Disclaimer: Prison School belongs to its original creator Akira Hiramoto and the anime series J.C Staff. Shadowdream30 claims no ownership of anything save for any OCs, original scenes.

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Declaration of war has been called between the two councils as they prepare themselves for the upcoming sports festival. But of course it looks like it won't be easy as many hurdles lie ahead. And Matsuri faces a ghost from the past once more. We enter the flames again, in a brand new arc, Road to the Sports Festival..


-Hachimitsu Academy- [Classroom]


June 13th Monday

Joe was staring off into space with his eyes more particularly looking at the empty seat next to him. The seat that was occupied by his friend, Andre. Ever since the little mishaps the other day involving his struggle with Meiko, the boy has not been acting right as of late. The correct term might as well be, mentally stable.

"Andre…..just what has gotten into you….."

His mind goes back to when he was preparing to get ready for class….


-Flashback-


Earlier This Morning…

Joe was getting his male uniform on and getting ready for the day. Alongside Gakuto who was getting ready for the day.

He took notice of Gakuto who carried a pale look….

"Y-Yo, Gakuto." Joe asked.

"I-Indeed! What is it Joe-dono?"

"Um….w-well, you alright. It looks like you're staring off into space thinking about something."

"Ah! N-Nay! There's nothing like that! Y-Yours truly is just excited for the day! That's all!"

"C-Calm down. I was just asking. You just looked pale, that's why I was worried."

"D-Did I truly look like such….."

"Yeah…."

Gakuto looked to the side with a conflicted look. His eyes pondered from left to right before looking back at his friend.

"J-Joe-dono…..may I ask you a question?" He got the boy's attention. "S-Should you truly get a haircut."

Joe coughed rather suddenly looking at Gakuto with a surprised look. "Huh!? You!? Cutting your hair!?"

"I-Indeed, does yours truly, honestly look like a perverted creep with such long hair?"

"I-I mean….hold up! I'm lost man *cough* care to explain more."

Gakuto released a sigh. "Mitsuko-dono…..asked me out….o-on a date."

At that point, Joe wheezed and coughed some blood from his mouth. "H-Holy shit man! She really asked you out! Congrats!"

"N-Nay! I worded that wrong! She merely asked me to do some errands, but the whole idea of us going out into town, just the two of us! This is making me having so much stress, I can't even began to think clearly!"

"I-I mean, if she ask you personally to do some errands, I think its pretty much a date."

"Indeed! That is the problem! I want to make a great impression on her and not make myself look like a fool!"

Joe coughed a little behind his hand. "I-I mean, she pretty much makes herself look like a fool for the most part."

"Yours truly ear's, have picked up on that!"

"I-It's true. So you're nervous on the date. Can't you just relax."

"I cannot relax! With it just being me and Mitusko-dono, it makes me really stressed and nervous and sweaty! My heart is pumping and it is aching at the same time! How can you truly choose between my love and the wet T-shirt contest!"

"I mean…wait." Joe stopped at the moment he heard about the wet t-shirt contest. Looking at Gakuto who began to turn pale. "W-What do you mean about the wet t-shirt contest? Why did you bring that up?"

Gakuto's face turned pale as his eyes shifted the other way. Perspiration drips against his bare skin. "A-Ah! N-Nay. Yours truly did not inquire such. It just must've slipped out of nowhere. I was just at the heat of the moment, that is all."

Joe just looked at him with a curious stare (even with his hood on one can tell what he was doing). He waits for Gakuto to answer his question…..

Gakuto's head snaps to his wrist. "Ah! Look at the time! Yours truly must hurry to his class! You too must hurry to your own class! So long, brother in arms!"

"H-Hey! Gakuto, wait!"

But he never got the chance as he left through the door in a hurry. Leaving Joe alone.

Well…..he wasn't alone, for there was one more boy still present. His head shifted to his right to spot a rotting Andre sitting almost lifeless in the corner. His hair was a complete mess, drool leaked from his mouth and he swore he spotted some flies above his head.

"U-Um….h-hey buddy, you feeling alright?" He asked the dumbest question.

Andre didn't reply.

"R-Right…..h-hey listen. I know you're still not feeling right in the head, but buck up will ya. You just made a simple mistake."

Still no reply as he just lazily stared off into space. His eyes almost looked like he was dead.

Joe was beginning to worry, but he didn't have the time to wait for a response. He walks to the door, turning the knob. Not without looking behind him again, he was still not moving. It really broke his heart seeing Andre like this. He gave out a sigh before opening the door.

"I'll be back to come check up on ya, okay?"

No reply. Just a twitch.

"Okay?"

Still no reply.

Joe gave out a low cough before shutting the door. Leaving the immobilized Andre to himself. Alone in the room.


-End Flashback-


"Andre….please come back to us."

His thoughts are interrupted when he hears the bell rings. Signaling that the class was over. He got up from his seat and packed his stuff up. Following behind the crowd of female students as they were leaving the room, not before being stopped…..

"Joe."

He stops in his tracks looking at who was calling his name. He turns to see Ringo looking at him with a sympathetic expression. Curious. Normally she doesn't call him, so what was the issue? He doesn't waste time as he walks over to the teacher.

"U-Um….y-yes, Ringo-sensei?"

