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

IV. Checkmate

Five days. That's how long was left in the week when the day was decided for the election. That was how long I had to figure out how I was going to create a way for not only Yuzu but others to be able to be themselves and not be tossed away because of it. And how long I had to make sure Yuzu didn't return into her self-sacrificial state. I had pulled things together in that amount of time without issues in the past. Word had spread about the changes in what the election would handle as well as a series of new election rules to prevent any further changes either in this election or in those of the future. I had expected to hear from Mitsuko an hour after the meeting if not sooner. It was three days later when I saw her and Maruta again. In that time I had noticed a significant lessening of rumours and tension around being close or in support of Yuzu. It was clear they had been told to stand down. Still, I would have preferred not to immediately decide to have our staffers disinfect the student council offices as soon as I walked in to discover the couple kissing rather passionately over my desk.
"You do realise that anyone could have come in and saw you two."
"We just wanted to see what it was like for you two."
"Wrong office."
"Well, we also have business with you."
I turned and opened the door before looking back to see them still bent over my desk.
"Throwing us out?"
"My staff still has to work, and now clean. We can meet somewhere less likely to have visitors and for you two to get your... wish fulfilment."
They immediately jumped up and followed me out of the offices. As we left I made sure to stop Momo.
"Have them be thorough in cleaning and disinfecting the offices. Particularly my desk."
She blinked in confusion but nodded. I let her go and led the way through the school to the old chairman's office. Because it now sat empty I was considering using it as my personal office after everything settled down, but first I had to win the election and put an end to the assumption that I would be forced to expel my girlfriend. As we walked, I was nearly approached by other girl who stopped at the sight of my current companions. I could feel Mitsuko's smirk and the hidden notes of pride in Maruta's smile. They were enjoying this reminder of Mitsuko's reputation and power. I sighed loudly as a crowd looked on and started whispering.
"Can we move along, please? It annoys me that they assume we have the same objective or that I might be your puppet."
I didn't bother to talk softly. I wanted word to get out that we didn't stand together on this election. Yuzu now at least knew that I wasn't going to to have her expelled if she lost to me, and I intended to make it impossible for the other candidates to steal a victory. Mitsuko laughed behind me.
"No, you're no puppet. And don't worry, we made sure that the rumours of our collaboration are no longer spreading. You're free from my leash once more. But still, two leaders and faction figureheads meeting will always draw out speculation. Particularly with the rumours about my... tastes."
I was happy I was in front of her. I didn't have to be subjected to whatever she did to cause a few girls to gasp and blush as we passed. Just another reason why I was so happy that Yuzu seemed too infatuated with me to consider purposely turning that charisma on others. I didn't know how Maruta could stand it, let alone that she seemed to enjoy it when Mitsuko seemed to actually flirt with other girls. All I had dealt with was Matsuri's childish attempt at reclaiming Yuzu from me without it actually being a romantic rivalry, and yet at first I was ready to completely destroy her. If Yuzu acted like Mitsuko in this one way, I might just slip into a part of my darkness that I had never explored beyond my darkest of fantasies about what I'd like to do to Amamiya and the other men. I quickened our pace and made them enter the large office before I closed and locked the door.
No we won't be interrupted.
"I get it now."
I turned to see Mitsuko leaning against the desk and stroking its side in a way that made me a little uncomfortable.
      "Nice and sturdy, and yet the wood can trap heat and is slightly malleable. Perfect for quick comfort. Plus the importance of the location..."
      Maruta walked around the desk and leaned over Mitsuko as she traced a finger along her collarbone. She smiled as they both looked at me and finished her girlfriend's thought.
      "It's like kissing the queen while sitting on the king's throne. When the princess walks in."
      "Flirt when I'm gone. What exactly did you want from me now?"
      Maruta sighed and moved back to sit in my grandfather's old chair and Mitsuko huffed disappointedly before fixing me with a scowl.
      "And here I thought you might finally be willing to let loose. After all, you aren't playing by the same rules as the old man anymore."
