Crossroads

Episode 3 – Crossroads

Scene 1: The Student Council Meeting

(The student council room hums with an air of authority—papers shuffled, pens tapped, and the occasional murmur exchanged between members. Order is expected, yet the empty seat at the table disrupts that balance. As the meeting begins, all eyes drift toward the door, waiting for the inevitable arrival of their most unpredictable member.)

The student council room was packed as usual, the long wooden table surrounded by the key players of the school's disciplinary force. Papers were neatly stacked (courtesy of Hoshino Eiji, the sanitation prefect, who had spent a solid ten minutes organizing them before anyone arrived).

At the head of the table, Tachibana Renji, the effortlessly cool Student Council President, wasn't present yet—because of course, he wasn't. Instead, Onizuka Goro, the towering Deputy President, sat with his arms crossed, exuding raw authority like a Yakuza boss from a bygone era.

"Alright, roll call!" called Fujisaki Sayaka, Renji's girlfriend, who was acting as the temporary moderator. She didn't even look up from her phone.

One by one, names were called and attendees responded. Everything was in order—until…

BANG!

The door swung open violently, making everyone jolt.

"I-I'm here!!" Kiryuu Daiki stammered, nearly tripping over his own feet as he hurried inside, his uniform slightly disheveled. His face was already turning red from the attention.

Silence.

Sayaka lazily glanced up from her phone, unimpressed. "You're not even part of the council. Why are you here?"

Kiryuu flinched, gripping the strap of his schoolbag tighter. "U-uh… I, um…" He swallowed hard, voice barely above a whisper. "Onizuka-san… said I c-could…"

All eyes turned to Onizuka.

The deputy president grunted and leaned forward like a mafia boss about to pass judgment.

"Hmph. Met him at the gym once," Onizuka muttered. "Owed his friend Kazuya a favor."

Eiji pushed his glasses up, muttering, "I don't remember approving outside attendees."

"Exactly why I didn't ask you," Onizuka shot back.

Kiryuu shrank under the attention, his fingers curling into his sleeves. "S-sorry… I-I can go if—"

Onizuka cut him off with a sharp glance. "Just sit."

Kiryuu stiffened, hesitated for a second, then hurriedly found an empty chair, keeping his head down.

With a sigh, Sayaka continued. "Fine. Moving on—"

But before she could, another interruption.

The Yakuza Bosses Clash

"OI, ONIZUKA! YOU TOOK MY SEAT, YOU BASTARD!"

All heads turned toward the source of the booming voice—Shindou Haruto, the Academic Prefect.

Haruto was Onizuka's previous rival for the position of Deputy President, and their dynamic hadn't calmed down one bit since the election. Watching them interact was like witnessing two old gang leaders in a turf war.

Onizuka scoffed, cracking his knuckles. "Tch. Still crying about that, Haruto? I told you—only the strongest sit here."

"You brute," Haruto spat, adjusting his tie. "I let you have the Deputy seat because I value intellect over brawn, but don't think for a second that I acknowledge you as my superior."

Onizuka stood up from his chair slowly, towering over Haruto like a final boss. His three underlings—Jin, Tatsuya, and Koji—immediately straightened their backs, looking ready to throw hands.

Jin cracked his neck. "Boss, should we teach him some respect?"

Tatsuya smirked. "It's been a while since we had a workout."

Koji adjusted his sleeves. "It is technically part of our duties to maintain discipline."

Haruto, unfazed, adjusted his glasses. "I won't fight you. Unlike some people, I have an IQ higher than my protein intake."

Onizuka's eyebrow twitched. "Oh, that's it."

The room immediately broke into chaos, with Onizuka lunging at Haruto while the underlings cheered him on. Meanwhile, Sayaka—still scrolling through her phone—let out a sigh.

"Can you guys not?"

But before things could escalate—

"ENOUGH, DAMMIT!"

The voice cut through the room like a katana slicing through the air.

All eyes turned to the doorway, where Tachibana Renji had finally arrived.

