Chapter 393
"All right, I'm supposed to inform you about the annual mid year dance next week," Setsuna said. "Though I'm sure it will be nothing but trouble."
"The mid year dance!" the girls all shouted.
"I forgot all about it," Mina said.
"A week isn't long enough to prepare for a social event of this magnitude," Serena said.
"Yeah, we deserve more warning then that," Raye said.
"Tell someone who cares," Setsuna said. "I'm sure you girls will think of something."
"That's not fair though, we've been distracted," Mina said. "By other things."
"Obviously," Setsuna said. "I don't want to hear it."
"What exactly is the mid year dance?" Ai asked.
"Simply the second most social event in school," Mina said.
"Aside from the end of the year dance," Raye said.
"Right, this is a vital component in any girl's life," Serena said. "Everyone must go, or face the consequences."
"I understand," Ai said seriously.
"I think they're getting carried away," Haruka said.
"They're cute when they're excited for no good reason," Michiru said.
"Indeed, but perhaps I should participate in this trial of life," Hotaru said.
"That is the wrong word for it," Haruka said.
"I wouldn't sweat it," Michiru said.
"Still," Hotaru said.
"This is all we need," Mike muttered.
"They always go off the deep end at times like this," Rick said. "I mean...it's insane."
"Am I assuming this is going to get worse as time goes on?" Taiki asked.
"We've just hit the beginning," Rick said.
"Oh..joy..this should be fun," Akiro said.
"Not even close," Mike said. "You'll be hating your very existence by the time this is over."
"The seriousness of the way you said that disturbs me, I can only conclude that you are serious and that things are really going to get out of hand," Akiro said.
"From rival to rival I give you my solemn pledge that with no subterfuge, we are in deep trouble," Mike said.
"What sort of trouble?" Seiya said. "It's just a dance."
"Ah, Seiya you have not heard the words of the class that came before," Rick said. "This will not be pretty."
"I've even heard about it," Greg said. "It's well..I can't even describe it."
"I find this all hard to believe," Seiya said.
"I don't," Yaten said. "Once have you seen the darker side to a girl, such as Mina, you understand what a girl like that can do."
"Yeah, but that's Mina," Akiro said.
"It's the same for all of them," Rick said. "Believe me."
"I think all of you are getting riled up over nothing," Sai said.
"You just wait and see Sai," Rick said. "This is no laughing matter."
Ironically most of the girls were off to one side of the room cackling madly.
"They seem to think to think it is," Sai said.
"That is not good laughter!" the rest snapped.
"Will everyone settle down, I've got a class to run here," Setsuna said.
"The mid year dance. God help us all," Principal Oksua said.
"I'm sure it won't be that bad this year," Miss. Haruna said.
"Yes, well..I doubt it," Oksua said. "Every year..the terror."
"Now that's not fair. The girls do get a little over animated, but that's just there way of experiencing the beauty of love," Haruna said. "A right every girl should have."
"Miss Haruna, I put you in charge of this dance to prevent those emotions from getting out of hand, do you think you can pull that off?" Oksua asked.
"Of course, but you have to understand the spirit of it all," Haruna said. "Though I guess as a man you don't."
"What I do know is that this dance always causes a mess, and I'm usually blamed for it. If it wasn't for the fact that we somehow manage to maintain a good reputation in other areas, though I'm not sure where we have that reputation at the moment, that I still have a job. Now...just keep the girls in line all right?"
"It's not so bad, I assure you, and I'll do my best," Haruna said.
"I pray that you do," Oksua said.
Haruna headed out.
"The die is cast," he muttered solemnly.
"I am so sick of this dance," Akiro said. "It's all I've heard about for four classes straight. I can only guess what lunch is going to be like."
"Ah..you don't know the half of it. It's time for the caucus.." Mike said menacingly.
"The what?" Akiro ask.
"A gathering of the two genders who meet to organize and declare their dates for the dance."
"They already have to know?"
"Well it gets all sorted out."
"How strange."
"You've got it easy," Mike said. "So do I, but things get really ugly later on."
"What happens?"
"That's when the people without dates get thrown into the mix.."
"Do I need to remind you all of an important point before this gets too out of hand," "Lisa Anderson" said.
