Thanks everyone for your feedback and support on my first fanfic. It means a lot to me! I'll try my best to update the story frequently, but my schedule can be weird sometimes. Anyways, onto chapter two!
Yuzu sat at the police station, fingers tapping rapidly on her thigh. 'Mama is going to kill me' she thought to herself.
Moments passed by and suddenly a door flung open. Ume angrily walked over to her daughter; eyebrows narrowed. "Yuzuko!" she yelled loudly. People around began to stare, as she continued to raise her voice. "What were you thinking? I asked you to do one simple thing..."
"I'm sorry mama," the blonde looked down in shame. She really wasn't sure what else to say.
"I had to leave work because of your stupid decision! Do you know how much this will cost me to fix YOUR screw up?" Yuzu had never seen her mother so angry. She could see the veins popping out of her neck.
Suddenly the door had flung open once again. An old man walked in and faced towards one of the officers. "What is the meaning of this? He looked even more pissed off than Ume.
"Excuse me sir, you're the Chairman of Aihara Academy, correct?" The officer seemed a bit intimidated by the man who stood in front of him. He simply nodded.
'He looks so scary' Yuzu thought to herself as she trembled a bit in her seat.
"What is this nonsense I've heard about one of my students? I could not imagine one of them would disgrace my academy in such a way!"
Yuzu lifted her head up finally, hearing from a distance just how upset the Chairman was. Finally, he'd looked over to the girl sinking lower in her chair. "You...you're the new student, are you not?" he'd questioned with irritation in his voice. Ume marched towards him, waving her hands. "I apologize for my daughter's behavior. I can assure you something like this won't happen again".
"No, of course it will not. I do not accept people like her in my academy!" He spat back while pointing a finger at the blonde girls' face. He grunted angrily before tearing down Yuzu with three final words, "You are expelled!"
Yuzu gasped, standing up quickly. Ume shot her a warning glare and Yuzu plopped back down. Then quickly the brown-haired woman grabbed onto the old man's arm, "Wait, there has to be something else we can do about this, sir!" He tore his arm away from the woman. "There is nothing else to discuss here. I'll see that the costs for damage are sent to you immediately. You will gather your belongings in the morning. Now get out of my face!" he'd said harshly as he walked out of the building.
Ume exhaled deeply, putting her hand over her forehead. There was nothing she could do, and she was very disappointed in her daughter. "Let's go, Yuzuko," she said in almost a whisper.
Yuzu rose slowly, dragging her feet across the tile floor. "Mama..." Ume put her hand up and shook her head, "I don't want to speak to you right now Yuzu." The teen frowned as they made their way out to the car.
The drive home was awkwardly silent. Yuzu had her window down, letting her hair blow through the wind. In between cars passing, she could faintly hear her mother sniffling. The girl was known to get in trouble often, but her mother thought maybe with a change of pace, her daughter would grow up. Yuzu knew the pain in her chest all too well; she hated causing the other woman to cry.
Once they arrived at their apartment, Yuzu gave her mom a saddened look then made her way through the front door.
"Yuzu..." Ume sighed.
"Mama, I can get a job or something and pay back the school" Yuzu suggested.
The woman sat down at the dining table, hands covering her face, "I'm not sure how to handle you anymore. I sometimes wish your father was here."
Yuzu's eyes widened, suddenly drowning in more guilt. "Why did you even do this?" Ume questioned.
"Well...there's this girl at my school who was kind of being a bitch towards me so..." Yuzu got quieter by the end of her sentence.
Ume gave her daughter a blank stare, "So, you decided that ruining private property was the best way to deal with it?! Jesus Christ, Yuzu."
"I wasn't supposed to get caught," the teen mumbled.
"Who is she? I can't imagine one girl was worth getting in trouble over. You're lucky the police let you off easy."
Yuzu scratched the back of her neck, looking away slightly, "Just the chairman's granddaughter..."
Ume's green eyes widened as she stood up from the dining chair, swinging her hands up. "Great! Not only did you piss off the Chairman, you're not even getting along with his granddaughter."
"To be fair, she really isn't that nice of a person anyway," Yuzu shrugged.
"Alright, you, just go to your room and stay there. I'm going out for a drink,"the brunette said before grabbing her jacket and purse she'd had next to her while heading back for the front door.
"Seriously?!" Yuzu groaned, sluggishly walking to her room. The green-eyed girl sighed and jumped into her bed. 'Could things get any worse?"
