Chapter Four – Dis-Order in the Court

Five days later, Friday morning, in the Hinata Kan'i-saiban-sho, or Summary Court-

Everyone is seated outside the main magistrates' area, waiting to be ushered into the courtroom.

Keitaro, Haruka and Hikari sit on one side, and the girls all sit on the other side, separated by a sound-and-bullet-proof glass wall.

This is the first time Keitaro has seen the girls since last Saturday, and he has a hard time trying to meet their eyes. Haruka looks over at Keitaro, and pats his hand. (All week I've been trying to convince him this isn't his fault, that it was just bad luck that ALL the girls decided to chase him this time, and that a police officer witnessed most of the 'attack' on him. That this is nothing more than they all deserve. But he can't accept that.) She whispers "Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

Keitaro nods to her. "If I can convince the magistrate that I'm to blame for all the attacks, then they'll have to let them off."

"Alright, but remember what I said. You could end up with a record. Even worse, they could label you a sex offender, and you'd be forced out of Hinata-sou."

"I know. And you remember that you promised that if that happens, you'll do nothing to the girls, and they get to stay in the dorms. It'll be just like before I came along. They'll all still be together. I'm the outsider here."

"Oh, Keitaro, I said it before, you're too good for them. They've never really understood just what a kind man you are."

Keitaro blushes slightly, but just shrugs off Haruka's description of him. "They deserve better than that, Haruka. Just take care of them for me."

"I promise, Keitaro."

On the other side, the girls can't take their eyes off their kanrinin. Even though it has only been seven days, they are distraught at the change in him. He's seems thinner; he appears to not care about his looks; seeming to be wearing clothes that may have been slept in, possibly for more than one night; and his eyes. His eyes are red-rimmed, as if he has been crying. That more than anything wrenches their hearts.

Of course, they totally misinterpret what they are seeing.

Naru "Oh, our poor Keitaro! What have we.. what have I done to him?"



"I fear our last attack upon Urashima was too much for him to bear." Motoko sighs "We have been guilty of attacks too numerous to contemplate on his person, and he has reached the limits of patience."

"And it didn't help that I was always play-seducing him, sometimes to get an extension on mah rent, but most of the time because it was fun to watch his reaction." Kitsune replies.

"Oh Keitaros, I hopes we can gets back to playing. I promise I'll be a nicer playmate wids ya when yas gets better." Su whimpers.

Mutsumi slowly shakes her head, "Oh, my, Kei-kun. Why have we let it go this far, you poor dear? You look like you need my melons."

Kitsune turns, "At least one of us is free of guilt. Shinobu-chan never did anything to hurt Keitaro the whole time she's been at Hinata-sou."

Shinobu breaks down, "Aaauuuuu! I'm just as guilty as you all are. I could've helped Sempai avoid getting hit more, but I always froze. And, there were those times I..um, well….that I got in his way on purpose so I would fall, and he would have to grab and h-hold on to m-me."

The girls stare at Shinobu. Kitsune, in spite of the situation, grins and laughs "Well, why am I not surprised, sugah? Ya'll has always had a crush on Keitaro. It's only natural you'd want to be held by him. I'm just ashamed I never thought to do that myself." She looks at the others, stunned that the same thought appears on their faces as well. "Uh, well now, erm….Well, dang, don't that beat all?"

Motoko, "T-this revelation of how we all feel about Ura-..Keitaro may have come too late. It is obvious from just looking at him that he is a b-broken man. His only logical course of action is to seek the protection of the legal system."

Naru sobs, her tears falling onto her hands. "Motoko's right. We could have been nicer, but we weren't. Now we're just gonna have to stand up and t-take what's coming…. I feel so ashamed for what we, for what I've put K-Keitaro through that I don't care what happens to me, as long as he is OK, as long as he has a chance to be like he was."

"Our only hope is to admit everything, beg forgiveness from Keitaro, and try to explain our reasons to the magistrate. Maybe, maybe…." Kitsune falters, her tears falling down her face.

"Yes. We must take responsibility, and convince Keitaro of our remorse. However, the fact that we attacked him constantly, in a residence that belongs to his family, and that he n-never raised a hand against us in anger or retaliation or defense, will not sit well with the magistrate." Motoko says. "At best, I fear those of us judged to be under-age will be forced to leave Hinata-sou, and the rest of us will most likely face jail and permanent criminal records."

At that moment, the bailiffs open the doors, and everyone is directed to enter the court room.



After they all shuffle in, the magistrate enters from her chambers. Black robes and a foreboding sense of authority and power exude from her.

Throwing the hood of her robe back, her dark hair is tied in a tight, professional bun on the back of her head. Thick glasses cover her eyes, giving her an owlish demeanor.

The Magistrate sits at her desk, unaware as she does so that her ample bosoms plop and bounce on the flat surface, knocking over a pencil holder. She looks around and squints out upon the assembled courtroom through her glasses.

Kitsune sneers, muttering under her breath "Dang. That lady has all of us out-done in the endowment category!"

