This Isn't Some Demented Game

Thirty minutes until class is over… That’s basically three ten minute segments, which is two five minute segments each. And five minutes isn’t long at all, right? That’s only… six, five minute segments. My very important time-management breakdown was interrupted by the bells of the rapture ringing. Heels clicking sounded distantly from the hallway, growing closer by the moment. Each click made me more and more sure of who was approaching.

I recognized those taps from anywhere… Loafers by Prada… chocolate leather…? No. Brushed leather, imported, roughly one hundred-eighty thousand yen? Just by that description alone it should be painfully obvious who’s feet they were being worn on.

At a point the clacking became so unignorable the entire class turned their heads towards the door—including Hasegawa-sensei. Then, like she owned the place, Fujioka Chihiro stepped into our classroom.

“Uhm… Yes Fujioka-san? Is there something you need?” Hasegawa-sensei was the first one to acknowledge her presence. However, she didn’t respond. Did the temperature in here drop…? Is hell freezing over!?

“Hiroshi Takechi.” Her voice was one that commanded respect. Are we being selected for a demented money game!? Seriously what’s going on!? “Kitahara Sato. Akimoto Kaoru.” I saw Akimoto in front of me tense up—her grip on the back of her chair tightened. “Kiyotaka Makoto.”

My time has come, hasn’t it?

Fujioka pointed to her feet and walked out of the room. The four of us cautiously exchanged glances before following after her. Out in the hallway we were just out of Fujioka’s ear-shot. “Why did Hasegawa-sensei do nothing to stop Fujioka-senpai? She’s a student! He’s the teacher!” Sato aggressively whispered to the three of us.

“Have you ever talked to her?” Takechi responded. “I don’t know how Makoto does it but she’s totally scary.”

“Aw come on,” Akimoto patted him on the shoulder. “She’s not really scary once you get to know her.”

“You looked like you were about to cry when she called your name…”

“N-no I wasn’t!””

The five of us halted in front of another doorway. While we waited outside Fujioka stepped in and called the name Ohashi Junko. When she first said the name I had no clue who that was, were we really about to be sent into some twisted death-game for rich people to watch!? But once the girl in question joined us I recognized her as the newest member of the club. I guess I sort of forget she joined.

“Hello Kiyotaka-kun.” She greeted me. “Do you know what this is about?”

I shook my head no. “Fujioka-san has never done anything this extreme before… You’re guess is as good as mine.”

“Well, I don’t really mind. Fujioka-senpai seems like a trustworthy person.” I was honestly dumbfounded by her evaluation of our senpai, so I simply nodded along. “Huh… Also, I suppose we haven’t properly met before. I’m Ohashi Junko, class 2E, second year.”

“Oh, right hahaha… I guess you already know who I am, right?”

“Mhm.” Ohashi smiled. “Sorry I haven’t shown up at all since I’ve joined. I’ve been… busy.”

“Don’t worry about it. We all have stuff going on… or something… hahaha.”

“Please remain silent.” Fujioka barked—all of us straightened up at her thunderous words. We descended the stairs to the first year’s classroom and stopped in front of classroom 2B. Like clockwork, Fujioka entered, stepped out, and Yoshika joined the group.

I’ll admit I was a tad nervous at this point. She had gathered the entire writing club plus its extremities… Was she going to execute the non-members to set an example!? We crossed over to the adjacent club building and filed into the writing club’s room—me being the last one in. At that point the room was a little… cramped… I wasn’t uncomfortable or anything with the amount of people… it was just a bit much.

We silently watched as she stared back at us with her arms folded behind her back. Was she waiting for us to or…?

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“You’re all most likely wondering why I gathered you here. Ahem—” She strode over to the wall that neighbored the next clubroom over. “It is for one very simple reason, as you’ll see momentarily.” She gripped a small handle on the wall and pushed. The wall, divided into tall segments, began compressing as she moved it toward the adjacent wall.

Hold on what? What’s this? No seriously? The next door room has been unused this whole time? That wasn’t a real wall? Are you telling me over the last decade no one has known about this? Fujioka how’d you figure this out? Why did that handle on the wall never seem suspicious to me!?

After the wall had been fully compressed it nearly quadrupled the writing club’s space. In the newly unlocked area, Fujioka had constructed a small stage in the middle using wooden boxes, and surrounded the stage with chairs. This really is some demented game.

“Uhm, Fujioka-senpai?” Takechi spoke up. “Is this some sort of hidden camera prank? What’s goin’ on?”
“Hmhmhm~ Hiroshi Takechi… You, you are the cause of all this, don’t you know?”

“W-what?”

“Simply by being friends with Makoto, you have attracted constant distractions to this club. Riling up Kaoru-chan, bringing Yoshika-chan with you, Kitahara-kun always trailing behind you, and insisting on Makoto accompanying you two.”

Takechi looked everywhere around him but Fujioka. I get having an issue with someone but calling a bunch of people to call him out… That was a little far I think. “S-so what’s your point…?” He asked timidly.

Fujioka pointed an accusatory finger directly at him. “You, Hiroshi Takechi, and all your subordinates will be joining the writing club to make up for the time you wasted.”

“What!?”

“For real!?”

“Are you serious!?”

“N-n-no!” I stammered out last. Everyone in the room turned their attention to me. “Uhm… I mean, Fujioka, wouldn’t that just cause more distractions? Like… having a crowded clubroom?”

“Tsk tsk tsk… You aren’t able to see the full vision, are you? Hiroshi-kun and Yoshika-chan will be my models! What better way to work off their debt of wasted time by using their time.”

“H-hey! I don’t agree to this! I have a lot going on! The answer’s no.” Takechi literally put his foot down.

“It’s amusing. You honestly think you have a choice, Hiroshi-kun.” The menacing aura hovering around Fujioka increased ten-fold. “If you refuse to comply, I have a feeling your biggest secret will be leaked.”