Act 1, Chapter 24: Loose Changes

Friday, 3:30 PM. The pristine corridors of Sakuragawa’s new building seethed with unrelenting tension. Aoi Mizuno’s violent rampage had incapacitated Iseki Sakakibara’s bodyguards. Hasumi Sakakibara’s tearful breakdown had shaken the air.

Now, both teachers—Nolan Webber Girling and Scott Ardennes Villeneuve—confronted Iseki with cold fury.

Hiroki Yamada stood frozen, his mind reeling, unsure whether to intervene or flee from the chaos.

Nolan clapped Iseki’s shoulder with a resounding smack, his gaze filled with malice. "Iseki Sakakibara, don’t even think about running from accountability!" Iseki's aristocratic arrogance shuddered under the weight of Nolan's low assertion.

As Nolan and Scott clasped Iseki’s arms with a grip akin to that of arresting officers, a new voice echoed through the corridor, sharp and ominous. "Venting your failures on your daughter after horrible gambles? Pathetic. No wonder you’re chickening."

A figure emerged from a nearby restroom, striding past Hiroki, Aoi, and Hasumi with a presence that chilled even Iseki.

It was Liam Feng Tsui, Sakuragawa’s physics teacher and former lead vocalist of the metal band Poltergeist, known for his harsh teaching but fiercer protection of students—a harsh savior in their eyes.

"L-Liam Feng Tsui!" Iseki stammered, fear overtaking him as Nolan and Scott’s grips tightened, karma for his brutal hold on Hasumi.

Iseki tried to regain control, his voice dripping with entitlement. "You cretins are just wasting your time! You know my lawyers will have me out in seconds."

Nolan's and Scott’s holds only grew firmer. Liam smirked, pulling a stack of papers from his bag—evidence of Iseki’s crimes, now undeniable thanks to Aoi’s violent audacity. "Are you sure about that? Your so-called 'lawyer' was caught for money laundering." Liam’s tone was low and threatening.

Scott snorted bitterly. "Let’s take this cretin to Miss Shinozaki."

Kagura Shinozaki, Sakuragawa’s headmaster, was a former JSDF elite turned detective, her reputation as fearsome as her father’s legacy. And dragging him to headmaster Shinozaki would be his last nail in the coffin.

Liam nodded; Nolan and Scott then dragged Iseki toward the headmaster’s office. Iseki’s voice faded as he shouted, "Hasumi! Don't you think you could run away from the family's responsibility like an ignorant whore?" His words fell flat, swallowed by the shadows as he faced judgment.

Hiroki stood speechless, overwhelmed by Aoi’s violence, Liam’s revelations, and Hasumi’s despair. Blaming Iseki felt right, but the surreal events left him dizzy.

Liam approached the three, his harsh demeanor softening. "Good work, Mizuno-san. Your fighting skills and academics have improved. Are you hurt?" He offered Aoi a handkerchief with a faint smile.

But Hasumi took it instead, wiping her tears. Aoi, her chuunibyou priestess persona gone, pouted. "Shame. I slipped off in a slight."

Without her eyepatch and bandages, her "divine power" was no delusion—she’d floored two bodyguards with ease. He feared her divine wrath might turn against him if he wronged her.

Liam knelt, gently hugging Hasumi as she trembled, and consoled her worry. But Hiroki stammered, "F-Feng Tsui-sensei! What’s going on—"

Liam cut him off, calling out, "Guys!" Janitors emerged, swiftly cleaning Aoi’s mess—pop-its ashes, blood stains—with the precision of forensic experts.

Hiroki’s panic surged. "What the hell is this?! Am I in a J*** W*** universe? Or B***** gone wrong? I’m gonna die!" He crouched, clutching his face with rising anxiety.

The corridor returned to pristine condition in seconds. Liam slipped Aoi two gold coins, worth over 20 karats. "Here you go. Double payout: passing pop quizzes and cleaning up the filth."

Aoi nodded, accepting the payment like an underground assassin. Hiroki muttered in defeat, "Yeah… J*** W*** universe… I’m fucked…"

The situation had calmed down; Hiroki approached Liam with piquing curiosity. "My apology, Feng Tsui-sensei. What’s happening? Why are you here?"

Liam nodded to Hasumi; with a darkened expression, she removed her school blazer and unbuttoned her shirt. Hiroki flushed and closed his face as he expected an ecchi cliché. "W-Wait! Hasumi?!"

But his heart stopped. Scars and bruises marred her torso and back, proof of her Saturday confession—her father’s abuse for joining the "low-life" LMC caught in his throat.

Liam’s voice was grave. "She’s been in the infirmary all week—nausea, malnourishment, vertigo. She confessed her father’s abuse, all because she joined LMC, which he despised. Child abuse, infidelity, bribery, election rigging, money laundering..."

