Citrus: Mei's Story vol. 5 - Tested Heart

II. Devil's Deal

        Yuzu with black hair falling in a cascade of locks that were just slightly wavy and a little coarse. It was a sight I thought I'd only ever hear about. Even when I first saw it that morning, I didn't think it was real. But I wasn't the only person seeing it. Everyone was expecting the golden haired rebel to shine her warm light as she arrived. But she almost slipped in unnoticed. She started to separate from me at the main street entrance that separated the front gates from vehicle traffic, but I... I couldn't bring myself to let her go just yet. I still saw my Yuzu glowing under there. She would always shine and warm the world for me. But on that day all I could think about was me not being able to find her amongst the sea of black and brown and burgundy hair and the same skirted uniform. It was a nightmare. She could be so close in that place and there was now a chance that I'd lose her. We stopped at the entrance and I did my best now to grip too tightly onto her hand.
    "Yuzu..."
      Don't let go...
   "What is it?"
       I'm terrified...
      "Good luck today, come find me when you're ready to go home, alright?"
     She smiled at me and kissed the back of my hand.
      "I promise. Good luck yourself, madam president!"
       Hearing you call me that sounds... amazingly inappropriate. Please do it again when we're in our room.
      I rubbed the back of her hand with my thumb, took a deep breath, and let go. Yuzu quickly made her way into the building while I joined Himeko and as though she had never graduated, Maruta in her old uniform. They both bowed in greeting like they had so often and yet their choice of words showed the reality of the situation.
      "Good morning, madam president."
      "Good morning, Lady Aihara."
      "Good morning, Himeko... Maruta, I expected you to arrive with the former president later today."
       "Is my presence an issue?"
     Considering what is going to be happening later, it's a little concerning that you're early and dressed like a student.
      "Not at all. Though if you're going to wear that armband and uniform, I'll put you to work helping with morning check."
       "And will your sister be making a grand entrance later?"
        I could barely hide my grin. Maruta, the girl who seemed to see and know everything, had missed.
       "Oh she passed you shortly before I arrived. Didn't you see her?"
       I was met with the exhilarating sight of two confused stares. Instead of laughing like I was inside, I decided to tease my former secretary a little as payback for her jabs in the past.
       "Maybe it's good you graduated. If Yuzu could slip past your eyes either she has a skill I didn't know about or you're losing your edge."
      Himeko's eyes went a little wider and then she composed herself. Maruta just adjusted her glasses and met my gaze with a flat stare.
      "So she finally is following the dress code. How conveniently timed."
       "It is the start of a new school year. Perhaps she wants to make a good impression on the first years."
       "Mei Mei."
       Looking over to my friend and vice president, I realised that I had been wrong. Himeko hadn't regained her composure, she was looking past us. I followed her gaze and my blood ran cold. There standing outside the front gate with a quivering glare of raw childish determination, was a young girl with bright blonde hair with the back tied into a side tail with a very familiar looking hair tie. The rest of the uniform was immaculate.
      It's that fan.
      I could hear the amusement dripping from Maruta's words as she caught sight of the girl.
      "Little Nomura Nene... the most notorious of the middle school's Yuzu faction. I see your sister certainly made an impression on the new first years already."
      "We'll handle it."
      Without another word and almost like we had so many times before, the three of us walked over to intercept the tiny rebel. The closer I got the more nervous I felt about the situation. It was clear this girl knew the rules and didn't have the confidence or idiotically strong drive that Yuzu showed her first day.
        Doesn't she know how dangerous it is right now?! I have to deal with this quickly and quietly.
     "Excuse me."
     She stopped as soon as I spoke. And her eyes... her eyes looked frozen in shock and fear. One thing was very clear. She was not up for something like this.
      "The school rules are stated clearly in your student handbook, yes?"
       This is too familiar to feel real. But there is one thing Yuzu had that others lack. Dashing ignorance.
       I tried to keep my voice firm but not hard. She didn't need to see me as Ice Princess Aihara anymore.
