Everyone fell silent, impressed and in shock. Teacher Dorothy was left open-mouthed, with her hand on her cheek, which bore the imprint of Sigma's palm.

Surprisingly, Chuuya was the first to react, ignoring Shirase, he got up from his seat and rushed out of the classroom.

Seeing him go, Nikolai also reacted, stood up, grabbed Fyodor and Dazai, and dragged them to the exit. Fukuzawa didn't try to resist, but the teacher intended to report them.

"And where do you think you're...?" she began, but was interrupted by Dazai.

"Shut up already, old hag!" he snapped, and they left the classroom.

They followed Chuuya, but had to shout at him to stop for a moment because he was too fast.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" the brunette inquired.

"I'm going to find Sigma, you blockhead," Nakahara retorted.

"And why is that?"

"Because she's my friend, you worthless idiot."

"So, she's your friend, and we're not, right?"

"Can you guys stop?" Gogol intervened. "If you want, keep fighting, but after finding Sigma, thank you very much."

They exchanged a hateful look and separated.

"Where do you think Sigma is?" Fyodor asked.

"In the third-floor boys' bathroom, fourth stall," Chuuya replied automatically. Everyone stared at him.

"How do you know that?" Dazai asked.

"Ah... She always goes there when she's feeling down," he answered. And I know because I do it too, and we've run into each other there more than once, he thought but didn't say.

"So, what are we waiting for? Move!"

They went to the third-floor boys' bathroom, which was always empty, and entered. They heard sobs from the fourth stall.

"Sig-chan, is that you?" Osamu asked.

The sobs stopped.

"Dazai?" she inquired.

"And it's not just him, Sigma," Chuuya replied, approaching the bathroom door. "Hey, come out here to talk for a bit, okay?"

"What are you guys doing here?" the girl questioned.

"First of all," Nikolai said with a hint of amusement in his voice, "we came to find you. And secondly, there's nothing wrong with us being here because this is the boys' bathroom."

Sigma giggled nervously from the cubicle.

"That's a good point," she murmured and came out.

Chuuya immediately greeted her with a hug, which she returned.

"Are you okay?" the redhead asked.

"Y-yes, I think I'm better," she whispered but with enough volume for her friends to hear.

"I'm sorry we cause you so much trouble," Nakahara lamented.

"Are you kidding?" She separated a bit and looked at everyone present. "Don't ever apologize for that. You guys are the best friends I could have, and I wouldn't trade you for anything or anyone, especially not for any stupid girl.'"

They smiled, and Chuuya had to tiptoe to plant a kiss on Sigma's forehead.

Damn it, even Sigma was taller than him (just a couple of centimeters).

They separated, and Sigma hugged her friends one by one. The last was Nikolai, to whom she gave a bonus kiss on the cheek. Gogol blushed.

"We should go back," Fyodor said. "We have literature class with Professor Ranpo."

"Well, literature is better than Japanese history," Osamu commented. "I'm close to getting a Death Note and writing that damn old fart Fukuchi in there."

The bell rang. Nikolai held Sigma's hand.

"Shall we go down?" he asked.

"Yes," the rest agreed.

They took their time returning; they weren't particularly eager to go to class. Chuuya stayed by his friend's side but remained silent, casting occasional glances at Dazai, who was chatting cheerfully with Fyodor.

Why him, and not me? he thought. And then he answered his own question, Because you've ignored him since the beginning of school, don't be stupid. Of course, he doesn't want you around.

They entered the classroom, and Professor Ranpo acted as if nothing had happened. He ignored them and continued with his class, but as soon as he could, he approached Sigma and whispered in her ear, "Well done, that 'teacher' was stupid."

There was no need to ask how he knew. After all, it was Ranpo, and Ranpo knew everything.

"Hey, where the hell did you go?" Shirase whispered to Chuuya.

"It's none of your business," the redhead replied, taking out his literature notebook.

The incident had been closed, or so it seemed. But Sigma knew it wasn't true. She had slapped and insulted a teacher, and even though the teacher deserved it, she wouldn't go unpunished.

And if she had to be honest, she would accept whatever punishment came her way because she didn't regret anything.

"Please have Miss Sigma Stoker report to the principal's office," they announced over the intercom.

Sigma started to get up, but Gogol took her hand.

"Should I come with you?" he asked.

"I'll be fine, don't worry."

She left the classroom, and it didn't go unnoticed that the teacher winked at her as she left.

She went to the principal's office, where the directors were waiting patiently. Teacher Dorothy sat in a corner with an ice pack on her cheek and a world-hating expression.

How curious, Sigma thought. The teacher looks like a squashed toad.

"Please have a seat in front, Miss Stoker," Fukuzawa requested. The girl took the chair in front of the desk.

"As Fukuzawa-dono has informed me," Director Mori began, "there was a certain situation earlier with Teacher Dorothy."

Sigma took a deep breath.

"That's correct, sir."

Fukuzawa leaned forward.

"Miss Stoker, would you say you acted deliberately, or was it a sudden involuntary reaction?" he asked, with utmost seriousness.

"It was deliberate, sir."

The two directors exchanged glances.

"Do you regret what you did?" Fukuzawa asked again.

Sigma lifted her head with pride.

"No."

"Do you intend to apologize to the teacher for your actions?"

She turned to look at the teacher, who was glaring at her with evident hatred. Then she turned her gaze to the gray-haired director.

"No."

Fukuzawa and Mori exchanged glances. Then the former sighed.

"Take a cookie, Sigma."

"What?" she asked.

"What?!" the teacher exclaimed. "Are you seriously considering letting a student who assaulted a faculty member go unpunished?! This is unacceptable!"

"The unacceptable part of this matter," Mori interjected with a dangerous look, "is that a teacher dared to infer a student's sexuality based on who she associates with during recess and decided to pry into her private life."

"Therefore, Miss Dorothy, I appreciate your first three hours of work here, but I'm afraid I have to dismiss you and request that a more qualified teacher be sent to handle sex education classes."

Dorothy was left speechless, and with her mouth wide open, she looked more like a toad than ever. Then she displayed an indignant expression and stormed out of the room. The directors smiled at Sigma.

"Excellent job, Miss Stoker," praised the dark-haired one. "Have you had your cookie yet?"

"Oh, not yet."

She took a cookie from the jar on the desk.

"Take another one," Mori requested, and Sigma happily obliged.

"Thank you very much."

Fukuzawa sighed.

"Look, Sigma, we don't condone violence in this school," he said, "however, we won't expel you because the initial fault was with the teacher. That doesn't mean you'll go unpunished."

"Of course. It's no problem."

Both men smiled.

"Perfect, then," Mori said. "Come to our office at the end of the day to discuss your punishment."

"Sure. Excuse me..."

"Go ahead."

She got up from her chair, happier than ever, and left the office. She ran into Dorothy, who looked sulky, and stuck her tongue out at her.

And she felt better than ever.

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My back hurts, help-

Thanks for reading!