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Special thanks to my editor HG (The HG man) for helping me with this story and especially for his help last chapter. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Briar DollBriar High School. A school with a legend of being built upon a field of briar bushes. With over fifty years of history it became a well-known and prestigious school for the rich and famous. It originally started out as an all boys’ schools until five years ago. And then… with the addition of girl’s to the school’s population a new tradition began:
The Briar Doll contests.
In order to attract more females to the school as well as make the small female population feel welcome, one girl was chosen and all the males of the school would compete to take this girl to the end of the year ball. The student council has always led these contests, and this year is no different.
She marched to the student council room and threw open the door about ready to tell them off. But she was surprised to see a bunch of people sitting at the table in front of the door. Kagura blinked confused as they all clapped and one girl opened up a party favor full of confetti as the photography club took pictures of the startled Kagura.
“Congratulations!” The girl said shaking her hands. She was a girl with the face of a fox and short green hair in the style of boys. She quickly moved to sit at an empty spot on the other side of the tables as the cameramen stepped out of the room.
At the middle of the table sat the same girl who had taken their papers that morning. Next to her sat a somewhat muscular but handsome guy. It was apparent that these two were the leaders as they looked like king and queen surrounded by their court.
“Oh.” The girl recognized her. “You’re that girl from this morning. Congratulations.”
“Huh? Oh yeah…” Kagura answered almost sheepishly.
The kingly guy stood up. “Yes. Congratulations Azami Kagura. I am student Council President, Higashiki Takehito. Nice to meet you.” He said bowing.
“Oh… nice to meet you.” She answered bowing back.
“And I am Konoe Ume.” The girl said next to him. She didn’t stand up. “I am the ambassador of the student council.”
“Ambassador?” Kagura had never heard of this position.
“Yes.” She started. “While Takehito represents the student body, I fill a special position representing all the females of the campus to make sure they are being treated fairly and are getting along on this mostly male campus.”
“Oh.”
“This will be a very exciting year for you I’m sure, so if there is anything you need or want to ask just let me know.” She smiled.
“Now there is a lot to cover.” The student council president began. “Being the Briar Doll doesn’t really require much work but we usually hold a huge extravaganza to mark the beginning of the competitions…”
“Well uh… that’s just the thing.” Kagura interrupted.
“What is?”
“I don’t want to be this uh… Briar Doll girl or whatever.”
“What?” Everyone seemed surprised.
“Then why did you enter the raffle?” The president wondered confused.
“My friend uh…” She hesitated not wanting to fully blame her friend. “It was an accident. I… I didn’t know what I was getting into.”
“That sounds like a poor excuse to me.” A man further down the table said. They all turned to him. He was wearing Pince-nez glasses and had short-cropped teal colored hair.
He was currently staring Kagura down over the top of his glasses. It was an almost creepy stare that seemed to be able to see right through her. “Nobody comes to this school unaware of our unique tradition of the Briar Doll contests. If you read the forms you would have been able to grasp exactly what you were getting into.” He said dryly. She shivered under his gaze.
“Don’t worry.” The president smiled warmly turning her attention back to him. “Everything will be fine.”
“That’s right.” The ambassador said. “It is an honor to be the Briar Doll. You’ll be taken well care of. I’ll make sure of it.”
“But…” She started.
“Don’t get cold feet now.” She warned. “There is a lot you have to do before we can hold the first competition. Niwa-sensei will fit you for your dress.” She said looking over some papers.
“Dress?” Kagura crinkled her nose.
“Oh and you’ll have to obtain the doll from last year’s briar doll.” The president started. “And be thinking of what the first contest should be. As the Briar doll, you get to chose.”
“I… uh…” She started getting dizzy.
“And don’t worry about having to spend money for the end of the year ball. That comes out of the student council budget. It’s actually rather nice.” The ambassador continued.
“Ball!”
“Yes, you’ll go to a hair stylists, nail salon… the whole bit.” She beamed. “But that isn’t until a long ways off. You don’t have to worry about it yet.”
“Hair stylists? Nail salon? Now wait just a minute!” She interrupted. They turned to her surprised.
“Yes?”
“I think you’ve got the wrong girl.”
“What do you mean?”
“Dresses? Balls? Stylists? I’m not really into all that. I’m much rather be playing sports or fighting or… something like that.” She said suddenly feeling sheepish under their gaze.
