Interlude 12: Oarai's Student Council
After practice one day, Ayano approached Miho and Nodoka in the tankery garage.
"Nishizumi-san, Haramura-san, I have a question for you, as treasurer," Ayano said.
"Feel free to ask, Treasurer," Miho said, accepting Ayano's request and the terms on which she made it. Unlike Shiina and Natsumi, who had recently opened up to her while not on their jobs as student council members, Ayano and Shizuru maintained a certain professional distance from Miho on the student council and takrey team.
"How are the others feeling?" Ayano said. "I'm mainly thinking about the heads of the auto, mahjong and volleyball clubs."
Miho nodded. Having spoken with the others again since their lunch together, she had noticed morale improving. The Auto Club had fewer complaints about the workload relating to the tankery team, and were working faster. Tsuchiya surmised that everyone had accepted that was part of their job. The mahjong and volleyball club had a few new first-years join them, although said first years were not doing tankery.
"At the moment, the former mahjong and volleyball clubs are doing their best to get their clubs re-established, and Leopon team is continuing to dedicate themselves to repairing our tanks, in spite of their doubts," Miho said. "In short, they're dedicated to the success of the entire team, but they're also part of their own groups, and they want to do what's best for both the tankery team and their clubs."
"I see," Ayano said. "I'm not surprised, since I did hear some murmurs of discontent among the students. Shizuru did say that she never expected everyone to approve of everything that we did, but she did it because it's right. But while that much has always been obvious to her, it's dawning on her that she's similar to Kadotani-senpai in that regard."
"Shizuru?" Miho said, surprised to hear the president's first name.
"She and I are best friends, having known each other for some time before we joined the student council," Ayano said, "about as long as Teradaira-san and Fujino-san have. I typically address her by her title on the job out of respect for her position, but this is something she feels as an individual, even if it is difficult to acknowledge it in a professional context."
"I think I have some idea of what you're saying," Nodoka said.
"I agree, Nodoka-san," Miho said, "but the Kadotani administration was certainly more open about their personalities. Their personalities on the job, so to speak, were similar to those they showed in the tankery team, and in everyday life."
"Perhaps so," Ayano said. "You might say that the president's leadership is a style that comes quite naturally to Shizuru. But that's not all there is to her."
"I see," Miho said. She wondered how she would get to know Shizuru, who seemed more reserved and distant than most of the others.
"The others were hoping to meet with you and talk, outside of our positions as far as the student government and tankery team go. Are you willing to meet with us?"
Nodoka and Miho looked at each other, and nodded.
"We are," Miho and Nodoka said.
"Excellent," Ayano said. "Would this evening, after practice work?"
Nodoka and Miho nodded.
"I'll see you then," Ayano said, before the two got back to their respective tasks.
That evening, after practice, Miho and Nodoka met in the student council office. The four student council members were seated around a small table, and invited Miho and Nodoka to sit down.
"Thank you for coming, Nishizumi-san, Haramura-san," Shizuru said.
"We're glad for the chance to meet with you and get to know you better, President... I mean, Mikado-san," Miho said.
"So Ayano explained the purpose of this meeting to you," Shizuru said. "That's good to hear. By now, you've probably realized that, as important as first impressions tend to be, your first impression of us is not the entire story."
"That's true," Miho said. "People often deliberately act their best to create a good first impression."
"That's true, although we on the Student Council often have to remain mindful of our position," Shizuru said. "Your public façade is a bit like your uniform, something that you have to put on to be respectable, and we wear ours on official business."
"I wouldn't make that analogy, Mikado-san," Natsumi said. "A uniform involves a standard and rigid degree of conformity, and while there are certain criteria for what is considered respectable and what is not, one's behavior is determined by the circumstances. I'd say it's a bit like wearing a suit to work; there are guidelines for what is acceptable, but it's ultimately up to you to decide how you go about meeting them."
"I agree," Shiina said. "You may not have noticed, Miho, but different members of the Student Council have their different approach. Natsumi would probably wear bright colors, in contrast to a more understated everyday appearance. Mikado-san and Satou-san, however, are definitely conservative as far as their 'suits' go."
"I see what you mean," Miho said. "So, where should we begin? What's the first thing you would like me to know about you?"
Shizuru nodded, deciding to take the initiative.
"We could start any number of places," Shizuru said, "but I'd like to start with why we're here. Late last year, as you may recall, I wrote a editorial criticizing the Kadotani administration for, among other things, keeping the school's impending closure secret."
"Yes, we remember reading it," Nodoka said, and Miho nodded to confirm it. The Oarai school newspaper had published a special edition a few days after the announcement, and had invited students to give their opinions. Shizuru was not the only one to submit an opinion, but she was by far the most critical of the Kadotani administration.
"If I had more space, I would have gone into other issues across the Kadotani administration's tenure," Shizuru said, "such as a tendency for work to pile up in the Vice President's lap. But while I mainly chose to focus on the pertinent issues, my opinion on those matters was not lost on Kadotani-senpai or the others."
Last year, a few days after the semifinals
When Shizuru heard her name being called on the PA system in homeroom on the morning her letter was published, she immediately understood why, having prepared for it. Clearly, this was not a standard call for her as class rep, since the meeting had been yesterday.
"The Student Council certainly moves quickly in situations like this," she thought, as she walked toward the student council's office. "It's clear that they don't take criticism lying down."
