Not as long as the previous chapter, but then again, the previous one was a bit special. Hope you enjoy it anyways,

*****

Student Council and the President

Begrudgingly, I made my way to the Student Council’s room.

I had toyed with the idea of not going and outright ignoring the letter. After all, I didn’t really know why they wanted me (nor did I particularly care). Plus, I honestly didn’t want to go. I neither had the will nor motivation. It was the end of the first day, and more than anything, I wanted to rest my weary self on a comfortable mattress or sofa or floor. Really, at

this point, practically anything would suffice.

Yet, despite my reservations, I still proceeded forward. I had an inkling that ignoring the letter would just lead to more trouble in the future, so with trepidation, I crossed the school campus in the direction of where I presumed the student council's office was.

I also reluctantly brought Nanami, since no amount of convincing would make her go home.

On the way there, the two of us bumped into a frantic Morgan. His brow glistened with the afternoon rays, giving an image as if he were glowing.

I once again marveled at how feminine this man looked. Androgynous doesn’t even cut it. He seriously looked like a cute chick in a male uniform cosplay.

While absentmindedly staring at him, I noticed that he was feverishly looking left and right while hugging a covered package close to his chest.

“Morgan?” I called out to the young boy/girl.

He turned around and glowered in my direction. When he noticed it was me, he visibly relaxed and drooped his tense shoulders.

“A-ah Kelp…” He sighed, as if releasing all his built up tension.

Nanami who was obediently overlooking the situation, pulled along my sleeve as she inconspicuously hid behind my back.

In a subdued tone, she asked, “Hey Onii chan, who’s she?”

I chuckled a bit causing both Morgan and Nanami to look strangely at me.

I moved over towards where Morgan stood and introduced Nanami.

“This is Morgan. HE’s the guy I was talking about.”

From behind my back, Nanami examined the man.

After a quiet minute of her silently prodding Morgan with her eyes, she raised an eyebrow and asked,

“He? You’re a guy?” Nanami bluntly directed at Morgan.

He chuckled awkwardly.

“Um...Somehow or the other, yeah. I’m Morgan. And you are…?”

“....Nanami.”

“Nanami? I think I’ve heard that name around campus before…”

Morgan’s face scrunched up as he searched his memory.

At this point I laughed. “Hahaha. Yup, I wouldn’t be surprised. What did they call you again Nanami?”

I pointed my gaze towards the petite lady behind me, who responded with a glare.

Ignoring these threatening eyes, I answered my own question.

“Prodigal Beauty, was it?”

Nanami cringed hearing this ridiculous nickname. She lowered her head in gloom.

Ignoring Nanami’s down spirited attitude, Morgan’s eyes widened.

“Oh?! You mean she’s the amazing first year I kept hearing about?!”

“Yup, she’s the amazing person you’ve probably heard about.” I answered. “Speaking of which, what type of amazing things have you heard?” I inquired.

Nanami pulled along the hem of my shirt as she weakly spoke, “Onii chan…”

“Oh, I’ve heard plenty!” Morgan blabbered on excitedly.

“Like how she’s within the top 100, despite being a new student like me.”

“That does sound pretty amazing.” I commented.

“Also, how she achieved the highest score during yesterday’s entrance exam!”

“Wow, the highest?” That’s quite an achievement I smirked over to Nanami.

Her face brightened a shade of red.

This little girl really is quite bad with compliments.

I inwardly thought.

“Also, also!” Morgan excitedly hopped around. “She’s in all advance classes, and she’s…”

He went on to display his knowledge of my amazing little sister, which only caused Nanami to blush even more.

After a while, Morgan’s speech came to an end.

“Anyways, how do you know such an amazing person Kelp?"

“She’s my sister.” I stated obviously, to which Nanami nodded in agreement.

Morgan’s eyes continued sparkling while I heard him mumbling various phrases of praise.

Sensing that Nanami had grown vastly uncomfortable and the fact that the joke I had played was now over, I switched gears and questioned Morgan some more.

“Oh yeah Morgan, what are you doing here? I thought you had something to do after school?"

He flinched at this inquiry before he fidgeted while answering, “Um… the thing I had to do was here, so….”

“Hmmm, I see….what’s the package?” I nodded towards the thing wrapped between Morgan’s slender arms.

His grip around the object tightened. His once excited demeanor had now vanished, only to be replaced by one full of apprehension and uneasiness.

