Author's Note:

✘ Woot! Woot! Chapter 9 is up.

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 9: You are one of us!

The past two weeks had passed without much change, except that the bond between all seven of them grew stronger. They were becoming more accustomed to Yankumi's presence, and Mae, despite still maintaining her self-centered attitude and speaking her mind freely, had started to shift her perspective. Neither the group of six nor Yankumi or even Class 3D were on her blacklist anymore. Slowly, Mae found herself beginning to trust them.

Kamiya had been feeling frustrated the week before, especially after getting beaten by an Ara High bully in front of his girlfriend. He was also grappling with unresolved issues with his mother. Mae had always told him that he was wrong, and their fight only deepened the rift. Kamiya, in his anger, picked another fight with a group of punks, putting everyone on edge. But Yankumi, as always, stepped in and taught him a crucial lesson about strength. Kamiya finally understood what Mae, his mother, and Yankumi had been trying to teach him, and in turn, his relationship with Mae strengthened.

At the end of the previous week, Kuma's wife, Ami, had given birth to a daughter, which brought about new emotions for the group. The arrival of a new baby touched all of their hearts. With graduation just a few months away, Yankumi worked tirelessly to bring everyone together and restore the bonds within Class 3D.

The morning of another school day arrived, and Mae was heading to Akado High when she bumped into an old schoolmate—Fuji Eri, a former rival of hers. Back in the day, Mae had always been the top student, and Eri could never surpass her. But now, as Mae had left their school, Eri had taken the top spot. Eri was taller than Mae, standing at around 5'3" without heels, with a slender neck and an attractive figure that drew attention. She was always acting sweet and cute, but Mae knew better than to be fooled by her facade.

Mae tried to avoid Eri, but Eri recognized her immediately. "Mae... Mae Hitori?" she asked, surprised. "We heard you changed schools," she continued, noticing Mae's shorter hair and boyish uniform. "Why are you wearing a boys' uniform?" Eri demanded, clearly confused.

Mae quickly muffled Eri's words by covering her mouth and dragged her to the nearest alley. "Hush!" Mae whispered harshly. She then explained, briefly, why she was hiding at Akado Academy and begged Eri not to tell anyone. Eri agreed, though she found it amusing that Mae was attending an all-boys school.

"Don't worry, Hitori," Eri said with a smile. "I won't tell anyone your secret!" But Mae couldn't shake the feeling that Eri might cause trouble in other ways.

Once Mae reached school, she kept to herself, her thoughts preoccupied with Eri. As usual, the boys were discussing girls, but they noticed something was off with Mae. Ren, in his usual teasing manner, approached her. "Good morning, Mae-san!" he greeted with a grin.

Mae, still lost in thought, took a few seconds to respond. "Oh! Guys, good morning!" she said distractedly.

The rest of the group waved and asked what was on her mind, but Ogata, who had been watching her since she entered the classroom, teased her. "Mae's drooling over a girl," he joked.

Mae glared at him, but their banter was interrupted when the door opened and a cute girl walked in—Fuji Eri. She had followed Mae to Akado and, curious about Mae's new school, decided to visit. Eri looked at Mae's classmates and immediately dismissed them as "a bunch of losers." But seeing Mae interacting with them caught her attention, and she thought this might cause some trouble. Mae, sensing the tension, muttered to herself, "I see trouble."

"Mae-chan! Here you are!" Eri called sweetly, making the rest of the class go slack-jawed in awe.

Kuraki jumped up enthusiastically. "I'm Kuraki Satoru!" he introduced himself, eager to make an impression. The others followed suit, but Ogata remained silent, his eyes narrowed as he observed Eri. She was cute and sweet, but she was nothing like the fearless Mae he knew.

"Nice to meet you all!" Eri exclaimed, sitting down next to Mae. "Hitori and I were in the same school. I only found out he was here today, so I had to come and see him. We were such close friends, right, Mae?" Eri explained, with a sweet, seemingly innocent smile.

Mae, still visibly bothered by Eri's presence, simply nodded. "Yes, I know Eri from middle school," she replied, though she didn't confirm that they were friends.

"So, you two are friends?" Ren asked, trying to clarify.

"Yes, we are!" Eri declared, beaming as she settled beside Mae.

