I awoke to the fresh morning air, a gentle breeze rolling through the open window and kissing my skin. The afterglow of a wonderful evening remaining freshly in mind, a memory that was almost perfect.
Tch.
Way to spoil the moment…
Throwing the covers off, bounding for the bathroom, turning the dial and hot water immediately shot out like a geyser melting the stress and fatigue from my shoulders.
Droplets rolled from my skin trickling down the ends of each individual hair onto the porcelain drain, collecting by my feet like a basin.
She didn't say anything. Otherwise this would've come to an end already.
So, who was it?
Mishima? Sakamoto? Ann?
Or… Him? Getting in my way again?
Whoever it was… I'll break them the same as everyone else.
The gauge squeaked as the pressure released, the hot water dripping the last vestiges as steam filled the room. Wiping the mist from the mirror, my own face revealed to me.
Uhuh, uhuh.
Looking good today.
Hair. As youthful as ever!
Skin. Practically glowing!
Eyes. No bags hiding under there!
Where's that beautiful smile? There she is!
Physique. Like a Greek statue!
Breath?
…Definitely need to brush. Wouldn't want to make her experience something so vile.
Applying minty gel to the brush I moved back and forth scrubbing each and every nook and cranny of my pearly whites and then the tongue. Gently, gently now. Can't go brushing like a madman, what if I damage those gums? That great dazzling smile of mine will turn to ash in that event. A tragedy for everyone, for sure.
3, 2, 1!
And that's 2 minutes on the dot.
Initial checkup good.
Double check.
Teeth, nice and clean.
Eyes, full of life.
Skin, glistening and vibrant.
Muscles, do I really need to ask?
Hair, all goo-
…
…
Time taunted me.
I ripped the thread loose, looking at the filthy greyed string with disdain before washing it down the drain to never be seen again.
Not yet.
I haven't had my fill.
[Phantom Opera: White Soliloquy]
"Thanks for helping out with tidying up Ayanokouji!" Kamoshida's cheerful features burst into a heartening smile. He didn't look bothered at all.
I turned away continuing to stack equipment in a clustered section of the small storage room.
"It's no issue, sir."
"I sure am glad that I've got reliable students like you to turn to."
"It's no problem."
"Have you been getting accustomed to the school. Made many new friends during your stay here?" Innocuous questions oft led to more invasive ones. Already having firsthand experience of Kamoshida's interrogative prowess assured me of this.
"A few, yes. I'm beginning to get used to it." Thanks to the club, student council and the acquaintances I had made along the way I was gradually broadening my horizons, speaking to more people. Interacting more than I had previously attempted to.
"Speaking of which I've noticed you speaking quite a lot with Suzui-san as well. Maybe making more than friends, eh?" He chuckled, quietly placing other goods on a shelf, watching me in his peripheries. The playful conversations one might experience with friends of the same age. Not that it wasn't convincing, but in the same way Hoshinomiya-sensei's act was always discordant with her age, it just made me feel strange.
"…There's nothing like that going on between us." It's hard to imagine he even knew where she was at this moment. Which was all the more worrying, considering he appeared to be in complete control of the situation. Foolhardy or adaptable? Only time would tell.
"No need to be embarrassed. I was once a boy as well; I know all about the need for romance. It manifests naturally in places like this."
"Whatever you say, sir." Beyond my usual self, I couldn't contain a sense of disgust with the glibness he uttered that statement, memories of this morning racing through my mind despite my better judgement.
"Hey, I might be a teacher but I'm not against talking about such things y'know. Just don't take the locker room talk too far. Haha!"
"If there were anything to talk about."
"Truly?"
"Yes. There's nothing between us." That's right. Just an obligation to do what I promised. Nothing more, nothing less.
"And club activities… I know I've given you more stress with the student council, are you managing alright?"
"My responsibilities have no doubt increased, but I'm getting by at the moment."
"And you're managing your stress just fine?"
"I have my outlets. Are you implying something, sensei?" He slowly moved towards the entrance of the supply closet, the only one. A click resounding through the silent room.
"I'll just come out with it. The fire alarm went off yesterday after practice, you wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" The same placid grin stitched into his lips.
"I heard it, but didn't think much of it, as I was already on my way out of the school."
"Really? The camera footage that I rolled back had you near the school entrance fire alarm as it was pulled, just a coincidence?" He had access to the cameras? Or was it just a guess?
