Author's Note:

✘ 'For a little while, let's just remain like that.'

✘ 'Ahou' means Stupid. Baka also means Stupid. But you will notice that "Baka" is more commonly used. And sometimes even while teasing someone and not offending them.

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 7: Protect the one dearest to you

The dawn arrived quicker than Mae had anticipated. Her senses slowly returned as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the room. She stretched, yawning, and then froze, realizing she had slept in the living room. 'Wait, I never sleep here,' she thought, looking around in confusion. Her eyes landed on the blanket draped over her. "Odd," she mumbled, sitting up and stretching her back.

Suddenly, her hand moved to her buttons, noticing they were undone. Her mind raced. "How did I get home?" she whispered to herself, her thoughts instantly flashing back to the accident and the blood. She scrambled to move to the far side of the room, her heart still heavy with the memory.

She couldn't move, couldn't breathe. But she knew she had to get up and go to school. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to do it. There was no physical illness, no fever, no cold. Mae was never the type to skip school for something as trivial as feeling a bit under the weather. But lately, it had all been too much. The grief from her family's deaths, the endless sleepless nights—it was all taking its toll. Her mind made up, she decided to stay home and rest. She was breaking down, slowly but surely, and she was too self-centered to avoid it any longer.

Mae picked up her phone and called the school to let them know she wasn't feeling well and would be skipping classes for a few days.

Meanwhile, Ogata had hardly slept a wink. The realization that Mae was a girl consumed his mind. His thoughts were constantly revisiting her reactions—how she'd acted, how she carried herself. Mae was never the type to show fear, except when it came to blood. But even then, she never seemed weak. 'How could she be so fearless?' Ogata found himself thinking, frustrated by her contradiction. Girls were supposed to be cute, sweet, and delicate—but Mae was none of those things. She was self-centered, fearless, and unapologetically blunt. She spoke her mind, and her fearlessness was unsettling.

Ogata couldn't stop thinking about her. It puzzled him to no end. How could she just challenge one of Akado's leaders to a fight and mean it? Not just a casual scuffle, but a real, serious fight. And yet, despite everything, she was still undeniably pretty, even cute, in her own way. But her persona overshadowed those qualities. She was the kind of person who could make even the toughest guys back down, without batting an eye.

"Who is she?" Ogata muttered, more curious than ever. His mind raced with questions about Mae. He had to know more. His curiosity gnawed at him, and before he knew it, he was dressed and rushing to school. He even arrived so early that it surprised everyone. It wasn't often that anyone, especially someone like Ogata or Kazama, showed up at school that early.

In class 3D, the students were making plans for a party with girls from the neighboring schools. It was a rare opportunity to hang out with multiple girls at once. As they debated which group of boys would meet which group of girls, they noticed that neither Kuraki nor Ogata seemed interested. It was no surprise with Ogata, who always had that "I'll pass" attitude, but Kuraki was usually quick to jump into anything involving a girl. This time, though, he seemed off. Everyone was puzzled. Mae wasn't there either, which only added to the confusion. After some gentle prodding, both Kuraki and Ogata reluctantly agreed to join in.

"Ne? Have you seen Mae?" Honjo asked, looking around for her.

"No," Kamiya replied, scanning the room.

Ren and Yamato turned to look at Mae's empty seat. Just then, Yankumi appeared out of nowhere, speaking up. "Mae called earlier today. He's not feeling well and will be skipping classes for a few days."

The six of them exchanged worried glances. Ogata tried his best to hide his concern, but deep down, he was upset. He knew exactly what had happened last night, and his mind kept replaying it. 'I shouldn't have left,' he thought, his gaze distant.

Ren suddenly jumped to his feet. "Alright, after class and before our date, let's visit him!"

"Oh!" the others exclaimed in surprise, including Yankumi.

"We didn't invite you," Ren shot at her, but Yankumi wasn't about to listen to him.

"Don't worry, I'll be coming along," she replied with a knowing smile.

After school, the six of them, along with Yankumi, made their way to Mae's house to check on her. The sound of the doorbell startled Mae, and she wondered who it could be. 'Who could be visiting me?' she thought as she slowly made her way to the door. First, she adjusted her shirt and pulled on her jacket before cautiously opening the door.

What she didn't expect was Yankumi and the others barging in without a second thought. Mae stood frozen in the doorway, speechless, as they entered her home.

