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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With the two councils forming as a unit, but there seems to be some still leftover grudges with each other. If things continue like this between the two council presidents, how will they get things done. Perhaps help from an unexpected girl…


-Hachimitsu- [Hallway]


July 3rd

5:15pm

Both Mari and Kate were walking down the hall, both with somewhat mixed expressions. Mari on her end held her usual look as she had her eyes closed. Her arms crossed under her bosom as she walked along with her fellow member.

Kate on the other hand. Held a tired expression as she released a yawn, unable to hold herself together as she walked with a more sluggish expression. "Ugh, I thought that meeting would never end."

"You know," Mari spoke, causing the orange-haired teen to look at her with a glare. "As the council president. You need not to let your guard down."

Kate rolled her eyes. "Thanks for the advice Ms. I'm-so-perfect. It's not like everyone is the same as you are with your strict way of being a council president. And besides, it's not my fault, that meeting lasted way longer than anticipated."

Mari looks towards the teen with her eyes opened. "You know why the meeting was needed. It's to determine how we improve on security for Matsuri in case Hayakki makes an appearance once more."

Kate responded with a hum as she looked in the different direction. Pondering back at the meeting. "I suppose you're right. Your father and the teachers were really looking deep into the matter. Then again I wouldn't blame them. With Hayakki's father being a yakuza, this does make the situation become even more complicated than it needs to be."

"Protecting the school is our top priority. That also extends to protecting Matsuri." Mari thoughts on the boy.

Kate felt the urge to roll her eyes. "Please, Matsuri isn't some weak puppy who constantly needs to be protected. You make it sound like he's weak. Also, do we really need to worry about Matsuri protection with him being suffocated by Meiko."

Mari glared at her colleague. "That comment was not necessary. And yes, I'm well aware of Matsuri being able to take care of himself. But I can't help but to worry about him most often. Also, may I remind you of your little accident that occurred during the sports festival."

Kate developed a twitch in her eye with her hand clenching into a fist. "Of course I recall. Anyone would. It was a tragic event and I don't wish to be reminded of that. Especially from someone like you."

"Just make sure you remember since you were trying to wave off the concern of Matsuri safety like some empty bag drifting in the wind."

Kate shot a glare at the crow mistress. She walks in front of Mari, stopping in her tracks. Placing her hands on her hips. "Oh, like you're any better. May I remind you how you treated Matsuri when he first started."

Mari narrowed her eyes on the teen.

"Weren't you so hell bent on throwing him in prison? Even to the point of digging through his records and finding out about Yoshimiya's death. I mean, just how cruel can you be for just one boy."

Mari growled as she faced the other way. "I did what I had to do. At least I was aware of my mistakes. Also, weren't you trying to suck him into your faction. So what makes you any better?"

"Ooh~? But at least I didn't have any trouble with males unlike you."

Mari snapped her head at the teen with a glare. "Don't treat yourself any better than I am! Yes, what I did was wrong and I can't change that! But I didn't go as far as almost killing him, unlike a certain buffoon who continues to spout all sorts of pointless arguments at me!"

By this point, Kate felt something snapped within her. She leaned into Mari's face. "Oh I'm the buffoon! Try saying that again while looking in a mirror!"

Mari rolled her eyes. Taking a look at Kate's face who continued to look at her with a glare. A smile curled upon Mari's lips.

"Lache."

"Huh?" Kate responded with a glare.

"You know what I said…or perhaps you should look in your dictionary to look it up." Mari said with a smug.

Kate's face flushed red as she looked at the smug that Mari wore. "Y-YOU…YOU…."

"What? Can't come up with a comeback."

Kate faces the other way, hiding her blush away from the girl. "SHUT UP! I DON'T NEED TO LOOK UP THE WORD! I CAN MAKE A GOOD GUESS WHAT YOU SAID YOU-"

*WHACK!* *WHACK!*

Mari and Kate released small screams as they were hit on the back of their head with something hard. Rubbing their heads, they look to see who whacked them aside. Standing there with a disapproving look. A familiar red ribbon girl with a fan tucked to her side.

"THE HELL WAS THAT FOR YOU TWERP!?" Kate yelled.

"Honestly," Etsuko said with a firm voice. "Both of you are like elementary students. Constantly clawing at each other's throats."

"Like we want to hear that from you." Both Mari and Kate thought to themselves as they looked at the small female student.

Etsuko opened her eyes. She was uncharacteristically looking at the two older students with a glare. "I mean, you two are now working together. Don't you think you should be focusing on forming a healthy friendship with each other instead of throwing insults at each other."

Kate crossed her hands under her breast as she looked the other way. "Please, out of all of us, I'm the most responsible one here."

Mari glared at Kate once more. "Please, I'm the most responsible one. Considering all your scheme was nothing more than motivated through pettiness."

Kate gritted her teeth as she was about to throw another insult at the girl. Only to be smacked in the face by the fan again. She angrily looks at Etsuko. "WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM!?"

"Honestly, the way I see it. BOTH of you are irresponsible. I mean, both of you are in your third year of high school. Both of you are student councils. And yet you two can't go without a second or so without throwing insults and clawing at each other's throats. Is that really how two councils should be like? Should it?" Etsuko said, giving a hard glare to the group.

Mari and Kate blinked looking at the small girl, not before looking at each other with an uneasy look. Even though it was very hard to admit it, Etsuko was right.

"I suppose you do speak the truth…" Mari said as she faced the other way with her arms under her breasts. "We often claw at each other's throats without looking at the path ahead."

"...I-I suppose I did go out of line…I…." Kate took a glance at Mari who looked back at her with a faint blush. Kate then shook her head as she faced the other way. "B-But it's impossible to get along with someone like her! I mean, who would get along with such a strict and rigid girl!"

"You say that…but I can definitely see that you wish to grow closer to Mari."