"A-Ah. I wanted to talk to you about Andre."

So that was it. She must've noticed as well that Andre has been absent as of late.

"Y-Yeah, it's about him being absent?"

"Y-Yes. He's been absent for quiet a while now and I'm beginning to worry about him. How's he doing?"

"W-Well…..h-how can I say this…h-he hasn't been himself lately."

Ringo blinked at this. "W-What do you mean?"

"I mean, Andre has been out of it as of late. He hasn't eaten for days, he hasn't had a bath, he pretty much neglects everything at the moment. He's just sitting alone in the corner day after day."

"I-I see. So it's worse than I initially thought."

"U-Um…..I think he's still wrapped up on what happened with the Vice President and Matsuri….in fact I think that's the only thing that's going through his mind at the moment."

Ringo hummed to herself with a pondering thought. So he is still going through that. But she would've imagined that he would've gotten over that by now. But looks like he's still punishing himself for what had happened.

"Joe, if I may ask? Does Andre perhaps….l-love Meiko?"

"I mean, he does but not in the way you think." Ringo tilted her head. "Um….well…his admiration for the Vice President is a bit…different to say."

"What? What do you mean?"

"Um….he's a…..masochist."

"...EH!?" Ringo immediately flushed red. "HE'S ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE!?"

"T-That's why *cough* I was hesitant on saying something! B-But sometimes he has other things in his mind…..sometimes. But he's not a bad person!"

Ringo rested her hand on her heart, trying to ease her heart rate. "Goodness, I didn't even know about that…well…..at least he tries to keep it to himself."

"But ever since he was aware of Matsuri having a crush on the Vice President-"

"Wait! M-Matsuri!? He has a crush on Meiko!?"

"Shit! Maybe I should have not said that! But it's too late to retract back." Joe thought to himself before speaking. "Y-Yeah *cough* he got a crush on the Vice President."

"Honestly, I'm learning more and more new things."

"P-Please keep this a secret. I don't know if Matsuri will appreciate it if this gets out."

"D-Don't worry. I promise to keep it a secret. But back to Andre, I'm really worried about him. From what you described, it seems like he's currently going through a mental state. It's almost as if he is slowly drifting away from reality so it seems."

"I-I'm trying to talk to him almost every day, but I get no response from him."

"I-I see…."

Ringo thought for a moment. Thinking about several things in her head at the moment. One with Andre, who have currently been absent from classes and have not seen him through any of the days. Not with the boys, in the cafeteria, the library, not anywhere on campus. The other thing is with Matsuri, while she was aware that the USC has somewhat lifted off the restriction between males and females. But is it really okay for the two to be…..going to that point.

"B-But I'm planning on trying to talk to him again. I'll see if I can bring him back to reality."

"O-Oh! Sure! You should definitely try! I just know he'll come around."

"I-I hope so…"

"Um….o-oh! B-By the way! I've been meaning to ask, how is Matsuri?"

"M-Matsuri? Oh, he's fine. I know he's still under the USC. But he's doing fine."

"I-I see." Ringo said as she muttered to herself quietly. "Just as long as he's not causing trouble, then I guess it's fine."

"R-Ringo-sensei?"

"Sorry. Anyways, you may go on now. Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Thank you, I'll see you tomorrow then."

Joe made a pace towards the room to hurry to where he needs to be. Leaving the teacher alone in the room. She brought her finger to her lips, pondering her thoughts.

"Well…looks like Matsuri isn't causing any trouble. Oooh~. Why do I have to be one to gather reports on Matsuri! I'm not the most suitable when it comes to spying. I try to be subtle without giving it away but…ugh! I really don't want to do this….."


-Boys Room-


Alone, all scrunched up in the corner, in the dark with only light source peeking through the small hole from the window. Andre back was against the wall, his legs sprawled out and his uniform all battered up and wrinkled. His sweat drenching his uniform.

His eyes looked forward, not bothering to look at anything or even acknowledging anything at all. His fingers twitched a bit here and there along with his legs.

"Why….why did this happen?"

He thought to himself. A memory rushing through his head.

"I only wanted to receive my punishment from the Vice President…..but…..I never wanted this to happen."

He remembered singing the song to Meiko. The song that Risa taught her. But it didn't work.

"Why…..why did it not work….I received nothing but brutal pain that would kill me…..was I too rough."

He remembered perfectly how it felt. Meiko's fist against her cheeks, nose and plenty of others. He got a nosebleed, his teeth almost knocked. Then he remembered Matsuri getting into the crossfire.

"What went wrong?"

"What are you doing?"

A sharp gasp escaped from his mouth. His eyes looked in front of him. He couldn't believe what he was looking at. He was a boy who was just as tall as him. The same height. He had the same small black hair, his ears lobes stretching towards his neck. Wearing a business suit and sunglasses. It was…..himself?

"W-Who are you….."

"Honestly. Look at you. You look absolutely pathetic."

"I-I….w-who are you?" Is all Andre could say.

"We had it all. It was all in our grasp! Now look at you, sitting there in the corner. Looking dead to the world! What happened to all that power you had! What happened to the power that we had!?"

Andre looked closely at the figure that stood in front him. Towering over him with an intimidating stance. He remembered who this student was, he had seen him before. He didn't want to believe it, but it's true. It's…..

