2-1

On rare occasions, I’d go to school alone, walk by the street alone, enter and exit the train stations alone. My alone time would end when I’m approaching the school’s main gate where I’ve realized my surrounding is occupied with students of the same uniform.

The school used sleek with red-lined design as the formal school uniforms. In the season other than summer, we’d wear a white shirt and black, red collared blazer with red patterned skirt for girls, and a matching colour of black with pants for boys. Otherwise, it’s just a white shirt and the skirt/pants. From outsider’s point of view, our uniform might as well scream ‘eliteeeeeee’, coming from every corner of the fabric.

The ‘elite’ aspect wasn’t just for show, the students from the school were actually monstrously excellent. What differed us apart were just our involvements in co-curriculum activities, what we do beyond schools, be it outside or within our the school’s premise. The school didn’t have infinite options to offer to the students therefore like it or not, parts of us would opt to do something else outside schools. It was unavoidable that some of us would just go home and rest, play games or whatever things that don’t formally involve any groups or organizations.

Kanagawa International Elite High School, an obvious name for our luxurious school, located at Kanagawa Prefecture. In specific, we were few train stations away from the capital city of Tokyo. It admission were widely-opened for everyone around the globe, that is if you’re excellent students. If I can put a fraction into the figure, about 50% of the school population was local and the rest was international.

Japan doesn’t have all the talents to fill in the school’s quota anyway. This number is expected.

Today, I was going to school alone since Kina had to do the cleaning chores. Our school starts the first period at sharp 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. It usually took around 4 hours to clean the whole house and since she started doing so around 7 a.m., I guess she will be late at least 3 hours for school? Well, if any of you think of getting the any weird idea, just consider it as a light punishment to her for not properly doing her job.

It’s inevitable.

Yes, definitely inevitable. (It’s not my fault)

However, four hours to me sounded unreasonable. Cleaning that humongous mansion should at least take half a day. I should be grateful to have such as a capable servant to do the impossible, possible. Well, the mansion was technically clean so I could expect that she should be done sooner.

So, with Kina being absent right now, I stood out like a stray prey. A prey for lusting teenage girls to play around with. Perhaps saying them ‘lusty’ wouldn’t feel right, it’s just female’s nature to get attracted to men of their likes and I seemingly fell into those ‘likes’ category for most girls in the school.

Without further ado, I already heard my name was called from behind. Two girls were walking briskly to catch up with me and once they reached both my shoulders, their feet continued walking along with me in a rhythm. Soon after, they both casually grasped both my arms each. It’s not like they were trying to cling on me but rather to demonstrate how close we were as friends.

One girl, brown short-haired with curly ends and another, blonde medium-long-haired with side ponytail. I’d like to call them Girl C and D respectively because the A and B were already occupied in the story.

“Good morning,” they started greeting one after another.

“Good morning.”

“I heard you’re appointed as the president of student council. Gratz!”

“I see, the news spread quite fast. Thanks.”

“Do your best, we both will whole-heartedly support you! Unlike those jealous fellas!”

Girl D suddenly turned slightly bitter. Her bitterness became contagious as it affected Girl C who also went heated.

“Really, those guys really just talk nonsense!”

I didn’t quite follow the conversation, thus I asked,

“What are you gals talking about?”

Girl C’s eyes rounded slightly.

“Didn’t you know? There have been criticisms about your nomination as the president, saying you’re not suitable, worst person yada yada… Though there’s not many who’re with them. Mostly comes from class 2-S and some from our class.”

Our class is class 2-A.

If I wasn’t wrong, these girls were in the same class as mine, sitting at the most front left wing while me being the most rear on the right wing. Mine was closer to the rear door.

Now I kinda understood why Ms. Claire said it was a trial even though I’d been practically the president already. It can’t be helped that there will be factions that were unsatisfied by the teacher’s decision, perhaps they were seeking the position themselves. But that didn’t explain the long haul of the president’s vacancy.

In other way, they felt like making criticisms for the sake of making it. Humans are too many to share one common, positive goal. We ought to disagree with each other and always try to bring groups they don’t like down. That’s why democracy is such a joke, there will always be never-ending arguments, as much like we’re forced to watch circus shows for eternity.

Given the situation, I was lucky to have met these girls first that by default had already shown their supports to me. I bet if Kina were here, they wouldn’t even try to approach me and I might have bumped into my opponents first. Bullying Kina early in the morning was the right path.

I’m contented with the consequences.

“Our students are quite aggressive, huh? I was curious about what’s gonna happen too, thanks for informing me.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. We’re already always at your side. Anyway, you free afterschool? Wanna go karaoke?”

Karaoke… I don’t dislike singing but I’m also not a good singer. But going out having fun with the girls always be a pleasant experience. Too bad I have to put it off for later.

“I really appreciate your offer but I’m kinda not too free at the moment. Not to mention, student council works. Well, if you don’t mind, come have fun at student council room.”

Girl C and D looked at each other concernedly before coming out with a question.

“Watanabe, is she going to be there as well?”

“Under normal circumstance, yeah… she should be.”

Upon hearing my answer, both girls went reluctant as if they’re trying to ditch the topic.

“W-Well, we might come if we have free time o-okay?”

As expected my Kina. Her existence herself pose a threat to the girls. I always wonder why Kina put up with the delinquent appearances. She’d make more friends if she behave and dress up more amiably. I have no validation but one theory of mine suggests that she purposely did that so she can have me all by herself.

Geez, I’d rather if you (Kina) learn how to share.

Back to my problem, if revolts were to happen, there must be some sort of catalyzer, in other word a leader leading a revolution. People don’t usually speak up together at the same time, someone had to get up first so that individual can initiate a chain leading up to a group revolt. Humans are very dependent on each other, it there’s no leader, it would just be a chaos.

“Do you have any idea if someone’s particularly against my appointment?”

“Someone’s particular…?”

Girl C and D exchanged look again, puzzled.

“Well, maybe like the most vocal, or whose statement are very much supported by the crowded. A leader I would say…”

“Oooh… You mean that,” Girl D turned toward the sky, placing her finger on the lips. “I think I heard something about a very unpleasant person, a girl? Sorry, I can’t really remember her name.”

Then Girl D cued to Girl C as she’s asking her if she’d remember anything.

“Sorry, I’m also not so sure. But I think she’s from S class.”

“I see, don’t worry… it’s fine.”

S-class huh? To start with they don’t have that many students, sooner or later I’d be able to figure it out.

After some moments of leisure walk, we finally passed through the school entrance gate. We stumbled upon Alice in our sight and both the girls excused themselves saying that they had things to attend prior going to class. Before completely be out of my view, Girl C momentarily paused and curiously stared at Alice.

“What’s up? Let’s hurry up, we don’t have much time before the first period,” urged Girl D.

“N-nothing, let’s go.”

And so with them being gone, I approached Alice who was few meters away which later greeted me with a typical ‘good morning’. As we went into the main building, I replied her with the same response.

“You’re really taking it easy huh? Having fun with other girls despite being such in a dire position, don’t you?”

“That’s quite an exaggerating statement. We just happened to meet when we’re walking to school.”

If exaggerating is not the right word, you can replace it with meaningless. My appointment was decided and if teacher would recall her order, then I’d be more than grateful to accept it.

But…

My pride doesn’t allow it.

“How dire is, dire?” I asked.

Alice tilted her head and winked with a foxy smile.

“So dire that you’d wish to kill yourself.”