My School Spirit

by Ravenhale1

This is the seventh installment of the AU recreation of Rosario Vampire told through Kurumu's POV. This story covers the second month of the second term (September 26th - October 31st, 2005), including second season's Chapters 23, 17.5, 15, 16, 25 & 24 before going back to cover the cultural festival craziness of first season's Chapters 29-38. Not strictly canon.

3. Phoenix Rising

"That was a delicious meal. You must teach me your secrets."

Kurumu smirked at the sylph as the girl bowed her head respectfully. Antai Hotaru was sporting a black frock identical to the one Kurumu had on. This garment featured a stretchy, pleated collar and came with a heavy, crimson apron with a frilly hem. This apron covered the shoulders and most of the front and was tied in the back at the waist. Unlike the velvety one Kokoa had bought her which had a long, pleated skirt hiding a rump hugging interior lining, the fabric of this dress breathed and hung loose upon her shoulders and hips, ending shy of her ankles. The only tightness was about her bosom.

"Aren't you in home economics?"

Antai pouted at her. The girl had tiger orange eyes. Her beige tresses were held in an updo with her bangs cut across her thin eyebrows in the hime style.

"There was only so much I could learn with Hitsuji as my partner."

Hitsuji was a special girl in class ten whom possessed the natural ability of causing all around her to become sleepy. Her sister had been in Ginei's homeroom last year. Because of their ability, teachers tried to seat as few students around these girls as possible. The two sisters lived in suite 321 since the older Hitsuji's neighbors in the dorms last year had complained about sleeping in.

"Can you do the dishes for me?"

Antai nodded with a wide grin, reaching over to grab Moka's emptied dishes.

"Are you trying to dodge your duties again?"

Kurumu smiled apologetically at Kokoa as the vampire presented a morsel to their other guest. Akegawa Hikari blushed, glancing about with her pistachio eyes before reluctantly opening her mouth. Kokoa placed the morsel in the salamander's mouth, grinning as she seized another bite with her chopsticks.

Akegawa and Kokoa were both dressed in their school blouses and skirts. The salamander had her cherry curls pushed back from her brow with a black headband.

"I was making breakfast, Milady. And Hotaru insisted on aiding your bath."

"I didn't ask for any help in the bath."

"You two would have taken forever if I hadn't been in there."

"There was no reason to rush. I wanted to enjoy my time with Hikari after taking her blood."

Kokoa stuffed the last morsel into her own mouth. Akegawa pushed her empty dishes towards Antai as Kurumu tugged out the knots of her apron to remove it.

"You never kiss me that much after taking my blood."

"Because you would try to do more if we did."

Kurumu smirked, aware that Antai was the most aggressive of Kokoa's girls when it came to affection which made Kokoa uncomfortable. She preferred her other girls whom let her be in control. Folding her apron over her arm, Kurumu got to her feet.

"I'm going to get dressed."

"She'll probably kiss Moka while she's in there."

Kurumu blushed, shaking her head as she stalked over to the closet.

"She's probably already dressed."

Tugging open the door, Kurumu was mildly surprised that Moka was still in the process of buttoning up her blouse. The vampire had on her carnation pink, lace bra. Closing the door behind her, Kurumu grabbed a hanger for the apron.

"Pink today?"

"I haven't worn this since summer break."

Kurumu hung the apron before pulling the collar over her head. Twisting and wiggling, she easily slipped out of her maid outfit. Nude, she fluffed out the dress before grabbing another hanger.

"I don't own any pink lingerie."

"It's not like we have to match."

Kurumu shrugged, hanging up the maid outfit beside the apron. She scooted over to her lingerie pile, fishing her lavender boyshorts with the white dots out.

"We both have black so we could wear that tomorrow."

"I suppose. But I'm not wearing my thongs to match your red and green lingerie."

Kurumu tugged her boyshorts up and smoothed them out. She snatched her mauve strapless from the pile. Her two strapless bras lacked clasps, fitting more like a tube top. She pulled it over her head and tugged it down her torso, guiding her breasts into the flexible cups.

"Why don't you buy a couple new panties for your red and green bras?"

"Yesterday you said that I have too many panties."

"Yea. And two more isn't going to change anything."

Moka grabbed one of her jackets off a hanger as Kurumu retrieved one of her two remaining blouses.

"I guess I could do that this weekend."

Kurumu slipped her arms through the sleeves as Moka did the same with her jacket.

"That reminds me. Nozomi promised to ask the coach about if I could go to regionals with them but had no answer for me yesterday."

"I would go if I didn't have that Saturday meeting to attend."

Kurumu nodded as she buttoned up her blouse.

"I'm thinking of taking Mizore with me if we can go."

"That would be nice."

Kurumu grabbed one of her school skirts, stepping inside the garment and tugging it up to her hips.

"I hope she isn't difficult about it. Those girls are her friends too and I'd rather not go alone."

Finished, Moka wandered over to the door and opened it. She lingered in the doorway as Kurumu fixed up her skirt.

"I want to stop by the commissary this morning to drop off the letter to my father."

"That's not our father."

"It could be him. Maybe he will visit us for the cultural festival."

"I don't want to see that man."

Kurumu wondered if she should wear a jacket or a sweater today. Having lost several sweaters over the course of the school year, she actually owned more jackets than sweaters though she never wore the first jacket her mother had bought for her since it did not fit at all. Decisively, she grabbed one of her two remaining sweaters, promptly tugging it over her head and smoothing it down her torso.

"Do you need help with the dishes?"

"I'm almost done."

Satisfied with her attire, Kurumu grabbed a pair of socks and headed for the door. Moka took the cue to walk further into the main room, allowing Kurumu to slip out of the closet and shut the door. The table had been put away and Antai was loading up the dishwasher. Kokoa lingered in the entryway with her shoes on and her schoolbag slung upon her shoulder.

"Looks like we'll be waiting for Antai to get dressed."

The sylph chuckled, closing up the dishwasher and turning the dials.

"I'm going as fast as I can."

The sylph dried her hands on her apron before reaching back to loosen the ties.

"When will you be taking her blood?"

Kokoa shrugged as Akegawa wandered over to the entryway.

"I was thinking I should over the weekend."

"Isn't that too early?"

"If that weakling Aono can have blood from two girls a week, so can I."

Antai chuckled, draping her maid outfit over the back of the pink couch. Like Kurumu, the sylph had worn nothing beneath the garment which was the proper way for a servant to dress according to Kokoa. Antai turned about, placing her hand on her hip while her other brazenly massaged her left breast. Like Moka, the curls at Antai's navel had a silvery hue to match her beige tresses.

"You're more than welcome to come get me now before I'm dressed."

"Put your clothes on, you twit."

Kurumu smirked at Kokoa's distress. Akegawa blushed, bending down to slip on her shoes as Kurumu stalked over to the naked girl.

"I'll go hang up your maid outfit."

Antai sounded her assent before turning on her heel and leaning over the back of the couch to retrieve the clothes she had set out earlier. With the maid uniform in hand, Kurumu retreated to Kokoa's closet.

"I don't know if you know this, but your blood is stronger than the blood Tsukune is taking."

Kurumu ducked inside Kokoa's closet. Half of the garments in here were hand me downs from Kahlua which Kokoa lacked the figure to wear. Kurumu hung the maid uniform next to Kokoa's dark green cheongsam with the white lily pattern.

"Yea. While that snow girl might have the same potential as Nagisa, that other girl is a witch. Witches don't have strong spiritual reserves, drawing their power from the environment instead."

Kurumu slipped back out of the closet, shutting the door. Antai had donned a pair of canary yellow, cotton panties with a matching cotton bra. Moka had moved over to the stove and had hung her schoolbag across her torso.

"Are you ever going to wear your Chinese dress again?"

"Why?"

Kurumu shrugged as she made her way over to the other girls while Antai pulled up her skirt.

"Because I don't know when I'm ever going to wear mine again."

Kokoa smirked, turning back the deadbolt and pushing open the exterior door.

"That dress might come in handy if Aono takes Huang's offer."

"I have no intentions of doing that."

Kurumu paused at the familiar sound of his voice. Peering around Moka as the vampire leaned over to slip on her shoes, Kurumu spotted Tsukune and Yukari.

"Did I miss something?"

"Why didn't you wait for us in your normal spot?"

Tsukune chuckled at Moka's inquiry, glancing at Yukari as Kokoa and Akegawa exited the suite.

"I was kidnapped last night by a pair of worried witches."

"I don't trust that Huang guy."

"It's not like he pursued after us."

Moka smiled softly, stepping outside as Kurumu stooped over to put on her socks.

"That's because Mizore froze him. We took him to the infirmary."

"Did he agree to stop this nonsense?"

"He was still unconscious when we left."

Kokoa huffed at Moka.

"I can't believe they scolded us for wrecking the school. That wasn't our fault."

"Considering your history of violence, I'm surprised that you expected anything different."

"You need to watch your mouth, little girl. I'm fired up and ready to cut loose on someone."

"Would you be willing to fight Huang for us?"

"Hold on, Yukari. We don't need her to do that."

"I could but he's not much of a challenge."

Kurumu smirked, hefting her schoolbag up over her head and fixing the strap between her breasts. Shaking her head, she joined the others in the morning warmth.

"Until we have reason to believe Huang has given up, Tsukune will be staying with us."

"I didn't agree to that!"

"This isn't a negotiation. What if Huang knows where you live?"

"But Huang lives in Mononoke with his sister."

Yukari shook her head at Moka.