"Y-Your….your me?"

The other Andre sneered. "Took you long enough."

"W-Why….why are you here?"

"Isn't it obvious? I'm here because of you."

"M-Me…."

"You failed. You've failed to take the initiative. You had everything! We've lost it all! Now look at you, you're pathetic. How long do you plan on sobbing there in the corner? Do you really think this will achieve anything!?"

Andre's eyes searched his other self for a moment. His eyes casted down towards his feet before looking up. "I-I'm…..I'm thinking."

"About what?"

"About…..everything. I thought that…..if I were to make her angry, I would receive it all. But it didn't work and now I've messed everything up…..I…I'm waiting for her to return."

His other self began to chuckle. His small laugh then transitioned into a hysterical laugh. His hand placed over his face as his head reared back laughing louder. Making Andre more and more uncomfortable. He then stopped. His body froze, his head still looking up.

"Waiting…waiting for her to return….JUST WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!? DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!"

Andre cowered in fear.

"Face it! She's not our queen anymore! She chose her path! There's no more worshiping her!"

"N-No! You're wrong! She's-"

"NOT OUR QUEEN!" He bellowed. Silencing the boy. "There's no more queen, our andrenomic has collapsed. And our queen…our queen has…she chose her path. She's abandoned us for that…..boy."

"N-No…..you're wrong. She hasn't abandoned us. And it's not Matsuri's fault."

His other self suddenly grew up to the size of a tower, looking at him with a sneering look. "DON'T YOU EVEN DARE! THAT LITTLE BRAT SHOULD'VE KNOWN HIS PLACE BEFORE TAKING OUR QUEEN!"

Andre fell on his butt as he crawled backward. Backing up to the wall. His other self returned to normal size. He walked over towards the window, not opening the blinds, just looking forward. Looking at nothing in particular.

"I miss her too. There was no other woman like her. She posses power, beauty, and strength. Her rage, spit, her ass sitting on our face…everything about her that was once in our grasp…now it's gone. All gone."

"W-What….what are you saying?"

"...we need a new approach. We need…..a new queen."

"No!" Andre covered his ears desperately.

"Listen."

"No! I refuse to listen to this anymore!" He said as he got up and walks to the opposite end. Refusing to listen to his other half.

"You know there's no other way…..but if you really want the queen back….then you know what must be done…." His other self looks over his shoulder. Not looking directly at him, but knows that Andre is right on the other side of the room.

Andre slowly released his hand from his hands. "W-What?"

"We must eliminate the competition…..in other words. The boy must be put in his place."

Andre snaps his head at his other self. "SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUTUP!SHUTUP!SHUTUP!SHUT UUUUUUPPPPPP! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THIS FROM YOU! LISTEN TO YOURSELF!"

His other self snaps his body around, fully looking at the original boy. "NO YOU LISTEN YOURSELF! SOBBING IN THE CORNER! WITH NO AIM! NO GOALS! NO LEAD! YOUR HOPELESS WITHOUT VICE PRESIDENT! IT'S EITHER FIND A NEW QUEEN! OR ELIMINATE THAT MISERABLE LITTLE BUG FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH!"

"NO WE ARE NOT!"

"YES WE ARE!"

"ENOUGH! I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS ANYMORE! YOU'RE NOT REAL!" He said as he shut his ears tight. Trying his best to not hear what his other self has to say.

"Face it you loser! You're absolutely nothing without a queen! You need her! You want her by her side! You know what must be done!"

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD! LEAVE ME ALONE!"

His other self released an evil chuckle. "You can't get rid of me. Because I'm you."

"SHUT UP!"

"Hehehe~. I'm you. I am your thoughts. I am your heart. Your desires. I know everything you're thinking."

Andre raced over to the chair that was sitting there as he grabbed it. He throws the whole furniture at his other self. However, it went straight through him and crashed against the wall. Breaking into bits and pieces.

"You can't resist Andre. We are one in whole."

"No we're not! NO! WE! ARE! NOT!"

Andre grabs for the books as he begins to chuck them at his other self. Nothing is hitting him. He just stands there with an evil smile. His laugh began to echo through the room, bouncing off the walls and around within his head. The poor boy squeezed his ears shut, his body lumps around, screaming as loud as he can. Trying to drown out his laugh.


"Andre!"

Andre released a startled gasp. He snaps his head up to see Joe by the entrance of the door. It was for a slight moment, but Joe was on his way to the room to find out why Andre was screaming. He then heard crashes coming from the room. Once he opens the door, he finds the room in ruin, the chair broken in half, books scattered all over the place.

The hooded wearing boy's focus was on Andre. "A-Andre…..what's wrong….what happened?"

Andre didn't say much. Too stunned to even stutter a word to his friend. He just shook in place, his eyes looking around the room. His other self, his other half was gone. Not a hint. Not a sight. Was it all a dream?

"A-Andre….."

"I-I'm fine…."

Joe slowly walked up to the boy. His hand slowly reached out to him. "A-Andre…..are you sure-"

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" He yells as he smacks his hand away from him. Andre slowly retracted back. "I-I'm sorry…..I didn't mean to…"

"H-Hey, relax. It was my fault. But….are you….alright?"

Andre shook his head. "I…..I need to go."

"Go where?"

"Just be by myself." He said as he walked over towards the door.