Kuraki was the first to plop down on the couch, hugging a pillow and daydreaming. "You've got a nice place!" he commented absentmindedly, his gaze already drifting elsewhere.

Kamiya, Ichi, and Honjo, upon learning that Mae lived alone, couldn't help but comment, "You're lucky to have this all to yourself! Bet you could bring a ton of girls over here if you wanted."

Ren chuckled at their antics and, with a roll of his eyes, walked past Mae to sit beside Kuraki. "Not everyone's obsessed with girls like you guys," he said, clearly amused by their comments.

Yankumi, meanwhile, approached Mae with a concerned expression. "Are you alright, Mae?" she asked, gently pressing the back of her hand to Mae's forehead to check for a fever.

"I don't have a fever or a cold!" Mae mumbled, trying to close the door behind her. But her efforts were interrupted when a shoe wedged in the door, preventing it from shutting. With a sigh, she reopened the door, only to find Ogata standing there, staring at her silently. After a brief pause, she stepped aside, letting him in.

Ogata walked in without saying a word, his gaze fixed on Mae. Mae sighed again and slumped into a chair. "You guys didn't have to come," she muttered. "I was just really tired."

Meanwhile, Kamiya, Ichi, and Honjo had already found their way to Mae's wardrobe. "Hey, check this out!" Ichi called out, holding up a glamorous outfit. "If we wear these tonight on our dates, we'll look amazing!" he said, grinning widely.

Honjo agreed, pulling on a shirt from Mae's closet. "We look great in these!" he added with a laugh.

Ren and Ogata shot them a furious look. "You didn't even ask if you could borrow his clothes!" Ren yelled, clearly irritated. "What if he had personal things you weren't supposed to see?"

The guys ignored him, continuing to rummage through Mae's wardrobe. They casually asked Mae if they could borrow the clothes, and Mae, indifferent, simply shrugged and nodded. "I don't mind," she said with a resigned sigh. After all, it wasn't like she was going to wear any of the things they were taking.

Ogata, however, couldn't help but glance at Ren, who seemed to have picked up on something. Ogata's mind raced, thinking that Ren must have figured out Mae's secret—his reaction when the others went through her stuff gave it away. Ogata didn't say anything, however. He remained quiet, lost in thought, staring blankly out the window.

The guys spent the next few hours in Mae's house, getting dressed, fixing their hair, and preparing for their date. Ren, in particular, had fun teasing Ogata, who seemed on edge, as usual. Mae busied herself in the kitchen, making ramen for everyone. It was a small gesture, but it seemed to lift everyone's spirits as they joked and laughed.

Eventually, the time came for the group to leave. Ren was the first to ask, "Are you sure you'll be fine on your own, Mae?"

Mae nodded, offering a weak smile. "I'll be fine," she assured them. "Don't worry about me."

Ogata shot her a brief, lingering glance, as though there was something he wanted to ask. But his pride held him back. He had so many questions, especially about Mae, but he didn't want to push her. It didn't sit right with him—he wanted to hear it from her. Whether it was curiosity or a hint of jealousy, he wasn't sure. But he wanted her to be the one to tell him.

As everyone left, Mae was left alone in her quiet home. After a long, hot bath and a change into a comfortable V-neck shirt and her PJs, she finally lay down, hoping to rest. The hookup with the other school hadn't gone as planned, and Kuraki, who had seemed distant all night, wasn't his usual self. Mae had learned that Kuraki had actually fallen for a sickly girl named Saki that he had met the week before. The others were quick to tease Kuraki about it, but they were also happy for him, glad that he had found someone so sweet.

With the others gone, Kuraki and Saki were left alone to talk. Mae, still trying to make sense of everything, watched them leave for the hospital, the rest of the group heading home. Ogata and Ren, however, stayed behind. They didn't speak much, though Ogata kept stealing glances at Ren, unsure whether he had caught on to Mae's secret.

Ogata wanted to ask, wanted to know what Ren thought about Mae, but his pride kept him silent. If Ren knew, it must have come from Mae, and that was something Ogata wanted to hear from her directly. Whether it was out of curiosity, jealousy, or both, Ogata couldn't help but feel an intense desire to know the truth from Mae herself.