Shizuru immediately heeded the summons. As she reached the door to the student council office, Shizuru took a deep breath. She did not anticipate that the meeting would be pleasant, but she had prepared for it.
"Mikado Shizuru, here as requested, President Kadotani," Shizuru said as she entered the office.
"We understand that you wrote a letter criticizing the Student Council's keeping Oarai's impending closure secret, did you not?" Momo said.
Shizuru nodded, hoping not to waste time confirming what they both knew to be true.
"I did," Shizuru said, "and I stand by what I said."
Anzu chuckled softly.
"Well, that gets the part in which we try to convince you to recant it out of the way," Anzu said, slightly amused, before turning serious. "But even so, we think you don't quite understand the entire issue. At a time like this, when success means our school stays around and failure means we shut down, do you really want to quibble over our methods, which are both legal and in keeping with the code of conduct?"
"So the ends justify the means, then?" Shizuru said, glancing around to see how the others would react to her question.
Yuzu softly sighed, thinking back to the student council's recruitment of Miho, where Anzu had implicitly threatened three students with expulsion over one student's choice of elective. In spite of disagreeing with Anzu on that issue and others, she recognized what Anzu was trying to accomplish, and stood by her when push came to shove, even if it meant that people like Shizuru would see Yuzu as an accomplice.
"Not always, Mikado-san," Yuzu said. "But the President did what she did for the sake of the school as a whole. Hisa, Momo-chan and I didn't always agree with her, but we decided to stand by her, come what may."
The other two nodded to silently concur, with Momo even choosing to forgo reminding Yuzu not to put the "-chan" after her name. Shizuru frowned slightly, knowing that whatever she hoped to accomplish here, there was no chance of her swaying any of the student council members to her side. Perhaps they had come too far to quit now, but they also were loyal to Anzu.
"We are curious about one thing, Mikado-san," Hisa said, breaking the silence. "Our situation is not exactly optimal, nor is our solution. The latter was formulated on the spur of the moment, based on a remark made in passing, and hoping to succeed with a plan I have been trying to enact, with little success, for about two years. The odds against us have been- and still are- quite long, but we have gone farther than we had thought. What would you have done instead?"
Shizuru found herself slightly at a loss for words. She had criticized the Student Council's approach, but while doing so, had neglected to propose an alternative. She could say that she was limited by word count, but the fact was that she had failed to consider this, and thus was unable to prepare the best possible argument when the time came to face the student council. So with that option precluded, she chose to give the best possible one she could think of on the fly.
"Whatever was necessary to help save the school," Shizuru said. "Whatever the method, I would have been honest with the student body about the circumstances that affect them. They deserve to know that the ship on which they live, they go to school and some of their families work is in danger. They should have the time to ahead in case they need to find a new school for next year- unlike you and the rest of your yearmates, who will be graduating. This struggle to save the school is theirs as much as yours, and they should be able to become aware of it and take part alongside you."
Momo's temper flared and she clenched her teeth together.
"You're not the first and you won't be the last to criticize us, Mikado," Momo said. "But even if people like you are coming out of the woodwork these days, I don't want to hear our decisions being second-guessed by someone who didn't offer an idea to save the school, and isn't participating in tankery alongside us!"
Shizuru felt stung by Momo's angry outburst. She still stood by her belief that the broader student body could have helped. But what had she done until now? And what was she doing?
"Settle down, Kawashima," Anzu said, before turning back to Shizuru. "Sorry about that, Mikado-chan. I agree with Kawashima's saying to some extent, though; lots of people are complaining about us, but few have any idea what they would have done if they'd been called into MEXT's office and been told that the school that they'd spent the past three years would be shut down and reduced to scrap metal at the end of the year."
Shizuru solemnly nodded. She stood by her point that the student council's decision to keep the closure secret was made without regard for what plans the first- and second-years would have to make if they no longer had a school to which they could return the following year. In spite of that, she was starting to see another side to the issue. They had spent their entire high school career on the ship, and hoped to leave it, without regretting anything or becoming the final graduating class.
"But I will say, Mikado-chan," Shizuru said, "that you're probably one of the bolder and more ambitious ones, to go public with your views like that, so I have a proposal for you."
"I'm listening, President Kadotani," Shizuru said.
"You seem to think that you can do a better job than we can," Anzu said. "Why not run for office for next year and take that burden upon yourself? Of course, you'll have to fill the other positions with individuals who agree with you enough to get behind you, and then win the election. Then, if you win and the school's around next year, you'll have some idea of what we were up against."
Shizuru paused to consider what Anzu was saying.
"But the only way I can possibly put myself to the test, so to speak," Shizuru said, "is if this... plan of yours... succeeds?"
"You're a smart cookie, Mikado-chan," Anzu said with a cheeky grin, before turning more serious. "Winning the tankery tournament was an idea I thought of on the spur of the moment, but it's our school's only hope. If we win, we save our school for the moment. If we lose, then the school gets closed, just like it would have if we'd done nothing."
"You have a point, Kadotani-senpai," Shizuru said. "But once again, I don't think this end necessarily justifies any means necessary to achieve it."
"Like Yuzu said, no, it doesn't, Mikado-san," Hisa said. "But you will find yourself having to bear the responsibility to make decisions like this... as well as the consequences that result from them. You will face many difficult decisions, and will have to ask yourself what you value most and what you must accomplish."
Shizuru saw an entirely new side of the student council. If Momo did little more than bark orders and Anzu did nothing at all when they could get away with it, this was all of them putting all their effort into saving the school. Perhaps if preserving Oarai was a cause important enough for them to take seriously, Shizuru could do her part in her own way.
