Mikael’s Anger…and Regret

"I also disagree! Expulsion is too much! It'll affect the rest of their lives!"

"Fights happen all the time when kids are young!"

"Wasn't it that boy who hit first?!" All at once, there was a flood of complaints from the parents. Mikael's anger rose bit by bit with every passing second and it finally reached its absolute limit when Ash's parents tried to make it seem like Yuki had started the entire incident.

"Shut your mouths, right now." Mikael turned to face with a murderous aura. "'That boy' as you called him, is currently lying in a hospital bed after being beaten by FIVE other people! You don't think that's too much but expulsion is? You should be thanking me on your knees that expulsion is all I said but it looks like you're all ungrateful. Shall we involve the police then? I wonder what would happen to the rest of their lives once they have criminal records?" Ash's mother couldn't restrain herself.

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Wouldn't I? You don't honestly believe they'll be easily let off because of a slap, do you? What happens after they look into why Yuki slapped your son? I think all your children know better what they've done. Why don't you ask them if they think they'll get away with it if people start looking into their actions?" The principal, who looked to be on the verge of fainting from the stress, interrupted.

"Everyone please calm down. Parents, why don't you all go and have a private chat with your kids and see what they have to say while I have a chat with Mr. Jensen here? Hm? Can we do that?" He wiped more sweat from his brow and waited anxiously for a response. The parents reluctantly agreed and went off to talk to their children.

"This is pointless. Even if they admit their fault and beg, they won't get out of this unscathed." Mikael addressed the principal as he took a seat in a nearby chair.

"Mr. Jensen, I understand your anger over this matter but isn't there any way to avoid expulsion? It really would derail their futures. Can't we try to find a way for them to be appropriately punished without such drastic measures?" Mikael narrowed his eyes.

"And why should I do that?"

"Um, well, that's…" The principal had no idea what to say. Fortunately for him, one of the students and his parents came back in a hurry and interrupted. The boy stared at his feet with his mother standing next to him gripping his shoulders. His father stepped up to discuss things with Mikael and the principal.

"My son will admit his wrongdoings in this incident and accept punishment as long as it's not suspension or expulsion. Also, the police must not be brought into this matter." The principal looked relieved for a moment before Mikael disagreed.

"No." The bot's father frowned.

"Are you sure? Wouldn't you like to know what exactly led up to this point? Agree to reduce the punishment for my son and he'll tell you everything."

"Why would I do that when I can simply ask Yuki?"

"Are you sure he'd tell you? After all, if he hasn't said anything before, I highly doubt he'll tell you the truth now."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Reduce the punishment." The two men stared at each other in silence. Mikael contemplated before sighing.

"Fine. After school detention from now till graduation, a written apology of at least 5000 words, he's not allowed to be anywhere near Yuki in the future, and a settlement of fifty thousand dollars for pain and suffering. Oh, and if one word out of his mouth is a lie, the deal's off."

"Fine," the man turned to his son with a disapproving look. "Tell him." The boy trembled slightly after making eye contact with Mikael. He then immediately looked back towards the ground and started recounting everything that had happened between Yuki and their group.

It all started in their first year. They were all in the same class and Ash noticed how withdrawn and shy Yuki was. He also complained all the time about Yuki looking down on others or how annoying and obnoxious his hair color was. At first, they didn't have much to do with each other except Ash's grumbling but, little by little, that changed.

A few month's into their first year, Yuki still didn't have any friends. He was too quiet and most people just ignored him, if they noticed he was there at all. Ash thought it was amusing that people treated Yuki like he was invisible and that's when he first started messing with him.

In the beginning, it was just small things like knocking his books to the floor or throwing paper at him in class. But, the longer it went on the angrier Ash got because Yuki completely ignored all of his antics. That's when Ash started verbally abusing him. He also made his friends join in. If they didn't, he'd get angry and since his parents were in higher positions then their parents, they couldn't afford to upset Ash.

When Yuki continued to ignore him, Ash got more violent. He started tripping Yuki in the hallways, laughing, and then calling him clumsy. He'd spill Yuki's lunch either onto the floor or onto Yuki himself. He also vandalized his books, frequently stole his money and homework, and 'playfully' hit Yuki on the back or arm. That's when Yuki told one of the teachers.

"What?" The kid flinched at Mikael's dangerously low voice. "Then why wasn't I informed? Which teacher was it?"

"I-It was Mr. Mason, the…the guidance counselor. He called us all in but when we got there he just had everyone say sorry and told Ash not to play around so roughly in the future."

"Fire him," Mikael demanded.

"I…yes, I understand." The principal decided to just give in. The student resumed his account of events.

After the counselor had failed to dole out any real punishment, Ash became emboldened and his bullying intensified. Yuki would get shoved against the lockers, trash thrown at him, constantly insulted, and even hit. He tried to fight back at first by avoiding Ash, dodging hits or flying trash, one time he even blocked one of the punches with a textbook but resisting only made Ash act up more.

When the next school year started, Ash's bullying resumed. It was never ending and what made it worse was all of the students in the school pretended not to notice. No matter what Ash did, no one stopped him and his friends played along. Things continued that way until a transfer student arrived in the final year. Aiden not only stopped Ash in his tracks but he was always with Yuki everyday so Ash didn't make a move.

"Then what about today?" Mikael asked.

"Aiden was absent today. That's why Ash went to bother Yuki during lunch." The boy then told them everything that happened during lunch. When he finished, the boy's father sent him and his mother out of the office.

"Well then, my son will hand his written apology to his teacher and she can pass it on after that. I'll get the information to transfer the funds at a later time." With that, the man left the office as well. Soon the other remaining parents and their kids returned. Ash's parents in particular weren't very happy but stood by their previous statements.

"Expulsion is still too much." Ash's mother said matter of factly. Mikael glared at her, her husband, and Ash before ignoring them and speaking directly to the others.

"You three, I'll give you the same option I gave your other friend. After school detention from now till graduation, a written apology of at least 5000 words, you're not allowed to be anywhere near Yuki in the future, and a settlement of fifty thousand dollars from each of you for pain and suffering. That or expulsion. Choose."

In the end, the parents agreed and took their children home. Ash and his parents were the only one's remaining. Mikael had no intention of showing any mercy to the kid standing in front of him. Ash's father cleared his throat.

"Well then, how much will it cost us?" Mikael shook his head.

"That's not going to work for him. His punishment isn't up for negotiation. The only option is expulsion. I have faith you'll deal with this accordingly, Mr. Principal." Without waiting for confirmation, Mikael left the office and headed back to the hospital.

When he arrived, Yuki was asleep but the hospital said he could go home. Not wanting to wake him up, Mikael carried him to the car and instructed the driver to take them home. He spent the entire drive staring at Yuki and silently cursing himself for being an utter failure. How could he let Yuki endure so much for so long? Why hadn't he noticed sooner? Regret over his many mistakes filled his heart.