Chapter 2: Kazama is the perpetrator ?

~Meg's POV~

Hearing Yamaguchi-sensei addressing the head teacher, I looked up from my work. The man always meant trouble. He is so narrow minded. If anything happened at all in the city, it would surprise me if he would accuse any of us to be the culprit, prove or not. 'What is Saruwatari-kyoto doing here?'

"Kazama, come with us for a bit." Was the first thing he said. Well he may have tried to say it polite, but the frown on his face wasn't looking nice. And when kazama turned around at the mentioning of his name, Saruwatari-kyoto instantly told him "Don't argue, just come."

Feeling that I was already getting pissed off by his attitude, I turn my sight elsewhere for an instant before returning it back to the irritating man in the room. Keeping a strong hold on my self-control.

'Seriously?! He wasn't arguing you know. He just said "Huh?" because you took him by surprise.'

"What's going on?" I heard Yamaguchi-sensei ask Saruwatari-kyoto.

'The shadow' as I most of the time call him (I can't remember his name most of the time.) answered. "The police want to talk to Kazama about the serial muggings." He said, shocking me and most in the room. But when I looked at Ogata, even from behind, I somehow got the idea he wasn't as shocked as the rest of us.

At the end Kazama just walked out of the class with Saruwatari-kyoto, the shadow and Yamaguchi-sensei. Leaving the rest of the class to wait for him or to go back to their business as if nothing has happened.

~Meg's POV~
~In the class room~

It took quite some time for Kazama to return to the classroom, but the boys didn't seem to give a shit. The moment Kazama was out of the door they stopped thinking about him. Only Ichimura and Kuraki seemed to wait for him, standing at their desk doing nothing at the moment. Also Ogata and his buddies weren't doing much. This wasn't uncommon for Ogata. I had seen him doing nothing in the room more times anyone else. Though the look he had before Kazama left kept me suspicious of him. 'Is he waiting on the outcome?'

Meanwhile I had turned most of my attention back at my own work as well.

And then the door was slammed open by a very angry and agitated Kazama. Storming at his desk, to apparently take his old briefcase. Yamaguchi-sensei seconds behind him. Telling him to wait, to not leave and to calm down, but he didn't listen. Turning his attention to her he said that he would even be fine with expulsion if they would like. Disagreeing with him Yamaguchi-sensei just responded by saying that he shouldn't even joke with that, making me agree with her in my mind.

"Anyway don't leave. I'll persuade the chairman." Yamaguchi-sensei continued strongly. But Kazama wasn't about to bulge.

"I don't believe in what a teacher says." He growled at her before leaving.

When she was about to go after him again, it was Ichimure who stopped her, telling her to "Why not just leave him alone? What can teachers do?"

When he sat back down, I saw her looking around the room. She seemed shocked in a way.

"Why?" She mumbled to herself before calling out at the class. "Why can you all still be smiling?!" Everyone went silent letting her continue.

"A comrade who didn't do anything wrong was just suspended."

"Comrade?" Ogata smirked. "We happen to be in the same class. That's all." (Nakama?) Every boy in the class nodding and agreeing with him.

"Even so, don't you feel anything?" Every boy in the class nodding and agreeing with him. Yamaguchi-sensei tried to argue them. "Don't you think anything of it?" But the answer she received was clearly not what she had expected nor liked hearing.

"Not really." Kamiya responded with a shrug.
"It happens a lot." Honjo added.

"That guy was falsely accused and then tossed out! Don't you think it's wrong ?!" Yamaguchi-sensei shouted again, pointing at the door were Kazama just left.

Somewhere in the room I could hear one of the boys saying: "Man she's fired up!" 'But she has a point, you know.' I couldn't help thinking. Even if I don't trust teacher and would never admit me agreeing with her aloud.

She really tried hard despite the laughter now in the room from the boys.
"Why not rebel at a time like this!"

That was the limit. You didn't have to be a genius to see Kuraki's anger. "Quit with the sermon already!" He shouted.

Ichimure too slammed his hands on the table. "Whatever we say won't change anything."

"It's not like you damn teachers ever listen to what we say anyway." I heard Kuraki state next.

Walking up to him Yamaguchi-sensei asked: "Is that why you're telling me to drop it?" Feeding the tension in the room with her persistence.

"Oh, by the way," Turning my attention to the voice, it was Ogato who spoke while standing up, "he was near the Shirokin tunnel at the time of the incident. I saw him with my own eyes." Also answering my suspicion from before.

'So that's why you weren't to shocked before.'

"Really?" Yamaguchi asked out of shock.

"Yeah." Ogata snapped back at her, grabbing his back and exiting the room, followed by the rest of the class. Including myself for now.

