Chapter 6
A few minutes of silence pass at the clubroom table. I think long and hard about what I'm going to make the others do while everyone sits patiently, waiting for me to make my decree.
"Hurry it up Furukawa-kun", Auclair-san implores.
Maybe not so patient after all.
My thinking bears no fruit. Some ideas did come to mind, but they were all the result of fatigue and also wildly inappropriate. Like having them wear sexy Santa outfits….out of season.
I really don't know what to say, but I shouldn't waste this chance, and I can't stall any longer. Oh I guess there's that.
"Ok. This is more of a request than a demand, but I'd really like it if we could all address each other informally and without honorifics. Is that okay?"
The girls turn from me and look at each other with blank stares. Auclair-san responds playfully, arms crossed.
"Hoooo….I don't believe I've ever had anyone address me in such a manner. It would be rather discourteous, However….."
She looks to the other girls for their consent, which they give with a nod.
"If the king wills it, I don't see why not, Ken."
"Yes."
"Same."
"Lisa, Suzu, Kagami, I hope we can continue to get closer and have more fun filled days like these."
***
We spent the remaining minutes making sure we had all our things, cleaning up, and talking about the resounding success of our first club activity.
Honestly I couldn't ask for more on only our second official club day. Outside of the fun, and crossing off one of the high school manga bucket list items, I felt everyone was becoming more comfortable with each other already. I got to glean a lot from my fellow club members through friendly competition and the decrees that followed. I think with a few more days like this, we can start working toward tackling the bigger issues that plague us. Speaking of which….
Knock Knock Knock
Right when I felt I was forgetting about one such problem, it arrived at our doorstep. I answer the door, and there stands the Student Council. I'd never met them before, but I learned of them and saw them in passing during this last week. Sensei warned us of their impending arrival and here they were. At the forefront is the Student Council President herself, Yui Yamamoto. She's small in stature, like Sakura-chan, but slightly taller and with far creepier vibes. She's fidgeting while muttering to herself, face hidden behind her long dark and unkempt hair.
"Weheehe. Of course, depending on the scenario, Yujiro-kun could be the top with Touma-kun as the power bottom. But generally speaking, Yujiro-kun would be the reluctant bottom, to Touma-kun's reluctant top. Though…muwehehe, if we put them in a school trip setting in schoolgirl swimsuits at the shrine of Okinawa….Oh excuse me. Haha. I was lost in thought. Howdy, I'm Student Council President Yui Yamamoto-san, at your service."
How did this thing ever get elected?
The president cleans up the drool forming on her mouth with her oversized sleeve. Then she extends her other hand for a greeting handshake.
At least she's using her non drool hand.
As I go to take it, she pulls her hand back.
"Too slow, Foolukawa-kun."
I already don't like her.
"Hello to you too...and it's Furukawa….not Foolukawa."
"Same thing Foolukawa-kuuuun."
"FU-RU-KA-WA! And no kun for you."
"You seem more like a Foolukawa to me…"
"Yui, we came to be civil and introduce ourselves. Stop being rude and play nice already. Let me apologize on her behalf, Furukawa-san. I'm so sorry."
The young lady apologizes, performing an ojigi. She's wearing a plain yellow kimono that goes well with her short brown hair and sunny disposition.
This highly respectable and charming lady is the vice president of the student council, Honoka Shimizu. From what I've heard she's something like a caretaker for the President, looking after her and cleaning up her messes. She's something of a school wide celebrity as well among both the faculty and students, said to possess the most soothing of auras. While being part of the student council she's also a member of the tea ceremony club (which is why she's wearing the kimono). I like to imagine there's an alternate timeline out there where Ken Furukawa isn't hated on sight and makes it into the tea ceremony club. Spending his after school hours enjoying the subtle flavors of antiquated Japanese tea along with the calming presence of Honoka Shimizu-dono. Damn him, that lucky bastard.
"Oh, don't mention it. And please call me Ken."