Ume took a train to the other side of town, where things were much livelier. She wasn't one to go out and drink usually, but today she needed to get away and clear her head. Making her way down the street she found a little pub on the corner. It didn't look as crowded as many of the others, so she'd decided to head in and take a seat at the bar.
"What can I get you?" the bartender asked with a smile. "I'll just take a rum and coke, please."
Ume stirred her alcoholic beverage that was handed to her while looking around. 'This place is actually kind of dead.'
From the corner of her eye, she noticed a tall, handsome man with vibrant purple eyes sit next to her and accidentally bump elbows with her.
He grinned, "Aha sorry about that!" Ume smiled back to him, "No worries..."
He ruffled his hair a bit, "Uhm, I'm Sho Aihara."
"Aihara? As in the academy?" Ume asked.
"Yep! My father is the Chairman there." The brunette sighed, "How funny...my daughter just got expelled from there." Sho's eyes widened "My father can be harsh at times, but whatever she did, it must've been bad."
Realizing how rude that might've sounded he put his hands up, "I mean, uh...sorry that came out wrong. It's just- "he was suddenly cut off.
"No, you're right. She vandalized the building," Ume chuckled at how awkward the man really was.
The woman sighed, "Maybe if I were home more often, she wouldn't act out. It's just us two there. Maybe she gets lonely?" Ume leaned forward and rested her palm on her cheek. "Anyway, sorry for bothering you about this," Ume said with an unconvincing smile.
The man smiled back, nevertheless. "You know...I don't know how successful I'll be, but I could try talking to him. Maybe there's another way around the situation?" he thought out loud while rubbing his pointer finger and thumb on his scruffy chin. Ume's green eyes gleamed with joy.
Hours passed as the two continued talking well into the early morning. Ume was quite intoxicated at this point and decided to take a train back home. Yuzu was still awake reading a fashion magazine since she wasn't going to be able to get her phone back until later that day.
Yuzu heard the door slam close. Walking out into the living room she saw her mother stumbling, obviously drunk. "He...hey *hiccup* Yu...zu!" Ume said with slurred words. The teen rolled her eyes at the brunette. "Mama, you're drunk. Let me get you to bed."
"Don't, uh, don't worry...I'm just gonna sleep right..." Looking around, the room was spinning. "...here", she finally said laying down and rolling into cradle position on the hardwood floor. "Mama, you're not going to be very comfortable there" the blonde laughed out loud, seeing how silly her mother could be while intoxicated.
Yuzu smiled to herself as she covered up Ume with a blanket and kissed her on the cheek before heading back to her bedroom for the night.
Morning came and Yuzu dreaded having to go back to the academy. At least she wouldn't have to deal with it after that day, but she knew her mother was still going to be upset with her. 'On the bright side, I'll get my phone back!'
"Yuzu!" A knock was heard on her bedroom door. "One sec mama, I'm getting dressed!" the blonde yelled back. Opening the door, she noticed her mother smiling from ear to ear. "Yuzu, I've just gotten a call from the school."
'Great...' Yuzu thought to herself as she let out a breath of air. "I met the Chairman's son last night. He said he would talk to his father and guess what?!" Before Yuzu could even respond, Ume suddenly said "He's giving you another chance!"
"WHAT?! But how?" Yuzu looked really confused.
"We've got to head to the school, he will explain everything there."
Arriving at the academy, Yuzu noticed her 'art' was already gone. 'Geez that was fast' she thought to herself.
"Yuzzuchi! How did it go?" Harumin yelled as she leaped towards the blonde, wrapping her arm around the back of her neck. Soon the chestnut-haired girl noticed Yuzu wasn't alone.
"Heh...I kind of...got caught and expelled", Yuzu said nervously. Harumin's face turned into a frown. "But don't worry! Apparently, mama met someone who talked the old man into letting me back into this place", she said with a smug look.
"Really? You were only gone for like a day." Harumin seemed skeptical.
"Come on Yuzu, they are waiting for us" Ume said.
"They?" the blonde gave her mother a questioning look.
Yuzu had never been to this area of the school. Not that should would've had time to, considering she was only there for one day. Walking up to the large mahogany doors, Ume knocked.
"Please come in." A deep voice was heard from the other side.
Ume walked in with Yuzu right behind her. The teen had no idea what to expect coming in here, but soon realized it couldn't be good once she saw her. Mei Aihara.
"Thank you for joining us this morning", the man spoke in a hoarse tone. "I take it you have informed the girl of what will be happening from now on?" He asked with one of his eyebrows arched.
"What exactly is happening mama? You never told me anything." At this point the blonde was completely lost on what was going on.
