Author's Note: Dear Lord has it been 7 months already?!
As luck would have it. Hibari's new fish-faced manliness tutor was nowhere to be seen when we woke up for school today. I was half expecting for him to start instructing them from the crack of dawn.
No nitpicking Hibari's appearance or imposing mandatory masculine mannerisms, which was good. It was way too early in the morning for that level of shenanigans anyway.
Hibari was likewise unconcerned when I asked them about their new predicament. They were convinced whatever this Spartan Dragon throws at them, they'll be able to handle it. I had some doubts but decided to let it slide then, Hibari seems capable of handling her own battles.
So we went to school as usual, chatting about nothing in particular and being subjected to our daily dose of the 'Shiina Experience'
Standing in front of a street mirror, a cigarette smoking Makoto Shiina hastily checked his hair .He woke up late today and had only done the minimum amount of hair styling before leaving home this morning.
He gave his reflection a grin after making certain that his trademark Shiina look was in awesome condition. Also reflected on the far end of the mirror was the object of his affections.
Hibari Oozora was the prettiest babe in all of Wakaba High. What with her beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes, her melodious voice and a body that while not as curvy as some of the other girls, sat in the middle between hot and innocent that drove him and the other boys wild.
Sadly, the picturesque image of Hibari's presence was somewhat ruined by the unwelcome addition of Kousaku Sakamoto.
Despite his open dislike for the gangly teen, Shiina admits that Kousaka wasn't a bad guy a week after his transfer to Wakaba. Bit of an oddball that uses words that don't make sense, though nothing past the point of annoying.
The problem was as far as Shiina knew, Kousaku had only moved in with the Oozora for less than a month and already he and Hibari were acting like best friends. Best friends who on occasion, flirted with each other.
It made Shiina's blood boil. If Hibari was gonna flirt with anyone it ought to be her boyfriend, which would be Shiina….eventually.
Worse still was that every time Shiina had vocally expressed interest in Hibari whether it was to ask her out or compare himself as the alpha male. Kousaku was unfazed or even glip about it, like he was subtly saying that no matter what Shiina tries, it won't make a difference.
Well he'll show him one of these days. Maybe even today if he played his cards right, that was the attitude he carried when he approached them.
"Morning Hibari-chan, you're looking cute as ever." he greeted.
"Oh, Hi Shiina." She smiled. Nice, that's gotta mean something.
"Kousaku." Shiina uttered the bare minimum of a greeting.
"Morning to you too Shina." replied the nuisance. "...you smoke?"
Shiina puffed with pride. "Yeah, I can't start the day without my morning smoke." which wasn't entirely true, 'every other day' just didn't sound as cool.
"You really should think of quitting, those aren't good for you." Kousaku cautioned,
the wimp.
"What are you, my old lady? This stuff's nothing, sides smoking's pretty manly." Shiina tried to earn some additional style points in Hibari's eyes by attempting to blow a smoke ring.
Though that idea was shot before it left the gate as he was too hasty in his attempt that he inhaled more than he should have. Resulting in a frankly pathetic coughing fit.
Kousaku drew back from the unhealthy display. "Yeeesh, If getting lung problems at 30 is manly then I'd rather put on a dress and call myself Koko."
Shiina sputtered out another cough.
"You can borrow one of mine, Koko." Hibari said with great enthusiasm.
Kousaku had crossed his arm and laid his palm on his cheek, looking very much like a worrisome woman."I
was eyeing that nice sky blue piece you bought yesterday, do you think it would match my skin tone?"
Hibari nodded. "Definitely, maybe even more so if we applied some makeup on you."
"Then I leave my fabulous~ self in your capable hands, Hibari."
"Anything for my number one girl." Hibari shot Kousaku with a wink which had him swooning with both palms on his cheeks like an exaggerated caricature of a love struck maiden.
Shiina grew frustrated, this was his competition? A would-be crossdresser with a dramatic streak? Would Hibari like him more if he put on a dress instead?
No, Shiina squashed that last traitorous thought from his mind. There are some lines he'd never cross, even for Hibari. He'd find other ways.