"Very well, I will do it," Shizuru said. "But not for the sake of proving that I could have done better, but to provide the best possible governance for Oarai Academy."
Anzu smiled and nodded.
"I'm glad we had this discussion, then," Anzu said. "Now you can run along, and we can get back to the task of saving this school."
Shizuru bowed and took her leave, but as soon as she closed the door to the office behind her, she let off a sigh, never having expected this outcome to her meeting.
A part of Shizuru was displeased with what she had heard. In her mind, Anzu was lazy until there was an emergency, and lied until she had no choice to reveal the truth. The other student council members did not necessarily agree, but were arguably enabled Anzu's laziness and were complicit in Anzu's deception. That belief had not changed, even if Shizuru was starting to realize how difficult it was to do better than they did. She now believed more than ever how important it was for her or someone else to do so
Shizuru vowed to bring consistent, honest and effective leadership to Oarai Academy. Perhaps the prerequisite for doing so was the Kadotani administration's plan working, but Shizuru believed that even if that was the case, she and those she chose as her inner circle could still run the school more effectively, fairly and honestly than they had.
Present day
"So, Nishizumi-san, Haramura-san," Shizuru said, "do you agree with my points? Or do you approve of the Kadotani administration's approach?"
Miho paused to carefully consider her answer. Until midway through the semifinals, she had not realized that the school was in danger, and she could only guess what the former student council knew or how they did it. She found it harder to criticize the student council along those lines, having some idea of what it meant to be a leader of a large group of students, with much of the responsibility for success on her shoulders.
But there was also a more emotional element to it. Hisa, the former treasurer, was a friend of hers. Miho got along with Yuzu, who, like her, was an affable and good-natured individual. Through participating in tankery, Miho had earned Momo's respect and Anzu's gratitude. It was thus hard for Miho to judge them so easily.
"I'm not sure," Miho said, attempting to give a diplomatic but honest answer. "Until I am faced with such a decision, without the benefit of hindsight, I wouldn't know what to do."
"Neither would I," Nodoka said.
"Ayano said the same thing to me not long after I published my editorial," Shizuru said. "I was hardly surprised that she disagreed, but I was pleased that I had her support in my endeavor."
Last year
Shizuru went to her classes after her meeting with the student council, and quietly slipped in during the first class. In the break between classes, Ayano, a friend of hers since her first year, approached her.
"Shizuru, do you have a minute?" Ayano said.
"I do, Ayano," Shizuru said.
"I read your letter to the editor," Ayano said, "and while I agree with your argument that the Student Council's decision to keep our school being of peril of closure was wrong, have you considered their perspective?"
"What do you mean by that?" Shizuru said. "And what, exactly would you like me to glean from that?"
"The Student Council knew how unlikely their plan seemed," Ayano said, "as well as that if they failed or were found out, they would likely suffer public backlash. They knew the risk, and took it anyway."
"That may be so, but risky decisions are not necessarily the right ones," Shizuru said.
"Perhaps, but what did they have to choose from and why did they choose what they did?" Ayano said. "I think only they would truly know."
"They said as much," Shizuru said, realizing that the Student Council's arguments, viewed in this light, no longer seemed to be as much of rationalizations as they were before. "And they challenged me to do it differently if I thought I could do better."
"Well, why not do so?" Ayano said. "It's easy to sit back and criticize them, but harder to lead, much less better than they do. Difficult or easy, in a best case scenario, someone's going to have to do it once they graduate, and you might just be the person for the job."
Shizuru paused to consider Ayano's arguments. She was unsure whether it was because her best friend was speaking, it was because Ayano was not trying to justify her own actions or because she was starting to understand what she was hearing, but she found the point easier to accept this time. Similarly, she came to the same decision she had made, and felt more confident in it.
"That's what I thought," Shizuru said. "But I also realize I can't do this alone. So, Ayano, are you interested in helping me?"
"You can count on me," Ayano said.
With those words and a handshake between two friends, the Mikado Administration's campaign for student council was established.
Present day
"Spurred on by Kadotani-senpai's challenge and convinced by Ayano's arguments, I started my campaign," Shizuru said. "Before we could begin, however, we needed to recruit additional people."
"Most of our other friends were uninterested in and/or unsuited for student council work," Ayano said. "So we decided to widen our search and ask around in our class."
"That's when we encountered them," Shizuru said, gesturing at Shiina and Natsumi, "our first and only recruits for our student council candidacy."
Last year
After class the day after Shizuru's meeting with the student council, Shiina and Natsumi approached Shizuru. Word had gotten around about Shizuru's beginning to form a campaign to run for student council, but many dismissed it as a fool's errand, or were otherwise hesitant to join without knowing for certain that he school would still be around next year.
Shiina and Natsumi considered such ideas, and did not disagree. However, they had their own reasons for wanting to apply, mainly because their families insisted on it.
"Are you sure about this, Natsumi?" Shiina said.
"I'm positive," Natsumi said. "When I spoke with my father about this, he encouraged me to apply for whatever position they had open, wanting to see a more respectable student government. And as for you, I think your mother will be content with you at least asking about it, even if the school does get shut down. It's an extracurricular activity, if nothing else."
"Fine," Shiina said unenthusiastically, knowing that Natsumi was once again parroting her father's commands, rather than expressing her own thoughts. "I'll let you do most of the talking, but we're just asking about it at the moment, right?"
