Michael knowing of our little plan wasn't ideal, but his knowledge was wholly incomplete, so it should be fine. I had stipulated in further discussion that under no circumstance was my brother to be allowed into the student council if we won this, Brontë agreed to my clause.
The school trip was arriving shortly, after midterms it was happening. Voting was to be held as soon as possible. Events are coming up so quickly now, it feels like I'm speeding through them at top speed. All the things I've got going on, all the school events, christmas, halloween.
It was September 17th, midterms began on
October 18th, trimester ended on December 23rd. The final vote for the student council election, October 31st. There had been one six months prior, but first years don't vote in that one, seeing as they've just entered the school. I have decided to make a flashy display and gun for top spot in these midterms, I don't intend to hide my abilities in any capacity. I believe those that are gifted should use the gift, wasting it would be
pointless.
"Greetings class. The administration is keen on having this completed rather quickly, so in homeroom today we are going to be completing the voting for our school trip" Mr Estrada opened class just as I had expected. "There are four choices for possible destinations. Seeing as it takes place from October 21st until the 28th, weather has been taken into account"
"What are the choices sir!" Randan piped up.
"I'll get into it, so please stay quiet" Well that's rough Randan. "The four choices are as follows. Firstly, the snowy skiing locations in Deshuybar, secondly there are the forests of Briysil, thirdly the historical city of Owus, and lastly the beaches of Oflary, which even
in October still reach temperatures of over 30 degrees"
It seems like there would be two clear options to pick from here, obviously people will prefer skiing or the beach, even if I teetered towards the forest personally. I am certainly going to lose if I try to push the forest, so I will give up on it. Even if I try to coerce Randan he's got more on me than I do him at this point.
"I want the city"
"I expected you would Sakurako, seems your style"
"I'm assuming you want the forest then?"
"That's right, but I know it won't win so maybe there's no point"
"Well it doesn't have to be unanimous so you should just do it anyway"
"Maybe I do"
"I'm loyal to Owus, I have to vote for it" Sakurako looked sullen as she accepted the defeat as well.
"Oh I just remembered that I have to do something, be back in a sec!"
I stood up and walked a couple seats over. Leaning down and locking eyes with Randan.
"Hey there buddy"
"Uh..hey?"
"Number fourteen hmm?"
"What are you even talking about??"
I grasped his shoulders and shook him back and forth calmy.
"Why didn't you tell me you broke up with your girlfriend?!"
"Is it that important?"
"AND you found another one??"
"Yeah so what?"
"So what??? So it's your fourteenth girlfriend in like three years!"
"Yeah.."
"Did you sleep like at all last night damn"
"Take a guess"
"Well judging from how terrible you look right now I'm hazarding a no here"
"Greatly appreciated" Randan put out a thumbs up as he let his head fall to his desk.
I returned to my desk, and continued my conversation with Sakurako.
"So which d'ya think'll win?"
"I'm trying to manifest Owus but it's likely going to be the beach"
"You think so? Even in October?"
"Well the guys want to see the girls in swimsuits and the girls like wearing them?"
"Or they wanna see Randan shirtless"
"Do you really think that?"
"I don't think, I know. He swayed 8 girls to vote for extra swimming lessons in middle school purely cuz he'd be shirtless"
"Are you kidding me?"
"Somehow I'm not"
"That's really quite depressing"
"Yeah he's a blonde hot guy so I don't blame them. Sucks to have been second place for like forever though"
"Are you actually considered second place?"
"Somehow, although I've never taken the options presented to me like that harlot over there"
"I know that much, but I wouldn't say you're second place in looks"
"Yeah Oliver and Macsen definitely have something going for them"
"No"
"?"
"I'd say you're first"
"F-Wha-Hu-..Whaaat??"
".."
"D-Do you actually think..that?"
"I said it, did I not?"
This girl seriously has a habit of catching me off guard like this. Not to mention how overjoyed and shocked I am by her saying that though. But, I must maintain my composure here, for obvious reasons like I have to look cool. Oh and hide the fact I'm in love with her. That too.
"Oh..Well you know that you're actually also considered the second prettiest girl in the class?"
"Am I really now?"
"You're apparently 'behind' Valero but honestly I don't see it you're way more comely"
"Comely?"
"Pulchritudinous one could say"
"Are you too embarrassed to just say beautiful like a normal person?"
"Uhh maybe"
"I prefer it that way"
"Honestly if I didn't know better I'd think you've practiced saying these things"
"H-Huh?" Wait, had she really actually done that?? If she had that'd be really cute now wouldn't it. Adorable even. In a non-condescending way though...Why am I correcting myself in my own thoughts? Whatever.
"Pfft, nevermind don't even worry about it"
"O-okay.."
"How much of this class have you actually spoken with Sakurako?"
"Around a third"
"Seriously? I'm pretty reclusive and yet I've spoken to almost everybody at least once"
"That's just because of Randan, if you weren't friends with him you'd be just like me"
"Whaaat..No.." She was right though, but I'd MAYBE be around half, maybe.. "Okay yeah you're right"
"Why are you asking me that?"
