Kurumu sauntered over to the first building on her right in this clearing. She absently fussed with the strap of her schoolbag which crossed her body. She had left her school jacket open, not bothering to tie the ribbon at her collar. Her hair was gathered up in a small tail secured by her purple lace ribbon.
Kurumu kept wondering if this was a bad idea. She had agreed to help Tsukune investigate this matter without even thinking about getting Nijiro's permission. Feeling like it was too late to back out now, she struggled with an internal debate over if she should mention this transgression to Nijiro. While this should be inconsequential, it might strengthen his resolve to break up with her.
Kurumu sighed, arriving at the door for suite 813 which was at the far end of the building. She regarded the adjacent building, thinking Nijiro was still asleep in suite 809. She had left Mizore's suite before six and the walk between clearings was not that long. She would have to tell him. No more secrets.
"I'm such a moron."
Kurumu knocked firmly on the door, pushing her concerns about Nijiro away. Unless he went out of his way to talk to her soon, she would not have to deal with him before Saturday. She had other things to worry about like that mystery peeper taking pictures of the dance club girls. There was also this situation with guys being attacked in the mornings. Both were much more important than her unstable love life.
Kurumu hoped that Kokoa would get news about the class trip today. If Moka's father gave the seniors a good deal on an Okinawa trip, she would have a reasonable excuse to tag along. She supposed which destination the seniors picked would not matter if Nijiro dumped her. It might even be better if the seniors went somewhere else in that case.
Grumbling at the depressing thoughts, she knocked with more vigor. If these dummies wanted her to be here by six, one of them better be awake. She could have spent more time with Hatsue and maybe even had breakfast with Mizore at this rate. It was not like Mrs. Shirayuki's passive aggressive remarks were that unbearable. Umizake needed to develop a thicker skin.
Hearing the turn of the deadbolt, Kurumu backed away from the door. Moments later it swung out, revealing Umizake in his PSC attire. Holding the door's knob, the tall guy regarded her impassively.
"They're still getting dressed."
Kurumu sighed with a shake of her head.
"I thought you were going to put in a good word for me."
"I said you would help out in my absence."
"You didn't tell them that you weren't coming back. Mrs. Shirayuki thought I would only be there for an hour or two. That's twice now that I needed Mizore to talk her mother into letting me spend the night."
"I don't see an issue with that. Mizore is better at dealing with her mother than I am."
"Not when her mother is worried that I might have some control over Mizore. Have you forgotten about the concerns of opiate addiction?"
Umizake shrugged nonchalantly.
"No but I haven't seen Mizore try to kiss you."
Kurumu groaned, doubting this guy would notice even if that was going on.
"Maybe not yet but she snuggled against me more last night than the night before."
"At least you get to sleep with her. I've been banished to the couch."
Kurumu managed a smile, backing another step away from the door.
"She's going to stop listening to Mizore if she thinks I'm manipulating her daughter."
Umizake let go of the door, leaning down. He straightened back up, holding the strap of his schoolbag. Shrugging, he wandered out of the suite to join her.
"If she gets that paranoid, I won't be of any help. She'll just claim that you've charmed me."
"I hope that doesn't happen. I know she's afraid that I might do something similar to what my mother did but she can't expect me to prove myself by not being around."
"You visit Hatsue more than any of your friends."
Kurumu grumbled, knowing that was true.
"It's only been a week. Hardly a fair comparison."
"But not wrong."
"Was Uchiyama causing trouble for the dance club?"
Kurumu smirked as Kamitsuku emerged from the suite. The stocky guy had left his school jacket open but had actually bothered donning the school's red tie at his collar. He had the strap of his schoolbag crossing his wide torso while his hands held his digital camera which had a black cord hooked behind his neck.
"Sort of. Those two idiots inadvertently recruited a creep whom took unsolicited pictures of the dance club girls. I had to scold them for not turning this guy in immediately."
Kamitsuku chuckled, checking the display of his camera.
"What kind of unsolicited pictures are we talking about?"
"Ones of the girls changing their clothes."
"How do you inadvertently get someone to take those kind of pictures for you?"
"It sounds like this guy wanted to take pictures and just needed someone to find him a target."
Kamitsuku glanced up as he let go of his camera, letting it dangle by its strap against his chest.
"Are they paying him?"
"Nope. He just stops by to give them pictures every now and then."
Kamitsuku chuckled as Tsukune exited the suite. Not only did Tsukune have the tie but he had also closed up his jacket. The young man closed the door behind him, turning to lock it.
"How long has this been going on?"
Kurumu smiled thinly at Kamitsuku's query.
"I didn't ask but I would guess it's at least been two weeks if not more."
"Morning, Kurumu."
Kurumu laughed softly as Tsukune pocketed his keys into his jacket.
"Morning. Did you sleep well?"
Tsukune sighed, adjusting the strap of his schoolbag.
"I should have grabbed my bedding when I told Mom our plans. We only had the two futons the suite comes with. I tried giving Aoi the sheets but he refused."
Umizake shrugged nonchalantly.
"Not like it was cold."
"Yea but I felt bad about you sleeping on the floor."
"It's fine. Where are we starting this investigation?"
Kurumu walked away from the building, gesturing to the clearing behind the commissary.
"There is a shortcut some guys take from this clearing to the main school path. It gets real close to the pond. We can walk around the shore when we get there."
The boys followed her, passing through the gap between the base of the stairs leading up to suite 805 and the back corner of the commissary. As they sauntered into the wide open space between Nijiro's apartment building and the one on her left, Kurumu gestured to her right.
"Ginei lives up in that back corner unit if you ever want to visit him."
Tsukune chuckled with a slight shake of his head.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Doesn't your boyfriend live around here?"
Kurumu smiled thinly at Kamitsuku's query.
"Yea but he wouldn't want to talk with Tsukune."
Tsukune laughed nervously as they steadily approached the edge of the clearing. There was a slight gap in the underbrush, marking the start of the trail.
"Probably not. What are you going to do about that guy taking pictures for Uchiyama?"
Kurumu sighed heavily, closing in on the woods.
"Those dummies didn't even have this guy's name. I told them to surrender all of their ill-gotten pictures to Ms. Kiyomizu and to get the creep's name the next time he contacts them."
