Act 1, Part VI
Sunday, 05:30
I sit at my desk in classroom 3-3, indulging myself in a cup of ramen. My new found friend Hisao sleeps at his desk in front of me. Come to think of it, I did see him in class yesterday. He only stuck out because Mutou called him out during class for a difficult problem. Hisao seems to have an affinity for science better than my own, although he told me that his english and history weren't the best.
As for me, I am currently suffering from writer's block. I stare at the half filled page, trying to think of the next action my protagonist makes. I put my pencil to the paper and visualize the scenario.
Inori runs throught the old, seemingly endless complex,
with her heart in her mouth, and flashlight pointed ahead,
the only thing she can think about is escaping.
This only serves to amuse her enemy, as the vaguely human-
shaped shadow slowly, but surely gains on her.
Just as Inori had almost given up hope of survival, she
sees the end of the hallway, a single window lets a small
amount of moonlight into the hall.
Drawing her .357 magnum, Inori aims and fires twice,
blowing two fist sized holes in the window. She pulls her
hood over her head, and dives out through the window,
landing in the dumpster below.
As she stands up, her pursuer dives out the window as well.
"Big mistake." Inori grins. The moonlight dissolves the
shadow-like aura protecting the Soul Thief.
Four gunshots ring out, two hit the torso, one hits an arm.
The fourth shot travels straight through the Soul Thief's
head, ending it's existence.
"What a damn waste, silver bullets ain't cheap ya' know."
She says to the dissolving pile of black sludge, as she removes
the spent shells from her revolver.
06:00
Hisao "...in your free time?"
I break out of my delusion.
Kuroki "Huh?"
Hisao "Is that what you do in your free time?"
Kuroki "Oh, this? It's just practice, I'm an aspiring author."
Hisao "I think the book club would like to hear that one, don't you think?"
Kuroki "You think so? I've written other stuff, too. This is far from the best I've written."
Hisao "You have a talent for writing. That much is obvious. I'm pretty sure this school has a Writing Club, why not join?"
I mull the idea over. I've always been in the go-home club, even managing to avoid joining any clubs in my last school, where joining a club is compulsory. I don't have anything to pour myself into. Maybe joining a club will fix that.
Kuroki "You... might actually be right. The last time I tried hard to make something big, It worked out great. But I haven't tried since my accident."
Hisao "Well, if you need someone to lend a hand or an ear, I'll be there."
Kuroki "Thanks. I might take you up on that offer someday."
I notice Lilly standing by the classroom door, looking like a child at the lost and found section in a mall.
Hisao "Good morning, Lilly."
Kuroki "Good morning, Lilly. What brings you here?"
Lilly "Good morning, Kuroki, Hisao. Have you seen Hanako by chance?"
Kuroki "Isn't it a bit early? Is Hanako even awake?"
Lilly "I suppose not. I knocked on her door this morning, but I didn't get a response."
Kuroki "Well, it is six in the morning on a sunday. Most people are still in bed at this time."
Just as the words leave my mouth, the classroom door, once halfway closed, slams open with the force of a gorilla, making Lilly jump. A girl with pink hair done up in drills skips through the door.
Oh god no.
Misha "Good morning!"
Shizune walks in behind Misha and freezes after she notices Lilly.
Shizune "Look, it's the class rep. Hello."
Misha "Look, It's the class rep! Heya!"
The word 'Look' sparks an amused grin from Lilly.
Lilly "Good morning."
Shizune "Of course, you aren't the representative of this class, are you?"
Misha "Of course, you aren't the representative of this class, right, right~?"
Lilly "I'm not."
I'm very amused by Misha repeating Shizune, who is stating the obvious.
Shizune "Good timing, class rep, we need to talk."
Misha "Class rep~! It's a good thing you're here~! We have to talk."
Shizune "The festival will be here in three days. Every other class has handed in their projected budget reports for their events. Even the first years. All except you."
Misha translates Shizune's cold signing with so much happiness, it's impossible for anyone to tell Shizune is speaking. As usual, she finishes the sentence with her trademark "Wahaha~!".
Lilly "There's still time to hand it in, isn't there?"
The air in the room turns cold. Birds outside the window stop chirping. I stop as I'm about to drink the broth from my cup ramen. In a matter of seconds, the atmosphere of the room goes from pleasant, to unpleasantly suffocating.
Shizune "The deadline is today. You're taking your sweet time, aren't you? If I had my way, I would've had all of the paperwork days ago, but somebody requested that the deadline be extended."
Even Hisao is aware of what's about to happen. Misha's harsh words are said with an enviable amount of cheerfulness. It tips off Lilly as well.