"No I can't. That'd be far too impudent of me."
"Oh…."
How disappointing….
"If it's any consolation I could serve you and your members some tea while we're here?"
"Sure, but with wh-"
Shimizu dono unveils a cart of cups, tea bags, and other tea amenities (including tea whisk, tea bowl, tea scoop, and other tea ceremony equipment).
"Please come in."
"Stay where you are."
Shimizu-dono pushes the cart into the room before Lisa approaches from behind me, allowing Shimizu-dono to pass, but stopping the others at the door. Shimizu-dono looks back for confirmation.
"She may enter, but you three must remain beyond the threshold. I will not suffer opposition in my sanctuary."
"Lisa, you're being rude."
"Ken, have you forgotten Tomura-san's warning?"
That's right. These people don't like us.
I actually did forget. The instant I saw Shimizu-dono all negative thoughts were cleansed from my brain. Regaining my awareness, I look over at Kagami and Suzu and see a drastic increase in shyness and discomfort. Maybe now's not the best time for tea.
"Right, you know club time's over and it's not the best time to be taking visitors. Unfortunately, we'll have to pass on the tea."
As I say this, Shimizu-dono has already prepared eight cups of tea which Kagami and Suzu are already enjoying. She hands me one in passing, giving out the rest to the guests at the door.
Such speed.
"That's alright Lisa-chan, Ken-kun. I promise to be quick." Yamamoto-san says, taking a sip of her tea.
This bitch. She really knows how to rub people the wrong way.
"Yujiro-chan, the envelope."
Yamamoto-san holds out her hand. Behind her is Yujiro Matsumoto (Student Council Secretary), a stoic frail boy with glasses, sharp eyes, and a predilection for sucking on lollipops. He's currently preoccupied with his rumored cell phone addiction, tapping his cell phone screen frantically with both thumbs. He pops the candy out of his mouth to respond.
"Yes."
Matsumoto-san gropes his inner vest pocket with his non-lollipop holding hand, but finds nothing. He then puts the same hand in a box and pulls out an envelope. The box is being held by the Treasurer, Touma Hashimoto, a tall well built lad who's something like the Student Council President's thrall. He's given a stern look by the secretary, Hashimoto shrugging his shoulders in response.
The envelope is handed over to Yamamoto-san who shoves it into my chest.
"There."
"What's this?"
"Consider it an introduction and…. a challenge."
"..."
"That's it. See ya."
The three at the door turn to depart. Shimizu-dono hastily approaches me.
"Sorry to rush you, but I'll be needing the cup back."
Shimizu-dono waited for me to hand over my cup, the last to be collected. I take my full cup of tea, chug it down in one gulp, and hand over the cup.
"It's good, but it's a shame I couldn't take my time to enjoy it properly."
"Then you should visit the tea ceremony club. There you can drink at your leisure."
If I remember correctly the tea ceremony club wasn't so welcoming the last time I visited. But if Shimizu-dono says it's fine, then it must be so. I'll try to visit on a day that she's present, just in case.
"I think I might do just that."
"Then I look forward to serving you. Till next we meet."
The angelic tea fairy gives a farewell ojigi and rushes to catch up with her compatriots. Lisa storms to the door and slams it shut.
"Hmph!"
"What's got you in a tizzy?"
"Those low born imbeciles of the student council! Who are they to come in here without prior invitation and who upon arrival forgo proper introduction? They issued a letter of challenge. The gall!"
Right. I forgot again. Shimizu-dono's ability to obfuscate reality around her with her aura is truly dangerous. But …..I don't mind a little danger.
While I'm still under the effects of Shimizu-dono's special obfuscation technique, the envelope entrusted to me is snatched away by Lisa and immediately torn to shreds.
"What the heck, I didn't even get to read it."
"Never you mind. We needn't taint our eyes with such rubb- cough cough."
Lisa obtains a white handkerchief from her breast pocket and lightly coughs into it.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes I'm fine. Just got a little worked up is all."