Kurumu entered the forest a few steps ahead of the guys. She had to watch her footing as she traversed the uneven terrain.
"Does he like any of these girls in particular?"
"He barely knows these girls. He likes Kimagure but only because of her 'personality'."
Kamitsuku snickered, trudging through the woods on Tsukune's heels. Umizake quietly remained at the rear of the group.
"I'm guessing that you mean personality in the curvy sense."
"His buddy, Tatakai, is also favoring that girl. Do you remember the harpy he confessed to?"
"That older girl in your choir?"
"Mhm. This girl is about the same height with longer hair and only slightly less endowed."
"Has he ruined his chances with this girl?"
Kurumu smirked at Tsukune's question.
"I have no idea. Are you staying at your new place tonight?"
"I was considering it."
"More like he was considering staying with his girlfriend there tonight."
"Kamitsuku!"
Kurumu giggled at Tsukune's reaction to Kamitsuku's teasing.
"How would you convince your mother to spend another night alone in your dorm room?"
"I probably can't. I'll just spend one more night in the dorm before moving everything tomorrow."
"What about you, Kurumu? Have any naughty encounters planned with your beloved?"
Kurumu huffed at Kamitsuku's amused tone.
"Our relationship isn't blessed by the school so we have to play things safe."
"I'm not asking for details."
"I wouldn't give you any even if you had."
"No harm in saying you are kissing him on the sly. That is why you picked an undine."
Kurumu managed a smile, passing through the last line of trees preceding the pond. The large body of water stretched off to her left before cutting up and away. The uneven shape of the lake and the random distribution of trees prevented her from seeing the entirety of the pond. She turned about to regard the guys as they joined her.
"Aren't you still looking for a girlfriend?"
Kamitsuku glanced her over with mild sexual interest.
"Are you offering?"
Kurumu rolled her eyes.
"I get why you aren't going to ask Yarimizu out after what she pulled but there are other girls."
Kamitsuku grimaced at her mention of the girl he had been crushing on for most of his childhood. With the new arrangement of lunch groups, he was now in the same homeroom as the Umishiro girls.
"It's not that simple."
"Sure it is. What happened to your interest in Ayame?"
Kamitsuku chuckled, absently grabbing his camera. He lifted it up slightly, causing the strap to go slack.
"I wasn't serious about that."
"Why not? She's sort of like you, having only one undine parent."
Kamitsuku breathed in deep, regarding the display of his camera.
"And how would the elders of Umishiro feel about that? It's the same reason why I don't chase after any of the kappa girls Ren suggested to me."
Kurumu frowned at his remark.
"Why do you care about the opinions of those elders?"
Kamitsuku smirked, glancing up from his camera with amusement in his ochre eyes.
"Sairyuu is in charge of the dance club. Maybe Uchiyama has some pictures of her."
Kurumu doubted the sincerity of his interest.
"Sazanami is also in that club. Are you going to ask for her pictures too?"
She had not expected to see that flash of inspiration in his face.
"Maybe I should join the dance club."
Kurumu snorted, stalking off to her left. She stayed on the rugged part of the shore which still had grass, not wanting her loafers to sink into the dark mud closest to the water's surface.
"If you were interested in those girls, you would have thought of this sooner."
Kamitsuku chuckled, falling in step behind Tsukune.
"A man's opinion of a girl can change if he sees her naked."
Tsukune laughed heartily, shaking his head.
"I wouldn't say that but it does change the dynamic."
"That club has enough perverts in it."
"One more won't hurt anything. And these girls know me. Wanda might even be desperate enough to settle for me."
Kurumu smiled thinly, disliking the way he had phrased that. She had nothing against Sazanami but the notion of anybody settling for Kamitsuku bothered her.
"You have plenty of fine qualities-"
"I'm a kappa, Kurumu. That's why none of the girls I grew up with took me seriously. Including Eika."
"As interesting as this conversation is, we won't be finding any legends making so much noise."
Umizake's statement discouraged Kurumu from responding to that. She still had no idea why he cared about the elders whom kept Umishiro almost exclusively for undines. Kamitsuku had been shunned in that community. Seeing him lonely and isolated was what had inspired Yarimizu to remain his friend even after her parents forbade her from being around him.
They drifted right, following the rugged curve of the shore. Kurumu would occasionally stumble being too preoccupied with Kamitsuku's situation to pay close attention to her footing. A part of her wanted to peek into his thoughts but she would end up in the lake if she tried that. He had not been serious with that Sairyuu comment but her mentioning Sazanami had changed his demeanor. Was there something unique about Sazanami?
Turning left, they continued flanking the pond for another minute or two in silence. Kurumu pondered over if it would be a good thing for Kamitsuku to successfully convince Sazanami into a relationship. He was not hung up on girls needing to be voluptuous, considering how average Yarimizu was. But Sazanami was exceptionally petite.
"Try and walk softly, Mr. Yamabato."
Kamitsuku chuckled under his breath at Umizake's recommendation. The trees on the far side of the pond were starting a gradual curve towards them but the end was still obscured by another swath of land cutting towards the center of the diminishing body of stagnant water.
"I'm trying my best."
Despite his remark, the sound of his passage diminished as they started to the right upon reaching that inlet. Kurumu resumed her speculations, supposing Sazanami had about the same figure as Manami and Tarumi. She would have been fine with him setting his sights on one of them. The real issue was that she barely knew Sazanami beyond her being overly sensual in club practice.
Kurumu was still embroiled in weighing the merits of Kamitsuku's potential partner when Umizake made a shushing sound. He gestured through the woods, drawing Kurumu's attention to a figure in the water. It was difficult to identify what it was but it looked like a head. Black tresses spilled out from the top like hair, floating upon the water. Between these black strands were patches of dark green.
Umizake quietly took the lead, motioning for them to follow. They eased through the woods with the details of that figure becoming clearer. It was not one but two heads mixed up in that mess of black hair. The broader head was pushed slightly to the side while the other was buried at the base of a submerged shoulder. Those green patches were fins and shoulders of the creature with the smaller head.
"A mermaid."
Kamitsuku's comment caught the attention of the creature. It lifted its mouth up from its captive, turning its head slowly. A wide hazel eye peered through the dripping bangs masking most of her face.
"Yes. And it appears that she has already claimed one victim today."