“But those were still the tip of the iceberg. Because we have to wait for the further investigation.”

"You know, I've faced worse too, like her. But I was lucky that I ran away from my house and started anew. All the while keeping my passion on fire."

Hiroki nodded, empathy flooding him for Hasumi, a pure soul ravaged by her elite family’s cruelty. But Liam's revelation of his similar ravaged past as Hasumi surprised Hiroki with a shared sympathy. Perhaps I misunderstood Feng Tsui-sensei. Hiroki thought to himself.

Liam's glare darkened, facing the pristine floor. "That’s why I became a teacher—to give the students something... that I've never felt before."

Hiroki only nodded in silent sympathy.

Aoi returned from the restroom with Hasumi, whose tears had subsided but left deep scars. Hasumi approached, her voice shaky. "Feng Tsui-sensei is kind… he cares for me better than my father…"

Liam patted her shoulder, crouching with softened sympathy. "It’s alright, girl. No need to further lament it. Chin up and prove them wrong, ok? You can do it." Hasumi hugged him with tears, grateful for his protection.

Suddenly, distant yells echoed as the frantic LMC members searched for them—constantly calling Hiroki and Aoi’s names.

All had subsided, and Liam handed Aoi her eyepatch and bandages. "Let’s keep this between us, okay?"

"Y-Yes…" Hiroki stuttered, nodding hesitantly.

Aoi reclaimed her gear, returning the box cutter, pop-its, and push pins to Liam, hiding her actions like a criminal covering tracks. Liam waved, leaving them back into the shadow realm.

Aoi slipped back into her clumsy chuunibyou priestess persona, her violence buried. Hasumi’s rescue and Iseki’s exposure marked a blackened victory, one that would reshape the LMC’s fire.

***

Friday, 3:40 PM. The storm of violence in Sakuragawa’s new building corridor had subsided, leaving a tense calm. Aoi Mizuno saved Hasumi Sakakibara from her father's oppressive grasp, and they caught their breath after the intense moment.

The bloodied chaos from Aoi’s box cutter, pop-its fireworks, and pushpins had been safely swept away, and the corridor restored to its pristine state.

But Hiroki Yamada was unraveling, banging his head against a wall, his voice a panicked wail. "AAAAGH! I’M GONNA DIE! I’M GONNA DIE!"

"Uh… please calm down…" Hasumi chuckled, her modest composure returning, as if Hiroki had inherited her earlier meltdown.

Hiroki whirled on Aoi and Hasumi, eyes wide with panic. "How can I even calm down when this dumbass almost killed people?!" He jabbed a finger at Aoi, who crossed her arms, her chuunibyou priestess persona dormant.

"I will do everything to protect Sakakibara-san—" Aoi began, but Hiroki cut her off, constantly karate-chopping her head. "NOT LIKE THIS! YOU COULD’VE GONE TO PRISON! DO YOU WANT THAT?!" he yelled.

Aoi rubbed her head in pain, pouting in frustration. "You’re such a coward, Hiroki…"

He crossed his arms, glaring away. "Not as stupid as you!"

Footsteps echoed as all the Light Music Club members rushed into the corridor. "Aoi! Hiroki! Hasumi?!" Takane exclaimed in surprise, the Toriteba girls swarming Hasumi, who seemed calmer, her elegance restored.

"Dude! We’ve been looking for you! What the hell’s going on?" Junichi patted Hiroki’s shoulder, concern in his eyes.

Hiroki chuckled, gesturing at Aoi. "Sorry, Aoi’s being a dumbass, as usual." Aoi harshly poked his waist, making him jump.

Mei started, "Hasumi, how did you—" but Hasumi cut her off, her voice steady. "It’s alright. My father had a change of heart after I told him about LMC’s unmatched hospitality."

She smiled, her ladylike poise masking the prior scars that Hiroki had witnessed. "I showed him some pictures, like Riku Tanaka, the punkish metal boy who protected me from bullies."

Riku blushed, looking away, his metalhead brashness softening. "W-Why all of a sudden…" he stammered, as the latter teased him with playful shipping remarks.

That’s a lie, but it's a good thing they don’t know what happened previously. Relief washed over him, though Aoi's violence and Hasumi’s bruises haunted him.

Sora clapped, rallying the group. "Alright, time’s up! Let's get back to the clubroom to wrap up!"

"Woo! LMC’s nothing without Hasumi! Take that, ye old coot!" Riku raised his fist, Yakomori echoing with their own.

The group headed back to the new LMC room, their lively chatter and laughter healing from the earlier violence. Hasumi was free, but Hiroki’s mind churned—Aoi’s rampage, the teachers’ intervention, and Hasumi’s scars left him shaken, questioning the hidden secrets of Sakuragawa.

Was Sakuragawa hiding darker secrets?