Pandora Opens the Box

Pandora, the first woman, was gifted a box by the god Zeus. She was instructed to never open it. Despite Zeus's warning, her curiosity got the best of her and she opened it anyway. Out of the box came all forms of misery and sin, which plague humanity to this day.

Maybe I'm prejudiced, but I can't help but wonder why women are like this. They all seem to attract chaos like a moth to a flame... But what do I know?...

My name is Hako Kuro and I just began my second year at Shikaku High School. I am also a member of the student council.

I joined the student council at the beginning of my first year after some convincing by a certain classmate. Since then, my life essentially turned into a typical highschool romcom, mainly due to the fact that the other members are three of the most popular girls in school.

Today though, all that is going to end because I've come to a realization...

"What did you want to talk with us about, Kuro-kun?"

The girl talking was a petite, upbeat girl with short, orange hair. She sat directly across from me.

"Oh don't you worry Mei-chan, you'll find out in just a few moments once everyone is here."

I put on a fake smile as I spoke.

"I don't like this, something about you seems off. You better not be planning anything weird, you idiot."

Another athletic looking girl, who was sitting on the couch beside Mei, spoke with a bit of an attitude. Her hair was blonde and tied in a French braid.

"I can assure you Sakai-san, this meeting is of the utmost importance." I said

The two girls gave me uncertain looks.

Suddenly, a tall girl with long brown hair entered the room.

"Hako-san, what's this meeting about? This seems a bit out of character for you."

"Ah, Sato-san or should I say Ms. President. Take a seat."

She sat by the other two girls.

"Now that you're all here, I have a BIG anno-."

I was rudely interrupted by Sakai, the blonde haired girl.

"This is going to be quick, right? I'm going to be late for tennis practice."

Sato, the student council president, spoke up,

"Come on Sakai-san, it's not often Hako-san makes requests. The least we can do is hear him out."

I found her tone to be somewhat belittling, but I ignored it and maintained my fake happy face.

"...As I was saying, I called you all here to make a SPECIAL announ-"

This time Mei, the orange haired girl naively interrupted me.

"Does this announcement have something to do with a girl, Kuro-kun?"

This seemed to peak all three girl's interest because they all sat up in their seats.

"...uh, no it doesn't..."

"Oh." They all collectively said.

All three slouched back down, signaling their disappointment.

"Okay, if I can just get this out, you can all be on your way. What I wanted to say was... as of today, I am officially resigning as secretary of the student council."

The room went quiet for a moment...

"WHAT!?" Sakai and Mei shouted Simultaneously.

President Sato just sat with her legs crossed and appeared completely unfazed by what I just said.

"But Kuro, I don't understand. We all had so much fun this past year. Why would you want to quit?" Mei said.

Suddenly, I dropped my act. My face fell into a cold expression.

"Fun?... More like YOU three had fun.

"What do you mean? We had all sorts of good times last year. Don't you remember all the times we all hung out?" Mei continued.

"Yes I do, but if I recall, it seemed like all the times we hung out were at my expense. No matter what, the three of you constantly razzed me and put me in awkward situations."

"Come on, you know that's not true. Name one time."

I looked Mei directly in her yellow eyes and spoke without so much as a stutter.

"The locker room incident at the water park."

"... Oh... Well... yeah... That was kinda bad..."

She got quiet. Sakai then spoke up.

"Don't you think you're being a bit of a drama queen? It's normal for friends to razz each other."

"Yes and to be honest that's not my biggest issue with you three." I said.

"What is then?"

"I don't know... maybe the fact that I do all three of your jobs."

"I do my job!"

I cast her a doubtful look.

"Don't make me laugh. All you ever do is complain about how you're going to be late for tennis practice, then you pawn your work off on me.

I don't even know why you're our treasurer in the first place. You suck at math. Even when you actually try to put together a budget or balance sheet, I end up having to fix it.

Same goes for you, Mei. What do you even do as Vice President? I'm the one that always seems to have to go in your place to all the boring meetings with faculty and the clubs."

"You know, Kuro, you're being kind of mean." Mei said.

Something about that comment made me lose my temper.

"You think I'm being mean!? But the three of you taking advantage of me this past year isn't?

You know Mei, we've been neighbors our entire lives and I realized something about you. You have this whole popular, nice girl act, but in reality you're a raging narcissist."

She was tearing up as I teed off on her.

"Knock it off with the fake tears. You're just trying to make me look like the bad guy. You know what I'm saying is true. Since we've been kids, if you're not the center of attention you throw a fit and bad mouth people behind their backs."

"You're a jerk!"

She ran out of the room crying. In all honesty, I didn't feel bad in the least.

"What's with you? You're going way too far!"

Sakai was next to speak up.

"And you Sakai, I get you're our school's star tennis player, but why did you join the student council if it cuts into tennis practice? I swear you act like you're forced to be here.

Oh and I can't forget to mention that tsundere act of your's."

"I'm not a tsundere, you idiot. This is real life, not one of your stupid animes."

"Yes you are. There isn't a single guy in this school who thinks you aren't. I don't really get it either. Is it supposed to be cute or something because honestly it's just kind of annoying and it makes you seem bipolar."

"Yeah well… at least I'm not the one who thinks he's the protagonist of a romcom! I'm done, I have tennis practice to get to."

She stormed out of the room while also proving my point about her.

"My my, seems like you've done it."

President Sato chimed in.

It was just the two of us left in the student council room.

"Don't think I forgot about you. You're probably the worst of them all."

She had a wry smirk on her face, as if she found my whole outburst amusing.

"Oh and why is that, Hako-san?"

"Because unlike those other two, I think you intended on taking advantage of me from the start."

"What makes you think that?"

I shook my head.

"Mei-chan and Sakai-san aren't exactly the sharpest. You're different though, you're ranked number one in our grade academically. I find it hard to believe you didn't notice I was doing the bulk of everyone's work."

"Even if, everything you do looks good on a college application. In the end you're benefiting." She responded.

"Don't try and talk your way out of this! This is what I hate about you. You're deceptive and manipulative. It's kind of weird you asked a shy awkward kid that you never met before to join the student council. I bet you chose me from the start because you knew I was a push over."

"Have you got all your grievances off your chest? If so, I really think you should reconsider your decision for your sake and all of ours."

When she said that she had a certain devious look in her purple eyes, as if she was trying to command me.

"That sounds like a threat."

"Oh no, it's completely up to you. Just keep in mind you're the one who will have to deal with the consequences."

"This conversation's over! Nothing you say will change my mind."

I turned around and left without looking back or saying another word...

And within about the span of about fifteen minutes, I managed to destroy any relationship I had with my only female friends... and probably any chance of ever getting a girlfriend.

"Ha ha ha ha."

I thought I heard someone laughing hysterically. It wasn't President Sato or any of the other girls though. The voice sounded like it came from a male...

I paused for a moment, but it stopped.

"Guess it was just my imagination."