But he was stopped by Joe who grabbed onto his sleeves. "Andre! Seriously! What's wrong!?"

"Nothing. Nothing is wrong."

"Like *cough* hell it *cough* is! Andre, I'm worried about you man!"

"Let go of me."

"Tell *wheeze* me what's wrong!" Joe said with blood coughing out of his mouth.

"NOTHING IS WRONG!"

Andre suddenly smacked Joe across the cheeks with the back of his hand. Sending Joe flying across the room. The back of his head smacked against the wall. Andre released a sharp gasp. His eyes looked at his friend who was just flung towards the wall, looking back at him with a disbelief look (even though you couldn't see it).

Andre looks at his own hand as it begins to tremble. His vision became blurred. "What….what's happening to me….."

"A-Andre….."

Andre didn't waste time as he opened the door and left the room. Leaving Joe stunned looking at the doorway. His hand lifted to his lips, wiping it with his finger. Looking at the tip of his finger, there was blood. He looks back at the door where Andre left.

"What's….what's happening to you, Andre?"


-USC Office-


"Thank you both for coming. Sorry I had to call you on short notice." Mari said as she sat posed on her seat. "But I feel I needed to get this out."

Meiko and Hana sat on their own seats looking at the president. While still trying to adjust themselves to the new (very uncomfortable) seats. They had to make do with. But right now, their president called them for a reason.

"It's fine, Madam President."

"So, what's the big emergency?"

Mari pondered for a moment. She then set her tea down on the table before speaking. "First and foremost…I am sorry."

Both Meiko and Hana blinked. What does she mean by that?

"I feel I haven't been honest with you guys for a while. But I didn't want to say anything because…well…I was afraid of what both of you will think of me."

"M-Madam President?"

Mari sucked in her breath before releasing. "I'm sorry. You could say I experienced many things yesterday. And I feel I should be honest with you two. I'm sorry…I'm sorry for dragging both of you into this mess."

The two female members didn't say anything. They allowed her to continue.

"If I had focused on Kate, then none of this would've happened. But I was too focused on Matsuri, I feel I have allowed Kate to penetrate my defense so easily, I wasn't paying attention to what she was planning. But now after what had happened, I dragged us to the bottom of the pyramid. Now the ASC takes the position as the student council. The public view now sees us as a threat…..it is all my fault."

Mari leaned in her seat, shutting her eyes. Trying to keep back the tears that threaten to break through. But she remained strong, she refused to allow Meiko and Hana to see her crying. While she was comfortable with showing enough emotion to Matsuri, she didn't understand why, but she felt that she could trust him.

Mari inhaled before releasing a sigh. "What I'm trying to say is…..I am truly sorry for dragging you all with me and having to suffer from my mistakes…..you are free to resign from the USC if you-"

"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!?"

Mari jumps a little in her seat as she looks at Hana who looks at the president with an expression of disbelief.

"H-Hana…."

"I'm never leaving you! And I don't blame you, not even in the slightest! Mari, I'm your friend! And I would never leave you for something like that! And beside…..how can I leave you at a time like this." She muttered to herself.

"Hana….."

"The same goes for me." Meiko spoke as she set her tea down and looked at their president. "Madam President, I will never leave you. Did you forget how you helped me in the past?"

"Of course. I could never forget."

"I am forever grateful for what you have done for me. And I would never leave you." She said as she placed her hand on top of her bosom.

Mari offered a small smile at her friend. Of course Meiko would go out and say that. She figured that the vice president would not leave her, after all, she is forever indebted to her.

"And besides," Hana spoke up. She looks the other way with a faint blush. "You can't really do much without me anyways."

Mari stifled a giggle at her remark. "You're right, I can't imagine doing most things without your aid, thank you both. Hana and Meiko."

Both Meiko and Hana offered a smile at the crow mistress.

"If I may, Madam President, this is really rare for you to show such emotion. It's…..rather refreshing."

"O-Oh! Was it obvious!" Mari panics a little.

Meiko jumped a little. "F-Forgive Madam President!"

"It's alright…you could say that…." Mari pondered in her thoughts. A small smile graced her lips. "Honestly, that boy."

"Huh? You mean, Matsuri?" Hana asked.

"I feel I should allow myself to be more relaxed with you two. If there is anything I am troubled with…c-can…..may I rely on you two for support."

"Of course!" Hana leaps over to Mari, clasping her hand over the President. "If you're ever in trouble, you just say the word!"

Mari blinked with a surprised expression. She then looks back at Meiko who offers the same smile. These two girls were truly her friends when she came to care. She was afraid that they would look at her differently, but it looks like she had nothing to worry about when it comes to these two.

"Thank you…truly both of you. Thank you."

Hana slowly let go of Mari's hands and stood back up. Looking at Mari with a smile. "So then…..should we come up with a plan to counter Kate's plan?"

Mari nodded. "Yes…however I'm not sure what to do from there. It's possible that Kate will continue to spread negative campaigns against us to render us useless at the sports festival."

"That's right." Hana said. "The calvary battle will be the battle where we decide the true seat of council."

"Exactly, which means we're on a time limit to gain the upper hand."

"But how do we go about it?" Hana asked.

Before they could continue, they heard someone by the door.