"Deal," Natsumi said.
Their preparations finished, the two approached Shizuru and Ayano.
"Hello, Mikado-san," Natsumi said. "I read your letter in the school newspaper, and I agreed with it completely!"
Shiina let off a soft groan. Natsumi had never been the most ardent suppoter of the Kadotani administration, but it was a stretch to say that she completely agreed with it. When she had first read Shizuru's editorial, her perspective, like Ayano's was to fault the Kadotani administration's approach but wonder what better plans Shizuru had in mind.
Shiina, for her part, was apathetic about the prospect of working for Shizuru, and mainly went along with it out of a desire to satisfy her mother's standards, and because her friend seemed interested under her enthusiastic facade. In spite of that, she decided to put her best foot forward, to make a good first impression for both of their sakes.
"Thank you," Shizuru said. "As you can see here, I am running for student council on the platform of a more open, accountable and professional administration, and am recruiting like-minded individuals to help us. Are you interested in serving?"
"Yes," Natsumi said "I would like to introduce my friend, Fujino Shiina-san. Both of us are interested in joining you."
Shiina inwardly groaned at how formal Natsumi was being with her.
"I get that you're trying to be polite," Shiina thought, "but you really don't need to introduce me as though I'm as much of a stranger to you as Mikado-san is."
"Nice to meet you, Mikado-san, Satou-san," Shiina said.
"I'm glad the two of you are interested in joining," Shizuru said. "We have need of a public relations representative and a vice-president."
The four girls discussed the positions and their qualifications for several minutes. They eventually arrived at a tentative arrangement as far as their positions in the new position would be were they to be electd, albeit one that soon became permanent.
"That's all we have to discuss for today," Shizuru said. "Thank you for coming by, Teradaira-san, Fujino-san. Can I count on you to stop by tomorrow after school?"
"Yes, Mikado-san," Natsumi said, and Shiina nodded.
"That's good to hear," Ayano said. "I look forward to seeing you again."
The two pairs of girls said goodbye, and went their separate ways.
"So what do you think about this?" Shiina said, almost hoping Natsumi would talk her out of it.
"They seem quite sincere about this," Natsumi said, "and they need our help. I honestly don't put as much stock in what my father says about respectability, but I'd like to help Mikado-san and Satou-san, and believe that we would be able to do so."
"Well, neither of them seems like the kind to just drag themselves to their work after a few weeks, and eventually stop showing up altogether," Shiina said. "Perhaps it might be a nice change of pace to work alongside them.
Present day
"I had hoped to recruit other girls and see who was most suitable, but Ayano and the others were the only ones who were interested," Shizuru said. "It was an unlikely group of people, possibly similar to Kadotani-senpai's group at the start, but people who were ready to watch over Oarai Academy."
Ayano nodded. She was willing to serve on the student council, but she was always prepared to step aside if people with more experience arrived. That never happened, though, and as such, Ayano resolved to give efforts befitting Shizuru's best possible treasurer.
"And I'm probably the most unlikely of them all," Shiina said, "so do you mind if I go first?"
"You may, Fujino-san," Shizuru said. "I believe you told me at least some of it already, but i would be interested in hearing again."
"And we would like to hear it as well," Nodoka said.
"Since I was young, my mom has been pressuring me to get involved in and be a leader of extracurricular activities, even if she didn't specifically have the student council in mind," Shiina said. "Chief among them was shogi, something my mom had taught me since I was young. I used to be president of the club in middle and high school."
Miho was all too aware of how demanding parents could be sometimes, even if Shiina's mother sounded less devoted to shogi than Shiho did to tankery. Nodoka's father had high expectations of her, but he was less particular about what she did as long as she did it well, and now that she had proven herself in tankery, he was more open minded about he participation in it.
"It seemed to be an easy enough way to keep my mom happy without having to work too hard," Shiina said. "I pretty much watched over everyone, played some games with the others, gave them feedback on their play, and occasionally did recruiting for new members. But then, the Student Council cut the funding on it midway through last year."
Miho paused to consider what she had to say next. She was unwilling to make any spculations as to why the club had shut down, but she was interested in hearing about what had happened to it, why it had fallen while others remained.
"What happened?" Miho said.
"We had a high rate of attrition," Shiina said, "mostly people who didn't resign, ending up as ghost members and putting us below the headcount requirement. In hindsight, I probably should have done more to retain the members or recruit new ones, although I didn't see the point. Most of the group seemed quite apathetic, as was I, to an extent. It's a bit like getting an unwanted potted plant as a gift, and forgetting to water it. Although... it's more like the Kadotani administration took it off my hands."
"So did you get involved in the student council immediately after the dissolution of your old club?" Miho said.
"Nope," Shiina said with an amused grin. "After a classmate approached me in the hall, and expressed a casual interest in joining the now defunct club the day after it was shut down, I realized that people didn't know. In hindsight, it seemed unrealistic, but at the time, I believed that if I kept my mouth shut, my mom would be none the wiser, and I wouldn't be forced into whatever club she had in mind next."
Last year
Shiina walked back to her apartment and shut the door behind her. Now that her club had been shut down, she was getting used to going back home earlier in the afternoon, and having more free time to play games. She was playing a role-playing game on a game console in her room, doing a low level run through the game- she liked the challenge, as well as that she did not have to level grind, although it had taken several times through the game to acquire the skills necessary for it.