Kate's face flushed deep red as she turned to look at Etsuko. Trying to utter a single coherent word, but all she was able to do was make a sound that belonged to an animal of some sort.

"I mean, it's pretty obvious. I can definitely see it in your eyes."

"S-SHUT UP! YOU'RE WRONG YOU HEAR ME!? YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY UTTERLY WRONG!" Kate yelled.

"Am I wrong? Or is that what you are actually saying?" Etsuko said as she leaned into her face with a knowing look. "It's written all over your face. You wish to grow closer to Mari."

"I DO NOT!" Kate yelled. Her heart beating out of her chest. "THERE'S NO WAY I WOULD WANT TO GET CLOSE TO HER! SHE'S AN IDIOT AND COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM ME! WE DON'T MATCH! IT WILL NEVER WORK!"

Kate began to heavily pant after her rant. Her skin drenched in sweat as her face was completely heated up from Etsuko's implication. Meanwhile, Mari was looking at her colleague with a curious expression. Unsure of what was going on with her to cause her to be so flustered.

Etsuko's smile grew even larger. Making Kate unnerved. "W-What? Why are you smiling like that!?"

"Nothing. Just thinking," Etsuko said as she placed her hands behind her back as she began to casually walk the other direction. She then leaned against the wall, looking over her shoulders at the girls. "You say that you two can never get along. But the way I see it, I think there's a silver lining with your guys' relationship."

Mari became curious. "Care to go into more details with that."

"Come on, that one time when you two formed together to stop Hana from chasing Kiyoshi. Or that other moment when you two worked together to stop Andre at the sports festival. Plus…I can see that both of you are worried about Matsuri's safety."

The two blinked. Looking at each other with curious glances.

Kate shook her head before speaking. "Absolutely not. It just won't work."

"Oh. I figured you would still be against the idea…" Etsuko walked up to the orange-haired teen. She then grabbed her hand without a warning. She then grabbed Mari's hands. "Then how about we fix that issue with a little bonding exercise."

"Huh?"

"LET'S GO!"

Etsuko pulls them both in the direction she's going. Dashing down the hallway with a smile on her face. Pulling both Mari and Kate alongside, both with equally concerned looks on their faces. Unsure of what the small girl had in mind for her plan to bond them together. All they could do was just…hope.

Hoping that it won't lead to another mass wide problem.


-Storage Room-


The three female students found themselves within the storage room. Filled with many items that are used for physical activities. A pile of balls were stuffed within a rollable crate. Orange cones stacked on one another. Three sets of mats stacked onto each other that sat in the middle of the room. And a small window that showed the outside.

Etsuko led the two older students to the stacked mats in the middle of the room. Sitting them down on the mats. Both Mari and Kate were confused on what was the girl's intentions or what she was trying to accomplish. But all they could think was just one thing and one thing alone…

"This just can't be good…" Both of them thought to themselves.

"You two wait right there!" Etsuko said as she hurried to the other side of the room.

The two watched with cautious expressions. Seeing the girl pulling a whiteboard towards them. She then grabs a marker and begins writing on it. The girls look at the letters being written on the whiteboard. She then proceeded to draw some small doodles of two stick figures. After she is done, she spins on her heels and looks at the two girls.

"Welcome to my class! Today we will be focusing on," Etsuko smacks the ruler against the board. "BUILDING FRIENDSHIP!"

"..."

The two older female students didn't really have anything to say or even add as they looked at the board that the small female student presented. The letters in all caps and the two stick figures right below the title.

Mari sighs to herself as she thrust her finger to her forehead. "You gotta be kidding me…"

"I'm sorry but, just what in the world will this class teach us?" Kate said as she crossed her arms under her breasts.

Etsuko released a huge grin as she leaned forward. "Hopefully teach you both the importances of forming friendships, maintaining a healthy relationship status, and teamwork!"

"And you believe that you're qualified to achieve such things?" Kate said before rolling her eyes. "Honestly, that's like saying that you will end the war between us council."

Etsuko pouted as she set her hands on her hip. "That's just being rude! And besides, I think I'm qualified for the job of teaching both of you the value of friendship!"

Mari blinked as she gave the girl a blank stare. "You say that. And yet you make enemies with Yukina and Chinatsu. So what makes you think that you can teach us the value of friendship will benefit anything."

"Oh give me a break will ya! And as for my relationship with both Ojou-san and that loud shrimp, we have a special connection with each other. We're rivals," Etsuko then leaned back to her original position where she stood up. Looking at them with a glare. "Plus, I'm friends with Tsubaki, Megumi, Matsuri…hell I'm friends with everyone I know!"

"That still doesn't prove anything." Mari said as she shook her head.

Etsuko puffed her cheeks as she glared at the two. "Can I please get back to why we're here in the first place!"

Mari nodded. "Very well, please humor us."

Etsuko only lets out a small cute growl before speaking. "As I was saying, for this class, you two are gonna be learning all the importances steps of what it means to be friends! Very soon you two will have the most special relationship so that you two won't have to fight each other anymore!"

Kate rolled her eyes. "Oh please, I highly doubt this will work. But since we're here we mine as well let this little game humor us."

"Yes, we shall go ahead and indulge ourselves into Etsuko's game. So enlighten us, how do you suppose that we're gonna be-"

*Click!*

Mari stopped as she heard a sound. She then looks down towards her wrist to see it, her wrist being handcuffed. She could only blink without uttering a single sentence. Her eyes follow the chain links, leading her to find out she was cuffed along with Kate who looks back at her. Both being cuffed together. Both of them looked towards Etsuko who held a huge smile with her eyes closed.

"What is this?" Kate asked.

Etsuko only responded with a giggle. That only made Kate angry.

"DON'T LAUGH! TALK! DAMN IT!"

