acquiescence

Satoru-san does not respond as they expected.

Usually, Ijichi or one of the managers under his purview are sent to handle matters Gojo is too busy to oversee in person. On rare occasions, it's an auxiliary member of the Gojo clan, carrying out the will of their illustrious leader.

This time, it's a member of a branch family. A vassal clan that served the Gojo in the days of nobility. 

A Kiyooka.

He enters the room, an air of regality following him. He possesses none of the Gojo coloring, but his features and height belay the relation.

"Are you Gojo-san?"

"No, but I'll stand in for these proceedings." His eyes settle on Megumi and Tsumiki, briefly studying Megumi's split lip and bruised throat. "Girls, you may leave; a car is waiting to escort you."

"They can't leave, and you can't dismiss them; we are their locus parentis," Megumi's homeroom teacher asserts. "A parent," Her lip curls, the stigma of parentless orphans, a bias she holds dear, rearing its ugly head. "Or guardian must be present for this meeting. Surely, Gojo-san is used to this. It has become a tiresome routine."

"You are correct." 

Megumi's homeroom raises her chin, smug and prim.

"This is the fifth time this has happened, a direct violation of ethics and the school's honor code," He directs his attention to the principal and raises his brows. "Your motto is the rules apply to some but not everyone. The victims are harassed and told to keep their heads down, and the assailants are given slaps on the wrists. In this case, both parties are at fault, but why is the accosted given the harsher punishment?"

"Fushiguro Megumi has a volatile reputation, so we take that into consideration and deliberate based on the incident report from both parties and witnesses," the principal relays calmly.

Kiyooka Kusaka smiles pleasantly. "But not the root cause of the incidents? Doing that would ruin the narrative you've spun."

"What narrative? Our due process is fair and accurate."

"That you are biased towards male alphas and betas. This school touts equality for all students, but like all institutions, it is a microcosm of societal values. Constant reports are ignored, sexual assaults are covered up, and more than one underage omegas has found themselves forcefully tied to an alpha against their will. All of these incidents have occurred on this campus or escalated here."

"Those are serious accusations, but where is your proof."

Not once has the principal lost his composure, unphased by the allegations laid at his feet.

However, Kiyooka Kasaka's smile becomes manic, and Megumi truly sees the relation. 

This is a stage, she and sister have parts to play, along with the alpha she rejected, his parents, the teachers and principal. But the playwright is the one pulling the strings, and Kiyooka-san is a willing participant delivering his lines with alpomb.

"Your transactions. Bribery, fraud, embezzlement."

The principal's composure finally cracks. A sense of vindication awashes her. She is blissfully ignorant of the corruption or chicanery taking place here. She only has her own experience and her role as the scapegoat for these encounters.

Satoru-san found mirth in this, but it appears that the joke died a horrible death.

"My name is Kiyooka Kusaka, attorney at law. This is hardly the place to discuss such matters, but you forced my hand," he says with a flourish. "Girls, you may leave. I think the other minors should exit left as well. The authorities are on their way."

---

The middle school they attend is in no way prestigious or ranked amongst the top ten in the prefecture and city. It was the school that allowed mid-year transfers after Megumi put three alphas in the hospital. Their previous middle ranked top in the city and high in the prefecture. This junior high school is middling but respected; this middle school did not pressure the teachers to change the grades of failing students in order to keep their reputation; this school did not cater to the whims of parents; this school did not take "donations" as bribes, this middle school meted out discipline equally for all students.

Or so they thought.

Megumi opens the car door and expects to see Satoru-san. She's annoyed and relieved. The driver, however, appears harassed.

"Young miss, please let me get the door."

Megumi scowls, "That frivolous idiot can't do anything normal."

Tsumiki deadlegs her, appearing unrepentant as Megumi flails and curses her.

"Please ignore her, Miura-san; sometimes I wonder if I raised her wrong-" "What the hell, Tsumiki!?" "-I did my best, and this is the thanks I get."

"I'm sure you tried your best young miss. Please get in the car. Gojo-sama has returned."

"Oh really?" She says, delighted. "You hear that Megu-chan, Satoru-san is back! I hope she brought back souvenirs!"

"You just want a designer purse-ow!" Tsumiki pinches her. "Goddamn it! I know you're mad-"

"I bet she got the war hammer you wanted; let's go!" Tsumiki shoves Megumi into the car and oohs and ahs over the elegant interior of the car. 

Megumi gets up from her hazardous position on the car floor and settles in her seat. She glares at Tsumiki with poisonous green eyes. "Are you done?"

"No," She smiles brightly, "When you learn descalation, I'll learn to manage my anger better."

"Are you blaming me?" Megumi seethes.

Tsumiki sighs, "I'm not blaming you; you can't help the way you look or how stupid our classmates are. I want you to realize you're stronger and faster than them. Every time you defend yourself, you're barely able to hold back. I want you to think before you choose violence."

"Violence is the only language they understand," Megumi mutters contemptuously.

"Maybe, but as an omega, people will always look at you first and point fingers. The more you fight, the more alphas will think they can conquer and control you. You're the kind of omega their dams hate, but the one they want so they can break you and have bragging rights," Tsumiki explains patiently. Megumi's stance remains obstinate, but she listens, understands and above all else knows.

Satoru-san told them this. 

Their benefactor might be an alpha, but she does not abide by fools, and her wards are a reflection of this.

"Yeah, I know," Megumi reluctantly agrees. "But I'm not a pacifist," she warns, "I'll never turn the other cheek. I've tried to be the ideal omega, tried to emulate you, but Tsumiki I'm only me, those omega stereotypes will never apply."

Tsumiki bites her lip. "You have to try."

"I refuse," Megumi resolves.