A/N: Re-written once again. And I realized that I should probably do something to the first three chapters that I rewrote back then. If only to remove the PoV changes from there and make it all into third person PoV.
Chapter 14.
The next lesson started and Tsukiko kept an eye on Hanajima. Maybe it was some remaining paranoia from the events at hospital but she didn't want to become too close with the gossiper. At least not yet. Actually, better fix that to never. Tsukiko wasn't prejudging type but… That way Hanajima looked around the class all the time and observed everyone there, except Tsukiko, was creepy. Thankfully it seemed like Tsukiko was too new in the class for anything to be found yet.
"She is aware like a detective… But she isn't one. She is aware only to find out something juicy to spread forward as a rumor." Tsukiko thought as she made notes from the black board and reminded herself once again to keep her guard up around the other girl.
"Okay, since you don't seem to work well right now, we'll change the seating order." The teacher on the front of the class room announced after putting the chalk down with a resounding 'clack'. The teacher was a young woman this time but Tsukiko had already managed to forget her name. "You are new in this class, right?" She suddenly addressed Tsukiko in brisk manner. She was maybe slightly rude but it didn't bother Tsukiko. She had much ruder teacher once.
"Yes, I am." The blonded nodded.
"You can stay where you are, but the rest of class… Take your things and come here to pick up a number."
That caused a lot of noise. The chairs scratched the floor; students muttered something or other more or less mutinously and complained why she was the only teacher who made them change seats every month. They walked to the teacher's desk in clumps and picked up a little piece of paper from the green felt hat the teacher was holding. Each paper had a number of a row and a number of a seat when they were counted from the door to window. Until that point Tsukiko wondered why that teacher had the hat with her when she came to the classroom. Well, now it answered the question though it also brought up another point. Why did she had a hat? Why not a jar or something?
Eventually everyone had found their new seats and Tsukiko got the chance to look who would sit near her for the next... month? To her relief, Hanajima's seat was now at the other side of the class and the members of snob club were mostly at the back of the class.
"I wonder how that is possible…" Tsukiko thought as the clique had been there also before changing the seats.
In front of Tsukiko was now a boy who seemed to belong to a sports club and, what she could see from his scribblings in his notebook, that club seemed to be tennis club. Next to Tsukiko in the other hand was sitting Miyoshi Mai, the class president. She flashed the blonde a quick smile before starting to read the book in front of her. This time it was a book about geology. Behind Tsukiko was the hunched-to-herself quiet girl who had been at Tsukiko's desk during the first break but hadn't said anything. The one talking had been the girl who now sat behind her. And like Tsukiko had guessed before, they were identical to each other.
"A twin pair with opposite natures, huh? Is this class full of stereotypes?" Tsukiko sweatdropped.
"You noticed then?" Miyoshi stated without raising her eyes from her book. It was still the geology one. Tsukiko took a moment to realized that she was actually talking to her. And it was sort of scary, like Miyoshi had read her thoughts.
"Umm… Yeah… Kind of…" The blonde stuttered but frowned then. At the change of expression, Miyoshi looked at her with a curious look in her eyes. Tsukiko took up to explain it. "Hanajima-san said almost the same thing to me on the previous lesson." The said girl looked up at the mention of her name and waved at Tsukiko. She waved back without much enthusiasm.
"Stay away from her." Miyoshi said, faintly scowling in the direction of the other girl before returning her gaze to her book.
"Huh?" Tsukiko blinked.
"Hanajima is not what she claims to be. I want to make it clear right away." The class president told her. "No matter what she claims, she is still part of Toudou's clique. Almost everyone else in this class thinks she is a good person but I know she is still the same she used to be: person who sells secrets forward."
"I noticed. And she was pretty surprised when I told her I knew she hadn't really quit with that club." Tsukiko smirked.
"Oh? You are smarter than I anticipated then. Finally someone who understands how twisted this class is." Miyoshi sighed and closed book. "Hanajima used to be like you at the beginning. She also came in the middle of the year and I tried to protect her, steer her away from Toudou and her clique. She was fine at first… But then she joined up with them from her own will. I guess she was playing with me since the beginning. I was stupid not to see it before."
"I can see it. She was an unknown to you. And then she 'quit' the club and began gathering up rumors and secrets by being friendly with everyone. People trusted her even though she then sold those secrets on to the snob club who in turn spread them on after being twisted and made juicier but still having a smidge of truth." Tsukiko reasoned.
"Exactly! You are even more observant than Hanajima. I really hope you don't turn to the evil side like she did."
"Don't worry. I have never been into gossiping. I hope we two can be friends, Miyoshi-san." Tsukiko tried not to laugh at Miyoshi's statement of the 'evil side' and offered her hand.
"I hope so too. You can call me Mai; I'll call you then Tsukiko." Miyoshi smiled warmly and took the offered hand. She did give it a funny look. Maybe it was too Western of a gesture…
The school day ended and Tsukiko followed Miyoshi to the lockers. The two girls were chatting happily with each other the entire way. It was at the lockers when Tsukiko heard a vaguely familiar sounding voice from nearby.
"See, Ran! I told you the girl would be fine if she sticks with the class president." The voice belonged to Suzuki Sonoko. Tsukiko was honestly amazed that she recognized her voice because the only place she'd heard Sonoko speaking was the anime. And it was more the context than the voice itself that allowed Tsukiko to make the connection. The blonde turned around towards the voice and saw two girls, Sonoko and her best friend Mouri Ran. And more than likely, Tsukiko was the topic of their conversation. While it slightly irked her, in the other hand it was expected. She was the new student after all.
