Chapter 6

Accessories and Opinions

A/N: So sorry for not updating for so long! Um…to tell you the truth, I was thinking of doing a pool chapter, but since I already did it with my good friend Major Mike Powell, I don't really need to any more. So, now that it's taken care of, I can finally move on~!

The story's called "Leo and Ageha's Poolside Adventures". Go check it out~!

Months go by and summer is already ending. Fall means the weather is getting colder. And during this season, the girls of Maisen are now able to wear their winter uniforms, which consists of a navy blue blazer over their white shirt.

Matsuri is already in her winter uniform and walks up to the mirror to check her appearance. She puts one last thing on: her headband with 2 white feathers and a Native American symbol. She twirls around to see if it's okay, nods and smiles.

"Alright~!" she says happily. She grabs her school bag and trots toward the door. "I'm ready~!"

**Maisen University**

"Haaahhhh~!" Yoshimitsu lets out a heavy sigh as she stretches out her arms. "I can't believe it's already October!"

"Totally~!" Meimei says, giggling.

Ageha giggles as well when she looks up to see some girls lined up for some reason. "Hey, what's going on?"

"Oh, the student council's checking the new season's uniforms," Yoshimitsu replies.

"Please make sure that your blazer is put on properly," Kochou says.

"Okay…" the girl says.

Chihaya is on the other side, checking the girl's uniforms as well. "Please straighten your skirt," she says.

"Okay." The girl nods.

Kochou looks up at Ageha and the other girls walking toward them.

"Good morning, Kochou-san," Ageha greets.

"Good morning, girls," Kochou greets back.

The Spaniard looks around at the girls who are scattered near the entrance. "Hmm…it must be hard doing it early."

"Nah, it's just one of the student council duties," Kochou replies. She turns toward Matsuri and frowns. She walks up to the tanned girl. "What's your name?"

"U-um…I'm Matsuri. A Native American…" Matsuri answers shyly.

The President turns to Ageha with a serious expression. "Even though you treat her like a little sister, Ageha, why haven't you advised her better?"

"U-um…did she do something wrong?" the Spaniard asks.

"For example," Kochou points to one of Matsuri's accessories. "That headband."

"Headband?" the rest of the girls say in unison.

"Is there something wrong with it?" Ageha asks.

"It's too disturbing."

"U-um…" Matsuri starts when she gets cut off by the brunette again.

"As president, it's my responsibility to keep an eye on aesthetics within our intuition," Kochou says. "And that…is too distracting for everyone."

Matsuri speaks up again, but in a more timid manner. "B-but…um…"

Chihaya steps in, leaning down towards her with a kind smile. "Please do what the president says, miss. As the student of Maisen, you must respect her decisions."

Matsuri looks down at the ground with a sad expression. Why must Kochou decide on what she wants to wear for her? To her, it's really unfair. And Yoshimitsu can't stand this anymore.

"I won't allow this!" she says.

Kochou turns toward the blonde American. "Are you saying I'm wrong?"

Yoshimitsu steps up and jabs her finger on the president's chest. "This decision is based on YOUR personal view on headbands! It's not fair! Honestly, I don't agree!"

Kochou just closes her eyes. "These are not my personal standards. This…is a guideline."

Yoshimitsu shakes her head roughly. "How can your view be a guideline!?"

"You two!" Ageha cries. "Please, calm down!"

**Later**

Matsuri walks alone in the halls. Kochou's voice plays in her head.

"You must stop wearing that strange headband starting tomorrow. Understood?"

The Native American sighs sadly, shakes her head and continues walking.

And in the classroom, Ageha isn't doing so well either. She just sits at her desk with a sad expression on her face, resting her head on her hand.

**Flashback**

"I have to keep this headband on!" Matsuri cried in front of her friends.

"You have to?" Yoshimitsu asked.

Matsuri wiped a couple tears from her eyes. "It's very important to me. I don't want to take it off…"

"Matsuri-chan…" Ageha said sadly.

Yoshimitsu turned to her best friend. "Ageha, why didn't you say anything?"

"Huh?"

"Kochou's picking on your little sister. You treat each other like sisters, remember?" Yoshimitsu pointed her finger at Ageha. "And that's not good, is it?"

"B-but…Kochou-san wouldn't do that…"

The American steps closer to the Spaniard. "If you REALLY cared about her as a little sister, why didn't you protect her?"

**End of Flashback**

Yoshimitsu's words keep playing in Ageha's head over and over. For her, she would have said something to protect Matsuri, but instead she stood there and watched the Native American get chewed out by the student council president. She really wasn't in the mood to pay attention in class. Leo could see that she's having trouble as well, but decided to let her be for now.

Once class is over, Ageha just leaves and walks in the halls. She can't stop thinking about what happened this morning and what Yoshimitsu told her. It's too stressful for her to handle.

Just then, she feels a tap on the shoulder. She turns around and sees Principal Minami.

"Ageha-san," she says. "Is something the matter?"

"W-well, um…" Ageha looks down at the floor. She never spoke with the principal that much, not since she transferred and such.

"If you want to, you can talk to me," the gray haired woman says.

Ageha bites her lip and nods.

**School Roof**

After Ageha told the principal everything, the woman rubs her chin in thought.

"I see," she says. "I do think it could have been handled better. You really can't change what already happened, though. You either have to get Matsuri-san to abide or overturn Kochou-san's decision. Those are your only choices."

"U-um…" Ageha takes a step forward with her fist on her chest. "Principal Minami, what do you think of Matsuri-chan's headband?"

"I don't think it's anything to make a fuss over," Minami answers.

