Author's Note:

✘ This chapter is devoted to the fight between Mae and Ogata.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gokusen or any of its characters, names, or settings. This is purely a work of fan appreciation and creativity.

Chapter 4: The Duel

The Spring Inter-Class Competition was just around the corner, and Yankumi was fired up more than ever. She was determined to get the whole class to join in and conquer the rugby match. But Kyoto had other plans—he refused to allow Class 3-D to enter the competition. The class, for their part, didn't seem particularly invested in participating either.

Meanwhile, the rivalry between Ogata and Yamato had finally cooled down. After the previous tension, the two were back to being more like friends than ever before. However, things weren't as peaceful for everyone. Ichimura, after running into an old classmate from junior high, Takasugi, found himself in hot water. Takasugi, who had always been seen as a quiet, studious boy, had a dangerous side that no one knew about. Along with a few of his friends, Takasugi was responsible for a series of incidents where people ended up getting hurt. Ichimura found himself caught up in the same fate, but thankfully, Class 3-D—and Yankumi—were there to help him out.

The week flew by, with the rugby match and the Takasugi incident keeping everyone on their toes. Mae, however, was mostly absent. Since her declaration of a duel with Ogata, she'd taken it far too seriously. She spent her days focused on training, determined to get back into the shape she needed to face him.

Despite her tough exterior, Mae still spent her nights with her grandfather—who was a Judo fanatic. It was he who had taught her everything she knew about fighting. And he had made sure she would never be easily defeated. The one thing he couldn't have predicted, though, was her family's tragic death, and the lasting scars it had left on Mae.

By the time the weekend arrived, all six of them had gathered under the Sakura tree, waiting for Mae. After helping Ichimura, there was still plenty of time before class started. No one had mentioned the duel to Yankumi; they didn't want to risk her stopping it, or—worse—being too excited about it. Both possibilities were bound to be annoying. The group of six sat together, chatting while they waited for Mae to show up.

"You think he'll come?" Kuraki asked, adjusting his hair.

Honjo, who had been tending to Ichimura's cuts, looked up and replied, "Ren said she's serious about it."

"I mean, isn't he a bit too small to take on Yamato?" Ichimura added, raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe," Kamiya said, "but she seemed pretty strong. Don't you think?"

"I think he's strong enough to fight Yamato," Ren chimed in. "But I'm not sure he'll manage an angry Yamato."

Since Class 3-D had faced off against Takasugi's team, Yamato had been in a foul mood. So, Mae was going to have to face an Ogata who was already riled up. Ren sighed. "He's going to be bad news for himself. Either she's fearless or... well, just plain stupid. He's bad news."

Ogata, overhearing the conversation, scowled and muttered, "Bad news! Either too brave or too stupid. Just bad news!"

A soft rumble of wind rustled through the Sakura branches as Mae approached. As usual, she was dressed in Akado's black uniform, which always seemed a bit too large for her. Beneath it, she wore a pink hoodie and sneakers, with a new elastic belt wrapped around her waist to ensure her chest appeared flat. Standing at only about 4'9", Mae's petite frame was small, even for a boy, but she knew how to hold her own in a fight.

What drew attention to Mae, however, was not her size but her self-centered, fiery personality. Her short hair swayed in the breeze, revealing her cute, determined features as she walked, maintaining a steady pace. There was no rush in her steps, just the calm confidence of someone who knew where they were going, even if no one else did. After a few minutes, she arrived at the Sakura tree area, where everyone was waiting.

Mae paused for a moment, her eyes scanning the group, before her gaze locked onto Ogata. She glared at him, her mind racing.

Ogata, she thought, How evil can he be? She shuddered briefly at the memory of his angry face but quickly snapped out of it. She wasn't here to get scared again. She was here to fight.

There had been a time, back when Ogata helped Kazama find the thief, when Mae had thought he might be a little different. But after the bridge incident, she stopped caring about him. To Mae, he was just trouble—like most of her new classmates. Honestly, she couldn't figure them out. Mae had always been good at reading people, especially her classmates. But Class 3-D and Yamaguchi? They were a different breed. They weren't fake like the people she had known before. Maybe they were nosy, and sometimes even scary, but they weren't pretending to be something they weren't. They didn't care much about status or money, and Akado had nothing to do with the wealthy world she came from.