And, of course, he wasn't alone.

Strutting beside him was Fujisaki Sayaka, his stunning girlfriend, who didn't even acknowledge the room's drama as she walked in with the aura of a queen.

Immediately, the two class monitors, Mei and Rika, snapped to attention—and then snapped at each other.

"Renji-samaaa!! You're finally here! I saved this seat for you!" Mei declared, dramatically waving at him.

"Tch, what are you talking about?! I was obviously the one who saved the seat for Renji-sama!" Rika shot back, stepping in front of Mei.

"Hah?! You wanna go, you bleach-haired chihuahua?!" Mei cracked her knuckles.

"Bring it on, Yakuza girl—I'll mop the floor with you!"

The tension between them was so ridiculous, it felt like a scene from a delinquent anime. One could almost hear the sound of electric guitars playing in the background.

Renji, used to this nonsense, casually waved at them. "Yeah, yeah, thanks for the effort."

That was enough to make both girls blush furiously—but then glare at each other even harder.

"DIE."

"NO, YOU DIE FIRST."

And then they lunged at each other.

Onizuka Brings Order (Through Force)

Before a full-blown brawl could start, Onizuka acted.

He effortlessly grabbed both girls by the backs of their collars and lifted them off the ground like two squabbling kittens.

"ENOUGH, YOU GREMLINS."

They both flailed, shouting protests.

"PUT ME DOWN, YOU APE!" Mei screeched.

"THIS IS A VIOLATION OF MY FREEDOM—" Rika wailed.

Onizuka sighed, his patience wearing thin. "Tch. No discipline, these kids."

At that moment, Haruto smirked. "Heh. For once, I agree with you."

Onizuka's eye twitched. "Shut up, bookworm."

(The scene gradually pulls out of view as the meeting resumes, leaving us with a muffled, behind-the-door glimpse of the chaos inside.)

With some level of order restored, the meeting officially began.

Renji took his seat and began talking about school discipline, upcoming events, and maintaining student morale.

But…

We don't hear any of it.

Instead, the scene fades outside the council room, and we only hear muffled voices.

(Outside the council room, the muffled voices continue—heated debates, exasperated sighs, and occasional shouting. Papers rustle, someone groans in frustration, and Onizuka's underlings can be heard cheering. The intensity behind the closed doors is almost comical, yet somehow… this is the backbone of the school.)

"This is how every council meeting goes. The debates are heated. The tension is unbearable. The discipline is strict. And yet, somehow… this is the backbone of our school."

The camera focuses on the closed doors, muffling more chaos from inside.

Ending: Reina & Kiryuu's Conversation

As the members file out, Reina stays behind.

She glances at Kiryuu, who is leaning against the doorframe, watching the others leave.

After a pause, she approaches.

"…Kiryuu."

He flinches slightly, eyes darting up in surprise. "Y-yeah?"

Reina hesitates, then looks down slightly.

"…What do you know about Kazuya?"

Kiryuu blinks, caught off guard. "…K-Kazuya?"

Scene 2:

Got it! Here's Scene 3 with the fixed transitions replacing the headings, keeping everything else intact:

(The camera clicks on with a grainy static. The viewfinder shakes, struggling to focus before finally locking onto the back of Onizuka's head as he stretches and lets out an exaggerated yawn.)

"Alright, boys! Let's see what the world has in store for me today."

His three underlings—Ryo, Kenta, and Daichi—follow like baby ducks, one of them holding the camcorder way too close to Onizuka's face.

"Boss, today we document your greatness," Ryo says dramatically, zooming in so much that only Onizuka's nose fills the screen.

Kenta nods, throwing an arm over Daichi's shoulder. "A day in the life of Onizuka-sama. For the history books."

Onizuka scratches his head. "Sounds like a waste of time."

Ryo gasps, offended. "Boss, no! This is legacy material. Your future grandkids will watch this and weep in awe."

Onizuka smirks. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't get in my way."

(With that, the day begins—an unscripted documentary starring the self-proclaimed king of the school and his three devoted idiots.)