"That doesn't mean he won't go after Tsukune when we're not around him. We need him under full surveillance until this idiot stops."

"Isn't that a bit overboard?"

"What if one of Huang's pets forces Tsukune into a ghoul? Are we wanting to deal with that again?"

Kurumu cringed at Yukari's stern reasoning. She glanced about, noting Rubi was over at Mizore's door. The witch was dressed in her long sleeved, white blouse with the frilly collar. Her blouse was tucked in a black sailor pant.

"Well… Mizore and Tora share homeroom with him. That should cover him most of the school day."

"And Mizore shares his art elective."

"We should all eat lunch with him today."

Kurumu frowned as Antai stepped into view, wearing the sweater over her school blouse. The sylph promptly slipped on her shoes.

"I was going to eat with Kana and introduce her to Juri today."

"Is that more important?"

Kokoa snorted, shaking her head.

"How many people need to hold this weakling's hand?"

"It's fine, Yukari. I don't think Mr. Huang will cause more trouble today."

"You are being unreasonably optimistic, Tsukune."

"What are we standing around for?"

Kurumu smiled as Antai joined them. Moka took the cue to lock up the door.

"We're waiting on Rubi and Mizore."

"You know Huang has a point. You have way too many admirers."

Tsukune grimaced at Kokoa's declaration. Yukari glanced at him and sighed.

"It does have some truth. At some point, Tsukune is going to end up with one person. We will all most likely go our separate ways after high school."

"But we made a promise."

"That's if we are ever in trouble, Moka. I'm not going to call everyone to my side if I'm lonely. I have two choices. Either I continue pushing the limits of my genius and attend the best universities, or I pick a life that keeps me by your side."

"But that's years away."

"I know you could make it with me, Moka. Even your volatile sister has the academic prowess to get into the best schools. But what about Kurumu?"

Kurumu pouted, fussing with the strap of her schoolbag.

"Don't single me out. Mizore and Tsukune don't have the best of grades either."

"She could be your live in maid. That's my plan if the four of us all go to school with Kokoa."

Yukari smirked at Antai's revelation.

"That might work for your group since you're the only average student."

"Isn't Ms. Shirayuki expected to marry Mr. Umizake?"

"Yea. You don't have to worry about her."

Kurumu frowned at how quickly Akegawa and Antai dismissed Mizore's crush on Tsukune.

"But that's not something she wants."

"Maybe not, but it's an arranged marriage with political backing. I don't think she gets out of that."

Kurumu paused, as her mind stumbled over the inevitability of Mizore falling out of their group.

"Would this China mafia thing be good for her?"

"Hold up! I'm not joining the mafia!"

"I hate to admit it, but I was thinking the same thing. If Tsukune joined the mafia, he could marry Ms. Shirayuki immediately and get her out of her predicament."

"I'm not going to marry Mizore!"

"It's polygamy, Tsukune. Marrying her under that premise isn't the same as marrying her like you would traditionally do. It's basically a simple promise that you would financially take care of her."

"I don't know if Mother would let him defect to the Chinese mafia."

"I'm sure she would demand compensation if he took Huang's offer. And I was intrigued by the claims of his family being worldwide. I could study abroad if I was also taken in as a concubine."

"Concubine?!"

Yukari blushed at his startled reaction.

"Well… I don't want to be left behind either. You wouldn't abandon me if I was one of your wives."

"There are other ways for us to stay together."

"I don't see him doing polygamy under vampire rules. He's not going to fight you."

"He couldn't beat her even if he tried."

"What if you defect to China with us? I'm sure the Huang family could hide your Shinso blood from Lord Fujisaki. And Tsukune wouldn't have to defeat you to marry you."

Kokoa snorted at Kurumu's suggestion, shaking her head.

"You're crazy to think she can hide from Lord Fujisaki by joining the Huang family. He's the vice president of Fairy Tale. He must have contacts in the Huang and Miao families."

"Miao family?"

"That's the other big family. They're the ones that were taking care of Akua."

Kurumu's eyes widened, recalling that Lord Fujisaki had been Akua's contact for the assassination of Akasha Bloodriver.

"He's definitely involved with the Miao family."

"Those two families used to get along but their truce ended around the time Akua moved in with us. The new leader, Xia Long, refuses every attempt at negotiation Mother has tried to make with them over the past five years."

"Do you think Huang knows about your Shinso blood?"

"His sister said nothing to suggest she was interested in me when I interviewed her."

"I doubt he would request Tsukune to join him in a roundabout way to get my Moka's support. He simply sees Tsukune as a powerful ally whom might be useful to his family."

Footsteps heralded the approach of Rubi and Mizore. Kurumu smiled and waved at the pair.

"Good morning, Mizore. Rubi."

"What are you all talking about?"

Yukari smirked as she turned about and started walking away.

"Whether or not the two of you would look good in Chinese dresses."

Tsukune chuckled sheepishly as they all followed after the witch.

"We weren't talking about that."

"It would be cool if Kokoa bought us Chinese dresses."

Kokoa snorted at Antai's remark while holding Akegawa's hand.

"I doubt I have enough money to do that."

Kurumu chuckled, aware that of the quarter million yen Kokoa had been given for her fifteenth birthday, the vampire had spent almost two hundred thousand of it.

"Why would I need a Chinese dress?"

Mizore cocked her head quizzically as she fell in step with Kurumu. Kurumu smirked.

"How do you feel about polygamy?"

---

"Excellent Work! Amazing Students!"

Kurumu nodded at his English expletives, stuffing her notebook into her schoolbag. The eccentric Mr. Nagamushi wore a black jacket over a periwinkle dress shirt which was tucked in khaki slacks. As always, he wore a pair of sunglasses to hide the fact that one of his eyes had been lost years ago.

Not much had happened today. Miyamoto had met them at the spot where the paths combined, curious as to why Aono had skipped out on his morning training exercises. After the explanations, Miyamoto had spent most of the walk chatting with Kokoa and her two friends. He was familiar with Akegawa's older brother, having shared the same gym period last year.

Miyamoto was also familiar with Antai's older cousin, Aegu Konami. All six of the second year gymnastics girls had adopted his homeroom as their lunch spot. This lunch group had included Sangi and Hajihachi. Occasionally Okimune would join them when she was not with her choir or dance club friends.

Kurumu tugged her interview notebook out. During lunch with Juri, Fujino had suggested that Kurumu ask Ms. Hitori to do her volleyball interviews since they had five girls from the team in class. Having already sewed one pocket on a tee shirt, Kurumu supposed it would not hurt to ask.

"I see you're going to give it a shot."

Kurumu grinned at Juri, nodding as she got up from her chair. They started slowly up the aisle.

"So Yukari. Did anything happen during your lunch with Tsukune?"

"We were not troubled by Fang."

"Fang?"

Deshi smirked at Senyou's frown as the young man met them at the front of the class. The PSC girl whipped her staff up on her shoulders as Satsuki drifted over to join them.

"Code name for mafia boy."

His confusion remained as they made their way to the open front door of the classroom.

"It's that new Chinese guy in your computer class."

"Was about to ask if that was English for Kiba. I heard that girl can get rowdy."

They exited the classroom, veering to the right. The hallway was lively since a third of the students were heading to gym while another third were going to their electives.

"Is there a reason why this Fang guy would trouble you guys at lunch?"

"Careful, Unari. That's his first name."

Satsuki scowled at Senyou's playful remark.

"I only repeated what I heard. I don't remember the guy's name."

"It's Huang."

"Nyanya thinks he's a strange fellow."

Kurumu grinned with a glance back at Hazumi whom walked alongside Endo. Nyanya was the nickname for Meisai Nadako whom had went to junior high with Hazumi. Meisai was in class six with Shinayaka Momiji, another gyokuto from the Tsunan area. Both girls were on the volleyball team and lived on the third floor of Baratoge with Hazumi. The three of them had been station partners in home ec for the entire first term.

"He picked a fight with Tsukune yesterday."

"Typical alpha male nonsense. Hitomure is the same way. Always looking for a fight."

"Does that make you a beta male?"

Senyou wagged a finger at an amused Satsuki.

"Hey now. That phrase is only used as an insult."

As they continued down the hall, Kurumu tuned out the mild conversation. It was pleasant walking in a group to her elective. With the home economics room being downstairs in the second year hallway, she was used to walking a different path than most of her classmates. The company made her feel more at home and welcome.

She counted eight boys from her homeroom in the hallway ahead of them. Of those eight boys, seven were in the business program. It still amused Kurumu that the big Tandoku was in the computer class.

The three missing guys were Yano, Abe and Ichiboku. Yano had shop while the other two had art. These three would usually go out the classroom's back door and take that first crossover stair down. The shop and art electives were held in separate buildings near the staff parking lot off in this direction.

Endo had art and Satsuki had shop but both preferred to take the stairway down at the end of this upper hallway. Kumiko and Madosuki had choir, so they usually walked out the back door.

The door coming up on her right was for the broadcasting room. Tashikana Ichigo, the Voice of Yokai Academy and president of the broadcasting club, greeted them every morning and read off the school announcements while attendance was taken. The third year from class ten had narrowly defeated Kaneshiro Hokuto, the student council president, in the popularity contest back in July.

Not far after the broadcasting room was the main foyer which was open to the floor below. There was a grand, winding staircase and a huge chandelier. Kurumu shivered at the memory of Sakamori dangling from the chandelier support, thankful that things had not turned out more tragic.

