"Hiroko, I want you to take a moment and think about the situation," you take another step forward, not fearing Agano's menacing glare in the slightest, "A bunch of students from both Raijin and Kirin are hurting each other. They're breaking bones, cutting skin, making each other bleed out."
You point towards the three girls on the ground near the Kumiho, "And those three girls? I don't know what you're doing to them right now, but you know what they'll be like after this? Shivering wrecks, too afraid of their own shadows to live their lives."
"Who cares?!" Agano responds while trying to get into your personal space. You say trying, cause you don't stand still while she does it, not while she's got that knife out. You're brave, not stupid. She continues with her eyes firmly locked on you, "Maybe they'll learn that-"
"Learn what? Not to go outside cause anyone they meet could assault mentally? That their nightmares are real? Not to mess with that one specific girl who they've likely already forgotten about by the time you two got here anymore?" your eyes are firmly on Hiroko as you speak, "Hiroko, right now, you are risking and ruining the lives of others. And not just those three, but every single student that's fighting behind me. All because of something that you admitted you cared nothing, nor really bothered you. Answer me, did you even care about what those girls did? Did you even remember it until today?"
Hiroko doesn't answer you, but you can see the response in her body language. Her tails are drooping to the ground while her ears are flat against her head. Her legs are shaking and her head is constantly moving back and forth. She keeps muttering, "No...no...that's not..."
"Don't listen to him, Hiroko! He doesn't even know what he's talking about! He's never even really talked to you until now!" Agano points out while trying to close the distance between you two.
"Maybe so," you admit but quickly follow up, "But I have talked to Yameko. And she was willing to follow Hiroko here. She wouldn't abandon her friend, who she knew was doing everything in her power to become human. While I can't say I know her completely, I do know one thing..."
Hiroko's shaking eyes lock onto yours as you point an accusing finger at her, "...She would never do that for someone who would show such callous disregard for the livelihoods of the very thing she is trying to become."
This is another gamble. You'll be honest, even you're kind of confused at what your trying to say right now. But making sense doesn't matter right now. What matters is getting through to Hiroko and convincing her to back down.
[Feelings + Motive Check: 35 + 33 + 10 (Yameko Name Drop Bonus) = 78/75: Success!]
And, thankfully, your gambit pays off.
Hiroko falls to her knees, her arms and tails wrapping around her body while she stares blankly at the ground. The three girls all flinch in unison, before dropping to the earth like sacks of potatoes. They go completely still, and you're getting ready to dash over and check on them...but there's one issue with that. Agano is still here and you doubt she's just gonna let you-
"Hiroko! No!"
You do a double-take as Agano drops her knife and dashes her way over to where Hiroko fell to her knees. She skids to a stop next to the Kumiho, kneels next to her, then starts hugging her with all her might. The girl's original dour and angry mood has been replaced with one filled with worry and fear. She keeps petting Hiroko's head and running her sleeve across the Kumiho's eyes while saying, "It's gonna be ok, Hiroko. Don't cry. It's gonna be ok.
...ok, you didn't expect that.
Agano turns her attention back to you, glaring hard enough to almost bore a hole through you, "You! You did this! You'll pay for making Hiroko cry!"
Ah, there's the anger.
You prep yourself for a fight, spacing out her legs as Agano stands and starts heading your way. Your hands and toes flex in anticipation of a battle. Your eyes track the pink-haired girl as she starts getting closer...and that's when you both hear it.
The loud, piercing sound of police sirens.
And a familiar voice cutting through the silence.
"Checkmate."
Your face breaks out in a full tooth grin as you turn to your right. There, walking across the grass with his hands behind his back and head held high is none other than your bro with Yameko standing beside him. You let out a triumphant laugh as the two approach, letting your stance drop while shouting to your bro, "Took you long enough to get here! What took you? And where's the Club President?"
"First, brother, you are incorrect. Yameko and I have arrived at the precise time I indicated in my plan," the Kitsune bows when your brother indicates her then continues, "Second, President Munagi is currently contacting any students that were off-campus when the attack occurred to inform them of the current situation. She is doing so within one of the School Faculty rooms that are safe from Kirin attack. This will both ensure she can contribute to the effort to help the student body, and prevent her from discovering us."
You nod while jogging over to your brother once he stops walking. The two of you share a high five while Agano scowls at the two of you. She shouts at your brother, "Who the hell are you? And what did you just say?"