(A short while later, the group struts down the hallways, the camera wobbling with each step. Other students give them a wide berth, already used to their antics.)

"Boss, boss! What's the secret to walking like you?" Daichi asks, dramatically mimicking Onizuka's stride.

Onizuka stops mid-step, turning with a smirk. "First, you gotta believe you're untouchable."

Kenta nods sagely. "Like a god."

Onizuka grins. "Exactly. Then, you keep your shoulders loose, chin up, and always—"

Before he can finish, someone crashes into him. Hard.

(The camera jostles wildly as the lens catches the familiar face of Kazuya—eyes wide in sheer panic.)

"KAZUYA?!"

Kazuya curses under his breath and takes off running.

"GET HIM!"

(Chaos erupts. The camera swings wildly as the three underlings chase after Kazuya, knocking over chairs, dodging confused students, and nearly barreling through a teacher. Onizuka doesn't even flinch—he simply watches, arms crossed, as if judging their pursuit tactics.)

"I give 'em ten seconds," he mutters.

(Ryo and Kenta collide with each other, tumbling to the ground. Daichi keeps going but trips over someone's bag, faceplanting spectacularly. Kazuya vanishes around a corner.)

Onizuka sighs, shaking his head. "Three idiots, zero wins."

The camcorder, somehow still recording, zooms in on Ryo groaning. "Boss… we failed you."

Onizuka smirks. "Yeah, yeah. Get up before someone reports you for being a public nuisance."

(The chase might have been a bust, but the day continues. At some point, the underlings insist on shining Onizuka's shoes—right in the middle of the school courtyard.)

Kenta spits on the leather and starts furiously polishing. "Boss, you're gonna blind people with how clean these are."

Ryo nods, buffing the other shoe. "When people see these bad boys, they'll know true power."

A random student tries to pass by, but Daichi blocks them. "Halt. You approach Onizuka-sama. State your business."

The poor kid stares. "I just… need to get to class."

Ryo scoffs. "Denied. Unless you swear loyalty."

Onizuka rolls his eyes. "Let them go before we get another disciplinary warning."

(The student scrambles away as Onizuka's underlings finally let up.)

(Later in the day, the camera catches an unexpected moment—Daichi, red-faced, kneeling in front of Reina with a small box in hand.)

"R-Reina, I… I've liked you for a long time, and I was wondering if—"

Reina looks down at him, deadpan. "No."

The rejection is swift, merciless.

(A beat of silence… and then Ryo and Kenta burst out laughing.)

"BRO, SHE BARELY LET YOU FINISH!"

"I'M CRYING, MAN—"

(A scuffle breaks out. The camera drops, landing at an angle that catches the three underlings wrestling on the ground while Reina just walks off, unfazed.)

Onizuka sighs, stepping into frame. "Love's a battlefield, huh?"

Kenta groans. "Boss… give us wisdom…"

Onizuka smirks. "Women love confidence. They—"

Ryo cuts him off. "Boss, you've been single for years."

Silence.

(A split second later, Onizuka lunges at them, sending the camera spiraling. The last thing it captures is pure chaos—laughter, shouting, and Onizuka chasing his subordinates across the courtyard.)

(The camera finally shuts off. The day might be over, but the legend of Onizuka? That's just another chapter in an ever-growing saga.)

Scene 3: The Cafeteria – A Battlefield of Love and Lunch

(The cafeteria is alive with the usual midday chaos—students chatter over their meals, trays clatter, and laughter echoes from different tables. At the far end, the Student Council President, Tachibana Renji, sits with his legs casually crossed, attempting (and failing) to reason with his girlfriend, Fujisaki Sayaka, about her latest outfit choice. Across from them, Sayaka's two best friends, Nao and Yui, act as her personal cheer squad, nodding along to everything she says.)

The argument over pink continues as Renji loses his will to fight.

Renji: (leaning forward, exasperated) "Sayaka… please. Just once—ONE TIME—could you wear something that doesn't scream 'Bubblegum Gothic Royalty?' I'm begging you."

