The Haruo's Council

Serizawa stopped in front of Natsume’s office, her body still in excruciating pain; thanks to Ryoko’s magic flows, she could still stand, but it wasn’t a miraculous remedy. Yuu seemed close to collapsing. She reached out her hand to the door and knocked softly; her face showing signs of pain. After a few seconds, Ryoko herself opened the door.

‘Are you feeling any better now?’ The nurse seemed genuinely concerned.

‘I feel like I got run over by a train. What do you think?’ Ryoko helped her friend by supporting her. Both of them entered Natsume’s spacious office. Azuki and Mitsuko sat on the comfortable sofa, immobilised by the principal’s psychic magic. Their faces were serious, and they didn’t even glance at her. Serizawa pondered. ‘As expected, I suppose,’ before wearily lowering her gaze, worn out by the stubbornness of the two women. Her eyes shifted to Natsume’s vacant seat and then back to Ryoko, perplexed. ‘She calls us here and doesn’t bother showing up. Truly irresponsible,’ Ryoko remarked with a chuckle.

‘Well, she’s not the only one who hasn’t changed,’ Ko acknowledged. A well-dressed woman, a bit shorter than Yuuko, entered with silver hair and crystalline eyes.

‘Who are you calling irresponsible?’ she claimed mockingly, catching the attention of the others. Mitsu bared her teeth in anger and tried to get up, earning disapproval from the principal.

‘Let me go!’ she warned.

‘Do you want me to put you to sleep again?’ Natsume menaced seriously.

‘You are all traitors!’ the vice principal recriminated.

‘Mitsu, will you shut up!?’ Natsume persisted as she advanced. ‘Always impulsive and not listening to reason.’ She sat back in her chair and whistled. ‘You all know why I called you here, right? We are all aware of the situation.’ Yuuko lowered her gaze, feeling somewhat responsible. ‘What should we do with...?’ Mitsu cut off her.

‘And you ask us? Those people murdered your mother and our friends!’

‘Mitsu is right! They handle the deaths of Haru, Nori, and Sayuki, among many others!’ Azuki seconded. Natsume sighed and looked at Yuuko and Ryoko.

‘After what she has seen, you know they won’t let him go just like that.’ Natsume rested her shoulders on the table, and Yuu became serious. ‘The three houses, especially Tsukihime and Himemiya, won’t be lenient... we can’t stop it, Yuu, you know that, right?’ Yuu looked up at Natsume, but Mitsuko spoke again.

‘And why hand him over when we have him within reach? We can’t allow...’ Natsume looked at her companion.

‘Keep it up, and I’ll be the one who won’t be lenient with you!’ she menaced one more. ‘I understand you better than anyone, Mitsu!’ Her face showed sadness. ‘You may have lost a beloved teacher, but Aki and I lost our mother. However...’ She looked at Mitsuko again. ‘I won’t allow innocent blood to be shed just because your thirst for revenge is greater than your reasoning!’

‘Talking about innocence? Have you seen the mark on his hand?’ she reproached, earning a look from Yuuko.

‘If you would listen, you’d know that boy didn’t have that disgusting mark yesterday! I spent the entire afternoon with him!’ Yuuko was agitated. ‘You almost killed me with no hesitation, so it’s probably a mistake!’

‘What the hell is wrong with all of you?’ Azu claimed. ‘He could deceive you!’

‘That mark can’t be hidden with magic or makeup.’ Ryoko stated. ‘I believe Yuu! If she says he didn’t have any mark...’ Ko clenched her fists. ‘I trust it’s true.’

‘I do too,’ Natsume ratified. ‘I talked to him, and he’s clueless. Either that, or he’s a professional actor, but everything shows he’s not acting; he doesn't understand the mark's meaning or the situation.’ Natsume stretched. ‘We must identify the person who branded the cattle.’

Mitsuko and Natsume exchanged suspicious looks.

‘You’re suggesting...’ she tried to say. ‘That’s absurd!’