The class began, but the boys couldn't stop talking about Eri, clearly smitten. Yankumi, seeing the chaos, understood why the boys were acting the way they were. Once Eri explained who she was, Yankumi allowed her to stay, as Eri had already managed to keep the class in line.

Throughout the class, Mae couldn't help but ask Eri in a hushed tone, "Why are you here?"

Eri grinned mischievously. "Oh, letting you have all the fun! Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I'm just here for some fun!" she revealed.

Mae's worry deepened. "That's exactly why I'm worried."

Meanwhile, Ren and Ogata, watching the exchange, could tell that Mae wasn't too fond of Eri, but they couldn't understand why. Eri seemed so sweet, kind, and cute—nothing like Mae's usual tough demeanor. Boys really could be so clueless when it came to understanding girls.

The class finally ended, and the group of seven, along with Eri, decided to head to karaoke. Mae wasn't thrilled about the idea of being close to Eri, so she considered skipping it. However, letting Eri be alone with the guys didn't sit right with her either. Eri was already surrounded by all four of them, answering questions like "Do you have a boyfriend?" "Are you in love?" and similar inquiries. Mae, Ogata, and Kazama trailed behind them.

"Mae, we never knew you had such a cute friend!" Ren teased, grinning. "But I guess it makes sense—Mae should have cute girls as friends, after all."

"Yeah, never thought about it!" Ogata agreed, nodding with a smirk.

Mae, still confused by the attention, muttered, "Whatever." That was enough to make both of them turn and face her.

"Mae's acting a little off today. Must be seeing her friend!" Ren teased again.

"And seeing how cute Eri-chan is must be making Mae jealous, right?" Ogata added, making Mae's frustration boil over.

"Can you guys be any more clueless?" she mumbled.

"Clueless? Why would we be clueless? We're just having fun! Mae-chan's the one about to explode," Ren shot back, still grinning.

"Yeah, being the only girl around must've lowered her guard," Ogata mocked, making Mae's temper flare. "Now Eri reminds her there are cuter, prettier girls out there."

Mae snapped, turning toward him, fists clenched. "You wanna fight me?" she challenged, her voice rising as she prepared to throw herself at him like Yankumi. Ren quickly stepped in, trying to calm her down.

"Exactly!" Ogata continued. "A sweet girl like Eri would never act like that. She'd be too scared to fight." His words only provoked her further.

What had started as teasing soon struck a nerve. Mae felt insecure. She knew how to act sweet and cute. Back at her old school, she had perfected that persona—soft-spoken, reserved. She'd never gotten worked up like this before. But since joining Akado High, she hadn't cared as much about being that idealized version of herself. She'd stopped acting sweet and had become more real, more wild. The words from Yamato and Ren made her feel like she didn't fit in, like she wasn't good enough.

Her jealousy over Eri's praise, the constant comparisons to Eri, and the teasing from the guys made her feel sad and alone. She followed them to karaoke but remained distant, lost in her thoughts as everyone else laughed and sang. When the night ended with warm goodbyes and smiles, Mae couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness inside.

As they walked home, the others seemed carefree.

"It was so sweet!" Kuraki sighed dreamily.

"Did you already forget Saki?" Mae shot at him, not holding back. Kuraki shrugged, unaffected.

"Such a nice girl," Ichi added, still lost in thought.

"You guys really can't read her at all," Mae muttered, annoyed.

"What's your deal, Mae? Why are you so aggressive?" Honjo asked, as the group stopped and turned toward her.

"Yeah, isn't she your friend?" Kamiya added, puzzled.

"We thought Mae was the type to never bad-mouth a friend behind their back!" Ichi said, a little hurt.

Ren and Ogata exchanged glances, sensing a confrontation brewing. If Mae responded, it would escalate quickly, but Mae wasn't in the mood to hold back. "You guys are idiots!" she yelled, turning to walk away.

"Wait, what did we do?" Kuraki wondered, his confusion growing.

"Let's just go," Ogata suggested, though he knew something was bothering her. He couldn't put his finger on it.

"Should we check on her?" Ogata whispered to Ren, but Ren dismissed it, saying, "It's probably girl stuff. We should stay out of it."

