Aw, man, it's been what? Two months? I got lost in Narnia, my darlings. I'm sorry. Also, I think this'll turn out to be a filler chapter, but you can't really tell until you read. :P

We've graduated! And I made it to the top 15! :'D I'm not as dumb as I thought!

Disclaimer: *Into the Woods* I wish…


27: The Planner

Her magic words were "status report".

The following Monday marked the second week of June, and there was still no progress with her probationary officer, nor with her next lucky victim (A/N: See Chappie 2.), nor with her latest one. Plus she hadn't even thought about the venue and all the other changes she had to make for the ball.

Oshino had ended up approving of Hiroto's proposal, just to spite her back for that compromise she had forced onto him.

"Tch," Sokudone held her nails tantalizingly closer to her growling mouth. Fifth period was boring her so much that she was forced to think about other things to stop herself from falling asleep. And now she was stuck with overthinking things. She wasn't getting anywhere, be it work, school, family, friends, or love life. The thought of counter productivity terrified her, and quite frankly, if Kageyama Reiji were still alive, he'd be too ashamed of her to even confirm their relation.

When the bell had finally rung for lunch, the stressed president rushed straight to her office, determined to get her priorities straight.

From: Claire :O

Subject: Emergency

Been dating the King of Idiots for a month now. Our monthsary will be the 17th. I don't know what to do! And yes, you can't judge me for needing your help. But you know you have my greatest thanks.

Sokudone smiled. For days, Koujirou'd been telling her how wonderful life had been with Claire, how he'd hated having to see her off because she studied at Hokkaido, how she'd always find ways to make sure he didn't miss her too much. Her lion-haired best friend had been the brightest in days, and it was such a wonderful sight compared to having to look at his haughty, striding back.

"He belongs down here, with you." Those were the motivational words she had given to Claire when she demanded answers.


There was a time when Sokudone crushed on people. There was a time when she made chocolate for someone on Valentine's. There was a time when she confessed her feelings. And there was a time when she was rejected.

But that wasn't the reason why she stopped making her lovelife her top priority.

She had a fight about this with Kidou, actually. When Sakuma had told him the reason why he exploded at Genda that day during lunch (A/N: See Chappie 8.), the Teikoku captain stormed to her office and demanded for her to stop her nonsensical fantasies.

"That's enough, Sokudone."

The addressee stood up from her post, rounded the five-foot long mahogany, and sat on the front of it. Kidou shut the door and took a step closer. "Enough with the matchmaking. Just stop thinking you know what you're doing just because of one lucky hit with Gouenji and Nayujin."

"You are my childhood friend," She scoffed, unable to believe what he was saying when he had always been supportive of her. "You, of all people, should and do understand why I do this!"

"And you, of all people, should and do understand why you shouldn't."

Sokudone's thoughts flitted to another memory.

"Matchmaker, Matchmaker, make me a match; find me a find; catch me a catch!"

She sang this to school, to class, to her classmates, to her friends, and even to her helpers at home. "Silly child," One of the older ladies would shake her head with a smile. "You won't want those soon!"

"But I want one, obaa-chama!" She insisted, her six-year-old fingers tugging on the old woman's apron. "I want somebody who's a schooler and as rich as a king! Just like how they sang it!"

"The correct word is 'scholar', ojou-chan," She would laugh lightly, and then finish folding all the sheets. "Besides, hasn't the master already made a match for you?"

"Huh?"

"You say pardon, darling," She'd correct, "Didn't your father tell you? He wants you to marry Yuuto-kun."

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, you know that I'm still very young – please, take your time.

"Father, will I be forced into marriage too?" The toddler's paint-filled hands hovered a distance away from the dining table's mahogany leg. "I heard Yuu-chan's dad say something about looking for a wife for Yuu-chan. Is it going to be me?" Kageyama's jaw tightened. He had been talking to the older Kidou about having his adopted son married off if the need ever arose. "And obaa-chama said it was me."

Her father was silent for a while, weighing his options and testing the waters.

"Father?"

"No," The black sunglasses shone against the chandelier lights. "You belong to your Father. You are a Kageyama, understood?"

"Yes, Father."

"And you will never change that."

Sokudone shook her head, frustrated at herself for spacing out again. Lunch was not forever, after all.

To: Claire :O

Subj: re: Emergency

Oh, please. Don't you worry. Just tell me what you want to do, and what you think Koujirou wants you to do, and I'll spice things up. What would you do without me? :P

The violet-eyed teenager made a mental note to stalk Hiroki and Akio, because it was the third month of her challenge, and – she wasn't going to do anything, really! Just a little status report on her part.


Matchmaking, check! Now it's time for school work – wait, she was in school, so that'd probably be off the list…

Friends! Sokudone pictured chandeliers lighting up as she came up with a lovely idea. First she would text Karai to vaguely ask about what may or may not have happened last Saturday. Then she would ask how Gale was faring – because the girl had been avoiding her and Ichirouta for almost a week, and only Kami knows why. After that she'd have to go to Mikage Sennou and ask Arata to give her access to Sakuma's phone – because lately he hasn't even made eye contact with them during lunch, and she knew something big was up. To top her master plan, she would require a status report from Koujirou, who'd either tell her or text her without fail anyway.

And that was how Sokudone kept her friends under high maintenance.

The school president grinned triumphantly at herself, staring off into space as she pictured herself receiving a standing ovation from whomever. Kageyama would definitely tell her she did a wonderful job of redeeming herself. That was three down, with two more to go.

As for work…Sokudone sighed. She looked for venues, catering services, and a more flexible theme to go with the expanded ball. Her father had connections, but since his death the previous year, she hadn't made efforts to reach out nor strengthen them. And now she was incredibly regretting it.

Plus she couldn't simply use Gohin. The man was a probationary officer and nothing else. Their relationship was strictly for probationary purposes. Should he have whatever she may have required, well, all it took was a little humble pie and ask for a favor. But she was a Megamino to the core, and she was not one to beg.

The blackette slammed her head on the mahogany. "Am I really that prideful?" She whined to herself, frustrated yet again for her limitations. "Why can't I just ask?" She groaned even more, trying to contain her immature tantrum. She proceeded to monologue more as she stared at the carpet, too discouraged to look up.


By the time it was the last period of the day, Sokudone had planned to visit the family property. She hadn't done it, ever, seeing as being a Kageyama was her top priority at the time. Upon Kageyama's death, she'd received a letter from his lawyer about her clan's property, secluded outside town, up a big hill (or a little mountain, whichever), and how she wasn't the only survivor. Her older brother, Megamino Shusui, slept over at a friend's house at the time.

Fourteen years later, she'd contacted him, asked to meet him at Greece – where he had been married for three years and already a father of one orange-haired daughter – and they'd been inseparable since. She'd wanted him to visit the property with her for the first time, but she'd have to plan things fast.


"Shachō!" An underclassman ran to her that day as she headed to the field. "You don't have to call me that outside the office," She smiled at him. She recognized him as one of the Student Council members. Yuuto must have asked him to pass a message to her.

"Kidou-fukushachō asked me to ask you – because he's busy with Kurokawa-shachō—" The kouhai cleared his throat and put his hands in a binocular-like position over his eyes: his best imitation of the Student Council Vice President. "How do you not have a headache from all that planning?"

"Raspberry him for me, will you?" She grinned and went on her way.


Strawbeariiis has made a comeback! And it's a 1500 worded chapter. Eh. I feel disappointed. But I like this better than the original piece. Ugh, that one was horrid to look at.

Comments, preashe. :D

-Strawbeariiis