Normal POV~

~Later that night~

After a long evening of work Meg finally made it home. She was very tired and just wanted a nice hot shower before going to bed. Really sometimes she wonders why she kept that job and didn't look for something better, but then again she didn't have time for that and needed the money badly. Her little student apartment wasn't the best of the best, but could do.

When you entered the scare apartment, you would find that the door on your left lead to the bathroom, on your right you would find the small kitchen counter followed up by a closet and desk at the end of the wall. Across from the closet and desk was a bed with two drawers underneath and a small bookshelf next to the headboard. At last at the end of the room besides the bookshelf there was the door to a small balcony.

Meg went inside her apartment and the moment she closed and locked her door, she started pulling of her clothes. While she pulled off her shirt she got a little sniff of it and scrunched up her nose. It smelled awful and very much like sweat. She dumped the clothing article somewhere on the floor in her way toward her bed, soon follow by the rest until she was in her black boxer and bra. Taking out a towel from one of the drawer's under her bed she went in her bathroom. The hot water of the shower relaxing her aching muscles.

Normally Meg could do fine with a short shower to freshen up, but today she took her time. Her mind kept replaying the events of today at school. 'Nakama', 'Comrade' was what Yamaguchi-sensei had said to them. The woman apparently thought they were more than just people in the same room. That there was at least some kind of bond between them, but she was wrong. Meg had never thought or interested herself enough in these people's lives to be calling them her comrades. She barely acknowledged them as her classmates. The stupid thing was that now that she thought about it, she actually started to feel a little sad.

Thinking back at a time where she would walk in an old, dirty building with graffiti all over it, looking for her friend and brother. Without realizing it a small smile upon her lips at her thoughts. She remembered a time where she, Serizawa and the other guys were lounging on the rooftop, playing poker. Serizawa had lost several round that day and was totally pissed off already. When he lost again the next round from Tokaji-kun, he was so enraged he punched him in the gut. Leaving him there on the ground to blow off some steam somewhere else while Meg helped Tokaji-kun up. When she went to their home that evening some idiot guys from a different school thought it fun to hit on her. Calling her all kinds of things while fallowing her around. Meg kept her cool and just walked her way, ignoring them, but when she was a block away from home she suddenly heard several grunt of pain behind her. When she turned around she saw Tamao standing over the now unconscious bodies of the boys who fallowed her. Grinning at her, they both walked the remaining way to their home.

"Tamao" Meg sighed at the fought. He sure was a hand full, but had really matured the last half year in Suzuren. Sure he still did stupid things back then, and would probably still do, but you could count on him if needed.

Stopping at that though, Meg turned off the shower and made her way to bed.

~Meg's POV~

~Next morning~

Waking up this morning I took my time to get ready and walk to school. Being tardy at times wasn't so bad. Yawning I walked lazily in the classroom, only to find all the boys crowed together and Yamaguchi-sensei in front of them handing out some kind of paper. 'Strange.'

Being curious for a change I walked to the end of the line they had formed so I could also receive one of those papers. Looking at it, it read 'Looking for a witness'. There drawn picture of a man in a hoodie on the left and besides it there where two other drawings. One of a skull necklace and one of a tribal tattoo.

"I'd like everyone to help prove Kazama's innocence." Yamaguchi-sensei spoke to the group, making everyone look at her.

Honjo laughed, "This… isn't he lying?"

But Yamaguchi-sensei didn't seemed faced this time as she was yesterday. "He's not lying." She confidently answered back at him.

"Why do you believe that?" Kamiya raised his voice.

Making Yamaguchi-sensei turn her attention towards him. "I can tell from looking at his eyes."

Looking at him myself, I could see his anger rising. He stepped forwards and got into Yamaguchi-sensei's face. Glaring at her he said, "I smell an idiot", Making the class burst out in laughs, when he turned back to his spot.

What happened next was something I had never expected. Yamaguchi-sensei didn't back down in fear nor did she confront him. Instead she bowed down to everyone, pleading for our help. "Lend me your hand. Please"

But it didn't have the same effect on the boys as it did on me. Throwing up the papers in the air, they left. Only Ichimura, Kuraki and Ogata kept the papers in their hands while leaving.

I stood there a couple seconds longer, watching sensei raise her head and starting to pick up the papers of the floor. When I had enough of her humble appearance, I signed out of frustration and stooped down to help her. 'Why am I even doing this?'

When we had all the papers of the floor, I quietly handed her my pile before leaving. The moment I was almost out of the door I heard her say, "Thank you." Then I closed the door behind me.

The next couple of days went by quickly with going to school, grocery shopping and working till late at night. One of these when I went to work I saw Yamaguchi-sensei on the streets asking people if they could help her find the person on her paper. At first I didn't think much of her act. 'How can she expect people to help her this way? They all just walk by her and throw the papers away.'