A balcony flanked both sides of the massive chamber. On the far side which was over a set of bathrooms and the teachers' lounge was a pair of doors which opened into a passage full of small storage rooms for different clubs. The last door on that side was for an admin office Kurumu had never set foot in. Satsuki had told her it was for the school finances.

Next to the broadcasting room on this side was a stairway up to the third floor. The Headmaster's office and living quarters were up there along with the student council room. Beyond that stair was the room where they printed their papers. She had no idea what the last room on this side was for.

Almost even with the balcony railing was the point where the ground floor lowered for the large genkan divided into nine aisles lined with cubbies for school slippers. The first three aisles closest to the lounge were reserved for the first year students. The odd numbered homerooms had the cubbies closer to the main entrance.

"Kurumu?"

Kurumu perked up at Juri's remark. The sprite grinned.

"There you are. I was wondering if you could convince Ms. Zukkutani to bring her friends next time."

"Maybe. I'm sure Itazura would rather do that than eat with the band."

"Isn't that the one in band?"

Kurumu smirked, nodding. Kana's three tanuki friends were Touzoku Ran from class one, Yochimaru Riku from class eight and Itazura Fuyuki from class ten. Yochimaru had been kidnapped with Kana as the first of Ms. Ishigami's victims. She had joined the manga club and had already fallen out of love with one of the older boys of that club, crushing now on a guy in band. Touzoku had somehow been nominated by her homeroom to be part of the popularity contest. The lively girl had joined the gymnastics club.

"She's easily embarrassed by her two friends."

"Could you eat with us tomorrow?"

Kurumu frowned at Yukari's sudden request.

"I guess I could. Why?"

"Because Moka wants to eat with her sister and I'd rather not join her without you."

"What about keeping Tsukune under surveillance?"

"That stalker can manage without us."

Kurumu smirked as they neared the end of this hallway. Most of the boys were filtering through the open door of the first classroom on the far side of this intersecting hallway. Deshi walked alongside the railing with Senyou, intent on the far side balcony.

"I'll see you guys in gym."

Kurumu nodded as she cut sharply to the left with Juri. Yukari tagged along while Hazumi followed in their wake. Satsuki continued on towards the stairway with Endo behind her.

"Hey Yukari. Do you think Mizore will end up married to Umizake?"

"I don't see why I should care."

"You're the one that brought up her running off to China with Tsukune."

"It was a possible benefit of taking the offer. I listed others."

"What's this about?"

"That Huang guy said Tsukune could marry more than one girl if he was in Huang's family."

"I hope you're not thinking of doing that."

Kurumu frowned at Juri as they walked by the vacant classrooms on this side of the hall.

"But we could all stay together."

"Yea, but we're moving into the digital age, Kurumu. Unless you plan on living in monster communities, you'll be able to stay in touch with friends with your phone."

"But that's a strong possibility for Mizore if she marries Umizake. I'm worried the most about her."

"I'd feel worse if she was super nice. But I've had lunch with that girl three days in a row now. I'm being nice in saying that she's withdrawn."

"I would say that same about you prior to Kurumu joining our class."

"I made a false assumption that everyone would refuse to acknowledge me because I was a witch."

"Maybe something similar could be done with Ms. Shirayuki."

Almost all of the second years used the stair at the first crossover since it was right by the back door of the classrooms for the business program. And it was the first stairway up that did not require going a slight detour if a student was going to the sewing room or the computer lab for the second years.

"Mizore is different from Yukari. Yukari likes to brag about her accomplishments while Mizore doesn't care if anybody notices her."

"Not a flattering comparison."

"But it's true. Yukari's more like me. She wanted to be accepted by her peers. I don't get the impression Mizore has ever cared about what her peers think of her."

"That might be a difference in upbringing. You and I are the only child of our families. And my Moka was estranged from hers for over five years. It's different when you live in a household with siblings."

"I don't think having a sibling makes that much of a difference."

"Your little brother is two. If we want a fair comparison, we would have to ask Ms. Hazumi. She has six younger siblings. Do you ever feel the need for your peers to accept you?"

"It's never crossed my mind."

"Precisely. Shirayuki has two younger brothers. She's not starved for acceptance."

Juri pouted at Yukari.

"I'm not starved for acceptance."

They had already walked by the second crossover which was by the disciplinary room. Like the second crossover in their hallway, there were two stairs going in opposite directions. The next crossover coming up was right before the front door to the sewing room with the bathrooms on the other side.

"I guess you'll have to deal with Huang now."

"Unfortunately. I think I'll turn myself invisible until Mr. Karatsuki shows up. That should discourage him from starting any nonsense before class begins."

Kurumu smirked, thinking that was a solid idea. She waved as Yukari veered off at the crossover.

"See you in gym."

It was a short walk to reach the open door to the sewing classroom. The room was not much different from the science and computer labs but it was bigger. There were eighteen stations not including the one for the teacher which was near the front door facing the center stations. Along this wall after the teachers' station was the door for the sewing club storage.

Ms. Hitori was not present yet. Their instructor helped Ms. Huang with her chemistry class in three of her four sessions since Ms. Huang spoke Japanese about as good as Deshi did and she was discouraged from using magic charms to translate for her. Class eight which had Ms. Huang this period were usually given handouts which covered her lecture. If anyone had questions, Akari did her best to answer them.

Only the girls from class one could get here before Kurumu. The first years had taken all nine of the back stations. Kurumu was at the back row station with Sakamori and Orochi Maki as her station partners. Sakamori was often a handful which Orochi could not help with. Orochi was from Bokuseki, a gorgon community in the Sanjo area. Sometimes when Sakamori was too clingy with Orochi, her hair would act up, causing the silly shojo to end up petrified. As both girls were from class four, neither was here yet.

Asuka was chatting with one of the Unabara twins. Asuka stood at the station in front of Kurumu's and the twins were at the station in front of Asuka's. All of their stations flanked the windows overlooking the interior courtyard.

The mermaid twins were identical with shoulder length, dark green tresses. The sociable one with the bangs covering her right eye was Tarako while the grumpy one with the bangs covering her left eye was Haraka. These two from the swimming club had been victims of Mr. Ishigami.

Kurumu waited at the teachers' station as Juri walked down the aisle to join Asuka. Hazumi joined Torokiboshi, a chubby kappa girl with stringy black hair at the station beside Asuka's.

The trio of juniors from class one whom had shared a station last term were the next to arrive. Toboshi was the shortest of the trio with her dingy white tresses pulled back in a braided rat tail. She was in the drama club with Sakamori. She promptly took her place in the center station of the front row.

Karada was the tallest of the trio being roughly about Moka's height. The girl had her chocolate locks styled in a bob cut favoring the right side while she had a short ponytail off her left side. She was in the poetry club and was chatting with the other girl as they made their way to their respective stations.

Hanahara Mimi was the one with the cerulean locks twisted in a French braid. She was a member of the Ikebana club with her younger sister and had gone to school in Shizukana with Karada. She stopped at her station which was on the hallway side of the room in the second row. Karada's station was right behind Hanahara's and would be the only occupied station of that row.

It was not long before the next girl arrived. Ekizo was a gorgeous enigma from class two. The girl whom was about Tsukune's height had pristine white tresses which drifted down to the small of her back. She seldom spoke in class. Kurumu had the impression that the girl was living in her own world.

"What are you doing up here?"

Orochi peered at her inquisitively with sea green eyes as her oily black tresses threatened to touch the floor. Her cousin, Tonari Emiko, whom shared her homeroom and had joined the archery club with her, paused behind Orochi. The taller girl with pistachio eyes had her copper locks twisted in multiple braids to keep her ornery girls from striking out randomly at anyone unlucky to get too close to her.

"I was going to ask Ms. Hitori if I could do my volleyball interviews in class."

More girls from class four entered behind them. Umigame Okarina was another stocky girl with curves in all of the right places. Her curly black hair brushed her shoulders. Yotsumure was next with her black hair reaching the small of her back. She had joined the sewing club.

"I will try to manage Ms. Sakamori."

Orochi bowed politely before following her cousin. Tonari's station was in the back row next to theirs.

Nomura Airi was next through the front door. The silver eyed girl's pale tresses rested upon the curve of her bosom. She was talking with Kagami Kaede. Kagami's short hair had that natural feathering tengu possessed despite her being a harpy. Her locks were mostly brown but had splotches of black scattered haphazardly about. Neither girl noticed Kurumu as they made their way to their stations.

The next trio of second years to arrive were the sewing club girls from Nenshouchi, a salamander village in the Fukushima prefecture. The tallest one with the bright orange afro was Kagaku. She was in class two while the other two were in class three. The short one with the russet locks covering her eyes was Hageshii while the other one with her cherry bangs styled in braided pigtails was Honourou.

As Taijin arrived with Sakamori, Kurumu glanced over the girls at their stations. Nomura had joined Asuka while Kagami had joined Masataka Midori at their station behind Karada. The blond from class one was from Umishiro and had joined the fashion club. Umigame was alone at her center station between Kagami and the Unabara twins. So was Yotsumure at the station behind Kagami.

There was another first year present whom happened to be important to Kurumu today. Hibiki Mina was the girl all the way in the back row at the station by the door. She had her strawberry curls pulled up in twin tails. This girl from class one was another member of the volleyball team.

A girl with spiky, amber locks joined Ekizo and Kagaku at the station behind Toboshi. That short haired nekomusume was Tsubuyama Kosuru from the cheerleader squad. This girl from the Tsunan community had been in Ginei's homeroom last year and was in class three now.