"My name is Nagai Yamato. I am the brother of Nagai Hayato, who you have already met. And I previously said 'Checkmate'. It is a phrase used in Chess to indicate when you have caught your opponent in a situation where no moves they make will be able to stop them from losing the game. I am using it to metaphorically declare that you have lost this battle."
"That's what you think, but-"
"It is not what I think, it is a fact. There are three sources of evidence for this," Yamato waves a hand towards the School Entrance which is where a growing number of red and blue lights are emanating from, "First, the police have arrived. They will soon begin arresting your fellow students for instigating the attack."
Next, he places a hand on your arm, "Second, my brother's actions have weakened your forces while strengthening our own. They will soon be caught between a resurgent Raijin Student Body and a freshly arrived police force. They will not be able to overcome such odds."
Then he points forward. Not at Agano, but at the sobbing Kumiho next to her, "Finally, Hiroko is clearly distraught. She can neither fight nor flee in her current condition, thus attempting to escape or fight your way out is impossible. If you attempt to, you will either be captured by the police or Raijin. There are no current avenues of escaping defeat for you. Thus, 'Checkmate'."
Agano, Yameko, you, even Hiroko all go quiet while staring at your brother. Yamato looks at you while raising an eyebrow, "Did I say something inappropriate?"
"N-Nah," you shake your head then turn your attention to Agano and Hiroko, "Besides, I think they got the point." Your evidence of this is Agano grabbing one of Hiroko's arms and trying to get the Kumiho to her feet.
"Come on, Hiroko. We need to get you out of here. Let's...Hiroko?" Agano notices that Hiroko's eyes aren't looking at her. The Kumiho starts moving on her own, arms and held flat at her sides as she walks towards your group. Specifically, walks towards Yameko who has been slowly making her way towards her friend since you've been talking.
The two fox creatures stop at the halfway mark between your two groups. They're close enough that you can see the clear difference between the two. Yameko only comes up to Hiroko's chest, her fur is a dusty gold where Hiroko's is pure white, and she has three fewer tails than her friend. Other than that, you could swear they were sisters as you watched them stare each other down. Eventually, Hiroko breaks the silence with her shaking voice, "Y-Yameko...I...I am sorry. I didn't mean-"
Hiroko is silenced by Yameko dashing forward and wrapping her taller friend in a large hug. Her gold tails wrap themselves around Hiroko's white ones. Hiroko's body went rigid at the unexpected affection from her friend. Her body was tense, ears and free tails flicking all over the place as she tried to process what was happening.
Then Yameko finally spoke, "Hiroko, I finally found you. I'm so glad you're safe."
"But..I...I ran and-"
"That doesn't matter," Yameko is quick to interrupt the Kumiho, pull her closer, "All that matters is that you're safe and sound. Thank the Gods."
The tension in Hiroko's body persists...then swiftly leaves her as she returns Yameko's embrace with her own. You and Yamato leave the two of them to catch up. You've got business with the leader of this whole thing.
Agano doesn't try to run, not event when you and Yamato get close enough to surround her. You do a quick check on the girls and sigh in relief. They're unconscious but alive. Agano sits cross-legged on the ground and looks up at your brother. She shrugs, "Alright, you got me. So, what happens now?"
"Now we shall take you to the police, they will get your testimony, and your sentence will be decided from there," your brother states in his indifferent tone.
Agano chuckles without smiling, "Yeah, I figured. It's what I get isn't it?"
"Query, why did you do this?" Yamato kneels to look Agano in the eye as he speaks, "Why launch an assault on the entire school? What was your reasoning behind it?"
"If you had asked earlier, I would've said to get back at those three," she jerks her head towards the passed out students, "They bullied Hiroko, and I wanted to make them pay for it. So, I figured a big attack on the school would work as a distraction while we took them back to Kirin for punishment...at least, that's what I told myself."
She shakes her head and stares at the ground, "But that was an excuse. I said I was doing this for Hiroko when really I just wanted to get back at all the rich kids in this school. Make them understand what fear is, you know. Let them know that having money doesn't mean they're untouchable or any different from the rest of us. I don't regret what I did to them, mind you...but I regret dragging Hiroko into it. This was my fight, not hers."
She's silent for a few seconds then lifts her head and says, "I know I'm in no position to ask this, but...can you let Hiroko go? I don't care what happens to me, but she doesn't deserve prison. This whole thing was my idea, not hers."
"I fail to see what you are so worried about," your brother tilts his head in confusion, "If she is as uninvolved as you say, then the police will simply detain her for a time. She will not be put in prison."
