The Royal Couple: Side Stories

The Dress Code

What would happen if Shujin Academy actually enforced the dress code?

Saturday, October 1, 2016, Morning, Makoto's POV

As another morning dawned, I got dressed for school once again. Since October had started, the students of Shujin Academy had switched back to winter uniforms- for me, it would be the last time.

I didn't mind the idea of a school uniform, per se. If I joined the police, I'd spend a fair amount of time as a uniformed patrolman, and I liked the uniform. If I had my way, Shujin's uniform would consist of a white button-down shirt with a navy blazer and skirt(or trousers for the boys) with a matching necktie, a bit like Kosei's uniform.

I slipped on the white turtleneck and tucked it into my plaid skirt, but as I prepared to put on my suspenders and blazer, I had a bold idea. Instead of putting on the uniform-sanctioned attire, I instead completed the look with a black halter-styled vest. I looked myself over in the mirror, satisfied with the results.

I joined my sister at the table for breakfast. Sis was wearing her usual suit, and she looked me over.

"And where do you think you're going?" Sis said.

"School," I said flippantly. "Where else?"

"Not dressed like that, I hope," Sis said. "Shujin may have seen better days, but I highly doubt that its enforcement of the dress code has gotten lax since I graduated. Go put on your actual uniform, or you'll end up getting in trouble."

I sighed, then walked back into my bedroom and took off my vest. I attached the suspenders to the back of my skirt, slung them over my shoulders and attached the fasteners to the front. I then slipped on my blazer, becoming one of hundreds of female Shujin students.

"All right, I changed," I said.

"Good," Sis said. "I honestly have no idea what came over you, but hurry and eat your breakfast before you end up being late."

I sighed inwardly as I remembered an old family photo taken by a friend of our family. Dad was wearing his police uniform, Sis was wearing the Shujin uniform and I was wearing my elementary school uniform. Sis had been young once, a girl who was more idealistic and loved her father, but the years had changed her and she'd become more bitter and distorted.

Haru's POV

In the vestibule of my home, I slipped on my shoes, wearing a pink sweater over my white turtleneck in lieu of the blazer, which I'd stuffed into my bookbag.

"I'm leaving," I said to Aihara-san as I prepared to set out for school. Father was still unresponsive after having his Treasure stolen last month, so he didn't react to it. I wasn't even sure if he knew that Shujin had changed to winter uniforms today, or whether school was even in session.

"Pardon me, Lady Haru," Aihara-san said, "but are you sure it is acceptable to go out dressed like that? It has been some time since I attended high school, but I am certain the school will not approve."

"I thought I'd try something new," I said. "If I'm wrong, I believe the worst-case scenario is that I'll get set home to change."

"Fair enough, milady," Aihara-san said, "but I won't be held responsible if you get in trouble."

I shook my head. Father had sometimes scolded me for causing trouble for Aihara-san, even though I knew that he saw her as just another employee who was little more than a slave in his eyes. I had no desire to inconvenience her. I wasn't exactly being a "good girl" this time, but neither was I a spoiled princess who expected the world to cater to her whims.

"I'm not asking you to take responsibility for my actions or bail me out," I said. "Just please let me do something a bit daring, just this once."

"Very well," Aihara-san said. "Have a good day at school, and I will let you know if I have any news on your father."

Father would almost certainly have stopped me, had he the energy to do so. As worried as I was about him, I was grateful that he was letting me do as I pleased... and with foolish optimism, I assumed that everything would work out for the best.

I met up with Mako-chan on the way to school. Among the throngs of identically clad Shujin girls, I could recognize her face and hair. More than a few girls turned my way, if only because I stood out.

"Good morning, Mako-chan," I said.

"Good morning, Haru," Mako-chan said. "That's a rather distinctive look."

"Oh, do you like it?" I said.

"I do," Mako-chan said. "The pink suits you rather well. It's just..."

We stopped short as Mr. Ushimaru stopped us. I'd managed to avoid getting on his bad side when I had him last year, so he hadn't thrown any chalk my way, but I still found him rather intimidating and unpleasant. Our current encounter, in which I was a rulebreaker, reminded me why I'd felt that way.