The entire student council stared at her in shock and she fidgeted uncomfortably. Then the student council president laughed heartily. Everyone watched him in surprise. She found herself getting a little angry. How dare he laugh!
“This years Briar Doll contests should be interesting!” He declared. “Azami-san, I believe you make a unique Briar Doll. I am glad that such a girl as you was picked.”
She flustered both from anger and the compliment - if it was one. She couldn’t figure the president out. “But I don’t want to be the Briar Doll!” She yelled. “I already told you, I’m not the right girl for that kind of stuff. Some other girl will be much better than I am.” She said thinking of Asaka.
“Nonsense.” The president decided. “I think you will make the perfect Briar Doll.”
“It’s a mistake.” She continued. “I won’t make the perfect Briar doll. Trust me.”
“I have complete faith in you.”
“You’re putting your faith in the wrong person.” She said dryly. He shook his head. “I don’t even like dresses and dances!” She argued.
“Azami-san. It’s ok.” He interrupted. “A Briar Doll doesn’t necessarily have to enjoy those things. You just have to be yourself and it will be fine.”
“But…”
“Now, now…” He held up his hands. “I understand you have your doubts. I tell you what…” He said stroking his chin. “I’ll give you one day to think it over. If you can come up with a legitimate excuse as to why you should not be the Briar doll and convince me to chose another one, we shall hold another drawing for a different girl.”
“President…” The green haired fox girl objected. “That isn’t in the rules.”
“No matter.” He brushed her away. “Now Azami-san. I want you to go home and think your position over. If by tomorrow afternoon you come up with something that will change my mind, we will choose someone else.”
“Ok, but I can tell you now I’m not gonna be some subservient picture girl who just stands there to look pretty. Isn’t that what the Briar Doll has to do?”
To this the ambassador smiled. “Oh no, Kagura-chan. At least for now the Briar Doll has a lot of work to do.”
“But I…”
The president held up his hand. “For now we will proceed as if you are the chosen Briar Doll… which you are. If by tomorrow I change my mind, we shall make the proper arrangements.”
The ambassador nodded. “Alright Takehito.” She agreed and stood up besides him. “Come Kagura-chan, we have a lot of arrangements.”
“Huh?”
The ambassador clapped her hands and Niwa-sensei, Kagura’s math teacher entered the room. “This is Niwa-sensei.” Ume announced. “She helps prepare the Briar doll every year.”
“And remember to pick up the doll from last year’s Briar Doll, Kiku Takashi. You’ll find her in the auditorium after school.” The president mentioned. “Alright everyone. This meeting is dismissed. Only those involved in preparing the Briar Doll may stay. This will be an interesting year. I can’t wait to participate.”
The ambassador looked up at him and smiled sweetly. “I thought you weren’t going to participate based on last year and the fact that you are the student council president.” She mentioned.
“Well Azami-san has changed my mind.”
“You’re not going to let her convince you to choose another candidate, are you?” She said slyly.
“Somehow I doubt it will be as exciting with any other girl.” She laughed and they left the room with a handful of others.
The small green haired girl came up to Kagura with a notepad in hand. “Hello, I’m Botan Ichijo the student council secretary. I’m in charge of overseeing the contests and making sure the rules are followed.”
“Uh…”
“Don’t worry. Once the games begin you don’t have to do much except be there at the scene?”
“At the scene?”
“You have to be present at all competitions.” She explained.
“What? Well how many competitions are there?”
“No one can tell.” She smiled looking rather fox like. “Isn’t it exciting?”
“But I…”
“Lift your arm please.” The math teacher said measuring her arm length with measuring tape.
“Now the first competition is kind of ceremonial. That’s what sensei is measuring for your dress.”
“Dress?” She crinkled her nose.
“Hah! That’s right! The Briar Doll does not feel to warmly about wearing a dress.” She said writing in her notepad.
“What are you writing?”
“Besides being the student council secretary, I’m also in charge of the school newspaper.” She winked. “This is my lackey, Masa-kun.” She said pointing behind her to a boy that Kagura had never known was there.
“Hi.” He said and disappeared back into the shadow.
“Uh…” She jerked when sensei started measuring from her waist down to her legs. “Ah!”
She walked slowly past a group of kids. One of them had a plastic bat and another was throwing a soccer ball at it in some strange form of baseball…
Baseball…
“Baseball!” She suddenly jolted straight up causing the kids to stop what they were doing to stare at her. The stupid Briar Doll thing had made her miss baseball practice! She kicked the ground and started running to her house. She would definitely convince the student council that she would NOT be this Briar Doll person. Somehow…
“Azami-san?” She looked up to see the President.
