Chapter Seventy Five: What Belongs to the Dragon
I'm my own High School Rival: Christina's arc: Bend or Break
The first-period bell rang throughout the halls, followed by the sound of noisy students. But I didn't move. Instead, I stood in the bathroom with my consort's sister.
I made sure the bathroom was empty; some kids like to skip classes by hiding in the stall. I made sure that wasn't the case by announcing myself and opening all the doors.
Examining my reflection in the mirror, I fixed my uniform, ensuring I properly represented my clan.
"Ms. Tetsusen—"
Raising my right hand, I silenced her.
"Sakura, I've decreed that if we're to have this conversation, you should address me as sister-in-law, or not at all."
I lowered my hand and waited for her answer. Then I continued fixing my uniform, which was already pristine.
With this, she should be too discouraged to continue.
I closed my eyes for a second longer than I wanted. I cut sharply to Sakura, who stood close to the entrance of the bathroom. Her uniform was sloppy. She was sloppy.
"Sister-in-law, I would like to talk to you about visiting my brother today," Sakura said, with more resolve than I anticipated.
I smiled, running my fingers through my hair, pulling it back. I turned on the faucet and then lightly dabbed my face with cold water.
Everyone bends, eventually.
I turned to her. She was holding her left arm and staring at the wall.
"Sister," I said. "Why should I allow you access to my consort? You did oppose my claim on two occasions."
Sakura sucked her bottom lip in. Her face turned a cherry red.
"You owe it for embarrassing me, sister," Sakura said.
I rolled my neck.
"What are you talking about?"
"You kissed me…in the cafeteria. Now, every boy looks at me like, like—"
"As if you liked girls? Nonsense! Besides, how often does one get to kiss a queen?"
The late bell rang.
"This isn't funny," she said, voice slightly elevated. I glared. "I mean that my reputation is unsalvageable, and Antwon is going to ask for me sooner or later, so…please let me see my little brother."
"You mean that you didn't like my kiss… Well, I guess it only works on your brother," I said, smiling.
She gritted her teeth, as if she would bite.
Someone ran into the bathroom. "Oh, I've got to go, right now!"
She stopped dead in her tracks once she saw me. "Oh, my. I-I didn't mean to…may I use the; you know. If it's—"
I nodded my head to the stall closest to me.
"Thank you, Queen Tetsusen," the girl said, and then she rushed into the restroom, holding her bottom.
I stopped her at the door.
"You may sit, but don't you dare let any of that out until I'm gone, do you understand me?"
"Y-yes, Ms. Queen!" she said, and then she hurried into the stall.
That's disgusting.
"Sister-in-law, let's continue this conversation at a later time. This restroom won't smell too pleasant soon."
"I-I'm sorry," the girl said from beyond the stall.
"Fine, we'll talk at lunch," Sakura declared.
The nerve above my eye twitched.
Who the fuck is she to order me around? I should kick her impudent ass right here for—
A groan and a loud plop into cold water.
"I-I'm sorry…"
I sighed. "Then come to my table during lunch."
***
I dragged myself through the halls, still reeling from how poorly I fared during first period. The surrounding students bowed as I passed by.
I barely stayed awake during first period's economics. The only reason I managed was that Ms. Tanaka kept referring to the country's shipping, which my clan controls the ebb and flow of.
My pace slowed. Each shoe felt like an iron lockbox. Making it toward Rika's classroom was still possible, but the bell would catch me.
The bell had already rung.
I didn't need her class. Rika raised me, more so than Trish.
The hallway had nearly cleared out, save a few stragglers who bowed at a glance.
The checkered floor blurred beneath me, the pattern vibrating as my vision swam. I pinched the space between my eyes.
I'll rest after Rika's class.
I approached Rika's door and noticed that someone was standing outside it, speaking with the students inside the room.
She was short and stubby with wild hair tamed by a questionable bun. She stood in the doorway.
The woman glanced at me with calm, happy eyes that slowly came to recognition and surrendered to fear.
"M-Ms. Tetsusen," she stammered out. She turned sharply and began bowing repeatedly. Typically, I soaked in moments where any supposed authority figure lowered themselves before my magnificence, but I'm too fucking tired to deal with aimless posturing.
I rubbed my forehead.
"Stop that," I said, approaching her. "Who are you, and where is Rika Igarashi?"
She stopped bowing, but remained awkwardly in the doorway.
"I-I was waiting for you…you're not late, or anything. My name is—"
"I didn't ask," I said. "Now, answer my question."
Compliance! Why is that so hard?
"Oh…well, Ms. Igarashi is at the district's office, pending review for misconduct. I'm…not supposed to tell students that, but I don't want to lie to you, Ms. Tetsusen."
She covered her mouth as if to cough.
"So, I’m not sure if you are aware, but Rika Igarashi called out sick to fight someone,” she said, as if I didn’t know what Rika was doing.
I stepped closer to her, towering over her, and she backed against the doorframe, fearing what I would do next. The fear in her beady little eyes was enough to make me slap her.
“Ms., did I do something to offend you?” She asked.