Umizake gestured to the shore where a chubby guy with his dark locks styled in a bowl cut was sprawled out. His school uniform was soaked through while his tan slacks were smeared with mud and grime.
"You let that man go."
The mermaid cocked her head at Tsukune's demand. She relinquished her hold on the other figure, pushing it aside. The guy's wide body floated closer to the surface with his face to the sky.
"This matter doesn't concern you. Leave."
Umizake strolled over to the edge of the woods, glancing over his shoulder.
"Go check on the student."
Kamitsuku moved in compliance with that command. Kurumu hesitated a moment but decided to follow Kamitsuku when Tsukune moved to join Umizake.
"Your feedings are causing trouble for the school."
"My feedings are necessary. Babies need water rich with life essence. Without life essence, babies get hungry. Starving babies eat each other."
Lowering to her haunches, Kurumu forced a smile as Kamitsuku checked the throat of the guy sprawled out on the narrow bank preceding the water. Now that she was up close, she recognized the victim was Tekikawa, president of the arcade club.
"Is he okay?"
"He's out cold but he should recover. Mermaid feedings are never lethal."
"Are you a student at the school?"
The mermaid glanced at Tsukune with only one hazel eye visible in that dripping mess of bangs. She lifted up from the water, baring her breasts to the boys.
"Do I look like a student?"
Tsukune immediately shielded his face but Umizake regarded the naked woman indifferently.
"Most high school girls have mature bodies. That proves nothing."
The mermaid lowered her torso beneath the water's surface.
"Most high school boys look away."
"If I had done that, you would have tried something foolish."
Kurumu giggled, suspecting that was how this mermaid got the drop on these boys. She stood back up, trying to see whom the other poor soul was. She could not get a good angle to see his face even when she tried lifting up on her toes.
"I can sense how powerful you two are. Why not join me in the water?"
Umizake smirked, slipping the strap of his schoolbag off his shoulder.
"You actually think you can subdue me?"
"Why don't you find out?"
Umizake tossed his bag in the dirt behind him but Tsukune grabbed his shoulder.
"Wait. We can resolve this peacefully."
"After being tormented by a vicious mother for weeks, I'm not in the mood for a peaceful resolution."
Tsukune chuckled, stepping slightly in front of Umizake.
"Even more reason to let me handle this."
"I very much would like to be handled."
Tsukune blushed when the woman lifted up to show her tits again.
"Look. If you need life essence for your babies, you could just ask."
The mermaid huffed, shoving the floating victim away.
"Do you honestly think any of these fools came here with the intent of helping? They were all lured here by empty promises."
The moment his face came into view, Kurumu gasped. Somehow Machida had fallen prey to this woman. Kurumu shook her head in disbelief.
"How did you convince them to come here?"
"Word of the Lady of the Lake spreads quickly. These boys will blame the legend but they won't admit the specifics. More will come, thinking this is a sexual encounter."
The mermaid chuckled darkly.
"Which honestly only makes the experience better."
"There is no need for the deception."
"Nonsense!"
Already shielding his gaze of the nude mermaid, Tsukune flinched at the harsh response.
"These boys would never come here if they thought there was nothing in it for them. All creatures are inherently selfish. This is the only way."
Kamitsuku chuckled, masking the sound of the click of his camera.
"I will never comprehend how stupid mermaids can be."
The mermaid gasped, covering her arms over her breasts.
"How dare you?!"
Kamitsuku shrugged, taking another picture.
"All creatures are inherently selfish. You should have expected this."
"Give that here!"
Kamitsuku backed even farther away.
"What are you going to do about it? Are you planning to chase me through the woods naked?"
The mermaid trembled, glancing down at the water as he took another picture.
"Name your price."
"No. You have nothing to offer and no way to stop me from turning this over to the faculty. I'm honestly surprised Ren didn't mention it was a mermaid attack."
The mermaid gave up on hiding her breasts. She brushed her bangs away from her face, revealing both of her hazel eyes.
"I'll give you my virginity."
Kamitsuku snorted, boldly taking another picture.
"Don't you have babies?"
"That doesn't require penetration! We lay our eggs!"
"This is stupid."
Umizake stomped by Tsukune.
"What are you doing?!"
Umizake ignored Tsukune's alarm as he boldly stepped into the water.
"We are wasting time here when we don't have to."
The mermaid cackled as he strolled deeper into the water.
"Fool! I'm invincible in the water!"
"I'll drag this guppy out of this pond and turn her over to the faculty. They can deal with this."
The mermaid darted towards him but suddenly cried out. She flailed her arms against the water surface but the water refused to take her in. It was like she had been stuck inside an unyielding wall.
"What?! I can't move!"
"You clearly have never faced an undine. One could subdue you just as easily."
The mermaid grunted, pushing against the firm water.
"That's impossible!"
"Maybe for most undines in this school. But I trained to fight against Alucard."
Standing waist deep in the water, Umizake lifted his hand. The water about the mermaid rose up, distorting Kurumu's view of the trapped woman.
"And I'm much more powerful than an undine."
Umizake closed his fist. The mermaid's cry was cut short as she was swallowed up by the watery prison.
"Don't kill her!"
Kamitsuku chuckled at Tsukune's shout. He lowered his camera.
"It's water. Can a mermaid be killed in water?"
Kurumu had a feeling that one could.
"Aoi! Stop!"
Umizake glanced over his shoulder before relaxing his fist. The water spilled back to a natural state with the mermaid floating on the top. Like Machida, she was laid out on her back with her tits to the sky.
"If that killed her, then she is weaker than I thought."
Kurumu swallowed thickly as he walked deeper into the lake.
"What did you do?"
"I crushed her. A mermaid's body should be able to withstand it but she probably has never been in deep water. She'll wake up in a minute or two."
Kamitsuku chuckled nervously as Umizake gathered up the mermaid.
"What now?"
Umizake headed back to the shore with the mermaid in tow.
"Now we carry this troublemaker and her two victims to the infirmary. Give Kurumu your schoolbags as I doubt you want those getting wet."
Kamitsuku smiled, stalking over to Kurumu. He lifted the strap of his camera over his head.
"Please don't delete the pictures I took. We might need the evidence."
Doubting they needed that particular evidence, Kurumu smirked as he handed over his camera.
