Inside the principal’s office Eizan was sitting on a couch across from the principal’s desk. Yokoyama Ichigo was staring at his file intently. “Can you tell me something Mr. Hashimoto? Why exactly did you not want the students responsible for your injuries to be held responsible? Through my own investigation I have pinpointed the students responsible. I could easily have them punished if you want.”

He grinned an evil smile “If I want the problem solved, I can do it myself.”

Ichigo’s face straightened at this ominous statement. “I don’t know what you’re planning but if you seriously injure someone on school grounds, I will have to take disciplinary actions.”

The smile on Eizan’s face grew “What if it’s self-defiance?”

Ichigo raised an eyebrow “Well, you would have to prove that you were not the aggressor.”

Eizan burst out laughing “Are you saying as long as it’s not on school grounds there will be no disciplinary actions by the school?”

The principal sighed “I have no right to dictate the lives of students outside of school. If a student gets into an altercation outside of school that’s a job for the police.”

The smile on Eizan’s face faded “Principal Yokoyama the reason I didn’t want any action taken is because it would affect this school and someone, I am fond of. Plus, how big of a reputation hit would I take if I crippled two sports teams at two separate schools. No university would ever take me in Japan. I would be seen as a ruthless delinquent who couldn’t keep himself out of trouble.”

“I see that would make sense and I do thank you for keeping the schools honor intact. But what do you plan on doing?”

“Actually, I don’t plan on doing anything if the perpetrators don’t attack again. It would be in your best interest to get control of your students. You wouldn’t want something bad to happen to them. I have done my own research and have ways to control them myself if I want but that requires owing that old fox demon a favor and I don’t want to do that if it can be avoided.”

“Fox demon?”

“Sometimes financial power can be far scarier than physical violence. Let’s just say I would prefer for this to not affect their families. Harming someone’s loved ones who have nothing to do with the situation is not in my nature. But if I let that old man do his thing, I can’t guarantee there won’t be collateral damage. His way of doing things is far too ruthless, if I hadn’t made a phone call from the hospital, I’m sure they and their families would have suffered. I don’t want that.”

A few weeks ago, the day he was hospitalized. Lying in a hospital bed looking at his father. “Dad, I need to make a phone call, you know what he could do If I don’t stop him.”

His father nodded his head “If that’s what you want, I won’t stop you.”

Eizan’s father handed him his phone. “Grandpa, long time no see. How have you been?” The conversation between grandson and grandfather lasted for a few minutes before he broached the subject. “Grandpa, as you know I’m in the hospital right now. I want to deal with this situation myself for the time being.” … … … “Yes, I know I’m too kind hearted, I think I get it from my mother.” … … … “Ok, thank you, I will come visit you this summer.” … … … “What, you are coming to Japan. I guess I will see you then. Goodbye.” He hung up the phone and nodded at his father.

Eizan’s father stared at him “That man still scares me. From the day your mother introduced me to him he has scared me. When your mother decided to separate herself from the family fortune, I thought for sure he was going to kill me. I claim I grew my company all on my own, but I know he was helping from behind the scenes. That’s the thing that scares me the most about that man, he moves in the shadows too easily.”

Eizan nodded “I agree, but I will say one thing about grandpa. He cares for his family and only wants what is best for them. I think he realized you were a good man father, that’s why you were allowed to take mother away.”

“I hope your right my son.”

Back in the principal’s office. “Should I give their parents a call and tell them to stop messing with you if they know what’s best for them.”

Eizan’s face had a cold look on it “You do what you want I won’t stop you.”

The principal’s forehead was dripping with sweat. Eizan’s cold ruthless stare had made him realize even more he wasn’t dealing with a normal student. “On second thought Mr. Yokoyama she would probably be happier if you did that. That way there was an opportunity for them to avoid all of this.”

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Yokoyama nodded. “Alright I will do just that. That’s all I wanted to talk with you about, you may head to class.” Eizan stood up from the chair and smiled he bowed respectfully and left the office.

