The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the campus in hues of amber and crimson as Alysha and I walked toward the student council room. The first day of school had been eventful, and now it seemed the day wasn't quite over. Imelda had asked us to gather for an early planning session.
When we arrived, Violet was already seated, her calm demeanor matching the quiet hum of the room. We exchanged polite nods before settling into the sofa. Imelda, on the other hand, was anything but calm. She stood near the desk, her usual energy radiating as she clapped her hands together.
"Alright, everyone!" she exclaimed, startling the three of us. "Let's discuss what we're going to do for the festival!"
"Discussing work already?" I muttered under my breath, though I couldn't help but smirk. Imelda's enthusiasm was almost contagious, though a bit much after a long day.
Before we could dive into planning, a question lingered in my mind. "Imelda, may I ask something?"
She perked up, settling into her chair. "Of course!"
"Why are there so few members of the student council? We've been here since the break and after school, but no one else has come in. If we're discussing work, shouldn't the others be participating?"
Imelda waved her hand dismissively. "The others had personal matters to attend to."
"All of them? At the same time? Don't you think we should add more members?" I pressed.
Imelda crossed her arms, her prideful grin unmistakable. "Compared to other schools, we do have fewer members, but I've selected the best of the best! Quality over quantity, you know? Also, we are just making an introduction to you two about the upcoming event."
She wasn't entirely wrong. Imelda's knack for assembling a capable team was evident. Still, the workload could be overwhelming. Alysha gave me a look, silently telling me to let it go, and I relented with a sigh.
"Well~ even if this selection is for your benefit, I don't think the members you've chosen are bad," I said.
Imelda's grin widened, clearly pleased with the indirect compliment. "Any other questions?" she asked, looking around.
I guess she's happy because I praised her. Did she not notice the first sentence I said? Maybe she already forgot what I did this afternoon. Oh well.
When no one else raised concerns, she clapped her hands again. "Good! Let's move on to the festival tasks!"
I leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "What exactly needs to be prepared for the festival?"
The festival was in two weeks, and as a new student, I had no idea what to expect. My thoughts immediately wandered to what a school of powers might include in such an event. Surely, it wouldn't be a mundane affair.
"That's right," Imelda chimed in, glancing at Violet. "You haven't seen this school's festival yet, have you? Vio, you're new too. Do you two know much about it?"
I shook her head. "Not really. All I know is about the tournament because Alysha mentioned it last year. Other than that, I'm in the dark."
Violet nodded in agreement. "I can relate to that. I've only heard fragments of the information as well."
Imelda leaned forward, her expression softening slightly. "Let me explain briefly, then." She gestured for us to pay attention, and her tone shifted to one of a storyteller.
"At this school, the festival is an event eagerly awaited by the students. Other schools have festivals too, but what sets us apart is that we hold two major festivals a year. This time, it's the first one—the Closed Festival."
The name immediately struck me as odd. "What's with that name? It doesn't sound much like a festival," I muttered, earning a nod from Alysha.
Imelda laughed. "This name was given, not made. So it is what it is. The name was given because, as the name suggests, this is a closed festival where only students and the school staff know about it."
A private event likely meant fewer distractions and more focus on showcasing our abilities. Still, I couldn't help but ask, "Why not open it up? Wouldn't it be livelier with an audience?"
Imelda tilted her head, considering the question. "The first festival is like a trial. It's a way to test the students' abilities before the second festival, which is open to the public. Think of it as a rehearsal for the real thing."
"A trial version of the festival?" I repeated, the analogy feeling strange yet oddly fitting.
"Yes," she confirmed. "The school uses it as a benchmark to assess students' progress and teamwork."
With the festival's purpose explained my mind drifted to the tasks ahead. "So, now that we know the basics, what exactly do we have to do?"
Imelda stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. "Let's move to the meeting room to discuss. It's easier to plan there. Even though there won't be much to debate, I want you all to see the surroundings."
"Okay." Violet and I replied in unison, Alysha nodding in agreement.
*
The meeting room was simple, almost stark compared to the lively energy Imelda brought to it. The U-shaped table faced a whiteboard, with chairs neatly arranged around the space. It was clear this room was designed for function, not flair.
"This room is so simple," I said, taking a seat near the middle.
Imelda ignored my comment, diving straight into business. "Alright, everyone. Let's get started. Since this is just a closed festival, we won't be doing anything extravagant. Our main job is to document the events organized by each class and extracurricular group."
"Document?" Violet asked, tilting her head.
"Exactly," Alysha replied. "Each class and extracurriculars set up booths or organize activities. The student council oversees permissions and handles record-keeping. It's also a great way to attract new members to extracurriculars."
I exhaled quietly, relieved. The work sounded manageable, and for once, it seemed like I wouldn't be buried under a mountain of tasks.
"Now," Imelda said, her tone taking on a mischievous edge, "we need to pick a representative for the student council in the tournament."