But when I saw her rushing out of the door the next day after the last bell had rung and saw her again that evening when I went to work, I couldn't help but secretly admire her determination.

She was really trying her hardest to find the culprit and that all on her own.

So when I was done with work that day, I took a different route towards my apartment. Looking left and right in the off case that the culprit would walk in the same street and kept this up the following days. Every time I went out of my apartment, I would make sure to take different routes towards my destinations of the day. Even if it my effort isn't much, it's the least I could do.

This afternoon I had a partically long detoure planned out towards work, making me leave earlier than usual if I wanted to be on time. The route went through the center of town and passed by the police station. But when I came by the station I just happened to witness Kazama stepping out of a policecar with Surawatari-kyoto. Yamaguchi-sensei was there as well, trying with all her might to plead Kazama out of it.

"You knew didn't you, Yamaguchi-sensei. That Kazama was near the crime scene. The police heard it from Ogata Yamato." Surawatari-kyoto reprimanded her, but it didn't stop her from pleading with the detectives.

Only Kazama paused her in her efforts for a moment by telling her it was alright already. "I'm used to this sort of thing."

"Don't get used to it!" She yelled back at him and then turned her pleading back to the detectives, who ignored her. Kazama was being lead toward the entrance like some kind of criminal at this point. Two policeman flanking him, while one of them lead him by the arm.

Only when Surawatari-kyoto stopped her from going into the police station with them, did she stop pleading. Instead she told Kazama, "Kazama. I'll save you no matter what!" But he didn't look back at her.

Signing I started my walk again. 'Guess there is no need to stay here. May as well go towards my work now.'

From behind I could Yamaguchi-sensei say one more thing before I turned the corner. "Ogata."

That night after work I decided that I would continue with my different detours in hope of finding the culprit. I didn't want to feel guilty by stop trying the first opportunity I got.

Walking through town, I swiftly made my way through the crowd. Left and right there were couples, business men and groups of teenagers walking. Making the center buzz with noise.

Suddenly something caught my attention. A couple of meters in front of me I saw Ogata fallowing an older man in his twenties. Not sure what got in to me I followed them as well. I made sure to keep enough distends, just in case.

At one point I could see them both turning a corner. However when I came closer I could see the man standing at the entrance.

"So it's you? You're the one following me around?" I could hear the man say and suddenly two more man stood beside him.

"You're the guy behind the serial muggings, aren't you?" I recognized Ogata's voice, but the man clearly wasn't intimidated by a high school kid. His response sounded lazy and careless in my ears.

"What if I am?"

And at that they all walked into the alley. I waited just a moment more before I took a glance around corner myself. I'm not going into a fight without knowing my opponents and these guys had air of trouble around them.

When I looked, I saw a group of about seven men surrounding Ogata and leading him away. 'This is bad.'

I followed them towards an old warehouse at the edge of the city. Luckily I wasn't spotted by any of them, but that's also were my luck ended. They took Ogata in the warehouse with them and closed the door before I could go in myself.

The moment it took me to walk towards the door, I heard the first sounds of hitting and someone groaning in pain. 'Damn it!'

I hurried around the old building, keeping my pace swift and light as to not make a sound., searching for another entrance. The moment I found a little hole in one of the walls, barely big enough for me to fit through I went in.

There I saw Ogata fighting with his last remains. He was pushed, punched and kicked al around by the men. 'This isn't fear!'

He fell on the floor, making me pause in my movements. The first guy walked toward him and pulled at Ogata's hair to make him look up.

"Have you learned your lessen yet?" He sneered.

Ogata glared back at him. "Because of you, someone else has been falsely accused."

"So what." The arrogant prick snapped back at him.

"I'm going to…" Ogata grabbed the man's jacket, "take you to the cops."

Now this may be brave, but also extremely stupid. Ogata got thrown at the ground again, making him roll over before being kicked in the gut.

"Don't fuck with me!" The man yelled at him. His pals were chairing for their leader, enjoying Ogata's pain.

Pulling up my hoody so I couldn't be recognized afterward. (You never know.) I went forwards, taking out as many of the men as I could on my to reach Ogata's side. My punches and kicks were precise and fast. I didn't need the opponents to hurt, I needed them either unconscious or unable to move and hurt us.

I tried my best to keep them away from Ogata, seeing as he was hurt pretty badly already from before my arrival. My only problem was that there were to many of them still. The moment I had the opportunity to turn around and have a look at Ogata's side of the fight, there was a loud bang that shook the warehouse. It was quickly followed by a second bang and a third. By the fifth bang the door of the warehouse blew open. Showing the sellout of a petite woman.

All the man seemed to have forgotten I was there for now they stood some meters before Ogata and me, staring at the intruder.