“Ah! Kagura-chan!” The fox like secretary suddenly appeared right next to her. “I guess it really is true…” She giggled. “You really do like fighting.”
“You were spying on me?” She wondered.
“No, no.” The president reassured. “I was just curious as to which way you walk to school, Azami-san.” He said smoothly.
The secretary giggled. “President you might be mistaken for a stalker.” He coughed. “And as for spying…” She turned to Kagura. “I just wanted to get the complete story on this year’s Briar Doll.” Her eyes seemed to twinkle dangerously.
“Isn’t working on the newspaper and the student council somewhat of a conflict of interests?” Kagura wondered wearily.
“Conflict?” She laughed. “Did you hear that Masa-kun?” The boy appeared from behind her with a notepad of his own.
“Yes ma’am.” He said writing something down. Then just as quickly as he appeared he disappeared to who knows where.
“Wait, you’re Kagura Azami?” The red head had caught up to them and was pointing at her accusingly.
The secretary laughed beside him. “You mean you’ve been fighting her every morning this year and you don’t even know her name.”
“She’s… Azami!” He just said simply pointing at her. The boy with dread locks and the leader simply stared at him not understanding his point.
“So?” Dread lock said.
“She’s the Briar Doll!”
“I’m not the Briar Doll yet!” She argued.
“The Briar Doll?” The leader wondered stroking his chin. “She doesn’t seem…” Before he could finish Kagura had launched her bag at his face.
“Boss!” The two sounded. They rescued their leader from Kagura’s assault and led him away.
“Briar Doll or not, we’ll still defeat you someday!” The red head said shaking his fists.
“See ya!” Dread Locks waved backwards. The two boys carried their leader away who now had a bloody nose, thanks to Kagura.
“Um Azami-san, I’m not sure I’ll let you convince me to pick another Briar Doll.” The president said clearing his throat besides her.
“Huh? Why not?” She said stomping her foot.
He smiled and she froze uncomfortable under the kind president’s stare. “You’d better get to class, Azami-san.” He said walking towards the school. “You don’t want to be late.”
“Huh?” She said and realized that the secretary had disappeared and she was left all alone forced to follow after the seemingly mysterious Student Council President.
“Oh… um Azami-chan.” One of the girls from the class said to her. It was a shy black hair girl with glasses. Despite being one of only four girls in the classroom, Kagura didn’t know her name. “You got presents for being the Briar Doll.” She said simply and walked shyly back to her desk.
“Hmph.” Asaka said sitting at her desk next to Kagura and ignoring her.
“Asa…” Kagura started until a boy from her class interrupted her.
“P-please take this gift… for uh…” The boy stuttered.
“Keep it!” Kagura yelled getting angry. She pushed all of the stuff off her desk. “I’m not the real Briar Doll anyway! They’re going to pick someone else!” She growled angrily.
“Kagura?” Asaka wondered.
“Azami Kagura!” The homeroom teacher reprimanded. “I realize that it was your name on the intercom yesterday and you might be happy being a celebrity but could you please not interrupt class?”
“Ah! Sorry sensei!” Kagura said blushing. “This Briar Doll stuff is ruining everything…” She grumbled.
“Come on, Kagura.” She giggled. “There is a lot to do today.”
“But…” Kagura reached out to her friend Asaka.
“Hmph.” The girl snubbed her.
“Asaka…” She whined as the secretary pulled her away.
“Ah, you haven’t picked up the doll from Kiku yet?” The green haired girl shook her head. “Tsk, Tsk. Alright, we’ll go there first.”
“What?”
Before Kagura knew it, she was already there in the dark auditorium. “Masa-kun, she’s scheduled to be here right?” Botan said seemingly speaking to someone that wasn’t there. The boy known as Masa-kun stepped out from behind her and flipped through a notebook.
“Yes.” He said simply turning to a specific page. “Wednesday’s they have drama rehearsal.” He said.
“Thank you, Masa-kun.” Botan said waving her hand in which the mysterious boy suddenly disappeared back into the shadows somehow…
“Uh… what’s going on?” Kagura wondered. She couldn’t keep up with the fox girl.
“We already told you yesterday, silly.” Botan said. “We have to pick up the doll from last years Briar Doll.”
“Doll?”