“Ah, um..I-it’s nothing really….”

While he was frantically looking around the corridor, his eyes visibly widened as he stared down the hallway. I turned to see what had occupied Morgan’s attention but I was met only with an empty and desolate passageway.

I turned back towards Morgan as he was preparing to leave.

“I-it was nice seeing you again Kelp.” He bowed politely while turning towards Nanami.

“And it was nice meeting you Kelp’s sister.” He bowed once more, to which Nanami responded with a grunt.

“Well then, see ya later.”

Before I could give a goodbye in return, Morgan was already sprinting down the hallway he was previously staring at.

As we saw Morgan’s silhouette fade in the distance, Nanami interrupted the silence.

“....Your friend sure is weird.”

Hearing this, I could only sigh and respond with, “Yeah, I guess he is pretty weird.”

*****

A little while later, we were met with a rather imposing pair of large double doors. They were polished wood and were rather enormous, which reflected the size of room it led to, which took up a good majority of the second floor of Building A.

Why is this room so damn big?

I double checked the letter which had the room number written on it and confirmed it with the room in front of me. Seeing that they unfortunately matched, I sighed and knocked on the doors. My taps reverberated throughout the otherwise, silent hallway.

After a moment, a muffled voice came from within the room.

"...Who is it?"

I answered apathetically. "It's Kelp, um, you called me..:"

I could make out hushed whispers, and after a minute or two, the muffled voice responded.

“Before you enter, you wouldn’t happen to have anybody else with you, right?”

“....My sister’s here.”

I saw Nanami fidgeting while another round of hushed whispers could be barely heard from behind the door frame.

I could hear a faint “That explains it” before a more audible voice spoke out again “... You’ll have to go in alone.”

Not wanting to make a big deal out of this, I just nodded and looked apologetically at Nanami.

She reluctantly released my sleeve and began to walk away.

“I’ll wait for you in the courtyard until you finish, okay Onii chan?” She stated as she turned back and addressed me.

“Why not just go home Nanami?” I suggested.

“I’ll wait for you in the courtyard.” She repeated before she walked away.

I sighed, and turned to the double doors once more. Before I could say anything, the muffled voice commanded.

“You may now enter.”

“....”

Sighing, I pushed open the large wooden door, only to be met by the musky smell of old parchment and tea leaves.

The room had ambient lighting, and I could make out three figures.

Standing near an overflowing book shelf, was a straight laced looking type of guy. With his well proportioned face, lean body, and well kept blonde hair, he was the pretty boy type of guy that any lonely teenager would feel compelled to punch.

Another figure was seated on one of the couches that lined the back wall. This person was a female, who wore a uniform that indicated she was a senior. She had a short, almost boyish haircut, and a thin framed pair of glasses. She quietly brooded and sipped her tea as she stared off into space.

The last figure was also female. She had long flowing black hair that almost seemed to glitter in the sunset and a well proportioned figure. She had a 2nd year uniform on and sat imposingly behind a large well polished Oak table.

I guessed that the this one was the leader… er, president, going by how.... authoritative she looked.

The lady in question was the first to to speak up, as she announced in a rather over dramatic way, “Welcome.”

I stared blankly at her before responding back with a weak willed, “Uh, hey.”

Unreservedly, I moved to sit on one of the chairs that stood in front of her table.

This action caused a slight twitch with the president’s impeccably cool face, but other than that, she made no show of action.

When she saw that I was properly seated, she gestured towards the girl before turning to me and asking, “Would you like some tea?”

“No thanks.” I bluntly responded.

“I see…”

We stared at each other in silence. Her serious and stern expression met my almost too calm face. Finally, after some time passed, she began to introduce herself. “I’m the president of the student council, Scleri Roe. The other two students are-”

I cut Miss President’s introductions off and I asked the girl behind the table. “So, why did you call me?”

Scleri flashed a look of irritation for a moment before she responded back through gritted teeth, “Hmm...nothing in particular, just that we have a little issue we’d like to settle with you.”

Before I noticed, the two other students from before had moved behind the president. There imposing figures looked as if they were the bodyguards protecting a high status employer.

Ignoring these two, I focused on the president.

“...And that is?”

Prez looked me over for a minute. Seeing my droopy eyes and lax attitude, she sighed and spoke,

“Well, to keep this short, we’d like you to leave the Rose Bud manor.”