"That's what you think, huh?" Agano shakes her head while chuckling darkly, "Have you counted up the number of Raijin students that got hurt? Do you know who their parents are? Do you think they're gonna let the people who hurt their precious little children be let go without prison time? Especially if they think she's in some way related to the person behind the attack?"
Your brother doesn't answer, and the two of them lapse into silence for a time. Then he answers, "While I can't promise you that won't happen, I can tell you that I will do what I can to prevent that from happening. I have already begun thinking of possible ways to do so."
"And what about Hiroko?"
"If she truly is uninvolved in the planning behind this attack, then she shall be released by the police. However, I am not the one who convinced her to stand down. My brother is," your bro stands up and turns to you, "Brother, I'm afraid I must request your advice once more. What should be done with Hiroko?"
You frown and turn to Agano, "Let me ask you this, what's your relationship with Hiroko? Who is she to you and vice versa?"
Agano doesn't answer you at first. She does what she can to avoid your gaze, but soon she relents with a sigh, "She's my friend. My only friend. She's...I just want her to be safe."
[Feelings and Motives Check: 35 + 33 = 68/10: Success!]
...She's being sincere.
Alright then.
[] Let Hiroko go, but Agano goes to the police. She'll do her time for what she did, but she's right that Hiroko doesn't deserve to be punished for what Agano started.
[] Let both of them go. Agano did wrong, but she's right about what the student's parents will try to do if she gets caught. Better that she gets out of here with Hiroko.
[] Both of them go to the police. Hiroko should get let off easily. There's no reason she can't go.
[] Write-in...
"I shall bring everyone to their proper place, and ensure that the unconscious girls' minds are put in order, Yamato-sama. I shall see you soon," Yamato nods as Yameko walks off towards a school building with Agano and Hiroko in tow. Each is carrying one of the bullies in their arms.
Eventually, only you and Yamato are left. He turns to you and nods, "Excellent work, Hayato. You have exceeded my expectations."
"Really?" you shrug, "I was just following your plan, bro."
"Not true. In my plan, I expected you to enter a physical altercation with the one behind this attack. Not because of your actions, but because of the actions of the Kirin Leader. I had expected them to antagonize you, which would allow for Yameko and I to ambush them. Instead, you managed to talk Hiroko down and end this conflict with no one coming to blows. A wonderful job."
"Thanks, but none of it would've been possible without your plan, bro. I would've ran into the schoolyard and focused on fighting every Kirin student I saw. Would never have even thought to go after Agano and Hiroko, if you and Yameko hadn't found them and made the plan to deal with them. They would've gotten away and taken those three with them."
Yamato tilts his head in confusion, then nods, "I suppose so. Now then, I shall see you at the dorm."
"Wait," you say as he starts to walk away, "Aren't you gonna go to the school entrance to talk to the police and celebrate the win?"
"I do not see a reason to do that. The police shall get all the testimonies they require from the rest of the Raijin students, and I was not directly involved in us winning the day. I merely made the plan. My presence at the celebration is unneeded."
You watch Yamato walk away...
[] ....before catching up to him, wrapping your arm around him, and dragging him to the school entrance. He's the reason any of this worked, and he's gonna get the recognition he deserves for it! Even if you have to drag him there! (Yamato Gains The Trait: Hero Of Raijin Academy; Hayato Gains a New Trait: The Wind Beneath His Wings)
[] ....before catching up to him, wrapping your arm around him, and dragging him to the school entrance. Both of you are the reason this school is safe, and you're gonna make sure you both get the recognition you deserve. (Yamato and Hayato Gain The Trait: Heroes Of Raijin Academy; Both Gain a New Bond: My Team Is My Family; +1 Yamato Relationship Points)
[] ...then tell him you'll catch up with him later and heading towards the school entrance. If he doesn't want to get recognized, that's his decision. But you've got a bunch of people to check on and congratulatory pats on the back to give. (Hayato Gains The Trait: Hero Of Raijin Academy; +1 Yamato Relationship Points; Yamato Gains a New Trait: Within My Brother's Shadow)
[] ...and tell him to wait up. You're feeling pretty tired after everything and could use a break. Think it would be cool to hit the dorm and see if there's a good show to watch online. (Hayato and Yamato Gain the Trait: Raijin's Secret Saviors; Both Gain a New Bond: Family Over Fame; +8 Yamato Relationship Points)
To explain about the "Hero Of Raijin Trait", it's basically the "Lots of fame and adoration, but a target on your back" kind of Trait.