"You see, for this special little exercise, we will be doing more of a hands-on experience."

"But what's with the cuffs!? This is highly unethical!" Kate yells.

"I agree. I fail to see how this is gonna help me and Kate with our future relationship!" Mari added.

Etsuko bounced in place with her usual smile. "The handcuff is placed for a whole new level of forming a bond between you two! Also, just in case one of you guys disagree or plans on leaving, that cuff will remain there until you two can learn to get along!"

Mari and Kate held dumbfounded looks as they stared at the small teen female as if she said something dumb.

"This is ridiculous," Mari said as she extended her hand out. "Hand over the keys."

"..."

Mari opened her eyes to see Etsuko not wavering a muscle.

"I said, hand over the keys."

"Nope."

A twitch developed in Mari's eyes. "Why?"

"Like I said, unless you two learn how to get along. You two will remain stuck to each other until then. And if you two still are not seeing each other on an eye to eye level," She said with an added grin. "Then you two might have to remain like this for the rest of the school semester."

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW!?" Kate exploded with her face flushed red.

"Nope. I'm dead serious. Besides, I think this is a perfect idea. I remember what Takamoto-sensei used to say. 'It's best to keep your friends close, but it's better to keep your enemies closer'."

"I'm pretty sure this isn't what Takamoto-sensei had in mind." Both the older teens thought to themselves.

Mari pinched the bridge of her nose out of frustration. "Very well then, if you believe that this will get us to stop fighting, then we will try our best. Right, Kate?"

Kate lets out a frustrated growl before crossing her one free arm around her waist. Facing the other way. "Fine. I still think this is a waste of time, but she believes that this will help, then I'll humor her."

"I'll take that as a yes." Etsuko said with a satisfied nod.

She erases the board and writes more on the board. The two girls remained in silence with their cuffed wrists resting between each other. Mari was focusing on the board, while Kate was trying to find something else to look at while she can hear the small first year writing on the board.

Etsuko lets out a satisfied sound as she steps aside. Allowing the two to see the board. Seeing a variety of steps that leads to her so-called, 'better relationship'.

"Okay, class is in session!"

"Oh brother…" Kate muttered. Only for her to receive a marker cap being thrown at her forehead. Causing her to yelp. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!?"

"Kate, you better start being more respectful when in front of a teacher." Etsuko said with a stern glare.

"OH FOR THE LOVE OF-TEACHER MY ASS!"

"Pay attention now, Kate." Kate developed a twitch as she looked at Mari who held a small smirk.

"You're just enjoying this," Kate growled as she rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry sensei, please continue."

"Thank you." Etsuko said as she crossed her arm under her chest. "Now then, let's do something simple. To establish a relationship between each other, is to start out with a simple greeting. That would be a good stepping stone for you both. Crow Mistress, how about you start…"

"Very well then," Mari said as she turned her body slightly to face Kate whose face was still beating hot. "Hello Takenomiya-san, how are you on this pleasant evening."

Kate's cheeks grew more hot. Her eyes darted between Mari to the opposite direction away from her. "U-Um…what's it to ya?"

*Smack!*

Kate's forehead was hit with another marker cap. "WHAT GIVES!? I RESPONDED DID I!?"

"Who the hell responds like that? Come on, at least be more courteous."

Kate clicked her tongue as she looked back at Mari who was still waiting. She took a deep breath. "I-It's going fine…h-how about you…Kurihara-san?"

"I'm doing good. By the way Kate, you need to be more relaxed. You're too stiff."

"How the hell do you expect me to relax given the situation we're in." Kate whispered.

Etsuko gave a nod. "That's good. Now come on, keep it going. Engage yourself in a conversation between each other. You know, like normally and not like awkward strangers. Oh, and no need to be formal. Since you two already know each other."

"What? You want us to talk about our favorite things or something? Or what we hate or any of our personal hobbies?"

"Sure. Or just about anything. Just as long as you two aren't fighting. Go on. Go on."

Mari nodded as she cleared her throat. "So Kate…anything you're interested in?"

"H-Huh?" Kate asked with a baffled expression.

"Anything you're interested in? Like hobbies for example?"

Kate lets out a strained stutter. She looks between Mari's face who leaned in closer. Then towards Etsuko who was encouraging her to say something. She felt beads of sweat dripping against her skin.

"U-Um…how about you?"

"Hm?"

"I-I mean, my hobbies aren't as interesting as maybe yours. S-So how about hearing your's…"

"Ah. Well, if you insist. I don't think I engage in many personal hobbies to be honest. Since I have always been busy with council work and all. But if I were to bring up something I wouldn't mind picking back up again is playing piano."

"Oh yes, now that I recall, you were always good at the piano…" Kate felt a little discouraged thinking back. "Y-You were almost too perfect."

"Was I?" Mari adjusted herself on her seat to sit a little more comfortably. "To be honest, I feel I could do a little better."

"Huh?" Kate snaps her glance at the crow mistress. "No way, I thought-no. Everyone thought you were amazing."

"You're being too generous. If anything, I may have missed a few notes here and there. So I wouldn't call myself a 'master' or a 'pro' as they call it. But yes, I would love to pick that back up. Perhaps I should do so during the summer break. But enough about me, how about you?"

"H-Huh…oh. T-There's…um…I don't…really have much of a hobby. But I guess…I would love to bake."

"Oh? Baking? I never took you for that type." Mari pondered.

"Of course I like baking! But it's nothing fancy or anything! I just like baking cookies, muffins, cake or whatever. It helps calm me down." Kate said with a blush. "B-But yes, baking is something I would love to pick up. B-But I'm sure you wouldn't be interested-"

"I see…if you don't mind. I would love to taste one of your food if you ever get the chance." Mari said with a smile.

Kate felt her heart bumping against her chest. Her cheeks are growing hot. "U-Um…s-sure. If I do, I will lend you and the other three some baked goods as well."