While playing with my fingers, I asked, “Why?”

“I don’t think that you… fit very well with the type of people that live in Rose Bud.”

She glared at me with a look of resentment. I met her glare with a blank stare of my own.

Awkwardly, I scratched my head. “Um… that might be a problem for me.”

I’d rather prefer to stay near Nanami, mostly because I can expect a little bit of caretaking from her. Also, there was the whole situation with Quinn, I didn’t think there was anyplace on campus that would let me take in a toddler.

By this point, Scleri’s irritation was obvious. She took several breaths to calm herself then proceeded to explain.

“Let me put it this way Mr. Kusanagi. You're existence has put us at a very… precarious position. As you may know, the residents in Rose Bud or for this matter, any tenant house on campus is reserved for those we consider the best of the best.”

She took a brief pause before continuing, this time with a little bit more contempt in her voice.

“Normally, you wouldn’t be residing in one of these houses, but through various lucky circumstances, you somehow wound up staying within the Rose Bud Manor.”

“By special circumstances, you mean Nanami?”

“Yes” She stated. “In order to encourage families to enroll, a system has been implemented that allows relatives and family members to stay together. Normally, you and your sister would have the choice of living within the same vicinity, but the disparity between siblings was… more sizable than the board expected.

Even if you are relatives, we simply can’t have someone with such bad standing live in a place meant for the accomplished. It reflects badly on the school.”

I groaned. Scleri’s expressions were progressively getting scarier and scarier, as if talking with me made her day that much worse.

“Isn’t there a way you can make an exception?” I half pleaded.

“No. As I explained it before, you’re rankings are purely laughable. Forget bad, you are currently the worst. There’s no way someone considered the worst would be allowed to reside in a place reserved for the best.”

“Eh, it can’t be that bad, just make an exception already.”

A vein popped in Scleri’s forehead. “No means no Mr. Kusanagi.”

“But-”

“No.”

“What if-”

“I already said no.”

“Just-”

Scleri smacked her desk in open rage. Her tone inflated with hostility

“Listen here you damn brat! Enough with your incessance! Why can’t you get it through your thick skull, that living in a tenant house is a privilege placed only on the students recognized as the best. If someone so laughably low on the ranking system were allowed to live there, it would spell trouble for everyone.

Not only is it an insult to the whole school system, but it’s an insult to everyone who strives for success! We can’t have someone like that living in a place that houses the role models of our school!

First of all-”

Scleri went on to lecture me. Her words flooded out in a stream of anger and pride. There was really no room left for interjection, so I stayed silent and stifled a yawn as I sat through her yammering.

Her speech lasted a good majority of five minutes, and was so over the top, that even the students who stood behind her could be seen awkwardly fidgeting around. When her speech did finally end, much of her anger and hostility had already faded away, only to be left with a panting and out of breathe little lady whose face was as red as an apple.

Before Scleri could speak again, I interjected for the first time in a while.

“So in short, I just need to prove myself.”

“Haaaah?!” Scleri’s face conveyed an expression as if to say she couldn’t believe what I had just said. “Where on earth did you get that idea from?”

I scratched my head awkwardly. “Well, if places like Rose bud are reserved for the best, then I just have to show everyone I’m one of the best, right?”

“Pfft- You can spout out phrases like that even when you’ve got such a low ranking.”

“Well, for an adventurer, isn’t ability and skill more important than magical assessment?”

Scleri’s eye’s widened for a moment. “I see… Indeed, Newgrounds is first and foremost an adventurer’s school rather than a magic academy and as the acting student council president, I do believe in the potential for improvement but…..

Scleri directed an incredulous look towards me.

“What exactly can YOU do?”

I stopped and thought for a second.

I didn’t have a good grasp on my skills and advantages. If this were a job interview, I’d most likely fail. After a few seconds of pondering, I shrugged and sighed.

“Um...I’m a monster tamer?” I tried.

Going by how the teacher’s acted, I was sure that would count for something.

The president scoffed at this. The other students behind her also exchanged pitiful glances at each other.

“Monster tamer you say- while it’s true that there has been SOME buzz among the staff about your…feats recently, I don’t think it’s quite adequate enough.” Scleri commented.

“Do you really think such a lowly type of person is good enough to stand among the best of the best” The female student behind her added.

