By the time the both of you arrive at Toshima High, your uniforms are sticking to your skin, your brows are slick with sweat, and your mouths are dry from gasping for air. And you're ten minutes late. With any luck, your new homeroom teacher will be understanding, and you might be able to get your tardiness overlooked under the pretense of assisting a new student.

Toshima High School looms large over you, its size accentuated by the emptiness of the grounds. It was recently renovated before you got here, or so you had heard. Out front, the second floor boasts an absurdly large glass window that stretches the length of the school from end to end, with fake friezes inlaid over top of it featuring all sorts of famous scholars from disjointed periods of history. Over top of it all, they installed a new clock with a face of matte black paint and chrome Roman numerals. Inside, the classrooms are tiled in black (some say to match the uniforms, but more pragmatic argue that it's to hide scuff marks) with brand new furnishings and interactive whiteboards.

It puts on convincing pretension of modernity, but there are those who aren't impressed. During the old days, it had been closer to a prison than a school according to a few of the older teachers. It's not difficult to imagine why, looking at the bits of exposed grey brick that squeeze in between and wrap around all the modern bells and whistles that were added to the façade. That and having access to all that money hasn't done anything to alter the fact that Toshima has just as many cliques, awful teachers, and gangs as any other high school in the country. You figure that the people who thought otherwise when they donated their cash to the project must be living in a fantasy.

Inside, you and Mariko rapidly scan the class rosters for your name and homeroom. You spy Mariko's first. Ms. Otomuji, the Spurned. Rumor has it that her personality is so venomous that no man has ever even dated her. You're about to offer your condolences when Mariko mentions that she's found your name.

"Hey, I found you, Tetsuo-kun!" Mariko says. Sure enough, she's pointing to your name...and it's only a few names underneath hers. "We have the same homeroom! Now there's a coincidence, huh?"

True, it'll be nice to have someone around to share in your misery, but the thought of having to explain your tardiness to Otomuji makes your breakfast pull backflips in your stomach. Mustering up all your resolve to not be violently ill, you wave for Mariko to follow you up the stairs to the second years' hall.

Your class, 2-B, is the first door on the right after you come up the stairs, right across the hall from the laboratory. When you slide the door open, you can immediately feel every eye train on the two of you, especially Otomuji's thin, snake-like glare. Next to you, Mariko's expression is impassive, almost defiant – if she's nervous, she's not showing it.

"Oh my God," drawls Otomuji, rolling her eyes for extra dramatic effect. "Is this some kind of joke? Do you find this funny? To force me to interrupt my class so you can roll in whenever you feel like it? Hmm?"

She leans in closer and closer to your face as she speaks, each word coated in more exasperation than the last. You can smell her breakfast on her breath, and you have to try not to gag. Is this part of her psychological warfare? Mercifully, she doesn't linger close to you for long as she stands up straight to deliver another diatribe.

"Each and every year they stick me with the worst little shits this school has to offer, and then they have the balls to turn around and deny me my retention bonus. This when I'm expected to come in here and force the likes of you to learn trigonometry when you obviously can't even read a clock properly! What a farce."

Otomuji takes a deep breath and returns to the podium at the front of the room.

"Normally, I'd tell you to just take a seat so that the rest of us can get on with our lives, but since today is the first day of school, I may as well give you chance to try whatever half-baked excuse you cooked up before you got here. Well, come on, spit it out!"

You're about to speak up for the two of you, but Mariko comes forward before you can say anything.

"I'm very sorry for being late today, but it's my fault. I'm new to the city and I got lost while he was showing me to school. I promise it won't happen again."

Otomuji's lips curl into an awful grin.

"Then maybe you should have left earlier if you knew you were too stupid to read a map. You kids have those on your damn phones these days anyways! What a half-assed excuse, I should've known this would be a waste of my time. Just siddown already, shut up, and listen carefully to the rules so you never screw up in this class again."

Otomuji is being unnecessarily cruel to Mariko, and it's beginning to piss you off. Normally, you'd just follow directions and hope to get through the rest of the day without incident, but you need to say something, especially since Mariko just took the heat for you.

"Hey. Aren't you forgetting something?" you ask Otomuji, with maybe a little more edge to your voice than you'd meant. Not that you care how nasty you sound to her right now. The class, who's been regarding your scolding with only moderate interest, now begins to sit up at rapt attention at your defiance.

Otomuji looks at you the way people inspect mold on old produce.

