5. The Meeting

Day: 2

Evening

Jack sighed as he made way into the principal's office.

Apparently there was a call for a guardian of Kenzo to make an appearance at the school principal's office due some "fight during lunch break". The school had pretty much wrapped up for the day and the students and most teachers had already head off home.

Jack was at the residence when the call came through, and with both Kenzo's parents out to work, he decided to pick up the landline ringing.

"Hello, is this the Suzuki household?" A monotone voice enquired.

"Yes! It is!" Jack responded, with his usual jolly mood.

"....oh its the freeloader..." responded the voice, having recognised Jack.

"What do you mean freeloader?? I will have you know that I have my own house within the neighbourhood, and I am also on the verge of getting a new job, I am just in-between jobs right now...wait who are you??" Jack exclaimed back, breaking his reflex of explaining his situation to strangers when he realised the caller had already IDed him.

"You probably won't remember me Jack, but I am Ami..." the voice continued, but Jack interrupted them immediately picking up on the name. 

"Wait hold up! Ami?! The Ami?! You were the class idol back when we did school together! How are you?? And how do you remember me??"

"You being the only foreigner in the class back then probably helped... but as exciting as it must be to meet an old classmate..." her voice not hiding the mild annoyance, "I have something important to discuss about Kenzo, I was hoping to reach his parents but it seems that they are busy, if you can bring some form of guardian consent on behalf of Kenzo then I can have you attend the meeting in their stead after school today."

And so armed with the consent certificate on the LifeHelper watch, which once he entered the office a scanner instantly scanned it and confirmed Jack to be the authentic guardian of Kenzo, he made a beeline for the chair already set up facing the principal desk.

Principal Ami was busy going over files on her PC before she noticed Jack sitting across from her. She eyed him over her glasses that were perched on her nose as she studied his body language. He was very lax, most parents or guardians would be worried hearing their child was caught up in a fight or had an issue of disciplinary concern. It seems though he had no care for that and was bobbing his head to music he was currently listening to through his wireless headphones.

She passed a stern gaze, which made him snap out of his music listening trance and decide to pay some modicum of respect to the Principal.

"Am surprised they trust you to take care of the boy when they are busy..." commented Ami

"Well they know that I have full faith in Kenzo, he's a sharp young lad, pardon my manners of course but I believe this entire meeting is horse crap"

Ami raised her eyebrows listening to the abrasive language the man was using.

"You think I brought you here on a whim?"

"No i think whoever tattle tailed on Kenzo is lying, Kenzo would never fight people unless he had a good reason"

"Which still means that he potentially could then by your admission..."

"...I would like to call my lawyer..."

"Jack, this is a disciplinary meeting, not a court hearing"

Ami sighed as she laid back in her office chair and got ready to explain the situation to Jack, how she did wish it was Kenzo's actual parents here.

She was not at all familiar with Kenzo or his family, she somewhat knew Kenzo's dad was in her batch back then but from the few people she remembered from high school, Jack was obviously the one that stood out.

Other than being the only foreigner in class, He was also known to have been good looking. However, but he was a mess socially, almost with no friends. Ami figured his loyalty to the Suzuki family and Kenzo's dad in particular must be because Kenzo's dad saved him back then.

I mean there was the whole death battle tournament too, but that is not important.

She just hoped she could get some clarification on the Kenzo issue and hope that Jack can respond well back.

Before she could bring the issue up, Jack decided to ask something,

"How were you aware I was in Japan still? And about the whole freeloading thing? Not that it is true or anything..."

Ami decided it would be best to entertain him if she wanted to make any progress, she is now regretting trying to fast track this meeting and making him show up instead of waiting and talking to Kenzo's actual parents. It would have taken longer but at least she would feel she would be making some progress.

"I get information by the education board run by the government about local residents and their affiliations to the students, of course to make sure the students are looked after and all. I knew your name and just put two and two together when you picked up the call"

Jack nodded along, listening.

"So the government got a whole spy thing going on? I mean we got that too back at home..."

"Lets not get too political here" Ami said, intentionally trying to change the subject, "We are here because Kenzo fought with a student called Akaji..."

jack then raised a hand to make her stop talking before talking himself.

"I am aware that Kenzo might have been rough housing a bit, I am going to go home and discipline the boy like you would want me to and I will make sure none of these problems happen again..."

oh good, thought Ami. He understands...

"Is probably exactly what you want me to say! Well listen here woman, Kenzo is a nice smart and kind boy who would do things always for the sake of helping others. He may be rough but just like his father, he is a great man. I will do my best to encourage he beats up more scumbags if what you say is even true!"