"And time!" Etsuko stops them. "That was good! You guys literally were getting into an actual conversation!"

"I will admit, I was a little confused on how we should be greeting each other. But after Etsuko said that we don't have to be formal, I felt I should be a little more relaxed. Guess it just went off from there." Mari said.

"Y-Yeah, I guess you could say the same thing to me as well…" Kate said with a blush.

"Okay! Let's move on to the next lesson!"


After a few minutes had passed, a lone food bowl was holding a batch of chanmery and persimmon seeds. Kate couldn't help but to ponder at what Etsuko was trying to get at with this exercise.

"So what with the seeds?"

Etsuko set her hands on her hips. "For this next lesson in building a relationship, you must be a good listener. Every friend should listen to the other one, listen to their day, what their problems are and so on and so forth. For this one, you two will share a meal between each other while explaining your day to each other. Or what's troubling both of you girls."

Kate blinked with a baffled expression as she looked back down at the bowl of seeds. "I mean, I guess I get the lesson and all but…why am I feeling self conscious about this? I mean, this is a lesson, right? It's just to get us to see eye to eye without clawing at each other's throats…"

Kate then happened to look back up at Mari who held a pondering expression with her hand covering her mouth. "I see, so you're creating a scenario I assume."

"That's right! I wanted to add drinks, but I feel just giving you guys these seeds is good enough."

Kate looks back at Etsuko with a sudden blush. Snapping her attention back to the food before looking at Mari. "H-Hold on…d-doesn't this feel more like we're on a…"

"Okay then! Let the lesson begin!"

"NOW!?"

Kate was panicking a bit. Her heart was pumping against her chest. Feeling fear dripping against her bare skin.

"H-Hold on! I don't think I-"

"Kate?" Kate twitched as she looked at Mari who was looking straight at her. "Shall we begin?"

"I-I have to remind myself that this is purely for getting along with Mari! That's right, if we're gonna be working together, I must do everything I can not be a disappointment in front of Mari! Yes, I can't fail this!"

Kate took a slow deep breath before looking at Mari. "S-So…um…Kur…M-Mari. Anything that is troubling you lately? Y-You know…something I can…p-possibly help with."

Mari closed her eyes as she pondered. All while eating some seeds from the bowl. "Well, I wouldn't say it's nothing too major but I would say it has been troubling me for a while now."

"B-By all means, go right ahead. I'm all ears."

"..." Mari glanced at Kate who wanted to listen to her. Despite her flushed look. She then looks to Etsuko and is eager to hear. "...I've been thinking about…my clothing style."

"...wait. What?" Kate asked with a baffled expression.

Mari's expression changed from calm to slightly embarrassed. "I…I never brought this up with anyone but…I feel I lack in dressing up properly without getting any weird looks."

"...hold on. Y-You're serious right?"

Mari scowled a little. Looking in the opposite direction while trying to ignore the snickering from Etsuko. "W-What? It's a legitimate concern! I don't see anything wrong with it."

"I know but…it's something I certainly wasn't expecting to hear something so…mundane from you." Kate said with a snicker.

Mari opened her one eye as she looked at Kate. "What do you mean?"

Kate raised her hands in defense. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh at you. I'm just really surprised to hear that from you…actually I'm not surprised either way. You were the type to always come in the most ridiculous casual outfits."

Mari growled slowly, narrowing her eyes at the teen in front of her. "Look, I'm being sympathetic here. You're supposed to listen to me. Do you wish to hear me out or not?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please continue."

Mari huffed not before sending a glare towards Etsuko who quickly shifted gears from snickering to sheepishly looking the other way. Pretending that she wasn't laughing. "Anyways, yes. In fact, Hana has told me once that I do lack in the department when it comes to dressing up in something proper."

"Ah, even Hana was able to figure you out. Not even afraid to call you out."

"Well, Meiko has always been the type to not even dare raise her voice against me…at least not now. But Hana is a different case, she's more than willing to let me hear what I am lacking. And I will once again admit, I'm not all good with dressing up. S-So I was wondering if you have any suggestions."

"To dress up properly?"

"To just dress properly when it comes to casual wearings." Mari said with a blush as she looked the other way.

Kate took some seeds as she popped them into her mouth. "Hmm…well, I'm not sure if I could qualify myself as someone who's an expert in dresses or style. So I'm not sure if I'm much help here…but if I were to say something. How about just focusing on what suits you."

"Care to elaborate on that?" Mari said as she crossed her arm across her stomach.

Kate stopped herself as she used the knuckles of her finger to push against her lips. "Hmm…maybe that was a wrong suggestion. Perhaps we can focus on the issue if I had an example. How about this, what type of clothing do you wear…"

Mari blinks for a moment. She then looks the other way with a heavy blush feeling a little shy as she starts to play with her hair. Mari then brought her phone out, while navigating with just her one hand. She was able to find a photo and show it to Kate. Etsuko sneaked her way towards Kate's side and looked at the photo.

The two look at the clothing. It was white sweater with her sleeves filled with sentences patterned on it. But the most distinguishable one would have to be the bear that looked stitched to the stomach area and the initial letter 'm' below it.

The two didn't say a word as they looked at the clothing before looking at Mari whose face was completely red, biting her lips as she was not looking at them. Already knowing full well of what their expressions were like.

"H-Hold on, this is your clothing?" Etsuko asked.

"Yes."

"What's with the bear?" Kate asked, trying her best not to laugh.

"I think it's cute. I sewed it on myself." Mari said with a scowl but was still blushing.

"And *pfft* the 'm'?" Etsuko said.

"I sewed it on myself. It stands for 'Mari'. I don't see what's wrong with it."

"A-Ah. So you *kch* sewed them *pfft* on your clothes." Kate said not able to hold back her laugh.

