Put simply, the Student Council headquarters (aka sanctuary) was an extravagant building separate from the actual school facility.

Put not-so-simply it was a humongous establishment you'd have a tough time believing belonged only to students.

Nobody besides the Student Council and selected staff members were ever allowed inside, and they never spoke much of it. The interior appearance, stories of the members; many rumours scattered across the campus daily without a means of answers. Before and after classes their fan clubs would always be hovering around the doors, attempting to peer through the tinted glass until they were finally ushered away by a more renowned figure.

I was even guilty of being curious of these 'godly' human beings that I'd stalk out with my best friend from time to time. We weren't entirely entranced like the rest of the student body came across—in fact, my focus was much rather fixed upon another guy—but that was why the two of us constantly joked about the incredulous scenarios the rumours seemed to foretell.

However, today on this lovely fall afternoon, I was being blessed enough to be selected to go inside.

The odds were so in my favour.

My eyes collapsed onto the broad shoulders belonging to Shuuhei as he guided me past the school courtyard in the direction of the Student Council sanctuary. He'd acted slightly odd earlier, but considering only around fifteen minutes of classes remained until hometime, he declared he was taking me to the SC building and hadn't said anything since. I was a little antsy in the beginning, sure, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I most likely misheard him. I mean, a collar? It had to be a metaphorical meaning of keeping my behaviour in check—on a leash.

Shuuhei was Rokura High School's holy figure. Handsome, kind, courteous... He took his role as President very seriously. My suggestion of letting myself off the hook was probably offensive to him considering the scapegoat he'd blessed me with.

Well, let him believe he was going to 'bestow upon me' whatever means of discipline he was envisioning. Even if everyone else would literally die to be able to interact with such a guy, I had no desire of compromising my identity.

Shuuhei unlocked the back entrance of the building, the jangle of keys clacking against each other. Automatically, various fragrances filled my nostrils. Eyelids high, I tiptoed after Shuuhei, gawking at the tall glass windows encasing us as well as the countless flowers—more than I could ever name abounded the large room in their specific flowering pots. There were wind chimes hanging above as well, of different sizes and shapes; each sound distinct but gentle, similar to the array of floral scents wafting with every wisp of the cool, autumn air.

"Holy crap," I voiced my awe, eyes flickering left and right, open-mouthed in amazement. "Am I in Wonderland? Neverland? A whole new world? A new fantastic point of view? No one to tell us what to do—"

"Whatever you're rambling about, stop," Shuuhei said as he shut the door behind us. "And if you're to attend the Student Council sanctuary, ingrain into your mind vulgar language is not accepted."

"Vulgar?" I echoed dumbly. "You mean crap? But crap isn't vulgar. Crap is crap. As in, shit. Poo. Doo-doo. Feces. Dung. Droppings—"

"First we'll have to deal with your verbose habits." Shuuhei arrived at the small patio where a table large enough to occupy five people stood, accompanied by equally lavish chairs. I came to a halt as he faced me, heaving a sigh. "How you survived so long without proper etiquette surprises me, honestly."

His comment hit me full-force, knocking me back to my senses. My eyebrows ascended upon my forehead. It was hard for me to take in. It was almost as if he was looking down on me. Wasn't he like this earlier too? Full of contempt. Out of the eyesight of other people, was this who Shuuhei was? A two-faced prince?

When the acknowledgement settled in, my jaw set into place. I aimed a scowl his way. "What's your issue with me, blondie? I get you saved my butt, but you seriously went and brought me here claiming you're going to 'discipline' me. I don't know what kind of delusions you're having, but—"

"They're not delusions," Shuuhei said, his frown reflecting his seriousness. "At least, not anymore, since it's official. From today forward the Student Council will begin reshaping you."

"'Reshaping' me?" I repeated with a huff. "Am I clay or something?"

"You can essentially classify the flexibility of the developing mind as the such. Youth are more volatile than you would think."

"Voli-what?"

"Vocabulary isn't advanced either I see." Shuuhei shook his head. "Never mind the small-talk. Before we begin with behavioural reforms, we must start with your outfit. A more refined appearance will lead to a healthier mind."

My mouth scrunched together as I snuck a glimpse at my slightly frayed uniform. "What's wrong with my appearance?"

Shuuhei's strain portrayed his thoughts. "First off, you're dressed rather scruffy—and the tie only adds to a male appeal."

"What do you mean? I'm wearing this 'tie' because it's apart of the uniform."

"Not the male tie. The females wear bows or ribbons." The words rolled off his tongue with evident humour. "You came to the academy a couple of months ago and you still haven't caught onto that yet?"

My fingers curled into fists. I resisted the urge to give it to him by folding my arms over my chest. "And how would you know that?" I asked instead. My actions got me into enough trouble already; I didn't need to add to it. "Don't tell me the Shuuhei Okabe is my stalker?"

"I hope you wouldn't take it that way," Shuuhei replied. "We're just a growing population at Rokura High, Kasumi. With the reign the Student Council has on the school, obviously I couldn't help but notice the new face added to our roster."

"Not creepy at all," I snorted. Though, knowing Shuuhei, maybe it wasn't a surprise after all. Ever since the first morning assembly I attended when I arrived here it'd been made clear he knew anyone and everyone apart of the faculty—a self-implanted necessity if he were to be the Student Council President. Why would I think I'd be the only exception? "So is this why you suddenly decided to intervene into my affairs and help me?"