"Ah, that must be Matsuri. It's about time he's here. Come in."

To their surprise, it wasn't Matsuri, but a familiar short brown hair girl with an innocent aura.


"Chiyo…."

"O-Oh, am I interrupting?"

"No. It is fine. May I help you with anything?" Mari asked.

Chiyo comes into the room. She looked around at the room, it was rather different from the previous room. This room was just…saddening. It's as if no one has cleaned this room for a long time. In fact, this room just needed a complete makeover all together.

"Wow, this room is something else."

"No kidding." Hana said with a distaste in her mouth. "I really hate this room."

"Is there something you need, Chiyo?"

"Well, I…..I heard that you and Kate were going to have a decisive battle during the cavalry battle at the sports festival." Mari narrowed her eyes. "And…..I want to help."

All three of the members looked at the girl with similar expressions. Ranging from disbelief to utterly surprised.

Mari was the first to shake her head. "Chiyo, it is alright. Just leave this to us. There is no need for you to be involved in this mess."

"No."

"Chiyo-"

"I'm helping."

"You do not have to be dragged into-"

She stopped when Chiyo approached the table and towards her sister where she stayed seated. The youngest sibling looks at her with a stern expression.

"Please sis. Let me help. I know I'm not as strong as Meiko-chan, nor Hana-chan. I'm not as smart as you either…..but just watching you suffering from the sideline without doing nothing. I just…..I can't handle it. I don't want to see you or the others fighting this fight alone. Let me help."

"Chiyo…."

Hana set her hand on the younger sibling's shoulders. "Come on Chiyo-chan, you don't need to do this. This is our fight. You still have a good school life ahead of you."

Chiyo shook her head. "No…..I'm not gonna stand by and watch my sister or either of you struggling in this situation. Please, let me help."

Mari blinked for a moment or so. She sighed to herself before standing up. She looks directly in her eyes. Chiyo looked back at her, not backing down. She was determined to help her sister in this fight.

Mari sighed to herself. "It's just one surprise after another. You're not gonna back down, aren't you?"

"Of course not!"

"...Kate is unlike anyone else. If you go against her, I cannot guarantee she will go easy on you."

"I don't care. I will be with you all the way."

Mari made a small smile. "Thank you, Chiyo."

Chiyo's frown was immediately replaced with a smile. Looks like she was able to get what she wanted. Now she was able to help her sister in this fight.

"I just knew you would agree."

"Not like I had much of a choice. But please be careful."

"Don't worry, I won't."

Mari sighed to herself. "Anyways, what is your plan?"

"Well, I was thinking of gathering some allies for you."

Mari blinked as she tilted her head. "Really now?"

"Yeah, I already got Anzu, Mayumi, Etsuko and Tsubaki to help out. And I was thinking of getting the boys to help out." The moment she mentioned the boys, she noticed the girls with mixed expressions. "What?"

"Um…I….I wasn't aware that you were going to bring the boys into this?"

"Why not. I think they'll be willing to help." Chiyo said with her hand on her hips. "I don't see the problem."

Mari looks at her sister with a blank stare.

"...okay maybe there's a little something wrong with them. They can be a little much, but I know they'll help."

Hana thinks otherwise. "I don't know. I think they're not going to offer much help."

"Come on, give them a chance."

"Well…..oh alright. Speaking of boys, have you seen Matsuri? He was supposed to be here."

"Matsuri…..oh! That's right! You're never gonna believe this, but we got a new transfer student here! And she's from Atsuhiko!"

All three of the members' eyes widened at that. Meiko immediately got up from her seat with an alarmed expression.

"Is it Hayakki?"

"No it's not." Meiko sighed in relief hearing that bit. "But…..it's someone…I don't know. I think she's not better either."

Mari narrowed her eyes. "Who is it?"

"One of Yoshimiya's friends, Megumi, transferred here to Hachimitsu."


-Rooftop-


Matsuri has felt like he's been here many times before. Whether it is with Etsuko and the others, the boys or even Mari. To him it feels like deja vu.

Right now he looks at the back of the young female teenager who looks out towards the horizon. He was completely caught by complete surprise. He wasn't expecting her to make her appearance in his life again. He would think that they would meet somewhere else, but here at Hachimitsu?

"U-Um…..I-I wasn't expecting to run into you again."

"Same here." She bluntly responded. Not bothering to look at him.

Matsuri bit his lip. He knew why she was here. But at the same time, he felt sick to his stomach. However, he didn't run away. Nor did he want to anymore. He had to face this head on. Even by himself.

"I thought that…..I thought that you would still attend Atsuhiko….."

"Atsuhiko…..isn't the same anymore."

Matsuri blinked. "W-What do you mean?"

Megumi glanced over her shoulders, looking at him with a glare. "You really want to know…."

Matsuri nodded, eager to know what exactly she meant by, 'isn't the same anymore'.

"Hayakki…..is the new council president."

Matsuri's blood ran cold. His heart started to beat faster and faster. His hands clasped together, squeezing them close to his chest. His body started to lean in directions, he was trying to find his balance, but it was as if he was hit by a freight train.

Instantly, he could hear the laughter of the same tormentor who tortured him back at his old school. The taunting, the humiliation, the pressures, the stressful days he is frightened by whenever he has to go to school.

"W-What….what did you…."