Sayaka: (sips her drink, unimpressed) "And why would I do that? So I can look like some plain, forgettable extra in a school drama? No thanks."

Nao: (grinning) "Right?! Sayaka-sama is a trendsetter, not a follower."

Yui: (nodding enthusiastically) "Besides, do you see how many girls are trying to copy her style? She's a revolution."

Renji: (groaning, rubbing his temples) "It's not a revolution, Yui. It's just pink. And frills. And more pink. And—"

Sayaka: (cutting him off) "And it's fabulous. End of discussion."

(Renji sighs in defeat, realizing he will never win this argument. He reaches for his drink, but before he can take a sip, Nao suddenly tenses, her eyes locked on something across the room. She elbows Sayaka dramatically.)

A new problem approaches with the speed of a school scandal.

Nao: "Oh no… Ohhh NO. Here come the crazy bitches."

(At the far end of the cafeteria, two determined figures weave through the crowd. Takanashi Mei and Shiraishi Rika, the notorious second-year disciplinary monitors, have locked onto their target—Renji. Their schoolbags swing wildly as they jostle each other, each determined to reach him first.)

Mei: (hissing at Rika) "Step aside, gremlin, I saw him first!"

Rika: (smirking) "Oh? Then why am I two steps ahead of you?"

Mei: (growling) "I will throw my shoe at you."

(Sayaka sighs dramatically, already done with the situation before it even starts.)

Sayaka: "They're getting worse. Should I start charging them rent for living up my boyfriend's ass?"

Yui: (laughing nervously) "To be fair… Renji is the most sought-after guy in school."

Renji: (deadpan) "I'd rather be unsought if it means surviving lunch without being ambushed."

(The two love-struck monitors finally reach the table, pausing for a split second to pretend they didn't just speed-walk across the entire cafeteria like maniacs.)

The usual excuses are made as the ambush begins.

Mei: (flipping her hair) "Oh! Renji-kun! Fancy meeting you here."

Rika: (leaning on the table) "What a coincidence~ We were just talking about how overworked you must be, being Student Council President and all."

Renji: (eyeing them warily) "Uh-huh… and?"

What starts as casual conversation quickly turns into a bidding war for Renji's attention.

(Mei steps forward, hands on her hips, full of confidence.)

Mei: "So! I thought… since you're soooo busy, I should help out! I'll do your laundry for you!"

Rika: (laughing smugly) "Oh please, Mei. Like you even know how to separate whites from colors. I will do his laundry. And I'll iron his uniform to perfection!"

Mei: (scoffing) "Ironing? That's cute. But I will wake up at the crack of dawn to make him a nutritious breakfast!"

Rika: (mock gasping) "Oh wow, so selfless. But you know what's even better than breakfast? Dinner. I'll bring him a homemade bento every day, perfectly balanced, tailored to his tastes~"

Mei: (getting desperate) "Well—I'll… I'll… I'll BUY HIM A NEW GAME! ANY GAME HE WANTS!"

Rika: (gasping dramatically) "You bitch! That's cheating!"

(Renji looks between the two of them, utterly exhausted, while Sayaka casually scrolls through her phone. Then, without looking up, she speaks—her voice calm, but carrying absolute authority.)

One sentence from Sayaka brings the chaos to an abrupt halt.

Sayaka: "Alright, that's enough. You two can get lost now."

(Silence. The monitors freeze. For a moment, the cafeteria seems to hold its breath. Then—)

Mei & Rika: (screaming internally, blushing furiously) "SHE SPOKE TO US—!"

(Before Renji can even process what's happening, the two girls run—not out of heartbreak, but because of the legend surrounding Sayaka. In the first-year circles, it is believed that if Sayaka Fujisaki acknowledges you, then boys will start noticing you more.)

(Nao and Yui burst into laughter, while Renji just stares, stunned.)

Renji tries to understand, but Sayaka already knows.

Renji: (blinking) "…What the hell just happened?"

