Chapter 5: It is not a Date

I love weekends. At least I forget about the things that bothers me. Saturday was a bliss, I was able to rest properly. I spend it reading the books I bought last month. The day that I dread has come. There is no good reason that I can come up with in order to refuse Yokohama.

He even offered me a ride, but I refused. We ended up agreeing to meet at Cafe Fasólia. I happen to know that place. That’s my favorite cafe back when I wanted to concentrate. Their matcha latte is my favorite and their iced caramel macchiato as well.

This is not a date I’m not supposed to be nervous about. It’s nothing special.

I’m sure I just made it in time but I instantly spotted him around the corner. I’d say that is my favorite spot. Our eyes met for a moment, so I hurried my way towards him to avoid his probable side comments. He seems well prepared, I did wear a decent clothe but my outfit feels not enough. I felt the urge of embarrassment. He is just so perfect at all times. He can compete with the Prince in my favorite fantasy novels. Let’s say a villainous male lead of some sort—

“Let’s begin shall we?”

I snapped out of my thoughts. Did I just consider him as a prince? Isn’t it ridiculous?

“Are you sick? You seem—“

I cut him off immediately “Oh it’s just I was hurrying my way here. I actually ran.” I’m afraid he will notice that I’m blushing. There is now way that I would allow him to think like that. Who knows what he will do? But he will not like it for sure, and it will be the biggest mistake of my life.

Guys like him are not supposed to be fed with fluttery. Look at how he uses it for his own advantage.

“Uhmmm I did bring notebook and pens.”

“Very well. Now let’s make a schedule.”

It’s surprising how this manly guy is teaching a girl to make notes. He told me the agenda for this date. This is to discuss the members' whereabouts. He is right, this is the best thing that we could do as of now. A plan is important to establish goals.

“Before that, what do you want?” He asked. Even if he sounds mean most of the time, I feel like he is such a—

No! Boys are just boys. That is certainly nothing!

“I want an iced caramel macchiato, I need some coffee in my veins right now. Plus a blueberry cheesecake.”

He eyed me curiously before calling the staff. I never knew that I can order on my seat. I usually go to the counter. Most people do, right?

After he orders, he turns his focus to me. I feel nervous somehow. “First, I’m not sure if you know this. Our seniors are making a big deal out of us. They hate the student council. There are also those who are waiting to be selected for this year. They even had the highest potential as candidates.”

“I am aware of that. I’m sorry that you have to deal with the burden.”

“I know. That is why you need to change. Once they had their eyes on you, they will pressure you. The only thing that makes them oblivious of your existence is that you are someone they are not familiar with yet. Good for you, you don’t stand out that much.” He makes sense. But judging from the way he responded he doesn’t have the slight intention to tell me that he is okay with the burden.

Realizing all his rebuttal to our seniors, his way of handling things made it easier for me. Now that the rage is on him, it doesn’t matter, since he is functioning well. He is good at everything he does, merely hating on him and telling him things will not affect him at all.

“Ummm…” I have nothing to say actually.

“There is so much that we need to settle. The cafeteria is getting better, however on the school grounds there are students who purposely throws their trash. That is an insult for us. Someone did that in front of Kise. He did not do a thing to stop them. Do you know why?”

I understand completely but I waited for him to continue.

“Kise is a former President, as well as Mikitani, and me of course. Akemi has a great reputation from being the Vice President of the Archangel.” I know that much since I gather some information about them. It’s on the flash drive that he found.

“One thing we can’t cross is the fact that we are no longer the one holding that title. We don’t want to inconvenience you, they probably have plans in mind, great ideas. But they will not even bulge. That’s because you are the President. We are the people below you.” He is dedicated on his job, and he made it so clear how much he wanted to keep me in check.

“I understand.”

He groaned in frustration. “I’m sure we’ve been talking about this a lot but who are you really? I’m sure Principal Tanaka is not playing on some sick joke.”

I anticipate this much that at some point he will ask.

“Is it something related to my family?” He asks.

Before I could answer the waitress arrived. “Here’s your order!” She is such a lovely waitress but one thing she doesn’t know is how to read the situation. Still, it’s not her fault. It just shocks me to some extent my heart skipped a beat. We thank the waitress in the end.

I know that he still waits for my response, it’s not that I want to avoid it. “I’d rather not tell the full detail. Believe it or not I am not someone special. I was offered this scholarship, in exchange I will be the President of the student council.”