“Hey!” Botan yelled loudly. “Kiku-san!” She said into the dark auditorium. “We’re here for the doll.”
“Is anyone even here?” Kagura wondered.
Suddenly, the spotlight came on and there stood an elegant girl in the center of the stage. “Yes?” She said. She looked like the perfect example of a typical sweet natured Japanese schoolgirl.
“Hey Kiku.” Botan waved. Kagura was in awe by her beauty as a mysterious wind seemed to blow the girls hair and cutesy sparkles glimmered around her form. “This is Kagura, this years Briar Doll.”
“Stop telling people that!” Kagura argued. “I already told you I don’t want to be this Briar doll person!”
“Still trying to get out of it, huh?” Botan said lowly her eyes giving off a malicious glint.
“Oh.” The girl on the stage said walking down the stairs towards them. “I suppose I have to give you the doll.” She said. “I’ll go get it. Be right back.” She smiled warmly.
“And then after this you have to be fitted for your dress.”
“Dress?” Kagura cringed.
“Niwa-sensei has it already out. Hmm… oh yes did you think of something for the first competition yet?” Botan said looking over her notebook.
“I’m not the Briar Doll!” Kagura yelled. “So… why would I…” Botan looked at her in surprise and Kagura calmed down. “So why do I have to do that stuff?” She mumbled.
“Well.” Botan put her notebook in her pocket. “Have you thought of a way to get out of it?” She laughed mischievously. Kagura couldn’t tell if the secretary was someone she could trust or not so she didn’t want to confide in the pushy busy-body.
“Well no… but I’ll think of it somehow.”
“Here it is.” Kiku, the previous Briar Doll said coming out with a porcelain doll. She smiled as she handed it to Kagura. “I know being the Briar Doll is tough so you can come to me if you have any problems.” She said. Kagura was touched by her kindness.
“Oh…” Kagura breathed.
“Come on now, we don’t have time to diddle daddle around here.” Botan said pushing Kagura towards the door. “Time to try on your dress.”
“But I don’t want to try on a dress!” Kagura argued. Kiku watched the secretary push the first year out of the auditorium and simply smiled.
“Stay still.” The teacher grumped.
“Oh my.” The ambassador said. “Are you okay, Kagura?” She said coming into the room.
“She’s being difficult.” The math teacher scolded pushing the dress over Kagura’s head.
“How lame.” One of the girls who were helping her change droned. She was one of the twins that Kagura had seen before.
“Niwa-sensei, I’d be happy to wear the dress for her.” The other twin said.
“Yes, she can wear it!” Kagura argued as the teacher buttoned the back. But the twin who had said this seemed offended by this answer.
“Why you ungrateful ingrate!” She yelled.
“What? But I thought you wanted to wear it!”
“Please, who would want a discarded garment worn by you.” The twin changed her mind.
“Now, now…” The ambassador tried to calm everybody down.
“I’ve never worked with such a difficult girl!” The teacher argued.
In the meantime, Kagura had managed to sneak out of the room. “Kagura?” Ume the ambassador wondered.
“Where did she go?” One of the twins wondered.
“Get back here!” The teacher yelled into the hall to the running form of Kagura now in a frilly pink dress.
She noticed a bunch of people staring at her as she passed them in the halls and left them behind with nothing but murmurs and whispers. “I gotta get out of here!” She gulped and ran to the baseball field. Surely the blessed baseball field would offer sanctuary.
On her way there she saw three boys, two of which were familiar. One boy was the lame boy from the baseball team named Yuusuke or whatever who had nearly gotten knocked out when she ran into him. The other boy she recognized was…
“You!” She yelled pointing at the tough looking hooligan. The other two looked back at her in surprise.
The hooligan with hair that defied gravity suddenly seemed scared. He took a step back. “Gah!” Kagura yelled rushing towards him with her arm extended. Both Yuusuke and Kichiro eyes bulged out of their heads as she punched him in the face. He attempted to block her fist with his hand but the force of the dress-wearing girl caused him to fly backwards.
“Ryuu!” Both guys yelled in disbelief and ran to their fallen comrade.
“What did you do that for?” Yuusuke yelled at the girl.
“It’s okay.” Ryuu said sitting up and rubbing his head. “She’s the girl the gang and I fight everyday before school.”
“You fight a girl?” Yuusuke said in disbelief.
