This is the school Consultation Room. To keep students from feeling too nervous, the room has been designed to be very cozy, complete with all kinds of furniture.
Because of Lika's personality, her homeroom teacher was constantly dealing with conflicts she caused among her classmates. After multiple complaints were filed, the teacher had tried talking to her several times, but it was completely useless.
Seeing that Suchen—the school's social butterfly—actually got along well with Lika, the homeroom teacher asked Suchen to help guide her. Suchen reluctantly agreed to give it a try. Although she and Lika were on good terms, that didn't mean success was guaranteed, unless...
Suchen arrived at the Consultation Room. Lika was sitting on top of the desk with her arms crossed over her chest, her silver hair fluttering slightly. A mocking smile curved the corner of her mouth. Dressed in aristocratic-style school uniform, she stood out even in this ordinary school. Her gaze swept around the room as if she were the only one in it.
As Suchen pushed open the door and stepped inside, Lika snapped, "Homeroom teacher, what business do you have with this young lady?" When she realized it wasn't the homeroom teacher, but Suchen, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes. She quickly wiped away her haughty expression and demanded, "Why is it you?"
Crossing her arms, Suchen said with a serious expression, "I am here to discipline you in the teacher's name." Lika found that hard to believe. Sure, they got along well, but surely not *that* well? Lika asked, "Got any proof?"
Suchen pulled a sheet of white paper from her pocket. The longer Lika looked at what was written on it, the more solemn her expression became. A bright red official seal caught her eye—the school's stamp.
This discovery left Lika utterly shocked, for she knew the importance of school seals. In this school, unauthorized use of an official seal was a very serious matter. If the offense was deemed severe enough, one might even be summoned for a "tea session."
Yet Suchen had effortlessly produced a piece of paper bearing this authoritative seal, which undoubtedly demonstrated her standing in the school. Disciplining her in the teacher's name was no empty boast.
A look of embarrassment crossed Lika's face as her eyes darted away. "Well, you still can't talk to me like that!" Suchen said gravely, "Anyway, for the teacher's sake, I'm here to set you straight."
Lika flew into a sudden rage of embarrassment. "This young lady doesn't need your discipline!" Suchen replied, "You do, so please watch your tone." Clearly, playing hardball wasn't going to work. Lika let out a cold snort and said, "Hmph, this young lady will talk however she pleases!"
Suchen said, "Hurry up and apologize." Lika turned her head away. "Apologize? Never! I am an aristocrat—who do you think you are?" Suchen pulled her straight into her arms.
Lika instantly panicked. "You... let go of me right now!" Suchen commanded, "Be a good girl and apologize." Lika insisted defiantly, "This young lady did nothing wrong! Let go of me!"
Suchen said, "It seems I really have to teach you a lesson." To her own surprise, Lika felt a twinge of fear. "What... what are you going to do?" Suchen kissed Lika. Lika's eyes widened, her face turning completely red. "Mm, mm, mm!" Suchen asked, "Are you going to apologize now?"
With a blazing red face, Lika averted her gaze. "Hmph, this young lady will never apologize!" Suchen tried a softer approach of persuasion. "Oh, my dear young lady, we've had plenty of conversations by now. For my sake, won't you just apologize?"
Blushing, Lika's voice trembled slightly as she spoke. "W-who... who told you to always badmouth this young lady every time? I just hate you!" Suchen asked, "Badmouth? I don't think I've ever done that. Whenever your arch-nemesis talked trash about you, I defended you multiple times."
Hearing Suchen's words, Lika finally wavered a bit. "F-fine... then this young lady will graciously forgive you." Suchen said, "So, my dear young lady, how about that apology?"
Pouting, Lika muttered, "Well... this young lady will apologize, but only under duress." Suchen breathed a sigh of relief—all her effort hadn't been wasted after all. She had succeeded. She told Lika, "That's more like it."
With a haughty look, Lika said, "Hmph, I'll let you off this time. But if you ever dare badmouth this young lady again, I won't let you get away with it!" Suchen replied, "I never badmouthed you in the first place."
Lika's face turned completely red, because this felt even more agonizing than an interrogation of her very soul. "This young lady doesn't care, you definitely said it!" Suchen said, "Fine."
Lika's gaze turned fierce. "But if you ever dare say *that* kind of thing to me again, don't blame me for being unpolite!" Suchen asked, "What kind of thing?" Lika angrily retorted, "T-that kind! The kind that... that makes people angry just hearing it!" Lika stammered slightly because she didn't even know what "that kind of thing" was.
Suchen leaned in close to Lika's ear and whispered, "I don't think I ever said anything of the sort." Her eyes flickered with panic. "How could you not?!" Suchen urged, "Go on, then, tell me what it was." Pouting, Lika said with a grievance tone, "You clearly know, and you're just asking to tease me..."
Suchen said, "I don't know. Say it again." Lika glared at her angrily. "Hmph! I won't!" Suchen replied, "Suit yourself. Then let's move on—how are you going to change your ways?" Lika thought for a few seconds. "This young lady will be gentler with the other students."
Suchen said, "Yes, that's a good girl." Tossing her head haughtily, Lika said, "Hmph, this young lady has always been a good girl!" As Suchen stroked Lika's hair, Lika accepted it with a look of pure enjoyment. "I'll allow you to pet my hair."
Suchen said, "Mm, good girl." Lika said, "Hmph, don't think I'm sucking up to you, Suchen. You were really amazing this time. But honestly, if it weren't for you, I might have just stayed arrogant forever, with no friends, and ended up growing old alone. Thank you for always tolerating me. I guess there's still hope for me after all. Even though I always put up a tough front, I'm grateful to you in my heart. Just... please don't use that method to make me apologize ever again, okay? It's so embarrassing."
Suchen said, "All right, I won't." Beaming with smiles, Lika said, "Mm, I knew you were the best." Suchen offered, "Then let me make it up to you." Lika tilted her head and looked at her. "Make it up to me? This young lady wasn't expecting any compensation."
Suchen said gently, "Go on, name it. It's fine." Lika conceded, "Well, all right. Since you ask so sincerely, this young lady will accept. Um... can you treat me to something delicious?"
Suchen asked, "Sure, what do you want to eat?" After a moment of thought, Lika replied, "Ice cream, French fries, a burger, and a cola—those four." Suchen agreed, "Alright, let's go." Lika grabbed Suchen's hand and skipped happily out of the Consultation Room.
Suchen suddenly remembered she seemed to be out of cash and said, "Wait a second, let me go hit up the principal for some money." Lika waited by the door, and when she saw Suchen returning, she said, "Alright, let's hurry up and go!"
Suchen brought the money over and said, "Let's go." Happily, Lika grabbed her hand and ran toward the school gates. After grabbing a bite to eat outside, they returned to school.