The girl with the large bosom joining Hageshii and Hanahara was Kukioba. The gyokuto was another cheerleader from class three and had short, cinnamon curls. She had attended junior high in Aserutani with Tsubuyama. Like other gyokuto girls, she had an ample bosom which had her favoring the sweater vest look despite not being any bigger than Moka or Hazumi.

The next pair through the door were first years from class five. The taller, thicker girl with her short brown hair cut rather boyish was Keishutani Irumi from Atsuen. Her companion with ashen gray tresses pulled in a right side ponytail was Tategami Minobi from Watasora. She was dating the Nishimura boy from the soccer team and had joined the skiing club ran by Fumusuna's twin sister.

"Tokori."

The next arrival glanced up with caramel eyes when Kurumu called her name. Meirowasa Tokori wore the sleeveless, black jacket of the PSC. She had accompanied this with a tight fitting pair of black leggings today. The monstrel girl had shaggy, shoulder length hair which was peppered white and black so evenly it was hard to say which color was dominant.

"What are you up to?"

"Planning to do my volleyball interviews today if Ms. Hitori lets me."

"Good luck with that."

As Tokori took off to join Hazumi and Torokiboshi, Kazehana Tsubaki entered the room. Kazehana had long, jet black twin tails. The track girl was making a straight line to join Hibiki at their station in the back.

Seconds later a large group of girls arrived in the company of Ms. Hitori. Kurumu instantly honed in on Ms. Hitori whom was dressed in a pastel pink blouse tucked in white slacks. The hazel eyed teacher had styled her crimson locks in a pixie cut with a ponytail.

"Ms. Hitori. I was hoping you would allow me to do my interviews for my volleyball article during class."

The teacher strolled around to her place behind the station. She promptly opened a compartment of her station to pull out her latest issue of ViVi. The woman shrugged as she set the fashion magazine in reach.

"As long as it's not too much of a distraction, I will allow it."

As Kurumu murmured her gratitude, the teacher retrieved a silver key before closing the compartment. She walked over to the storage room door, unlocking it. Doubting she needed more permission, Kurumu turned about to regard the girls whom had arrived with the teacher.

Sawayaka Mikomi was the dark haired traditional beauty joining Umigame. The third at their station was another girl from class six with dark blue, swirly short locks. That was Fujinuma, another mermaid from the swim club. Like the twins, she was from Umiman, a large underwater community which featured a junior high that serviced many smaller villages like the one Taniguchi came from.

The other three first year girls were all on the volleyball team. The tall, stocky one with the black bangs and long ponytail was Makiba Minori. She joined Yotsumure while greeting Keishutani whom was at the station in front of her.

The shortest of that trio was Shinayaka. She had white, spotted curls which rested upon her bosom. In terms of cup size, Shinayaka was second place after Kurumu. She stood beside Hibiki favoring the aisle so she could talk to Meisai whom was at the adjacent station with Tonari and Tategami. Meisai had black, poofy hair which felt like cotton. She was also well endowed but no bigger than Moka.

The other three arrivals were the second years from class four. Two of them had taken their spot at their station in the front row closest to the door. The girl with long, unruly, chestnut tresses was Kitamura Kurumi. Kurumu had met Kitamura's younger sister whom lived up on the seventh floor of Baratoge. She did not see the family resemblance.

Mizudake Yuri looked fabulous and confident as always. The undine from the tennis club had frosted pink highlights in her wavy, bluish locks. Despite being scrawny and having the figure of a young boy, she had ranked in the top ten popular girls of Yokai Academy.

The last girl had joined Toboshi in the center station. This girl with the shoulder length, silvery blue tresses was Uta. As far as Kurumu knew, Uta was the only second year volleyball player in this class.

"You don't have to wait for the bell to get started."

Kurumu grinned at Ms. Hitori as the teacher picked up her magazine. Flipping open her notebook, Kurumu approached Uta's station.

"Afternoon, Ms. Uta. I was given permission to do your volleyball interview now."

Kurumu tugged her mechanical pencil free and set the notebook down on the station across from the two second years. Uta regarded her with amused, powder blue eyes.

"I don't remember your first name."

"Kuriko."

Kurumu jotted that down as a quartet of second years arrived. These were the girls from class five. Fujino U was the one with the long, teal tresses whom was joining Mizudake at the first station. The shortest one of the group with the ebony tresses stretching to the small of her back was Karashi Yui from the manga club. As she was also from Okataiyou, she sometimes joined Fujino and Juri for their lunches instead of eating with her friend from the poetry club.

Zoushiki Koufuku was the tall, stunning girl with the wavy, scarlet tresses which were pulled loosely in a tail to prevent it from touching the floor. She was the friendliest of the sewing girls from Nenshouchi. She strolled behind Ms. Hitori, intent on her station in the front row by the window. Honourou stood alone at her station in the second row, grinning and waving at her friend.

The last of these girls whom walked with Karashi over to Karada's station was Shitchi Hogo. Shitchi lived in suite 320 directly below Kurumu's suite and had wavy, indigo locks which drifted continuously in motion. She was in the kimono club and preferred eating her homemade lunch by herself in class five.

"And I know you're from class four and went to junior high in Umiman. Are you from Ikinakawa?"

"I'm from Aranami."

"We've been in the same homeroom five years in a row."

Kurumu grinned at Mizudake's addition.

"I heard that they try to keep the Undines in the same class in Umiman."

Mizudake clucked her tongue, wagging a finger at Kurumu.

"You shouldn't talk openly about true forms, Ms. Kurono."

"While it is true that they try to keep us together, we had Ms. Shitchi in our homeroom all three years of junior high. She's not an undine."

The girls from second year class six entered the room. Shigashima was the shortest of this bunch and had her oily black hair pulled up in a top knot. The chubby girl had ochre eyes which was a common trait of kappas. The other girl with oily black hair which was cut short was Watanabe Mei, whom had been in Ginei's homeroom last year. She was from Shizukana and had joined the gymnastics club with her friend, Tomihana, whom had been in class four with Roniushi Chiku, a close friend to Hajihachi.

The last trio were on the track team. The big girl with the short, slate grey locks was Hashimoto. She was from Chouten and was about the same height as Taijin. The charcoal haired girl with the cowlick was Samurakami Atae. Those two made their way over to join Zoushiki while Watanabe and Shigashima took their places with Honourou.

The final girl with dirty blond, shoulder length tresses was Yamasaki Fuu. The hazel eyed tengu was from Koutoukumo, a large village in the Aga region which sounded similar to Kengamine. Kengamine was the monster village in Tottori where Kurumu had lived ever since her tails and wings had emerged back in the fourth grade.

"The storage room is unlocked. Those whom need to finish their pocket project should do so. We will be breaking out the sewing machines tomorrow."

"Ms. Hitori. I'm finished with my blouse."

Ms. Hitori shrugged at Mizudake's declaration, already perusing the contents of her magazine.

"I'm aware that most of you are finished. Keep the noise down if you prefer to socialize."

"What is Ms. Kurono doing here?"

Uta smiled at Yamasaki whom was their third at this station.

"She's doing my interview for the volleyball article."

"Out of curiosity, but are you the only second year volleyball player in this class?"

"There's only three of us on the team. The other two have home ec next period."

"Yea. Kozui has rotten luck. She hasn't been in our homeroom since junior high."

"Kozui?"

"Kirisame Kozui from class seven. She's from Umiman. The three of us had choir last year and we shared the same gym hour, but this year she got shuffled out of everything. She's my roommate."

Kurumu smiled, aware that the junior dorm rooms were large enough for two people.

"I thought the two of you would be living together."

Mizudake huffed, patting her flat chest.

"I'm an independent woman."

"She says that but she sleeps over with us almost every night."

"It's boring living alone. I'm not even in the same hallway as you guys."

"Oh please. We're on the same floor. You live around the corner from us."

"Which floor do you guys live on?"

"We're on the third floor."

"So you guys live close to Okimune."

"Sort of. Kozui and I are in 314 by the bathroom while Yuri is in 312."

Kurumu nodded, recalling that Okimune lived in 317 by herself while her two dance club friends lived in 315. Four other second year choir girls also lived by Okimune. The two harpies in Ginei's homeroom were in 319 while the golden haired Amatsu Riki lived in 318 with her friend Ikeda.

"I've offered to trade rooms with Ms. Nazenara but she doesn't see a point to do that."

"Because you'd still be in our room even if she did."

"Nazenara?"

"Nazenara Wakana from class nine. She's the other second year on the team."

Kurumu smiled, thinking that name was familiar as the bell officially started the sixth period.

"Where is Nazenara from?"

"She's from Aranoiji like Ms. Haneru."

Kurumu nodded, still not recalling what she felt she should about this girl. She scrawled down the names of the other two juniors in the margins.

"I should probably stick with the questions about you. When's your birthday?"

"October eleventh."

"That's coming up soon."

"She'll be the first of us to hit seventeen. Mine's the first of November and Kozui has hers on the twenty sixth of January."

"She wasn't asking for your birthday."

Kurumu giggled as she jotted down that note for Kirisame. She added the homerooms and villages for the two second years.

"How long have you been playing volleyball?"

"We had a club in junior high. Nothing competitive but it was fun."

"We need competitive sports for junior high."

"You're just upset that you're not as good at tennis as Ms. Hiboshi."

Hiboshi Netsuki from class three had been playing tennis for years. Since Aranoiji also lacked a tennis team, Hiboshi had competed as an independent and had won the junior high regional tournament. Even with the loss of her physical maturity, the kitsune's experience put her above her peers.