"Hayakki is the new council president of the school."

Matsuri swallowed his fear down. "B-But why….h-how….."

"I have several guesses. But come on, you know it's accustomed to the school. The council can't have a council without a president."

"I mean know that, but…..I'm surprised she took the offer." He would admit, he was surprised. Especially what happened with Yoshimiya.

"Like I said, I have several guesses. One is that she is very popular with the public. Not to mention she's one of the only students who achieve in education, physical education, so on and so forth. And not only that…..it gets better from there." She said with the last bit leaving a bad taste in her mouth.

Matsuri didn't like where this was going.

"Her dad financially owns the school."

Matsuri blinked. "W-What? H-Her father owns the school!? Where did that come from!?"

Megumi just sighed to herself as she ran her hand through her hair. "He's a successful businessman, he just got the money and owns the school. Now why he brought the school, I have not the slightest idea. But…..I don't know, I just don't like this whole joke. Atsuhiko academy is not the same anymore."

"Wa-Wait a minute. What happened? What are they doing to the school? A-Actually, no. I should be asking when did this all happen?"

"All of this happened during the first week of the semester. It was like getting hit by a freight train. He just came out and announced that he's now the new chairman of the school. It caught everyone off guard, but no one didn't bother asking. But I had a whole bunch of questions. Like why he's the chairman, why did he go out of his way to invest into the school. All of this just didn't sit right with me…..and I certainly did not like the idea of that bitch being the new council president." She said with a venomous tone.

Matsuri bit his lip. He knew exactly what she meant.

"In fact, I had a little chat with that bitch before I left. I didn't have anything nice to say and I got a nice goodbye present from her and her little cronies."

"Y-You mean Tachi and the others…"

"Oh no. It's not her old friends." Megumi looks at a confused Matsuri. "She made some new friends. And they're way worse than those block heads."

"J-Just how many things have changed when I was gone?" Matsuri thought to himself, unsure of what to think anymore. It was like being hit with a bunch of arrows, stabbing him in the heart.

Matsuri shook his head. "S-So what happened to her old friends."

"They moved school. Not sure on the whole story, but they moved and that's about it."

"I…I see…s-so…so what else happened?"

Megumi sighed once more. "Well, nothing much changed aside from new leadership and abuse of power from Hayakki. And I tried telling this to her father, but he's completely useless. Always taking her side."

Matsuri listened to her story. The more he hears, the more he feels there is something amiss with this whole scenario. Hayakki is still the same, per usual, but what's with her father owning the school? Something wasn't right here.

"But that's enough from me," Matsuri looks up to see her immediately in front of him. Her eyes stabbed right into his own soul. "You know exactly why I'm here, do you?"

Matsuri blinked rapidly, but knew exactly what she meant. "R-Right…."

"Then I'm not gonna beat around the bush, Miyuki told me that bitch Hayakki had something to do with Yoshimiya's death. And she said that she heard all that from you…so that is what led me here to you specifically. So…I want some answers…."

She leaned near his face, brushing aside his cheeks, slowly approaching his ears.

"You took those pictures, didn't you?"

Matsuri's heart began to pound harder and faster. He swallowed his fear.

"I ask you a question you fuckin rat. Did you or did you not take those pictures of Yoshimiya?"

He wanted to run, but deep down he knew this would bound to happen. He prepared for the worst. Taking a deep breath before speaking.

"...I…I did…..I took pictures of-"

He didn't have to finish when he felt his stomach get jabbed in.


He stumbled backward holding his stomach. As soon as he looked up his face was grabbed by a pair of hands. Megumi reared her head back and launched forward. Hitting her forehead against Matsuri's nose.

Blood flew from his nose as he was sent flying. He fell on his butt, looking up at the enraged Megumi who looked at him.

Her eyes burned with rage, her teeth grinded against each other, seething in and out as she breathed heavily. While she was angry, Matsuri could make note of small tears in her eyes. As if she is about to cry from rage and utter sadness…and a hint of betrayal.

"Y-Y-You…..YOU RAT BASTARD!"

She yelled as she ran up and gave him a swift kick across the cheeks. Matsuri's body limped to the right, falling once more to the ground. Struggling to get up from the kick.

"Y-YOU ABSOLUTE SHITHEAD!"

She roughly grabs him by the hair and launches her knee right into his face once more. Sending his body flying backward, his face looking up at the sky. He felt his back impact the ground, he could taste the blood in his mouth.

Megumi was still seething with anger, her eyes looking at the boy who was getting back up.

"HOW COULD YOU!? HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO HER!?"

"..." Matsuri didn't say anything as he just sat there. His bangs completely covered his face.

"S-SHE WAS YOUR FRIEND YOU DIPSHIT! AND YOU….YOU TELLING ME THAT YOU TOOK THOSE PICTURES!? JUST HOW LONG WERE YOU PLANNING ON DOING THIS!? HUH!?"

Megumi felt as if she was on the verge of crying. Small tears started to break through her eye lid.

Matsuri just continued to be silent. Accepting his punishment, letting Megumi vent her anger out.

"ANSWER ME!" Megumi storms over towards him. Roughly picking him up by the collar. His lifeless body limped upward. His eyes are forced to look at her as she slams her forehead against his. "WERE YOU PLANNING THIS ENTIRE TIME!? WERE YOU WAITING TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY!?"

