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, the athletic PE teacher, clapped Iseki’s shoulder with a resounding smack, his gaze filled with malice. “Iseki Sakakibara, don’t even think about running from accountability!” Iseki shuddered, his elite bravado crumbling under the weight of Nolan's low, assertive tone.

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’s aristocratic arrogance.

It was Liam Feng Tsui, Sakuragawa’s physics teacher and former lead vocalist of the Slipknot-esque 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 wasting 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 audacity. “Are you sure about that?” 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, and Nolan and Scott dragged Iseki toward the headmaster’s office. Iseki’s voice faded as he shouted, "Hasumi!" This isn't over yet! Are you trying to be a 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. It was nothing.”

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, hugging Hasumi gently as she trembled, and consoled her worry. Hiroki stammered, “Mr. Feng Tsui! 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?! 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. “Double payout: passing pop quizzes and cleaning up the filth."

Aoi nodded, accepting the payment like an underground assassin. Hiroki muttered, “Yeah… J*** W*** universe… I’m dead…”

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 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 that was just 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 flipped them off, ran away from my house, and built up my survival instinct. All the while, it keeps my passion on fire."

Hiroki nodded, empathy flooding him for Hasumi, a kind 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 them the utmost protection, by any means. 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. Prove them wrong, ok?”

Hasumi hugged him with tears, grateful for his protection. Distant yells echoed—the frantic LMC members searching 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 in the corridor.

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, Iseki Sakakibara’s, oppressive grip, and they caught their breath after the intense moment.

The bloodied chaos—Aoi’s box cutter, pop-its fireworks, and pushpins—had been safely swept away by the janitors, 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 the entire Light Music Club 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 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 edge softening. “W-Why all of a sudden…” he stammered, as the latter teased him with playful shipping remarks.

Hiroki muttered internally, “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! Back to the clubroom to wrap up!”

“LMC’s nothing without Hasumi! Take that, you 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 starkly contrasting with 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? And this resolution carried a weight that would linger.