Lilly "That would be me. Planning something on such a large scale is not an easy task to accomplish. A week is too small a time frame to expect class 3-2 to work out such a complex issue completely."
Shizune "You think that's difficult? I've handled the same issue for every class of every year in this school and then some!"
Misha tries to fit the role of the antagonist in the scenario. She manages to look the part, which is pointless because it's Lilly she's talking to, but she just sounds too happy to fit the role. Lilly is far from amused by this.
Kuroki "There's still a whole day left, Shizune. Complaining about it is only going to waste your time."
I say it and sign it so that everyone in the room understands.
Lilly seems thankful that I've taken her side, and continues the argument.
Lilly "If this is about the budget, I'm disappointed you think I have forgotten about it. I understand that it's important."
Shizune "May I see the report?"
Hisao "Shizune, she might not have it right now."
Lilly "It's not here right now. I asked two student from my class to take care of it for me."
Shizune "It's your responsibility as class representative to take care of the budget report yourself, you aren't supposed to just delegate it away. Your disregard for proper procedure is astounding."
Lilly "They completed the report, but they've been sick the past few days, so they could not come to school to turn it in. If you would like, I could apologize on their behalf for getting sick."
Misha "Okay~!"
Misha missed the verbal jab entirely. Shizune doesn't though, she's shaking from anger.
Shizune "Most students live in the dorms, no? That's a mere five minute walk to drop off something that will effect the enjoyment of their entire class."
Lilly starts to say something, but Shizune cuts her off by closing the distance between them.
Shizune "Beside, I told you that it's not something you should be delegating away. Aren't you class representative? Give me the names of those students, if they can handle the budget report better than you, they should be class rep.
Lilly "I have more than just a budget report to take care of."
I have to hand it to her, Lilly's patience is impressive. At this point, I would just say something to piss them off and walk away. You have my respect, Lilly.
Shizune "Of course, you do so much work, class rep. It sure must be difficult being you."
Shizune signs it in a way that makes it obviously sarcastic, but Misha, the clueless cottenhead, says it without even a shred of sarcasm.
These two are enemies, it's plain as day. I think Lilly is finished taking bullshit, because she delivers the next few words sharply, without remorse.
Lilly "You must be quite efficient to have finished all the reports for all the classes so quickly that you have time left over to track me down and remind me of my own.
Shizune "Are you saying I'm slacking off? You seem to be confusing me with yourself!"
Lilly "I doubt it. That would be a very difficult thing for me to do; comparing myself to you."
Shizune "Indeed, we're as different as heaven and hell."
Lilly "I don't think it takes much effort to guess which one you represent."
Oh shit.
I don't dare even breath. The room is filled with blood lust. The person who steps in between them first dies, that much is certain.
My cup ramen is still halfway to my mouth. Even Misha, the cottonhead, starts to understand what's really going on. With Shizune losing the argument, she turns to me and Hisao as a last resort.
Shizune "That means you two as well, don't slack off like this broad."
Misha "Kucchan~! Hicchan~! Don't you slack off either~!"
Hisao "Hey, I've only been here a week. What am I supposed to do?"
Kuroki "How childish."
Lilly "Expecting a new student to jump in on his first week is unrealistic."
Hisao "Yeah, You're being unreasonable with all three of us."
Kuroki "I second that opinion."
Shizune is doing a very good job at looking neutral. I can tell she's actually pissed.
Misha "Excuses, excuses! You had plenty of opportunities to join student council and help with the work, but you declined every time~!"
Hisao "But like I said, I'm not sure if..."
Hisao, you had better be careful, the next few words you say will either save you, or kill you.
Hisao "Whatever. Forget it."
With these words, he turns his back on Misha and Shizune.
Ouch.
Kuroki "Lilly, I'll let Hanako know you were looking for her. I'll be in the tearoom for lunch. I'll bring something to share."
Hisao "I'll do the same."
Lilly "Thank you, Hisao, Kuroki."
As she leaves, she makes the nicest smile I've seen in ages.
I drink the broth from the first ramen I brought for breakfast. I reach into my lunch box, and remove the second cup ramen, which is miraculously still warm.
Meanwhile, Shizune is signing furiously to Misha. I dare not repeat what she's saying out loud. It's a little funny seeing her flip out.
I tear my attention from Shizune, pull the lid off of my second cup ramen, and continue eating. As I eat, I remember what Hisao told me before Lilly came into the room.
"I'm pretty sure this school has a Writing Club, why not join?"
He has a good point.
[Join the Writing Club]
[Stay in Go-Home Club]
This is the last choice I'm going to put in this story.
PM me and tell me what choice you want our 'boring' protagonist to make.