Shiina then got a call on her cell phone, which the caller ID reported as being from her mother. While Shiina regularly got calls from her mother, she did not expect them at this time of day.
"Mom?" Shiina thought, while pausing her game. "Doesn't she know I'd be in the middle of a club meeting if the Shogi Club were still around?"
"Hello, Mom?" Shiina said.
"Hello, Shiina," Shiina's mother said. "I heard in the Oarai student newspaper that your club was shut down recently."
Shiina's jaw dropped. She'd forgotten that Oarai's paper had a web edition, albeit a somewhat primitive and poorly designed one.
"Really?" Shiina said. "Are you sure that's true, Mom?"
"I am," Shiina's mother said. "It's part of an article about extracurricular activities at the school. I believe it started on the front page."
Shiina picked up a copy of the paper that was lying around her room, and quickly turned to the article. In about a second, she noticed the passage in question, the name of one of the few people who stayed in the club until the end.
...Nagato Chiyuri-san, a first-year and member of the now defunct shogi club...
"Crap..." she thought. "Mom's on to me, and she's probably pissed off from hearing about it in the newspaper before she heard about it from me."
"…oh," Shiina said.
"I'm sure you did what you could," Shiina's mother said, "but if you stand little chance of getting that club started again, you should find another extracurricular activity. You can't just sit around all day."
Shiina was tempted to remind her mother that she had class and homework, so she was not entirely idle. She had made good use of her time, and was near the top of the class, only behind Mako, Shizuru and a few others.
But Shiina had no desire to get into her argument with her mother, and knew was only the tip of the iceberg; it tended to start with gentle prodding, before progressing to insistent nagging and then outright demanding. Shiina knew enough to do what her mother said while her mother was still asking nicely.
"All right, Mom," Shiina said reluctantly.
"That's good to hear, Shiina," Shiina's mother said. "Let me know how you do."
After concluding their conversation, Shiina hung up, and looked out her window, which had a view of the ocean. She wondered how far away they were from Japan right now, but suspected it was not far enough away from her mother.
Present day
"Helicopter parents do exist at Oarai," Shiina said, "and I believe my mom is one of the less involved ones of that sort. It kind of defeats the point of school ships promoting independence when there are parents who still micromanage their kids."
Miho thought about Yukari, who, unlike most schoolchildren, lived with her parents on the ship where she went to school. The Akiyamas struck Miho as loving parents, even if Yukari's father was at a loss for how to deal with his daughter suddenly making friends. Since Yukari had stayed with her parents for so long, Miho wondered how they would react when the day came that she would have to move out to go to college or her first job.
"But did your mother influence you to join the student council, in the end?" Miho said.
"Good question, Miho," Shiina said, "and I could see that it might seem that way to you. For the next few weeks, I looked at the paper, looking for other clubs. The deadline my mom imposed for committing to a club was the end of the year, so for the moment, just looking was enough."
to see whether any other clubs would get axed right out of the blue while I was in them, only to find that the entire school was being threatened with that. Soon, I saw Mikado-san's letter, discussed it with Shiina, and then joined them."
"How did your mother react to your doing tankery?" Nodoka said. "I recall that your fellow gamers joined the team-did you not do so as well?"
"Not exactly," Shiina said. "My mom wanted me to find another elective, but wasn't too keen on my doing tankery."
"And how does she feel about it now?" Nodoka said.
"My mom was fairly surprised to hear that I was also doing tankery," Shiina said, "and not pleasantly so, I might add. She first asked me if I was quitting the Student Council so soon, and almost fell out of her chair when I said I was both Treasurer and Anteater Team's gunner, at the same time. Mom doesn't think much of tankery and worries that it's a distraction from my duties, but accepts it because of Mikado-san's decision to involve the student council. If I have received a legal and reasonable order from my superior, she will not compel me to disobey."
Shizuru nodded, remembering speaking with Shiina's mother and assuring her that her daughter had met Shizuru's high standards. After a moment, Shizuru realized that there was something Shiina's mother may have overlooked.
"Did your mother not realize that this had precedent, Fujino-san?" Shizuru said. "Even Kadotani-senpai, for all she seemed to dislike work, was also Student Council President and Turtle Team's commander at the same time."
"Well, both positions involve giving orders, and she, being on top, could get away with it," Shiina said. "You'd have my head if I slacked off."
"Maybe so," Miho said, "But Kadotani-senpai also got involved when things turned desperate, gunning from the battle with St. Gloriana onward."
"That explains a great deal," Shizuru said. "But I do believe that while some battle are more important than others, there are times when how one does in the less important battles says a great deal more about one's personality."
"I didn't tell you how I became friends with Natsumi, did I?" Shiina said. "We first met when we were doing entrance interviews, and started on the path toward friendship when we got glimpses of each other outside our carefully constructed interview personas."
3 years ago
Shiina and Natsumi sat in a waiting room near Oarai's office of admissions as they waited for their turn for an interview. Natsumi wore a light blue pantsuit with a white dress shirt and red necktie. Shiina wore a black pinstriped skirt suit with a white dress shirt and a dark blue necktie. The two girls sat up straight and tried to remain poised for when the interviewer came for them, but the boredom was starting to get to them. Natsumi was reminded of the time she was drilled in sitting in seiza, while Shiina was reminded of some of the less fruitful days recruiting for her club in middle school, both being pursuits that the two girls regarded as being boring and having no clear benefit for them.