Mari growls as she puts her phone down, looking at their faces as they were trying hard not to laugh at her. "OH GROW UP!"

They burst out laughing. Kate was holding her side as she laid on top of the mat. While Etsuko dropped to the floor holding her side. Laughing like she was hit with a laughing gas.

Mari glared at them both. "Oh for the love of-just get it out of your system, will ya…"

"We're sorry! We're sorry! Just looking at that clothing…I mean, who wears that and immediately think to themselves, 'yeah this clothing will be good to wear'."

Mari rolled her eyes. "Do you have any suggestions or not?"

Kate lets out one good giggle before pondering. Meanwhile, Etsuko kept on snickering in the back. "Let's see, how about just focusing on something that doesn't make you stand out like a sore thumb."

"Oh?"

"I mean, I don't mean to say it as if I'm making fun of you. I just mean try some different clothes that don't make people give you weird looks. How about this, I and Hana can take you out shopping for some clothes. Heck, we can possibly bring Meiko, Risa and Mitsuko along as well. It would be a nice little girl date with us all."

"Ah. I see. I think that is plausible…thank you, Kate."

Kate felt her cheeks heating up before smiling. "You're quite welcome."


Etsuko clapped her hands. "Very good! We're making some progress here!"

Mari glanced over at the girl. "Oh? Are you done laughing?"

Etsuko ignored her comment as she smiled at her. "Okay then Mari, now it's your turn to speak with Kate…"

Mari nodded as she looked towards Kate as she pushed her hair aside. "So Kate, anything troubling you?"

Kate stopped herself as she popped a seed into her mouth. She then looks the other way with a blush. "Um…n-nothing for someone like you to worry about."

"Hey come on. No need to hide it! Speak out your problem!" Etsuko encouraged her.

"T-There's nothing really troubling me. H-Honest there-"

She stopped herself when she felt Mari free hands rested on her cuffed hand. Kate looked from her hands and towards the crow mistress. Mari held a sympathetic expression. Looking into Kate's eyes.

"Kate…please speak up…"

Kate felt her heart pumping harder. She swallowed as she spoke up. "I…I'm worried about not living up to everyone's expectations."

Mari blinks with a head tilt. "I'm sorry?"

Kate ran her hand through her hair as she took a deep breath, not looking at Mari. "I just…I feel like I'm not good enough for this job like how you handled it. I mean, what do you think I've been doing for the past months with you and the others constantly shadowing me while you get to bathe in the praise. We worked hard to try and smear your reputation so we can take back what was rightfully ours and while we did achieve…something in the back of my mind is telling me…I'm not good enough."

Mari and Etsuko listened to the girl's trouble.

Kate pushed her face further away so that the other would not see her. "Don't get me wrong, I'm happyI just…I just don't know if I have what it takes to be someone like you."

Tears started to leak out of her eyes slowly.

"I…I wasn't born like you. I wasn't born with good figures. I'm not as smart or cultured as you! Unlike you, I have to work hard to get to where I'm at. It just…it frustrates me! It just frustrates me how I'm nowhere as good as you! I can never be as good as you! Even though I worked hard to achieve my goal and yet I keep having this ugly thought in my head that I'm not good enough for this position. I should've just kept you in charge! But I had to…someone like me is not qualified for this…."

Kate released a silent sob, still facing the other way so that they do not see her crying. But that seems to be useless now since they were all in the same room. They can hear her crying softly as she faces the other way. The teen tried hard to not let it be obvious, but she couldn't stop herself.

She only briefly stopped when she felt a soft gentle touch upon her cheeks. She followed it in a silent direction as she faced Mari who held a soft sympathetic look towards the orange hair female student.

"Kate, don't ever compare yourself to me."

"H-Huh?"

Mari wiped Kate's tears away with her thumb. "Listen, it is true. Not everyone can be equal when it comes to status wise. However, I believe I have mentioned this before. But you are the hardest worker I know."

"..." Kate felt her cheeks heated up. Only to slightly glance in the different direction. "I…y-you're wrong. I felt I didn't put too much effort into helping myself."

"Nonsense. I believe the real issue is that you keep comparing yourself to me. If one compares oneself with someone else, then you're not going to get anywhere. You're just going to constantly keep being in the shadow all while admiring me. The only way for you to achieve any of your goals…is you."

"M-Me?" Kate said with a confused look.

"While I appreciate that you admire me, but I believe that you too can also achieve if you just only do what you can do. I mean, you mentioned it yourself. You worked hard to get to where you're at this very moment. That is one that I find most admiring about you." Mari offered a kind and warm smile towards the orange-haired teen.

Kate felt her heart pumped against her chest. While small tears still leaked from her eyes. She looked at Mari with a much more lit up expression. Her eyes glistened, looking straight into Mari's blue eyes that had softened.

The girl shook her head as she whipped her head away from the crow's mistress hands. Her cheeks heated up fiercely. "P-Please! Don't try to coax me with such words of comfort! I just felt like explaining my troubles to you. After all, y-you did share your troubles, s-so I felt it would make us even if I showed my troubles…"

"Oh? I must say compared to my trouble, yours was something I wasn't expecting." Mari said with a raised brow.

Kate snapped her head at the teenager. "What's that supposed to mean!? I shared my feelings there! Don't go and stomp on it!"

"I never said it was useless or a waste. I just thought to myself that your troubles wouldn't be something that I expect from you. Given how confident you looked throughout this semester. Well aside from some areas that even I can notice." Mari said with a hint of joking in it. Causing Kate to develop a twitch in her eye. "But something that involves you thinking that you're not good enough for this position, I would consider nonsense. Out of everyone here, I believe that you are the second person qualified to be the student council president."

Kate had to blink at her wording. "Second? Who's the first…"

"Ah. That would be a secret." Mari said with a playful wink.