       "Moreover, aren't you a student from our middle school division?"
      "Um... well..."
       Not good. She's already crumbling. If she's like this, it's possible she'll say anything to get out of trouble...
     I looked to Himeko and gave her a subtle nod. If the girl was going to break, it'd be better to do it now while we could help her avoid worse fears. Himeko would be the hammer, I'd be the blanket. That was how I intended to keep my position and explain my connection to Yuzu. Last year would be seen as a transition from Ice Princess Aihara into a new President Aihara. One who was still as strict and stern but who pushed to understand and help her students grow. Instead of just punishments and lectures, we'd be seen as a guiding force. And it all started here.
       "I know you. You're known for being a good student..."
        Good job. Now we need to make sure.
       "So why are you acting out now?"
        Huh... that's funny, Himeko is practically the same height as this girl. But that's also good. She'll come off as an equal.
       Himeko stared at the girl whose nervousness continued to spike. I clinched my fist at what was coming. It was the most obvious thing to ask just based on her choice of appearance, and yet it personally hurt to consider how this terrified girl might answer.
      "This is Aihara Yuzu's influence, isn't it?!"
       At the question my heart leapt in a desire to protect my girlfriend, but that would defeat the purpose. And with Maruta watching, stepping in now was dangerous.
       There are times I wonder if this is what Himeko thinks, or if it's closer to how she sounded on the trip.
      The girl, Nene, didn't even hesitate. In that moment she found her courage.
       "N-no, it's not!!"
       Good girl.
      "Don't blame her! She didn't do anything wrong!"
       Getting a little zealous in your defence, but at least you're not blaming her yourself.
      "I did this on my own!"
     In my relief over Yuzu being so dramatically cleared, I dropped my guard and let out a sigh. This situation was nearly over. All that was left was for us to—
      "Good morning, girls."
      Damn it! Of course... that's why Maruta came early.
      There was nothing cute in that smooth voice now. It was dripping with an amused confidence and a complete understanding that it could command others. There in a tailored man's suit and black pumps yet still giving off an energy of complete dominion, was the woman who once reined supreme here.
       "Lady Mitsuko?!"
       In that one instant, everything we had planned failed. It wasn't Nene who did it. It wasn't Maruta playing us like puppets to make her girlfriend look amazing. It wasn't Mitsuko throwing in a counter before the fight even started. It wasn't my dropped guard. I had forgotten to make sure of one fact while we prepared: how was Himeko going to handle seeing her again? I looked at my best friend and knew that we would have to struggle to get past what would happen next.
       "Lady Taniguchi, why are you...?!"
       And just like that, Himeko has been flipped due to conditioned idolisation.
       "I mean, it's been a long time, Lady Mitsuko!"
        Himeko even walked up to the calculating woman like they were old friends instead of Himeko being treated like a simpering pet. And just like it had only been a day, Mitsuko reached over and roughly ruffled Himeko's hair like she always had.
        "Yeah, long time no see, Momokino."
         Mitsuko smirked and decided to then undercut the potential warmth with a personal jab.
        "Looks like your eyebrows are the only things that got bigger."
        Of course, go not only after her height but also another thing she's highly self conscious about...
       I really hated that Mitsuko acted like that with certain girls. I knew she wasn't doing it out of spite, but her way of emotionally destabilising Himeko and other outspoken but emotional girls just felt cruel to me. I could barely hear Himeko's mumbled retort before she tried to sound casual.
        "So, um, what brings you 'round here?"
         Firstly, 'round here?! It's not like she didn't know we were expecting her later in the day... she's here to mess with us specifically. And secondly, 'round here?!
       "Wel..."
       There was a playful glee in her voice as she started casually messing with Himeko's curled twin tails like they were floppy dog's ears. It was clear that she was basking in the raw ability she had to take complete control over the campus just by showing up. It was as though she was stepping back into the role she had abandoned. Empress Mitsuko was back.
      "I heard there were some students who aren't following the rules and making this school look bad."
