Now that it's July, the students at Hachimitsu Academy find themselves nearing the end of their first semester. You might also say that my life has taken a wrong turn.
Just like the majority of parents out there.
My parents encouraged me to work hard in school to get into the top university in Tokyo. Having my father as the principal at Hachimitsu Academy made me feel like I was always being watched.
Still, I don't hate them. They just want what's best for me, so their perspective isn't entirely wrong. Choosing to attend this school also indicates my willingness to sacrifice some of my freedom for the next three years.
I don't know if not having a boyfriend is a bit of freedom, but I can't think of anything else that ordinary high school students experience.
That's right, an ordinary high school student.
I was honestly disappointed when I found out that Hachimitsu Academy only allows female students to enroll. So, I have another reason to keep pushing forward.
That's my older sister.
Her name is Mari Kurihara. As the President of the Underground Student Council, she holds the top spot as the most admired person in the school. Her intelligence, authority, and courage have solidified her position.
When a woman like that spoke, it got all the girls at this school excited.
Isn't this getting on my nerves? She shone brightly from up there while I, her younger sister, could only watch from a distance without anyone paying attention. It feels like I'm just floating through life, barely even there.
So, I was set on climbing the exact same stairs as her. I understand that I may not reach her level, but I do have some goals I want to accomplish during my high school years.
That's the reason I've stopped worrying about the school's strict rules.
However, I was mistaken once more.
–***--
Heading up to the second floor, I noticed that the female student I passed was dressed a bit more revealing than usual, with some of the buttons at the top left deliberately open. There weren't many female students wearing jackets.
In the summer, it's understandable that some struggle with the heat. Personally, I often opt to stay indoors rather than hang out outside the dorm unless it's necessary.
I then wondered why I suddenly noticed these things that I overlooked before.
Finally, I reached the plain wooden double door that could be found in any part of the school. My heart raced when I saw the sign on the wall that read "Underground Student Council."
"I would assume I did favor for him, so at least I can take revenge for all the things he did to me."
I thought it would help me relax, but instead, my face beamed with warmth. Particularly the area of my lips that just won't seem to stop trembling. I still vividly recall the moment he surprised me, leading to him stealing my first kiss.
"Chiyo? Do you want to meet President Mari?"?
I was sure I hadn't misheard when the door in front of me swung open, revealing Meiko Shiraki stepping out. Her surprised expression caught my attention, but I felt a sense of clarity wash over me, all thanks to her.
"Yes, I have something to do with President Mari."
Even after I expressed my intention, she lingered by the door, giving off the impression that she had more to share.
Fortunately, the door was only partially open, so my sister couldn't see what was happening outside.
"Is everything okay? Is President Mari in there?"
This possibility could happen, and I was a bit let down for a moment because I was hoping to resolve this issue swiftly.
"It's okay, President Mari is inside. Just give her some space to rest without adding to her workload."
"Got it, thanks a lot, Meiko-senpai."
Since I started attending this school, I've seen firsthand the strong loyalty this woman has towards my older sister. She devoted her life entirely to her. But this time, I was able to catch a different meaning in her words.
After a quick meeting with Meiko, I mustered up the courage to enter. I didn't get a chance to look at my sister as I was preoccupied with gently shutting the door behind me.
"Chiyo, huh? We don't typically cross paths in the Underground Student Council room."
There she is!
She was just sitting behind the desk, not even bothering to glance in my direction. She couldn't seem to look away from the papers scattered across her desk.
The room turned out to be more minimalist than I had anticipated, but it was quite roomy. The presence of multiple sofas and tables indicated a higher budget than what the organization typically had.
"Is it wrong if I want to meet you in the Underground Student Council room?"
My heart skipped a beat after I said something bold like that. After that, I moved away from her and strolled over to the glass cabinet filled with trophies and awards.
"Not at all, it's just that I thought you hated me... so I was surprised to see you meeting me so casually like this."
"Hmm."
I never expected to be so easily distracted by a simple trophy and plaque. My older sister and Meiko tend to dominate academic championships with the numbers 1 and 2 adorning them, while Hana's name appears more often in non-academic championships.
"Wait a minute, I didn't hear it wrong, right?... How can you conclude that I hate you."
Once I satisfied my curiosity, I pieced together Sis Mari's words, which is why I was so surprised.
"Am I wrong? Since what happened with those five male students, you've given me a different attitude."
"I think you're too quick to jump to conclusions about their guilt, but that's not enough to make me hate you."
"So, you're just upset with my decision?"
"kind of... and also, we haven't seen each other for 3 years, so I don't know how to approach you."
This was the first time I felt more relaxed when I entered the room. My older sister smiled at me, not with an overly wide grin, but with a graceful smile that enhanced her already beautiful face.
"I see."
"That's the story. Moving forward, I've made up my mind to come see you more frequently… I don't want just to see you graduate from this school."