Kate couldn't help but to pout at that. She clicked her tongue as she continued to eat away at the seeds. "Geez, I almost fell for your comforting words. I mean, yes I appreciate the words of confidence, but I still would've love for you to at least be more considerate or perhaps more serious."

"I was being serious." Mari simply said before popping a seed in her mouth. "You are well qualified for the role of student council. And if you're having trouble, I would be willing to help you."

Kate opened her one eye at the crow mistress. "You're being serious?"

Mari didn't say anything as she just merely offered her a warm smile. Kate sighed to herself as she looked back in the opposite direction. Making a soft smile at Mari's gesture.

"That was perfect!" Etsuko said as she clapped her hands together. "You guys were practically natural at doing this!"

"I mean, this isn't the first time that we talked alone with each other…if I were to recall, this is about maybe the second to third time we spoke with each other."

Etsuko pondered on that with a curious tilt. "Really, so you guys have spoken before?"

Mari looks at Kate who was busy eating away at the seeds with a blush. Her face looked at her knees. "Kate, do you remember the time when we were in elementary school? It was before I became close with Meiko."

"...I do remember…" Kate could recall the event as if it was yesterday.


-Flashback-


Two crows were picking up some trash that was from a bag. Kneeling in front of the crows was a young Mari. The young girl was wearing a dark gray uniform while wearing a white shirt underneath. She wore a red tie around the collar of her jacket.

She stared at the two crows with a slight interest. But her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a familiar voice from behind…

"Kurihara!-san!" Mari blinked at the voice as she looked over her shoulder.

Standing behind her with her arms crossed across her chest. A young Kate with her usual hair style. Wearing the same uniform as Mari.

"Why did you act on your own!? You know that you're causing problems for everyone else, right!?" Kate said with a stern voice.

"...oh?"

Kate bit her lips. "Don't 'oh' me! Everyone has already left if you hadn't noticed!"

"And you? Why are you still here?" Mari asked with her head tilted.

"You dolt! I'm the class representative! It's my duty to make sure everyone is counted for and head home safe! Now let's go!"

"Very well." The young Mari said as she got up and walked along with Kate.

Kate looked at the young crow mistress with a curious glance. "Why were you looking at those crows anyways?"

"Nothing. I was feeding them."

"Huh? Feeding them? What are they? Your pets?"

"Of course not. I was simply feeding them."

"Geez, you can be so weird sometimes. You know that, right?"

Mari simply didn't say anything as she continued to walk with Kate in silence. Kate looks ahead of her but couldn't help but glance at her with her cheeks slightly heating up.


-Inside the Train-


The two young students were seated down. Neither of the two were speaking. Staying silent. The only sound that could be heard was the sound of the wheels on the train, hitting against the tracks of the railway.

Kate opened her one eye as she glanced over at the crow mistress next to her. Who kept her gaze fixated ahead of her. Not looking at anything in particular, but was just thinking to herself. The young Kate hand gripped her skirt feeling tense, forcing herself to look in the opposite direction. Pondering to herself. Until her eyes happen to lie on her backpack.

She then reaches for her bag, unzipping it and rumbling in her backpack. Grabbing Mari's attention as she glanced over in Kate's direction. The young Mari's eyes widened in surprise as she caught the sight of the big jar that Kate took out of her bag. Inside the jar looked like small squids that had a stick going through right in the middle of their bodies.

Kate settled the jar on her knee and began eating away at one of the squids on a stick. As she was eating away, Mari couldn't help but to just stare at the jar with a rather curious stare.

"What…what is that?" Mari asked with a bit of a hesitation.

"They're goldfish." Kate simply answered.

Not another word was spoken between the two. Kate continues to eat at the goldfish while Mari keeps her attention on the jar. As if it was something that caught her attention.

"...Kurihara-san. Do you not have any snacks?"

"I gave all of mine to the class."

Another unspoken words were exchanged between the two. Only the sound of the wheels hitting the tracks of the railway underneath them.

"Are they…" Mari spoke up. "Are they alive?"

Kate stopped herself as she looked at Mari with a baffled expression. Looking at the young Mari, her eyes widened, her half eaten goldfish in her hand. "H-Huh? I'm sorry. What?"

"Ah. Apologies. I didn't mean it to be rude. I'm just curious if they're actually, genuinely living goldfish."

"O-Of course not. They're obviously dead. Why on earth would they be alive?" Kate said with a raised eyebrow at the girl. "Seriously, you honestly thought that they were alive?"

"Again, I apologize. I was just caught off guard." Mari said with her hands raised in defense.

Kate sighed to herself. "No. They're not alive. And they're quite tasty as well."

*Rumble*

Kate's eyes snapped open as she heard the noise. She looked towards Mari who forced herself to look ahead of herself. Her hands folded together on top of her knee, securing her backpack. Her cheeks slightly lighted up.

Kate looks at her goldfish jar. Her fingers pressed against the plastic jar as she felt small beads of sweat dripping against her skin. Kate felt her cheeks growing hotter by the minute. She can hear her heart beating against her chest. Mustering up her courage, she slowly lifted the jar and slowly offered it to Mari.

The crow mistress glances at the inside of the jar that held many of the goldfish snacks within it. She then looks at Kate who was looking in the opposite direction without looking at her.

"Y-You may have some of mine…"

"..." Mari couldn't help but to look at the goldfish with a curious glance. Her head tilted at the jar with slight interest. "Are they really good?"

"O-Of course. Come now, go ahead and try some."

Mari swallowed a bit as she reached in and grabbed one. She looks at the fish creature that had a stick go through its body. She looks at Kate who was slightly watching her, wondering if she's gonna eat it or not.

The crow mistress took a bite out of it. Chewing the fish within her mouth, she was slightly caught off guard after a while. She looks at the goldfish in her hand.