“I have my reasons. I don’t want to disappoint my father. But at some point I wanted to escape, I get why you hate me.” I added.

I can’t just tell him I’m the archangel you’ve been talking about. How disappointed will he be? I am also not in shape to share my secret. “I believe it’s not related to your family. I’m sure with it. I am not comfortable to share this with anyone, so please be patient with me. I also value our truce, I will become the person that you want so don’t worry. I will take care of the things that I abandoned.” I still want to leave, I’d do that when there is a chance. Not that I can say that out loud.

“That’s the attitude I’ve been waiting for.” He smirks. But it will take some time to convince him. “Well what can you say?”

“Let’s go to the basics of the art of war. It will come in handy.” I suggested.

He is not impressed yet. To be honest, Yokohama is not a person you can fool easily. I know for sure that he wants to plan the student council whereabouts. I've done this before, I wait for my members to open their ideas before I invtervene. I am merely a member to him now. He must be the type to ask first as well.

“When laying plans there are five things we must consider. The moral law, heaven, earth, the commander, and method and discipline.”

I’m sure he knows the art of war, after all it is a classic book. I mentioned it a lot back then whenever I did things. I try to experiment methods, based on the classics. “My favorite line in that book is the one that says, subdue the enemy without making a fight.”

“That’s how I want you to play it, thank you for understanding the assignment.” His sarcasm is worth punching for at the moment but still Yokohama is not a complete foe. Just he wait, I’ll make him dance on my palm. Not in a way that I will make him a puppet. He will be the crown prince. Isn’t thrilling how I’m making it seems like I’m a king maker?

“Can you enlighten me?”

“Okay, let’s focus on looking for flaws that this school has even from the previous administration. Can you think of anything else?”

Yokohama thought for a moment before responding. “My brother is a graduate in that school about 3 years ago, it was impeccable. The rest are streak of glory.”

“Is there anything new?” I asked.

“Now that you mention, it was the same old Achievment. We are, in the first place, academically inclined school. It was definitely what the school is mostly known for.”

“Don’t we have any from the sports department?”

“Sports has been deemed useless to us. Specially most of the students here aimed to be the top in academic sector. Excellent leaders in industrial sectors or in government are usually the case.”

Yokohama is right just as l expected. "Don't we forget that not all students here are perfect. Some of them are expected to attend school only because of family. This school is also run by money anyone can be admitted all they need is to pay.”

“What do you mean? The school is nasty for accepting probable delinquents and low performing students?”

I smiled. Yokohama you really do care too much about image. “No, as student leaders, don’t we at least make a place for those students to excel at?”

His eyes widen in surprise, it was a cute expression. You don’t see him overwrought on a daily basis.

“Leaders are meant to guide those under them. You probably think that what we see is what we can only get. In middle school days student council candidates will roam around the campus to promise fun activities for students. They use their ideas in order to create harmony, at the same time that is to allow students to enjoy discovering where they are good at. It is not all about academics.”

Still speechless I continued. “Not only that. Not all students are good at academics. Some of them try so hard, but some of them still feels not enough. But isn’t better if they could find where they are good at least? We do have club, majority set standards, to sum it up, many students are still left out.”

“Tell me Yokohama, what do our school lack?”

“Sports.”

Like a child who got his answer correct I told him. “Very good, exactly.”

The floor is mine now. “I investigated the students, including those that attracts detention of some sort. This is not intentional, but to be someone they don’t acknowledge as leader, they don’t know me yet right? I was able to observe their behaviors closely. Not that I did that on purpose.”

“How do you plan to build the sport team?”

“I already prepared the club registration. I only need the members to sign this up. Plus even they are already five, how about I add two more.” I’m intentionally hinting him. Yokohama is in good shape, Suzuki as well.

“I will try to find—“

“It must be the two of you.” I demanded.

He flinches a little. “Come on. I don’t like sports. I’m not sure about Suzuki….”

“You should do it. Suzuki and you will do good at it.”

“It will be tiring for us, we have academics to handle. Don’t you forget?”

I will not backdown Yokohama, I don’t pity you even a bit. “The practice is not everyday. Only on Wednesday to Friday. Isn’t that good enough?”

“This is infuriating—“

“We need to do this. I swear this will be a huge success.”

He sighed. “Don’t be so optimistic. It was such a great idea but it will not be easy.”

I let out a sarcastic laugh. “Anyone who dares to insult this sport club will chew their words bitterly. I will make them taste what it’s like to be wrong.”