A certain ninja butler pulls his protruding head back through the clubroom window.
I acquired a broom and dustpan, cleaned up the mess, then called it a day.
***
School is over and instead of heading to the clubroom, I'm about to head home. It's been two days since our last club meeting. Lisa has been absent both days and club activities have been temporarily suspended (didn't feel right without Lisa). I don't want to be a conspiracy theorist, but this did happen immediately after we were approached by the student council. There was that letter I never got to read and Lisa was the only one to make direct contact with its contents (when she ripped it to shreds). Could there be foul play at work? Could there have been a nefarious substance? No. No there couldn't have been. That's just ridiculous. Or is it? She was coughing at the end there. Also, the letter was initially given to me. And there was that one time someone gave me a "love letter" and it was filled with anthrax. So….there is a precedent.
While mulling over the possibility of the student council engaging in chemical warfare, I spy Kagami as I leave the classroom. She's carrying a bit more than her usual load.
"Yo Kagami, watcha got there?"
"Handouts."
"For Lisa?"
"Yes."
"You're heading to her place now?"
"Yes."
"You've been there before?"
"No….but…"
"Ah."
Kagami was given the handouts from the teacher not because she was close with Lisa, but because there was nobody better suited for the task. The sad reality was that nobody was close with Lisa. She was a feared icon at the school that everyone kept at a distance. Partly a result of her own pride, but also in part due to her extreme wealth and upbringing. A being separate from the rest. An untouchable impenetrable oujo-sama. That was the case, at least until recently.
"Then why don't the three of us go visit her together?"
Suzu approached us from behind as I made my suggestion. I turned to her for her input on the matter.
"That would be good. I'm a bit worried about her-"
That's nice. It hasn't been long but it's good to see the camaraderie already coming along. Friendship between girls is a wonderful thing.
"-and It's starting to impede on my self improvement plan."
Tender moment ruined. What a self improvement nut.
"Any objections Kagami?"
"No. Onward!"
Kagami raises her hand like a marching band drum major. She takes one step forward before turning back.
"I don't know the way."
We inquired Lisa's address from the teacher's office. This turned out to be pointless however. Sebastian was waiting for us outside the school gates with a limousine.
***
We enter the grandiose estate of the Auclair family, through the graham cracker front gates, past the chocolate fountains, the peppermint statues, and the zen gardens with rocks that look like skittles. When I heard that Lisa's father was the CEO of a massive french candy empire, I expected his love of candy to be strictly within the realm of profit. Seeing the grounds of his estate tells otherwise. His love of candy may rival that of a fictional chocolate factory proprietor.
We exit the limo to see Lisa's magnate father standing in the mansion's entryway. He looks like a blonde Will Zeppeli, sporting a top hat, a Salvador Dali mustache, and a checkered suit. In one hand a cane that he twirls in delight.
"Welcome to my not so humble abode. I, as you may have already guessed, am Lisa's esoteric father, Leon William Auclair, at your service."
He temporarily removes his hat as he bends from the waist in salutation.
"From the bottom of my heart I thank you for coming here today Suzuki-chan, Sakura-chan, and Furukawa-kun. Words cannot describe how happy I am to see such an act of friendship and affection. Lisa is truly lucky to know such philanthropic youths. Therefore, It was only natural that I respond with hospitality and conviviality. Ergo my presence here, welcoming you personally. So if you will, please follow me inside. I've prepared some snacks and refreshments in the common area. Please feel free to relax there or take a look around while I inform Lisa of your arrival."
The three of us nervously shuffle our way inside the mansion. Sebastian takes the printouts from Kagami and hands them off to a frumpy bespectacled woman with a giant ruler. Kagami, freed from her obligation, makes her way to the snack table and grabs herself three muffins of different flavors. One looks like chocolate chip, another blueberry, and the third, I'm not quite sure. It's pink. Suzu's already enjoying a rootbeer float next to a soda dispenser and a large tub of vanilla ice cream. There's foam on her upper lip. I myself am contemplating a croissant au beurre.