"They told us to come here at 11:30," Natsumi said, glancing at Shiina because she had no one else nearby with whom she could talk. "Why have us wait this long?"
"I don't know; it doesn't seem very well organized," Shiina said.
"Well, they could have been more honest about how we should expect to wait for this," Natsumi said.
"You have a point..." Shiina said, stopping awkwardly as she realized that she did not know Natsumi's name.
"Teradaira Natsumi," Natsumi said, in a slightly curt introduction that was phrased more as an answer to Shiina's question.
"Fujino Shiina," Shiina said, responding in kind.
"It's nice to meet you," they said, as they stood and bowed to each other.
For the next few minutes, Shiina and Natsumi made small talk to pass the time. Their tone was surprisingly informal for mere acquaintances, since neither saw any particular reason to try to impress the other.
A few minutes later, Natsumi was called in for her apointment.
"Teradaira Natsumi-san?" the official in charge of admissions called out froom her office
"Yes, ma'am?" Natsumi said, standing up at almost attention, straightening her necktie, and walking in gracefully.
"It's nice to meet you, Teradaira-san," the official said. "How have you found Oarai Academy so far?"
"Very good, ma'am!" Natsumi said pleasantly.
Shiina was taken aback, as Natsumi closed the door behind her. While she recognized that they had to dress and act their best for the interview, Natsumi's behavior defied expectations. Shiina had expected her to be polite, yet reserved, a bit like the conservative clothing she wore to the interview.
Several minutes later, Natsumi emerged from her preliminary entrance interview, a relatively short affair for students. Shiina, realizing that her turn would only come when she was called, remained seated and waiting.
"I hope to see you again some time, Fujino-san," Shiina said.
After a moment of hesitation in surprise that Natsumi remembered her name, Natsumi decided to share her thoughts with Shiina. Perhaps she would never see her again, but that was all the more reason to say it now.
"Teradaira-san," Shiina said, causing Natsumi to stop in her tracks. "You don't have to keep up the act any longer."
"W-who says I'm putting up an act?" Natsumi said, in the same informal tone she had used with Shiina earlier.
"It's pretty obvious, isn't it?" Shiina said. "You try to get on the interviewer's good side, since she plays a significant role in whether you get in. It's even advantageous to be polite to the receptionist. By contrast, I'm no one important, and you'll probably never see me again, which is why you didn't go so far while we were waiting."
"Then why do you care about the image I project?" Natsumi said.
"It's more that I have a preference," Shiina said, "and I liked the you that I spoke with in the lobby more than the fake, constructed, intentionally appealing you that was presented to the interviewer."
Natsumi paused.
"You know, that's probably the first time someone's openly thought of it that way," Natsumi said. "Most people assume that when I'm acting like a 'good girl,' it's my real personality. In that regard, you're one of a relative few who's sincerely interested in getting to know me."
Shiina nodded.
"And Fujino-san?" Natsumi said. "You said that we might never meet again. While I can't deny that it might happen, I hope that's not the case."
"So do I, Teradaira-san," Shiina said."
As Natsumi spoke, she lapsed into a genuine smile.
Shiina hoped she would be able to meet with Natsumi again. She hoped to see more honest smiles, and share secrets with her.
Present day
"I've always found Natsumi's polite act to be somewhat off-putting," Shiina said. "For example, even back when we first met Mikado-san and Satou-san, she didn't use honorifics on me in private discussion, so it seemed the politeness was more for making a good impression on Mikado-san than out of respect for me."
"You've gotten used to it, though," Natsumi said. "You call me 'PR Rep' most of the time while we're on duty, save for a few cases that are more due to slipping up than an intentional refusal to do so."
"True," Shiina said. "And I do believe that you did help make a good impression for us back then. Compared to you, I'm less good at making a good professional façade."
"The things I do are the small things, that take hardly any effort," Natsumi said. "Smiling takes only a handful of muscles in your face. The amount of effort needed for polite speech- such as saying please and thank you, or putting an honorific after someone's name- is like the weight of a grain of sand, so small that it can't practically be measured, much less compared to your efforts."
Shiina raised an eyebrow.
"I've told you this before, Shiina, but I'd like to reiterate, it," Natsumi said. "Regardless of how much you complain about something, you ultimately do it in the end. You found another extracurricular activity, like your mother wanted, and when Mikado-san wants you to do something, she only has to ask once."
"It's easier that way," Shiina said. "Society makes it so that breaking the rules is less pleasant than following them. Working for a living might be a hassle, but being without a job is worse."
"Maybe so," Natsumi said, "but I've noticed that you've started going beyond the call of duty. You don't like studying, but you're at the top of the class. You're not fond of dressing up, but I've seen you in a suit on a few occasions. And choosing the Student Council is a fairly bold step for someone who was looking for an extracurricular activity."
"You might be right," Shiina said. "Of course, the president does remind me of many of the authority figures in my life, like my mom- someone I can't oppose, but someone I respect and like all the same."
Just before the start of the year
The day before the school year began, Oarai Academy was almost devoid of students. The only ones who were on school grounds were those who had special permission to be there, such as the Student Council and the disciplinary committee.
The Student Council, faced with the task of getting the office set up for the new year, was particularly grateful for the extra time before students came in and the tasks for which they needed their office began.
Shizuru read off a laundry list of tasks, including filing away old documents, cleaning the workspace, sorting things and so forth. Shiina, doing mental calculations, realized that completing all of them would take hours, even with the four of them. As she finished the calculations, she desperately hoped she had miscalculated, as Shizuru made yet another pronouncement.