The Magistrate bangs her gavel once, and in a commanding voice she states, "I call this court to order!"

"A dozen bananas, and ya should make sure they aint soft and squishy!"

"Huh?"

"Su! Hush! Don't ya'll be saying things like that!" Kitsune whispers between clenched teeth as she clamps a hand over the blonde girl's mouth. "Sorry, yer Honor, she's just a little nervous."

Motoko hisses "Mutsumi-san, come back here!" too late, as the melon lady approaches the Magistrate.

Mutsumi lifts her melons and places them on the judge's bench. The magistrate looks down at her and asks "What are you doing?"

Mutsumi replies, "Oh my, isn't this a melon judging contest?"

"No, Miss, it is not." (What kind of people are these girls? And just where did those melons come from?)

"Oh dear, am I in the wrong contest, then?"

"Bailiff Rhatt, confiscate these melons and please escort this young lady to her seat."

"Yes, Mistre, er, I mean, your Honor" Bugsy replies as he takes Mutsumi's arm and returns her to her seat. Taking a melon in each hand, Bugsy lifts Mutsumi's ponderous packages and carries them to an empty table.

The Magistrate straightens her glasses and looks at her paperwork. "I hereby call into order the case of Hinata City, representing Mister Keitaro Urashima, Age: 19, Preparatory-school student and Manager of the Hinata-sou Apartments, versus the following individuals:"



"Mutsumi Otohime, Age: 20, Preparatory-school student, and tenant of the Hinata-sou Apartments."

"Mitsune Konno, Age: 20, Free-lance writer, and tenant of the Hinata-sou Apartments."

"Naru Narusegawa, Age: 17, Preparatory -school student, and tenant of the Hinata-sou Apartments."

"Motoko Aoyama, Age: 16, High school student, heir to the Shinmei School of Kyoto, and tenant of the Hinata-sou Apartments."

"Koalla Su, Age: 14, Middle high school student, and tenant of the Hinata-sou Apartments."

"Hey, whadaya think I is, a psychedelic, tree-hugging teddy bear? The name's Kaolla Su, yer judgieness"

"My pardon, Miss Su, for the error in.." The Magistrate sees the look Su is giving her. "Is there another problem, Miss Su?"

"Yeah, I ain't soup, neither. Kaolla is my last names. Just calls me Su."

Bugsy leans over and whispers something to the Magistrate. "Later" she tells him as she blushes.

She continues, "Very well, KAOLLA Su. And lastly;"

"Shinobu Maehara, Age: 13, Middle high school student, tenant and resident cook of the Hinata-sou Apartments."

"Would the clerk please read the charges!"

The second bailiff stands; "I, Slip Weezel, Clerk of Hinata City, do hereby enter in to the record the following charges:

1. Miss Shinobu Maehara; multiple charges of failure to report, in the actions of grievous bodily harm against Mister Keitaro Urashima. Shinobu jerks as an arrow hits her.

2. Miss Mutsumi Otohime; multiple charges of failure to report, in the actions of grievous bodily harm against Mister Keitaro Urashima. Mutsumi faints as an arrow hits her.

3. Miss Mitsune Konno; multiple charges of failure to report, in the actions of grievous bodily harm against Mister Keitaro Urashima. Kitsune jerks as an arrow hits her.Multiple charges of lewd conduct, acts of coercion, and petty theft against Mister Keitaro Urashima. Kitsune grunts as a second arrow hits her.

4. Miss Kaolla Su; multiple charges of failure to report, in the actions of grievous bodily harm against Mister Keitaro Urashima. Su jerks as an arrow hits her. Multiple charges in the use of 

weapons of unknown origin in the committing of acts of grievous bodily harm against Mister Keitaro Urashima. Su grunts as a second arrow hits her.

5. Miss Motoko Aoyama; multiple charges of failure to report, in the actions of grievous bodily harm against Mister Keitaro Urashima. Motoko jerks as an arrow hits her. Multiple charges in the use of deadly weapons in the committing of acts of grievous bodily harm against Mister Keitaro Urashima. Motoko grunts as a second arrow hits her. Multiple acts of the use of physical assault, resulting in grievous bodily harm against Mister Keitaro Urashima. Motoko grimaces as a third arrow hits her.

And finally;

6. Miss Naru Narusegawa; multiple charges of failure to report, in the actions of grievous bodily harm against Mister Keitaro Urashima. Naru jerks as an arrow hits her.Multiple charges in the use of deadly weapons in the committing of acts of grievous bodily harm against Mister Keitaro Urashima Naru grunts as a second arrow hits her. Multiple acts of the use of physical assault, resulting in grievous bodily harm against Mister Keitaro Urashima. Naru grimaces as a third arrow hits her. Multiple charges of lewd conduct and acts of coercion against Mister Keitaro Urashima." Naru collapses as a fourth arrow hits her.

Su looks up at Naru and Motoko and whispers, "We're boned!"

After the charges have been read, the public defender assigned to the girls requests and receives a stay until the following Monday to prepare their defenses.