Kurumu was sitting in a chair against the wall in the tiny waiting area of the infirmary. Kamitsuku sat beside her in the chair on her left, wearing his gym clothes which consisted of a white shirt and red shorts. He was looking at the display of his camera, sighing at the loss of his explicit photographs.
The wall on her left had a curtain blocking the opening to the rest area. That space had four stations, each with a bed and chair, which could be separated by privacy curtains hanging from a track mounted to the ceiling. The two victims had been assigned to their own beds after being relieved of their soaked uniforms. Neither had regained consciousness yet but the nurse expected they would by lunch.
Across the waiting area were two doors. The door in the corner was for the nurse's office. The nurse had left to explain things to the other faculty members over a half hour ago. Kurumu had already heard the bells starting the first period. Nyuuwa had performed today's announcements.
The other door was for an exam room which was where Tsukune and Umizake were keeping watch over the mermaid. The woman had recovered before they had made it out of the woods. She had initially cursed and screamed for her release but Umizake had scared her into silence. The mermaid had not said anything after that point. She had not even shared her name but it had been obvious that Ms. Tsumugi recognized the woman.
It had still been before seven when they had arrived on campus. Thankfully Ms. Tsumugi had been inside the infirmary. The nurse had scolded them over bringing a naked woman on campus, quickly remedying the situation as they explained the situation. After changing the victims into spare gym clothes kept in the infirmary, the boys had gone to the locker room to change into their own gym clothes. Once they had returned, Ms. Tsumugi had left to notify the faculty.
Kamitsuku sighed heavily, leaning his head against the wall. He let go of his camera, allowing it to dangle by its strap about his thick neck.
"You're a cruel woman."
"You don't need pictures of a naked woman you don't even know."
"You wouldn't even let me talk to Uchiyama before he turned his pictures over to Ms. Kiyomizu."
"It's not like I made you come back here after changing your clothes."
"Maybe he hasn't turned them in yet."
Kurumu smirked, wondering if that idiot would carry around a bunch of explicit pictures any longer than he had to. She glanced at his thick legs which lacked any hair.
"Did you ever have a thing for Sazanami?"
Kamitsuku chuckled, glancing at her with his head still against the wall. She felt a lick of lechery when he admired the curve of her bosom.
"Not really. At least not any more than I did for any other girl in my village."
"Except Yarimizu."
He smirked, turning his appreciative gaze away.
"Eika was an exception. She was the nicest to me so I liked her more. I'll admit it was not because she was the most attractive girl in town. When it comes to girls around my age, Okimune has always held that honor. Unlike you, her family is too important to ever give a half breed like me a chance."
Kurumu snickered, knowing he liked her resemblance to Okimune.
"You need to slim down, buddy. No reason to be so chubby."
Kamitsuku clapped the bulge of his belly beneath his white shirt.
"This is all muscle."
"I'm serious. Sazanami is tiny compared to you."
"Do girls really care that much about a guy's looks?"
Kurumu let out an exasperated gasp. She regarded his genuine indifference with wide eyes.
"Yes! You should be fit, clean and manage your hair properly. Would you want a fat girl with dirty hair whom hasn't had a bath in a month?"
Kamitsuku chuckled, moving his hands back to his camera.
"I'd settle for having a girl."
"You only say that because you don't have one. Are you even attracted to Sazanami?"
Kamitsuku took in a deep breath.
"I've known Wanda since the first grade. Even back then she would do silly things to call attention to herself. To make herself important."
He glanced at her with a slight smile.
"Because she has two younger brothers. Undine parents almost always favor sons."
Kurumu nodded thoughtfully, looking at the exam room's door.
"Yea. I've noticed that."
"Wanda really wants to stay in Umishiro. That's why she became such a shameless flirt in junior high. If she could find a boyfriend in town, she could marry instead of going to high school."
"But that was over two years ago. She isn't chasing guys from Umishiro now."
"She does on our breaks. Mostly older guys whom are still single but she has started flirting with the junior high boys whom are friends with her brothers. Not that any of them take her seriously. Her family doesn't have much importance to the community."
Kurumu mulled that over for a moment.
"But she's never shown an interest in you, right?"
"No. I used to joke with the other kappa boys that she should give us a chance."
Kurumu frowned at his comment.
"I thought you were the only kappa in Umishiro."
"I'm the only kappa whom lived in Umishiro. Our school had other kappa students. There were six of us in my graduating class. Two were girls."
Kurumu vaguely recalled him mentioning this before.
"Isn't your junior high in trouble for being too exclusive?"
Kamitsuku shrugged nonchalantly.
"It could be. The students are mostly undines with the rest being kappas. Any other students in the Itoigawa region have to go to other junior highs."
Kurumu nodded, feeling satisfied with that explanation.
"Do you want to marry Sazanami?"
He laughed with a sudden distant look.
"Isn't that thinking too far ahead?"
"No. You grew up with this girl. It's not like you are dating a complete stranger."
"Maybe if I saw her naked, I could give you a better answer."
Kurumu smirked at his lighthearted response.
"If you don't slim down, she's never going to want to see you naked."
He chuckled heartily, patting his belly.
"Okay. I'll work on that. Need to look good for my dance club debut."
Kurumu believed she understood his motivation. He regarded Sazanami as a kindred soul. They both wanted to stay in Umishiro and she believed she knew why. He wanted to remain close to his family.
During her hesitation to say something, the door to the hall on her right was drawn open. A lady with her head wrapped in bandages entered the room. There was a gap for her dark eyes and errant strands of dark hair poked through the layers of wrappings. Her braided ponytail rested on the back of her white lab coat worn over a periwinkle blouse. Black slacks graced her long legs.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting."
Kurumu's eyes widened, realizing Headmaster Sendou had accompanied the nurse. Yukari's grandfather had short, silver locks and was wearing a black robe over a white one with a brown sash about his waist.
"Headmaster Sendou!"
Kurumu stood up quickly, offering a slight bow. The headmaster made a dismissive gesture as Kamitsuku mimicked Kurumu's show of respect.
"I understand that you have apprehended the Lady of the Lake."
"Yes. She's in the exam room with Tsukune and Umizake."
"I had pictures but someone deleted them."
Kurumu clucked her tongue at Kamitsuku's remark.
"It's not like you had pictures of her in the act."
"What's your name, young man?"
Kamitsuku straightened up at the Headmaster's prompting.