Matsuri felt his own tears starting to build up. Remembering the very moment he betrayed Yoshimiya.

"I…..I'm sorry." He choked.

Megumi sucked in a sharp breath before she punched Matsuri across the cheeks again. She threw another punch at him for good measure.

"That hurts doesn't it," Megumi said with a venomous tone. "I HOPE IT DOES! BECAUSE I BET YOU THAT SAME PAIN SHE EXPERIENCED WHEN SHE WAS THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE SCHOOL!"

She threw another punch across his cheeks. Then another, then afterward she reared her head back again and launched it towards his. Knocking him back on the ground once more.

"S-She did everything for you," Megumi said as she rubbed her own forehead. Her voice began to crack. "She took you places, she laughed with you, she did all sorts of stuff for you. She…..she was trying to make you smile."

Matsuri couldn't hold it. After hearing the last bit, he felt his heart beginning to shatter. Tears beginning to build up once more.

"I-I thought it was a waste of time….but she saw how miserable you were….and lonely…..s-she tried everything…..and what do you do?" She hissed. "You stabbed her….."

Matsuri allowed his tears to roll down his cheeks.

"You fucking stabbed her in the heart…where were you? Where were you when Yoshimiya was being laughed at. Being picked on. Being ridiculed by everyone who adored her….FUCKIN ANSWER ME YOU DAMN RAT!"

Matsuri got back up, but didn't stand on his feet. He sat on the same level as Megumi whose cheeks were wet from her own tears. Her anger never ceases. But he never tried to stop her from attacking him.

"I'm…I'm sorry…..I really-"

"IS SORRY ALL YOU CAN SAY!?"

She slaps him hard across the face. Leaving a red mark on his cheeks.

"YOU THINK APOLOGIZING GONNA BRING HER BACK!?"

She slaps him again.

"YOU FUCKIN BASTARD WHY DIDN'T YOU HELP HER!?"

She began to slap him repeatedly. Tears continued to fly from her eyes.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU HELP HER! WHY DID YOU TOOK THOSE PICTURES!? WHY DID YOU BETRAYED HER!? WAS ALL OF IT A LIE THEN!? WAS IT!? IT WAS, HUH!? ALL THOSE MEMORIES THAT SHE GAVE YOU!? THOSE PRECIOUS MOMENTS SHE SPENT WITH YOU! YOU NEVER ONCE TAKE IN CONSIDER OF THOSE THOUGHTS!? YOU ONLY CARED FOR YOURSELF DID YOU!? DID YOU!?"

She gave him one last slap. She heavily breathed, tears still rolling against her cheeks. Her anger still burning within her the more she looks at the boy who didn't fight back.

Matsuri raised his head, revealing his bruised and beat up face. His cheeks were smoking hot red, his nose (once again) broken, bent, and bleeding. His eyes looked up at the seething Megumi who awaited his part.

"There's…there's no excuse I will make. Not anymore." He sounded broken. "I know what I did was wrong. And I regretted it. I knew I should've stood up for her when I had the chance….b-but I was…..I was a coward. I was just looking out….I was just looking out for myself."

Megumi sniffled a little. Allowing him to talk.

"B-But…..I will say this….I tried…I tried many times to save her. But…..I didn't do anything. You don't have to believe me either way, but I really….*hic* I really tried…..I…." He began to almost break down in tears.

This caught Megumi somewhat off guard for a moment.

"W-Why the hell are you crying?" She asked, her threatening tone not leaving.

"Because it's true!" Matsuri exclaimed. Breaking into tears. "I should've-no! I could've done something for her when she was being humiliated! I had many opportunities! B-But I…..I just stood there doing nothing! I hate myself for those moments!"

Megumi fist loosening up a bit, hearing him speak.

"But…..it's all clear to me now….I don't deserve to call myself Yoshimiya friend…."

Matsuri wipes the tears from his eyes before he reaches for the charm that was strapped to his pants. He looks at the charm with a frown, tracing the dust trail that the star left behind. He extends it towards Megumi.

"Here….."

"Huh?"

"I don't deserve this…this is the charm that Yoshimiya gave me before she died…I…..I think it will be better for you. After all…..someone like me doesn't deserve it."

Megumi just blinked. Hesitantly, she extended her hand out, opening her palm under Matsuri's hand. She felt the charm being put in her hand as the boy retracted back. She looks at the charm in her own hand.

"Listen Megumi…I'm not looking for forgiveness, hell, you don't even have to like me either. You can be angry at me all you want…..but I came to this school for a reason…..I want to better myself. I don't ever want to see myself being useless or seeing someone suffering. I want to be there for my friends…just how I should've been there for Yoshimiya."

"..."

"Like I said, you don't have to like me or forgive me….but I want to focus on improving myself. As for the charm…I want you to keep it. It's better for you to keep something from someone whom you possibly knew longer than me." He said with small tears rolling down his cheeks, giving the girl a smile.

Megumi gripped the charm in her hand before standing up on her feet. She gave the boy a glare, but didn't attack him like she did before. She felt she vented out enough and decided to leave without another word.

"...M-Megumi….."

She stopped in her tracks, not facing him.