“You’re blocking my way,” I said, seethingly.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” She turned to the side in a pathetic attempt to create space for me to pass by.
I pressed my fingers to my forehead.
Is she fucking serious?!
Smiling, I leaned in closer to her and said. “Just go inside the classroom, so I can sit down.”
”R-right. Should I announce you?”
Maybe I should make her go through the whole ceremony, but that sounds exhausting.
I stood up straight.
”No, these fools know who I am,” I said. I made a shooing motion with my hand, and she moved into the room.
***
My classmates were out of their seats, talking and joking as if Rika were dead; they didn’t have a care in the world.
But I wasn’t going to correct them. I couldn’t. No, let the substitute deal with the chaos Igarashi suppresses every day.
“Okay, okay. Quiet down, or I’m going to reach out to parents about your behaviors…”
The classroom erupted into pandemonium. The boys clustered close to the teacher's desk, gossiping about something trivial that wouldn’t change anything when the next day arrived, while the girls sat at their desks. Also talking, yet being more subtle.
I walked toward my desk. For the most part, students moved out of my way. I rubbed my forehead and bit my bottom lip.
Shit! I can’t rest in here if Rika’s ass isn’t here. I'll call Jade and ask her to speed up the review.
I stepped forward, and a boy stepped on my foot.
"Oh, I'm sorry—" Hino said, turning slowly into the realization of the mistake he had made. Without words, his body trembled before me, and I considered what I could have done to him. Then I considered Antwon and what Yua told me on the ride into Yamanashi.
***
Earlier on the car ride into Yamanashi…
"Yeah, so like I was saying, Christina. Antwon seems like the kind of boy you gotta be sweet on before he will open you up."
The leather seats, heated by the sun, produced a soothing aroma.
I rubbed my chin.
"Are you—sure, Yua?"
The car hit a bump, which lifted me slightly.
"Ms. Queen to be, trust me. If you move like your mo—Trish, he's going to run away again."
I looked up. I could only see the back of Yua's head, but I felt like she was smiling. But was she messing around, or was she genuine?
"But he invoked the final clause. What the fuck do I do now?"
The car shook, shaking us with it.
Yua didn't say anything, but the car slowed down.
I rested my elbow on the left-side window.
What do I do if I can't touch him when he's lying next to me, touching me?
"Well, one step at a time. You gota drop the queen persona you were born with. Remember, Antwon doesn't come from noble blood. Hell, he ain't even Kokiri born."
The car came to a halt, and Yua turned around.
"So this is what I want you to do, Your Grace."
***
"Your grace, I'm so sorry; I didn't mean to step on your foot; please don't kill my family!" he said, shaking with tears in his eyes.
I took an unexpected breath and found myself cradling Hino.
The classroom went quiet, and even the substitute stopped shouting commands at the students.
I caressed his smooth black hair, and the classroom erupted into whispers.
I may as well practice before I try this on Antwon.
"It's okay, Hino," I whispered. I leaned back just enough to see his eyes.
"I don't need you to bow or beg; I just need you to stay safe, okay?"
Hino's eyes grew wide enough for me to see my reflection.
"O-okay," Hino whispered back.
Damn you, Yua. If I knew you were this good at twisting the truth, I would have come to you sooner.
I released Hino, and he stood. His soft, submissive eyes hinted at the effectiveness of Yua's teachings.
"Now, go take a seat, Hino."
Feet shuffled, and the class found their seats.
"Wow," the substitute said. "How incredibly polarizing."
I walked to my seat, feeling the weight of my rule, and smiled.
I sat down and, eyeing the back of Nakamura's chair, considered whether resting my feet there would undermine what I just did. But she was shriveled up, probably crying over something innocuous.
"Okay…um. Ms. Igarashi left a detailed lesson plan for the opening of the next unit, and—"
The door slid open, and Rika Igarashi walked in. Her hair was neatly wrapped in a bun, and her pantsuit was pressed and well-worn. But the scars across her face were a nasty contrast.
She walked over to the substitute, and they bowed to each other, and then the substitute left.
Rika sighed, and Nakamura started sobbing softly.
What the hell is going on?
"Okay, class. Let's open up our textbooks and—"
Someone's phone went off.
"Must I remind you of the cell-phone policy?"
Another phone went off, followed by several others, and then mine.
I took my phone out to check it because I knew it was set to silent; it only buzzed for emergencies.
This just ended. The fugitive known as the Knife killer was subdued on the outskirts of Minobu by none other than Rika Igarashi. The same Igarashi who stood with Arkiri Akagiri. According to our sources, Igarashi chased the culprit after she attacked two of her students, leaving both wounded…
"For the last time, put your phones away before I take each and every one and send them to the front office!"
The classroom fell silent, and all eyes were on Rika.
"Well," she pulled a shoebox out from under her desk, "line up and drop your phones off here."
A student stood up. We waited quietly to see what he would do. Rika extended the shoebox.
The boy bowed his head and said, "Thank you, Ms. Igarashi!" Then the class stood and bowed their heads in reverence, singing praise for Igarashi.
Very good, Rika, but what will you do once the Dragon of the Iron Fan learns that you stole her glory?