"Oh hell… why her of all people?" Miyoshi muttered as she slammed the door of her locker. Tsukiko was surprised at the language she used. Sort of out of character of the proper class president. Even Hanajima or Toudou hadn't garnered this sort of language. Then again, they'd been in the classroom then. "She is almost as bad as a mixture of Toudou and Hanajima. Too curious and always eager to find out the newest going-ons of this school. If her attitude were different and she were in our class, I bet she'd be part of Toudou's clique too."
"Really? Who is she then?" Tsukiko blinked. Surely Miyoshi was exaggerating…
"Well, maybe she is not that bad but I still don't particularly like her." Miyoshi sighed. And there Sonoko was coming to our direction, dragging Ran along with her. "In any case, may I introduce you to the heiress of Suzuki conglomeration, Suzuki Sonoko-san. Annoying both in and out of school."
"Kouhai Miyoshi Mai-chan…" Sonoko began menacingly. "I heard everything you said about me. Are you telling lies to the new student?" An arm was thrown on Miyoshi's shoulders and forcing the girl's knees buckle a bit. Miyoshi scowled while Sonoko glanced at Tsukiko. "You are the new student, right? What's your name?"
"My name is Okiya Tsukiko. Nice to meet you Suzuki-senpai." Tsukiko smiled, giving a short bow to the other girl.
"Damn it, Suzuki, let me go! And I didn't say anything untrue as it was my pure opinion about you!" Miyoshi growled and tried to shove the rich girl's arm away.
"Where is the respect towards your senpais?" Sonoko asked in faked exasperation.
"You don't deserve any!" Miyoshi finally managed to duck away from underneath the arm. "Besides, Tsukiko-san is not easily influenced. She already managed to see through Hanajima's cover and I'm sure she already knows a thing or two about you too. Especially with knowing your name now."
"Really?" Sonoko blinked and then grinned at Tsukiko's direction. "Please, tell me what you know."
"Okay then…" Tsukiko drew a breath and exhaled. She needed now to carefully weed out any private and unnecessary information. "But shall we get going? It's nicer to talk while walking."
It was once out of school that Tsukiko began talking.
"Your name is Suzuki Sonoko. You are the second daughter of Suzuki Shiro and Tomo. You have an elder sister named Ayano who is already engaged. Your family owns Suzuki Conglomeration and your uncle Suzuki Jirokichi is the advisor of that company. He is also very obsessed beating Kaitou Kid. Your best friend appears to be Mouri Ran-san who I know to have recently won the regional Karate Champion ship… Is that already enough?"
"Nope, I want to know how much you actually know." Sonoko smirked. Tsukiko sighed but obeyed.
"Well, that was your family and best friend." The blonde nodded to the dark-haired girl's direction. "There have been some vague rumors about you having a boyfriend but your family has managed to protect your privacy… But from the school rumor mill though I've heard about your constant teasing. Especially when targeting your best friends love life. Apparently there has been talk about a relationship between Mouri-senpai and a high school detective and local celebrity from your class, Kudou Shinichi-san. Who, I could add, has disappeared mysteriously and not having been heard since." It was a risk to say all that. But sitting next to Hanajima for the first two periods had paid off. She actually talked about all that and more. But Tsukiko also knew that Conan would hear later about the conversation and become more suspicious about her. Paranoid little brat… But now to conclude the explanation. "And after that detective's disappearance you have shown up as the Deduction Queen of Teitan High."
"Impressive, Tsukiko-chan! You are a good information digger." Miyoshi clapped her hands while smiling widely. Sonoko shot a curious look at the blonde girl and Ran remained quiet.
"Do you know anything else? I get the feeling you're omitting something." Sonoko pushed her face closer to Tsukiko's. The girl took a step backwards.
"Um, no? Why would I? I only today began here." Tsukiko lied. She really didn't want to risk saying anything else. Oh, she did know so much more. For example about Ran, Conan – or Shinichi – and about so many other people. "I think I have to get going now though. My guardian is waiting for me. See you guys tomorrow!"
With hasty backwards steps, Tsukiko got some more space for herself and waved a goodbye.
"See you tomorrow!" Miyoshi waved back and the blonde turned to leave.
"Tomorrow I will put you through a deduction test! Let's see which one of us is better detective!" Sonoko shouted after the girl. Tsukiko waved a hand over her shoulder, indicating she'd heard.
"It was nice to meet you." Ran finally spoke up too but Tsukiko could barely even hear her voice.
"What's up with her today?" The new girl thought but twisted around, jogging backwards.
"Yeah, it was nice to meet you too, Mouri-senpai." The blonde grinned and managed to coax a smile from the karate champion. It was good. Kind girls like her… they shouldn't be down. Because they remained strong for others, others should also be their support when needed.
A/N: I'm so happy I managed to fix this chapter. It was honestly quite gringe-worthy. Now I deleted some part of the conversation and made it flow better. And fixed honorifics. Tsukiko isn't yet comfortable to call Mai with her first name even in the basic text and there is a bit more distance to the senpais. And Sonoko addresses Mai differently. I hope that way is alright, with kouhai being a title rather than a honorific... Because I really wanted to keep it one way or other.