The president nodded in agreement before raising a hand and stating, “That’s enough Ami.”

The student named Ami bowed before responding, “Yes Miss President.”

Scleri turned her attention back to me. “Well, as you can see Mr. Kusanagi, being a….’Monster tamer’ really doesn’t elevate your position in the matter. I’m afraid our school doesn’t quite favor such a despicable way of fighting.”

I silently brooded. From this exchange, I could gather that there was some bit of animosity towards the monster tamer type of profession. Well, rather than animosity, it felt more like these people were looking down on the profession as a whole.

Well, it’s not like it matters to me.

I attempted to stir the conversation in a different direction to appeal to my other talents. Although I say that, the only thing I was good at that I could think of was fighting.

“Well, I’d say I’m quite good at, um...combat?”

“What of it?” Scleri replied in a disinterested fashion.

“Uh, isn’t like one of the aspects of being an adventurer knowing how to fight properly? I’d say combat expertise is a rather practical ability for an adventurer.” I tried explaining.

“...Yeah, okay, I guess that makes sense.” Scleri conceded.

“Exactly!” I yelped excitedly. “Practical ability is what you guys care about right? Then if I can show you I have that type of practical ability, then it should be enough.”

“Hmm...very well, that is quite a sound argument.” Scleri reached out and thumbed through a nearby agenda. “....Then how about you do something like win the next inter school combat tournament that’s scheduled in about 3 months? Although I do think it’s a bit too high of a hurdle for you, it would show that ‘practical ability’ you keep blabbering about.”

“Nope, rejected.” I instantly responded.

First of all that sounds a very bothersome, and also, where the heck am I suppose to live for the next 3 months until the tournament starts?

Scleri flashed a look of frustration.

“Then… how about you go and conquer a Rank s labyrinth and bring back some proof?”

“No. I don’t feel like camping right now.”

Labyrinth exploration takes at most one week to complete. And right now, I really didn’t want to tough it out for seven days with a bunch of monsters in the god forsaken wilderness.

“Grrr...Then how about you complete Setohanda’s seventeen trials of-”

“Stop.” I raised my hand and interrupted. “You don’t need to explain any further, it sounds troublesome as is. There’s no way I’m doing that.”

She sighed before continuing, “Listen here Mr. Kusanagi; You don’t have many options here. Personally, I would kick you out in a heartbeat, but given your incessance and the fact that I’m a very open minded person, I'm going to give you a chance.”

I sighed. “Yeah, I’m real grateful and all for your kindness, but all that sounds really troublesome.”

I thought for a second. What I really wanted was something quick and easy. Not some overly complicated quest to prove my worth to some random people I didn’t know.

“Why not just let me fight the strongest person on campus. If I beat them, then it’ll be pretty obvious by then that I’m plenty strong, right?”

After hearing my suggestion, the female student at the back, Ami, laughed. “You idiot, the strongest student within campus right now is Miss President.”

Hearing this, I flashed a wicked grin. “Oh, that makes it easier then. President, fight me.”

Ami, in front of my declaration, flared up in anger.

“You impudent- Who do you think you're talking to?!”

“Like I said, fighting with someone strong is the quickest way to prove myself.”I nonchalantly replied.

“You, contemptuous little-”

Before Ami cold spout out what I imagined was a string of profanities, Scleri stopped her by raising her hand.

She sighed, while stating, “Well, it is true that while Miss Amelia and the others ranked 2 to 5 are currently out of campus, leaving me, the sixth ranked student, as acting “strongest”, but unfortunately for you, I see no reason in fighting you nor do I have the motivation in trading blows with such a bitter man.

The issue about your predicament has nothing to do with me. Why would I go out of my way to help you?”

“Oho~, is the president afraid of losing?” I tried teasing her.

“...Such a childish tactic won’t work on me.” She stated coldly, although I did observe a little twitch along her right eye.

Scleri Roe, from what I could tell, was a very arrogant person. If I pushed her a little, I bet she’d be more than willing to duke it out. Which would be especially favorable to my position.

“Come on Miss Prez, no need to be scared. just a little sparring practice is all I need.”

“....”

“Not like, I’m all that scary. Like you say, I’m probably all weak and all, right?”

“....”

“Well, that’s fine, since the so called “strongest” is scared of fighting someone as “low” as me, I can always ask some of the other students.”

Scleri, finally sighed.