“Princess Peach!” Kichiro was already next to Kagura looking up at her with a mischievous glint on his glasses. He tugged at her dress. “Or is that another type of cosplay?” He said adjusting his glasses.
She jumped away from the creepy boy. “I’m not in cosplay!”
“She’s this years Briar Doll.” Ryuu explained standing up.
“You’re the Briar Doll?” Yuusuke said in disbelief.
“I’m not the Briar Doll!” Kagura yelled.
“Which is it?” Kichiro wondered.
“There you are Kagura. It seems Niwa-sensei has lost you.” Botan said grabbing onto Kagura’s arm.
“Ah! It’s you!” Kagura jerked.
“Oh? Who are your friends?” Botan looked over at the three.
“Uh…” She pointed at Ryuu and said, “Fighter guy.” She pointed at Yuusuke who gulped under her gaze. “Just some average guy.” He slumped at this. She pointed at Kichiro and paused.
“Who are you?” She wondered. His eyes were hidden behind his thick glasses.
“He who controls the past commands the future. He who commands the future...conquers the past…” He said simply.
“Huh?” She wondered.
“He’s quoting from some video game.” Yuusuke told her shaking his head.
“Oh…” Again she pointed at him. “Otaku guy.” The word echoed throughout the area as Kichiro gained a new nickname.
“Well anyway Kagura, let’s go.” Botan said pushing her away from the field.
“I don’t want to!” Kagura argued.
“You’re gonna mess up your dress.” Botan scolded.
“I didn’t want to wear a dress or be the Briar Doll anyway!” She said holding onto a pole as Botan tried to pull her away.
“Hi there, Azami-san. Secretary.” A cool voice said from behind them. There was the student council president. He took one look at Kagura who was clinging to the pole and smiled, “I knew it. You look pretty in a dress.” She blushed.
“Well… I… I just want to say that I don’t like it!” She said stomping her foot.
“Hey, Tsuchie!” The baseball captain called. “You coming?”
“Oh, yeah!” Yuusuke said running onto the field.
“President?” Aono wondered.
“Oh hello there, Aono-kun. Have you met this years Briar Doll?” He said presenting the embarrassed girl in a pink dress.
“You?” He didn’t sound happy at this news. “Hmm… actually she had some crazy idea of being on the baseball team but I guess she wasn’t serious about it because she never came back.”
“I was serious! I just got mixed up in all this!” Kagura yelled stomping her foot and pointing to the dress.
“You wanted to be on the baseball team?” Higashiki wondered taking Kagura’s hand.
“Uh… yeah.” She said not knowing what to make of the president.
“Azami-san you never cease to amaze me. You seem to be full of surprises.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She said jerking her hand away. He smiled warmly.
“Do you still wish for me to pick someone else to be the Briar Doll?”
“Yeah.” She grumbled not meeting the president’s gaze. It was almost like she was letting him down or something… which was weird… why would she care what this person thought?
“Let’s watch the baseball team practice.” He decided.
“Huh? Why?” Kagura turned to him.
“You like baseball don’t you?” He asked. She stared at him and found that he was serious.
“Yeah!” She said happily. “I even have my own mitt which is…” She looked around and realized she didn’t have it on her person.
“Ah! Don’t worry!” Botan said suddenly besides them scaring Kagura. “Masa-kun!” She whistled.
“Yes ma’am?” He immediately appeared behind her.
“Do you have Kagura’s stuff?”
“Right here ma’am.” He said holding out her bag.
“How did you… when did you… why did you…?” Kagura started grabbing her bag.
“Come Azami-san.” The president said leading her to the bleachers. “Let’s watch some baseball.”
-Botan Ichijo, Student council secretary and head journalist of the Briar Patch, your school’s official newspaper.
Title: Average normal guy
Year: 2nd year
Height: 5’8
Looks: Average hairstyle, brown eyes. Not very muscular but not skinny either. No redeeming features except maybe his expression which is mostly scared.
Personality: Inferiority complex but really a sweet guy. He gets flustered easily but has determination to keep going. He has a problem with being normal and wants to excel at something but he doesn’t know what. He is afraid that he’s just too boring of a character.
Likes: Baseball, Kagura, hanging out with his friends.
Dislikes: Pretty much everything about himself.
Beliefs: He pessimistically believes that he is followed by bad luck as if he pissed somebody important off in a past life.
Behind the name: Yuusuke means Superior or gentle. Tsuchie was used for the last name because Tsuchi means earth as Yuusuke represents the earth element.