Her eyes landed on me, and a grin spread across her face. "Naozumi, you'll be our representative."
"What?!" I nearly fell out of my chair. "Why me? Alysha and Violet are way stronger!"
"The initial tournament is based on representatives, and each representative is only allowed to represent one group, so I guess you can't refuse. You're also in the same class as Alysha, so you're probably free, right?"
If there's only one representative, Alysha and Violet will surely be chosen. I guess there's no other choice because they are indeed famous for their strengths.
I looked to Alysha for support, but she shrugged. "She's not wrong."
"What about you?" I turned back to Imelda, searching for a way out.
"Well... my power isn't suitable for dueling, and the same goes for the other members. Besides, if I leave it to you, it would be more appropriate, right?"
I do want to participate in this tournament, but I don't want to bear the responsibility and represent the student council.
Now I'm just silent, trying to find another excuse…
"Here you go." Imelda handed me a piece of paper.
"What's this?"
"Just a consent form. Think it over first. You have two days before the deadline."
Looking at the paper, I thought of something.
"We're not required to win, right?"
"Of course not. I believe you'll make it past the preliminary round, and that's enough for us. Even if you surrender, it's fine."
I'm not sure about what Imelda said. What Imelda just said sounded like psychological persuasion, trying to get me to participate in this. Thinking about Imelda's words would make me interested, although I seem to fulfill Imelda's request indirectly.
As I mentioned earlier, I'm quite interested in fighting, even though I can't actively participate, I'm curious about others' powers.
Maybe I should think about it first.
I sighed, taking the form reluctantly. "Fine. I'll think about it."
With that, the meeting wrapped up, and we returned to the student council room to gather our things.
"Then let's end today's meeting. We'll discuss it further tomorrow with the other members," said Imelda.
"Okay." "Alright." "I understand," replied Alysha, Violet, and I.
After the student council meeting wrapped up, we returned to the room to gather our things. Imelda stretched her arms dramatically. "Since the meeting is over, let's go home!" she announced, her energy undiminished.
As we prepared to leave, Violet approached Alysha timidly. "Senior Alysha, before we continue, I wanted to apologize and ask if you could escort me first?"
Alysha blinked in surprise but quickly smiled. "Hmm? Sure, I can."
That left me alone to head home. With Imelda tasked to lock up, and Alysha escorting Violet, I nodded. "Alright, I'll go home first."
"Be careful," Alysha said as I headed for the door.
*
Walking down the quiet streets, I mentally ran through my dinner plans. "Oh, right. It's my turn to cook tonight," I muttered. "If I'm not mistaken, the fridge is empty. I'll stop by the supermarket first."
The streets were calm, bathed in the dim glow of streetlights. At the store, I grabbed the essentials—rice, vegetables, a protein option, and some snacks. I tossed in a few fruits for good measure and began the walk back.
But something felt... wrong.
A sharp sensation crawled up my spine like a pair of unseen eyes were trained on me. I stopped and scanned my surroundings. The streets were empty, the only sound was the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze.
I walked further, my senses on high alert. Every few steps, I glanced back. Still, nothing. No footsteps, no shadows darting between the streetlights. Shaking my head, I quickened my pace and focused on getting home.
When I reached the dormitory, it was dark. No lights were on.
"I guess Alysha isn't home yet," I muttered. I flicked on the lights, unloaded the groceries in the kitchen, and changed into a T-shirt and shorts. Comfort first.
I got to work cooking a simple meal, letting the rhythm of chopping, boiling, and seasoning calm my nerves. The smell of food soon filled the room, but as I plated the dishes, I noticed something.
"Isn't this an extra portion?" I frowned, realizing I'd miscalculated the amount. "Oh well. I'll bring it for lunch tomorrow."
I arranged the food on the table and glanced at the clock. "Shouldn't Alysha be home by now?"
Just as I started to worry, I heard the front door creak open, followed by Alysha's cheerful voice. "I'm home!"
Relief washed over me. Even though Alysha was strong, she was still my sister. It was hard not to worry sometimes. but her next words caught me off guard. "Come in! Don't be shy. You'll be staying here too, right?"
I walked toward the door to greet her but froze when I heard another voice. "Excuse me... Good evening, Senior Naozumi."
The voice was familiar. Alysha stepped into the living room, and following close behind her was Violet Edina, her signature star-shaped hairclip glinting in the light.
"Edina?" I asked, stunned. "What are you doing here? And what did Alysha mean by 'staying here'?"
Violet gave a small bow. "The school informed me I would be staying in the dormitory. Since they only gave me the address, I asked Senior Alysha to escort me. It turns out it's the same dormitory as yours."
Processing the news took a moment. "So, you're my dormmate now?"
"Looks like it," Violet said, her calm demeanor unshaken.
It seems something unusual is happening to me today.
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