"Okumura," Mr. Ushimaru said. "You are aware that we switched to winter uniforms today, aren't you?"

"I'm well aware, sir," I said.

"Then you should know that doesn't mean you can wear whatever you want to school," Mr. Ushimaru said. "I assume you're at least wearing the top to school?"

"I am, sir," I said. "I also have the blazer in my bag."

I opened up my bag and showed it to him.

"Then I'll be confiscating that awful pink sweater," Mr. Ushimaru said. "You can pick it up after school, but you'd better show up properly dressed next time, or I'll send you home and call your parents."

I unzipped my sweater and handed it to him.

"With all due respect, Mr. Ushimaru," Mako-chan said, "I hope you can consider the matter resolved here. Okumura-san has been well-behaved for the past two and a half years, so I hope you can let her off with a warning."

"She should know the rules by now," Mr. Ushimaru saiid, "but I guess I'll let it slide this time."

"Thank you, sir," Mako-chan and I said.

Mr. Ushimaru walked away with my sweater, leaving us with, "Get to class." As we headed inside, we turned around to see Mr. Ushimaru stop Ryuji-kun and get on his case about his dyed hair for the umpteenth time.

"Well, I guess that's one thing off my bucket list," I said as I slipped on my blazer.

"To tell you the truth, I had the same thought," Mako-chan said, "but Sis didn't even let me out of our apartment."

"I'm not surprised," I said. "From what you told me, she sounds rather strict."

"True," Mako-chan said. "She's hard on herself as she is on others. I guess we have that in common."

Mako-chan seemed to be reminiscing as she spoke, but since she didn't share what was on her mind, I had no desire to ask about it before she was ready. That said, the Phantom Thieves were among the few people I could talk with about my father, so if Mako-chan was having trouble with her sister, I hoped she would confide in us.

Thursday, October 1, 2009, Makoto's POV

My thoughts went back in time seven years, to a time so long ago and so distant from the present that it felt like another lifetime.

I sat at the table wearing my uniform, which was a blouse with a plaid skirt held up by a pair of suspenders. Sis, then a third-year in high school, wore the Shujin Academy uniform. I didn't know many people who had siblings, but back then, I always felt that the age gap made us a bit more distant than siblings who were closer in age. Then again, at least we were on speaking terms back then, so maybe I didn't appreciate our relationship enough.

"It's already October," Dad said, "I see you won't be wearing that uniform for that much longer., Sae."

"That's right, Dad," Sis said, "unless, of course, I end up joining the police like you did.

Dad laughed out loud.

"Good one," Dad said, "but I couldn't possibly let my daughters follow me into this line of work."

"I was just kidding," Sis said. "I want to become a prosecutor to make sure the criminals you arrest get the verdicts and sentences they deserve."

If I said it, I'd have been serious. Maybe, just maybe, my sister had also meant what she said at the time, but had tried to play it off as a joke.

"I'm sure you'll be good at the job when you're older," Dad said. "I'm looking forward to when that day comes"

Dad clearly didn't foresee being killed on duty in a few years' time any more than I foresaw the day when I would be nostalgic for the times when my family was less broken than it is now. Perhaps someday, I'd feel nostalgic for my high school days, but right now, I hoped Sis would come to her senses, unaware of the despair that would await me in the days ahead.

Author's Notes

This is a series of side stories, which will feature a variety of one-shots in The Royal Couple universe. Some will be AU stories that will imagine various things changing (in this case, what would happen if Shujin enforced the dress code), while others will be other kinds of one-shots. Reading The Royal Couple isn't required to understand the story.

As for this one, it's mainly imagining if Shujin actually enforced the dress code like a semi-realistic Japanese school would. I'm aware that the Phantom Thieves also get away with wearing footwear that's less appropriate for school and other things (e.g. short skirts), but I decided to focus on the most obvious problems. As for the hair color, I can only assume that with the exception of Ryuji and maybe Futaba, all of them have their natural hair colors.