"There's no way out of the caucus," Mina said.
"Yes..well..there should be for me!"
"Uh..well..but it would raise so many questions, if you weren't there," Raye said.
"You have to keep your cover," Serena said.
"I know how these things work," Lisa said. "I don't want to be around for them."
"Hmm..you're right," Amy said. "We really should let him be exposed to this."
"All right...we'll make up an excuse, but you have to get out on your own," Mina said.
"That's right," Raye said.
"That's hardly an issue," Lisa said and dashed down a corridor.
"What a mess," Haruka said. "I can only imagine what's going on down there."
"Yeah," Michiru muttered. "I think it's nice that they act like this, but in a way it's scary."
"How can you find it nice."
"It shows a passion, perhaps that needs restraint."
"It's nothing more than a status issue. I don't think it deserves this much attention," Haruka said.
"Maybe not, but they all seem to like it," Michiru said.
"HAH!" came a shout as the door swung open. Miss Haruna said.
"What is it Miss Haruna?" Haruka asked.
"You're avoiding the caucus, the sacred tradition of this school.." Haruna said.
"Uh..well..we're not interested," Haruka said.
"Yes, they can have their fun," Michiru said.
"You don't understand, the system doesn't work unless every one is there," Haruna said.
"I think it'll work fine," Haruka said.
"Yes, they don't need us around," Michiru said.
"You two don't understand, the lack of any student to appear is a punishable offense! It opens the dance process up to chaos," Haruna said.
"You're a teacher aren't you?" Haruka asked.
"Look you two, either you get down there or I suspend you," Haruna said.
"You can't do that," Haruka said.
"Sure can," Haruna said. "The honor of the caucus can not be tarnished by no shows."
"We'd better just give in," Michiru muttered..
Haruka sighed.
The two walked out.
"Now just one left to find," Haruna said.
Haruka and Michiru glanced at each other.
Meanwhile down in the cafeteria the male contingent was worriedly starring at the girls in another corner of the room.
"All right guys, we gotta be strong this year. We can't let the girls run over us," One of the many high school guys said.
"They say that every year, it doesn't work," Rick said.
"Well..uh..we have to try anyway."
"Look, let's just run for it," Mike said. "It's the easy solution."
"No good, we'd have to come back."
"I say we run and keep on running, this is scary," Akiro said.
"This is beyond belief," Sai said. "What are all of you thinking?"
"Look we gotta respect the traditions, they are sacred."
"They are a crock," Sai said.
"Yes, but not to the girls," Rick said.
"This is a bizarre experience," Taiki said.
"You shouldn't worry," Rick said. "You've got a date. Everyone with dates can breathe a sigh of relief."
"And everyone else, run for it," Mike said.
"No, Haruna will get ya, and then you know.."
The group all groaned.
"All right girls! Now that we're all assembled...or while Miss Haruna rounds up the deserters will begin the date claim!" one of the most popular girls in the school shouted.
"Date claim?" Ai asked.
"Sure, this is where we speak for who our date will be and make sure they're all accounted for," Mina said.
"What organization," Ai said in awe.
"Bring out the big board!"
A gong sounded somewhere.
"Oh no..the big board!" Mike hissed.
"Avert your eyes," Rick said.
The males all groaned as a group of hooded girls lead a large chalkboard on wheels into the room. They slid it into position. On the board was written every girls' name with a space beside it to put their date's name in.
"It's awesome," Ai said wiping a tear from her eye.
"You can feel it too can't you?" Mina said happily.
"Let the date claim begin!"
"I can smell you Lisa Anderson.." Miss Haruna said creeping down a hallway.
Geez..she is close. Lisa thought and crept around a corner. How am I going to get out of this one. Knockout gas? No..how could I?
Hmm...Lisa thought glancing at the men's room. No one would be in there. She dashed inside.
"Come out...I'll find you soon enough," Haruna said grinning evilly.
"Serena Tsukino!" the popular girl shouted.
"Tokyo University Student Darrien Shields!" Serena shouted.
"Ah an extracurricular,"
The crowd oooed.
"Ai Sakamoto!" the girl shouted.
"Akiro Tasuke!" Ai shouted back.
"Ah..a nice catch indeed."