"I don't know, did I forget to write up a report on a hormonal little punk in all the excitement?"

"Mariko-chan. She's new."

"What about it? So is this migraine I'm getting. Sit down already."

"A good teacher should introduce a new student to the class instead of treating them like garbage."

"I-" Otomuji is at a loss for words. "I-I'll do whatever I please in this class! I went to university for the right to do so!"

"You know, you really ought to," says a brown-haired kid with stylish sunglasses near the back of the room. "That's kinda messed up."

"I agree."

"Totally."

"The bitch is in rare form already…"

"Come on, introduce her, teach!"

As the murmuring protests in the classroom begin to rise, so does the color in Otomuji's face. Finally, it reaches its peak and erupts.

"FINE! If it'll let me teach in peace again, I'll do it. Come here, girl. What's your name?" she almost hisses at Mariko.

Mariko takes a few strides towards the podium.

"Mariko Tsukino."

"Alright then, class, this here is Mariko Tsuwhatsherface from the Middle of Nowhere and she's going to be in our class this year. Do your best to help her out by speaking slowly and maybe slipping her some travel-sized deodorant. Now sit!"

Satisfied, you and Mariko take a couple of empty seats in the second to last row, in front of the guy in the shades who spoke up for you. It wasn't the best start to the school year, but you already feel more confident. Your classmates seem to respect you more as well.

Otomuji makes sure to shoot you a death glare before launching into the obligatory recital of the school's rules and regulations. "This isn't over," she mouths to you. All of a sudden, you feel as though this will be a long year.

Then, a finger in the small of your back draws you out of your troubled musing. The guy in the shades leans forward to whisper in your ear.

"Hey, that was a gutsy move, dude. Do you wanna die this year or something?"

"No," you reply, "just standing up for a classmate."

"Well, you're my hero, dude. A bitch like her shouldn't even be a teacher if she's gonna act like this. I'd heard the stories, but it's way worse in person, isn't it? It's about time someone spoke up for us."

"It probably would have been a lot worse if you hadn't said something, too. Thanks," you say. It's true, as well. You feel like things would have gotten a lot worse if this guy hadn't come to your defense.

"No prob. Don't think I woulda said anything on my own, though. I'm not that ballsy. But hey, for a good enough cause, who knows?" He glances none too subtly at Mariko and pulls his glasses down his nose to wink at her. "Anyhow, you got a name? I've seen you around before, but I don't think we ever spoke."

"Tetsuo Katsuji."

"Ooooh yeeeaaah…come to think of it, that does sound kinda familiar. Hayate Hirada." He extends his hand, and you grasp it firmly in yours.

"Hey! I hope to God there isn't any conspiring going on back there! So help me if there's even one whiff of mutiny in my classroom, I'll have all of you scrubbing the faculty office for the rest of your lives!" Otomuji snaps.

Hayate sighs. "We'll have to pick this up later. If you got time after school, you'll probably find me at Ikkuman's at the Air Mall. And bring Mari-chan, will ya? I'm sure she doesn't know a thing about the best places to eat around here yet."

Hayate's intentions might not be totally selfless, but you sense that he's friendly enough. Perhaps you'll take him up on his offer today…

The rest of the day drags on slowly, as each teacher cycles through to deliver their expectations for your performance during the school year. At lunch, you make sure to show Mariko where the most important places in school are; the club rooms (of which you note are accepting new members in a week), the faculty office (at which you don't linger terribly long), the library (which oddly enough seemed to be passed over in the renovation, leaving it just as musty and cramped as ever), and the sports complexes.

You're on your way up to the roof for one last stop when Mariko stops and turns to you in the middle of the hall. She looks like she wants to say something.

"What's up?" you ask.

Mariko smiles a sad-looking smile, which confuses you somewhat. Sure, this morning was a little dicey, but you don't think you did anything wrong.

"I just wanted to say thanks for showing me around today, Tetsuo-kun. I know I made things hard for you today, so if you don't want to, you don't need to hang around me tomorrow."

"What? No, no. I mean, you didn't bother me at all. You've just had a long day, today, right? It's normal to feel a little out of it, you know? Don't be so hard on yourself."

Mariko chuckles lightly at that. "And maybe you're being a little too nice, Tetsuo-kun. I guess...I just feel like I shouldn't have to be a burden on anyone anymore. Dad was never home very often growing up, so a lot of people around town felt like they had to spend time with me to cheer me up. But I didn't really need cheering up…I was fine on my own most of the time."

