As Peko made her way down the hallway, her attention was drawn by a familiar, animated voice that cut through the otherwise quiet corridor. She stopped in her tracks as she spotted Mahiru Koizumi, unmistakable with her short red hair and vibrant demeanor, holding court at a table inside the library. Mahiru's gestures were grand, her passion clear in the way she spoke, and her presence was hard to ignore.

Peko's eyes narrowed slightly as she scanned the scene. Sitting across from Mahiru was Hannah, her expression animated and engaged. Peko's gaze sharpened as she took in the sight of the two girls deep in conversation. She had her reservations about Mahiru; the girl had a reputation for stirring up trouble with her outspoken opinions and had a knack for influencing others in ways that often led to discord. As for Hannah, Peko knew her well enough to understand her vulnerability, particularly her susceptibility to new friendships and influences when feeling neglected or unsettled.

Peko's concern grew as she watched Hannah laughing and nodding, clearly enjoying Mahiru's company. It was evident from the body language and animated exchange that Hannah was receptive to Mahiru's views. Given the recent tensions between Hannah and Fuyuhiko, Peko couldn't help but worry about the potential impact of Mahiru's strong opinions on Hannah's already fragile state of mind.

Peko goes to intervene, placing her hand on the library door to push it open further but before she can, she notices Mahiru getting up to leave. She sighs and steps away from the door slightly, watching intensely as the redhead exits the library.

"I hope you're being a good influence, Mahiru." Peko's tone was even but firm.

Mahiru, taken aback by Peko's sudden appearance, halted in her tracks and turned, her eyes narrowing with a mix of surprise and irritation. "What are you, a watchdog or something?" she retorted, her tone laced with defiance.

Peko's eyes remained narrowed as she regarded Mahiru with a mix of suspicion and concern. "What were you talking to her about?" she asked, her voice clipped and direct.

Mahiru rolled her eyes, her tone dismissive. "Oh, you know, everything under the sun." she replied flippantly, clearly uninterested in Peko's concerns.

Peko's irritation grew palpable, her usually composed demeanor beginning to crack. "I'm just trying to understand what kind of influence you're having on her. She's been through a lot recently, and I want to make sure she's surrounded by the right kind of people."

Mahiru's expression hardened. "I'm just being a friend. I think Hannah could use one right now, don't you?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she emphasized the word "friend," clearly implying that Peko and Fuyuhiko were the real problem and not her.

Peko tried to remain calm. "This isn't about friendship. This is about ensuring that Hannah's well-being is prioritized. If you truly cared about her, you'd understand that."

Mahiru didn't respond to Peko's last remark. Instead, she looked at Peko with a judging expression before turning on her heel and walking away with a dismissive huff. Her red hair swished with the force of her departure, and the checkered pattern of her tie seemed to shimmer with her defiance.

Peko watched as Mahiru walked away, her irritation simmering just below the surface. The girl's dismissive attitude had clearly struck a nerve, and Peko found herself gritting her teeth as she tried to regain her composure. With a frustrated grunt, she turned on her heel and made her way to go find Fuyuhiko.

~

As Hannah made her way down the stairs of the Kuzuryu Manor, dressed casually for an evening out with Mahiru, Fuyuhiko's sharp eyes immediately fell on her. The clack of her heels on the marble floor caught Fuyuhiko's attention immediately, and his frown deepened as he took in her attire, a mix of casual and stylish that seemed out of place in the Kuzuryu manor.

He was in the middle of reviewing some paperwork in the foyer when he spotted her.

Fuyuhiko's frown deepened, his gaze sharp and scrutinizing. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his tone leaving no room for misinterpretation. His eyes were hard, the irritation evident.

Hannah paused mid-step, her brow furrowing. "Why does it matter?" she shot back, her voice tinged with defensiveness. She was caught off guard by his sudden directness.

Fuyuhiko's expression hardened. His thoughts flashed back to his conversation with Peko earlier. He remembered Peko's concerns about Mahiru's influence and her warning about the potential trouble Hannah might get into. "I heard about your little encounter with Mahiru." he said sharply. "Is that who you're going to see now?"

Hannah's eyes widened slightly at his unexpected directness. "It's none of your business." she snapped, though there was a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

Fuyuhiko's jaw tightened. "It is my business when it affects people under my care," he said, stepping closer to her. "Mahiru's influence could be problematic. I don't want you getting involved in anything you might regret."