‘What other possibility is there?’ Ryoko and Yuu looked confused at Natsu’s and Mitsu’s argument.

‘We’re the only ones who can access that place!’ Mitsu seemed genuinely upset. ‘It only remains that he is really one of them!’

‘I don’t know why you vehemently refuse to consider it. Plus, there’s another person who technically could access it too,’ Natsume revealed. ‘I have a slight hunch.’

‘That person is dead. Do I need to remind you what happened to her and who you’re letting escape?’ the vice principal acknowledged. ‘Hypothetically, if you are right, what is your plan? Ask her directly?’

‘She won’t speak, not because she physically can’t, which she can’t... but, you know…’ Natsume reacted.

‘What are you all talking about?’ Azuki dared to ask, catching Natsume's and Mitsuko’s attention.

‘Ah! Nothing... just things from the Himemiko house...’ Natsume tried to deflect, earning suspicious looks from the other three. ‘State secrets, keep quiet!’ she seemed nervous.

‘What seems clear is that we can’t let him go...’ Ryoko observed, looking at her companion. ‘You and he are both at risk.’ Yuuko frowned.

‘We can’t hold him against his will,’ the teacher warned.

‘Well, technically, he’s a student at the academy, isn’t he?’ Natsume showed a mischievous smile.

‘Excuse me!?’ Mitsuko raised her voice. ‘Not only are you sheltering a sectarian terrorist, but you also intend to break the institution’s rules? You’ve definitely gone crazy, Natsume! You’re not just irresponsible, you’re an accomplice and a...’ Natsume’s eyes flashed, and Mitsu’s eyelids felt heavy, and she nodded off. ‘An... A...!’

‘Why do you insist on trying to outwit me in a mental battle? As much as you have physical prowess, you’re just as stubborn. Just go to sleep!’ Mitsu kept nodding until she fell flat on her back a couple of seconds later. Natsume exhaled and looked at Azu. ‘I hope you learn a lesson from this.’

‘I have nothing to say. You’ve all gone mad,’ Azu didn’t seem very willing to collaborate, looking away grumpily.

‘Suit yourself, but if you try to harm the boy, you’ll have to deal with me, and I assure you that any fight you’ve had in your life will seem like a walk in the park, Azuki,’ Natsume turned to Ryoko and Yuuko. ‘As I was saying...’

‘Wait a second, Natsu,’ Yuuko punctuated. ‘You can’t do that. This is a witch academy for females, as Mitsu stated. We’re going against the rules, and besides, I doubt that, after what he’s witnessed, the boy would want to stay...’

‘Oh, come on, Yuu!’ Natsume’s tone was taunting. ‘This is every teenage boy’s dream... being surrounded by girls, teachers, and a sexy headmistress!’ Yuu blushed and raised her voice.

‘Can we stop thinking about indecent things?’ Ryoko coughed.

‘What do you mean, we can?’ Yuuko hesitated under her friend's inquisitive gaze..

‘It’s majestic plural!! Ma-jes-tic!’ Ryoko’s look remained suspicious.

‘Riiight...’ Her tone was incredulous. Yuu turned to Natsume.

‘Anyway, it’s not our decision!’ she proceeded.

‘So, after almost fighting to the death to save him, you’re going to throw him to the wolves...’ Natsume seemed unsure.

‘What!? No, it’s not like that...’

‘I’ve already told you, if we let him go, all three houses, well, two houses, will pursue and hunt him down. They might erase his memory if he's lucky, but with Himemiya's disrespect for men and the radical beliefs of Madoka, it's doubtful.’ Natsume stretched, and Yuuko hesitated before meeting her gaze. ‘As long as the boy is here, he’s under my protection... None of them would dare to send assassins into Onmyou.’

‘Natsu is right,’ admitted Ryoko. Yuuko became serious.

‘Please, Natsu, help him...’ Natsume showed a mischievous smile.