Everyone made it home safely, except for Ogata, who was walking aimlessly. His pace was slow, each step deliberate as his hands rested behind his back. He was lost in his thoughts, barely paying attention to where he was going. It wasn't until he snapped back into reality that he realized he was standing outside Mae's door. With a sigh, he kicked it lightly, waiting for her to answer. After a moment, he kicked it again, growing impatient as Mae took longer than expected.

Mae, half asleep and still feeling drained and unsettled, finally made her way to the door a few minutes later. "What's with all the visits today?" she muttered to herself, unlocking the door. Rubbing her eyes and with her hair a mess, she looked up to see Ogata standing there. Their eyes met for a few moments in silence. Mae felt her heart skip a beat and blinked, confused by the unexpected visitor.

Before Mae could speak, Ogata gave her a brief look, taking in her appearance. He wasn't sure if she was trying to keep her gender a secret, but with her shirt's neckline exposing her cleavage, it was hard not to notice. "Ahou!" he called her, pushing her aside as he walked in. He made his way to the large window and leaned against it, staring out at the world.

Mae, still dazed, closed the door behind her and shuffled to the sofa, wrapping herself in a blanket. She blinked as it sank in that Ogata had just called her stupid. 'What does he want?' she thought, not feeling up to any kind of argument.

"What is it, Ogata?" she asked, her tone flat. "Did you forget something?" She crossed her legs and stared at him, her tired black eyes narrowing as she tried to shake off the fog in her mind.

Ogata, still glaring at her, crossed his arms, frustration evident in his posture. "I didn't forget anything. I just need to figure a few things out," he said, his voice less harsh than before. "And since Mae is always so honest... I figured I could do the same."

Mae blinked, confused. "Ogata, we can talk later. I'm not feeling well enough to argue right now," she replied, rubbing her eyes again.

Ogata, still looking serious and a bit frustrated, kept staring at her. "I'm not leaving until I get some answers," he declared, his voice taking on a childishly stubborn tone.

"Alright! Alright!" Mae groaned in surrender. "What do you want to know?" she asked, leaning her head against the arm of the couch. She really just wanted to sleep.

Ogata, momentarily distracted by her easy agreement, stepped closer and sat on the low coffee table in front of her. He leaned in, his posture tense as he tried to find the right words.

"Are you okay? I mean, after the accident last night?" he asked, his voice softer than Mae expected. There was a hint of concern, though it was buried under his usual demeanor.

Mae raised her head, eyes wide with confusion. "You were there?" she asked, her mind spinning. 'How would he know?' she wondered.

Ogata snapped his fingers in front of her face to get her attention. "I was the one who found you passed out in an alley. Got your address from your bag. Brought you home and laid you on the sofa," he said, pausing for a moment before continuing, "I was the one who unbuttoned your shirt, covered you with a blanket, and—well, figured out you're a girl." His words hung in the air, awkward but sincere.

Mae froze for a moment, her eyes wide with disbelief. She wasn't sure which part disturbed her more: that Ogata found out she was a girl, or that he'd touched her while she was unconscious. She stood up, fury rising within her, and slapped him across the cheek. "Whatever the reason, you shouldn't touch a girl like that—especially when she's fainted or asleep," she said sharply, before sitting back down and wrapping the blanket tightly around herself.

Ogata, his cheek stinging from the slap, turned his head to the side and stayed that way, staring blankly at the wall. Mae, also caught off guard by her own reaction, didn't know what to say next. The atmosphere between them was thick with tension.

After a long moment of silence, Mae sighed. She walked away, returning shortly with a bag of ice and handing it to Ogata. "Here, press it against your cheek. You don't want a red cheek during all your dates," she said, standing next to him.

Ogata, his mind still racing, took the ice bag from her and pressed it against his cheek. "The dates went all wrong. The only new thing we learned is that Kuraki's in love with some cute girl," he muttered, still processing the events.

Mae nodded, looking down. She felt the strange weight of the silence between them, a silence neither of them had experienced before. They'd always been at odds—fighting, arguing, and clashing. Now, there was a tension neither of them knew how to deal with.

A few moments passed before Mae broke the silence. "A few months ago... almost three months ago... my family was killed," she said, her voice quiet, but steady. Ogata, now fully attentive, straightened up to listen.

"The detective investigating the case suggested I hide in Akado. With a boyish name and the way I look, it wasn't hard to pull off," Mae continued, her gaze distant as she wrapped her arms tighter around herself.