      "That doesn't make me the same as you!"
      With a coy look, she pushed herself off the desk and started towards me as if stalking prey.
      "But which me are you referring to?"
      "What?"
      Mitsuko stopped and looked back to her girlfriend and I heard a little whimper as though she was a puppy wanting to play but having to be good and wait.
      "Tell her."
      "Remember how horrible and strict I was before?"
Was?!
      "The current situation would make that a present issue as well."
      "Well I have to play the part, don't I?"
      That caught me off guard. I couldn't wrap my head around what she was trying to say.
      "Part?"
      "The gatekeeper at the wall. The embodiment of what happens when you let their rules dictate what you can do. The catalyst to get people fed up with how things are and want to change things. The tyrant to finally overthrow. The old man's instrument."
      And suddenly a few disparities between her actions around the school and how she and Maruta both were outside of it or like now in private made more sense. She was still the dark version of Yuzu in how she was. She was as chaotic and flirtatious and and commanding as ever, but the tyrannical manipulative games she played on behalf of the academy's rules seemed less like a trap and more like a challenge.
      "You were seeing who wouldn't just step in line..."
      "Testing the strength of their hearts, to see who's worthy to be trusted."
      I nodded and considered this new way of thinking about someone who terrified me.
      "As much as I had my doubts about you, it seems I was happily proven wrong."
Wait... does that mean what I think it means?!
      "I beat your test?"
      "You demolished the biggest parts of my test."
       I felt my heart rate slow as a weight seemed to lift off of my shoulders.
       "So it's over then?"
      Maruta laughed as though at a hilarious joke. Mitsuko's smile was full of condescension before she corrected me.
      "You passed, but your dashing little prince? The verdict is still out... so I think I need to adjust the parameters to fit this new development."
      I was instantly apprehensive once more.
      "Such as?"
      "Well, Maruta puts the odds at it really being a fight between you two because of lack of any suitable opponents. So that means that there isn't really a threat to her. Therefore regardless of who wins, if you two prove that you really are good for each other in my opinion... I will call that a win. But if either of you forfeits the election, she gets transferred. Do we understand each other?"
       "Micchan..."
       At Maruta's call I saw Mitsuko's demeanour shift as she spun around and seemed to beg her girlfriend in that same cutesy voice I had heard on Christmas Eve.
       "Just let me have this, please!"
       I blinked at the surprising change as well as the content of the quick conversation. I didn't wait for Maruta to answer, out of fear it would be even more unreasonable.
       "I agree to these terms."
      Maruta let out a sigh.
      "Fine..."
      Mitsuko spun back around and was instantly back into her charming if terrifying self.
     "Then I think our business is concluded."
      I breathed out my anxiety and nodded.
     "Very well."
     There was a moment where I was waiting for them to have one last minute comment to throw me off but instead Maruta sounded cold.
     "This is where you leave."
     I sighed.
    "Just don't make a mess."
    With those last words I turned and left them to their mischief. After that it seemed like things were going alright compared to the start of this whole mess. The harassment and rumours died down as instead the entire student body seemed to be waiting with bated breath for the appointed day. During school I split my time to effectively campaign for myself and kept up to date on the shifting allegiances in the factions. While at home I worked tirelessly on my speech and the adjustment to the rules I would be proposing. Even if it was no longer an issue of the game, it was something to set in stone the new direction of the Mei faction. From this small change I could build a basis for what I planned to do with the academy as a whole once I gained the rank of chairwoman. However, while I was hard at to save my relationship and make headway in my future goals, Yuzu still faced a problem. Even though Mitsuko had already seemed to let go of her strangle hold over the school, it seemed her involvement had a lasting affect on her sister. The girl seemed determined to stay away from Yuzu and out of election altogether. In terms of the factions, the Yuzu faction had seemingly lost a head that didn't then go somewhere else. In terms of Yuzu, she had seemed to lose her only friend. And she refused to talk about it. At least at first.