"Of course not," he said, palms rested on the tabletop. "Listen, Kasumi. It's a moral of mine to give assistance to those who require it."

"I'm not surprised, honour-student," I scoffed. "But you have one thing wrong: I don't need yours—or any else's—assistance. I owe you, don't get me wrong, but I happen to love myself the way I am. I'm very much aware I need to stop being so impulsive, but no matter what an ass like you says I can't see how you're supposed to help me with that. I'm very much capable of solving this all, myself."

The corners of his lips curved up into a smile—the first mischievous seeming one since the principal's office. "No vulgar language in the sanctuary, Kasumi."

I rolled my eyes, maintaining my poise as he approached me. "Shit," I deadpanned. "Fuck. Bitch. Ass. Good enough or should I keep going for you?"

"You will obey me, Kasumi."

I met his eyes, cocking an eyebrow. "Is that an order?"

"If it didn't come off as one, I apologize." Shuuhei shut his eyelids and a wide smile poked further into his cheeks. "I'll state it once again: you, Kasumi Yonamine, will obey me."

"You're a fucking riot, Shuuhei Okabe," I sniggered, my own smile lifting my lips. "You have your fun in your crap-tastic "vulgar-less" sanctuary. I am outta here."

Whipping my head left and right, I spun on the heels of my shoes. Ever since he walked in through the principal office doors I knew he was up to something. He was a complete weirdo; all the praise and power got to his head. If he thought he could control everyone and everything he wanted he had another thing coming.

Prince, my ass. This guy needed a good shove off his high horse.

As I reach the doors we'd entered from, I heaved a sigh as I extended my hand for the handle. If the president was this much of a madman, I worried for the rest of the Student Council members. Poor people were probably modern-day slaves to this guy. The secretary must have had it the hardest, too.

Banishing my pointless thoughts, I twisted the knob. The SC was in their own league all right—a league I knew for sure I did not want to be apart of. I was never coming back here no matter what.

One rotate of my hand. Then another. After the fifth twist of the rigid knob did a wave of panic finally wash over me. Both hands secured themselves around the platinum coloured doorknob and I jostled it for the life in me.

But it didn't move.

It wasn't moving.

My heartbeat spiked in my ears. No, no, no.

The asshole locked the freakin' door after we walked in here!

A premonition churned my gut as I released the knob. My top teeth met my bottom, grounding furiously. I could not be trapped in here! He couldn't do this. He had to let me leave.

"Give me the keys."

Without much pause, he chuckled, "Not until you swear loyalty to me."

I swivelled so fast I practically lost my balance. He calmly sat in a chair, papers that were once stacked upon the table, in hand. Swear loyalty to him? "You're fucking delusional," I seethed. "Let me leave!"

"I prefer realistic," Shuuhei countered, void of any emotion. "Think about it, Kasumi. If I let you walk through those doors, I'd have to tell the principal that I already failed in your discipline. And you remember our terms don't you?"

Expulsion.

For the both of us.

What. The. Actual—

"Why are you so obsessed with this?" I shouted, balling my fists and ignoring the slip of my bag strap over my shoulder. "You shouldn't be so concerned with my affairs! It's none of your business!"

"I already told you, it's a desire of mine to aid troubled students. Give them a taste of life." His gaze flitted to me; steely, unbudging. "You're too high and ride on your uncouth mindset I'm afraid I can no longer ignore it. Now, return here at once."

"You saw the bump on our principal's forehead," I warned. "If you keep this shit up, I swear I'll put you out of commission."

"Oh." Shuuhei simpered. "And you'll seriously do that?"

I faltered. Mainly because, he got me. Entirely. I would gladly hit him... if he were anyone else. But he wasn't anyone else. He was the role model student; the prince; the holy saint of Rokura High.

There was no way I could hurt him and come out unscathed. Not unless I had a death wish. Forget expulsion and the rest of his SC minions, his personal fan club—which was the mass majority of the school, if you couldn't already guess—would literally hunt me down, chew me up and spit me out into a dumpster to live the rest of my trashy life.

You should've seen what they did to the one girl that scoffed at him (I'd tell you but I seriously never heard from her again).

I had never even shown this guy attitude until this very day because I wanted to live as much as I didn't want to be expelled. Which was why I couldn't deny the fact that he had me completely wrapped around his finger.

Shuuhei lowered the documents the moment I begrudgingly arrived before him. His smile grew more authentic, his head tilting to the side.

"Good girl."

"You're a fucking lunatic."

Shuuhei laughed again. "What did I say about swearing?"

I didn't even hesitate. "Fuck-ing lu-na-t—"

He stuffed something into my mouth as I tried to speak.

I nearly gagged at the plastic taste and immediately spit it out of my mouth. When my gaze landed on the item, my eyes bulged from their sockets.

"Is this a—"

"Collar, just for you." He smiled sweetly. "Put it on for me."

"Wh-what?" I couldn't form a fiercer refusal, my mouth moving like a fish out of water for a good period of time. I shoved the device into his fingers. "No! Why do you even—"

His countenance lost all traces of nonchalance. "Didn't we already discuss this? In order to implement discipline, we must start from scratch. You will be the Student Council's dog until you are capable of behaving like a human being."

He meant a literal collar! He was planning on keeping me on a literal leash!

Holy shit.

Shuuhei Okabe was a sadist.

A motherflippin' sadist!

My mind revolved in circles; ravished, blank, rapid circles that made me sick to my stomach. What in the name of all things terrible and unholy did I get myself into?