"Thought I should introduce you to some of our classmates"
"Why though?"
"It'll be useful, trust me"
"Okay...I'll trust you"
"Cheers"
I feel like it's gonna be useful for her to at least know the people in the class and vice-versa, she can't purely be with me even if I want it to be that way.
"Who am I going to be meeting then Mr. Social Butterfly?"
"Uhh.. Alright let's start at the top!"
"What does that even mean"
"We're going to speak to Ludwika Valero, number one girl on the social caste"
"Why her? She seems insufferable"
"Well..That's because she probably is?"
"Eh??"
"Yeah I haven't even spoken to her before, I've just stood there while Randan did"
"Then why on earth did you pick her?"
"Don't you think climbing the highest hill first makes the ones afterwards easier?"
"Fine, let's just do this then"
"Team effort!" I reached out my hand for an enthusiastic high-five!
"Sure.." She unenthusiastically met my high-five..
Being the gallant young man I am, I bravely led Sakurako to our target. Meaning we both shyly wandered over to where she was, leaning on a wall near the windows in the classroom. She was speaking with Randan, an absolute boon for us two, because now I can speak to him instead! Wait, nevermind.
"Hey there! Randan and Valero!" I called out to them, uncharacteristically.
"Who's this guy?"
"I'm Daniel Barrington, I'm very close with Randan"
"Yeah I've seen you talking to him. So what do you want?"
"Bit rude.." Randan said, very quietly.
"Have you ever spoken to Sakurako Egawa?"
"Obviously not, like no-one has"
"Yeah makes sense"
"Hey!" She palm struck me in the upper arm.
"What, you two dating or something?"
"Yeah no, not yet"
Hmm, I seem to have just said something rather troublesome, now what does one say in this situation? Shit perhaps?
Randan immediately froze and his eyes widened like he had shell-shock. Sakurako's neck snapped up to look at me, but Valero didn't seem to notice a thing.
"Oh alright, so what did you want, just to ask that?"
"I mean I guess? Thought I've never spoken to you before so I might as well do that. Oh and I brought Sakurako with me so that I could get her to meet people"
"Yeah you're weird aren't you?"
"Probably"
"Why speak to me for no reason? You got a cru-"
"No" I swear I heard a sigh next to me. Like a relieved one?
"Alright so why then?"
"Well two things" I held two fingers out. "One, I wanted you to meet Sakurako, and two, I want to get a way to contact you"
"What? Why?" She seemed to focus on two.
"I'll be asking for your help with something so if we get that sorted at some point it'd be greatly appreciated"
"Whatever, fine I'll give you my number"
"Yeah thanks, anyway, Sakurako talk to her" I whispered the last bit to Sakurako.
"I don't know how to start a conversation with her type!" She aggressively hissed at me, still whispering though.
"Now that I think of it, neither do I"
"Then why would you get me into this?? I only want to speak to you anyway!"
"Uhm wel- I..see.." I'm really just wondering how she does this kind of thing like this to me to be honest. I mean like really? That?
"Yeah.." Never mind. She's completely fried.
I looked down to her, and she was covering her face! She then briskly walked away and left me there alone with them two.
"So uhh, anyway"
"Yeah what?"
"How come you two talk to each other so much now?"
"Because we're dating, idiot?"
"You're number fourteen!?!"
"I'm..what?"
Randan shot me a look so lethal it felt like the air was pulled out of my lungs by force. I could almost see him going to throttle me.
"Oh nothing, don't even worry about it.."
"Alright then? You're seriously weird man"
"Whatever, this'll make my life easier none-the-less so thanks and goodbye!"
"You're seriously friends with that guy?"
"He's more normal than you think, I think"
Moving along from that disaster-class, I will now be returning to my seat, and wallowing in my failure as a social teacher. I firmly planted my head into my hands. Did I seriously just say that? 'Not yet' What the hell??? What's wrong with me?? Ah! No, I'm cooked..
I made a cursory glance to my left. Sakurako was there, her face was in the opposite direction to me, completely turned to the left, definitely purposeful. I screwed up, big time. Hmm?
"What the..?" I whispered to myself. She was hiding from me. Her ear was red. She was blushing, surely?
Classes proceeded as usual. But seeing as it was a Friday, the weekend was thankfully coming up.
"Daniel!" Every cell in my body froze. Is this where it ends for me? Am I found out?
"Y-yes?" I slowly turned around. Sakurako was there. Standing quite firmly.
"Can I come over today?"
"Huh? Yeah, s-sure"
Why did she ask now? Of all times why now? Oh lord I feel like I want to die right now. Please tell me she forgot or she doesn't care. Maybe she didn't hear? NO! She obviously heard! She literally looked at me!
Argh!
"Are you alright there?"
"Yeah totally"
"You don't look alright though. You look really stressed.." She pulled on my neck, lowering me to her eye level. She really is beautiful. I can't help but be flustered by her. Wait.. Huh? Sakurako's eyes widened. I wasn't making a normal face. No, I was totally blushing. She let go of me, and continued walking like nothing happened.