Ch. 12- Midterm Blues

It wasn't for a few days after Mizore's meeting with Yusuke until she decided to heed his advice fully. She hadn't talked to her mother since their last big blowout. Talking to Yusuke had changed her view on Tsurara's position, and ever since, Mizore had felt a stabbing guilt constantly growing in her chest. After all, it's thanks to him that Matoko and I are still friends. Could he turn out to be right twice?

The morning of the last day of her suspension, after Matoko had stopped by her room before heading off to class, Mizore slipped down to the first floor common area and accessed the phone booths. As an afterthought, she waved her hand and formed three ice doppelgangers. She sent two of them to stand behind the double-door entrance while the third stood at the top of the stairs, keeping watch for any passing students or teachers. This was one phone call Mizore didn't want other people to overhear, especially if it ended up going bad like last time.

Slowly, Mizore picked up the phone and pushed the buttons. She had stayed up quite late last night planning exactly what she was going to say when her mother would answer. This was the first time Mizore had ever been scolded like that. Growing up, she had done her mischievous deeds as any typical child would, and she only would get a stern talk, then life would continue like it never happened. But this was on a whole new level. She had let Tsurara down. And all Mizore did was yell back at her. Would she ever forgive her? Some daughter I am.

When she heard the tone that meant the call was being sent, half of her wanted to hang the phone up and immediately barricade herself in her room. But she willed herself to stay there. She wasn't going to run away.

The dial tone ended too quickly as the call was answered. "Hello, Shirayuki residence?"

Mizore took a deep breath. "Hi, mother. It's me."

"Mizore!" Tsurara sounded genuinely shocked, yet pleased. "This is a surprise! Is everything okay?"

Remember what you were supposed to say. Remember what you were supposed to say. "Yeah, everything's fine. Don't worry, I'm not calling you because I got in trouble again."

"Well, that's a good thing right? Well, what is it?"

Mizore's mind went blank. What was I supposed to say again?

Her silence made Tsurara worrisome. "Mizore, are you still there?"

"Yeah, I'm still here," Mizore said quickly, unconsciously gripping the phone cord like a lifeline. "I wanted to call to…"

"Yes…?" Tsurara prompted.

And just like that, all the words came flowing cascaded out. Mizore fought to keep her composure as she apologized again and again. She didn't want to stop in fear that her mother would cut her off and reject her if she stopped. Mizore called herself many names, promised that something like this would never happen again, and apologized some more. Eventually, Mizore had to stop for air, and she waited with baited breath. The line was silent for several painful seconds as Mizore waited for the inevitable rebuke.

When she did speak, Tsurara sounded slightly amused. "My, my, I wasn't expecting something so heartfelt." She giggled. "I want apologize too, Mizore. You know me, and my tendency to overreact to things."

"But I was wrong, mom," Mizore said. "I messed up, on so many accounts."

"Don't beat yourself up like this," Tsurara said. "It's a part of life, my daughter. No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. That's how we learn and grow stronger and make better choices. So don't feel too down, okay?"

"Mom…"

"So tell me what did happen. You know, when you got suspended."

So Mizore gave her a quick version of her trying to freeze a student who was picking on her, while skipping over exactly why she was getting picked on. When she finished, Tsurara wseemedrather proud. "That's my girl! Show them all who is boss! If you'd like, I can stop by the school and teach those kids a few 'lessons' myself. I got this new snow bazooka yesterday that I'm just dying to try out…"

"No, mother," Mizore said calmly, suppressing a smile. "That wouldn't help things. But I appreciate the thought."

"Very well," Tsurara said, disappointed. "But how are things? Are you still suspended?"

"Yes, but Thursday is my last day. I return to school on Friday just like normal. Other than that, everything is going well."

"That's good to hear, Mizore. Oh," she said seriously. "And try not to get in too much trouble, okay? We wouldn't want you to get expelled without finding a decent man over there."

"No, we wouldn't wa-" Mizore stopped. "Wait, what did you say?"

"I said we don't want you to get expelled before you find a suitable husband candidate." Tsurara sounded confused. "That's why you wanted to enroll in the academy in the first place, isn't it?"

Suddenly, the memory surfaced in Mizore's mind. She had indeed told her mother that she wanted to go to Yokai Academy to find a mate. It was a total lie, one that Tsurara completely believed and Mizore had completely forgotten. "Um, right. Of course that's why I came here. So…that's all you were worried about? My finding a husband?"

"Of course. What else matters? I don't particularly care about you graduating. Everything you learn there could be taught by the elders here in the village. I thought you wanted to attend the Academy to find someone a little different from the usual choices. So," Tsurara asked, mimicking a gossipy teen, "did you find anyone yet?"

Mizore instantly thought of Ryuu. "No, not yet, but I'm still looking."

"Alright, but don't wait too long. You turn sixteen in only a month, and then you only have a year left before the Snow Priestess chooses a husband for you."

"I know, mother," Mizore reassured. "I'm sure I'll find someone."

After promising that she'll call as soon as she found a boyfriend, Mizore said goodbye and hung up the phone. She stood there for several seconds, replaying the conversation in her mind. Mother was only afraid of me finding a mate. Once again, Mizore felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders as relief coursed through her body.

On her way back up to her room, Mizore stopped, and the feeling was replaced by sheer skepticism. She was only afraid of me not finding a mate! Mizore hit her head on the wall with a nice bonk. Mothers!


With no extra passes from the headmaster, therefore no legal way to visit Yusuke in the flower field, the last few days of suspension were filled with absolute boredom. But she was visited frequently by Ms. Nekonome, who had taken it upon herself to bring all Mizore's classwork that she was missing. "Wouldn't want you to fall behind when your suspension is lifted!" the cat teacher had said well naturedly. But the extra homework made just as much sense to her as it did in the classroom. Matoko even helped her out during after school hours. It didn't much help though that Matoko was making around the same grades that Mizore was.