"As a prefecture, we should close some of our junior highs."

Kurumu laughed, shaking her head at Mizudake's suggestion.

"I'm being serious. The big junior highs in Watasora, Kabashita and Umiman already provide housing."

"I doubt parents would want to send their kids away to boarding schools sooner than they have to."

"But the reason why we don't have competitive junior high sports is because there's never the numbers for it. The kids from Umishiro should be going to Umiman. The rest of the kids in the Itoigawa region end up going to Watasora anyways since Umishiro is very selective about whom can attend their junior high."

"I think our junior high in Koutoukumo could stand on its own."

"Doesn't your community have close ties with Hateshinai?"

"It does, but they attend the junior high in Uchimori since it's the closest one."

"They don't have their own junior high?"

Yamanashi smiled, shaking her head at Mizudake.

"Hateshinai is in the Yamagata prefecture. From what I understood, they couldn't build one if they wanted to attend Yokai Academy with in prefecture rates."

"I got the impression from Nomura and Kazehana that Hateshinai was bigger than Uchimori."

"They should close that junior high in Uchimori and Koutoukumo should expand theirs and provide housing for the Hateshinai kids."

"I think the schools in Ashikantai and Chirasu are both closer to Hateshinai than ours."

"Hey, I'm trying to come up with ideas to make bigger junior highs. What schools would get absorbed by Koutoukumo if they expanded?"

"Probably none. The only decent sized communities by us are Hankyouta and Nenshouchi."

"Not helping."

"I'm not saying you're wrong. I know the junior high serving Tochimoeru and Bokuseki was only built because the neighboring communities didn't want to deal with them. Those kids could have gone to Chirasu or Kabashita. We're also kind of close but don't have the student housing for it."

Kurumu recalled that the Sanjo area junior high was a boarding school between those two villages. Both villages lacked things like electricity and indoor plumbing but the school had both.

"We should at least shut down all the junior highs without housing like Machinise."

"Hold up. Even if Koutoukumo started providing housing, we're not near anybody. That's as silly as shutting down the school in Akichi."

"How does that school not provide housing? Everyone I know that went to Akichi doesn't live there."

"Um… the school in Aserutani has housing. I hope you wouldn't think we should shut that school down because of how close it is to Watasora."

Mizudake wagged her finger at Toboshi.

"That's where we should send the Yuzawa region kids. Everything I hear about Aserutani is good."

"I'm curious but what's wrong with the school in Machinise?"

"It's just not needed. Sekkeimoto told me that the school in Machinise is so close to Kabashita that she could have gone to either school. And if you live on the north of Machinise, there's a good chance that Shizukana or Chirasu would be close enough to consider."

Sekkeimoto was a third year girl on the tennis team whom had went to the school in Machinise.

"How many junior highs do you think we should have?"

"No less than eight. Twelve at most. The ones I can think of right now that we have to keep are Umiman, Watasora, Aserutani, Kabashita, Shizukana, Chirasu and Agano."

"Agano?"

"I heard that many kids from those last three end up at Hisoshi High."

"I wonder how many junior highs we have."

Kurumu shook her head as the girls paused to ponder this.

"We are getting too sidetracked with this. I need Uta's plans for the future."

"I know it will sound silly, but getting married and having kids is all I'm expecting to do."

"Well… what do you want to do?"

"Haven't really thought much about it. My grades are decent, but I don't have any plans for college. My mother plans to submit a marriage request for me after my birthday."

"Marriage request?"

"Yea. It's an application we put in at the nearest Fairy Tale office. It will get sent to Undine communities in the nearby prefectures. With any luck, I'll be engaged before graduation."

Kurumu frowned. She knew that Fairy Tale helped monsters find partners but Uta was the first girl she had heard talk about the service.

"Do you want to be married?"

"I imagine it's better than being single."

Mizudake sighed dramatically.

"Kozui is the same way. I think they should both go to college with me."

"That's such a waste of money for a future housewife."

"Would you marry some random guy picked out for you?"

"Both my brother and sister were married this way. And it's not like I won't have any say in this process. If I'm not attracted to a guy father picks out for me, I won't agree to it."

"Don't you have any love interests in the school?"

"The problem is that we know most of our dating options in junior high. The only new boys we meet here are from Umishiro, which she is trying to shut down."

"As if that would be a big loss. Namida is cute, but dumb as seaweed."

Namida was a member of the music club which had performed a concert at Kiki's birthday party.

"There's also Odayakana."

"Ugh. He's more likely to dissect you."

"There's a guy Odayakana?"

"Yes. He's another one of Hitsumi's cousins. He's president of the chemistry club. Stay away from him."

Kurumu nodded, jotting down Uta's plans for marrying after graduation through Fairy Tale.

"So… I guess you have no interest in Mr. Shiname."

"Yuri would kill us if we tried to steal her cousin away."

"I doubt he sees you two as women any more than he does me."

"We're not related to him."

"If you want to confess and have your heart broken, go right ahead."

Shiname was a second year from class two on the tennis team. He was Mizudake's partner as each tennis club competed with two mixed gender pairs. For the longest time, many of Okimune's friends suspected Shiname was her secret crush. Okimune had recently revealed that her crush was some guy that had already graduated, but that she would not refuse Shiname if he asked her out.

"What about Kawakuchi?"

"No way. I've known that boy since I was four. I still don't know how Rui can marry Taru."

Kawakuchi and Chouseki Rui were third year band students. Chouseki was engaged to marry Kawakuchi's brother whom was two years older than them.

"So no love interests at all."

"Unfortunately it looks that way. I doubt Kozui will say anything differently."

"Maybe you should try college out. Meet a guy you'll fall in love with."

"Most guys in college are human. Not saying I couldn't do that, but my father would be disappointed."

"And you would rather marry a guy from the selection he finds acceptable?"

"I'm sure the guys that get his blessing will have the important traits a husband should possess. That's more important than trying to make a relationship work that is based on pure physical attraction."

"That sounds like a loveless marriage."

"Uh… I'm not going to agree to a guy that I have to force myself to have sex with. You're fretting too much over how I will meet this guy."

"I guess. I should start on your favorites."

"She loves pastel colors."

"Yea. Pink and blue mostly."

"Anything else? Food? Music?"

"Never thought much about music. I guess whatever is playing on the radio."

"God, I miss the radio."

"Do either of you have CD players?"

Mizudake nodded vigorously as Uta shrugged.

"I picked one up last year because of Hitsumi. She helped me pick out the bands I wanted."

"I'm the one being interviewed."

"Yea, and you have no musical interest."

Uta sighed, turning back to Kurumu.

"I'm not a big fan of eating. I can get by on a single serving of rice. I prefer fruits over anything else. I don't really care for school but it lets me hang out with my friends. I'm the youngest of three."

Uta paused thoughtfully.

"I can't think of much else."

"She was just as bad when they interviewed her for the popularity contest."

Kurumu smirked, having forgotten that Uta had been the other girl nominated to represent class four.

"I'm going to interview the other girls on your team. Come get me if you think of anything else."

Noting that most of the girls had taken the invitation to socialize, Kurumu picked up her notebook and walked down the center aisle, favoring the hallway side to avoid any interaction with Asuka or Sakamori. Orochi was trying to motivate the shojo into doing her project.

Kurumu grinned as she neared the back rows. She decided it would be best to set up at Shinayaka's station since all four volleyball girls were easily accessible from there.

"I heard you chatting quite a bit with the second years."

Kurumu smirked at Meisai's remark. She set her notebook down on the station across from Shinayaka. She nodded at Hibiki before glancing over her right shoulder at Makiba.

"Ms. Hitori gave me permission to do the interviews for the volleyball article."

Kurumu scrawled the names of the two gyokuto girls. She added the homerooms and villages.

"I know quite a bit about you two. Did you want me to mention your siblings?"

"I guess you could say I'm the youngest of four and only daughter of my family."

"Yea. You could say I'm a middle child with two older brothers and two little sisters."

"Do you want me to mention your older brothers in school?"

Shinayaka grimaced at the suggestion of listing their second year brothers. Her brother was in the ping pong club while Meisai's brother was one of the librarians in the literary club.

"I'd rather you not."

"I doubt anyone wants to know about my dumb brother."

"And neither of you had much volleyball experience prior to joining the team."

"Right. We have a club in Aranoiji but it wasn't serious."

"We didn't even have a club in Aserutani."

"Why did you join then?"

Shinayaka smiled, glancing at Meisai.

"I knew several of the girls joining the team. Ms. Makiba from our homeroom and Ms. Irewata whom lived on our floor. It was either volleyball or gymnastics since I have no desire to be a cheerleader."

"She's also in love with Ms. Haneru."

Shinayaka blushed at Meisai's mention of their volleyball captain.

"She's an admirable individual. And very affectionate. She's a lot like you, Ms. Kurono."

Kurumu grinned, jotting down their reasons to join the club.

"I've never asked for your birthdays."

"Mine was back on the sixteenth of May. This girl was born in December ten days after Haruhi."

Irewata Haruhi was another gyokuto girl from Aranoiji whom was in Tsukune's homeroom. Irewata's mother was one of Ms. Nekonome's friends and associated with Kurumu's mother.

"What day is that?"

"The twenty third."

"Right before Christmas."

"Yes. I'm their gift. I've heard that a lot."

Kurumu grinned, jotting down more of what she remembered of these two.

"So… have you found any love interests or are you still planning to marry a human in college?"