"You didn't like hanging out with them?"

"Well, it's not really like that, either." Mariko frowns. "I had fun, but whenever I had a problem, they felt like they had to swoop in and make it all better. I don't really need that anymore. My problems are my problems, I shouldn't have to have someone with me all the time to make sure I'm all right. Some people don't get that."

Your face starts turning red, and Mariko notices.

"No, no! I didn't mean to sound rude, Tetsuo-kun! I didn't really mean you! I'm not saying that I want to be by myself all the time. It really did enjoy today! It's just…more my Dad that feels that way. Like I need to be watched every second of every day. I'm not a kid anymore. He needs to worry more about himself and less about me. I don't think anyone should have to feel obligated to keep tabs on me."

Mariko's brow furrows and her gaze becomes distant. It's reminiscent of the way she got on the way to school this morning. Then, as quickly as it comes, she waves her hand vigorously in front of her face as if to chase her thoughts away.

"Well, just never mind that stuff for now. I'm sorry I bored you with all that family crap when it's not really your problem or anything. Let's just keep going, I really wanna see the view from the roof, OK?"

You decide to let topic drop for now since that's what she wants, and gesture for her to follow you towards the stairs. However, before you can mount the first step, a booming voice echoes down the hall after you.

"KATSUUUUUUUJI!"

The blood in your veins starts to freeze as you recognize who that roar belongs to. When you turn around, you are suddenly face to face with a behemoth!

Shigesato Shibutani is a caricature of a high school student. That is to say, his proportions are in such excess of an average high schooler's that he would seem cartoonish if he wasn't so frightening. Ever since being appointed to the position in his second year last year, Shibutani has garnered a reputation as a fierce, uncompromising Disciplinary Committee Chair.

At first glance, he doesn't seem like someone who would be interested in upholding any kind of rules at all. He sports a modest pompadour, similar to the kind the local gangs like to wear. However, it doesn't appear that he uses any hold on his at all, as the ends spring upwards naturally, like he uses only sheer willpower to keep them in place. Powerful, thick sideburns slash downwards across a heavy jawline seemingly set into a permanent scowl. His pupils are small and round, like little black beads, but when he gets agitated (as he is now), the beads almost become lost in the whites of his eyes, an effect both comical and terrifying. In addition, you've never seen Shibutani wear his jacket buttoned up. Not even once. Yet he wears it year-round for reasons no one will likely ever know. All things considered, if it wasn't for the traditional orange band around his left arm marking him as a Student Council member, you'd think he was one of the delinquents he works so tirelessly to round up.

Shibutani looms over the both of you with menacing ferocity, and you immediately know that even though you don't really know what you did, you're screwed.

"Are you aware of why I had to stop you?" he bellows. You weakly shake your head. Shibutani sighs and cracks a wry smile.

"Unsurprising. Very rarely do delinquents believe that they've done anything wrong. They're the most delusional breed of human being, completely oblivious to the destruction they leave in their wake in the pursuit of self-satisfaction!"

"Umm," Mariko ventures, unfazed by Shibutani's posturing, "but Tetsuo-kun still doesn't know what he's done."

Shibutani's eyes go wide and he bends in half to bring himself down to Mariko's height.

"And you!...Who would you be?"

"Mariko Tsukino…I'm new this year."

Shibutani straightens back up, his eyes shrink back to their normal size, and he extends his hand.

"Ah. Well then, that changes things somewhat. Allow me to formally welcome you to Toshima High School in lieu of the greeting you received this morning."

"Thank you," says Mariko with a short bow.

Shibutani then turns back to you. "Now, as for you…I have chosen to issue you a warning instead of assigning a more severe punishment as was suggested. Ms. Otomuji was insistent that you scrape the gum off the bottoms of every desk in the school."

This entire incident is suddenly becoming clearer to you. But why is Shibutani letting you off the hook?

"The rules I enforce here at Toshima are steadfast and invincible," Shibutani says, "but there are times when the Disciplinary Committee must consider all the circumstances behind an infraction. I am well aware of Ms. Otomuji's reputation…and word of mouth travels quickly here. My job is to protect Toshima's student body and preserve justice. I won't punish someone for doing the same."

You instinctively exhale, but your heart is still pounding. You can't remember ever hearing about Shibutani letting anyone off the hook before. He laughs, a deep, throaty chuckle, at your obvious relief.