"Mina Deveraux."
"The one and only Mike Leslie."
The girls all booed.
"You don't know what you're missing!" Mike shouted from the other side of the room. The girls threw things back at him.
"Raye Hino!"
"Rick Fujimori!"
Haruna stopped at the door to the men's room and starred at it.
She wouldn't...would she? Maybe...I have the authority to check. But I have to ask.
"Anyone in there!" she shouted. "This is Miss Haruna! I'm coming in!" She pushed on the door. It was locked.
"Ah! I figured!" Haruna said and pulled out a key. "I'm prepared for you!"
She turned the lock.
"Geez...she's gone too far really," Lisa said. "So I guess I'll have to do so as well."
She hurried to the window and pushed the window sill open and pulled a small cord out of his clothing.
I knew I could use this."
Haruna swung open the door.
"Got you!" she shouted.
"Not today," Lisa shouted and leapt out the window.
"Ah geez!" Haruna said and leapt after her. Lisa dropped down the side of the building.
"I'll get you!" Haruna said and dashed out of the bathroom and raced downstairs.
"Better make this quick!" Lisa said and dropped farther, the rope swung out.
"Ah..geez..I'm not that good at this!" She shouted realizing she was swinging right for the cafeteria window.
"Oh..wonderful!" she shouted and crashed through it skidding to the ground.
"Well that is an entrance," Mike said. "The guys all clapped."
"There she is!" the girls all shouted.
"This is not good!" Lisa shouted and leapt up and dashed for the door. The girls all raced after her/him..
"Well..that was an interesting course of events wasn't it?" Seiya asked.
"What is going on in here?" Oksua shouted running in the door of the cafeteria. He noticed the broken window.
"I knew it...I just knew we can't get through one of these dances without property damage," he moaned. "And what are all of you doing?"
"Cowering in fear for our lives!" the guys all shouted.
"I don't blame you," Oksua said. "Well...uh..carry on."
"What a debacle," Haruka said.
"So true," Michiru said.
"D.V. doesn't stand a chance,"Ayeka said.
"Why is Amy doing going after him like that," Haruka said.
"Amy is not herself," Ayeka said.
The others nodded.
"Girls! What's happening!" Haruna said sliding to a stop.
"The deserter's trying to get away!"
"Not on my watch! Come on!" Haruna said. "I'm granting all of you an exclusive hall pass to use whatever means are necessary to bring her in dead or alive!"
"Dead or alive?" the girls all shouted.
"Uh..I mean alive," Haruna said.
"Right!"the girls shouted.
"Head him off at the pass!" Haruna shouted.
"This is the worst day of my life," Lisa said and raced down a corridor. No choice but to run for home.
"Hah!" A crowd of girls said sliding in front of him.
"Sorry...for what I am about to do!" Lisa shouted and plowed through them knocking them left and right and hurrying towards the door.
"Seal the exists!" Haruna said.
"How are we supposed to do that?"
"I don't know," Haruna said.
"You're not going anywhere!" A large crowd said appearing in the front of the door.
"You must declare your date today!" they shouted. "Choose the man of your dreams!"
"That is not something I ever want to do!" Lisa shouted and charged. A brawl
erupted.
Back in the cafeteria.
"The festivities of the dance have really gotten off to quite a start ey?" Ayeka asked.
"No," the guys all muttered.
"Oh lighten up, in a week it will all be over," Ayeka said.
"So who are you taking Ayeka?"
"I get an exemption because my boyfriends away."
"Lucky you!" the guys all muttered.
Ayeka grinned.
"I just hope no one gets hurt," Ayeka said.
"The chances of that are very likely," Rick said.
"Yes, casualties are nothing new to this," Mike said.
"Surrender to your passions!" the girls all shouted.
"Not here I won't!" Lisa shouted. The girls charged again. Lisa kicked and punched sending them in all directions.
"So much for his pronouncement that this wouldn't become a Ranma episode," Serena said.
"Yeah, we can throw that one out the window," Raye said.
"I'm wondering..is it just possible that he might fight off every girl in the school," Lita said.
"I don't think he's that skilled," Amy said.
A girl flew by them and skidded along the floor.
"I hope this doesn't represent some unconscious desire on his part," Hotaru said.
