Sawatari had high hopes for this school. Girls were soft-spoken, obedient, and very well-behaved. Middle school girls were just learning the world, and they had such sweetness to their attitudes. And being the guide to their journey through life, it was such an honor when compared to the years he'd spent working at all-boys high schools.

He had enough of dealing with delinquents. He was ready to make a fresh start acting as principle at an all-girls middle school.

He was ready to open that door in front of him, leave his new office, and greet the new workforce just outside his doors.

And then give the inspiring speech he'd just written last night to the student body.

"Excuse me, Sawatari-"

"Not today," he said, holding a hand up as soon as one of the teachers opened his door. "I am not starting today on the wrong note."

"But Sawatari-sensei-"

"No. Not toady. No. I am having a good day today. Close the door and we will start over." He flapped a hand at the door.

There was a pause and then the door closed with a soft click.

He sighed and turned toward the window. It was sunny and beautiful. Not a cloud in the sky.

Today would be a good day.

He walked to his door, took a deep breath, clenched his fists, raised his shoulders, and exhaled as hard as he could.

Today would be a good day.

"Let's get everyone to the welcome ceremony." He gave a stern look to his gathered teachers and various school aides.

-X-

"And now, we will welcome our new principal. Please welcome Sawatari Goro-sensei."

There was polite clapping, and he walked across the stage with his head held high.

He looked out at the fresh, bright faces of the middle school girls he would be responsible for nurturing, and he smiled benevolently at them.

"Hello-"

And the sudden pops of firecrackers cut off the rest of his speech.

Confetti burst from overhead, streamers and balloons shooting across the stage. Small cries of surprise resounded from the girls, and they moved away from the gymnasium stage en masse. The teachers surged around him, calming words to ease the girls spilling from their lips.

A second round of firecrackers sent the teachers further from the stage. Smoke billowed at his ankles and he jumped down to stare at the stage in horror. Sparkler fountains erupted from either end of the stage, orchestral music began to play from the speaker system, and a figure in costume popped out from somewhere in the center of the stage where Sawatari knew there was no trap door.

"Welcome, everyone!" It was a girl in a glittered version of their sailor uniform, hair pulled into two high pigtails and lit up with two white round lights. "Who is ready to see a magic show?"

Immediately, the girls swarmed to the stage, a sudden cheer of "KID! KID! KID!" filling the air. Sawatari stared at the sudden change in the girls, looking out at the teachers for support.

"What's going on?" he demanded.

"I was trying to tell you earlier! That's Kudou Himari, and that one," the teacher pointed at the girl hiding up near the rafters in a nearly identical outfit, "That one is Kuroba Niko, and they were caught this morning trying to sneak in smoke bombs and sparklers."

"Why didn't anyone stop them?"

"I assume because you wanted to have a good day," the teachers said dryly. "We took their materials, but since we didn't have any instructions on what to do about the grils, they were easily able to get them back their props and cause trouble."

The Kuroba girl joined her partner on stage, both of them working the crowd.

"Stop them!" he cried out, running back towards the stage.

"And welcome to our new principal! Looks like he's here to volunteer!" The Kudou girl grabbed his arm, pulling him the rest of the way and up the stage with frightening ease. "Let's give him a round of applause!"

"Thank you for volunteering!" The Kuroba girl took his other arm. "And now, let's make him disappear!"

The girls in the crowd cheered even louder.

-X-

"Never in my life have I been more humiliated! You will be lucky if there will be a single school in the country that will take you in! This is absolutely shameful!"

Neither of the girls so much as raised their heads, seated across from his desk. Their parents would be here shortly, and that would be the last he'd ever see of these girls.

"Sawatari-sensei, we have their parents here!"

He'd barely got out of his seat when four people barged into his office. Both girls jumped to their feet, gravitating to the man wearing a black zip-up hoodie with the two women boxing them in, hands checking the girls over, pulling out streamers, ribbons, and what looked like actual emergency flares from pockets. A an in a suit entered the room last, eyes focused on Sawatari without falter.

The other man who'd entered with them, the one wearing the suit, he slid one of the chairs away and to the center of the desk.

"I understand the girls have been part of an incident," he said, "I'm sorry but your assistant was not very clear what happened."

"What happened was these girls took over my welcoming ceremony, staged a magic show, caused a small fire in our auditorium, and humiliated my staff!" He glared at the small group gathered behind the man in the suit, both girls looking distinctly unapologetic.

The man in the hoodie laughed, draping an arm over the girls' shoulders. "I think you've won this round, girls. What do we tell Dad?"

"I think you'll both have explaining to do. This is unacceptable behavior. I'm Kudou Ran, this is Kuroba Aoko, and these are our girls."

"Your girls? I don't-" Sawatari stopped.

"Of course you'd find this hilarious, Kaito. What did he give you girls?" Kuroba Aoko held the flares up. "I know you didn't get these from Papa."

"We got those from Dad. And Papa gave us the sparkler fountains," Kudou Himari said, "Mom gave us the hair lights."

"Ran!"

"I found them in Kyoto when Kaito and I went."

"Plus, I'm sure the costumes came from you, Aoko."

Kuroba Aoko turned on the man in the suit, eyes narrowed.

"I'm sure misusing police resources is much worse," Aoko said.

"I think we all know where the blame on this situation falls."

The group looked to the man in the hoodie, Kuroba Kaito, and he only smiled wider.

"I always thought they'd do better at a school that encouraged creative expression and individualism. I feel that Tokisadame would be a better choice." Kuroba looked directly at Sawatari, and there was something very familiar about his expression. "Besides, Aunt Yankumi would make a much better role model."

"I think we'll have to discuss this at home. I'm assuming they're on suspension?"

Sawatari gaped at Kudou.

"Suspension?! This at the least requires expulsion!"

"See? Like I said, Tokisadame."

"We're for it!" The girls cheered together.

"It couldn't hurt to discuss other options."

"Expulsion is a little severe for what I'm sure is minor damage."

Sawatari flinched as they all talked over each other, feeling a little lost as he caught Kuroba Kaito's eye.

"I think we'll discuss their future here at this school, if you wouldn't mind escorting everyone home?" Kudou Shinichi said, looking back over his shoulder at the rest of the group.

"That is an excellent plan. Let's leave it up to Dad." Kuroba took his hands off their shoulders and nudged them forward. "Say goodbye, girls."

Th two younger girls hugged Kudou Shinichi, and he pressed a kiss to both foreheads. Kudou Ran approached him next, pressing a kiss to his jaw and then leading the girls back to the door. Kuroba Aoko approached from the other side and kissed his cheek, brushing a few strands of hair out of his face.

"Keep them out of trouble?" Kudou Shinichi asked her, turning to catch the corner of her mouth.

"Always," she promised.

"Like that's ever stopped us before," Kuroba Kaito said, stepping up to Kudou Shinichi's other side. Kuroba Aoko poked him in the forehead on her way out the door after Kudou Ran and their daughters. Kuroba Kaito stuck his tongue out at her before his attention was redirected to Kudou Shinichi.

"If I keep the girls out of serious trouble here, you have to keep them out of trouble on the way home, understand?" Kudou Shinichi grabbed his collar and pulled him down and in, lips lingering together for a little too long.

"Fine." Kuroba Kaito huffed, straightening himself to turn a dispassionate eye over Sawatari before leaving.

"Now then. Let's talk about what we can do to make this a successful school year for you."

Sawatari was out of his depth here.