Thursday, August 26, Morning

Xavier Uzual

After a long speech that Xylia and I could probably recite from memory, Vice Principal Hopkins leaned back in his chair. “That is all,” he said. “Now, I’ll turn you over to our two students in the New Student Services division of our student council.”

A boy in a blue jacket stepped cleanly into the room. “At your service!” He slipped off a pair of large, red headphones and struck a pose. “Leo Maxia. Nice to meetcha!”

Hopkins narrowed his eyes. “What happened to Kotone and Judy?”

“Judy couldn’t make it, so I’m substituting,” Leo said. “Kotone… something came up.” I exchanged a glance with Xylia. Kotone... the girl from the coffee shop, right?

The Vice Principal nodded, slowly. “I… see. Well, off you go.”

Xylia and I nodded in unison. With that, we stepped into the hallway.

“Okay,” Leo said, after we had walked out of earshot of Hopkins’s office, “Let’s try that again. I’m Leo Maxia. President of Mendax’s Hero Club. Ranked 2nd on the school’s Delta Cross power rankings. Together we ride!” He extended a hand. I noticed he was wearing fingerless gloves.

What kind of greeting was ‘together we ride?’ Still, Xylia took it, and shook.

“Xylia Uzual!” She snuck a glance in my direction. I looked away. I don’t give my name to strangers. “And this is my brother, Xavier.”

“Xavier Uzual. Dude, that’s so cool! You sound like you could be a Final Fantasy character!”

“I don’t know what that is. ” I said. Epilepsy and video games get along like oil and water, if the oil also caused violent convulsions in the water.

“That’s a shame,” he said. “Okay, this way. School tour, star!”

Leo led us through the halls, explaining the layout of the school and pointing out important locations. I wasn’t really listening.

He paused to step down the stairs; I decided to ask him something.

“What happened to Kotone?” I asked. Xylia and Kotone seemed to be getting along pretty well in the Other Coffee House.

“Oh, do you know her already?”

“We ran into her yesterday, and she figured out who we were.”

He nodded. “She does that, a lot. Anyways, she overslept.”

“That doesn’t sound very responsible,” I said.

Leo scratched the back of his head. “Okay, she’s normally really on top of things. You don’t end up on Executive Council if you aren’t. She’s just been pretty sleep-deprived lately.”

That, again. 

“Shouldn’t you do something about it, President of the Hero Club?” Xylia asked. “Or is the Hero Club one of those do-nothing clubs you see in in anime and stuff?”

“Young miss, you wound me!” He spun and struck a pose. “We are the stars that shine in the night sky! The northern lights that will show your dreams! We are the Hero Club!”

Xylia and I exchanged a look. I backed away from the crazy man, but Xylia cracked a smile and laughed.

“To answer your question, we have been looking into her situation,” he said. “Though, only behind her back.”

“Why’s that?”

Leo hesitated for a moment. After a long pause, he said, “She doesn’t want us to worry about her, I guess,” he continued. “But, that just makes me worry more, actually.” He laughed, but looked a little worried.

My eyes trailed to Xylia. She’s like that too.

“By the way. If you don’t play games, what are you into, then?” Leo started walking down the hall again.

The answer was ‘the detective genre,’ but he didn’t need to know.

“I… see,” Leo said. Just what did you see? He turned the corner, led us out the door, and into a courtyard. “That building across the yard is the Old Building. It’s where most of the clubs that don’t require special rooms get placed.” He pointed to himself. “It’s where you can find the Hero Club, too. Like I said, we take and assist student requests. If you guys ever need anything, feel free to check us out.”

I most definitely wouldn’t. But Xylia giggled and nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“In front of us is the sports fields. They’re used for sports.”

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

Xylia’s eyes lit up. “Do you guys have a tennis club?”

“Sure we do,” he said. Xylia’s eyes lit up. “Courts are right over there. Are you really good, or something?”

“A little bit,” she said. “I-I’m not that good, actually. Just a beginner.”

“Really?” Leo grinned. “Something tells me your tennis stat is really high!”

Xylia tried to hide it behind her sleeve, she slowly, she smiled, wider and wider. “Maybe.”

“I know that look. Like I said, I’m 2nd on Mendax’s Delta Cross Power Rankings! I’ll introduce you to the tennis team sometime.”

“There’s no way they’re playing right now,” Xylia said. “Er… what’s Delta Cross?”

“A fighting game. Don’t worry about it.” Leo shook his head. “Er, the tennis team doesn’t meet today, either. But if you wanna get to know any club, then tomorrow evening’s a good chance. That’s when Club Carnival is.”

“I assume that’s where all the clubs try to recruit new members?”

“You bet. Hey, if you’re free, I can probably guide you guys around. What do you say?”