"Yamabato Kamitsuku."
"I want you to head to class and say nothing about what happened today."
The Headmaster turned to the nurse.
"Make sure that his absence is excused."
"I already spoke with their homeroom teachers."
"What is going on here?"
"This is a delicate matter, Ms. Kurono. We will chat with our troublesome legend and make certain that she stops her recent activities."
"Sounds like the school is going to cover this up."
The headmaster chuckled at Kamitsuku's conclusion.
"We've had a very quiet start of the school year, Mr. Yamabato. I would like it to stay that way."
"Will I get in trouble if I don't keep quiet?"
"No. Would you like one of the new school jackets?"
Kamitsuku laughed as he picked up his schoolbag.
"Are you bribing me?"
"Consider it a gift for your favor to this school. I don't want parents to worry over a silly mermaid."
Kamitsuku nodded, resting the strap of his schoolbag upon his broad left shoulder.
"If you put it that way, I shouldn't refuse."
"Thank you, Mr. Yamabato. I'll have my wife bring your uniform to you once it is cleaned."
Kamitsuku took in a deep breath, glancing at Kurumu.
"Guess I'll see you around."
Kurumu murmured a farewell as the young man departed. She smiled thinly as the nurse walked over to the exam room's door with the headmaster in tow.
"Am I getting a free jacket too?"
Yukari's grandfather chuckled as the nurse opened the door.
"We will see about that."
"Headmaster Sendou!"
Tsukune straightened up immediately as Yukari's grandfather entered the room. Umizake glanced at the headmaster's arrival before turning his attention back to the lady seated on the exam bed. A white gym shirt covered her torso while a pair of red spandex bloomers protected her loins. The lady's hazel eyes measured up the headmaster as Kurumu slipped into the room ahead of the nurse.
"We found this woman draining life essence from two students whom are in the infirmary."
"So I've been told, Mr. Umizake. Do you have anything to say for yourself, Ms. Inukai?"
Kurumu gasped at the familiar name.
"The former gym teacher?!"
Ms. Tsumugi chuckled, closing the door.
"No. That would be her mother."
Kurumu nodded dumbly at the correction.
"You're a lot bigger than I remember. Dark hair so you can't be Kinko. You were supposed to leave town with your mother and sisters as part of the deal to cover up the last spree of feedings."
The mermaid glanced down, offering no response.
"What do you mean by the last spree?"
Yukari's grandfather turned to address Tsukune.
"I wasn't here at the time but I heard that back in the summer of 2000 we had our second string of Lady of the Lake sightings. It seems that one of the seniors of the swim club had become pregnant and Ms. Inukai decided to help the girl rear her babies the same way she had done back in 1985."
The mermaid shifted her head slightly but kept her gaze on the floor.
"The fact that one of her daughters is responsible for the current situation makes me wonder if there was more to it than most of the faculty were led to believe. Care to explain, young lady?"
The lady remained unresponsive as Kurumu digested the information. Something felt off.
"You said the last incident happened in 2000. Wasn't Ms. Inukai still working as a gym teacher until Ms. Amekoshi took it over in 2004?"
"Her babies were born in 1985, Ms. Kurono."
The nurse paused, gesturing at the mermaid.
"Headmaster Mikogami let her stay until after her girls had graduated. She requested for Ms. Amekoshi to take over for her since Ms. Amekoshi refused to go back to Umiman."
That only confused Kurumu more.
"Why didn't she want to go home?"
"Because she can't have babies."
The mermaid's sudden response caught Kurumu off regard. The woman stubbornly regarded the floor.
"Mom felt sorry for her. We all did."
Kurumu had not imagined the swimming club's advisor to have that issue but it did make sense. Many mermaids capable of laying eggs ignored high school.
"Where is your mother now?"
The mermaid shrugged at the headmaster's question.
"I have no idea. She said she would try getting a teaching job in Umiman. She did make some friends in that community over the years."
"And your sisters?"
The young lady looked up with fire in her hazel eyes.
"It's just me. They had no issue abandoning my brother."
"Brother?"
"He has to be. Mermen will only breed with their sisters if they have no other alternatives."
Headmaster Sendou stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"I wasn't aware that Ms. Inukai let any of her sons survive."
"There were more?"
He smiled softly at the mermaid's angry question.
"She still had three when we found her. Your mother's duration as the original Lady of the Lake was over a year. We only figured it out weeks before her graduation in 87."
"She was a student here?"
Yukari's grandfather nodded at Kurumu's surprise.
"According to her, she was raped by a merman right before coming back from her summer break in 85. She tried not to think about it at the time but she laid her first batch of eggs in that pond near the path to the school a few days later. Realizing she needed life essence to make her babies hatch and grow, Ms. Inukai started draining random guys."
"And she got away with that for months?"
The headmaster chuckled at Tsukune's dubious question.
"Nobody reported it. I was aware of the rumors about a Lady of the Lake but it was something the guys at the time talked about in a wistful manner. They hoped for an encounter with this beautiful creature under the belief that she would have sex with them."
He paused with a heavy sigh.
"It was only at the end that she started taking too much essence, incapacitating her donors. She was desperately trying to keep what remained of her young from eating each other. She still had five little girls and three boys. I told her to get rid of the boys or she would not have any girls in a year."
"How horrible."
Headmaster Sendou smiled thinly at Kurumu's breathy remark.
"Mermen have voracious appetites when they are young. While there may be a few exceptions, most mermaids cast out their sons within the first three years."
"So he had to fend for himself for eight years before I found him."
Yukari's grandfather turned to regard the mermaid.
"Was he able to speak?"
"Of course not! Nobody taught him how!"
"Have you tried to teach him?"
The young woman scowled, glancing aside.
"He understands words but he doesn't try to talk."
"I've always wondered if a merman would be civilized if his mother kept him."
"He probably wouldn't be classified as a merman. Fairy Tale would regard him as a kappa."
Headmaster Sendou nodded at Umizake's statement.
"A fair point. That's easier than trying to argue mermen should be treated like sentient beings."
Kurumu swallowed thickly.
"But they are sentient. I was able to charm the merman that the swim club had captured."
"You helped free my brother?"
Kurumu blinked at the mermaid's question. She gasped, making the connection.
"That was your brother!"