Sayaka: (finally looking up, smirking) "I just made their whole week, babe."

(Renji slumps over the table in defeat as Sayaka's friends continue laughing. The lunch break continues, but the madness? That never really ends.)

scene 4: The School Day Ends—A Coincidental Encounter on the Rooftop

(The school day is winding down. Students are packing up, leaving in groups, and the halls are buzzing with post-class chatter. However, Kiryuu is nowhere to be seen. Cut to the rooftop, where Reina has cornered him once again.)

Reina: (nervously fidgeting with her sleeve) "I—I want to talk about Kazuya."

Kiryuu: (leaning against the railing, arms crossed) "You sure have a way of ambushing people."

Reina: "I wouldn't have to if you'd stop avoiding me!" (pauses, takes a deep breath) "Look, I know I don't stand out much. I'm not flashy like Sayaka or bold like those crazy monitors, but I really… I really like him."

Kiryuu: (glancing at her, silent)

Reina: (steadies herself) "I need your help. If you drop little hints, if you push him just a little… maybe he'll finally notice me."

Kiryuu: (exhales, rubbing his temple) "And what makes you think I'm some kind of love guru?"

Reina: "Because you know him better than anyone."

(Before Kiryuu can give his answer, the moment is abruptly shattered by the worst possible interruption—)

Kazuya: (from behind, smug) "Yo. What's this? A rooftop love confession? Man, I should've brought popcorn."

(Reina's face turns beet red. Without a word, she turns on her heel and bolts past Kazuya, practically sprinting down the stairs. Kazuya watches her go, blinking, then turns back to Kiryuu.)

Kazuya: (deadpan) "…What was that?"

Kiryuu: (shrugs, completely unfazed) "Nothing."

(Kazuya squints suspiciously, then sighs dramatically.)

Kazuya's Taunts and Kiryuu's Suspicious Behavior

Kazuya: "Man, you've been weird lately. Acting all dodgy, disappearing at random. Are you trying to pull some main character move? Like, making sure everything has a perfect ending? 'Cause if so, dude, you're way too committed to the bit."

Kiryuu: (raising an eyebrow) "And how exactly did you even find me up here?"

Kazuya: (grinning) "Glad you asked. Let me paint the picture—so there I was, in class, bored out of my mind. But guess what? The last period teacher was a no-show. So I did the logical thing and dipped early. But even after class ended, I noticed something weird—you weren't around. So I did some digging, asked around, and oh ho—word on the street was that you were up here. With a girl."

(He smirks, watching for a reaction. Kiryuu, to his credit, stays impassive.)

A Heated Argument Over Life Choices (And Kiryuu's Millionaire Dreams)

Kiryuu: (finally snapping) "You act like I'm up to something sinister when really, I'm just making sure my future isn't a complete disaster. While you were out running wild, being a delinquent, I was making sure I become a sure-bet millionaire. And maybe—just maybe—improving that future a little."

Kazuya: (mock gasp) "Whoa, that's deep, bro. But tell me—does this millionaire plan of yours include being a playboy, too? Or was Reina just a special case?"

Kiryuu: (smirks) "That's for me to know and you to guess."

(They both pause. There's a beat of silence—then they break into quiet laughter, the tension diffusing.)

The Walk Home and Kazuya's Mysterious Fidgeting

(They finally decide to leave the rooftop, heading toward the school gates together. But the entire time, Kazuya is patting himself up and down—checking his pockets, his sleeves, his jacket. Kiryuu finally notices and side-eyes him.)

Kiryuu: (raising an eyebrow) "Alright, what's with you? Did you take the hobo route home one too many times? You got bugs now or something?"

Kazuya: (offended) "First of all, rude. Second, I could've sworn I had my phone—"

(His eyes widen in horror as realization hits.)

Kazuya: "…WAIT. DID I LEAVE IT IN CLASS?!"

(Smash cut to the two of them sprinting back toward the school building as the sun sets, ending the scene with their panicked footsteps echoing in the empty halls.)