Standard disclaimers apply
News of Kawaguchi's expulsion spread through the school like wildfire. Incidentally, news of Miyuki's threat before the upperclassmen had been expelled spread like the plague among all the grades. Along with the news came the rumors; had Sagara been turning down other girls because his heart belonged to Suzahara? Unfortunately for both Izumiko and Miyuki, the repercussions were speeding toward them in the form of a dreaded entity for any teenage boy or girl . . . fan clubs.
In the second week of October, Miyuki and Izumiko, along with their respective roommates, were studying outside to enjoy the weather before the bitter bite of winter forced them to study in the library. As Mayura and Miyuki were helping their respective roommates with their homework troubles, three first year girls materialized beside the group on Miyuki's side of the picnic table.
"Is it true?" Miyuki, confused about what these three strangers were inquiring about, asked:
"What are you talking about?" The previous speaker, and obviously the leader, tensed up before blurting out in a loud voice:
"Is it true that you're in love with Suzahara?!" The first year girl's bold question caused the unflappable Sagara to choke on air from sheer shock and incredulity. After Miyuki finally caught his breath, he faced the girls to respond, not noticing how the courtyard had quieted down to hear his answer.
"If you have the time to ask such personal questions of second year boys, don't you think it could be better used?" The girls' faces turned to astonishment as Sagara continued his lecture; "Add to that the fact that you don't even have the decency to make sure it was asked in private and I'd have to say that you three are sticking your noses into affairs that are none of your business." The girls shrunk back as Sagara stood, obviously angry at their boldness; "If you're going to be so rude to me and my friends, then leave;" When Miyuki saw that the girls weren't leaving, he yelled; "Now!" Finally getting the hint that they weren't welcome, the girls scurried away.
"Miyuki;" asked Izumiko; "did you have to scare them away?" For reasons known only between Miyuki and Izumiko, they'd dropped their first year habit of referring to each other by surnames and started calling each other by their first names like they had as children. Coincidentally, this shift occurred after the Kawaguchi incident.
"Izumiko;" Mayura interceded; "I know Sagara may have come off as harsh but he needed to handle the situation the way he had. If he had been even a little lenient toward those fan girls, it would have encouraged others to attempt the same." Izumiko nodded before interpreting what Mayura had meant to communicate to her.
"So what you're saying is that he was sending a message to other potential fans that their questions are not welcome." Mayura nodded before adding:
"As much as I wish it wasn't true, I know where Sagara is coming from. Before I'd disbanded the MSF, there were times where the guys in the club would bug me about things that were absolutely none of their business." Manatsu nodded in agreement with his sister; he'd lost track of how many times he'd been asked about his sister's personality from 'potential suitors.'
"While I wish I could say Shinko is the only one with this problem, he and I have noticed another similar, and disturbing, trend occurring among the boys in the Academy." Manatsu turned to face Izumiko as he explained:
"While he and I agree that it will take a while for the students to forget the whole Kawaguchi incident," Miyuki couldn't help noticing how Izumiko tensed at the mention of the bastard, "the problem will be when the boys feel brave enough, or should I say, stupid enough to go after Suzahara again." Miyuki, not surprisingly, instantly noticed Izumiko begin to tremble violently at the mere thought of the harassment beginning again. Damn! She's almost as freaked out as that time in Tokyo! Before Manatsu could continue his tirade, Miyuki shoved his elbow into the Souda brother's side sharply.
"Hey! What was that for?" Miyuki shook his head before nodding his head in Izumiko's direction. Both siblings, having never really seen how fear affected Izumiko before, were shocked at the severity of her reaction. Miyuki, on the other hand, quickly saw the signs; Izumiko was on the verge of a panic attack!
"Izumiko!" Miyuki rushed to her side as Izumiko began to gasp sharply, obviously trapped in the sheer terror of the traumatic experience. "Crap! Souda!" Mayura ran to join Miyuki as poor Izumiko began to hyperventilate; "As much as I'd like to help her, the fact that I'm a guy doesn't make me the best choice right now! Can you try to calm her down while I call my dad?" Mayura nodded, tears gathering in the corner of her eyes from the fear of Izumiko's panic attack. Suddenly, a third year girl ran to join the group.
"Can I help? My little brother used to have panic attacks all the time so I know how to deal with them." Nodding in appreciation, Miyuki left the mysterious third year with Mayura while he called his father's cell.