Freedom of the Press

After an uncomfortable day of being glared at, mostly by girls, school finally ended. Part of me really wanted to just go home, but I knew I couldn't do that. Today was going to be my day. I had been essentially nothing more than a work horse for the student council all last year. If anything, just like everyone else I have the right to at least try and enjoy my remaining two years at this school.

I wasn't about to be discouraged by a bunch of nosey classmates. At the moment, I was like an abandoned puppy looking for a new owner. As soon as class let out I made my way over to the clubrooms.

The first club I decided to check in on was the literature club. As a member of the student council, I had to interact with all the clubs at this school at some point. The members of this club, I always found, were welcoming and pleasant to be around. Also they are all girls so...

"Ew um, what do you think you're doing?"

All I did was enter the library, I hadn't even said a word yet, when a girl with long pink hair became hostile with me. Her name was Matsui and she was in charge of this club. Normally she was a sweet and mild mannered girl.

"Oh uh... I just came to see if your club had room for another member?"

"And who would that member be?"

"Well, me of course. I recently resigned from the student council so..."

"That's not what I heard!"

"What do you mean?"

"I heard you were kicked off the student council for improper conduct."

"Improper conduct?"

"That's what the school paper says."

"That’s not true though!"

She squinted her eyes suspiciously.

"If it's not true, then why is it in the school paper? I think I trust the school paper more than some perv like you."

"But-!"

"Could you please leave. You're making me uncomfortable."

"Lis-!"

"Seriously, I'll get a teacher involved if I have to!"

I didn't press her any farther. It was obvious she wasn't going to be convinced otherwise.

I stepped out of the library into the arts and literature hallway. I was about to be on my way, when I suddenly heard a heavy breathing coming behind me. Whoever it was, I could feel their warm breath on my back.

I turned around to find a girl...

"Hi Hako-senpai... I couldn't help but overhear that you're looking for a new club to join."

"Were you just eavesdropping on me, Kanna-chan?"

The girl had messy blue unkempt hair with blotches of paint in it. Over her uniform, she wore a painter's smock that was also covered in paint. She stared intensely at me with wide eyes that had dark circles under them.

Her name was Kishi Kanna and she was my underclassmen. The year has only just started, so I've only known her a few weeks.

"I certainly was. You know, there's always room in the painting club for you...my future husband."

For some odd reason this girl became obsessed with me for absolutely no reason whatsoever. In all honesty, she kind of creeps me out.

"Um... well, I guess I'll have to think about it. I want to make sure I weigh out all my options..."

"If you're concerned about all those rumors about you, it's all right. I'll accept you for who you are...even if you are a pervert."

"But I'm not a-."

She interrupted me by pulling a large canvas out of what seemed to be thin air.

"I painted this for you! Please take it. It would make me happy if you hung it in your room... At your house."

"Oh... Uh... Thanks I guess. That looks like me and... Um, why am I being sucked into a wood chipper?"

"The wood chipper is the artistic representation of my heart!"

She was getting uncomfortably close to me. I was getting really freaked out. Also there's no way I'm taking this painting home... Mainly because it was disturbing, but I also noticed there was an airtag stuck to the back of it.

"This is so... Uh... Nice, but I think you should keep this in the art room so that all the other students can see your...passion."

"Yeah but I think-."

"Oh, would you look at the time... I have to get going. I have an appointment for... a thing."

I got out of there as fast as I could. Once I got around a few corners, I stopped to make sure she wasn't following me.

"Looks like the coast is clear."

I don't understand why the only girl in this school that I can manage to get to fall for me is a complete psycho. For now though, a crazy girl is the least of my concerns. I need to see what the school paper wrote about me.

I made my way over to our school's news stand, which was essentially a metal rack near the entrance. Our school's newspaper is free for all students to take and it has a surprisingly decent readership.

I picked up the paper and looked at the front headline...

"You gotta be kidding me!"

...

*Slam*

I flung open the door of the student council room and stormed in beyond angry.

*Smack*

I slapped the paper on Sato Shiina, the student council president's desk.

"What the heck is this!?" I said.

"It's paper, I believe it comes from trees." She said, sarcastically.

"I'm not in the mood for your games. I know you're responsible for this article."

She smirked.

"I know nothing about any article. As Student council president, it would be a conflict of interest to interfere with the freedom of the press at this school."

"So, you're telling me you had nothing to do with the headline: 'Student Council Secretary Removed from Position Over Alleged Peeping and Other Abuses of Power'. The article itself explicitly names you and says you removed me yourself. This is blatant defamation!"

"Actually it isn't defamation. The article uses the word 'allegedly' and it even has a disclaimer at the bottom that says this is an opinion piece."

I'm pretty sure that’s not how that works, but she knows there's no way someone like me would go through the trouble nor even has the means to consult a lawyer.

"You know when I first joined the student council, I kind of looked up to you. I thought you were going to make a difference as student council president, but I realized you're nothing more than a dictator that uses underhanded tactics to get her way."

"You know Hako-san, if you were to come back to your position as secretary, I'm sure the school paper would issue a retraction. I'm also sure if you were to apologize to Sakai-san and Yoshino-san, they would forgive you and we could all go back to how things were."

"How things were? Why would I want that? You know... I was looking through some photos on my phone from last year and there was something I noticed...

I wasn't in a single picture. All of them were of you three. It seemed like I was always the one who got stuck taking the picture."

"That seems like something petty to get upset over. If you want your picture taken, I can arrange that."

"You know what I mean, stop trying to deflect."

"Now now, let's not get all worked up."

Her tone had become condescending and demeaning. For someone I used to respect, I think I might hate her now with every fiber of my being.

"Isn't your reelection coming up?" I asked.

"It certainly is. As of now I'm running unopposed."

"Then what if I said you won't be unopposed."

“Oh, and who would possibly want to do that?”

“Me! I am going to run against you.”

She chuckled a little.

"If you're being serious, I hope you will reconsider."

"And why's that?"

"Simple, I currently have the highest approval rating in the history of this school. You, on the other hand, may very well be the most disliked person among the student body."

"I don't care how popular you are. You've crossed the line with this article. Mark my words, I will defeat you in this upcoming election, no matter what."

"That's a bold statement. I'll give you one last chance to change your mind. Once you leave this room, I can't promise more articles won't be written about you and that you won't make a fool out of yourself."

"Ha, nothing you say will detour me. You're going to regret the way you've treated me."

"Then I supposed this year's student council elections should be quite interesting."

"Thanks for your time Ms. President. Next time I see you will be on the debate stage."

I left the room, defying her threats. Until now, I never once considered running for student council president, but now she's gone too far. Whatever it takes, I'm going to use this as an opportunity to get revenge on the student council that has wronged me.