"Ah, what the hell."
I grab a croissant and take a bite, feeling content with my decision.
It's scary how compliant one becomes when offered food.
We continue pigging out in the common area, waiting for Lisa and her father to join us. Fifteen or so minutes pass and they are still missing.
I'm getting impatient and restless. I was interested in what a rich person's house would be like and here I am. Maybe I should do some exploring while I wait.
Restless, I begin to wander. I find myself in one of the first floor's long corridors. At its center is a library larger than that of the school's. I peruse the aisles, looking at titles, and feeling the spines. Many of the books are worn with use and vary in content (fairy tales, biographies, romance, educational, domestic, foreign). One spot amongst the shelves remains empty. The unreturned book lies on a small table next to a bean bag chair not far from the shelf. I pick up the book, flop onto the bean bag chair, and start to read. It's a children's book.
"A Wish of Youth"
The story is about a mother who makes a wish upon a shooting star to be young for a day and go on one final adventure. Her wish comes true as she regains her youth and befriends some spirits in the form of the twelve zodiac animals. One by one she helps each of the spirits with their troubles. Each helped spirit becoming a star in the night sky. When there's no one left to help, her adventure ends and she returns to her normal form. At the end she's playing with her daughter using animal dolls resembling the zodiac, but she's playing from a hospital bed. The mom is deathly ill, and she spends her remaining days in the presence of her husband and daughter before passing away with a smile on her face. On the final page, the mother joins her animal friends as a newborn star in the night sky.
"Oh that book. That's Lisa's favorite."
Mr.Auclair stood in front of me. I didn't notice his arrival.
"What did you think?"
"It's good, but kind of sad. It's a bit depressing for a children's story."
"Really? Why do you say that?"
"The mother dies in the end….and I feel bad for the husband and daughter. She left them behind and it was like they weren't enough for her. She wanted more. She wanted adventure."
"But in the end I think she understood what was truly important….spending her precious final moments with them. She loved them, and all said and done, she was content. She lived a full life even if it wasn't a long one."
If I were to die right now, could I say I was content. No. There's too many things I still want to do, to experience. Likewise, it's not that the mother was unsatisfied with her life, it's that she didn't want there to be any lingering regrets.
"I think I get it. Knowing she wasn't long for the world, she didn't want there to be anything to regret. That's why she made the wish."
"I think so too. Hmmm. Was there any character that stood out to you? A favorite?"
"I liked the ox. He was strong, and selfless, but despised his own horns. I can kind of relate."
"He despised his horns because he feared his own strength, but in the end it was that strength that allowed him to protect what he cared about. An ox isn't an ox without his horns."
When Sensei helped me see the damage I was causing it led me to fear my own "horns" and I wanted to change. But am I truly any different now or am I just a hornless ox?
"By the way, my favorite character is the rat. A creature plagued by bad reputation, but fulfilling a role seen as undesirable. Ridding the world of the garbage and filth left by the rest of us, how noble."
Even rats have a role in the animal kingdom. I guess Mr.Auclair has an appreciation for the underappreciated, but, somehow the way he said it was kind of creepy. I saw some of myself in the ox, did he see some of himself in the rat? But what would someone like him have in common with rats? Am I overthinking it?
"Which do you propose is Lisa's favorite?"
"Hmm. Maybe the horse or the tiger?"
"It's the mother."
"Ah…is it…because…"
"Partially. Not having her mother from a young age has left her wanting. She connects with her through the book, Her mother wrote it after all. But she also relates to the character, as she herself suffers from a weak constitution. She wants to have her own adventures, make her own friends. Just like the character in the book."
So Lisa's struggled with poor health for a long time now. She doesn't show it. If anything, I perceived her to be some kind of superhero, but in reality she's far more vulnerable than I imagined. Likely her source of strength, to overcome her shortcomings, comes from this book. And when Sensei came to her to ask her to join the club, did she see it as her chance? Does she see us as her zodiac animal friends taking her on an adventure? I just hope it's not her last.
