Benches Clear, One Ejection?

As I made my way back up to the Fourth Floor (passing Korekiyo as he headed down the Second Floor stairs), I still could not believe what Toko had accused me of. Me, working with Monorakun, against the other students? This was preposterous, ridiculous, and there was no way Toko could still truly believe this.

I finally arrived on the Fourth Floor and checked out the Carnival Room again. Rantaro was inside, playing the Whack-a-Rakun! game, smacking the Rakuns as they popped out of 13 different holes. They were in three rows; a row of four, a row of five, then another row of four. The Rakuns were gradually popping up and back down faster and faster, making it harder for Rantaro to hit each one of them with the single mallet assigned to the game.

I decided not to break Rantaro's concentration, and not in the mood for games myself, I kept walking. I turned the corner, deciding to gaze up the stairs through the gate for a few moments. I wanted out of here more and more each day, yet there seemed to be no escape except to play this sadistic game that Monorakun forced us all into. It made me wonder, who else would have to die before we could be free of this place?

Suddenly, I heard what sounded like shouting behind me, although I could not make out any particular words. It sounded like two girls and one boy.

Turning around, I saw Hiyoko, Mahiru, and Fuyuhiko standing in front of the Equipment Room door. Mahiru and Fuyuhiko were arguing, and Hiyoko seemed more irritated than normal.

"What the fuck is this? Some sort of sick joke?" Fuyuhiko was looking into the Equipment Room.

Mahiru had her arms crossed in front of her. "What? It's just a batting cage. What's the big deal?"

Fuyuhiko grimaced. "After what happened to my sister, I never want to see another baseball bat again, that's what!"

"Then don't use the Batting Cages, Boss Baby, simple as that!" Hiyoko shot back.

"Seriously, Fuyuhiko, come on," Mahiru complained, clearly annoyed. "You can't hold your sister's death over my head forever. I didn't even kill her; you know that!"

"It still doesn't excuse your actions, though. You could've taken that picture anywhere, and you chose...the DUMPSTER?!! The fuck, Mahiru?!" Fuyuhiko shot back angrily.

To my surprise, Hiyoko took a step between the two. " Look, you two, it's done. It's over. Fuyuhiko lost his sister, and Mahiru lost her best friend. Why are we even wasting our stupid time on this? Just...stop it!"

Fuyuhiko sneered at Hiyoko. "Excuse me, was I talking to you, you stupid handlebar-haired bitch? Learn your fucking place!"

Mahiru took a step towards Fuyuhiko. "Don't you DARE talk to her like that! You wanna be mad at someone, be mad at me, but leave her alone!"

"Guys! Stop it!" Hiyoko said again, louder. Neither one even glanced at her; they merely glared at each other.

"Why? What are you gonna do? Take a picture of me and throw it away, too? Like you did with my sister?"

"Hey, you're not the only one who lost someone to that tragedy! My best friend was murdered, too! And YOU DID IT!!"

"A Yakuza has to avenge their fallen, and I did what I had to do! Fuck Sato, and FUCK YOU TOO!" Fuyuhiko bellowed, right in Mahiru's face. Mahiru, to my surprise, did not back up one bit, and just glared right back at Fuyuhiko, her lips pursed in pure anger.

"Stop it stop it stop it Stop It STOOOOP IIIIIIIT!!" Hiyoko gradually built up to a blood-curdling scream, before pushing past Fuyuhiko and bolting past the both of them, running full speed past me and around the corner.

Fuyuhiko looked far behind me, confused. "The fuck's up with her?"

Mahiru gave Fuyuhiko "the look". I offered to go look for Hiyoko, and after Mahiru agreed, I headed downstairs. I had a feeling I knew which room she was in, and if she was not there, she would likely be in her dorm.

I headed down to the Third Floor, to the Dance Hall. There, I saw Hiyoko sitting on one of the stages, her knees pulled up to her face, crying.

Cautiously, I approached, but Hiyoko must have heard my heels clicking on the floor, as she looked up, her face red, her cheeks wet.

"Wh...what? What do you want?" Hiyoko asked apprehensively.

I sat down on the dance stage across from her, letting my legs dangle, and considered my words. "I was worried about you when you ran off, and I told the others that I would go look for you."

Hiyoko looked at me again, with equal parts confusion, disbelief, and...perhaps disgust? I could not quite tell.

"Why would you do something stupid like that? Are you trying to stand up for that shorty blond killer? Do you really think I'm gonna forgive Fuyuhiko if he just drops to his knees and begs? Did you really think a half-assed apology will make me forget everything he's done?!"

"No, I do not," I plainly replied, "and that is not why I am here."

Hiyoko cut me off before I could continue. "Then why ARE you here? If not for Fuyuhiko, then...for Mahiru?" Her eyes softened as she gazed downwards. "Mahiru...she taught me how to properly tie my kimono. Before her, I was always dressed for my performances, so...I never actually learned how, myself. It...it was the nicest thing...anyone has ever done for me. I just wish those two would quit fighting about the past. It's stupid, stupid, stupid!"

I nodded sympathetically. "I am glad you have such a good friend in Mahiru. Even if you are crass towards me and the others, I do truly mean that, Hiyoko."

Hiyoko actually gave me a smile. "Kyahaha! Ok, I feel better now! It's a good thing your ears are awesome, Shishano, because your face, style, figure, and personality totally suck. Byeeee!"

Hiyoko then got up and walked away cheerfully, leaving me to process her insult, before ultimately deciding to dismiss it. Hiyoko was right about one thing, though; This feud between Fuyuhiko and Mahiru needed to quell this bickering, and find a way to put this painful event behind them. Somehow, in some way...this had to stop.

Or one of these times, it would not stop with just words.