The next morning, Eri stopped by Akado High before classes began. She only stayed briefly, telling everyone she had a great time the previous night and that she wanted to hang out again. "I really had fun! We should do it again sometime. I don't understand why Mae called you guys bad news—honestly, I don't see it. You're not losers at all. I'll be waiting for you guys!" she said before leaving, leaving the group stunned.

"Did Mae really think of us as losers?" Kuraki asked, feeling uneasy.

"Have you seen Yamato's house? In comparison, we might be," Ichi added, his voice rising with frustration.

"I don't know about that," Honjo said, scratching his head.

"Guys, Mae would never say that!" Ren insisted, defending her.

"Don't forget what she said about Eri-chan last night," Kamiya reminded them, his expression serious.

"I'm not so sure Mae would say that," Ogata argued, still trying to give her the benefit of the doubt.

"Don't forget, Ogata, how Yamato used to call you," Kamiya shot back, pointing out how Mae's behavior had shifted.

The group paused, wondering if Mae had really said something like that—or worse. Before they could process it further, the door opened, and Mae walked in. She greeted everyone with a simple, "Good morning," but no one responded.

"Mae, do you really think we're losers?" Kuraki asked, his voice tinged with hurt.

Mae blinked, still processing everything. Her mind was full of worries about Eri, and she hadn't expected this confrontation.

"Do you really think of us as losers?" Ogata asked, crossing his arms, serious now.

Mae didn't know how to answer them. She'd always been honest, so she spoke without hesitation. "Well, I did... at first," she admitted, starting to explain how she had initially written them off. But that had changed.

The group stood up, walking toward her, not letting her finish. "So you act like our friend but still think of us as losers?" Kuraki asked, disappointment in his voice.

"Mae, how could you?" Ichi asked, his face sad.

"Wait, guys, no..." Mae tried to explain, but the words felt hollow.

"I thought you were honest," Honjo and Kamiya added, confusion and hurt on their faces.

Ren shook his head, unsure what to believe anymore. Ogata, frustrated, marched over to Mae and grabbed her roughly. "So you think we're losers, huh?" he yelled, his anger rising.

"Wait, no, that's not what I meant!" Mae tried to explain, but everyone was glaring at her now.

Ogata didn't listen. He lifted her up and pinned her against the wall, and Ren stood up in alarm. "Shit!" Kazama cursed. Ogata's fist was raised, but he hesitated. He remembered Mae was a girl and not someone he could just punch. His fist slammed into the wall next to her instead, the pain in his knuckles reminding him of his actions. "Get out!" Ogata yelled, his voice filled with frustration. "Never show your face here again!"

Mae didn't say a word. She didn't try to explain herself anymore. She simply grabbed her bag, bypassed Ogata, and rushed out of the classroom, leaving everyone confused and silent.

The rest of the day was tense. No one spoke during class. Yankumi noticed that Mae was absent, and the entire class felt awkward.

Mae wandered the streets, feeling lost and heartbroken. She couldn't stop thinking about the fight, about how sad and painful it was to have a rift with someone she had grown close to. Being rejected by Ogata and Ren hurt more than she cared to admit.

"Yamato, that was too much!" Ren said, as the school day came to an end. "We didn't even let him explain himself."

The three of them nodded in agreement. "We should trust Mae a little more," they all chimed in.

Ogata stood silently, his anger still simmering. He found himself once again at odds with Mae, feeling his rage flare up. The only one who didn't speak was Kuraki, who wasn't present at the time. He had gone to find Mae and talk to her, thinking that the situation earlier had been overblown. He had spotted Mae under the Shirokin Bridge, speaking with Eri on the phone. Eri's voice was clear and sharp through the line: "You've got an hour. Get dressed, not as a boy, but as a girl. And come face me at our old school gym, or I'll drag your friends into this. You know how our classmates can be, right?"

Mae didn't hesitate. When it came to her friends, there was no compromise. She rushed to the nearest store, changing into a pink short dress and high heels. She looked completely different—perhaps even cuter and more stunning than Eri. Without looking back, Mae made her way to the gym, unaware that Kuraki was following her.

For Kuraki, the sight of Mae in a dress was a shock. The second shock came when he realized Mae was a girl. A pretty one at that. He followed her all the way to the gym, where the doors were wide open. Inside, ten or more boys were sitting in a circle, and Eri waited in the middle of the gym, legs crossed and a smirk on her face.