"None of us are going home until this is finished," Shizuru said. She did not say it as a threat, but as a fact. There was no point in worrying about what she would do if any of the others tried to walk out on the work, because she would not allow it to happen.
But Shiina realized, as Shizuru got to work, that "us" included herself. Shizuru had repeatedly complained about Anzu's tendency to delegate the work to Yuzu, so she had no desire to end up as a hypocrite. She expected her subordinates to help out, but she believed it was her duty to chip in as well.
Shiina could not help but respect that part of Shizuru, and saw her as not merely a taskmaster, but someone who asked those who worked under her to work as hard as she did. If Shizuru worked hard, then Shiina would do the same. If Shizuru cared about her position, perhaps Shiina would start to feel the same way.
The cleaning and office preparation soon finished, and Shiina knew that this was a simple task compared to what was to come. But they had faced it together, and would face the future challenges as a united student council.
"You know, I'm actually starting to feel glad I joined them," Shiina thought.
Present day
"Back then, I started to understand why Mikado-san led the way she did," Shiina said. "I never fully internalized her grievances against the Kadotani administration, though."
"I never expected you to do so, Fujino-san," Shizuru said, "merely to support me in governing Oarai fo the sake of the student body. I must say that your work ethic has improved significantly since we started."
Natsumi nodded.
"I actually sympathize with Shiina, as well as anyone else who gets involved in something against their will and gradually learns to like it," Natsumi said, turning to Miho as she spoke.
"Are you referring to me, Natsumi-san?" Miho said. "If you are, I'd say that the key factor is to do it for your own reasons, rather than the ones you're told to do it for."
"For me, the activity I entered against my will was etiquette lessons as a young girl," Natsumi said. "You're quite polite, Miho, but of all of us, I'd say that only Hana and Mikado-san come close to the exacting standards set by my teacher. And while I did say that individually, these small gestures of politeness weighed as much as a grain of sand, keeping them all up was an act of precision, like keeping grains of sand balanced on the tips of my fingers."
"What sort of expectations were these?" Miho said.
"All sorts," Natsumi said. "To use an example, let's say I had to meet someone in a restaurant, with my teacher present as an observer. The moment I walked in the door, I would be judged on my clothing, my hair, and whether I was on time. Upon meeting this person, what I said, the tone of voice I used, how much I made eye contact and how low I bowed would be scrutinized. This isn't even getting into the food. The things I'm graded on run the gamut from those that are common sense to those that are far too obscure for most people to fully understand."
"So what happened if you went out of line?" Nodoka said.
"I would be reminded of it, of course," Natsumi said, "and if I kept on making that mistake, my parents would hear about it. Not unlike Shiina, I soon learned that conforming to their expectations was the easier choice. I do have to wonder whether my parents would be happy if my personality was completely overwritten and replaced by that of the good girl they hoped I would be."
"I can't speak for them, but I wouldn't be happy," Shiina said.
"It's a bit more difficult for me to keep up the act around my peers," Natsumi said, "just like it's difficult to walk to school as though you're walking on a tightrope. When I'm greeting someone in a higher position, I have to be careful what I say and how formally I say it, how I bow, things such as posture and eye contact, when to get up, and so forth. By comparison, the first time I called Shiina by her first name without honorifics, it was more or less a spur of the moment decision, made on the assumption that I could apologize and call her 'Fujino-san' again if she got offended."
"I certainly didn't get offended," Shiina said. "In fact, I was waiting to work up the nerve to ask her the same thing, but she beat me to it."
"Difficult or not, natural or not, your ability to be polite and get along with others is a great asset to the student council, Teradaira-san," Shizuru said. "When I saw you introduce yourself and Fujino-san, I knew it was not indicative of your true personality, but indicative of how well you could present yourself, and what kind of face you could put on. I'm glad to have you as my PR rep"
"Thanks, Mikado-san," Natsumi said, her tone polite but less formal than it was usually. "For saying that I'm doing well at my job, and accepting the person I am off of it."
Natsumi had reached the end of her story, so Miho and Nodoka hoped to hear more about the others.
"I don't think we heard much about you, Mikado-san," Miho said. "We know why you decided to start your campaign, but what led you to feel that way about the Kadotani administration?"
"For me, Nishizumi-san, it's an issue of respect," Shizuru said. "My family is somewhat well off, and my father has fairly traditional ideas of family. He is the head of the household, and expects obedience from the rest of the family; ours is a somewhat patriarchal family. Father realizes that I will not necessarily become a housewife just like Mother was, but he has raised me to respect and obey authority figures, and to see him as the first one I must obey."
12 years ago
A young Shizuru, about to enter school for the first time, was getting one of many lectures about what her father expected out of her at school. A part of her found this boring and redundant, but she had gotten severely scolded for even implying this sentiment, and had no desire to go through that again.
"While you are at school, you are to obey the teachers, like you would obey me," Shizuru's father. "Their job is to teach you, and that's the job of the school as a whole."
"Is it at all like what you do at work, Father?" Shizuru said. "I thought you were in charge when you talked about your employees."
Shizuru's father shook his head.
"I am the head of my department, but not the overall leader," Shizuru's father said. "I work under a division head, who in turn reports to the CEO, who has his own responsibilities to the board and to the shareholders."
"So, Father, your boss has a boss of his own?" Shizuru said.
