"Get out!" Ulf shouted .

"What?"

This was the boys' locker room after all, but it couldn't be helped . "Girl incoming . Out!"

He helped Christina inside and glared at the boys as they exited . A few showed signs of reluctance and needed some help convincing . "Get the h.e.l.l out of here! You don't help them when they're in trouble, you don't b.l.o.o.d.y get to look at them!"

That convinced the last ones .

'When did it get this bad? I got photos from her locker and desk, but I never believed they'd actually beat her up . '

Christina had made it to the toilet and locked herself inside when he heard voices behind him . "Outside!"

"What makes you . . . " he started before he thought of listening to the distinctly female voice inside the boys' locker room .

"Look," Noriko, because it was Noriko with Kyoko in tow, said in a much friendlier tone . "I like your good intentions . Pity they didn't come with a brain . "

Ulf stared at her . Then he stared at the bundle she held in her arms . 'Dry clothes? Dry clothes! Brains one, white knight zero . '

He bent his head and gave his feet a long stare as he shuffled outside .

There he took up guard by the door . Yukio was already waiting, and down the right wing stairs, several steps at a time, Ryu came jumping and joined them .

'You get an F for tardiness and an A for att.i.tude . ' Ryu's face was flaring with rage .

"Teachers coming?" Ulf asked Yukio .

"Hope so . This is getting dirty," Yukio answered and threw an exaggerated look at the left wing stairs .

Boys from second and third grade were slowly descending on them .

"I'm not moving," Ryu growled silently, as if he was worried about how Yukio and Ulf would handle the threat .

"You freshmen, get away from there!" And now the threat had been verbalised .

"Make me!" Ulf suggested . It didn't matter any longer . Any hope he had left of maintaining the fiction of being a member of geek squad was already destroyed . 'Spreading the graces . Bye bye monopoly, 3:1 . '

"Learn to respect your elders you little s.h.i.+t!"

Now that was novel . The speaker was easily ten centimetres shorter than himself, which put the definition of 'little s.h.i.+t' in a new light .

"Respect where respect is deserved . Doesn't include you . " Ulf removed his gla.s.ses and stretched to his full height . There was a time for being polite and one for being intimidating .

"We're going inside, so move it!"

"I'll stop you . "

There were over a dozen of them now . Ulf knew he could handle himself well if it came down to violence, but there were just too many of them now .

The speaker felt the addition of supporters as well . "You and what army?" He eyed Yukio and Ryu over and smiled .

"This army!"

All of them turned to see who had shouted the last words .

'Watabe, I b.l.o.o.d.y love you!' Both twins came down the right wing stairs spearheading more or less every member of the combined fan-clubs . By now a fight was out of the question . The last forces to arrive included girls in the double digits . Ulf slowly let out air from his lungs he hadn't even noticed he had drawn .

With the situation finally defused Ulf felt the door behind him budge . Kyoko and Noriko came out flanking Christina in a dry PE-uniform and a bag with her soaked school uniform in her hands .

They had made an attempt to fix her up, but nothing could hide her swollen face and cut hands . The sight made the present freshmen gasp, and then the sound of their voices turned ugly again .

"What happened?"

"Seniors . They beat her up . "

'Shut the f.u.c.k up Yukio! You're not helping . '

Ulf looked at Christina . She could take a joke, he decided .

"She tripped and fell into a doorpost . Several times," he said deadpan .

"Clumsy me," Christina added .

'Atta girl! You're my heroine!' "My lady, shall we?" he asked and offered her his arm .

She accepted, and together they strode down the corridor in the direction of the infirmary . Finally understanding the game the freshmen filed in behind them .

Get out! Ulf shouted . What? This was the boys locker room after all, but it couldnt be helped . Girl incoming . Out! He helped Christina inside and glared at the boys as they exited . A few showed signs of reluctance and needed some help convincing . Get the h.e.l.l out of here! You dont help them when theyre in trouble, you dont b.l.o.o.d.y get to look at them! That convinced the last ones . When did it get this bad? I got photos from her locker and desk, but I never believed theyd actually beat her up . Christina had made it to the toilet and locked herself inside when he heard voices behind him . Outside! What makes you . he started before he thought of listening to the distinctly female voice inside the boys locker room . Look, Noriko, because it was Noriko with Kyoko in tow, said in a much friendlier tone . I like your good intentions . Pity they didnt come with a brain . Ulf stared at her . Then he stared at the bundle she held in her arms . Dry clothes? Dry clothes! Brains one, white knight zero . He bent his head and gave his feet a long stare as he shuffled outside . There he took up guard by the door . Yukio was already waiting, and down the right wing stairs, several steps at a time, Ryu came jumping and joined them . You get an F for tardiness and an A for att.i.tude . Ryus face was flaring with rage . Teachers coming? Ulf asked Yukio . Hope so . This is getting dirty, Yukio answered and threw an exaggerated look at the left wing stairs . Boys from second and third grade were slowly descending on them . Im not moving, Ryu growled silently, as if he was worried about how Yukio and Ulf would handle the threat . You freshmen, get away from there! And now the threat had been verbalised . Make me! Ulf suggested . It didnt matter any longer . Any hope he had left of maintaining the fiction of being a member of geek squad was already destroyed . Spreading the graces . Bye bye monopoly, 3:1 . Learn to respect your elders you little s.h.i.+t! Now that was novel . The speaker was easily ten centimetres shorter than himself, which put the definition of little s.h.i.+t in a new light . Respect where respect is deserved . Doesnt include you . Ulf removed his gla.s.ses and stretched to his full height . There was a time for being polite and one for being intimidating . Were going inside, so move it! Ill stop you . There were over a dozen of them now . Ulf knew he could handle himself well if it came down to violence, but there were just too many of them now . The speaker felt the addition of supporters as well . You and what army? He eyed Yukio and Ryu over and smiled . This army! All of them turned to see who had shouted the last words . Watabe, I b.l.o.o.d.y love you! Both twins came down the right wing stairs spearheading more or less every member of the combined fan-clubs . By now a fight was out of the question . The last forces to arrive included girls in the double digits . Ulf slowly let out air from his lungs he hadnt even noticed he had drawn . With the situation finally defused Ulf felt the door behind him budge . Kyoko and Noriko came out flanking Christina in a dry PE-uniform and a bag with her soaked school uniform in her hands . They had made an attempt to fix her up, but nothing could hide her swollen face and cut hands . The sight made the present freshmen gasp, and then the sound of their voices turned ugly again . What happened? Seniors . They beat her up . Shut the f.u.c.k up Yukio! Youre not helping . Ulf looked at Christina . She could take a joke, he decided . She tripped and fell into a doorpost . Several times, he said deadpan . Clumsy me, Christina added . Atta girl! Youre my heroine! My lady, shall we? he asked and offered her his arm . She accepted, and together they strode down the corridor in the direction of the infirmary . Finally understanding the game the freshmen filed in behind them .