"Yes. I made the mistake of introducing him to Ms. Sukasu. I was more worried about her safety that it didn't even cross my mind that she would betray me. I thought she was my friend. She let me put the restraints on my brother before knocking me out."
Kurumu laughed in disbelief.
"Where have you been living the last two years?"
"I'm also curious about that. Are you still living in the house your mom gave back to the bank?"
The mermaid scowled at the nurse's query.
"No! There was always enough fish in the sea for our family. She only raised us in that house to keep us from meeting our brother!"
"Your mother did that so you girls would grow up in a community. You could always find work at the school like your mother did. She worked the cafeteria before becoming a gym teacher."
The mermaid grimaced at the nurse, shaking her head.
"Mononoke didn't have a community after the local school burned down. She would just bring us to work and drop us off in the pool. We didn't have any friends before she started up the swim club and introduced us to some of the high school girls."
"Your mother did the best she could. I could always use help in the infirmary."
The young woman rolled her eyes before looking at Kurumu.
"I'm very grateful for what you did. I begged for Ms. Ichinose to release my brother but she refused. She said it was my fault that a bunch of girls were killed by Ms. Sukasu. I was confused but relieved when my brother came back to me. When I surfaced to look for answers, I found out about Niiya and her young."
Now it all made sense to Kurumu.
"You aren't taking essence for your babies. It's for hers."
"Just like your mother did for Ms. Suigyuu."
The mermaid flinched at Ms. Tsumugi's remark.
"That was my fault. Kawa was my first real friend. I didn't know my brother would do that. Mom was so pissed at me when Kawa told her everything."
The nurse probably had a smug smile beneath those bandages as she gestured at the mermaid.
"That confirms it. This is Shouko."
"I was already coming to that conclusion. The Akiko I remember was a shy, skittish child."
"This isn't Niiya's fault. Her young were already starting to cannibalize each other so I suggested this."
"Where is Niiya?"
The young woman smiled thinly at Kurumu's question.
"In the deepest part of the pond."
"What about your brother?"
The mermaid frowned at Tsukune.
"He's out at sea. Why?"
"I was just worried we might have to confront him when we talk to Ms. Niiya about this."
"He's a merman, Tsukune. He would eat her young."
The mermaid flinched at Umizake's flat declaration.
"Yea. He did that to Kawa's babies. That's why she turned to my mother for help."
"How do you want to handle this?"
Headmaster Sendou breathed in deep, mulling over the nurse's query.
"It's already been brought to my attention that a Niiya Miyoshi has missed every single day of school this year. If she wants to drop out, her mother needs to be notified. No reason to continue billing for services that are not being received."
"Even if she drops out, that doesn't address the issue caused by Ms. Inukai."
"I'm aware of that, Mr. Umizake. We need everybody on the same page, including Ms. Niiya. My guess is that she still has over a dozen young and that simply isn't sustainable."
"Please don't make her choose. That broke Kawa's heart."
Yukari's grandfather took in another deep breath, regarding the pleading look in the mermaid's eyes.
"I know, child. You're probably the only sentient species that has so many babies at once. A remarkably cruel fate. You either make the choice or the strongest of your babies will make it for you."
Her lips quivered.
"But if we-"
"They only get hungrier as they get older. Especially the boys."
The mermaid shook her head slowly.
"When I met him again, he didn't try to eat me."
"It sounds like you were ten when that happened. I won't pretend to understand how mermen operate but mermaids aren't known to kill each other at that age. At least not for food. A sense of reason tends to manifest in mermaids around the age of six. I refuse to regard deaths between mermaids after that age as anything but murder."
The woman swallowed thickly with a nod.
"I guess I can take you to her."
"Don't bother trying to run. I command water better than you."
The lady pouted at Umizake.
"I won't. I'll make sure that she also understands that we can't win a fight against you."
Tsukune chuckled, making a dismissive gesture.
"We're not planning to fight her."
"She's protecting her young. She won't be reasonable."
The headmaster nodded at Umizake's assessment.
"Agreed. Is there anyone else involved in this scheme?"
The mermaid smiled thinly.
"Her friend, Gouhara. There's also this guy whom talks the boys into coming to the lake."
Kurumu paused, sharing a glance with Tsukune. She could tell he was thinking the same thing.
"Does this guy usually wear a hairband?"
"I should have known you were behind this."
Ginei grinned, holding the front door of the school open. He was only wearing the school shirt with the top buttons undone, revealing a silver wolf head pendant. The bottom flaps of the shirt hung over the hem of his tan slacks. A dark green hairband pushed his bangs away from his brow.
"I was wondering how long I could pull this off without you figuring it out."
Kurumu shook her head, stepping outside. She had left her jacket on the chair by her desk. She mildly regretted that decision as she had no place to put her lunch card.
"That isn't something you should brag about."
Ms. Inukai was already making her way towards the main gate with the blond Gouhara Narumi at her side. The young woman was still in gym clothes while her friend had on a school blouse and skirt. The blond had also left her school jacket in her homeroom. The senior with shoulder length tresses had actually bothered wearing the red bow at her collar.
Gouhara claimed to be Niiya's cousin. Normally blood related mermaids had the same last name but these two actually had the same father. Their mothers were friends and had both been raped back in junior high. Considering mermaids left Umiman with the hopes of that happening, calling it rape was probably an injustice to actual victims of that crime.
Umizake trailed closely behind the mermaids, wearing his PSC attire which had been returned at the start of fifth period. He had looked quite imposing when he had demanded Gouhara to accompany him to the teachers' lounge near the end of their lunch hour.
"Give me some credit."
Tsukune chuckled, following Headmaster Sendou through the open door. He had also recovered his school uniform but had left his school jacket behind.
"You shouldn't expect praise for what you did."
Ginei flashed a fanged grin, closing the door behind him.
"Considering Kurumu could have always checked the minds of any of the guys I persuaded into keeping this a secret, I was surprised it lasted this long after those math club boys made a big fuss about it."
"We better hurry before we get left behind."
Despite her efforts, the headmaster and guys caught up to her before she had even reached the school gate. They turned right, closing the distance between them and Umizake. Thankfully the mermaids were not walking too fast, allowing Kurumu to slow to a more reasonable pace before they had passed by the last of the four boards flanking the main school path.
"Thanks again for letting me come along for this."