Ichigo was lost in thought. He stood up from his desk and was staring out the window. "Izumi is right that boy is too sharp for a student his age. I could tell he was telling the truth. I’ve learned to read people really well. I think this was the first time I ever felt intimidated around a student. She did say he was probably the brightest student in her class. It seems he hasn’t even listened to a single lecture she has given. But he has gotten almost perfect scores on his tests. Izumi even believes he answered them wrong on purpose. Why would he do that? It doesn’t make any sense. Wait, maybe he just doesn’t want the attention. The number one student in school does normally garner extra attention. Could this be the reason?" He sighed "I guess I’d have to ask him if I wanted to know the answer. Well, time too make a few phone calls. I think I will start with Murata’s family."

In a large office across town a tall handsome dark-haired man was doing paperwork at his desk. The phone beside him rang. He studied the number on the phone for a few seconds and frowned. "I hope that son of mine didn’t cause any trouble at school. He’s a good kid but he can make rash decisions at times." He picked up the phone “Hello this is Murata Junichiro how may I help you.”

“Hello this is Yokoyama Ichigo your son’s principal.”

“Has my son done something I wrong?”

“Well, your son has taken part in violence against another student.”

“HE DID WHAT?”

“Honestly, Mr. Murata I don’t know exactly what happened. The student who was injured refused to say anything. But through my investigations I know your son is involved in this incident.”

“Is he going to face any disciplinary action from the school.”

“No. But I wanted to give you a warning. The student he is messing with is someone who should be left alone. It won’t end well if your son gets too deeply involved.”

“Can I ask who the other party is?”

“That student’s name is Hashimoto Eizan.”

Murata’s father’s eyes narrowed and he thought. "Hashimoto why does that name sound so familiar." He replied “Thank you, Mr. Yokoyama I am glad you called. I will take care of the issues with my son. I assure you he will not do anything like this again. I am sorry he has troubled you?” He hung up the phone and stood up from his desk. "Hashimoto… Why do I feel like this is a name I’ve heard before." He stared out the window for a minute letting his thoughts wander. “DAMNIT” That old fox’s daughter’s last name is Hashimoto. That boy better hope that’s not Cater’s grandson. He might have just ruined are whole family." He paced around the room hoping he was wrong. He walked over to his phone and made a call.

In a government office across town Mio’s father is talking to a young woman who is his secretary. His phone rings on his desk he waves his secretary away and answers the phone. “Junichiro what’s going on it’s strange for you to call me this time of day?” … “Slow down what’s going on?”

On the other line “What is Carter’s grandson’s name? You know the one he’s always talking about?”

“Why, do you want to know that?”

“Towa may have done something to that boy.”

“WHAT?”

“Apparently a few weeks ago they got into some kind of altercation.”

“Junichiro his name is Hashimoto Eizan.”

“…”

“Junichiro is Towa the reason that boy was in the hospital a few weeks ago? I heard from my wife and daughter that they went to visit him in the hospital. But apparently, he claimed he fell down the stairs.”

“That may be just an excuse that boy came up with. The principal called. He told me the boy refused to say anything. What the hell am I going to do?”

“Calm down. I will go talk to the boy. My daughter is staying with him at the moment.”

“She’s what?”

“It’s a long story.”

For the next few minutes Mio’s father explained the whole situation to him. He explained about the two marriage offers. How Mio had ran away before he even explained anything. How she vehemently refused to have an arranged marriage. He explained that she ran away too Eizan’s apartment.

“So, I guess Towa didn’t have a chance from the start?”

“I wouldn’t say that. She told her mother that she needed a month to decide. Mio knows Towa but this Eizan boy she has only known for a short time. I had planned to have her go to the marriage meeting with Towa first. Almost ensuring she would pick him, but now… it may be impossible. Let’s just hope carter doesn’t make a move. The fact that nothing has happened means either he doesn’t know about this incident or for some reason he has decided not to act at the moment.”

“That man could destroy my company and my family. I know we have a good working relationship, but the way he talks about family. I’m afraid of what he would do.”

“I’ll go talk to the boy tonight. I need to meet the man my daughter is staying with anyways.”

In class across town. Sano is looking at him “Damn Eizan are you catching a cold? How many times has that been.”

Eizan is wiping his nose with a tissue. “I don’t know why but I keep sneezing? Maybe someone is talking about me.”

“You did get dragged away to the principal’s office so I wouldn’t be surprised if someone is chatting about you.”