"When you asked if I ever didn't treasure those memories she gave me. Those moments we spent with each other. Those times we hung out…I adored them…I loved every single of those moments we spent together. It was one of the few times where I was truly happy. I was at ease, I felt like I made my one true friend….I never took them for granted…I really…..I really did love them."

Megumi didn't say anything, but just left.

Leaving the boy alone on the rooftop.


He didn't dare move from the spot. He just hung his head low, allowing the tears to roll against his cheeks and onto the ground beneath him. He made a few sniffles, choking on his own tears.

He felt something wrapped around his waist. Their head was placed on his back. He looks over shoulders to spot a familiar ribbon hair girl, hugging him tight against his back.

"E-Etsuko….."

The short first year didn't say anything as she continued to hug the boy, getting a few sniffles and whimpering from her.

He then felt a firm hand on his shoulders, looking to his left, Tsubaki was sitting near him with a firm frown. Her face looked the other way.

"We're here for you Matsuri." The boy hears a sobbing Etsuko. "If you ever cannot take it anymore, please come to us…..please."

"Not only us," Tsubaki spoke. "The USC, the boys, Chiyo, Anzu, Takamoto, the Chairman, hell even Asuna. We're all here for you Matsuri….don't you dare forget it."

Matsuri felt his heart warmed up a bit. Hearing those words from his friends truly did ease his heart…but it wasn't enough to help him in the long run. He knew he screwed up and he knew Megumi would never forgive him for the crime he did.

But he did know one thing and that was to prove worthy of himself. And not just himself, but everyone around him as well.

For the moment, he allowed himself to be surrounded by his friends who comforted him.


-ASC Office-


"Well, how is it? I hope you girls like our new room." Kate said with a smile.

She watched her friends roaming around the room with different expressions. Mitsuko jumped a bit off the couch cushion with a smile gracing her lips. "The furniture is way more softer and cleaner than the ones back in our old clubrooms!"

"It's a lot more roomier as well. More spacious so we can move around more often." Risa said as she took a small stroll around the room.

Kate smiled at her friends and laid her back against the chair. "Well, get use to it girls, because I promise you that this room will be our permanent room."

Risa looks at the president. "So I'm guessing we're done then?"

"Oh no, our battle is far from over." Kate sat back up. "We're only keeping this room temporarily, that is, after the sports festival."

"Oh that's right. You mention something about that." Mitsuko said.

"It shouldn't be too much of a problem for us, right? We practically have the public opinion in our favor. So the USC is cornered."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Kate said with a narrow glare. "I want to make sure that Mari doesn't get any outside help. But in order to do so we will need to make sure they're completely in the corner."

Kate could still remember Mari's declaration of war from yesterday. She was more than determined to regain back the throne that she fought hard to get to. Not too long, she was completely defeated, but seeing her in action once more…..

"Could Matsuri have bounced her back up…"

"So then we just need to work hard, right? Gain more favor in our ways, like how the USC got with their popularity."

"Yes, be prepared girls, cause it looks like we have our work cut out for the remaining month, until we reach the sports festival."

Kate graced a devious grin, already thinking of plans to keep their popularity and hopefully push the USC out of the picture for good.

Things are brewing within the Hachimitsu academy, until the day of the sports festival…..


.


And that's a wrap! The road map is set, the two councils prepare themselves for the grueling battle ahead of them. Meanwhile both tries to find a way to one up the others, but what lies ahead truly? In another story, Matsuri confronts his past once more with Megumi making her appearance and is finding it difficult to convince her of his own change. The heat continues to crank up as we enter in the next story arc, "Road to the Sports Festival arc"!

I apologize for the long wait, I took a break longer than expected. Not to mention I was working on both stories. The main story and my other spin-off/standalone story Maiden Heart Crusader. Not the wisest decision, with both stories going on, I wanted to give you guys a double header. But it took a toll on me more than I anticipated. But I'm back and ready to give you guys more Hitoyoshi and the Prison School. I decided to update the main story first because I felt you guys waited long enough for the next chapter to appear.

Bet you guys thought I forgot about Andre, well I didn't. I've been waiting to tackle him for a while, but I wanted to give him more space to play around with in this story arc. I remember how he slowly started to go insane in the canon story, here it will be the same, but with a twist. He slowly starts to go mad as he fights with himself. Struggling on whether to keep Meiko or go to find a new queen. I felt it would make sense to see that part of his character going mad and finally snapping. Losing himself. Plus, it would build a bridge between him and Risa during this arc.

Yes, Matsuri is not out of the woods yet. And Megumi is just the tip of the iceberg. Matsuri's character arc is far from over. I think I went a little heavy for the scene between Matsuri and Megumi, but I wanted to lay out just how much of an impact it left on her. More will be revealed in the upcoming chapters. And we get more info of what's going down in Atsuhiko academy and it seems that Hayakki is just the storm in front of the typhoon behind her.

All in all, this arc will certainly be interesting to tackle, seeing how the USC are in a different situation and how they will go about handling the scenario at hand. Stick around, cause we are just about at the halfway point of the story. After this arc, we will officially be at the sports festival saga and so on in the future story arcs. Also, don't forget to read my spin-off/standalone story, Maiden Heart Crusader.

Anyways, thank you for reading. Leave review for feedback for improvements, stay safe and I will see you all in the next chapter!