irritated but grudging nod was the sole response to her explanation, so she continued. "Koizumi Luna's Soul Sucking Alice requires direct contact during or prior to using her Alice."
"What does Luna's Alice have to do with this matter?" Kuonji stiffly inquired, a sign that she was on the right track. He was unhappy with her mentioning of his most loyal pet, she assumed. Well, unfortunately for him, it was necessary if she wished to prove her point.
There was nothing more that Kuonji disliked, abhorred even, than hypocritical behavior so that was what she would use to win this farce of an argument. "Both Koizumi and Narumi require close contact with the target," was her summation, "and you won't risk Koizumi while I refuse to risk Narumi, so let's come to an agreement, shall we?"
Obsidian clashed with zaffre as the adult attempted to intimidate the sixteen-year-old with his stare. She refused to be cowed and was sure that the man knew that but was stubborn enough to try anyway. "I am assuming that you wish for all further and future missions involving cleaning to be given to yourself," he stated pointlessly. Harumi nodded. "What benefits may we receive from this arrangement, Watanabe-san?"
She pondered for a moment, acting as if she hadn't prepared for this very inquiry beforehand. "You receive assurance that missions will be completed with the minimum amount of casualties but in a manner memorable enough that retaliation is unlikely."
Kuonji folded his hands and rested his chin upon them. "Allow me to rephrase so that you have no choice but to answer my question properly. What do you benefit from this arrangement?"
"I receive a peace of mind, knowing that I have done what I can to prevent unnecessary injuries."
It was a partial truth. There was way chance of her telling the bastard her true thoughts on the matter, but she would milk the situation for what it was worth. "However, I do have one condition. What I ask for is simple," the teenager declared brazenly, "an oath that any and all Alice Suppressors will never be forced upon me, and I will in turn complete any additional missions that you ask of me for the rest of the year."
It was as much as she was willing to give, and the elementary school principal surely knew that because his answer sounded almost immediately, "I accept those terms. Your next mission is Thursday. You are dismissed."
Author's Note: It's been a while, hasn't it? Eh, it doesn't matter much though since I don't think that anyone's really reading this. This is more for my own benefit now. Anyway, this chapter is a continuation of the last, and a warning for anyone who does read this— The number beside the chapter title is important since not all of the chapters will be in order. Thank you for reading.