Sanemi steps forward, addressing her directly.
"And who's protecting us from discrimination? We have never done anything inappropriate with the students."
His voice is aggressive but he keeps it professional, knowing that losing control will hurt their case. Giyuu finally speaks up, his tone soft but firm.
"We understand the code, but it's outdated. Many other schools allow it. We can provide proof of our qualifications."
The woman scoffs.
"That's irrelevant! We want you gone!"
The argument escalates, with Sanemi calling her homophobic and her calling him a "bad influence". Kagaya tries to intervene but is drowned out by the shouting.
Shinobu peeks through the door, watching in dismay as Sanemi's face turns red.
"If you fire us, I'll sue for discrimination!"
The woman gasps, while another parent mutters "threatening now".
Sanemi looks at Giyuu for support, his chest heaving. The head of the board, a woman named Amane, raises her hand to silence everyone.
"Let's vote. All in favor of dismissal?"
A majority of hands go up. A few hesitate. A man stands beside Sanemi.
"Wait! My son is in Sanemi's class and he's never had any problems. They teach well."
The woman sneers at him.
"Stay out of this, you don't know what they do after school!"
The dad argues back.
"That's your speculation. They deserve a fair trial."
Amane frowns, the vote unanimous.
"Thank you for your input, but it's two against one."
She declares their fate. A group of parents start to speak out against the majority. They include parents of both straight and LGBTQ+ students.
"This is an abuse of power! They have been exemplary!"
Sanemi's eyes widen as the tide seems to shift slightly, though it's still not enough to overturn the decision. Kagaya watches as a divide forms. He finally says something more powerful.
"The school must respect all types of relationships. If we fire them, we risk losing students and parents. We need to modernize our views."
The homophobic woman stands back up, furious at the president. She points at Kagaya now.
"You're siding with them? You're weak!"
The woman tries to leave but Amane stops her.
"We will reconvene tomorrow. Please leave if you can't stay professional."
The board seems divided, some on her side and some with Kagaya. Sanemi looks at Kagaya with gratitude, though still furious. He leans into Giyuu and whispers.
"She's a cunt."
Giyuu nods subtly, his eyes tired. He can't believe how cruel some people can be. The woman exits, dragging a few others with her. The rest stay for the rest of the meeting, which discusses options.
"We will take into account public opinion. A survey will be conducted."
The meeting adjourns. Sanemi and Giyuu are instructed to wait for the survey results. They're allowed to stay at school for now.
Shinobu rushes over to them as they exit the room.
"I got a video of the whole thing. We can use it if necessary."
She holds up her phone, showing footage of the woman's outburst.
"Good thinking."
Shinobu glances at the angry crowd outside.*
"They're trying to gather signatures against us. It's a mess."
Giyuu rubs his temples, overwhelmed. Sanemi clenches his fists.
"Let them sign. We'll show them we can win the hearts of the community."
He's determined to fight back now, despite the odds. The clock is ticking. The three of them head to a secluded spot in the teachers' lounge, where they brainstorm.
"We need to get the parents of our supporters involved in the survey. Make it fair."
He starts writing down names of students who have been supportive.
Giyuu finally speaks with more emotion.
"And we need to talk to the students. They deserve to know why we matter."
He thinks of his gym classes, the way he motivates them. Sanemi grins slightly, liking the idea of Giyuu taking charge.*
"Yeah, show them your 'better than us' attitude is just dedication."
It's a jab but playful, showing he's lightening up. Shinobu chuckles, breaking the tension.*
"I'll handle social media. I'll make posters and put them up."
She's the tech-savvy one. The door opens and Obanai walks in, looking pissed off.
"I just heard everything. Can't believe those assholes."
He looks at Giyuu.
"I guess I misjudged you, Giyuu. I thought you were just... quiet."
Giyuu blinks, acknowledging him.
"Thanks for coming around."
Obanai grunts and joins their circle.
"They're targeting everyone. I've got students asking why they can't be gay." Sanemi scowls at the thought of children being exposed to hate.
"We need to protect them too. This could be a learning moment."
The group spends the night strategizing and making calls to parents. It's going to be a long battle. By midnight, they're exhausted but determined. The survey is set for the next week, and they've organized a small rally. The rally will be held on school grounds. They'll have to be careful, as the administration could stop it.
Giyuu falls asleep on the couch in the lounge, while Sanemi paces, unable to rest. The room is dim. Sanemi notices Giyuu asleep and sighs. He decides to take him to his apartment, which is closer than Sanemi's.
He picks him up gently, carrying him out of the school. The streets are deserted. Giyuu stirs slightly but doesn't wake up. Sanemi is careful not to drop him, his heart beating fast. He feels a strange urge to protect him. Once inside his apartment, he lays Giyuu on the couch and covers him with a blanket. He is seeing Tanjiro and Zenitsu making a bit out in the kitchen. Nothing wild but still... Sanemi stops, startled by the sight of Tanjiro and Zenitsu. He clears his throat loudly.
"Oh! Sanemi-sensei!"
Zenitsu jumps back, blushing furiously.
"What the hell are you two doing here this late? It's a school night."
He crosses his arms, though he's not actually mad at Tanjiro.
"We were studying and it got late. I didn't want to go home alone."
He looks sheepish, knowing he should have texted Giyuu first. Meanwhile Zenitsu is panicking.
"Y-Yeah! Studying!"
"Tch, studying my ass. You're too young for that kind of studying."
He eyes them suspiciously, thinking they're more than just classmates.
"We're responsible! And Giyuu-san lets me stay sometimes."
He points to the sleeping teacher.
"Please don't tell him we were... um..."
He fidgets nervously, seeing Sanemi's intimidating aura.
"I won't. But keep it down and don't disturb him."
He decides to let it slide, because he's tired and doesn't want to deal with teen drama right now. He heads to the fridge for water.
"Ah! By the way Genya is in Muichiro's room sleeping. He was confused that you weren't at home so he is here."
Sanemi facepalms.
"Great. My brother is here too. Just what I need."
He mutters under his breath, thinking about how Genya can be even more of a handful than Zenitsu. Sanemi facepalms again, harder this time. He's the only adult supervising four boys and a sleeping, cute girl under one roof.
"God damn it, this is a nightmare."
Tanjiro tries to explain.
"They're happy together! They come here often to play video games."
Sanemi can hear Inosuke snoring faintly from Muichiro's room.
"Perfect that bore is here too... now there are five."
He pinches the bridge of his nose.
"I swear if any of you make a mess, I'm grounding you all."
He goes to check on the three, knowing he has to watch them closely.