        Thank you Yuzu for following the dress code this once... I do still hate that you dyed your hair black though.
      "As the former student council president, I wanted to check in."
         Liar, this is about me and Yuzu. That much you made clear when Maruta sent her text. And don't think I missed that twist on the word former. We've been over that, you're not a dowager and this isn't your empire!
       Mitsuko turned her attention on little Nene Nomura. I felt as though the air temperature was rapidly decreasing within her gaze as the girl started quivering and then fully shaking.
       "To think it would be a new student this year..."
        If I don't act she'll pull a stunt and make it seem like she had to come clean up after me. She'll really mess with my standing just because she isn't pleased with my relationship?!
       "This is my responsibility."
       Without even hesitating I stood in between Nene and Mitsuko and raised my arm to act like a gate or shield for the girl. I was instantly treated to a memory of when Yuzu got in between me and Himeko and tried to channel that heroic defiance into my own voice.
      "I..."
       Am your only opponent today, Mitsuko.
      "Apologise. Deeply."
       Though I said that, I made sure my tone and the spacing between my words were in line with my stance. She could take it as me playing scapegoat like I used to, or that I was actually telling her to apologise for stepping into my domain.
       "Aihara..."
       Or take it as an open invitation... apparently.
       The look she gave me was calculating and appraising, and I felt like she was attempting to peel off my clothes and then my very being with her eyes until she could evaluate the core of who I was. In a quick move she took hold of my face and tilted my gaze up until all I saw were her hypnotically and beautifully cold eyes bearing down on me.
       "What exactly have you been doing..."
        This is what you're going to do?
       "Since you became student council president?"
        You're going to threaten to expose me with what you know I did with Yuzu?
        "You look so much more sure of yourself now. What's your secret?"
        Or will you drag Matsuri into this too?
        I tried to match stares with her but there was too much other than just aggression in her eyes. She looked almost hungry for what she saw as she looked into the me that was bound to Yuzu. Eventually I couldn't withstand it and my eyes went wide as I realised what I was seeing. She was... flirting. I tried to look away. Victorious, she just smirked and let go of me as she turned her attention back to Nene.
       "And you over there..."
        Why are you actually here, Mitsuko?
       As she slipped past me, I felt her hand glide suggestively down my arm. I looked at Maruta who sighed and looked mildly impatient but not otherwise bothered in the slightest. I tried to go back over everything since I last saw Mitsuko to make sense of what was going on now, but all it came back to was this wasn't an attack because of the rules or because the confession was public and that when I looked into her eyes I could tell that she was flirting. It didn't make sense. I looked back over as the confusing woman loomed over the new first year.
       "You said you did this on your own?"
         Wait...
        "So, can we say that you dyed your hair..."
        Damn it, Mitsuko! Don't pull this shit on my students!
       "Of your own free will?"
       This was bad. Mitsuko was fully aware of what the students of the school thought of her. And she was using it. My own faction looked on her as a manipulative tyrant. And if Nene saw me as a villain in her idea of Yuzu's story...
      "I..."
      She looked like she wanted to die to escape Mitsuko's sight. And still Mitsuko pressed.
      "Am I wrong?"
        Kid, it's a trap! If you say you didn't do it freely, she'll try to turn you by getting you to name someone. But if you try to say it was all you, she'll force you into a punishment and make it seem like you chose it. So please!
      "Uh..."
       Just don't say anything!
      "Yes..."
       No!
      "I did it myself..."
       And now we wait and see what game Mitsuko will choose her to lose.
      "I see. Well then..."
       Though her body and tone stayed deadly serious, I caught Mitsuko glance towards me and then Maruta as though making she her lover and I were watching. This wasn't just about her dealing with Nene instead of me, this was about her making sure certain people saw her flexing her skill and power. She slid a pair of sheers out of her back pocket.
      Because of course she'd be ready with those... probably for Yuzu.
      "You must accept the consequences of your actions."
       I tensed and took a step towards Mitsuko before I found Maruta's eyes staring swords at my throat if I got closer.