Ogata, noticing Mae drawing closer, stood up and strode toward her, his sharp black eyes locked onto hers. He walked until only a few feet separated them, his gaze never wavering. Mae didn't move from her spot. She met his stare, unflinching, as he quickly scanned her from head to toe. He looks different somehow, Ogata thought, stronger... angrier, maybe? But he's still short for a guy. Bad news, I call it.

For a few moments, neither of them spoke. The rest of the group sat silently, waiting.

Ogata was the first to break the silence. "You came?"

Mae nodded, her eyes narrowing. "Wasn't I the one who asked for this duel? Why wouldn't I show up?" Her big eyes stared right through him, as she began tying her hair back into a knot behind her head.

"He looks so cute with his hair up!" Kuraki shouted, making everyone turn and look at him in confusion.

"For a boy, I mean!" he quickly added.

"You can still run, you know," Ichi suggested, his voice low, but Mae ignored him, still focused on Ogata.

Ogata didn't wait any longer. "Then let's start!"

He didn't have a specific strategy in mind for this fight. He just knew that sparring too long could have its consequences. He could tire her out until she made a mistake or force her to abandon the fight altogether. But he had to decide quickly, especially as Mae was already settling into a battle stance, ready to go. The rest of the group stayed seated, watching as the tension between Mae and Ogata built. Both of them stood ready, and the air around them seemed to hum with the promise of what was about to come.

Ogata positioned his dominant right arm near the edge of his chest, his left foot stepping forward, knees bending slightly. He raised the heel of his right foot a few inches off the ground, ready to spring into action when needed. Mae, sensing the need for patience, decided it would be better to wait for the right moment and deliver her strikes with precision—though she certainly wouldn't be delaying the fight. She assumed her stance, then, without a word, moved toward her predetermined target.

Mae inched closer, her eyes never leaving Ogata as she analyzed his posture. She aimed for his shoulder, intending to strike with enough force after her double punch kick.

Ogata, ever the strategist, had already noticed her grip on the punches and anticipated the following kick. He saw her steps forward and, instead of retreating, planted his right foot firmly on the ground. The first punch connected with his shoulder, but Ogata absorbed the blow and swiftly dodged the follow-up kick. It was a solid punch, but it wasn't enough to cause any real damage. A slight smile cracked across Ogata's face as he shifted into a new position, preparing to strike.

He pushed off with his right foot, his left arm following in perfect synchrony. With the precision of a striking serpent, his right hand darted toward Mae's torso, aiming to land a powerful punch. But Mae, with surprising speed for her petite frame, easily dodged the blow.

"Wow, he's fast!" Kuraki shouted, eyes wide with surprise at Mae's agility.

For the next few seconds, the fight escalated. Punches and kicks flew in quick succession. Some landed, some missed. The occasional grunt and the sharp sound of impact filled the air. A few bruises appeared, and the Sakura area echoed with the noise of their struggle. The duel was still young, and neither had sustained a serious injury. The group watched, caught up in the excitement—it almost seemed like fun. But for Mae, this wasn't about fun. Her frustration built, and she grew more determined.

Her focus wavered for a split second when Ogata's punch finally landed, grazing her chest. Mae was lucky—the blow lacked force, and it barely made contact. But as Ogata's fist brushed against her, his eyes widened for a brief moment. His mind froze as the possibility crossed his thoughts—Maybe Mae's a girl. The realization, though unspoken, made him hesitate, causing him to go easier on her.

Mae, on the other hand, found an opening and unleashed her fury. With two quick punches and a powerful back kick, she sent Ogata crashing against the nearest Sakura tree. The group froze in shock, unable to process what they'd just witnessed. Ogata, who had been letting his guard down, was now pinned against the tree by Mae. Her face was twisted in frustration and anger.

"Don't mess with me!" Mae snapped, her voice laced with venom. "If you're going to keep acting like a sissy, I won't hold back!"

Ogata's expression shifted instantly. His eyes, once cold and calculating, now burned with anger. Did he just call me a sissy? His thoughts spiraled into a furious haze. With a sudden surge of rage, he shoved Mae away from him, wiping his lips with his sleeve. "You brat!" he roared, his voice crackling with fury. In an instant, he lunged at Mae, fists raised.

Mae, caught off guard by the sudden change in Ogata's demeanor, didn't have time to react. Ogata landed two brutal punches, knocking her to the ground. Before she could recover, Ogata's kicks rained down on her gut. Each blow seemed to drain the air from her lungs.