Sadly, one of those ways was not to work through his frustrations in a healthy manner.
"Damn it, you piss me off." He lifted Kousaku by the scruff of his shirt. The situation felt awfully familiar to one of them. "Don't you have any pride as a man?!"
"Shiina, Shiina, Shiina, listen." His rival tried to placate him. "Let me give you some pearls of wisdom. Sometimes it takes a real man to be the best girl."
"What kind of wisdom is-!?" Shiina suddenly found his legs sweeped under him, his ass met the pavement soon after.
"The kind that's used as a distraction!" Kousaku yelled out. He and by extension Hibari started running down the street. "See you at school, Sucka."
Leaving an irritated Shiina and the dog that was actually a man in a dog costume, behind in the dust.
Spartan Notes:
- Training the Oozora boy might be more difficult than I initially thought, he purposefully dresses and attends school as a girl. With everyone save the elder sister and the Oozora ward being none the wiser.
- The boy is intelligent at least, their school's latest midterm results show that he ranks 1st in his year. A clever mind is housed in that deviant head of his.
- The boy possesses some physical aptitude, though questionable given that he was tested against the girls of his class instead of the boys like he ought to, still surprising.
- The Oozora's ward, he is-…………
"I don't want him to be more like a guy."
"That's right." Tsugumi patted little Suzume's adorable head. "You like the way he is, don't you Suzume-chan?"
Tsubame found her eldest and youngest sister's responses unsatisfactory and slammed her hands on the living room table. "Don't be ridiculous, it's our pampering that made him like this!"
Before Tsugumi could give a rebuttal, Kousaku had just arrived back from the kitchen, Now bearing a tray of refreshments,he didn't seem at all bothered by Tsubame's outburst. Meanwhile the girl in question felt a tad embarrassed that their still relatively new house guest had heard her undignified state.
"Hot tea for Tsugumi and cold juice for Suzume." he said while handing out the drinks.
"Thank you Kousaku." "Thank you Kousaku-nii" answered both the Eldest and Youngest Oozora sisters as they gratefully took the cup of tea from Kousaku's offered tray.
Nowadays Tsugumi found herself with more free time after dinner ,a day after Kousaku's arrival the boy had insisted that he help her with the dishes from then on. Stating that he feels the need to earn his keep less he feels like a complete freeloader.
It was a very kind gesture and Kousaku proved capable enough.
The men of their household seldom helped with kitchen related matters, partly due to Tsugumi not trusting anyone else not to mess something up in
her domain. Especially after the incident involving the previous kitchen stove and a lump of charcoal that used to be a prime cut of Kobe beef.
Seiji has been banned from the kitchen ever since.
"Did you want me to get you something too Tsubame?" Kousaku offered.
"No, thank you Kousaku."
"Ok, so what's this about pampering someone?" He had helped himself to his own cup of tea while the sisters explained the argument.
"We were talking about Hibari." Suzume chimed in.
"Father's associate, Spartan-san is finally training Hibari to be more manly, he took him to the dojo just now." Tsubame said.
"I was wondering where they were, and the shouting?"
Tsubame huffed. "When I told Tsugumi and Suzume about it, they didn't care. They rather pamper Hibari and his delusions."
"I'm not trying to pamper him." Tsugumi clarified.
"Me either." Suzume answered between sips of her juice.
Tsubame rounded back to her sisters. "Ah yeah? then what are you doing?"
"I think it's more interesting this way." Tsugumi replied matter of factly.
Upon hearing that Kousaku let out a single amused "HAH".
Tsubame's face fully displayed her annoyance. "That's even worse! Hibari should be like a man." she then zeroed in on the only male at the table. "What about you Kousaku? What do you think?"
The teen shrugged. "I don't really mind if Hibari's manly or not."
Tsubame cringed. "....don't tell me you've fallen for his charms?" Tsugumi and Suzume also leaned forward in anticipation of Kousaku's answer.
