Iron hand (a Miki story) chapter 2

(This is part of a multi-chapter story, if you haven't read the first one, go to https://pastebin.com/gtbQ1W11 or click my name 'MREN' on the top left, to continue where you're at in the story!)

Miki: 'This detention fucking sucks!'

She could barely let five minutes pass without complaining about the work; Cleaning the festival grounds, carrying garbage cans, tables, stalls. She was constantly whining about this or that... but at least she was there, working with them, which was good enough in itself. And she wasn't giving it a half-assed effort either; She was working twice as fast and twice as hard as Shizune and Misha, who were already known for being hard workers themselves. Some of the bigger stalls and tables that Shizune and Misha carried together with difficulty, Miki would just carry by herself, sometimes struggling to keep it steady with her stump. She wasn't just the aggressive, impulsive and violent person that incident itinially let Shizune to believe she was; She was fast, strong and tireless.

Once in a while, Shizune patted her pocket, making sure the letter was still there... as if it would somehow protect her to pull it out and quickly sign 'The headmaster said this or that!', should Miki find a reason to attack her. Miki didn't even bother reading the letter in the first place. She just assumed Misha was telling the truth. Wouldn't be in anyone's best interest to lie to her, not with her mood.

Shizune gave up trying to get her to stop swearing about half an hour in, when it was clear she didn't care about their opinion, despite the letter. Still, Misha, always trying to do her job right, kept translating every swear word properly, which Shizune found amusing, and she struggled to stop herself from smiling.

With a new - temporary - member on the team, one who worked that hard, the work they thought would take them four or five hours was almost done after two. Which was both a relief, and a cause for concern; They had to keep Miki occupied for three hours, they told as much to the headmaster. When the last piece of garbage was cleaned from the ground, Shizune remembered something, and signed to Misha.

Misha: 'There is another thing you have to do, to avoid the expulsion. We could do it now if you want...'
Miki: 'Yeah? What is it?'

In this moment, Misha wished that Shizune could speak; She hated having to tell Miki this one.

Misha: 'You will need to apologize to Hozumi for your actions... He's in detention too, for two days. We could get this out of the way now?'
Miki: 'Fuck that! I won't apologize to him! If anything he's the one who should apologize to me!'
Misha: 'Well you have to... The letter says...'
Miki: 'Screw the letter! I don't give a fuck! Oh and screw you too!'

Miki started running toward her, and Misha could only close her eyes, making a silent prayer about Miki not hurting her too much... But to her surprise, she only felt a sharp, stinging sensation on her ass; When she opened her eyes again, she saw Miki running away, waving her hand at Misha, and laughing. She could still feel Miki's hand on her ass, and touched the area with her own hand, trying to make the pain go away;

Misha: 'What was that for?'
Miki: 'Dunno! I just felt like it! Anyway, later girls!'

Misha rubbed her ass again.

Misha: 'It hurts!'

She said that out loud without signing, though no one could understand; Shizune being deaf, and Miki already being too far away. There was no point running after her either. Shizune had learned a bit more about her before the detention; She was already the second-best runner on the track team, just behind Emi Ibarazaki. Plus, what would they do if they even caught her? Show her the letter she didn't care about? Fight her? No, there was nothing to do, other than talk to the headmaster. Misha hated this, Miki would probably get an expulsion... but what else could be done? She didn't last a day of her month of suspension, refused to apologize, and... While it wasn't as brutal as the first one, and only on the ass, she still hit another person, her second one in two days at Yamaku.

Misha, resigned, looked at Shizune, to see if she was thinking the same thing. But Shizune's defiant smile led Misha to think that no, she really wasn't.

Shizune: [Follow me. I have an idea!]

They arrived at the headmaster's office a few minutes later, and explained the situation; The swearing, the complaining, Miki running away before the detention was over, the refusal to apologize... And hitting Misha.

Headmaster: 'I see. So she refuses everything on the letter?'
Misha: 'She did.'
Headmaster: 'In this case, it seems I do not have a choice. I will deal with her expulsion.'

The headmaster called his secretary and asked her to bring Miura's file. Shizune knew time was running out, and she signed quickly to Misha;

Misha: 'You do have a choice. There is another option.'
Headmaster: 'Really? And what would that be?'
Misha: 'Force her to join the student council.'
Headmaster: 'Excuse me?'

Shizune signed at a fast pace for a good twenty seconds;

Misha: 'We need energetic people. People with drive, a will of iron. She only worked two hours with us, but she did more than me and Misha - I mean, me and Shizune together! She's a hard worker. And she cares about staying in Yamaku, or why would she even bother with two hours? We only need to keep her motivated. And I think I know how to do this.'
Headmaster: 'Surely there are better options than this Miura for the student council?'
Misha: 'The council is... Not very popular. We thought about asking Emi, but she doesn't care about helping. Or Yamaku's rules.'
Headmaster: 'And Miki Miura does?'
Misha: 'Well, no... But she cares about Yamaku, if only a little. And she got herself in trouble already. So we have some leverage. We can't force Emi to join, but we can force Miki!'
Headmaster: 'And what makes you think this is a good idea? She displayed a complete disregard for any rule or authority, from day one. She's violent. She's stubborn. Why do you think you could make good use of her on the council?'