"Assuming she can get into a college."

Shinayaka pouted at Meisai's amusement.

"I'm trying the best I can."

"That won't mean anything if you can't pass the national exam."

"I know that. But that still is the plan."

"What do you want to go to college for?"

"Husband shopping."

"No!"

"Oh? What else do you have in mind?"

Shinayaka bit her lip, glancing away from Meisai.

"I don't know. But I want to go to college."

"I think you need to work on your grades."

"And you don't?"

"Didn't say I didn't."

"Do you have any college plans?"

"Not really. I'm all for getting married after high school graduation if that's possible."

Kurumu smirked, tapping her pencil against her notebook.

"You know… I spoke with Mr. Hatahana the other day and he's worried your older brother would kick his ass if he started dating you."

"Seriously?"

"More or less. There's also this senior on the team named Hiromori whom sounds like he's willing to get with any girl."

Shinayaka grimaced, rolling her eyes.

"I know that guy. He's got two younger sisters. Mira got knocked up and is living with their parents. Natsue is six months younger than me."

"He didn't mention anything about his family."

Mostly because Kurumu was too busy dodging his countless flirtations.

"Hiromori has always been a creep. He used to say stuff that would make Usagi cry."

Kochimaru Usagi had joined the gymnastics club to avoid unwanted attention. The class twelve girl had ended up in the popularity contest much to her chagrin. Her blessed bosom which was larger than Shinayaka's and adorable behavior had landed Kochimaru a spot in the top five first year girls.

"For love interests, put Yuya down."

"Are you sure you want me to do that?"

Meisai grinned wide.

"Hell yea. I want to see how he reacts to that."

"He might not talk to you if you do that."

"Bah. He's avoiding me as is. I'm losing nothing if I call him out."

"Uh… what if he asks you out because of this?"

Meisai laughed, wagging her hand at Shinayaka.

"No way. If he does talk to me, it isn't going to be for that."

Kurumu smirked, writing down Hatahana's name.

"How exactly do you want me to write this? Like a confession of love or what?"

Meisai blushed, shaking her head.

"Not a confession. It's not like I love him. More like I want to hang out with him again."

"How about I phase it this way. When asked about a boyfriend, Ms. Meisai said the closest thing she had to that is Hatahana Yuya. She wishes he would spend time with her like they used to."

"That's not bad. Not like I'm confessing and it will get the boys asking him what he plans to do about it."

"So I guess this is where we start saying the things we like."

Kurumu nodded, setting the notebook down.

"If you two need some time thinking up a list of stuff, I can talk to the other two on your team."

"I like sports. Black and yellow. Takoyaki. Tempura."

Kurumu chuckled at how quickly Meisai listed off things. She shook her head, jotting everything down.

"Music?"

"That's not a big thing in Aranoiji. I know Hiboshi has a good collection which she picked up during her tennis trips around the region. I like most of what she has."

"You don't have a CD player?"

"You're forgetting that we come from large families. My parents didn't buy us electronics."

Meisai nodded in agreement with Shinayaka.

"Yea. I'm lucky I'm the oldest girl else I'd be stuck with hand me downs."

"What about your favorites?"

"Can white be a favorite color?"

"I don't see why not."

"I like sweets."

"After this girl has one baby, she'll get fat and stay fat."

"That's not nice."

"Can you guys get fat?"

Meisai smirked at her.

"It depends on how much human ancestry you have."

"I also like swimming with other girls."

"That's oddly specific."

Shinayaka sighed.

"Boys are stupid. Most gawk at my tits. At least when I'm with girls, we actually swim."

"She's so lucky that her junior high had a pool. We didn't have that at Aranoiji."

"Do you think they should shut down the school in Aranoiji and have everyone attend Watasora?"

"That actually might not be a bad idea. But I doubt the kitsune elders would ever go for it."

Kurumu nodded, glancing at Makiba. The tall girl was reading a book while Yotsumure was one of the few girls actually sewing. She jotted down Makiba's name, homeroom and village.

"Makiba Minori. You're Ushio's cousin and from Atsuen. Where is that?"

"Where's what?"

"Atsuen. I recall it having student housing and that the kids from Moegara attend your junior high."

"They attend our school because Uchimori won't take them. Moegara is much closer to Uchimori."

"Why is that?"

"If you knew anything about Moegara, you wouldn't ask that."

Kurumu hesitated to respond. Moegara had a sizable monstrel community.

"I'm still curious where Atsuen is."

Makiba set aside her book. The tall girl wandered over to Kurumu's side, leaning on the station across from Hibiki.

"It's a village on the border of the prefecture. Unsure how much you know about Niigata but the closest landmark would be Kousagisan."

"How close are you guys to Uchimori? Like if a student wanted to go to the school in Uchimori."

"Too far to consider walking. And there isn't a road into Uchimori so you won't save much time driving."

"Moegara is closer to Uchimori than Hateshinai is."

Kurumu perked up at Kazehana's comment.

"Really?"

"Yea. Uchimori is not a nice place."

"I thought the harpies lived there."

"They do but the village is ran by the Gizatochi family. They were there before the harpies."

"Why did you want to know where Atsuen was?"

Kurumu smirked, gesturing towards the juniors.

"Mizudake was talking about which schools she would close down. She mentioned shutting down Uchimori because it lacked student housing."

"Oh. Is that why you brought up closing Aranoiji down?"

Kurumu grinned at Meisai, nodding.

"Yea. She was keeping all of the schools that have student housing."

"Atsuen doesn't have student housing. The kids from Moegara stay with families willing to watch over them during the week."

Kurumu nodded thoughtfully.

"I recall the gnomes of Touboe building a new junior high so they wouldn't have to allow the giants from Chouten into their city. How close is that to Atsuen?"

"Far enough that we would have to use their housing. Assuming our elders would agree to shut down our school, where would you send the Moegara kids? There's no way the gnomes would take them."

"What other schools are nearby?"

"I heard that Ashikantai is by Uchinokura Lake."

"But Ashikantai doesn't have student housing. That's why we go to Uchimori. The nearest school to Hateshinai with housing is Chirasu."

"I suggested Ashikantai on the thought that they would build some student housing. I'm assuming the thought process here is if Uchimori and Atsuen closed down their junior highs. That means Ashikantai has to become a boarding school."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to derail things like that. I need your birthday."

"September first."

There had been way too many birthdays last month. Kumiko's birthday had been on the same day as Nikki's. She had not bothered telling anyone in class about it. Hazumi and Madosuki had claimed it was not their place to make others aware of it, since Kumiko had left her birthday plans up to her sister. It sounded like it had been a simple dinner in Lady Hineri's suite.

The other birthday Kurumu had missed was for Chousei Akiko, a choir girl from Tsukune's homeroom. Since her birthday was on the twelfth and their concert had been on the tenth, the silly girl had decided not to tell anyone out of fears it would mess up their performance. Kurumu had only found out about it today during her lunch with Juri.

"I hope you had a pleasant birthday."

"As if. Mononoke was shut down. It didn't cross our minds to get a bunch of teachers involved so we could have a big party like the track team pulled off for Ms. Matsudera."

Kurumu smiled softly, hardly thinking the track team could be given credit for that. That was more an effort of the teachers from the Morihochou and Ashikantai communities.

"I'm sorry it wasn't so great."

"It happens. Anyways… I don't have any big college plans but I'm not in a rush to get married like Irumi. I'll try to get into a college."

"Any love interests?"

"Nope. But I'm not too tall."

Kurumu frowned at that. Makiba was about the same height as Tsukune.

"What does that mean?"

"Girls like Irumi probably have to marry inside our species because most humans won't date a girl taller than them. I have a chance at finding a guy in college."

Kurumu nodded, glancing at Keishutani. She was about as tall as Ginei.

"Speaking of love interests, do you know any green eyed girls from Atsuen?"

"None come to mind. Why?"

Kurumu hesitated, wondering how direct she should be about inquiring over Yougan's crush.

"Could you list off all of the first year girls that you went to junior high with? And don't include the girls from Moegara."

Makiba eyed her suspiciously.

"I think there's only four of us if you take out the Moegara girls. Irumi, myself, Akemi and Shukujo. Both Akemi and Shukujo have greenish eyes but they're not exactly from Atsuen. It's a smaller village called Okadouyou."

Kurumu grinned, certain she was closer to finding his girl.

"Thank you. Back to the article, do you have any favorites you would like to share?"

"I'm highly suspicious of why you wanted to know a very small list of girls."

Kurumu frowned, unsure how she would get around this.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to start on Hibiki."

"I'm going to find out. I have both of those girls in gym tomorrow."

"Shukujo. Isn't that Ms. Ikatsuki from my class?"

"Yea. And Akemi is Fuyutsuki."

"Those two are cheerleaders."

Kurumu immediately remembered them. There were four first year girls on the cheerleaders. Two of them were gyokuto girls from Kokoa's homeroom. Another had dark hair styled like a boy but had lovely eyes the same hue as Moka's. The last was this scarlet haired beauty whom had clung to Kagayama Kuki, her cousin. Kagayama had placed in the top ten girls in school, some claiming her popularity was inflated due to her being openly lesbian. She was dating Michi, a third year salamander on the softball team.

"Thanks for that, Kazehana. But I still need to interview Ms. Hibiki. Your first name is Mina, right?"

The girl smiled softly, nodding. She had soft, yellow eyes.

"What village do you come from?"

"Koutoukumo."