"Oh I have." He said shamelessly, laughing at the three simultaneous falls that occurred around the table. "Although, that's not the main reason. As long as they're happy and they keep being my friend then I've got no complaints." A sweet sentiment Tsugumi can sorta sympathize with.
"That's too easy-going Kousaku." Tsubame whined as picked herself up.
"You should try it sometime, it does wonders for your stress." Kousaku finished the last of his tea. "Now you said Hibari and Spartan-san are at the dojo?"
"Last I checked, yeah. Why? Are you going to take a peek?"
"I am curious what this manliness training entails, So yes." Kousaku passed the shoji doors before realizing he still had his empty cup out on the table.
Considerate of him but Tsugumi decided she can handle this at least. "You can go ahead Kousaku, I can clean up the cups later."
"Really?" Tsugumi nodded. "Alright, thanks Tsugumi." and the boy was off to the dojo.
"He's a strange kid." Tsubame said once Kousaku was out of sight.
"Nice, but strange." Tsugumi added.
On that, all three sisters could agree.
Admittedly I had some pretty amusing assumptions of what Hibari's manliness training might have involved. Perhaps old fish face would have tried methods such as getting rid of Hibari's very feminine underwear or forcing them to read a porno mag or even watch a video featuring sweaty muscular men to aspire which would ultimately backfire given Hibari's preferences.
Ineffective and harmless methods all in all.
So you could imagine how pretty UNamused I was when I stumbled into the dojo to see Spartan-san brandishing a pair of oversized scissors against a topless Hibari.
Naturally i wanted to know what-
"-The heck is going on here?!" Kousaku's voice resounded inside the dojo.
His sudden intrusion had momentarily caused Hibari's grip on Spartan's arms to slacken for a moment before reasserting it. Her desire to keep the shears from her hair won over her desire to hide her chest from Kousaku.
"You stay out of this boy." warned her grappling partner.
"With respect, Spartan-san, no I won't and I apologize in advance." Then he started running towards them. His open hand outstretched, Kousaku struck Hibari's violent instructor right on the sunglasses.
It was a weak strike overall, yet it succeeded in dazing Spartan in addition to pushing him away from Hibari.
"Hibari, you okay?" Kousaku asked, making a point to have his back turned to her.
"I am now, my hero~" The small, reasonable part of Hibari's brain knew that it wasn't the best time to flirt but Kousaku was being so very heroic that she couldn't help herself.
"Foolish boy, do you realize what you're doing?!" yelled the recovered and infuriated Spartan.
"Stopping your poor attempt to beat the gay out of Hibari?"
Spartan sneered. "Severe as they be, my methods are necessary for his education. His freakish behavior must be corrected if ever hopes to become a real man. Such as his association with you."
"I beg your pardon!?" Kousaku's words mirrored Hibari's own simmering outrage
"I spent the day observing him, to note any problems that I need to iron out in his training and what do I see?" Spartan had come closer to poke Kousaku in the chest. "You blatantly encouraged his deviant lifestyle with degenerate conversations."
Kousaku had no words, Hibari hoped it was out of incredulousness instead of shame.
Spartan straightened his Gi. "If you care about Oozora's path to proper manhood then either you stop playing along with his fantasy or end your friendship."
It was an unreasonably terrible demand. One that Hibari hoped in her heart of hearts that Kousaku would never agree with.
The boy himself was quiet for a moment before speaking his piece.
"Spartan-san, I am aware that Hibari's life choices are seen as abnormal in current society and a lot of potential problems they might face down the line could be solved if they stop being the nail that sticks out."
After a deep breath, he continued.
"That being said,." His expression turned into a grimace. "If the path of proper manhood is filled with abuse like this then she's better off being the girl she loves to be and i'm NOT gonna stop being her friend just because she doesn't fit the mold you say is right, you flounder faced fu
[Oh no, can't say that in a shounen manga]." Kousaku all but yelled the last part.
Both sides were silent at Kousaku's proclamation, Hibari herself felt some red rushing to her cheeks. It was a good thing Kousaku still hadn't turned around.
"Huh." Spartan was the first to break the silence. "Admirable resolve."