Misha turned toward Shizune, who considered the question for a long time, leading Misha to believe it was over... Then she signed something for her to translate.

Misha: 'During the second world war, many countries formed battalions with criminals, prisoners, and sent them into high-risk operations. They took their worst, and found a use for them. Those who did well were rewarded, earned their pardon. Became a better person. We could let Miki earn her pardon. Put her on the right track.'

This gave him a moment of pause, the headmaster seemingly lost in thought for a few seconds, before replying;

Headmaster: 'We are not fighting a world war here, Mikado. Or any war.'
Misha: 'And Miki is not a convicted prisoner!'
Headmaster: 'Then what was the point of the analogy?'
Misha: 'The point is... Find a task for every tool. Don't let people go to waste. We need people on the council. And if we can get Miki to behave, she could really help us; We saw it today for two hours, before we talked about that apology.'
Headmaster: 'I will be honest with you, I don't like this. I don't see anything good coming out of it. She doesn't listen to anything or anyone. How long will she last before beating up someone else?'
Misha: 'No more than a day, if everything goes as planned!'
Headmaster: 'I don't follow.'

Misha looked to Shizune again, to better understand the point she was supposed to make;

Misha: 'Do you know there are still schools in Japan that practice corporal punishment against misbehaving students? And, as headmaster, surely you know that a few years ago, it was used in just about every school? Here is the list of twenty schools that use it to this day, and additional information on the topic.'

The headmaster gave it a quick look, then put it away on his desk.

Headmaster: 'I don't like where this is going. You want us to use corporal punishment against Miura to keep her in line and force her to work on your council? This would violate a dozen rules of Yamaku, and probably some Japan and international laws on assault, forced labor and slavery.'
Misha: 'No, no, you got it backward! We want Miki to use corporal punishment against the other students.'

The headmaster's expression alternated between horror and incomprehension;

Headmaster: 'Is this a joke? Your idea of a prank? As busy as the student council is, I have even more work to do. I don't have half an hour to spend on your stupid pranks.'
Misha: 'No, we're serious! See, you already know the student council is overworked. No one wants to join, no one wants to help, and the students are breaking the rules all the time, which gives us even more work.'
Headmaster: 'And?'
Misha: 'Miki could solve all this!'
Headmaster: 'I'm running out of patience. Explain to me how this savior could fix all this. You have five minutes, then I make that phone call and we forget about this.'


Shizune considered this for a moment, how to present her idea most effectively;

Misha: 'Miki helps us with the... punishments. Nothing too severe. Same thing other schools have done for decades, centuries. Just a few slaps on the butt!'
Headmaster: 'You can't be serious.'
Misha: 'Why not? Teachers did this, some still do it, all over the world. Parents do this. Even nuns did this! So, Miki would do it. Under our authority of course. Your authority. She would have an outlet for her... fury. She would work hard on the council for us, to stay in Yamaku, and in your good grace. We could accomplish more work that way. Students breaking rules would be punished. Your teachers are overworked as well, I know that; There's a reason why you task students with supervising detention. This would take a big weight off their shoulders. And being properly punished, the students would behave, eventually. Which means even more time for us to work on the council! Everyone wins, headmaster.'

He stayed silent for what felt like an eternity, then the door to his office opened, after a quick knocking;

Secretary: 'Here is the file on Miki Miura! Shall I call her father to let him know?'

Shizune tensed up, after the translation; The headmaster stayed silent for another, shorter moment, then looked at his secretary.

Headmaster: 'Please leave it here. And no, don't call anyone. Don't tell Miura either, I will deal with it.'
Secretary: 'Very well!'

Shizune smiled, and Misha deciphered the 'I won!' expression on her face before Shizune made it disappear, to avoid looking arrogant. The headmaster waited until the door was closed, then pulled a key out of his pocket to unlock and open a drawer, where he found a small metal disk covered with rust, and laid it on his desk, like it was the most precious thing in the world. When Shizune looked at it and read the inscriptions on it, she realized right away she took the right approach with the man;

Headmaster: 'That's all the reward I got for my three years of service; A medal I'm too ashamed to wear. Well, this, and my pardon, of course.'

Shizune wanted to reply something, but she knew she had him now, and opted to let him talk. He looked lost in thoughts again, and it took some time for him to continue;

Headmaster: 'I'm not proud of everything I've done in my young age, but this pardon gave me a chance to become a better person. Today I'm a respected man, and no one asks me about the past. If you think this Miura can change, become a better person...'
Misha: 'We do, sir!'
Headmaster: 'If we try this, there will be strict rules to follow. What you can and can't do.'
Misha: 'Of course sir! What do you have in mind?'
Headmaster: 'Not now. I need to think on this, we'll talk about it later. And I will need Miki to be present for this future discussion. Present, and well-behaved, you understand me?'
Misha: 'Yes sir. She will be.'
Headmaster: 'Now leave me. I've got other work to do.'
Misha: 'Have a good night, sir!'

Shizune couldn't stop smiling, all the way back to the dorms; The first half of the battle had been won today.
Now, they had to talk to Miki.


End of chapter 2
Chapter 3: https://pastebin.com/8FgMBhPk