Mizore remembered overhearing some nameless students complaining about how they wish they could just stay in their dorms all day instead of doing classwork. Oh, if only they knew, she thought.

It felt like years later when Friday morning rolled in, marking the end of Mizore's suspension. She awoke to the sound of Matoko knocking on her door and, once dressed and ready, the two made their way out toward the campus.

"Does it feel weird to be coming back?" Matoko asked.

"A little," Mizore confessed, glancing at a group of students who were eyeballing her as they pasted. "Just getting used to being around people again is going to be a task all on its own."

"I hear you." Matoko said sympathetically. "What about your classes? Think that's going to be a problem?"

Mizore shrugged, recalling the unorganized heap of Ms. Nekonome's classwork in the corner of her room. "I'll get by. Though I am a little worried about mid-terms. They begin in two weeks, and I might struggle with those."

"Find a tutor. A teacher or another student. Why not Ms. Nekonome? " Matoko suggested, who also had her in homeroom. "She seemed rather helpful during your suspension."

"She doesn't really teach anything though," Mizore noted. With a small grin, she added "Though if there was a fishing class, I'm sure she'd be all over it." There was another reason why she didn't want to ask the quirky cat teacher for help. Mizore already owed her enough for her frequent visits and concern. The last thing she wanted was to add on to the debt.

"So we have Math first period today," Mizore said. "You mind if I copy a few of your answers?"

Matoko pulled a piece of paper from her bag. "Here, you can have it. I have training with Ms. Jones all day today, so could you turn it in for me?"

"Oh yeah." Mizore said, giving her a once over. "I can tell you're not too excited about it."

"You wouldn't like it either if you tried it."

The warning bell sounded just as the two entered the main hall. Matoko waved goodbye as she departed to her psychic training with an unhappy expression. Mizore waved back, watching her go until the ensuing sea of students closed in between them like a curtain.


When the bell signaled for lunch, Mizore wasn't feeling too confidant. With the midterm exams approaching, all her classes were focused on reviewing for the upcoming tests. Needless to say, Mizore was having difficulties keeping up with the pace, what with the past week being shut off from the rest of the world. As an afterthought, Mizore figured that even if she hadn't been suspended, her classes would still make no sense to her. All the words and instruction from her teachers went from one ear and out the other, with nothing gained or learned.

Matoko has that training going on today, so she probably wouldn't be out until after school. Mizore thought, wishing for her friend's company to brighten her day. Sullenly, she sat by the central water fountain in the middle of the school yard. The sun was shining brightly in the sky, and although the direct heat made Mizore slightly uncomfortable, it was a nice spot to sit away from everyone else who took shelter in the shade of trees.

If I don't get my grades up somehow, I'll fail the midterms. If that happens, it won't be long until I'm expelled. Mizore even entertained for a moment the thought of asking Yusuke for help, but remembered that he wasn't a student to begin with. I owe him enough already. Then she remembered that she hadn't even stopped by the field of flowers to thank him yet. Making a mental note to visit him once school got out, Mizore sat down and started eating.

"What'd you say, you little punk?" A voice behind her said. Glancing over her shoulder and around the fountain, Mizore saw a tall student glaring down on a smaller boy.

"I'm sorry!" the shorter, bespectacled kid said nervously. "I couldn't finish your homework last night. I was too busy with my own work and club activities. But I did do over half of them-"

The taller one took a menacing step closer. "Half? Half? You little pipsqueak, that assignment is due next period! What am I supposed to do if I get a bad grade? All because you couldn't set your priorities straight!" He cracked his knuckles. "Looks like I need to teach you a lesson that you won't forget."

"No, no wait!" the shorter kid spluttered, taking a shaky step back. "I'll finish it right now! I can get most of it done before lunch is over! I promise!"

"Not good enough, Hiroshi," the bully sneered. "This type of thing is intolerable. It's time to take your punishment like a man!" He pulled his arm back, ready for a punch. But then a pillar of ice shot from the fountain and encased his whole arm. "What the-?" Confused, he tried to jerk free, but the ice wouldn't budge.

"That's not very nice," Mizore said, freezing the water's surface and walking across it. "Just take the half-finished homework. It's more than you deserve anyway."

"Who the hell are you? Mind your own business, girl!" the bully spat, still trying to pull his arm away.

Mizore looked at him coolly. "On second thought, you should just leave now. The way you throw your weight around is just disgusting."

The ice around the bully's arm melted instantly, and the bully, still pulling, fell on his rear. He quickly stood back up, enraged. "Oh, you're just ASKING for it, you little-" He stopped midsentence as Mizore's hand transformed into an ice claw, pointing a sharp, jagged finger centimeters from his throat.

"Get lost," Mizore ordered.

The bully glared at her with a mixture of anger and fear. After a moment, he cursed and ran back toward the school building. Mizore relaxed, dissolving her hand back to normal. She turned around and looked at Hiroshi, who nervously stared at her, speechless. Without waiting for a thank you, Mizore unfroze the fountain, walked back around the fountain to her spot and finished her lunch.

So much for sitting away from everyone else. She glanced over her shoulder, but the boy she saved had already dissipated. As she packed up her lunch box and stood to return to the school, she heard a voice behind her say, "Excuse me-"

The irritation got the better of her as she whipped around and vehemently snapped, "Can't you people see I'm trying to enjoy what little solitude I-...I..." The words fumbled out as Mizore realized that she was standing face to face with Ryuu.