She had a gentle voice. Kurumu scrawled that down with her homeroom.

"And your birthday?"

"August thirteenth."

"Do you have any plans for your future?"

"Graduate. Marry. Have a family."

"Do you have anybody in particular on your mind?"

"No."

Kurumu paused to smile at the girl.

"Your hair is lovely. I know I shouldn't pry, but most students from Koutoukumo are either tengu or sylphs. Are you not one of those?"

"I'm a sylph."

Kurumu blinked at the quickness of that response.

"I didn't know sylphs could have red hair."

"I'm a sylph."

Kurumu laughed nervously, nodding.

"Well it's not like I can write your true form explicitly anyways."

"I have lived in Koutoukumo for a decade. My little sister and brother were both born there. You can ask Tomo if you have any doubts."

Hibiki probably meant Airi Tomo, a track girl in Moka's homeroom. She was a sylph from Koutoukumo.

"It's okay. Where I came from, it was mostly tengu and sylphs too. I just thought you were special."

"People always fussed over the color of my hair. We had to get papers from Fairy Tale proving my race so we could live in Koutoukumo."

"So… you're only half sylph?"

Hibiki flinched at Shinayaka's deduction.

"My… father is half sylph. My mother is a full blood sylph from Koutoukumo and my grandmother is a full blood sylph from Hateshinai. In her infinite wisdom, she married a salamander from Moegara. We have no contact with my grandparents."

A few seconds of silence followed. Kurumu sighed.

"I'm not going to write your family history. But I will write your future plans and favorite things."

"Your hair is very pretty."

"Yea. You have some nice tits for a sylph."

Kurumu snickered at Kazehana's input. There was a notable difference between Hibiki and Kazehana. While she was not on the same level as gyokuto girls, Hibiki was as stacked as Makiba.

"Would you guys happen to know if any first year volleyball girls have home ec next period?"

"Both Sazayama and Iwadake have it."

"Yea. We tease Haruhi about being the only first year on the team who's not in home ec."

"Why are you asking?"

"I heard that the other two juniors had home ec next hour. I'm wondering if Ms. Hitori would let me skip gym and knock out more interviews."

"I doubt Ms. Hitori would have an opinion on that."

"Akemi also has home economics next period. Maybe you should talk to her about this list of yours."

Kurumu smirked at Makiba's suggestion.

"Maybe I will."

---

It was difficult to keep a neutral expression once she noticed it was Ikazuchi and Yougan on cleaning duty. She had no doubt in her mind that Fuyutsuki was his crush. Shaking her head, she strolled across the back of the classroom to join Tora.

Tsukune was up at the front wiping down the blackboard while the two boys were steadily making their rounds with the broom and dustpan. Mizore was hovering by the teacher's desk, watching Tsukune intently. Everyone else had already left the class.

"Nice fix."

Kurumu gestured at the wall which was supposed to be lined with windows overlooking the grounds. A bunch of paper had been taped over the gaps.

"It's amazing how fast the school can get fixed as is."

Kurumu nodded, sitting down on Tora's desk.

"I finished nine of the fifteen interviews for my volleyball article today."

"Didn't you have lunch with Kana today?"

"Ms. Hitori allowed me to interview the volleyball girls in my home ec class. And then she let me stay for the next period to interview some more."

"That explains why I didn't see you in gym today."

"I'm only missing the five seniors and Irewata. I might be able to do that in one lunch."

"Have you scheduled their pictures?"

"I didn't speak with Coach Hoshineru today because I skipped gym. I'll go down and ask her after club."

"Where's Yukari?"

"Moka came by right as we were about to leave. The two of them went to the school store to get some snacks. They should be right back."

Tora sighed, leaning back in her chair.

"I still need to talk to Ms. Bakudai about when I can do an article for her club."

"I'll walk down there with you after club."

"We swept in the wrong direction."

Kurumu shivered as a lick of desire swept over her. She smirked at the pair of boys.

"What is it now?"

Ikazuchi wagged his dustpan.

"If he made a pile back here, I could have seen something worth me getting low to the floor."

Kurumu deliberately crossed her legs.

"Akemi would be so disappointed in you."

Yougan's reaction was perfect. He cracked the broom over Ikazuchi's head and bowed to Kurumu.

"Is there anything else you desire?"

"What was that for?!"

"You upset the lady."

"My next two articles are going to be quite juicy. I've got two volleyball girls wanting me to identify their crushes and Yougan gave me enough information to find this girl he has been crushing on for years."

"This guy's got a crush?! Who is she?"

"Shall I dispose of this ruffian?"

"I think the wise course of action for you is to ask this girl out before Kurumu publishes anything."

Yougan grimaced as he straightened up.

"I suppose that is all I can do. If I don't return, don't come looking for me."

Yougan turned about and stoically walked out the back door. Ikazuchi frowned, picking up the remnants of the broom.

"Hey. What about sweeping up the floor?"

Tora grinned, wagging her hand at him.

"Throw that away. I'll have Tsukune request another broom."

"I guess. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Kurumu nodded as Ikazuchi left the room. She uncrossed her legs and stretched her arms up over her head. With a heavy breath, she placed her hands on the back of her head.

"I'm thinking I should become a matchmaker. Nothing would make me happier than knowing I helped two people fall in love."

"You do realize that he might get rejected."

"He might. I talked with Fuyutsuki since she has home ec seventh period. Like her cousin, she's open about being more interested in girls. But I think she's forcing it. She lied to my face about being attracted to me. That has me doubt her claims of crushing on any of the other popular girls she listed."

"That doesn't mean she has a crush on Mr. Yougan."

"When I asked if she would be interested in dating a salamander guy, she said her parents would never approve. Her mother was a monstrel whom fought hard to get reclassified as a shisa, which Fuyutsuki admits is silly since her mother doesn't have a drop of shisa blood. But her father is a shisa so she knows she's at least half of what she is registered to be."

"I hope you don't plan to write things like that in your article."

"I'm not. But it's awfully suspicious that she blamed parental approval instead of lack of attraction. If I asked a guy if he'd ever date a guy, he wouldn't blame his parents for not wanting to do it."

Kurumu felt his eyes on her. She promptly lowered her hands down to her sides, glancing in his direction.

"What do you think, Tsukune? Should I become the cupid of love?"

He frowned as he glanced over his shoulder at Mizore. The snow girl slowly followed in his wake.

"I'm unsure what you mean by that."

"Helping people find love."

Tsukune smiled softly, glancing at the door.

"Where's Moka?"

"She's with Yukari. She'll be back any second now."

"Hello!"

Kana waved as she entered through the front door. The blond quickly made her way across the room.

"Hey, Kana."

"I'm stopping by only to say that I'm about to run off. I have an excellent idea for a comic and I want to get started on it right away."

"Okay. I'll let you know tomorrow if Juri has any information about the Ikebana club for you."

"Awesome! I'll see everyone tomorrow."

They all murmured their farewells and Kana skipped off to the back door. She slipped out with a cry.

"Moka! Yukari! Got to run!"

Seconds later Moka and Yukari entered the room with confused expressions.

"What was that all about?"

"Juri's cousin, Ms. Denshou, is the president of the Ikebana club."

Yukari nodded with understanding as she handed a can of yuzu juice to Kurumu before presenting a can of coffee to Tora. The witch kept a can of green tea for herself.

"No coffee for yourself?"

"I would if it was hot."

Kurumu chuckled as Moka presented a coffee can to Tsukune first. Once he took his and murmured his thanks, the vampire timidly offered the other can to Mizore.

"Would you like it?"

"No."

Moka sighed, holding two cans of coffee to her bosom.

"I'm surprised you bought her a can of coffee."

"We didn't. That was meant for Kana but the dummy ran off before we could say anything."

Kurumu popped open her can and took a hearty swig. Yukari did the same. Tora set her coffee next to Kurumu's hip.

"I don't know if we need to wait for Senior. I don't have anything to update on my article. I'm going to talk with Ms. Bakudai after club."

Moka smiled, setting down the cans of coffee on a nearby desk.

"Ms. Yubikiri from my homeroom is in the paranormal club. She said she'll get the twins to agree to an earlier time for tomorrow night."

"That's wonderful, Moka. Have you spoken with anyone from the Sadou club about their article?"

"I don't interact with anyone from that club."

"I should have mentioned it to Ms. Meirowasa at lunch today."

"I have three of those girls in home ec and it didn't cross my mind."

"You were busy doing your volleyball article."

Yukari took another drink before gesturing her can at the group.

"I spoke with Ms. Anko in gym today. She said she'll let me know tomorrow what time they want me."

"If Yukari will let me go home tonight, I could ask Mr. Kokutan about the astronomy club."

"We don't know if that is safe."

Tsukune grimaced at Yukari's prompt refusal.

"I have to go home and change clothes. I don't enjoy wearing the same clothes two days in a row."

"I could have washed them for you last night."

"I had nothing else to wear!"

"Rubi offered you a shirt."

"I can't just wear a shirt!"

"Aono Tsukune! Prepare to fight me!"

They all turned in unison to regard the exuberant foreigner. With a flourish, he whipped out the coin sword and talisman like he had yesterday.

"He's about to summon another beast!"

"Someone stop him!"

Kurumu chucked her open can of yuzu juice as she hopped up on a desk and pounced over to him. Hopping from desk to desk, she landed in front of the foreigner as the room was bathed in bright light. Kurumu faltered back a step to shield her eyes as Huang laughed triumphantly.

"You are too late! Divine beast! Destroy Aono Tsukune!"