Ren, seeing the escalation, yelled, "Shit!" He rushed forward, grabbing Ogata and yanking him off Mae. "Stop it! He's down!" Ren shouted, trying to pull Ogata away from the fight.

Ogata, his mind clouded with anger, kicked the nearest tree in frustration. The impact sent a jolt of pain up his leg, but it only made him realize what he'd done.

Kamiya and Kuraki rushed over to Mae, carefully turning her around and helping her lean against the tree. "Ren, he's still out! What do we do?" they asked, anxiety creeping into their voices.

Ren, now calmer after helping Yamato regain composure, walked over to the group. "He'll snap out of it. Let's hope nothing's broken," he said, casting a glance back at Ogata, who was still seething with anger.

Ogata, finally aware of the damage he had caused, stood in silence, his mind racing. His earlier thought that Mae might be a girl echoed louder now. "Damn it!" he muttered, kicking the tree once more in frustration.

Ren, clearly frustrated with Ogata's outburst, shouted, "Yamato, calm down! Losing it like this isn't going to help!"

After a few moments, Mae began to regain her senses, though the pain in her stomach was unbearable. She turned, curling up and pulling her knees to her chest, groaning and yelling in agony. The others rushed to her side, trying to help her sit up. It took several deep breaths and loud cries for her to gather herself. Slowly, she managed to sit up, leaning against the tree, coughing up a small amount of blood. Ren knelt beside her, his expression serious as he checked her condition.

"Are you okay?" Ren asked, his voice heavy with concern. "Should we take you to the hospital?"

Mae shook her head slowly, her voice low. "No... no, I'll be alright."

Kuraki handed her a tissue, his face worried. "Here. Clean yourself up."

The group stood around her, their eyes filled with concern—except for Ogata, who was still facing the tree. His anger had faded, replaced by guilt and worry.

"That's why I told you not to fight Ogata," Ren said, his voice serious. "When he gets too serious, things get dangerous."

Mae mumbled in response, her voice faint. "I know... it wasn't just serious... it was something worse."

The others exchanged confused glances. "Worse?" they asked in unison.

Mae's gaze shifted between them and Ogata, her voice strained as she spoke the truth. "Ogata's serious fight with you... It felt more like evil anger to me."

Ogata's eyes snapped toward her, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. But he couldn't bring himself to say anything. Mae met his stare, a chill creeping through her as her fear returned. She shivered, struggling to push herself to her feet, leaning heavily against the tree. With a quiet determination, she began walking away.

"Where are you going?" Ren called after her, concern lacing his voice. "Can you walk on your own?"

"I'm fine. We should go back to class," Mae replied, her voice steady but distant. As she walked, a deep sense of fear and loneliness washed over her. Despite everything, she felt isolated. Ogata had been the source of her pain, but the others—his friends—would always side with him. Mae despised that feeling, the helplessness. She had never liked being weak or afraid, but around Ogata, that's exactly how she felt.

Ren turned to Ogata, his voice filled with confusion. "Yamato, why did you snap on her like that? I thought you were just playing around, not actually fighting her."

"I was," Ogata admitted, frustration evident in his tone. "But she pissed me off. God, she really pissed me off!" he yelled, his anger flaring again as he turned and began heading back toward class.

Soon, everyone had gathered in the 3D classroom and taken their seats. The tension in the air was palpable, but no one spoke about what had happened. Yankumi entered the room, her usual cheerful demeanor somewhat out of place when she noticed the serious atmosphere. The bruises on Ogata and Mae's faces were hard to ignore, and she could tell something had gone down.

She walked over to them, her expression now more serious. Both Ogata and Mae were leaning against their desks, silently avoiding eye contact.

"Did you guys fight?" Yankumi demanded, her voice sharp.

Ogata glanced up at her, guilt written all over his face, and nodded.

"Why did you fight?" Yankumi asked, her gaze shifting between Mae's more serious injuries and Ogata. "It looks like things got a little out of hand."

"It started off as just a sparring match," Honjo chimed in from behind them.

"Yeah, it wasn't supposed to be this bad," Ichi added quickly.

Mae, however, couldn't let that slide. She didn't like when things were sugar-coated. Even though the outcome had clearly spiraled out of control, it was Mae who had initiated the fight. As Ogata began to explain, Mae sat up straight, cutting him off.