When the woman walked closer, I could see she wore her hair in two pigtails and had glasses. 'Yamaguchi !'

I quickly hid behind some old barrels before see could spot me. However I made sure I could still see and hear everything happening from my hiding spot.

That is also how I could see Ogata losing his conscious just after her arrival.

She looked at Ogata, then at the men. "So many adults ganging up to beat up one highschooler…", She started, taking out her pigtails, "You sure are pathetic."

"Who the hell are you?" The leader asked.

"Me? I'm that kid's homeroom teacher." She said, now losing her glasses as well.

"Homeroom teacher?" The men laughed at her.

Shaking out her hair, Yamaguchi-sensei stared at them, not being faced by their mocking. "I'd like you to give back my precious student."

At this the leader turned serious, narrowing his eyes at her. "Don't give me that "precious student" crap. Don't make me laugh. School is meaningless. They don't have much of a future after high school anyway. I mean, this guy's no different from rejects like us, anyway"

"Don't think of him as one of you!, Yamaguchi yelled, "In order to take responsibility for his actions, he came here alone. Even though he was beat this badly, he tried to save a comrade! THAT'S PRETTY RESPECITBLE !"

One of the men stepped forwards, avenging on her. "Don't look down on us!"

She grabbed him in an arm-lock and tossed him to the side. I watched in fascination as she kicked, punched and dodged her way through the men to stop before the leader. All the time continuing her lecture.

"Whether you're dog-ass or half-assed, you can always start over!
Let me tell you, if it's to protect one of my precious students, I won't hold back."

I could see at his body language that he was scared now.

He picked up one of the pipes from the ground trying to make a swing at her, but she easily dodge every one of his moves. Before he could make the next swing, she grabbed the pipe as well with one hand, pushed it aside and hit him right in the gut, making him drop to the ground unconscious.

At last she picked up Ogata and left the warehouse. As did I.

~Next morning~

The next morning all the student and teacher were to getter in the gymnasium for a special speech by headmaster Surawatari-kyoto.

Standing in the back of my class, I half listened to what the idiot had to say. Most of the time speeches like this are plane boring in my opinion, so if you listen the first two sentences you could easily diced if further listening was needed or if you would block it out. This time though the attention of every single one in the room was taken.

"I have an announcement. You might already know this. A student from 3-D came under suspicion for serial muggings. Thankfully, the real culprit has been captured, but even being under suspicion is a shameful thing!

Al heads of class 3-D went up to glare at the headmaster.

'The fucking idiot! How dare you say that!' I glared at him as well. I know so many people who were ones suspected for doing nothing wrong and even when they did, they are still good people in my eyes. I wasn't just angry at him now, I was furious!

The one thing that kept me from going and punching him in the face, ironical were the other students from 3-D. They started shouting and made their way up to the stage. The teachers tried to hold them back, but to no avail. In no time all the guys were in front of Surawatari-kyoto to only thing keeping from hurting the height of the stage.

"How can we calm down after having our comrade falsely accused?!"

I heard one of them yell, stopping me from glaring at the Surawatari-kyoto.

'What the hell?! You guys didn't do anything to help the guy!'

"Don't make me laugh!" A shout came from behind, making everyone turn their attention to the back entrance of the room. There Yamaguchi-sensei stood in the open door.

She and 3-D walked up to the middle of the room, the guys glaring at the teacher.

"Can you guys really talk that big?" Yamaguchi-sensei started to question them. "What did you do when Kazama was suspended? Was there a single one of you who believed him? Was there anyone who tried to defend him saying he wasn't the culprit? Don't say he's your comrade when it's convenient ! " She shouted to get her point across.

Then she walked in a straight line through the group and got up the stage. Kazama and Ogata running in through the back entrance the same moment.

"You guys. Clear your ears and listen carefully." Yamaguchi-sensei started her speech, making me turn my head back over my shoulder to look at her. "You don't call yourselves comrades, if you're just hanging together to have fun. Real comrades take each other head-on, have complete faith in one another, and develop a lifelong relationship."

Somehow the words she spoke hurt me, making me turn back to the entrance. I lowered my head so my hear could hide my face while I walked out, passing by between Ogata and Kazama.

"Don't live a meaningless life, not knowing that much! You still have a lot of time until you graduate. It's not too late. Make some real invaluable comrades. I'll be with you guys until the very end. Don't run away!"

Thank you for reading this far. I hope you will be nice enough as well to leave a review? :)

I also hope you enjoyed it. ;)

I'm currently starting with school and trying my best to write two stories here, so the updating probable will take a little bit more time. (Or a lot, Xp. I'm new at actually writing so it's pretty easy for me to have a writers block in the sense that I can't find the right words at that moment. Hihi)