       Maruta, your girlfriend isn't in charge here anymore and you graduated. She can't enforce her own punishments on my students.
      "Either get out of this school..."
       Nene stared at the woman. It was clear that she didn't understand the reality of what Mitsuko was attempting.
       She can't expel you, not even when she was president, but if you choose to leave they can just say you dropped out. That's her game.
       "Or, right here and now, cut off that dyed hair."
       Mitsuko stared down Nene with a look that claimed she could command the skies to rain and be obeyed.
      "You decide."
      Reject those options! She can't force you to choose either!
     "What...?"
     Nene looked horrified as Mitsuko pushed the handles of the sheers at her. As I saw the girl trembling, I clenched my fists and glared at Maruta for daring to let Mitsuko have free reign once more in my school. Maruta just gave me one of her smiles as if saying this is all part of the challenge.
     "Madam president!"
     Himeko... glad you're back.
     "This is going to far...!"
      Completely agree.
     I started for Mitsuko to once again get in her way, when a voice forced everyone to turn their attention to the doors of the entrance.
      "Hold it right there!!!"
      Yuzu?!
      There she came. Like an actual hero in a story. She loosened her tie and unbuttoned the top few buttons of her blouse to both break rules and mirror the way Mitsuko herself was dressed. Even though I had wanted to keep her far away from this situation, I couldn't help but have my heart dance at getting to see my Yuzu being her idiotically heroic self.
      "Hey you!"
      She's going straight for Mitsuko?!
     "How does a choice like that help anyone?!"
      I had to suppress a smile at the fact that it seemed like she caught on to Mitsuko's game too.
       I absolutely love this girl. But...
      "Lady Yuzu?!"
     From her voice, I could tell Nene was shocked to hear Yuzu's voice come a raven haired girl. But as she approached like some champion, I felt my eyes drift to Maruta and then Mitsuko. Both were curious but not entirely surprised.
       Will heroics be enough to counter her dark version of your brilliant charisma?
     Yuzu spoke up once more and reclaimed my full attention with the presence in her voice.
     "Breaking out of your shell all on your own..."
     As I watched, Yuzu raised her hand to grab her black hair.
     Wait... she...?!
    "Is extremely difficult!"
     In my periphery I saw Maruta start to smile once more. And then I saw my true Yuzu, with hair so golden it glinted in my sight. She stood utterly defiant as she stared down at the woman who once dominated the school. In her hand was a wig of black hair almost identical to hers in style.
       If we were alone... I wouldn't be able to hold back.
      "Give the girl some props!!"
       Not quite the heroic way to end an entrance...
      I forced myself to look from my girlfriend to Mitsuko and saw her transfixed as she stared at Yuzu. It was as though she was being forced to acknowledge that there was someone else who had her power. As if to prove that fact I saw Nene run over to hide behind my girlfriend as Maruta, grinning from ear to ear, walked to stand nearer to her girlfriend. Himeko and I were left on the side. It was Mitsuko who spoke next, and there was slipping awe in her voice.
      "I see..."
       Yuzu, please tell me you're aware who this is... and I mean on a tactical level.
    "So you're the girl with dyed hair I keep hearing about."
     As she spoke, Mitsuko and Maruta both met eyes with me as though this was the moment they had been hoping for.
     Yuzu...
     Mitsuko started laughing. Immediately I saw Yuzu's defiance waver at the unexpected outburst.
      Tell me you've been secretly preparing for this with her sister...
     "Well then, if I complimented her hair as you suggested..."
      When Mitsuko faced Yuzu again, she was had once more taken control of her environment. If Yuzu was the heroic prince, Mitsuko was the cunning darker version with years of experience along with gained charisma and confidence. And she was gearing up to use all of it against my Yuzu. It was terrifying to imagine that she was submissive to Maruta.
     "What next?"
      Yuzu, please don't tell me you walked into this blind!
     I watched as Yuzu seemed completely unprepared for being asked such a random-seeming question.