A tiny chirp answered his diabolical demand.

Blinking away the spots in her vision, Kurumu realized that in the space between her and Huang was a tiny chick with scarlet feathers. It had a golden beak and tiny golden feet. It chirped again, tilting its tiny head. A crest of white feathers ran across the center of its head.

"That is adorable!"

Kurumu nodded dumbly in agreement as Moka arrived at her side. With a happy squeal, the vampire scooped the chick up and held it to her bosom.

"Unhand my phoenix!"

Yukari held a hand back at Tsukune as she approached Moka.

"Are you sure you summoned the right thing?"

Huang faltered back a step.

"What have you done to my phoenix?!"

"I was going to destroy your talisman again but I see no reason to do that. You can only have one creature out at a time."

"Foul sorceress. You must have cursed my talisman."

Yukari rolled her eyes as Tora and Mizore finally joined them.

"I did nothing of the sort."

Huang blushed a deep shade of crimson.

"You embarrassed me."

"You embarrass yourself."

"A teacher found me. I was sent to the disciplinary room."

Kurumu frowned as Moka continued to fawn and coo over the little chick in her arms.

"Why would he get sent to the disciplinary room?"

"I have no idea. Maybe someone recognized him for the sexual deviant that he is."

"She paralyzed me and then teleported me into the girls' bathroom."

"There's no proof."

Mizore's eyes sparkled as she held her hands out to Moka.

"Can I hold it?"

Moka grinned, surrendering the chick to the starry eyed Mizore. Mizore whimpered as she clutched the tiny creature to her bosom.

"It's so soft. And warm. Very warm."

"He did call it a phoenix."

"Maybe it is a phoenix. When was the last time you summoned it?"

Huang paused his inspection of the charm upon his sword.

"This is my first time."

"And you don't have any other creatures of this kind in your service."

"I have a hundred beasts sworn to serve the Huang family. This includes four divine beasts of unparalleled power. With my magic, they are able to come to my aid whenever I beckon them."

"How does that even work?"

Yukari smirked at Kurumu.

"That talisman is a gateway which allows the creature named upon it access to this space. If I destroy the talisman, the creature is flung back into the dimension where his family has imprisoned them."

"Imprisoned?!"

"Yes. These servants of his are prisoners."

Huang staggered back, shaking his head.

"Not true! Each of these beings pledged their lives to the Huang family."

"You mean like you wanted Tsukune to pledge his life to your family?"

Tsukune gasped at Tora's remark.

"You mean he was plotting to make me into one of his summons?!"

"No! I swear to you upon my family honor that was not my intent!"

"I don't know. He is the mafia."

"Agreed. I imagine many of his servants were bought over the years."

"You're dripping."

Mizore sighed, handing the chick over to Tora. A huge sweat stain stretched down the front of her shirt.

"What's the name of your phoenix?"

"I don't know."

Yukari snorted, shaking her head as Tora stroked the crest of feathers atop the chick's head.

"What do you write on the charm?"

"Phoenix."

"You named your phoenix, Phoenix? That's like naming your dog, Dog."

"Is Tweety a good name?"

Tora snickered, shaking her head. She stalked over to Kurumu and held the chick out. Kurumu absently took the small bird and brought it to her bosom.

"He's a bit hot to handle."

Tora was right. It was like holding a hot rock against her breast.

"Tweety is really dumb."

"Chirpy?"

Kurumu could not believe this idiot. She patted the soft chick against her breast, suddenly shivering as a surge of lustful thoughts flooded into her core. She glanced down at the bird but it had nestled its tiny head into her bosom and was rubbing with unbridled lechery. In seconds, she was getting wet and it had nothing to do with his heat.

"Uh… this little birdie is having some real nasty thoughts."

Yukari laughed, holding her hands out. Kurumu eagerly handed the chick off to the witch.

"I think this phoenix died in its prison."

"Died?"

Yukari absently stroked the chick's head as she regarded them.

"A phoenix is an eternal. When it dies, the body reverts to an infantile state, but the phoenix retains all of its mental and spiritual strength. They are a very proud and intelligent race, feared by all mortals."

"That's definitely not a creature you'd call Tweety."

"We should think of a different name for him."

"Once he gets older, he could tell us his proper name."

"How long before that happens?"

Yukari shrugged, offering no response. She held the chick up to Moka whom squealed in glee as she promptly took the bird to her bosom.

"How about Hawk?"

Kurumu smirked at Mizore's suggestion.

"Isn't that as bad as calling him Phoenix?"

"We should call him Sky."

Yukari smiled at Moka.

"That's not too bad for a temporary name. But he's a legendary bird and should have a legendary name."

"What would you suggest?"

"How about Quetzacoatl?"

"Isn't that a summon in Final Fantasy Eight?"

Yukari stared at Tsukune until he sheepishly looked away.

"Quetzacoatl is a divine feathered serpent worshipped by the Aztecs. I believe that this legendary bird is in fact one of the eternal phoenixes."

Kurumu had no clue whom the Aztecs were. She glanced at Mizore and they both shrugged.

"Birdie is fine."

"If we want scary, we should go with Vulture."

"Could I have my phoenix back?"

Moka sighed, holding out the chick as Huang reached for the bird.

There was a sudden glint in the chick's beady black eyes and it pounced from Moka's grasp. It zipped through the air, snatching the talisman off Huang's coined sword. It landed behind him, turning about and chomping down on the charm. Huang spun about and gasped.

"What's it doing?"

"This is bad!"

"It's destroying its own charm."

"No. Worse. It's making it a part of him."

Yukari frowned for a moment. Then her eyes lit up and she pounded her fist into her palm.

"I see. He's broken free of his contract with you."

The chick's eyes began to glow as it swallowed down the charm.

"Foolish mortals. How dare you talk so disrespectfully towards divinity."

Huang pounced towards the chick but it zipped away. A fiery hole marked the passage of the chick and the paper taped over yesterday's wreckage rapidly burned out from that spot.

"My father is going to kill me."

Yukari snorted as the fire quickly spread to reveal the school grounds beyond.

"I'd say it's more likely that phoenix is going to kill you. I wonder how long your family had it enslaved."

A deafening boom rocked the world. What had remained of the paper was instantly incinerated, revealing a gargantuan bird bathed in flames hovering over the school grounds outside.

"It's huge!"

Kurumu nodded dumbly at Tsukune's assessment.

"I am Huang. Suggesting such demeaning and childish names is disrespectful."

"Did he say Huang?"

Yukari's eyes were wide. She quickly moved her hands.

"Of course. In Chinese, Huang means phoenix."

Huang laughed proudly.

"I told you I didn't write his name wrong."

"This is no time to be happy about that!"

"I will burn you all to ash!"

"Watch out!"

Everyone ducked down as Mizore threw up a wall of ice. In the next instant, the wall shattered with a deafening boom. Mizore was thrown across the room as the entire chamber filled with steam.

Maniacal laughter echoed from the phoenix. Kurumu grimaced, finding it difficult to breath in the stuffy humidity enveloping them. She staggered back to her feet, noting Mizore was not the only one to have taken that hit. Yukari had also been thrown into the wall. Neither girl was getting up.

"A magically enhanced ice wall capable of withstanding a direct attack from a phoenix. I am impressed with your harem."

Tsukune grabbed Huang by the collar, shaking him roughly.

"That saved us!"

"I'm aware of that."

"Can't you do something?!"

"It seems we are in this together. It's destiny that you join my family."

Tsukune shoved the grinning boy away.

"We have to draw it away from the school."

Tsukune rushed across the room, vaulting through the opening.

"Tsukune! Wait!"

Moka hurried after him, not hesitating to jump out of the classroom.

"Now that's a real man! Allow me to assist you!"

With a haughty laugh, Huang darted off in pursuit.

"I don't know about you, but I'm not going out there."

Kurumu nodded at Tora's remark, hurrying back to check on Mizore. She rolled the girl over on her back, feeling her neck for a pulse. She sighed in relief.

"How's Yukari?"

"She's alive. I'm going to heal her."

The sphinx made a diamond pattern with the fingers of both her hands against her bosom, taking in a deep breath. Exhaling, she pushed a blue trail of spiritual energy from herself into Yukari's chest.

"Will you be okay with these two? I'm going to help Tsukune."

"What do you plan to do against a huge, flying bird of fire?"

That was a good question. A phoenix would roast her before she could use her charm powers on it.

"What is going on here?"

Kurumu glanced up at the familiar voice. Ms. Hitori strolled through the back door with her eyes fixated on the developing scene outside.

"Huang summoned a phoenix to fight Tsukune but it ate the talisman he used to summon it."

Ms. Hitori chuckled, walking over to the edge of the classroom.

"That idiot. I guess Huang isn't happy with the new heir of the family he serves."

"Didn't that family imprison him?"

"Not at all. A long time ago, he agreed to come to their aid if the situation was dire. The last time a silly boy summoned Huang for stupid reasons, he leveled a whole city."

Kurumu blinked, turning a wide eyed expression on Tora.

"Hopefully he doesn't destroy the school."

"He knows he can't do that. He must sense I'm here as easily as I sensed him."

"Can you stop him?"

Ms. Hitori grinned back at them. Her hazel eyes flashed golden for a moment.

"Don't worry. When I go out to greet him, he'll have other priorities."

Ms. Hitori launched out of the opening, bursting into flames. Shifting into the form of a massive bird, she shot off across the forest. As she had promised, the other phoenix immediately took off in pursuit.

"I hope she's right."