"Yikes, now that's scary," Mina said.
"Girls why aren't you helping your schoolmates?" Haruna asked.
"We're in reserve, you know watching and waiting for an opportunity," Raye said.
"She's a tough one," Lita said.
"Oh all right," Haruna said. "But we may need you."
"YAH!" Lisa shouted and decked another group.
Soon afterward Oksua and Setsuna were headed down the hallway.
"I can't believe this Setsuna.." Principal Oksua said. "It's gotten so much worse. How am I going to explain this?"
"Lie perhaps?" Setsuna asked.
"Did that work for you?"
"Occasionally."
"Hmm..then maybe that' what I should do," Oksua aid. "Lie...no...I've done that before, they're onto me."
"Oh.." Setsuna said.
"Hmm..let's see how bad the damage is."
They rounded a corner and stopped dead in their tracks.
Girls were moaning everywhere.
"My god..it's a massacre," Oksua said. "I've never encountered such carnage since Patterson..no this is worse then even he could ever do."
Lisa stood in the middle of it all slowly collecting her breath and maintaining a defensive posture.
"Hmm..Miss Haruna, maybe we should give her a special exemption huh?" Serena asked.
"Maybe..that's a good idea," Haruna said in shock.
"Can I go now?" Lisa asked.
"Uh yeah.." Haruna said. In shock.
Lisa walked away.
Principal Oksua walked up.
"Patricia," he said.
"Uh yes..." Haruna said.
"Let's have a little talk in my office," Oksua said.
"Yes sir."
The two headed off.
"What happened?" Setsuna asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Raye said.
The other girls walked off.
The next afternoon.
"All right..I think we've finally settled all that...now we just need to find dates for the unclaimed," the popular girl said.
"Uh..but there are seventy guys," another girl said.
"Hmm..this was unexpected. Well we have two available girls."
"We're covered," Haruka said. "We expected this."
Steve and Yaten stood forward.
"Those are our dates," Michiru said.
"Why does Haruka keep going after Steve?" Lita asked.
"Do you care?" Seiya asked.
"No..no..I'm just curious."
"Why? Isn't it better he find someone else?"
"Uh..you're right.. " Lita said.
Seiya looked at her.
"Have fun Yaten!" Mina said.
"Oh it'll be wonderful," Michiru said. "You're my dream hunk," she said.
Yaten grinned back.
"Well that's it, everyone's accounted for."
"But what about us!" the guys shouted. "How can we be left in the cold."
"Sorry guys, the only girl left is Ayeka and she's Patterson's."
"Well we can't mess with Patterson," They all said. "He'll kill us."
"And of course Lisa has earned her exemption."
"No..it's not fair!" the guys said. "Please Lisa..give one of us your hand!"
"I'll be glad to," Lisa said making a fist.
"Be reasonable," the mob said.
"This could go south," Mike said.
"I suggest we step back," Rick said.
"We'd better back up," Raye said.
"Hmm..yes that seems to be a good idea," Serena said.
"Please....we need your help! We can't bear the shame of being dateless!" the guys shouted.
"I can't date all of you you fools!"
"We'll settle that later..please.."
"No!
They advanced.
"Come any closer and you'll pay for it!"
"Didn't he say something about this not becoming a ranma episode?" Mike said.
"Yeah I seem to remember hearing that," Akiro said.
"Please!" the guys shouted.
"That's it!" Lisa shouted and leapt forward. She spun kicked several boys on the first try and then went after the rest.
"What a maniac," Akiro said.
"You'd think he-she should be institutionalized," Sai said.
"He had been," Rick said.
"Yeah didn't you hear?" Mike asked.
"Doesn't surprise me!" Sai said.
"Burn in the fiery pits of the underworld!" Lisa shouted and threw another boy over her head.
"What a strange girl she is," the popular girl said.
"You don't know the half of it," Ayeka said. "Way to beat everyone up there Lisa!" she shouted.
"This isn't funny!" Lisa said diving out of the way of some lunging boys. "I swear someone's going to pay for this......" She stopped and landed on a table. Then she saw him.
"URAWA!" she shouted as the anger roared through her.
"Wha.." Urawa said and turned. Lisa leapt at him.
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