"It's good."

"See? Honestly, you thought it would taste bad." Kate said with a smirk.

"I mean, I genuinely thought it would leave a weird taste but…it's really good." Mari said as she took another bite out of it. Satisfying her small hunger.

Kate gave a small nod of approval. "Y-You can have more if you wish."

"...thank you." Mari simply said.

Kate looks in the opposite direction. Not looking at the girl sitting beside her.


-End of Flashback-


"Yes. I do recall. I must say, that was actually rather surprising that you mistook that I was actually eating live goldfish." Kate said with a smirk.

"I mean, I only returned to Japan at the time. I wasn't sure how to interact with people nor did I properly understand the subtitle of Japanese." Mari said.

"Ah. Well, I guess that can be forgiven. You were like a fish out of water." Kate said. "But just be glad that I managed to catch you before you were left behind."

Etsuko blinked at Kate's words. Bringing her finger to her chin with an interesting thought. "Now that I think about it. Mari and Meiko mentioned that Kate is like a witch or something. But honestly…she's really not that bad of a person if you really think about it…she went back to go and picked up Mari before she got lost. Actually, she was also nice to Matsuri when he got punched by Andre as well."

Etsuko looks back at the orange-haired girl. "You know Kate…you're actually not that bad of a person."

"H-Huh?" Kate looks at the eccentric girl.

Etsuko held a smile. "I mean. Sure you can be a handful-"

"YOU'RE THE LAST PERSON I WANT TO HEAR THAT FROM!"

"-but you're actually really nice." Etsuko finished without being offended. "From what I can gather from the lessons that we had and your interaction with Mari. You're really a good person. Even back then you went over to go and search for Mari. Not only that, you helped out Matsuri when he got injured too."

"Oh. That is correct." Mari spoke up with a smile as she looked at Kate whose face was flushed red. "Kate, you say that you felt that you're not qualified for the role of the student council. But all of the good deeds that you performed were all but kind acts. Despite your rather rough exterior, you can indeed be a kind and wonderful person."

Kate felt her heart beating faster. Her cheeks slightly grew hotter by the increasing minute. "U-Um…thank you for the compliment."

Mari's smile somewhat faded as she happened to look at the handcuff that imprisoned their hand together. Humming to herself with her eyes closed before she spoke. "Etsuko is right."

Both Kate and Etsuko look at the crow mistress.

"Since we have formed the council together, we must work together and not against each other. Some of us may not like it, but if we wish for the protection of the school and set an example for future students of Hachimitsu academy. Then we must pull ourselves together and set aside our differences. And besides, it's clear we both love Hachimitsu, right?"

Kate blinked. Glancing to the side with a pondering thought before answering. "Of course I do. It is like home to us, anyways."

"And not only that…" Mari spoke, grabbing the two attention. "We also must protect Matsuri. In case Hayakki comes back and threatens him once more."

Kate's eyes widened as a small breath escaped her lips. She looks down briefly at her hand that was settled onto the bowl of seeds. She closed her eyes as her hand formed into a fist. "Yes. The poor dear, must be scared of what Hayakki might do."

"I'm sure he's scared. But I believe Matsuri can manage." Mari said with a smirk. "He was rather timid at first when he first came here to this school. Granted, I will admit I didn't help the matter. But he's coming around rather well. He's a little more assertive and more open to speak up when he needs to be heard…yes. He's continuing to grow into a different person. Even if it is slow."

Kate propped her cheeks on her hand. "You seem to have such a high value for the boy."

"...of course. He was the first male to ever challenge my belief in men. While granted, there are no doubt, very uncultured men out there. But Matsuri is more of a rare unicorn of sorts. Which is why I'm glad I've met him."

"Well then…in that case…" Kate offered her free hand to Mari. "Let us both work together and pave a good future for Hachimitsu. And provide protection for Matsuri if something bad were to happen."

Mari blinked as she looked at Kate with a surprised expression. She looks down at her free hand that was extended towards her and back at Kate's who held a serious expression. Mari's expression soon morphed into a genuine soft smile. Her hand stretching out and clasping Kate's.

"Thank you, Kate. I look forward to the future." Mari said.

Without either of them noticing, Etsuko walked between them and unlocked the handcuff between them. Mari and Kate rubbed their wrist as they were finally free from the restraining cuff that binds them. Both of them looked at the eccentric girl who had her back to them.

"Both of you did well." She said in an uncharacteristic tone. "Both of you managed to see each other on the same eye level. Not clawing at each other's throats. No insulting…it's like you two finally reached a breaking point."

Both Mari and Kate were left shocked to hear such a calm statement from the usual peppy girl. They would have thought that she would cheer for them with confetti or something that just screams…well, Etsuko.

The small first year turned to face them. "Both of you passed my class with flying colors! Congratulations!"

Mari couldn't help but chuckle. Now with her hand free, she got into a comfortable position as she faced Etsuko with her hands folded on her knees. "Thank you, Etsuko. To be honest, I thought this would never work. But it looks like it did."

Etsuko offered a grin. "Well, I had to make sure that none of you were going to half-ass it. You have to admit, it did work."

Kate offers a sigh with a soft smile. "True. It did work…thank you, Etsuko. But please give us a heads up in the near future."

"Sorry, I can't make any promises." Etsuko said with a mischievous grin.

Mari could only muster a soft laugh. "Of course she wouldn't…and honestly I think I prefer it if she stays like that."

Just as they were enjoying their moment-

*Ring! Ring!*

Mari felt her pocket vibrate as a sound occurred at the sametime. Earning hers and everyone else's attention. She grabs the phone and answers it.

"Hana? Is something wrong?"

"Mari! Where are you right now!?" Hana answered from the other end. Sounding rather angry.

"I'm at the school with Kate and Etsuko. Is everything alright?"