Thursday, August 26, Lunchtime

Kotone Koizumi

The school bell is six infernal seconds of metallic clanging. On the one hand, yes, that infernal ringing means that class is over and I’m free. On the other hand, it means that I’m subjected to six long seconds of that infernal ringing!

By the third second, I was out the door.

I turned the corner and headed to the Student Council office. I needed to finish up that Club Carnival paperwork. It didn’t have to be done in the office, really, but there shouldn’t be anyone in the office at this time. A quiet place is always nice.

I sighed. If I had more time, I’d pay the new students a visit. But then again, I’d already met them in the Other Coffee House the other day.

I’m absolutely shirking my responsibilities as someone who pushed for the New Student Introduction program. I’m really not happy with it, but there’s really not much I could do. I need to get that paperwork done.

As I headed up the stairs, I stumbled. Shoot, I should’ve gotten tea or coffee or something, in the morning. At the time, I didn’t think I would need it, but it seemed that the early-morning adrenaline had since worn off. I had no idea how much sleep I’d gotten last night, but it clearly wasn’t enough.

I forced my eyes open. Focus, Kotone. Power through it.

“I’ll be fine…” I muttered.

Second floor. Jeez, that felt like the steepest flight of stairs I’ve ever climbed in my life.

“K-Kotone!”

I turned at the sound of the voice. It was Olivia, the adorable moppet of the Hero Club and one of my two best friends. As I turned to look at her, she averted her gaze on instinct. Her bob cut hair flared out as she flicked her her head away. Every time I saw her, I couldn’t help but be reminded of a frightened small animal.

“Heya, Olive.”

Her eyes darted about, and finally, slowly, made eye contact with me. “D-do… you want to have lunch together?”

Just one year ago, she could hardly maintain eye contact with me, much less anyone. They grow up so fast. I almost fist pumped in front of her.

“Sure, though-” I began. At the sound of though, she flinched. “Relax. I was just gonna say, is it okay if we eat in the student council office? I’ve got some work I gotta finish.”

Olivia nodded quickly. “Y-yes!”

As we were about to start walking again, I felt a pair of arms wrap around my shoulders.

“Koto…” someone said, moaning like a zombie. “Take me with you…”

I shook her off, and turned around to come face-to-face with a paper bag with eye-holes.

“Sophia, what are you doing?” I examined my other best friend. Through the eye hole in the bag, I noticed that her eyeshadow wasn’t blended the way it usually was. “You woke up late this morning, didn’t you? And now, you’re running from your little fan club.” Not that I didn’t oversleep, either.

Through the eye hole, I noticed Sophia raise an eyebrow. “As expected of Koto, huh?”

“It’s like I’m psychic,” I said. I couldn’t help but smirk. This level of vanity is something I’m used to by now, but I still remember the first time something like this happened. “What happened to your little hiding spot?”

“Some guy took it,” Sophia said. “I dunno who he was. I’ve never seen him before.”

Immediately, I wondered if it was Xavier. Nah, that’d be too perfect of a coincidence. I turned to Olivia. “Okay if she joins us?”

After a pause, Olivia nodded. I'm sure Olivia wasn’t 100% comfortable around Sophia, but it can’t be helped. Small steps, small steps.

The three of us entered the student council office and took seats. I didn’t think there would be anyone present, but Judy, my Assistant Committee Chair was there, pounding away at her laptop.

“College apps?” I asked.

She nodded wordlessly and took another bite of her lunch. I sat us down across the room, so as not to distract her.

Sophia took her seat first, and removed the paper bag from her head. If I were anyone but her best friend, I absolutely would not have noticed that little difference in her makeup.

If I had to point out Sophia in a crowd to someone, I’d point to her and say, ‘the one who looks like a fashion model.’ I would not hesitate to describe her as the prettiest person I knew. Long, flowing hair, features like sculpted porcelain doll, legs for days… Which is, of course, why she has that fan club that’s always following her around. I cracked a wry smile at the thought. Jeez, Sophia’s a weird girl. But I guess that makes us a weird pair.

I broke out my laptop and opened up the Club Carnival budget spreadsheet. As I was tabbing over, I stumbled across my email. Oh, that reminds me. I had a question for Olivia.

“Hey, Olive.”

“Hm?”

“Did we… talk last night? Through email chat.”

Olivia nodded, slowly. “About Bakuman. I-I finished reading it last night.”

Right. That is what the chatlog said. But.. I don’t remember anything about that. I… I think I would’ve remembered something like that.

“I-Is something wrong?” Olivia asked.

“No… No, it’s nothing. It’s nothing.”

Sophia leaned her head on my shoulder and peered at the screen. “Budget stuff? I don’t remember that being the social committee’s job.

“Yeah, it’s not.” I laughed. “But, someone’s gotta do it.

“But like, the budget committee exists.”