Hannah, clearly frustrated, took a deep breath and tried to maintain her composure. "I can handle myself. I don't need you or anyone else telling me what I can or cannot do."

"Yeah, well you're not going."

Hannah's head whipped back to Fuyuhiko, her eyes flashing with shock. "What?" she exclaimed, her voice sharp with disbelief.

Fuyuhiko crossed his arms, his expression unyielding. "I said you're not going. Mahiru is a whiny bitch. You don't want to hang out with her." he declared bluntly.

Hannah stood there for a moment, her eyes locked on Fuyuhiko as he turned his back and returned to his paperwork. "Are you serious right now?" she demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and annoyance.

Fuyuhiko didn't look up, his focus fixed on the documents sprawled out before him. "Yes, I'm serious." he said curtly, his tone dismissive. "Now, if you're done, I have work to finish."

The finality in his voice only fueled Hannah's fury. She clenched her fists at her sides, feeling her face flush with a heated rage.

"You can't control me like this!" she shouted, her voice breaking with anger. "I'm not some child you can boss around!"

Still without turning, Fuyuhiko continued to shuffle through his papers. "I'm not trying to control you," he said. "I'm just trying to keep you safe. You're not going out with someone like Mahiru, especially this late into the evening. Not on my watch."

Hannah's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "And who are you to tell me what I can and can't do? I'm under your care, not your control! I can make my own decisions."

Fuyuhiko's hand paused momentarily over a stack of papers. "This isn't about control. It's about responsibility. I'm responsible for you while you're here, and that means keeping you away from people who might get you into trouble or cause you harm."

Hannah's face flushed with indignation. "I don't need you to protect me from everything! I can handle myself. You're just being overbearing."

Fuyuhiko's frustration reached its peak, his tone fierce. "Overbearing? I'm trying to prevent you from making a huge mistake. Mahiru isn't someone you should be spending time with. I'm not going to let you put yourself in a bad situation just because you're itching for some rebellion."

"It's not about rebellion! It's about you treating me like I'm incapable of making my own choices. I'm sick of it!"

Fuyuhiko's jaw tightened. "You think you know better than me? You don't understand what's at stake here. You're not seeing the bigger picture."

"You're being-!"

"You're not going and that's final!" Fuyuhiko's tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

"This is pathetic-! I'm leaving." Hannah's hand was on the doorknob, ready to storm out when she heard the metallic click of a gun being cocked. She froze, her heart racing as she turned slowly to see Fuyuhiko standing with a gun pointed directly at her.

Fuyuhiko's face was a mask of steely determination, his eyes locked on her. Hannah's breath hitched, a mix of shock and anger bubbling up inside her. "Are you seriously threatening me with a gun? What is wrong with you?"

Fuyuhiko's grip on the gun was steady, but his expression betrayed a flicker of hesitation, both of them knowing that he wasn't going to do anything to hurt Hannah.

Just then, Riku walked into the room, his eyes widening in shock at the scene before him. He stopped in his tracks, his gaze shifting between Fuyuhiko and Hannah.

"What's going on here?" Riku's voice was a mix of confusion and alarm as he took in the sight of Fuyuhiko holding a gun and Hannah standing defiantly in front of him.

Fuyuhiko's hand wavered slightly at Riku's unexpected entrance. He quickly holstered the gun, though his expression remained tense. "She's being stubborn."

Hannah's frustration was clear as she turned to Riku, her voice tinged with exasperation. "He won't let me go out with my new friend, just because he thinks she's a bad influence."

Fuyuhiko scoffed. "She is a bad influence. I'm trying to help you."

Riku, determined to mediate, sighed and placed a firm hand on his friend's shoulder. "Fuyuhiko, just let her go out this once. She needs some independence and trust from you."

Fuyuhiko's eyes were still sharp, but the tension in his shoulders was evident. "I get that. But if anything happens to her while she's out-" He trailed off, frustration clearly etched in his features.

Riku cut him off, his voice steady but resolute. "You're not responsible for every decision she makes. She's not asking for permission; she's asking for a little freedom. Just this once. Let her experience things on her own terms."

Fuyuhiko grunted, his gaze shifting to Hannah, who stood with her arms crossed, clearly impatient. "Fine." he said begrudgingly, his voice low and tense. "But if anything goes wrong, don't come crying to me. I'm not taking the blame for this."