"The granddaughter of Yanai Ryoske would be safer as a boy in an all-boys school," she added, her voice trailing off.

Ogata interrupted, clearly shocked. "That Yanai Ryoske... the richest..." He trailed off, his eyes wide with realization.

Mae nodded, confirming his guess. "Yes, that one. So that's the story. I live here alone, come to school, and hide my identity... Do you have any more questions?" she finished, her voice almost daring him to ask more.

Ogata, still processing her words, couldn't resist asking, "And your fear of blood and violence... is that because of what happened to your family?"

Mae flinched, shocked by the question. Even Ren hadn't asked her that. She nodded slowly. "The scene was too much to handle. It broke me. That's why I can't stand too much violence or blood..." Her voice was quiet, but there was a raw honesty in it.

Ogata, taken aback, understood something he hadn't before. Mae wasn't just tough and fearless—she was broken in a way he hadn't imagined. His heart ached for her, though he didn't know how to express it.

Without thinking, Ogata moved closer and pulled her into an embrace, his arms tightening around her. Mae, confused, tried to pull away, but Ogata only held her tighter, whispering in her ear, "Hush... just stay still for a second."

Mae rested her head against his chest, the warmth and security of his arms overwhelming her. For once, they didn't fight. They didn't argue. They simply held each other in silence, the tension between them dissipating for the moment.

They stayed like that until they both drifted off to sleep. When they woke up the next morning, neither of them said much. Ogata scribbled his phone number on a piece of pink paper, gently running his fingers through Mae's hair. "I won't tell anyone," he promised softly. "Come back to school. And... I'm really sorry for touching you like that without your permission."

He paused, his voice turning sweeter. "This is my number, in case you need anything. I'll see you at school," he added, bending down to kiss her forehead.

Ogata looked at her one last time before leaving, and Mae, still speechless, stood there, overwhelmed by his kindness. She couldn't find the words to respond. Facing an angry Ogata had been easy, but this soft side of him was something she wasn't ready for.

Still, Mae was Mae—fearless. She shook off the confusion, got dressed, and ran to school, ready to face whatever the day would bring.

At school, Ren and Ogata had an in-depth conversation. Ogata spoke candidly with Ren, acknowledging that Kazama had uncovered Mae's secret. Yamato, who disliked keeping things hidden, had made it clear that both leaders had to face the truth. On the other hand, Kuraki was out on a date with Saki, who wanted to escape the confines of the hospital for a while. She called Kuraki, and the two decided to have a good time together until Saki's illness began to affect her.

Moments later, the classroom door opened, and Mae walked in. She seemed much better, and there was a faint smile playing on her lips. She waved at everyone as she took her seat.

"Feeling better?" Ren asked, his smile warm as he looked at her.

Mae grinned and gave him a playful wink. "Don't I look better?"

"Yes, Hitori looks much better!" Ren replied, clearly pleased to see her in better spirits.

"Where's Kuraki?" Mae asked, noticing his absence.

Ogata got up from his desk and walked over to Mae's desk. He placed a hand on her forehead, checking her temperature with a serious expression. "Kuraki's out on a date with Saki," he said, returning to his seat without another word. His unexpected act left the group of five momentarily speechless.

"Satoru on a date... I missed that!" Mae teased, raising an eyebrow.

The rest of the day passed in a calm, almost normal manner—until news broke that Saki had collapsed. The situation quickly spiraled, as Saki's collapse enraged her parents, leading them to file a complaint with Sawatari, forbidding Kuraki from ever seeing Saki again. In response to the chaos, Yankumi and the 3D stepped in to mediate. After Kuraki defended Saki from a group of thugs and Yankumi talked things over with Saki's parents, they were able to part on good terms. But the situation left Kuraki heartbroken, as Saki had to leave, leaving behind only a lingering sadness.

After that, life seemed to return to normal. Everyone fell back into their usual rhythms. Ogata and Mae continued to argue as always, Ren and the others couldn't help but ogle girls, and Yankumi got overly excited as the annual Akadou Academy festival was just around the corner. The hug between Ogata and Mae that night remained their secret, and in the days that followed, neither of them spoke about it. However, something was different. A subtle change had occurred between Mae and the group. They now saw her as one of their own, though Mae continued to keep up her tough exterior.

((Coming up chapter 8))