"Well, in one way or another. But hey, you never guessed it, but there was apparently a reason why the boys joined our team in the first place against the ASC!"

Mari quirked a brow. "Oh? And that would be…"

"Turns out they only joined us so they can revive the wet t-shirt contest!"

"..."

Not a word was spoken from the crow mistress. But from her expression it tells enough to Etsuko and Kate. She morphed from shocked to building annoyed to anger. "I see…is this true?"

"Every word of it! Hell, I can lend you the phone to one of them!"

"Please do." Mari said with a venomous tone.

Etsuko and Kate looked at each other before looking at Mari who was busy fuming mad at the fact of what was happening.

"G-G-Good evening, Mari-dono…" Gakuto spoke through the phone.

"DON'T YOU GOOD EVENING ME!" Mari yelled. "YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU BOYS ONLY JOINED OUR GROUP ONLY SO YOU CAN REVIVE THE WET T-SHIRT CONTEST!? I THOUGHT ALL GENUINELY CHANGED!?"

"Wait, wet t-shirt contest…" Kate asked with a head tilt.

Etsuko's face palmed herself. "I should've known."

"P-Pray! Listen to what your's truly have to say-"

"LISTEN TO YOU!? YOU!? YOU LIED TO ME! IT WASN'T BECAUSE YOU HAD FUN WHILE THE USC WERE THE COUNCIL! YOU LITERALLY HAD ME FOR A FOOL TO BELIEVE YOU!"

"Y-You don't understand! There's a g-g-good explanation for all this!" Gakuto was trying his best to find common ground.

Mari growled. "Save it! Why should I listen to whatever you have to say, you trash!"

"I-Indeed! You are correct! We are trash! And you can be mad at us all you want! We deserve it! But don't you think w-we…" There was a decent pause at the end of the line before he spoke again. "Don't you think we should consider this as an award to us, boys."

Mari's eyes twitched. "You best choose your words wisely, trash."

"Y-Your's truly is being serious! If you truly do think about it, we boys have worked hard to make sure that you won! We practically threw everything we got away and pushed it on your team to achieve victory! Only to get nothing in return! A-And I believe that we deserve a rather…valuable award."

Mari slowly growled under her breath. Before she could speak, the phone was taken by Kate who pushed it against her ear.

"Hello, hello. This is Kate speaking." She answered with a smile.

"Ooh! K-Kate-dono! P-Please spare us! We didn't want to cause any harm! We just want our dream back! Please!" Gakuto begged.

"Calm down. I hear you boys want the wet t-shirt contest back, right?" Kate asked.

"Oh most definitely! That is all that we wish for!"

Kate hummed to herself with a pondering thought before answering. "Okay, I can revive the wet t-shirt contest for you boys."

This surprised both Mari and Etsuko who looked at her as if she was signing a death wish or some stupid deal with a terrible businessman.

"T-Truly! You will revive!?"

"Of course! You boys worked hard, right? So it's only natural that you boys deserve a valuable award!"

"Oh thank you! Thank you a million times, Kate-dono! You are truly an empress that is worthy of a-"

"That is…" Kate interrupts him in his speech. Causing him to stop. Kate wore a mischievous grin. "If you can give us a really convincing argument…in a court trial."

Mari and Etsuko looked at the girl with shocked expressions. This came out of nowhere!

"...i-indeed…a court trial?"


..


And that's a wrap! Thanks to Etsuko's lesson, Mari and Kate are finally seeing each other on common ground. But the celebration was short-lived when the boys came out with the truth. The real reason why they joined the USC battle against the ASC. And it seems the fight to revive the wet t-shirt contest is just getting started as they head for the final showdown…in court! Next chapter will be the finale of the mini story arc….

Thank you all for waiting. I've been meaning to wrap things up between Mari and Kate, who I have to admit, I have fun writing about. I did mention this before, but I was a little bummed out how their relationship was not explored more in the canon story so I wanted to do that justice here in the fanfic. Kate has always suffered from inferior complex anxiety that it would sometimes force her to do something drastic that she will never forgive herself. Especially if it endangers the students and the school as a whole. I felt that if Mari were to give her some words of encouragement, she wouldn't have to be so focused on being Mari, but just focus on being herself. Kate isn't that bad of a person, she just needs to straighten out her own problems that cause her to react in such a nasty way. XD

Next chapter will be the final chapter of this mini story arc. It will be a court case trial that will finally come to a decision on what to do with the wet t-shirt contest. I do plan on showing the wet t-shirt contest but I think that will serve more of an epilogue or a separate story of its own when I am done with the main story. But we still have a ways to go before I am officially done with the story so I'm not stressing too much on the thought.

By the way, I've been hearing your guys thoughts on the potential remake of "Hitoyoshi and the Prison School". And while the idea of Yoshimiya being alive is not official yet, there's a reason why I thought of that idea. Mainly because I am aware that there are some readers who believe that Matsuri's action resulting in Yoshimiya's death cannot be so easily forgiven. To some extent, yes I also believe that Matsuri's actions still cannot be forgiven and I expect a good number of people not forgiving Matsuri for that. But they also need to know that is the point of his character arc. He's aware of what he has done and chose to go to a different school to hopefully improve himself to be a better person. While he cannot undo what he did, he aims to change. To be the person that everyone can rely on.

Which leads to my decision of the remake, perhaps if Matsuri was written a bit differently, then people would have a different outlook on his character. Perhaps he would take the fall by taking Yoshimiya's place of having his pictures taken and being spread. Damaging his self-esteem and Yoshimiya believes that going to a different school would help him. But again, this is still in the rough works so these ideas are not official or concreted yet. But thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Anyways, thanks for reading this chapter. Remember, this story is available on both Fanfic and A03 (archive of our own). And as always, leave a review for feedback. Stay safe and I will see you all in the next chapter.