Mae, seething with anger, walked over to Eri. "What's all this about, Eri?" she demanded, cracking her neck. She tossed her school uniform onto the floor next to her.

Eri stood up, a mocking smile on her lips. "You still look cute and pretty, Mae-chan," she teased, walking circles around her. "I didn't think you'd come. Guess you really care about your new friends."

Mae glared at Eri, ready to throw a punch. "Just tell me what you want."

Eri's grin grew wider. "Well, I've got our old class here. They can take care of your friends for you," she said, laughing. Kuraki, who had overheard everything, immediately called Ogata. He told him that Mae was actually a girl and that Eri had her trapped in the gym. The five others rushed to the gym, filled with concern.

"Don't drag them into this," Mae snapped at Eri. "The issue's between you and me. Now, what do you want?"

"You're so scary, Mae-chan," Eri teased. "We never heard you speak so loudly before."

"Shut up, Eri!" Mae yelled, furious, and kicked the chair where Eri had been sitting. The others were now entering the gym and froze at the sight of Mae in a dress, her appearance leaving them speechless. An uneasy tension filled the room as they stared at her.

"You see, Mae-chan," Eri continued, "those six believed me. But if Mae-chan gets on her knees and lets me have my way, I won't hurt your loser friends."

The six boys took a step forward, worried for Mae. Mae turned her gaze to them. "They're not losers, Eri. They're better people than you—better than me, even!" she declared loudly, making the boys look at her in surprise.

"That's not what I asked, Mae-chan!" Eri's voice was sharp as she signaled to the men to attack.

But Mae stepped forward, blocking them. "No! Keep them out of this!" she shouted. "I'll give you what you want." With that, she dropped to her knees, causing the room to fall into stunned silence.

Mae on her knees was a significant gesture—one that her old classmates never expected to see. As Eri prepared to strike her, the six rushed forward, yelling for Mae to stand up. But Mae raised her hand to stop them. "Don't you dare interfere," she commanded. Her voice was fearless.

"Baka Mae! Stand up! What are you doing?" Kuraki's voice cracked with emotion.

"Hitori?!" Ren shouted. "What is this?"

"Mae..." Ogata's voice filled the room, but Mae cut him off, her eyes fierce. "This is my fight. You all need to back off!"

Before anyone could react, Eri lunged, swinging a pipe at Mae's head. A sickening thud echoed through the gym as the pipe struck Mae, blood trickling from her wound as her lifeless body crumpled to the floor.

Ogata, who had rushed in upon seeing Eri raise the pipe, arrived too late. He grabbed the pipe and threw it aside, pushing Eri away from Mae. "Don't you ever touch Mae again!" he shouted, lifting her limp body. "Hitori... Xor! Hitori!" he yelled, trying to rouse her.

Eri smirked, standing tall. "You're worried about her? Is she really worth it, after everything she said about you?"

Ogata placed Mae gently in his lap, his fury still boiling. "Mae is one of us! You understand? She would never say those things! Even if she did, it's none of your business!" he yelled, his voice raw with anger. He wanted to lash out, but he knew hitting a girl was beneath him. At that moment, protecting Mae was far more important.

The rest of the group rushed in, yelling in unison, "Mae is one of us!" "Don't you dare hurt her!" Eri signaled her men to attack, but Ogata stood firm, shielding Mae with his own body. The others fought, but they were quickly outnumbered.

Just when all hope seemed lost, a commanding voice rang out. "Give my students back!" Yankumi appeared, her hair loose and her glasses absent. She had received a tip from Ogata, who had sensed trouble. Yankumi's presence immediately shifted the balance, and the six boys, seeing their opponent, hesitated.

The fight ended quickly. Eri and her team, now outclassed by Yankumi, backed down. The rest of the class, still in shock over Mae's true identity, gathered around her. Ogata and Ren tried to wake her up, while Yankumi, noticing Mae's dress, looked on in surprise. Ogata had already covered her with his jacket and was tending to her wound.

Ren explained to the group why Mae had kept her gender a secret, leaving everyone in stunned silence. But they all agreed that they wouldn't tell anyone. Even Yankumi, after realizing Mae was a girl, understood and supported their decision.