"I asked Ogata a week ago to duel me seriously… for the leader spot," she said plainly, her voice steady but tinged with honesty. "Everyone told me it wasn't a good idea. Even Ogata didn't agree at first. But I was so serious about it that he finally gave in."

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow, processing what she said. "And now, what's going to happen?"

Mae inhaled deeply, the pain in her stomach still nagging at her. "I lost. And... I don't want to fight him again," she admitted, then turned to Ogata, her eyes full of vulnerability. "Basically, I'm scared of him right now."

With that, Mae quickly stood up and ran out of the classroom, heading toward the school field. She felt a wave of confusion and fear as she lay down on the soft grass, staring up at the sky. What am I doing? she thought, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

Back inside the classroom, Yankumi sighed, clearly frustrated. "Ogata, I've told you before, pointless fights just cause trouble. I thought you'd understand that by now."

"I think he knows that, Yankumi," Ren said as he walked over to the group, his voice soft but understanding.

Yamaguchi was less forgiving. "Ogata, have you even talked to Mae properly? Why is she scared of you now? Did you apologize? Even if she asked for the fight, it's still you who hurt her."

Ogata stared at the floor, guilt creeping in. Damn… she's right. Even if I was pissed, I shouldn't have gone that far, he thought. He stood up quickly, determination flashing in his eyes. "I'll go find her and make it right," he muttered, storming out of the room.

Yankumi watched him go, a sense of pride swelling in her chest. Meanwhile, the others remained concerned, unsure of how things would unfold between Ogata and Mae.

Outside, Ogata reached the school field and spotted Mae lying with her eyes closed, her face turned toward the sky. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. Was she really just a girl? Am I being an idiot? he wondered. He crossed the distance between them and sat down beside her, awkwardly poking her shoulder.

Mae opened her eyes slowly, blinking a few times before recognizing Ogata. "Ogata?" she muttered, her confusion evident. As soon as she confirmed it was him, she scooted away a few inches.

"Are you hurt?" Ogata asked, his tone serious, his eyes locked onto her bruised face.

"I'm fine," she mumbled, still facing the yard and not meeting his gaze.

But Ogata wasn't going to let it go this time. He crawled a few steps forward, sitting directly in front of her. "About earlier… I'm really sorry," he said quietly, glancing away in embarrassment. "Maybe you're right. When my anger takes over, it's like nothing can stop me… and it's... it's scary. But I didn't mean to direct all that at you."

Mae, still staring at the yard, tried to make sense of his words. The Ogata sitting in front of her was a far cry from the aggressive person she had fought earlier. He sounded sincere, which was confusing. Was this real? she wondered. After a beat, she finally turned to face him. "It's fine. It was a duel. Someone was bound to get hurt," she said quietly.

"No! It's not fine!" Ogata almost shouted, frustration rising in his voice. "I'm apologizing here, Mae!"

Mae glared at him, standing up quickly. "I said it's fine! We're good!" she snapped, her irritation flaring.

Ogata, now even more furious, stood as well. He could feel the tension in the air between them, and it boiled his blood. He knew that Mae's unshakable confidence, her unbothered demeanor, was what drove him mad. But if he kept pushing her like this, they'd never stop fighting.

"Fine! I'm glad you got it!" he snapped back. "But don't forget—after tomorrow, you're our errand-boy! You lost the duel, remember?" He turned and stormed off, his voice full of irritation.

Mae, confused, called after him, "Errand-boy? What do you mean by that?" But Ogata had already disappeared into the distance.

I don't get it... Ogata fumed as he walked back to class. I was supposed to apologize, but instead, I ended up attacking her again. It's all her fault!

Back in the classroom, Ren watched as Ogata sat back down. "What happened?" he asked.

Ogata, still irritated, leaned back in his chair. "She's fine. She's our errand-boy now."

Everyone turned to him in confusion. "Our what?" they asked in unison.

"You were supposed to apologize, and now she's an errand-boy?" Ren asked, incredulous.

"I apologized. Twice, alright?" Ogata snapped. "But he lost the duel. He wanted a serious fight, and now he owes me. That's how it works."

The group couldn't help but laugh at Ogata's perspective. But as long as Mae was okay, and Ogata had apologized, it seemed like things were settling down—at least for now.

Meanwhile, Ogata couldn't shake the thought that kept haunting him: Was Mae really a girl?

((Coming up chapter 5))