"Then why did Kochou-san…"

"Ageha-san, I wasn't there, so I don't know," Minami says. "In terms of regulation, it really comes down to subjective opinion."

"Opinion…" the Spaniard repeats. "So…"

"How you approach this comes down to your own subjective opinion. If you think Matsuri-san is in the right, protect her. If you think her accessory is out of the line, convince her."

"Oh…" Ageha nods in understanding. She now has the confidence to stand up for the Native American.

Principal Minami puts a hand on Ageha's shoulder and smiles in reassurance. The Spaniard knows that the woman understands, too, and will give it her all.

**Later**

Ageha runs out of her homeroom classroom with Leo popping out, looking at the Spaniard in concern. Ageha runs toward the Native American who is standing alone in front of a window. She steps next to her with a kind smile.

"Matsuri-chan~" she says.

"Oh, Onee-sama…"

"Let's go to lunch," Ageha offers.

The Native American slowly nods and walks with the Spaniard to the cafeteria. After getting their meals, Ageha takes a seat across Matsuri, who just sits there with her head down. She decides to break the silence.

"I've given it a lot of thought," she says. "In MY opinion, I don't agree that your headband goes against regulations. So long as you have done nothing wrong, I will protect you. So, keep your head up."

Matsuri softly gasps and blushes at her words. "Th-thank you, Onee-sama!"

Ageha giggles. "Well then, let's eat while it's hot."

"Alright!" The Native American takes a bite of her mashed potatoes and hums happily at the taste. "It's delicious~!"

The two eat their food the rest of lunch time until it's time to go. Matsuri skips down the halls happily, turns to Ageha and bows in thanks and then skips off again. Ageha just stands there with a frown on her face.

My decision with Matsuri-chan is made, she thinks. Does that make Kochou-san wrong? She shakes her head. No…

"Ageha-san?" A gentle voice snaps the Spaniard out of her thoughts.

The tanned girl turns and sees the beautiful blonde walking towards her. "Oh, Leo-san."

"May I have a moment?"

"Sure."

They head toward the front courtyard, sit on the bench and Leo just closes her eyes with a smile.

"You seem deep in thought today," she says, softly. "Have you come to a conclusion?"

"S-so you noticed?"

Leo giggles. "If you don't mind, I'd love to lend an ear."

Ageha tells her everything.

"I see," Leo says. "I didn't know that happened."

"Yeah…"

"So what did you decide?"

"I'm positive that Matsuri-chan is not in the wrong." Ageha replies.

"You think Kochou-san used Matsuri-san as a scapegoat?"

"That's what Yoshimitsu says, but I don't think that Kochou-san would do something like that."

"And as there's no one at fault, it poses as a dilemma," Leo adds.

Ageha smiles nervously. "Yes, I'm ashamed to say."

"There's no such thing as a bad person," Leo says. "It's not just acts of evil that cause problems. There are as many differing values and opinions as there are people."

"Differing values?" Ageha repeats.

"No one is at fault," the blonde explains. "Our values differ, and this leads to confrontation. So, Matsuri-san isn't at fault."

"I see."

"Therefore, it's not right right that she can be punished by the student council. Let's think of it that way."

"You're right," Ageha says.

Leo stands up and looks up at the sky with her smile remaining on her face. "It's not about forcing your opinion on Kochou-san, but to make your opinion heard. Do you know how to make a claim against the student council?"

"Eh?"

Ageha notices a small purple handbook Leo is holding up.

"Heh, you're not the only one~!" a cheerful voice says.

The girls turn to see Yoshimitsu hold up the same thing. "Leo-sama, you thought of this, too?"

"Yoshimitsu…" Ageha says as she stands up.

"Hehe~! Now we have our members," Leo says as she hands her the handbook.

"Student Council regulations section three," Ageha reads.

"You can file a claim if you have issues with a decision the student council makes," Leo explains.

"You need a third party, someone other than Matsuri-chan and two supporters," Yoshimitsu adds.

"So, that would be me, Leo-san and Yoshimitsu," Ageha says.

"That's right~!" Yoshimitsu says. "You seem a lot more motivated than this morning~"

Leo sighs happily as she puts her hand on her cheek. "What big sister wouldn't put up a fight for her dear little one~?"

"Well then, let's go," Ageha says.

**Student Council Office**

"Come in," Kochou says after she hears the door knock.

Ageha opens the door. "Excuse us, Kochou-san."

"Hello," the brunette says, lifting up her head from her paper. "Can I help you all?"

"We've come to file a claim against the decision against Matsuri," Ageha says.

"Eh?" Kochou frowns a bit.

"Here." The Spaniard hands her the paper.

Kochou takes a quick look, reads it and then nods. "Accepted," she simply says.

The girls take their leave, say their good-byes and close the door. Chihaya turns toward her friend in concern.

"Why did you accept the claim?" she asks.

"Chihaya, I don't think I did anything wrong," the brunette says. "Why should I deny it and behave in such a petty way?"

"President…"

Kochou stands up, turns around and stares out the window with her fist on her chest. "Needless to say, I have no intention of losing, Onee-sama."

**Meanwhile**

"Yeeaaaah~!" Yoshimitsu cheers with her fists pumped. "That felt great! Did you see Kochou's face~?"

"H-honestly, I'm not trying to make trouble for Kochou-san," Ageha says with a nervous smile.

Leo turns to them with a serious expression. "But this is where it get serious. Once the claim gets posted, it will be talked about all over school."

Ageha nods with determination. "Ultimately, the student body opinion will determine the outcome!"


A/N: And end it here~! I felt like doing this because I want YOU guys to predict if this goes well or not! Stay tuned~!