"Who's to say it was a fire alarm that was pulled, perhaps a smoke alarm was activated?"
"The system's automated to call the fire department in that event, pulling an alarm requires a manual call." It was a sensible answer, a reasonable one as well. It didn't make it the truth though.
"And you're saying the fire department didn't receive any calls from the school, I presume?"
"Obviously."
"What a conundrum, perhaps a student felt like playing a prank?"
SLAM!
His fist rested against the wall, a small crack where his hand had impacted.
"Wasting a year and change worth of progress isn't a prank!"
"…"
"WELL?! Don't fucking play with me. I know it was you. You've had your filthy eyes on her since day one, know your goddamn place."
"…And where would that be?"
"Beneath me."
How bold.
"And what's stopping me from telling everyone else about this?"
"The same thing that stopped you from opening your mouth yesterday. The same thing that will make certain that you don't say a single word about this to anyone. I have what you want, right in the palm of my hand." Why was he assured I wouldn't talk yesterday? It was the one question I had yet to arrive at a confident answer for.
"…"
Noticing my silence he stretched across the room with each pace, the floorboards creaking with the irregular yet calm footfalls eventually coming to a rest a few inches before me. "How reassuring, I guess I was worrying about nothing at all. You know for a second, I was actually wondering whether those other kids had decided to take a chance on you, a stupid crazy plan, for sure. It might even work. But you forgot one thing… Do you know what that is?"
"Enlighten me."
"I own you all. Seriously, worrying over some kid… God, what am I doing?" His voice a mere murmur.
"…"
"Y'see I was a bit worried that someone had taken the sweet honey that I had saved for myself all this time. Instead, it was just some chicken shit brat playing hero." A derisive sneer evident on his features.
"…"
"I've seen the way you look at her. I'm not stupid, but you're telling me you haven't even had the thought of tapping that. What a joke! Kids these days have no guts. No need to complain, though. Makes things easier for me."
"Makes what easier for you?"
"What I'm saying, dumbass." He pointed his index finger at my head, the dull thud of his pointer knocking on my temple a few times. "Is that you are gonna follow. Every. Single. Thing." He punctuated with a single thrust each and every syllable. "That I tell you to do from now on. Otherwise, things are going to end very, very badly for a certain girl."
"..."
"There's no need to kick yourself in frustration. You aren't the first to fall for it, you certainly won't be the last either." He snickered abruptly, a layer of mirth visible in his gaze.
"Looks like I owe Sakamoto an apology."
"Just made me remember, I'll have to do something about him… Nah, not worth the effort, not like anyone'll listen to him anyway. I can still remember when his mother came to the school. She kneeled in front of the entire committee to get his expulsion annulled, what a laugh. I've got to admit though, the sight of her kneeling had me going. I can only imagine the pleasure I would've felt if it were in private. Maybe I'll make a home visit this time. Get my recompense for another fuck up of his. He could use a father figure after all!" I rushed towards him, hitting him square in the chest, the wind knocked out of his lungs for a moment. The spontaneous confrontation taking his eyes off of the surroundings, narrowing them on the immediate threat in his vicinity. Me.
He coughed multiple times as I grabbed his shirt by the collar peering into his eyes.
"Ugh." He wheezed once, coughing again as he struggled to gain back his breath. "That was a good hit… Suppose I should take you a bit more seriously than the other idiots."
"Whether you take me seriously or not wouldn't matter. I think I'll be doing the school a favour by stomping you out here." My tone completely even.
"Frightening." He laughed excitedly. "Yeah, you're not normal. But… I'd be careful of that if I were you. You continue with that frame of mind then I'll do exactly as I said. You'll be expelled for violence; Sakamoto will be expelled for his fiasco. I'll make sure Shiho…"
"You'll take away her place on the team? I don't really care; volleyball isn't worth that much. She'll find other things."
"Who said anything about her position? I'll show everyone, everywhere I go; this right here. She won't be able to take a step outside ever again. I'll make sure these photos follow her for her entire life!" A few pictures fell onto the floor from his pocket. All of Shiho. Some with alcohol in the frame with her. Others… well it certainly isn't something that a teacher should keep on their person. As I was looking at the photos on the floor, I let go of his collar. Immediately his knee flew up into my abdomen, followed by a right hook to the cheek.