“If you’re that eager to talk with your fists, then why don’t you duke it out with one of the teachers?”

“...Um, the teachers?” I asked confusedly. This was not where I expected this situation to lead to.

Wordlessly, Scleri took out a communication device of some kind, and after a few minutes of fiddling, she turned back to me.

“There, I’ve scheduled a match with Professor Kiryat, you know, the man from the entrance exam that the new students all took? I’m sure you’re familiar with him. He should already be waiting in one of the arena’s.”

“Um..that’s great.”

“Yes indeed. If you are able to fight one of the teachers, who are undoubtedly several times stronger than the students, then I’m sure you’ll meet that prerequisite of “practical ability” you keep spouting on about.”

Scleri flashed a smirk. “Although, I doubt you’ll last that long.”

Hearing this I sighed in relief. Although I’m not too positive on how I ended up in this type of situation, it seems like the whole circumstance has resolved itself. As long as I can beat that beefy professor, I won’t have to move dorms.

Grinning, I got up and made my way to the door. “That’s great! Then, I guess I’ll head on over.”

Scleri nodded. “ I’ll also be in the arena at the time. I’ll be acting as a spectator and evaluating you, so in the off chance (lol) that you lose, I can give you some measure of credit.”

I smirked at this. “You’re giving me not enough credit here Miss. Who knows, maybe there’s an off chance that I’ll be the one winning.”

Scleri frowned at my confidence.

“You’re quite a contemptuous young man, you know that?”

I shrugged, while opening the double doors. Before I completely left the room, I smiled back and affirmed;

“Then, I’ll be seeing you there.”

****

When the young man with the bedraggled mop of black hair left the room, Scleri couldn’t help but slip out a sigh as she leaned back and reflected on today’s surprising exchange with the young man.

“Kelp Kusanagi is a rather….cheeky brat.” She exasperated.

From behind, the short haired female student named Ami stomped her foot in built up contempt.

“Grrrrrr…! That damn brat was soooo annoying! Can you believe how he talked to you President! He’s definitely a problem child! No doubt a delinquent!”

The blonde student, who had remained silent during the whole exchange, finally interjected.

“You’re right Ami, the man had no grace. A complete commoner amongst commoners.”

“An idiot!”

“A waste of space!”

The two students continued to degrade their visitor while Scleri looked on.

“That’s right. What did you think President?” Ami steered the conversation to the brooding woman who looked both angry and frustrated.

Scleri thought for a minute

“He really was a terrible person.” She agreed.

“A lowly man who’s a bit too over confident despite how low his real ability is. You both felt it right, when he walked in. The man had such miniscule magic, that it was almost as if he had none in the first place.”

The two nodded in agreement.

“ I did find it odd that there was an incredible amount of mana emitting from outside the door when he first knocked.” The blonde haired student commented. “Is that why you asked if he was alone President?”

Scleri nodded. “Indeed. I found it odd too. When I first read his records, I knew the man had little magic, that’s why it was weird that I felt a surge of mana emitting from outside the door. In the end, it turned out to be his sister.”

“There’s no doubt that that guy’s been mooching of his sister for a long time now.” Ami stated as if it were fact.

“Yes, I’ve also come to the same conclusion. His confidence most likely comes from his years of reliance on poor Nanami.”

“When we asked her to join the Student Council some time ago she rejected. It was probably all that scum’s fault!” The blonde haired student flared up.

“If it weren’t for him, I’d get to spend every afternoon together with that angel! Oh, Nanami….”

The boy’s eyes glazed over as if in a self inserted daze.

“Yes. Not only is he impeding his own sister’s potential, but he’s also making a mockery out of everyone else.” Scleri spat with undisguised resentment.

“That’s why I staged the fight. The man needs to learn. He needs to taste the bitter sting of defeat and know his place in the world.”

The two other students nodded in agreement. Although there was a lingering sense of apprehension in the air. After a while, Ami interjected.

“I agree that that man needs to be punished for his insolence...but still president, to make a student fight a teacher...much less Professor Kiryat, isn’t that overkill?”

Scleri smirked. “That’s exactly the point. If we’re lucky, he might just drop out.”

She stood up and stretched her arms over her head. She then motioned towards the other two while making her way to the door.

“Now then, let’s go.” She smiled coldly. “We’ve got an execution to watch.”

Chapter 10

Chapter 12