Ami stared blankly at Jack's declaration as he hit her with a smirk.

This is going to be a long evening...

*****

"So tell me Ami..."

"Miss Ami!"

"Apologies...what does it like being a pawn of a government spy network?" 

Whenever Ami tried her best to veer back on topic, Jack would hit her with a question regarding her role in the school, her past life, her involvement with the government. This has been going on for almost half an hour and she is very ready to call security on this man as progress seemed to be going nowhere.

"Please, stop trying to float government conspiracies and at least get to the topic at hand..." 

"You do know that Kenzo has not gotten his love match in his watch?" Jack now revealed this to Ami as he crossed his hands, staring to see her reaction.

Ami pauses to process this information before responding.

"Is this a reason for why he is acting up recently?"

"Possibly...I personally think rather than acting up, he is trying to discover some solution to this issue of his. It is an immensely pressuring time for someone as young as him, feeling the peer pressure of not finding a person who he is to be assigned to. I find that very troubling and I am clearly against the whole system in the first place. I'm sure for people where this is convenient and don't need to think about working to find their partner, this is not an issue. However for people like him, this is tragic and very concerning. Even for people like me back in the day..."

The mood changed to slightly solemn as Jack had a much more serious look on his face.

"...Love was a huge issue. Let us not even get started with the stupid idea of the government and the whole death tournament. We know the government does wacky stuff every generation to try and form their 'perfect society'. Of course it is no point of us voicing this out loud since it is not like we can change this but the total control removes individuality in our community, and I think individuality, the ability to not feel peer pressured for being different is very important, don't you think so too Miss Ami? or should I call you The idol?"

There it was again, that title Ami hated.

It was a lifetime ago to her, but it still stung, to everyone else in her class they thought she was a special chosen person, having a prestigious position and value as an idol, especially someone who was sponsored by the government themselves.

They did not know what happened behind the scenes.

And they did not need to know.

Ami forced a poker face to not let Jack know he got to her. She finally understands the whole purpose of his visit. It was not to listen in about what Kenzo did and what to help fix his behaviour. He had full faith in the kid. It was to pry information about the government as much as he could.

Since she was directly linked to the department of education, for him, she was a way in to getting that information.

But she was not going to risk her job to satisfy the curiosity of a jobless bum.

"I will pardon Kenzo this one time, but if another incidence occurs, I will not hesitate to think about bringing him to detention, do you understand...Blondie?"

Jack smirked as he nodded in recognition of his past nickname.

"Well there your sharp tongue goes Ami, just like old times..." He chuckles to himself as he picks himself up and makes his way to the door, seemingly satisfied.

However, right before leaving he pivoted on the spot and faced Ami again, a grin plastered on his face.

"Let's make a deal Ami. As the school principal I am sure you are totally unaware that there is an underground delinquent system in your school..."

"What?? What are you insinuating??"

"That you are not as smart as you think you are. They have existed since our time in school and they still exist today. I am willing to drop you hints on how you can go about uncovering this, maybe helping you get a promotion for making the school a better place, and in exchange you can answer me questions on the government. Ever since high school I have been keen on finding out certian things..."

Ami shook her head before answering.

"What makes you think I would even need your help to uncover this secret?"

Jack just kept grinning.

"Because I was one of the guys that set it up back in the day, and no one can figure out the network better than I can. You could spend hours researching and trying to discover it, but I know how they think. I give you what you want and you give me what I want...how is that as a deal?"

Ami thought on it for a moment.

If what Jack is saying is true, then uncovering something this big will definitely have her secure a much better role in the educational department, and they would be less stringent on her. Less of them tracking her, and more freedom of her to express herself to the people around her.

She could potentially not have to monitor her conversations the ways he does now. Not have to act monotone and can express herself more freely.

A chance of her finally getting a bit of that exposure, outside the box.

Her whole life she had been grinding to get into a higher position, She had always felt there was someone sitting on her shoulder or watching her every move, the higher she may go the more chances she would be able to freely express herself.

Most people did not mind the system as it gave security. To her though, it was a constant reminder of her days as The Idol and her days with her family. of course a taste of the freedom the elite and those in the higher positions in the government was extremely appealing to her.

All in all, the offer given by Jack was suddenly a golden ticket to having her reach newer heights, get her closer to her goal.

Besides, despite Jack being a total tool, she does find the potential to talk about something outside the norm with someone, somewhat fascinating.

Ami sighed before agreeing to the deal with a simple nod.

Jack nodded back as he turned to leave,  saluting her goodbye as he left.

Ami was left alone to collect her thoughts again.

"Stupid blondie..."