"Well..." Ume wanted to explain this as easily as possible to Yuzu but knew that wasn't going to happen considering how her daughter got here in the first place.
"I expect all my students to act accordingly, to follow the rules, and to meet all the academic requirements", he spoke firmly while pushing his glasses up. "As I can see from your last school, you did...poorly. Actually, you were destined to fail."
Yuzu was beginning to get furious. "Are we here just so gramps can lecture me on all this bullshit?!"
The Chairman stood up abruptly, slamming his hands on his wooden desk. "I will not tolerate that kind of language here!"
"Yuzu, please calm down and listen to him." Ume pleaded.
He huffed then continued speaking, "Your mother and I have agreed that you need disciplined in some way while she is away and not able to help you. Sho has spoken to me about the situation and you should be thankful I am allowing this!"
"ALLOWING WHAT?" the blonde asked, getting annoyed.
"Starting today, Mei will be guiding you through your academic struggles and over all wellness. She is one of the top students at this academy."
Yuzu eyes widened, replaying in her head 'Mei will be guiding you...'
"You've got to be shitting me...? There's no way I'm letting her anywhere near me!" She said while crossing her arms.
"Yuzuko, stop being so rude!" Ume yelled.
"Listen here young lady..." he grunted.
"No, you listen old man!"
Mei sighed quietly beside her grandfather as the two continued to bicker back and forth.
"It is finalized and begins today. I have given you a second chance. It is your decision to be successful, so I suggest you take this seriously", the Chairman said before dismissing everyone out of his office.
"Ugh, mama is this really the only way?"
The three walked down to the front entrance, Mei following behind farther.
"I'm sorry Yuzu, but it'll be okay. Just please do as you're told. I've got to head to work," Ume said as she kissed her daughter on the forehead and waved goodbye.
"It's time for class", the purple-eyed girl spoke in a monotone voice.
Pouting, Yuzu turned around slowly. "Just because you're okay with this, doesn't mean I am!"
"I never said I was. I am just doing as I was told," Mei responded.
"So, what... are you going to be following me around everywhere?" Yuzu's eyebrows furrowed.
"Hmm, perhaps," the black-haired girl showed no emotion.
"Oh, I see, you're just doing this to piss me off!"
Mei stayed silent as they walked to class. Yuzu wanted no part in this, but she also didn't want to make her mother mad. Again.
"Fine, whatever, don't say anything!" Yuzu shouted out as she sped walked past Mei.
Mei closed her eyes slowly for a moment, sighing as she followed the blonde into the classroom.
"Psst...Yuzzuchi", Harumin leaned back into her seat. "What happened?" Yuzu saw Mei looking back, intensely staring at her. The blonde hunched down in her seat, "I'll tell you later Harumin..." The teacher soon walked in and class begun.
Mei paid no more attention to Yuzu for the remainder of class and that left her feeling a little relieved. Unfortunately, it didn't last long. Mei walked up to Yuzu as class was ending, "I have student council business after school usually, but today I am going to tutor you instead."
"I really don't need your help," Yuzu spoke while rolling her eyes.
"Your grades say otherwise. As I said, I am only doing as I was told. Meet me at the library at four o'clock." Mei left the classroom with a stone-cold expression before Yuzu had the chance to speak up.
"Damn, looks like you lucked out Yuzzuchi!" Harumin laughed while slapping Yuzu on the back.
"This isn't funny Harumin! I think I'd rather be expelled than deal with her. No one is even giving me a choice in this!"
"Well...you kind of screwed up Yuzu, so take advantage of the situation. Prez is like the top-ranking student here."
Yuzu frowned, realizing it would be best to go along with it just for today. She didn't want to make her mother upset any more than she already had. Maybe she could even get her way out of the whole predicament if she plays along with it for a few days.
Time went by rather quickly, as four o'clock was creeping up on Yuzu. 'Where the hell is the library?' She looked around but was seemingly lost.
Turning a corner, she suddenly bumped into another figure and fell on top of them.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to run into yo-" Yuzu stopped speaking the moment she laid eyes on the person in front of her. 'Seriously?! Out of every person I could've ran into' she thought while gazing into the girl's purple orbs, slowly getting mesmerized.
Grunting, Mei pushed the girl off her. "Ahh, geez. You could've just waited for me to get up you know?!" the blonde spat out angrily.
Pushing past her, Mei said nothing as she walked away. "Hey! Wait up for me. I don't know where the library is!" Yuzu sped up to the black-haired girl. "Are you going to say anything?"
Pausing for a moment, Mei stared at Yuzu and with a stern voice only said, "You're late."