"Ahhh! I've been waiting to do that for a while… Whoops. Can't go bruising you too visibly… Though… I suppose that's what you get for not respecting your elders, huh? Don't think that these are the only ones either. A great many people are depending on you now, Ayanokouji. Too many people's pride, secrets and peace of mind ride on your decision. Just think… this very school will fall apart, depending on your decisions. Lives in the balance effectively cut short. Don't think that just remaining shut inside their houses is the worst of it, the amount that'll take their own lives is no joke. It's probably the only time people will ever be relying on a pissant like you for anything, so you should thank me. Go on thank me. Or else I'll spread it all." Did he even understand that this threat might be meaningless. I doubt it even occurred in his mind…
"…"
"Need I repeat myself?" Not only was he incumbent on breaking other people, but he also enjoyed it. He relied upon a strict hierarchy that he could distinguish. That was the reason for his behaviour, I was sure.
"…Thank you, Kamoshida-sensei."
"Good. From now on you are going to follow my every decision. In return I will do no more to Shiho, that's my bargain." Scared of a suicide gambit?
"This hardly feels like a negotiation…"
"It is. Up to you to accept. Of course, you know what'll happen if you don't…" He waved the pictures in my face.
"And if I chose to just take you down now? What if I don't care about any of their privacy? It would ruin your entire plan."
"That's exactly why Shiho is in the deal." He slapped the wad of pictures against my shoulder. "Frankly, you scare me a little. It's not every day a belated hero comes my way. Such a virtuous spirit, a body that continues to take the brunt of other's pain. Go ahead, try it. Can you go on living knowing that after you do a single thing against me all of those people's lives are forfeit? No. You aren't going to do a damn thing! I see so much as a toe out of line, I'll release it all." He grinned maniacally, his eyes glazed over slightly in elation.
"Do you believe I'll simply avert my gaze from now on?"
"I couldn't care less. You won't do anything whilst Shiho is there for collateral. That's for damn sure. You're a man just like any other. You can't betray thinking with your dick. If you actually got some action, maybe you'd stop worrying over a simple set of holes. But here we are." Trophies. Trophies… right. That's all they were. Objects. Even the ones that he was saving for later.
"…"
"I have what you need in my grasp. And you will do anything to get it back. And that's exactly what you'll do from this day forward. First things first, you will come to my office after practice. There, I will get my assurance. If you don't turn up or do as I ask tomorrow, then you know what'll happen. Don't keep me waiting." Grabbing the last few incriminating photos from the floor he slowly walked away stopping at the door.
"You can't afford this trouble, can you? After all, you are on probation. Think hard about it…" He unlocked the door and left me behind.
…
She'll be fine.
…
An eerie silence loomed for a moment, the uncomfortable sensation of eyes pervading through the enclosed walls.
Am I playing in their hand?
Taking the phone out I peered at the familiar app, the same piercing gaze reflected at me.
Win or lose, the hands were dealt and the chips set.
There were no retries.
[Phantom Opera: White Soliloquy]
Finally… It's over.
I can rest.
But why… is it still so cold?
I opened my eyes, a strange feeling shook my body.
Unfamiliarity, yet this strange sense of sameness. It was dark, an atmosphere of malevolence, as if the sky was overtaken with misery. Clouds cried out against a dark void of sky, a monolith of a castle stood imposingly, the spires almost threatening the sky like daggers piercing through its underbelly.
What is this?
A prison?
Hell? Am I to be judged here by the oni depicted in legend? Perhaps they'd beat me black and blue or scrape out my entrails like they were often described… Anything was better than that place.
And yet this place gave the same sensation of foreboding, a reflection of that school, of his territory.
Even in the underworld there was no escape. Maybe he was the warden of hell, and I was destined to be punished for the rest of eternity for the great sin of trying to escape his hold.
Why…
Just why did everything go his way?!
Loose pebbles rolled as my legs pushed against the rough cobbles, a sharp and sudden pain shooting through my leg all the way from the ankle, a ghastly purple bruising around the joint, the skin surrounding it remarkably swollen.
"Ngh…" It hurts. I can't even stand.
Where should I even go?
Should I go anywhere?
I just wanted to rest, not have to think about any of that….
The sense that danger was all around me gripped me at the core, all of it emanating from the huge wooden doors of the palace stood before me.