The headmaster made a dismissive gesture at Tsukune.
"Not an issue. My wife reminded me about something before she returned your uniform. I have a request for you, Mr. Aono."
"Sure. Anything. You've already done so much for me and my mother."
"I would like you to convince Ms. Toujou to accept my offer of tutoring her. I've brought it up several times but she won't listen to me. She insists that I'm too busy and proceeds to make herself busy with any work Mrs. Hagimoto can give her."
"I don't know why you think I could help with that."
"Yukari seems to think you can. She's also brought this up to Ms. Toujou but the young lady acts like we are trying to get rid of her. We just want her to have some direction in life after your graduation."
As Tsukune struggled to respond, Kurumu gestured at the headmaster.
"What's wrong with her remaining part of the faculty?"
"You could ask the same thing of Ms. Inukai. While I have no issue keeping her employed here, I suspect that Ms. Toujou's interest in Yokai Academy is only in its value as the place where her friends are. Once you are all gone, she won't have a reason to remain here."
Kurumu grimaced, having worried about Rubi's future several times these last few months.
"Will tutoring her change anything?"
"It creates options. We already did some preliminary testing to determine where we should start. Ms. Toujou failed every subject on the first year assessments."
Kurumu's eyes widened.
"Every subject?!"
"I wasn't even aware that she took the first year assessments."
"I had her take them the day after the first years took theirs. I told her the results at the end of the next work day but she obviously didn't tell anyone else. My granddaughter was surprised when I brought this up at our dinner last week."
Kurumu grimaced, noting they were already nearing the end of the perimeter wall.
"I wonder why Yukari didn't mention this."
"She probably felt that was Ms. Toujou's job. Ms. Toujou knows almost nothing about Japanese history and very little about Japanese literature."
"Rubi isn't stupid."
"I'm not saying she is, Mr. Aono. She is uneducated. If she tried, I believe that she could obtain the new certificate for students achieving the proficiency level of upper secondary school graduates."
"What is that?"
Tsukune chuckled at Ginei's confusion.
"It's like a high school diploma for people whom didn't go to high school. My friends joked that I would have to take that if I didn't get into a high school."
"Hasn't that always existed?"
The headmaster shrugged at Ginei's query.
"They called it something else before it was renamed last year. Even if Ms. Toujou has no college plans, she should at least get that certificate."
Tsukune sighed heavily.
"I'll try talking to her but I don't know how much difference I can make."
"That is all I can ask for. We can only pray that Ms. Toujou sees the wisdom in caring about her future."
Kurumu doubted it was an issue of not caring. The future was this massive uncertainty for many people. She could spend hours agonizing over it if she wanted to despite knowing how simple she could keep it. It was not like Kokoa would dismiss her. Rubi was probably thinking the Sendou family or Yukari would continue looking after her once this time at Yokai Academy concluded.
"What were you offering these guys to keep them silent?"
Ginei chuckled at Tsukune's question.
"I believe Shouko was the one doing the favor. I would only check on the guys after dinner to see how things went and if they would like another encounter. They all refused but agreed to spread word of the Lady of the Lake to attract more guys."
"That's it?"
"Yea. These guys were happy with the outcome."
Kurumu snorted, rolling her eyes.
"I doubt Machida enjoyed that."
"You guys interrupted Shouko's performance. That was only the beginning."
"We don't need to talk about that!"
Gouhara giggled at Ms. Inukai's flustered remark.
"It was your idea."
"I was only doing what my mother did!"
"You say that but you looked very experienced with the first guy we picked."
"It's not like that's difficult. You figured it out on the first guy you helped with."
"What exactly were you doing to these guys?"
Both girls blushed at Umizake's stern question.
"If she was following her mother's pattern to the letter, she would have undressed her victim while he was unconscious. Then she would perform fellatio on the guy until he agreed to keep her secret."
Gouhara giggled as the older girl hung her head in shame.
"It's kind of funny to hear them begging you to stop."
"As I said earlier, most of the guys were happy customers. I was hoping in another week or two that we could start back at the top of the list."
"You had a list?"
Ginei grinned at Tsukune.
"After Shouko explained how the legend worked, the four of us came up with a list of guys whom would not be too ashamed of having their essence taken. We started with the guys Gouhara went to junior high with and were going to include some others that I could trust to keep quiet."
"And you thought Machida would be fine with this."
Ginei smirked at Kurumu.
"I'll admit he was not a top candidate but you were already taking interest in the situation. If Shouko got Machida on our side, I was hoping that he would talk you out of investigating this further."
"Guys tend to be reasonable when your teeth are pressing against their dick."
"I would refrain from such comments, Ms. Gouhara. I have yet to decide how many days in detention you should serve for this scheme."
"I don't get why you decided to do things this way, Ginei."
Ginei flashed Tsukune a fanged grin.
"Because it would make a fascinating article. When Shouko told me about how the newspaper club created the legend of the Lady of the Lake to explain the random absences of male students back in 2000, I knew we could expand on that. You guys should read that article. It's exceptional fiction."
Tsukune chuckled as they passed by the start of the trail cutting through the woods on their right which would eventually end at the main path between the school and Mononoke.
"Why did they cover up the truth back then?"
"While I can't speak with certainty, there were other things going on that year. One science teacher left without much notice while another resigned. Firing a gym teacher for inappropriate behavior with over two dozen male students was probably not something they wanted to add to their troubles."
Kurumu smiled knowing what the Headmaster was talking about. That was the year that Mr. Yokei had impregnated and ran off with a top student.
"What hopes did you have for this article, Mr. Morioka?"
"I'm assuming the school doesn't want the truth."
"I would prefer not to give any reasons for the parents to complain."
"Then we will handle this like they did back in 2000. I'll help you with that, Tsukune."
"What exactly are you wanting me to do?"
"To write a good story with enough truth to satisfy all parties involved."
It was not long before the mermaids wandered off the path, heading through the thin woods towards the pond. Umizake stalked after them like a dark shadow, refusing to let them get too far ahead. The rest of them trudged through the woods a few paces behind.
The two mermaids came to a stop near the edge of the pond. Gouhara patted Inukai on the shoulder.
"Go get Miyoshi."
Inukai laughed, shaking her head as she gestured at the water.
"She trusts you more than me."
