Chapter 5:The Student Council Conscription

The next day I go to school early because I have morning duty. I walked a different way than usual—normally I walk through the main road when I'm not on morning duty or when I'm late. So I rarely take this shortcut.

Halfway down the road, I see the student council president struggling to carry a stack of papers. I walk past her. I want to help, but I'm quite shy about asking.

"Hey, you! Kouhai-kun (underclassman), what's your name? Come help me—your commander demands it!"

Did I hear that right? Commander? What is it with military themes that I've been encountering recently?

"Eh, sure, Senpai. How can I help?"

"Carry half of this stack of papers and I might reward you, my kouhai-kun. Hehe."

"Eh, reward? Like I'm allowed to be late to school for once?"

"Ara, you think too small, but let's just say the reward might make you excited," she whispers in my ear.

"Eh, okay then, Senpai. I'll help you."

She then gives me half of the stack of papers to carry.

"Woah, it's quite heavy, Senpai. What is this for?"

"Oh, it's for the school festival trial run. You know about it, right?" (Read Chapter 1 for more information.)

"Oh yeah, it must be troublesome, huh, Senpai?"

"Yeah, but I can't really argue with school policy."

"Eh, really? I thought the student council could do whatever they want."

"Well, if that were true, then there would be no first school festival."

"Oh, really? You would erase it if you were allowed, Senpai?"

"Yeah, I would replace it with a more beneficial event for students like us."

"Really? Like what, Senpai? Oh, maybe like, uhh, a mini Comiket and an idol concert?"

"How callous! Those events don't fit our school, kouhai-kun."

"Then what would you want to replace it with, Senpai?"

"Military boot camp with the JSDF (Japan Self-Defense Force)."

"Eh, what would that entail, Senpai? Like we learn to march and use guns?"

"Exactly, my kouhai! We must prepare to fight at all costs."

"But Senpai, these days I don't think we need more fighting."

"How careless! What if before we reach school there's a robber who wants your smartphone and tries to steal your game account?"

"Eh, I'm sure there's nothing like th—"

Before I can finish, almost like déjà vu, there's a delinquent from another school blocking our road.

"Yo, hand over your money. I need it to buy some smokes."

Then the student council president walks closer to the delinquent.

"You know smoking can cause multiple diseases, right?"

"Huh, like I care. Hand over your money, or... although maybe we can negotiate something else. Hehe."

The delinquent looks at, ehh, you know, that round thing.

"Huh, what a scatterbrained kouhai-kun! Prepare for combat formation Delta! Hyaa!"

Out of nowhere, she kicks the bully in the head, making him fall unconscious.

"Eh, will he be alright, Senpai?"

"Yeah, he'll be fine. But when he wakes up, he'll probably have a big headache and he might walk with a bit of a limp, but he's still alive, so it's fine, right, kouhai-kun?"

None of what she said sounded alright in any situation, but I don't want to argue anymore.

"Yeah, you're correct, Senpai."

"Oh, since you doubted me earlier, you have to meet me after school."

"Huh, but why? I'm pretty sure that a delinquent appearing again has lower odds than a Fate Grand Order gacha rate."

"That's not the point, kouhai-kun."

"Then what's the point, Senpai?"

"The point is you were wrong and I was right. End of argument. Now hurry before we're late for school."

"Oh, Senpai, I'm sorry, but can I ask your name? Sorry I've been calling you by honorifics."

"It's alright, kouhai-kun. My name is Kurasagi Hanayome. You can call me Kurasagi-shikikan (Commander), okay, kouhai-kun?"

"Eh, can I call you Kurasagi-Senpai instead? Is that alright?"

She looks at me with a fierce glare, but then her expression softens.

"Hmm, fine. Acceptable. Now let's make haste to school. March, Kämpfer (soldier in German)!"

"Eh, yes, Shikikan!"

A few minutes later, we arrive at the school gate.

"Okay, so since we're at school, I assume I have to bring this to the student council office, right, Kurasagi-Senpai?"

"Affirmative, kouhai-kun. Now follow me to our base."

We then enter the school to go to the "base."

As Kurasagi-Senpai opens the door, I see Emi sitting in one of the chairs.

"Oh, good morning, Emilia-san," Kurasagi-Senpai greets Emi.

"Oh, good morning, Kurasagi-Senpai! And... huh, Mamoru, what are you doing with Kurasagi-Senpai?" Emi looks at me curiously.

"Oh, I just happened to meet Kurasagi-Senpai on the way to school."

"Wait, but Emi, what are you doing in the student council room?"

"Oh, I want to volunteer for the school festival."

"You see, kouhai, look how brave Emi is! Charging into unknown situations with a calm mind."

"And don't forget her kind heart—she spends her time helping the unfortunate student council, unlike you, kouhai-kun, who spends his time leisurely."

Kurasagi-Senpai continues with more military jargon, making both Emi and me feel uncomfortable and confused.

"Eh, Kurasagi-Senpai, where should I put the papers?"

"Ah, sorry, kouhai-kun. You can put them on the desk."

"Oh, Emi, when can we continue our group project for biology class?"

"Hmm, well, today after school I'm going to help Kurasagi-Senpai and the others."

"Oh, then maybe we can continue it after the school festival then."

"Yeah, sorry, Mamoru." Emi looks at me with a sad expression.

"How dare you, Mamoru, make the fair maiden sad! Let me suggest an idea for both of you."

