visiting royalty | kouhei hayami and tatsumori yamada

[wishuponthestars]

All of this was really quite tiring.

If it wasn't focusing on fulfilling Gamou's requests, avoiding upsetting any of the other Horoscopes, or dealing with Natsuji Kijima's antics, it was normal principal duties getting in the way of important things. While becoming principal of Amanogawa High School had at first been an excuse to keep Hayami in a position of power in the school, he'd slowly grown into his role and worked with it. The admiration he gained from students certainly helped to boost his ego, but more and more were the dangers of the job starting to become clear to him. The chairman's goal was getting closer. ... where would that leave him, once they finally reached it?

One of the jobs Hayami meant to keep up on was keeping track of any of his current projects. With Sonoda being sent away, he felt as though he'd been knocked down quite a few pegs as far as the respect he'd gained from Gamou. Now he had to try to rebuild it and none of his other projects were working out well. The only one he had now was Tatsumori Yamada, who had transferred from Amanogawa and claimed a kingdom for himself just far out of reach enough to be considered annoying. It meant Hayami had to drop everything else for a day just to check in on him. The stubborn ram couldn't be convinced to leave his subjects.

After finding a free spot in his schedule, Hayami had driven to Subaruboshi, intent on finding the other and checking the student's progress whether he welcomed the visit or not. All of these students trying to exert their power over Hayami -- first with Kijima and now with Yamada -- he was starting to get frustrated. Nothing seemed to be going his way.

Hayami's walk to the front gate of Subaruboshi was already gaining attention from a few students, though most of them didn't seem to give him more time than a quick glance. He forced himself to give his usual smile, hoping at least to keep his mask up long enough to give the impression that he had nothing whatsoever to do with whatever Yamada had gotten himself in to. Keeping his identity secret was something he'd like to do for a bit longer.

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[wishuponthestars]

"Hm." Hayami made an amused noise in the back of his throat, tilting his head to the side as he watched the other's back. While he hadn't planned on attacking the other and causing a show, it was too difficult to keep letting these slights go by unpunished. It was underhanded to do something in such a way -- he really preferred to be up front about his concerns -- but simple logic and kindness wasn't going to work on a student who was so intent on outright insulting him.

Removing his switch from his pocket, Hayami clicked it to activate his power, the only sign of him moving forward from the position he'd been in being the sound of the links on his staff. As soon as he was behind Yamada, closing only the few feet that had been between them, he swung the staff in front of Yamada's body and grabbed it with his other hand. The intention was to pin the boy there, unable to move his arms and with his back against Libra's chest. "It's unfortunate that you insist on such childish defiance."

[sheepwright]

". . ."

Yamada's hand was in his pocket. He could still press his Switch. However, Libra's grip on him was tight enough that Yamada couldn't be certain if morphing to Aries would achieve merely the effect of pressing himself tighter to Libra and his staff. Not certain at all if Libra couldn't move before Aries could use his sleep ability. If Libra managed to hit him before he could become Aries, then, well.

Long live the King. Yamada would much prefer to live at least long enough to finish his magnum opus. He stood still. "What are you going to do?" he said, the mirth and taunt gone from his voice.

[wishuponthestars]

Libra nearly sighed, forcing the staff harder against Yamada's chest. At the very least, the sadistic part of his personality would enjoy exercising a little bit of punishment. "Somehow, I feel I don't have your full attention." This was bad. He knew this had been a bad idea. The moment he stepped away, Yamada could easily retaliate and put him to sleep. Then where would he be? It was the perfect opportunity to take someone else's form to taunt him, as he would with others, but Yamada didn't seem to have emotional ties to anyone. That made things more difficult.

It'd been a quick, passionate mistake, centered on his desire for causing any sort of pain to the boy in exchange for how badly the other's words had stung. Hayami was far more sensitive about certain topics than he preferred to admit. If only it were so easy to force obedience.

[sheepwright]

Being crushed, even if not totally, was a very unpleasant experience, Yamada discovered. Even if it didn't hurt (a big, big if), being held like this was humiliating. He didn't like the feeling of being pressed against another body, especially not when certain parts were digging into his back. Was that a chain he was feeling against his shoulderblade? He'd never taken a careful look at Libra before.

Even after this, he didn't intend to. As soon as he got free.... "You have it now," he said. He'd add that Hayami was clearly not paying attention if he thought he didn't have Yamada's full attention after trapping him like this, but Yamada didn't want to taunt the man.