When Mae regained consciousness, she looked around at her friends. "Mae-kun, you're alright!" Yankumi exclaimed, making the others laugh.

Ogata and Ren helped Mae sit against a nearby tree. "Gome," Ogata whispered, his eyes full of regret. The others, too, apologized for their earlier doubts.

"Mae is one of us," Kuraki said, smiling at her. Mae smiled back, weak but happy. "I heard you all... I'm sorry too," she whispered.

"Alright, let's go," Ren said, breaking the tense atmosphere.

Ogata nodded, but before Mae could stand, he poked her forehead lightly. "Baka," he muttered, lifting her effortlessly. Yamato, ever the gentleman, hoisted Mae onto his back. "I'll take her home. You guys go ahead," he said, leaving the others to watch in confusion.

"Did he just say he's taking her home?" Kuraki wondered aloud.

"Why is Ogata taking Mae home and not us?" Ichi grumbled.

"That's not fair," Honjo added, pouting.

Kamiya slumped down, almost in tears. "Hey, we didn't agree to this!" he protested.

"Come on, let him be," Ren said with a grin, leading the group back home.

Mae was light enough to carry, but Ogata had taken quite a beating, making his own movements slower and more labored. He paused frequently to catch his breath, leaning against nearby walls or resting for a moment before continuing. Mae's dizziness from the blow to her head made her even more unsteady.

"Let me take you to the hospital," Ogata offered, his voice laced with concern.

Mae, still a little dazed, lifted her eyes and tried to shift off his back. Her attempt made Ogata lose his balance slightly, and he grunted in surprise. "Hitori, what are you doing?" he snapped, his tone serious.

"No hospitals. I'm trying to stay out of the spotlight, remember? I don't want anyone noticing me," Mae mumbled weakly, pressing her head against his back again.

Ogata sighed, his frustration mixing with concern. "Alright. I'll just get you home then." He continued walking, his steps slow and deliberate as he made his way to Mae's house.

Once they arrived, Ogata fished the keys out of Mae's bag, unlocking the door with ease. He shut it behind him and carefully guided her to her bedroom. He knew Mae disliked sleeping on the couch, so he gently placed her on the bed. As he moved to leave, he noticed Mae trying to take off his jacket. "Keep it on for now," he said firmly, pushing her hand away. "Or do you want me to see your dress?" he teased, his voice light to mask his concern.

Mae shot him a glare, her exhaustion evident. "Just turn around. I'll change into my pajamas," she muttered.

Ogata obeyed without question, grabbing her things and setting them by the bed before turning toward the window. Mae slowly changed into something more comfortable, grateful for the privacy.

Ogata leaned against the window, trying not to look, but he couldn't help it. "Is that the same shirt you wore last time? With the long v-neck?" he asked, his tone casual, but his eyes still on the horizon.

Mae glanced down at her shirt. "Yeah, I think it's the same one… Why?" she replied, her confusion clear as she let her dress drop to the floor and laid back.

Ogata rolled his eyes, biting back a smile. "Your cleavage… Aho! If you're trying to keep up the 'boy' act, you're not doing a good job," he teased, though there was an underlying softness to his voice.

Mae's eyes widened in realization. "So, that's why you called me Aho earlier?" she asked, her voice quieter now as she pulled the neck of her shirt up.

Ogata turned around and nodded in confirmation, walking over to the first aid kit he found on a shelf. He sat beside her and gently cleaned the wound on her head, carefully bandaging it before wiping the blood from her face.

"Rest now," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper. "We'll talk later." He stood up, clearly preparing to leave.

But Mae grabbed the sleeve of his shirt, pulling him back down beside her. "You're hurt too, aren't you?" she asked quietly, her gaze softening as she shifted to make room for him. "Why don't you rest too?"

Ogata hesitated for only a moment before climbing into bed beside her. He slid his arm around her and pulled her close, his body warm against hers. Mae curled up next to him, feeling the comfort of his presence wash over her. Ogata ran his finger gently along her forehead, his touch tender, before pressing a soft kiss to her skin.

As they both closed their eyes and drifted into a peaceful sleep, the weight of the world seemed to momentarily lift. For both Mae and Ogata, the safest place in the world was right there, wrapped in each other's arms. And for now, all their troubles would have to wait until the sun rose again.

((Coming up chapter 10))