Suddenly the book felt too precious to hold. With care I brought it back to its shelf, gently putting it back in its place.
"Is she going to be okay?"
"Yes, she just suffers something like a cold now and again. Nothing to fret over. I wouldn't worry about that envelope either. It was checked for foul tampering even before it reached your hands."
How? How many eyes and ears does he have in the school? Can he even see into my mind?
My confusion must have been apparent.
"Ken-kun….Know that I see everything, hear everything, am told everything…"
The warm jovial man was no longer there. He had been replaced by a cold overbearing father.
"So please continue being good friends with her by all means…but no funny business, comprende?"
Was he implying that he knows not only about what happens at the school, but about what happened before? Has he been looking into my past? Scary. I'd rather not make enemies with a man like him with his money and resources. Message received.
"Yes sir."
"Good lad. Now follow me. The others are waiting."
***
I was led not to the common area, but to another room just above it. A smaller lounge room with multiple televisions, lazy boys with red leather, and expensive looking black and white checkered coffee tables. The girls, including Lisa, were sitting around one of the coffee tables, drinking tea, eating peanuts, and sinking into bean bag chairs (what's the obsession with bean bag chairs?). When I entered the room they were in the midst of conversation. Whatever it was, they were giggling like I've never seen them. Giggling like schoolgirls.
Lisa is wearing her school uniform.
She must have changed into it to greet us. Would have been nice to see her in lounge wear or normal clothes.
"Hello Lisa, you look rather healthy for a sick person. Ready to return to school?"
"Not quite yet, but don't you worry, I'm not sick, just a bit tired from being so very important all the time. It's a common struggle for a lady such as moi."
Healthy enough for irony, that's good.
"I should be back at the beginning of next week. You'll have to do without me for a few more days. My apologies."
"Well I'm glad it's nothing serious..By the way, what were you three talking about, if you don't mind me asking? Seems like you were having a fun conversation."
The smiles of my clubmates fade as they look at me in disappointment.
"I do mind. Never ask a lady that Ken. Ever. What women say amongst each other is for their ears and their ears only. Have some tact."
The others nod in agreement.
"Dubidibly."
"I concur."
Fair enough.
"But what about you? Did you have a nice chat with father?"
So it's fine to ask about a conversation between men? I take it back. That's not fair at all.
"He's an interesting guy, your father. Our talk was…enlightening."
"Oh don't be vague now. Details please."
"What about conversations between men? Can't those be private?"
"No." The three say in unison.
These sexist hedonists….
"Now you're just messing with me."
"Hehehe."
It wasn't long before I, Suzu, and Kagami left the mansion and headed home. I kept silent about the conversation I had with Mr.Auclair. It'd just be embarrassing for Lisa to know what was said about her health and her attachment to the book, plus word would likely get back to Mr.Auclair and he probably wouldn't like it if I said anything.
Once the girls finished their tea we said our goodbyes. In parting, she offered some free advice that sounded like a warning.
"Before you go Ken, some advice. Never underestimate my father. He may possess strange mannerisms and eccentric clothing, but he's no fool. He's an intelligent, cunning, and calculative man. There's a reason he's rich and it's not from inheritance. Also, if you can help it, don't let him do you any favors."
"Is your dad some kind of mafia boss or something?"
"I'm serious."
"Ok."
I was being serious too. Is he a mob boss? Could I theoretically get whacked for crossing him somehow? Would candy be involved? Could that be considered sweet revenge? That's something I would like to know.
***
"I'm home."
"Welcome home!"
"Welcome."
I smell smoke. Is sensei here?
I'm greeted by not only my mother, who's in a happier than normal mood, but also Sensei (the reason my mother's so happy). Both mother and sensei are on the couch. Mother is smothering sensei, while sensei is snacking on chex mix.