[wishuponthestars]

"Do not underestimate me, Yamada-kun. I've been far too kind to you. Just because I felt compassion towards you in the beginning means nothing if you don't learn your place. The chairman won't stand for this attitude and neither will I." Hayami already knew that Yamada at least knew to respect Gamou -- which was a very important part. If there was disrespect even at that level and Gamou felt no reason to keep someone around, he merely got rid of them. And while Hayami didn't care for the way he was being treated, it was a combination of compassion for his student and compassion for his project that he felt protective of the boy. To have such a kind gesture thrown back in his face infuriated him. It was the same attitude Kijima had taken with him when he'd offered to help the other learn his way.

The words he spoke to Yamada were much like the words Gamou had spoken to Hayami in the beginning. Even Hayami had been thrust back into place following a swift and harsh punishment from acting in a way that wasn't appropriate for the mission. It was only fair that he would do the same for Yamada.

"I will not tolerate being looked down upon."

[sheepwright]

Yamada was reasonably certain that Hayami couldn't see him smirk. So Hayami would take a promise of obeisance by force? It was not unlike what Yamada was doing, if Hayami thought Yamada thought he'd appreciate it. The key difference being that Yamada wasn't delusional enough to think that his subjects would be loyal to him, not matter how often he framed it as if they should. Yamada was well aware that fear was what he controlled the school with.

In addendum. Hayami must not realize that even kings could lie. Unless Hayami felt like staying here to oversee Yamada, Hayami couldn't control him. Even the false obeisance amounted to nothing if Aries could bring Libra to his knees. Which he could. They were only in this situation because Yamada had made the foolish mistake of allowing Hayami to manipulate him. Another such instance would never happen again.

"So you say. Are you finished with your speech, principal?"

[wishuponthestars]

Libra, of course, had started this situation purely out of the anger he couldn't push aside anymore. His temper had always been something that he'd tried to keep in check and failed miserably with, sometimes even when it came to being around his superiors. He also didn't expect that Yamada would swear loyalty or praise him or speak positively of him at all. False confessions meant nothing, but he was intent on letting the boy know how serious he was about this. Though sometimes, Hayami knew that even hearing a lie would make him feel better. It was the way Gamou had always kept him in line, after all. Hayami was sure the man didn't care for him at all other than what good he could do at his job.

Giving up for now, Libra took a step back and moved to deactivate his switch, though barely a second passed before he changed his mind, shifting his appearance instead. He wouldn't run just yet. He trusted his reaction time enough around Yamada, though he acknowledged that it could easily be a mistake.

"I believe that will do for now." The voice sounded just as familiar as Hayami's, but it was completely different. If there was no one else to copy, it only left Hayami one choice. As he walked around Yamada's side, he kept one arm across his stomach, the elbow of his other arm resting on his wrist as he gave the boy a small smile. How strange it must be to see a mirror image of oneself, the finer air of them clearly unfamiliar.

[sheepwright]

Yamada reflexively took a step back. For a moment, he could do nothing but stare. Had there always been a mirror in this hall—

He looked both ways; Hayami had disappeared. So this was one of Libra's abilities? Was the copying meant to make up for Hayami's weaknesses? In that case, there were much worse people for Hayami to imitate. Despite thinking so, Yamada was annoyed. There was something about being copied that set all his senses irate. Yamada was Yamada. There was only one of Tatsumori Yamada. What did this half-baked doppelganger think he was doing?

"An amusing trick, principal," Yamada said, pulling his Switch out of his pocket.

[wishuponthestars]

There was a smirk on the copy's face as he circled the original. Hayami had known how much being imitated would irritate the other. It was like copying a great work and trying to make something of it while practically making a mockery of the original. The smug look didn't leave his face even when Yamada removed his Switch.

"If you want to come after me, then you're going to have to be brave enough to leave the safety of your kingdom." It was a very risky gesture, but Hayami's temper really was so difficult to keep in check at this point. Maybe appealing to Yamada's temper and sense of retribution would be the only way to get him to follow orders.

Just a moment after Yamada removed his Switch from his pocket, Libra pulled the staff out of thin air, striking it on the ground as he disappeared completely. It would take no time at all to retreat when Yamada couldn't see him, but he wanted to leave feeling as though he'd regained some sort of upper hand.

[sheepwright]

Yamada lowered his arm, the annoyance clear on his face. He'd wanted to put a stop to Hayami's mockery by putting him to sleep, but Hayami's comment about chasing him rankled Yamada. Of course he wasn't going to chase him; what he'd wanted was for Hayami to get out of his kingdom. Well, that goal had been accomplished, but it hadn't been due to anything Yamada had done, not even commanding Hayami to go. The principal had left on his own, taking the last word.

The Hellish Playwright had lost control of the scene. This was not the appropriate ending for one such as him. He'd call out the true final line, but without any indication that Hayami was there to hear it (and no one else around to hear it, either), the line fell flat. Next time, he swore. Next time Yamada wouldn't allow anyone to touch the pen; he'd place his actors under his control first.