Why?
I'm… just so tired…
It was only at this moment that I noticed… I'm alone again.
That sweet moment which I wanted to hang onto was slowly leaving me, the warmth that innervated my being was slowly lost to the surroundings. The phone abruptly silent, his voice no longer calling out through it.
How long have I been here?
The bruising indicates probably a long time… what was even the point of bruising in the underworld?
Maybe they were just laughing at me?
Perhaps it was their way of telling me there was no running away anymore…
I couldn't quite stifle the shiver that leapt down my spine.
Ayanokouji-kun, Ann, Ryuji. It'd be nice to see one of you. Though I guess that would mean they were gone too… Maybe it's for the best I can't see them then.
I just hope they can escape from him, that my sacrifice meant something…
…Sacrifice.
Peering at the injured ankle through half-lidded eyes, I scoffed a little. Guess, I was giving myself a little too much credit.
"Only one way forward…" Speaking out loud despite the lack of an audience spurred my resolve slightly.
"Guess, there's no need for all this in the afterlife…" Leaving behind my bag and cell phone, the latter making me rethink if even for a moment. I had to leave them behind, it was my choice after all.
Slowly, at a snail's pace I made my way to the grand entrance of this ominous looking castle. Loose stones dug into my flesh, leaving imprints, the fresh glancing scrapes of jagged rock carving over me like thousands of tiny knives.
Breath grew ragged and unstable as the distance shortened at a depressive pace. I'm sure whoever looked down upon me was enjoying themselves, some cruel twisted game of fate as I helplessly clawed at the ground to make any sort of headway.
The coarse stone scraped along my knees and thighs as I pathetically dragged myself towards the door. Thin, quiet, thuds echoing from my aching knuckles as they impacted the heavy oak. Tears welling in my eyes as the destination finally came within arm's reach.
"Who dares-!" A monstrous figure opened the gates. A behemoth made of iron, with a soulless mask void of any emotion. A huge sword and shield brandished at the ready.
I swallowed slowly, the tears gradually falling to the ground.
I made it…
You forced me to crawl all that way, so finish it already!
Forcefully he gripped me by the neck, dragging me up to his level, oxygen struggling to flow through my body.
Weakly, I punched the steel armour. Even if it wouldn't hurt them, even if it was completely pointless. I just wanted to hit something.
"I don't know who you think you are, but-" His other gauntlet gripped at the hair covering my face, shifting it aside so he could get a good look at my face.
Peering up for just a moment, I got a glimpse of his helmet, the soulless void that greeted me at the door.
I really must be in hell.
Because that armour looks empty.
My vision is fading…
I went through all that effort, to go out on my own terms… and this is how it ends?
It's… such bullshit.
"T-the Queen betrothed, quick assistance-!"
Finally… I closed my eyes and let what little peace I could, wash over me.
---
Word count: 3260
Not the proudest of this chapter, feels like some of the dialogue between Kamoshida and Ayanokouji is a bit clunky, but it works, I guess.
Kamoshida is for all intents and purposes actually insane. Yes, he's smart in this fic but having the idea to assault almost every female member of your junior volleyball team is always going to end badly. In my mind Kamoshida first went into this through pure distorted desire, little planning, and managed to get away with it through utilising blackmail and deals. He's just gotten better at dealing with it through the years. As such his first response to possibly getting caught isn't one of excessive worry. He would notice that nothing of note has changed in school and then realise he has an opportunity to turn it around like other events in the past.
Kamoshida's plan is only really effective if he himself is ready to put everything on the line. To me this makes more sense than relying on Kobayakawa for protection. Because like I stated in the earlier chapters of this fic, this would be the single biggest example of child abuse in the country, even the guy that Kamoshida is supposedly based on was arrested pretty shortly after he became a high school coach. And he was a two-time gold Judo medallist. Though, I don't know enough about that case to say just how prevalent his crimes were.
If you're that interested in the guy: Masato Uchishiba previous gold medallist for Judo which may be the inspiration for Suguru Kamoshida. Won in 2004 and 2008 but was acquitted of his honours in 2011. Stated to have sexually harassed a/multiple(not sure) members of the female judo team he coached in 2011. Sentenced guilty of rape in September 2011. Deemed unreliable by court and sentenced to five years prison time.
Hopefully you all enjoyed the chapter, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Until next time.