"Eh, what idea, Kurasagi-Senpai?"

"How about you help us by volunteering for the school festival too?"

"Eh, no, sorry, Kurasagi-Senpai."

I then try to leave for class, but Kurasagi-Senpai blocks the door.

"Nope, you can't leave yet until you agree."

"And don't forget, I haven't even given you the reward I promised."

"Eh, it's fine. I need to go to class now. I have a mor—"

"Nope, you cannot reject the reward because it would hurt my honor as this school's daimyo (lord)!"

Daimyo, really? How many things does Kurasagi-Senpai think she is?

"Eh, fine. I want to receive the reward."

"Hehe, good, kouhai-kun! For taking the initiative—you know, women love assertive men. Ah, you must have learned it from Emi."

I do realize now that I can talk more freely and be more active in conversations, especially with Ame and my little sister yesterday.

"Then I'm going to reveal what your reward is, kouhai-kun."

"You're going to—?"

"Yeah, Kurasagi-Senpai." I lean my ear closer to hear better.

"Partner up with Emi to help the student council."

"Eh, what? But that isn't a reward, Kurasagi-Senpai! That's more work!"

"Well, you doubted me about there being no danger, so let's just say it's punishment and training for you."

Emi then giggles.

"Oh my, Mamoru! Looks like we're partners again. Does this mean we're going to be together? Hehe." Emi teases me.

"I... uhh... I... uhh..." Mamoru.exe has stopped working.

"Looks like we're done. I have to make a report. You can leave now, kouhai."

I stand motionless, shocked that I'm being forced to help the student council. But on the bright side, I can at least do the group project with Emi and get to hang out with her more, so I... uhh.

Ah, it reminds me of when I got slapped by Shino, or the time I got the standard 5-star character instead of the one featured on the banner. Ahh.

"Eh, Mamoru, are you okay? Didn't you say earlier you have morning duty?"

Mamoru.exe successfully rebooted.

"Huh? Oh yeah! Well, see you later, Emi."

Then I quickly head to my class.

As I open the classroom door, I can see Shino's angry expression.

"Mamoru-san, you're late for your morning duty."

"Ah, sorry, Shino-san. I have... uhh, it's a long story. Let me in please so I can put my bag down and start my morning duty."

She sighs. "I already did your morning duty, you dummy."

"Huh? But you didn't need to do that, Shino-san."

"No need? I had to, Mamoru-san. The class was going to be dirty. It would cause discomfort among our classmates and the teacher might complain."

"Oh, eh, right. Sorry, Shino-san."

"Anyway, just head to your desk."

She looks disappointed in me.

I then head to my desk and put down my bag. I check around the class and indeed, it's already cleaned.

I guess I have to do tomorrow's morning duty to atone. Oh well.

Then I open my phone to claim my daily reward.

A few minutes later, our homeroom teacher comes in and class begins.

At lunch, I decide to eat the bento Mom made me.

Let's see what we have today... leftover curry! Hooray!

I taste it. Hmm, well, it tastes like curry.

I continue to eat the curry before I get interrupted by Shino.

"Eh, hey, Mamoru-san, I'm sorry I, ehh, shouted at you. I didn't know you helped the student council president."

"Oh, it's fine, Shino-san," I say as I swallow the last of the curry.

"Oh, are you volunteering for the school festival, Mamoru-san?"

"Well, I didn't volunteer. It's more like conscription, if Kurasagi-Senpai would call it that."

"Hehe, yeah. By the way, you're also partnered with Emi, right?" she speaks in a shaky tone.

"Yeah, that's the reward I got for 'helping' Kurasagi-Senpai."

"Reward, huh? Hehe." Shino begins to laugh to hide her jealousy.

"Eh, Shino, are you okay?"

"Huh? Yeah, I'm okay."

"So, Shino-san, are you volunteering to help the student council too?"

"Yeah, but I don't 'volunteer'—it's my duty as class rep to coordinate our class."

"Oh, it must be hard, huh?"

"Yeah, it's totally way worse than being a volunteer. The amount of meetings I need to attend just for one day... and don't forget that we need to do this again. God help me."

"Oh, really? Well, I wish you luck then, Shino-san." I smile.

Shino blushes. "Eh, yeah, thank you, Mamoru-san. Anyway, I have to go. See you."

Well, that was quite odd—Shino immediately approaching me like that. I think Emi might have something to do with it.

And where is she? I don't see her. She's usually with Shino.

Just after I theorize where Emi could be, she returns to class.

I want to talk to her, but then I look at the clock on my phone.

Shoot, break is almost over. I'd better go to the toilet.

I go to the toilet.

In the men's toilet, I can hear chatter:

"Hey, did you know for this school festival they're gonna invite an idol?"

"Idol? No, it isn't an idol, Yui-san. It's what you call an influencer."

"Yeah, same thing, right? She's coming here for the talk show, right?"

"Yeah, I wonder why they invited Yui."

"Maybe to satisfy us, hehe."

"Ah, you pervert! Anyway, let's get ready—lunch is almost over."

Yui... I feel like I've heard that name. Ah, it's from the cleaning ad that I saw on SNS. It's called Bratif Cleaning Co. or something.

Then the bell rings.

I head to my class.

But I can't stop thinking about what's going to happen after school.

Could it be like a sort of café date like last Friday?

Or could it just be a waste of time?

Well, I guess I'll just have to wait and see.