My initial plan is to detach myself from them in a way that they can easily forget. Is that even possible or too complicated? It cant be help, some things must be sacrificed in order to succeed. I need to show my best in order to make a difference. It's not that they will know who I really was. I dont intend to even exert effort. My first ever plan is to make a place where even delinquents can belong in this so called perfect school. The next is to establish the sports of EHS. No matter how perfect the school reputation might be. Those who wanted to say something ill about this school will definitely say students of EHS are wimps. The perfect players are those that they outcast, isn't such a waste of talent? I hate the school system for that reason.

“I’ll think about it.” Yokohama finally replied.

To my excitement I held both his hands. “Thank you so much!” He doesn’t seem happy about what I did, he immediately took his hands off mine.

“Moving forward, our team is disorganized. The lunch thing can’t be the only thing we just do, the meetings are still awkward.”

“I know it’s mostly my fault.”

“So hurry up and build connections.”

“I’m not done yet with my discussion of the art of war. I got excited with my favorite line, so I’ve jumped to that plan first.”

He seems displeased but this has been the way I handle things, I get distracted so easily. I might jump to another topic without him knowing. It’s troubling me as well, I should think how I speak, I’m keeping that in mind but it is easy for me to get carried away.

“Moving back, we must establish a moral law, we must tame the students so they will follow us without a doubt. This is will be our first step, isn’t this how you want me to be? I don’t mean to regain my reputation. But can you continue to shine for me?”

He took a sip on his matcha latte before answering. “Do take your time.”

“I want to keep working on the shadows. But I promise to make it work this time.”

“So you mean you wanted to be a puppeteer?”

“Putting it like that sounds bad, but I promise to make it work.”

“That is complicated, you see, how about you? How will you stop your potential haters?”

“As long as the student council is functioning, does it matter who accomplishes it? The five constant factors in laying plans include the commander. You and the rest of the members are capable enough. I will do my job and keep the paper works neat. In exchange you will be my face and claim all the glory.”

“Hey wait, that is too much!”

“I’ve told you this before I don’t want to be a leader anymore. Still I consider that you are indeed right, I am the chosen one. What else can I do?”

“Why do you hate it so much anyway?”

“Because I’m tired.”

“For what?”

“Thinking too much for people.”

“I don’t know what happened to you, but isn’t only right to get back up and move on?”

I smiled. Not because I feel like he shines like a prince who said something that will lift me up. “Sometimes it is not that easy. I hate people so much. I hate it that nobody will ever understand. Even you will not.”

He fell silent.

The air become suffocating. It’s awkward isn’t it? I have to say something at least. I will hate myself for it and pity myself, but still I owe Yokohama a lot. “I want to thank you. Even if I’m a nuisance, you still catch me when I can’t answer in class. You also stand up for me. I know this is troubling you and you just care…”

Still not responding. What I did rather makes it more awkward for us.

The only thing he managed to respond is “Yeah, well…”

______

Ryusei is a person that everybody likes. It was always easy for him, a lot of people praised him. Regardless of that, his achievements and failures are always nothing important, compared to his brother all his life. His parents don't even care how good he is, after all, they already have the first born son. Ryusei wanted to be someone whom his parents will expect to be good at something. Or even set a certain pressure on him. No matter what he does, he will always be a shadow.

He thinks that Tanizaki is so selfish for thinking only for herself.

After saying he doesn’t understand, he didn’t hear what she said after.

He wanted to contain his anger. But still he doesn’t want to appear rude so he answered “Yeah, well…”

He can’t look at Tanizaki at all. He hates her so much right now. She is still a girl so he has to hold back. It’s not like he wanted to punch her, it’s just that the last time Tanizaki cried, he felt guilty.

He’s been good with handling people. He always leads in peace and can make people agree whenever he wants because his decisions are firm and rational. What he can't understand is Tanizaki Chiaki herself. Why does she have to hold back? Why does she hide herself? Or why can’t she just punch the people who made her suffer? What good will it bring if she dwells on mistakes?

Ryusei felt like a mistake sometimes too but he was never like Tanizaki.

He is certain that he doesn’t want to be someone like Tanizaki.

“By the way, It’s almost 3 pm and I have something to do.”

“Alright.” At least Tanizaki is not someone who can’t understand simple situations.

The only reason he attended EHS is for the sake of meeting an archangel. He wanted to forget taking the path his brother took. He also wanted to give up.

You annoy me thinking as if you are the only one…