      "We'll..."
     Panic seized my heart and once more I felt Maruta's gaze turn towards me. Whatever was really going on, she was enjoying herself.
     "Talk about that later."
      Yuzu, run! Grab Nene and get into that school right now and don't leave until it's the end of the day.
     "How pointless."
      I could tell exactly where Mitsuko was going. If I had been her opponent she would never have tried it, but these two girls were clearly not tactically trained like we had been. Even then... I was merely trained for the business world, but Mitsuko was trained for the battlefield. She was toying with them.
      "Requesting such a temporary measure is both cowardly and selfish."
       Stand your ground, Yuzu! Don't let her get you to concede to her logic.
      "Th-then, I'll think about it now...!"
      I will not let you roll over for her too!
     Gripping the charm Sara gave me, I used my other hand to covertly open and close my phone in my pocket so that I clacked right before I spoke.
      "Enough, Yuzu."
       If she wants to manipulate my girlfriend as some weird test on me, then I'm going to give Yuzu immunity by changing the game midway through.
     As I approached to visibly side with Yuzu, I subtly waved Himeko to remain where she stood. This didn't feel like old regime versus the new order like we had planned for. They were targeting me personally and either Yuzu as well or were going to use Yuzu to get at me. However even though my physical position pitted me against Mitsuko and Maruta, I spoke to Yuzu like I did whenever I had told her to back off in the past...
      "This is my job. It's none of your business!"
       Come on Yuzu! You know what to do when I get like this.
      And like she often did, she dug in her heels.
     "Huh?! But this girl is my fan!"
      That's my girl! Get stubborn and get assertive.
     "So it is my business!"
      I glanced over and saw Mitsuko watching us as though she was studying a shoji board. I nearly grinned as I matched Yuzu's will with my own.
       Harder to go at two strong wills with different tactics, isn't it?! Either you drop your usual games and do something new, or I will take over this situation and send them both to wait in the chairman's office while I deal with you out here and send you and Maruta home. Now to goad Yuzu to really stick her nose in.
      "Your involvement is merely making things worse."
       Yuzu, considering the last time I talked you like this you chased me down and confessed to me before making out with me at a shrine, I'm confident that you are going to do the opposite of what I am saying.
      "Please, just leave."
      "Alright, I got it."
      And just as I hoped, Mitsuko cleared her old game and started setting up a different one. She stepped forward and positioned herself as the third point of a triangle. Her suddenly talking again caused Yuzu to jolt and look at Mitsuko as though she completely forgot the woman was there. It was priceless.
     "Let's do this..."
     She pointed at Yuzu.
     "If you think you can run the school better..."
      I blinked as I realised what this new game was going to be.
      Maruta...
     "Then you become the student council president!"
     I looked from Mitsuko to Maruta who gave me the biggest self satisfied smile.
      You absolutely evil bitch!
     "Of course, to do that..."
     I returned my attention to see Mitsuko smirking at my girlfriend.
     "You have to beat the current student council president."
     Why don't you just add on, your girlfriend, as you taunt her?! You manipulative cold hearted gorgeously charismatic snake!
      As I stared down Mitsuko, I noticed Yuzu realising the mess she got herself into. Mitsuko met my gaze and smiled.
      "I'll propose the election to the chairman."
       Meaning whatever game you're really playing will involve him as well, though knowing you it's as a pawn not a player.
       Beside me, Yuzu had turned to look towards me with a terrified expression. As though she expected me to be mad at her the Mitsuko's tricks. I just glared at my former mentor and likely first crush before Yuzu. And she just smiled back.
       "You have no problems with it, right, Aihara?"
       You're not just meaning me... it's us... that's who you're challenging, isn't it?! Fine! You want to come at us under the guise of pitting our factions against each other?! I'll take it on.
       "Not at all."
       And I'll even beat your real game too.
      I glanced towards Yuzu and saw her sweating with anxiety.
       Don't worry Yuzu, I'm not mad at you. Just do your best.