"Look who dropped by? It's the Boss!"
"I thought I told you to stop calling me that. I'm a teacher now."
"Boss gets so cute when she's annoyed."
"Ugh."
Sensei never could handle my mother.
"Why the sudden visit Sensei?"
"What? You don't like that I'm visiting?"
"I didn't mean it like that. Of course you're always welcome-"
"I'm just messing with you Ken-kun. Don't just stand in the walkway. Come sit."
Remember that this isn't Sensei's house, but mine (or to be precise, my parent's). But this is Sensei's style, acting like she owns the place wherever that might be. And she just so happens to be in a place where she's revered as a god.
I put my things down on the table and go to sit on dad's recliner across from them.
"So do you have a plan?"
"A plan for what?"
"The popularity poll."
"What popularity poll?"
"The one that'll decide whether you keep your club or not."
"What?"
"I figured I'd stop by and see how you were coping with it, but you don't even know it's happening? Didn't the student council visit you the other day?"
"Yes they did, but there was nothing said about a popularity po-"
Oh….was it in the letter? Damn it Lisa.
"Maybe they might have mentioned it, but it was in a letter I never got to read because-"
"Doesn't matter anyway, you know about it now."
"Right."
Sensei really doesn't like to waste any time.
"So what's this about a popularity poll?"
"There's an old clause in the school rules. A club can be discontinued if a majority of the school's students and faculty wish it to be. This is determined through a poll. However before such a poll can take place the club in question must be given at least a week's notice in advance. Which is why the student council gave you the letter, and which is why there will be a live popularity poll Saturday next week."
"That's nearly two weeks from now…that's not so bad."
"But Lisa-chan won't be back till next week."
"Right."
Fuck.
"What about Mr.Auclair? Wouldn't he stop something like this from taking place."
"Mr.Auclair has stopped pushing back against the student council's campaign against you. Seems he's lost interest after the club was created."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
Mr.Auclair made it clear that he knows the ins and outs of what happens at the school and what happens outside it. It's not that he's unaware, and I don't see him not caring about anything involving his daughter. So why is he sitting back on this?
"I guess it's up to us."
"That's right. When all is said and done, it's your club that's on the line. It's your responsibility to figure something out. Not mine or anyone else's."
"Sensei…."
"Hmph."
Sensei gives me a playful grin that she often gives when she's toying with my emotions.
"Doesn't mean I won't help you. So you can stop crying Ken-kun."
"Sensei!"
"But not tonight. Let's stop here for now. It's getting late. We can talk strategy during club time this week while Lisa-chan recuperates."
Sensei stuffs the last handful of chex-mix into her mouth and stands up to leave, stiff-arming mother's face, escaping her grasp.
"Noooo Boss. Can't you stay for dinner?"
"No can do."
*Chew chew*
"The hubby's home for once. Can't miss it."
"Right….the hubby."
If he even exists. The jury's still out on that one. Sorry sensei.
"Watch it Ken-kun."
"I didn't say anything…"
"Hmph."
"When are we going to meet this hubby of yours? It's been ten years and I still haven't seen him."
"Someday okay? I'm leaving now, bye."
Sensei opens the door and walks out into the night.
"See ya sensei, and Thanks."
"Bye Boss, get home safe."
Sensei walks away while lighting a cigarette and gives us a no look wave.
"Sensei is so cool."
"Boss is so cute."
"What?"
"What?"
"You really don't get it Ken-kun. How can you not see Boss's charm?"
"What do you mean mom? I thought her coolness was her charm?"
She sighs.
What I don't get is what Mom's idea of cute is. Sensei wears a duster, talks bluntly, smokes, and has manly mannerisms. What's cute about it? That's not to say Sensei doesn't have her attractive points, it's just not in a girly way. If anything, if she was a high schooler, I can see her having a lot of female fans (like my mother) and playing male prince roles in plays. A bit off topic, but man, manga really makes all girl school's out to be a morale less dens of filth and debauchery.