"Ha! Even I, Shigesato Shibutani, am capable of mercy! But remember that when you choose to disobey the great edicts laid down by the faculty and Student Councils past, your life is in my hands! Just as I give, I also take away! Every one of our teachers here, no matter how polite they may or may not be, demands your respect as a student! It's the chain of command! Fail to follow it, and the entire system degenerates into chaos and anarchy! Sloth and filth! Depravity and crime! Common thugs like the ones that run with the Yatabuya Gang don't understand this. Never stoop to their level! Got it?"

Shibutani is being a little more dramatic than the situation deserves, but you're not about to protest. Instead, you nod in agreement. Shibutani seems satisfied.

"Fine then. If you understand, then I won't waste any more of our time. I've got a meeting to attend, and I'm sure Miss Tsukino would appreciate more of your guidance…err…" Shibutani looks around. "Where has Miss Tsukino gone to? I got so caught up in what I was saying that I didn't notice her leaving."

Sure enough, Mariko is nowhere to be found. You were so caught up in appeasing Shibutani that you didn't see her leave either!

"Well, I'll leave it to you to track her down and make sure she gets home safely, Katsuji. We have a promising year ahead of us." He stops in mid-stride. "And one more thing – the Student Council is looking for more members this year."

You can't imagine why anyone would be reluctant to join.

"I would be more than happy to recommend someone confident enough to do what they believe in…as long as they were willing to make more intelligent choices from now on," he says, raising an eyebrow at you.

Shibutani gives you a small salute in farewell and heads off down the hall towards the Student Council meeting room. Shibtuani appears to be offering you a seat on the Student Council, but you don't really feel confident enough to devote yourself to that right now. The entertainment value in enforcing the law around school is dubious as well.

But for the moment, you need to focus your energy on figuring out where Mariko went. You're not terribly worried about her; despite everything that happened today, nothing really fazed her much. Besides, she did just say that she was tired of people worrying about her. She probably just decided to head home while Shibutani finished chewing you out. You want to take up that Hayate guy on his offer and grab some ramen – you're starving despite lunch only being a few hours ago.

However, the strange way that she acted this morning is still in the back of your mind, and she is still new in town. You'll have to pass on Hayate's offer today and stop by the house across the street on your way home.

Hayate seems a little disappointed when you decline, but not terribly so.

"Hey, I get it, man. Shit happens, right? And if you're checking in on Mari-chan, then how can I blame you? You're a smooth operator, man. All like, 'I…I just wanted to make sure you were okay, Mari-chan…I get so worried when you're not around.' And then she's like, 'Oh, Tetsuo-kun, you're so thoughtful and also attractive to me in multiple ways.' I like your style."

It's really not your style at all, but for the moment you're content to let Hayate believe what he wants. You agree to make plans for some other day and head home.

When you turn onto your street, the first thing you notice is the grey-haired woman standing outside of the house across the street from yours. She stares at you as you draw near, but after scrutinizing your face, she shakes her head and resumes watching the end of the street.

She's waiting for someone.

Didn't Mariko come home?

The woman takes notice of you again as you walk up to her. She's got the worn, tired look of someone who's constantly busy.

"Hey, you're Mariko's…" You pause for a moment to remember what Mariko said her relationship with this woman was. "…aunt, right?"

Mariko's aunt raises her eyebrows. Up close, you can kind of see the resemblance in parts of her face. It's funny, even though you've been neighbors for as long as you can remember, you've never actually spoken to any of them.

"Yes," she says. Tinges of panic are creeping into her voice. "Have you seen her?"

With that, your fears are all but confirmed, but you have to ask, just in case.

"Didn't she come home after school today?"

"No…I was hoping she'd just made some new friends and that maybe she'd gone out somewhere. But it's getting awfully late for that, and she's not answering my calls…" She stares towards the end of the street again.

"God, if anything happens to her…I think I'm gonna be sick. I'll never be able to look my brother in the eye…"

"I'll go and look for her. This is partially my fault anyways, I told her that I was going to show her around and I lost track of her."

Relief washes over her face. "Thank God. If you could bring her back for me, I couldn't tell you how grateful I'd be. We were both reluctant about this whole arrangement…if I ended up letting something happen to her, I'd just about die of shame. I'll let your parents know where you are. Just make sure she's all right, okay?"

You nod and take off down the street. You know Mariko probably wouldn't be pleased about you searching for her, but if what you're thinking is correct, you don't really think you have a choice. It's not pleasant to consider, but you have a feeling that you know exactly where Mariko's gone.