Gouhara frowned, glancing at Umizake while the rest of them gathered nearby.
"I'm not stripping in front of these men."
"The babies can't be left alone. You'll have to convince her to come to shore while you watch them."
"I don't have a swimsuit on today."
"Even if you did, you don't have legs."
Gouhara huffed at Umizake's remark.
"I don't have to be in my true form to swim around. If somebody had told me that we would have two guests today, I would have been prepared."
"I thought the two of us could handle things without you."
Gouhara rolled her misty blue eyes at Ginei's nonchalant response.
"As if you stick around after bringing them here."
"It's not like you girls need my help when the guys pass out. What do you expect me to do? Help take their pants off?"
Kurumu snickered, glancing at Ginei.
"Were you lurking nearby in the woods when we rescued Machida?"
"I was on my way out when I saw you guys coming."
"Could have warned me."
"It would have made no difference."
Inukai grumbled at Ginei's response. She gestured at Gouhara.
"You have to do it. She's never left the babies in my care before."
"I agree with Ms. Inukai. I would like her present when I offer my solution to Ms. Niiya."
Gouhara sighed dramatically, turning her back to them.
"Fine. But none of you guys better look. And you better be gone when I come back for my clothes."
Headmaster Sendou chuckled as the girl unbuttoned her blouse.
"We will leave once we're done speaking with Ms. Niiya."
The girl handed her blouse over to Inukai before reaching behind her to unhook the clasps of her white bra. Slipping out of that and giving it to Inukai, the mermaid proceeded to loosen up her skirt. A few seconds later, the naked girl darted out into the water. A few seconds more and she was out of sight.
"What kind of offer are you planning to give?"
Yukari's grandfather smiled softly at Inukai's query.
"One that should have been given last time, though my predecessor may not have known the entire circumstances surrounding this matter."
"That's not an answer."
"Have patience, Ms. Inukai. I'll explain everything soon enough."
Two or three minutes passed in silence before Kurumu noticed the approach of something in the water. A dark haired head poked through the surface as the mermaid stopped. Niiya Miyoshi regarded them with the same misty blue eyes as her cousin.
"What did you do, Morioka?"
Ginei let out a dramatic sigh.
"Is that the thanks I get after all I've done?"
"Narumi says you let Shouko get apprehended by the PSC."
Ginei shrugged, holding his arms out with his palms up.
"Not much I could have done. Maybe I could have stopped her from trying to pick a fight she couldn't win but the gig was up when Tsukune and Kurumu saw her."
Niiya scowled, turning her eyes upon the headmaster.
"You can't have my babies."
"I'm not asking for them, Ms. Niiya. I want to ask if you plan to graduate."
The mermaid frowned, lifting up in the water which made the top of her breasts slightly visible.
"Why does that matter?"
"Because your mother shouldn't pay for your education if you aren't being educated. Do you want to graduate, or do you want to go home?"
The girl hastily shook her head.
"No! Mom would kill my babies!"
"She wouldn't kill them all."
Niiya scowled at Inukai.
"That doesn't matter! You know that!"
Inukai wrung her hands while holding most of Gouhara's wardrobe.
"I know. But it might be easier if someone else did it."
"Not by my mother. I'd never forgive her."
Inukai nodded, clutching the garments closer.
"I'm sorry. I did the best I could."
"I would let you keep all of your babies if you went home. But if you insist on staying here, you will have to accept that you can't keep them all alive. You will also have to attend classes at least twice a week."
"But my-"
"You'll have to take turns with Ms. Gouhara."
"I can help too."
Yukari's grandfather shook his head firmly at Inukai's offer.
"No you won't. If she is staying here, she is not keeping her sons."
"Absolutely not!"
Umizake flicked his wrist, causing a ball of water to strike the angry mermaid's face. Niiya's eyes went wide as she raised a hand up to her cheek.
"Don't test me."
"He's really strong, Miyoshi. He'll probably kill your babies now."
Headmaster Sendou chuckled, making a placating gesture.
"That isn't my offer. I want you to take her sons."
Inukai frowned, regarding the headmaster with confusion.
"But I can't feed them any differently than we already are."
"I want you to also bring your brother. It sounds like you have some control over him. I will take you, your brother and her sons outside of the barrier. You can make ends meet in the real world."
"No! I refuse!"
"My brother would just eat them."
"Not all of them. They are his sons."
Inukai swallowed, looking to Niiya whom was still shaking her head.
"Maybe it-"
"No! You're not taking my babies!"
Umizake stalked over to the shore.
"Guess we will have to do this the easy way."
Inukai dropped Gouhara's clothes, rushing over to stop Umizake. She grabbed hold of his shoulders before his shoes touched the water.
"Please don't!"
"Stay your hand, Mr. Umizake. At least for now."
Umizake glanced over his shoulder as Niiya swam out of sight.
"Negotiations have failed. I'll go down there and bring you those boys."
"Wait a moment. I need to hear if Ms. Inukai is willing to take them."
Inukai let go of his shoulders, turning to address the headmaster. She would not meet his gaze as she absently fussed with the fabric near her breasts.
"You'll take us to the ocean?"
"I don't want this legend resurfacing again. The best way to achieve that is to remove all mermen from inside the barrier. I want Yokai Academy to be a place for learning. Not a breeding ground for mermaids."
"But her boys are still too young for transport."
"Nonsense. Mermen are routinely abandoned at young ages. The fact that some survive proves that at least one or two of those boys will be fine even if you did nothing."
The mermaid laughed in disbelief.
"I'm actually scared to take this offer."
"You'll have to be cautious the first few years if you plan to steal life essence from humans to feed those boys. Fairy Tale won't be happy if you draw too much attention."
"What if my brother abandons me?"
The headmaster took in a deep breath.
"That most likely will happen but you wouldn't have to worry about him eating those boys. Your brother can be free and you won't be alone."
Inukai let out a laugh which was almost a sob.
"I guess that would be for the best."
She finally looked at the headmaster. Her hazel eyes were on the brink of tears.
"I will take care of them. I'll give them the childhood my brother should have had."
Headmaster Sendou smiled softly.
"I'm pleased to hear that. I leave the rest up to you, Mr. Umizake."
Umizake huffed, strolling out into the water.
"I'll make this quick."
He certainly did as they were back on campus before the end of eighth period.