Hibari wasn't alone at being taken aback at that. "Uh, thank y-!?" Kousaku uttered right before he was blindsided by Spartan's grapple and subsequent throw. Kousaku was hurled across the dojo, his body making a meaty smack as it impacted the dojo's wooden floor.
Spartan dusted his hands. "If only you weren't so foolish, insolent child."
"Kousaku!" Hibari rushed to check on her downed friend.
Which was the perfect opening for Spartan's scissors to reach their target.
SNIP
Off came a few strands of hair from Hibari's bangs.
"Nyehahaha." Spartan triumphed at his measly victory.
It was soon to be the last thing he did.
As the final strands of loose hair fell to the floor, a dangerous gleam shone in Hibari's eyes that made the famed Spartan Dragon sweat.
"Now, I'm mad." the calmness in which she said that was contradictory to the pure rage she felt.
Spartan Tatsugorou obviously forgot the timeless adage.
Never mess with a woman's hair.
In the brief windows of non-blinding pain that Spartan had while being beaten to near unconsciousness, his thoughts drifted back to the strange wisdom that Kousaku had shared that morning and how true it started to sound.
The dojo and old fish face didn't look good after that. I was half concerned he'd call me out to Ojisan for interrupting the training.
Thankfully whatever concussion Hibari managed to put him through had convinced him that Hibari was one hell of a man or something. I didn't pick up the full details, on account of recovering from a full body throw.
Other than my own aching back and a few cut strands of hair, the training didn't affect Hibari at all. Putting whatever worries I had for her to rest.
Yes, her.
It has occurred to me that whenever I talk about Hibari, I always use they or them. A more neutral pronoun as I still wasn't sure which side of the gender scale they fit on even after all the evidence to her preference for girlhood.
After standing up to Spartan if you could call our pitiful act of defiance that, it feels hypocritical to continue to do so.
It may seem trivial for you Kousaku, it may very well be in the grand scheme of things.
But Hibari Oozora is a good friend, so she can be called a girl if she wants.
Hibari could only stare forlornly at new state of her hair from the vanity mirror's reflection. It was an easy fix, a nice headband could be used as a distraction from her uneven bangs.
She had one or two that she could wear until it evened out. Coordinating her outfits around that could even be fun.
*Thump thump thump* There was a knock from the sidedoor.
"Hibari, it's me. May I come in?" asked Kousaku. She supported him back to his room a while ago, so it was surprising to hear him up again already.
"Sure come right in."
The side door only slid an inch before it stopped. "You're properly dressed now right?"
Hibari smirked, "I wouldn't mind you seeing me naked Kousaku~"
The side door was opened with zero hesitation.
"Kyaaah" Hibari faux screamed, Kousaku, the spoilsport, only had an exasperated expression.
"You're no fun, how did you know I wasn't nude?"
"If you could joke about it, then chances are you're already dressed." He walked over to her bed and took a seat.
Hibari noted how slowly he did so. "How's the back?" she asked.
"Oh it's horrible." He lamented. "I'm pretty sure I'm paralyzed from the waist down, I can't feel my legs." Ignoring that he did just walk into the room just now.
Kousaku started grabbing his leg by the ankles and shook it. His foot was obviously moving around to give the illusion that it was floppy on its own. All the while his face was faking abject fear.
"Ahahahaha." It was morbidly funny, They needed a good laugh after tonight.
Then it was Kousaku's turn to ask. "How's the hair?"
"Oh it's absolutely ruined Kousaku, the unevenness is killing me." She matched his lamentations by flipping the short part of her bangs dramatically.
"Oh my! Well I guess what they say is true, a girl's hair really is her life."
Another short round of chuckles came from the 2 teens.
"...Kousaku?"
"Yeah?"
"..Thanks."
While Hibari wasn't exactly specific on what she was thanking him for. The boy seemed to understand well enough.
"Anytime Hibari." He sincerely replied.
Real sorry for the overdue update. Work picked back up so i got to tired to write then lost motivation all together. I've don't have a lot backlogged so don't be too surprised that I drop this again.
But thanks for reading.
