At the Finish Line [Haiji Kiyose] - Run With the Wind

twenty-four - "fine"

As the school bell rings out, the high-school students file out of the assembly hall after their hour-long 'values and responsibility' seminar as a whole school.

With a hand on her chest, Chiyo heaves a sigh of relief, running a hand through her hair. "Thank god that's over with."

Her long, dark-haired friend Kaori gently nudges her arm. "Come on, it wasn't that bad."

"You're saying you'd want to listen to your dad ramble on for a good 45 minutes about how our school is an 'important institution' and we are all 'responsible for upholding that honour'?" Chiyo questions, Kaori grimacing in response.

"Yeah, I guess not..."

Another two boys from their class walk past the pair and smirk in Chiyo's direction.

"Thank your dad for me, Yoshida."

She raises an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"I didn't get much sleep last night, but his speech sure helped me out." One of them speaks up, while the other laughs hysterically.

Chiyo purses her lips, looking away from the two as Kaori steps in. "Just shut up, Kato, you idiot."

The boys laugh with each other, continuing on their way down the corridor and Kaori turns to Chiyo.

"What is it with your dad? If anyone made fun of me or the other girls, you'd have told them off in a heartbeat. But it's a different story with him, isn't it?"

She shakes her head, opening her mouth to answer when she looks up from the floor and her eyes widen.

"Huh? What's wr-- Oh..."

Kaori grimaces, glancing between her friend and the end of the busy corridor.

Walking out of the side door to the assembly hall, conversing with the Head Master, is Chiyo's father, Shinji Yoshida.

Chiyo avoids his gaze, desperately trying to move through the crowd unseen by him with Kaori following behind.

"What are you doing? Our class is over there." She points past the crowd and to the left corridor.

"We'll just take the outside entrance," Chiyo tells her. "But I'm not staying in this corrid--"

"Chiyo Yoshida, stand up straight."

His booming voice sends a shiver down her spine and her blood turns cold. She raises her head to look at him on the other side of the hallway. With the whole corridor silent, the students and staff look on as the Mayor reprimands his daughter in front of everyone.

She swallows the lump in her throat. "Uh-- um..."

"Don't stutter." He frowns. "And while you're at it, unroll your waistband and pull your skirt down. That length is unacceptable."

Whispers from other students in the corridor make Chiyo lower her head in hopes the ground will swallow her up.

"He sure is strict..."

"How embarrassing..."

"I know, and in front of everyone. I'd hate to be her..."

Her father looks around at the students, sending them all a smile with a small wave. "Have a good, productive day of learning everyone."

The students resume their journeys to their lessons, while her father walks over to her, a stern look on his face.

He leans closer to her, ignoring the onward looks from those who are still stood watching.