“No one’s been elected yet, so they’re mostly empty.”

She crossed her arms. “Yeah, but they’ve got a head and a vice-head. Here, Koto, do you needa hand? If I end up as Treasurer, I’m gonna be handling this anyways. Might as well get a head start.”

I shook my head and gave my best reassuring smile. “Thanks, but I’ve got it under control, really.”

“Really.”

“Yes, really,” I said. It seemed that my best reassuring smile was not very reassuring at all. “Wait, you’re going for Treasurer?”

Sophia carefully picked out another pickle from her sandwich and set it aside. “Well, I don’t really have a shot at becoming head of the Social Committee anymore, now do I?”

“No… I guess not.” I noticed Judy looking in our direction. At the sight of my gaze, she averted her eyes. I’m probably going to retain this position even as a senior… which means by the time there’s a vacancy, Sophia and I will have both graduated. “I’m sorry-”

“Lighten up, Koto!” She threw an arm around mine. “Nothing to be sorry about. But seriously. Anything I can do?”

“Well…” I tabbed over to my email and pulled up my assignment. “Can you read this aloud for me?”

Sophia looked at me dubiously. I had a feeling Olivia was, too. Behind me, I heard rapid typing. Sophia reached over and tapped the email open.

“Hey, Kotone,” Sophia read, “Sorry, Kirsten flaked on us, so we need someone to take care of the Club Carnival budget stuff. Most Executive Council members have reporting in saying that they’ve got college applications, so I’m counting on you. I need you to compile master list of the amount that each club is requesting to be reimbursed. Don’t forget, we don’t do pre-emptive reimbursement. Carla.”

Okay… that’s slightly different from what it was last night and this morning… or was it? I could’ve sworn it said to organize them in two groups… right?

“Okay, thanks,” I said.

“Yeah, of course. Uh… you wanna tell me why, or…”

“No,” I said. I noticed that Olivia was looking at me, too, with her puppy-dog eyes. “No reason. It’s kind of a long story.”

‘No reason’ and ‘it’s kind of a long story’ were contradictory, but I hoped that neither of them would point it out. Thankfully, neither of them did. The three of us ate for a bit without talking.

“Oh, that reminds me,” Sophia said. “Did that rumor that’s been doing the rounds? About that shady revenge site.”

“R-revenge?”

“It’s probably nothing to worry about, Olive,” I said.

Sophia grinned. “I dunno. Have you been a bad girl?”

“N-no!” Olivia's eyes were wide open.

I laughed. “C’mon, don’t scare her like that.”

“I can’t help it. She’s too cute.” Sophia rolled her swivel chair past me, wrapped her arms around Olivia and pulled at her cheeks. “Who’s a good girl?”

“And don’t treat her like a plush toy.”

“Like I said. I can’t help it.”

Olivia tried to say something, but it was just muffled noises.

“Anyways,” Sophia loosened her grip, “the website. It’s called ‘Wait and Hope.’ You guys hear anything about it?”

“Wait and Hope… All human wisdom is contained in two words: ‘Wait and hope,” I recited.

“Huh?”

“I’m guessing the site’s name is a reference to The Count of Monte Cristo,” I said.

Sophia nodded, rocking her chin on the top of Olivia’s head. “Have you read it?”

“Something like that.” The real reason I knew of that quote was because of my taste in mobile games. Not that I was about admit it.

“But yeah… Supposedly, you type your request, and then they get revenge on the person you ask.” Sophia nodded, slowly. “In some rare cases, they even…”

Olivia said, “Even?” Her eyes were very wide, now.

“They come to meet you personally. You girls heard anything about it?”

We shook our heads. This sounded like the plot to a Persona game. Come on. Something like that can’t be real, can it?”

“I… think I have.” It was Judy, speaking from across the room. “I overheard Carla mention it once.”

“Really… Hm… I see, I see.”

I kind of wondered why Sophia would want to know about that. She didn’t seem like the type to put too much stock into urban rumors. I was going to ask, but-

“Oh, Kotone,” Judy said. “I meant to tell you earlier. Jack bailed on some of the new club application stuff. Can I count on you?”

“Of course.” No pause. “Tell Jack to send me a list of what to do.”

Judy said, “Gotcha.”

Both Sophia and Olivia cast worried looks. “Hold on. Koto’s swamped with work right now. Isn’t there anyone that can do it instead?” Sophia asked.

“Y-yeah!”

“I’m doing what I can too,” Judy said, “But, everyone’s really busy.”

“K-Kotone’s busy too!”

I put a hand on Sophia’s shoulder. “Thanks, but I’ll be fine.”

“Koto, you can’t-”

“Everyone has their own circumstances,” I said. “If I can help, I will. I’ll be okay.”

A jingle rang. An email dropped into my inbox.