"That's right," Shizuru's father said. "There will always be authority figures above you, and they deserve your respect. I was once a subodinate, and eventually became a leader for my company, with many people who not only obey me, but also look to me for guidance as their leader. Someday, you will attain a position of responsibility, in which you command the obedience of others; you must conduct yourself respectably to be worthy of your subordinates' trust and respect."
Shizuru noddeed. Some of what her father said was still beyond her understanding, but she believed it would be a great honor- and a great responsibility- to be in a position of leadership above others. The one thing that, more than anything else, drove her onward was the desire to be worthy of such responsibility.
Present day
"In my opinion, if you want to be a good parent, you should make it clear what you expect of your children, and what the consequences are for good and bad behavior," Shizuru said. "Of course, it also works for adults."
Shiina nodded, reminded of her relationship with Shizuru. Shizuru made it very clear that if Shiina's work was not up to standards, she would be dismissed from her position, and have to explain it to her mother. But Shizuru also placed such standards on Natsumi, Ayano, and even herself.
"My elementary school, a private school for girls, had a system of gradually increasing rights and responsibilities," Shizuru said. "For example, in fourth grade, girls have to start wearing the uniform; some lamented losing the ability to dress as they wished, but others saw it as a nice step upward, having admired their uniform-wearing senpais from a distance.
"That sounds somewhat well-structured and possibly even strict," Nodoka said, remembering the time when her friends from Achiga learned they would have to wear a school uniform. Shizuno had lamented no longer being able to wear her tracksuit all the time, prompting Ako to joke that Nodoka already wore the same thing all the time. Kuro, however, was looking forward to wearing the same uniform as her older sister.
"That's only half of it, Haramura-san," Shizuru said. "The rules were well-enforced and the students were often reminded of them. But there is also a fair amount of freedom; as long as you do not do anything you are explicitly not allowed to do, the teachers are quite helpful and supportive."
Miho nodded in agreement. Shizuru was open with her about the Student Council's business, but knew that leading the tankey team was not her responsibility, but Miho's.
"One privilege the older children got was the ability to lead a club in fifth or sixth grade- participation in them becomes allowed in second grade and becomes mandatory in fourth grade," Shizuru continued. "Said club leaders are under the supervision of a teacher who is club advisor, who has veto power over any of their decisions. But the students are recognized as the leaders of the clubs, some of which they themselves started."
"So were you on the Student Council back then, Mikado-san?" Miho said.
"No, Nishizumi-san," Shizuru said. "Student government was not my interest at the time, and my school's student council was essentially them playing at being student leaders. Father believed it had no authority, and so told me my time would be better spent elsewhere."
"So what did you do?" Miho said.
"After a few years in the arts and crafts club, I started a literature club with several of my friends and kouhais," Shizuru said. "It was a small undertaking by most people's standards, but it meant a great deal to me at the time."
"I understand," Miho said. "Some of my happiest memories in tankery before coming to Oarai were when I played in a tank with three of my old friends in elementary school. I thus have some understanding and appreciation for the value of humbler pursuits for the young."
"Indeed," Shizuru said. "I knew I would take on more ambitious steps in the future, but at the time, saw that first step for what it was."
7 years ago
Shizuru sat and waited in the headmistress' office of her elementary school. Her request had been submitted to the headmistress and had passed the first stage, so Shizuru had to meet with an advisor to discuss it more in depth.
Shizuru recognized the name of the teacher she was to met with, Tanizaki Kaname, as it was the same one as the one she had in third grade. She also recognized the headmistress of her school, an older woman witha dark suit, even if she did not remember her actual name.
"It's been a while, Shizuru-chan... or should I say, Mikado-san?" Kaname said, shifting to the more formal address used on older students.
Her teacher couldn't help but feel proud that one of her old students was now standing before her, wearing a uniform and there to make her proposal for a club reality.
But Shizuru's view of the teacher had not changed at all. She still owed her respect, all the more when asking for her help.
"Yes, it has, Tanizaki-sensei," Shizuru said.
"I received your report from the headmistress," Kaname said. "We considered your club worth our consideration, but would like to find out a few more details from you."
With the headmistress sitting in on the conversation, Kaname asked her several questions about the club, from the kind of books that would be allowed. Shizuru had prepared for some of the questions, but others took her by surprise.
To Shizuru's surprise, the headmistress nodded in approval.
"Very well, I approve the creation of the club," the headmistress said. "It will officially begin meeting after school next Monday under Mikado-san's leadership and Kurosawa-sensei's guidance."
The headmistress left, and Kaname remained behind to talk to Shizuru alone.
"To be honest, sensei," Shizuru said. "I... had not thought about all those questions before."
"You did better than most, Mikado-san," Shizuru's old teacher said. "We teachers exist to teach you, after all. And in the case of clubs, we help direct the students' enthusiasm and allow them to build a good club on their passions. I would be happy to watch over you as your faculty advisor."
"Thank you, sensei," Shizuru said. "But it's not my passion alone. All the girls who petitioned for this club dearly wanted it, so it's my responsibility to help them."
After the meeting ended, Shizuru met the club members, a variety of girls from the second through sixth grades.
"How did the meeting go, Mikado-senpai?" one third grader said. She, faced with the prospect of being required to join a club next year, desperately hoped Shizuru's proposal would be accepted.
"Very well," Shizuru said. "We now have a faculty advisor, and soon, our club will be officially approved."
The students cheered. If anything had kept Shizuru going, it was the knowledge that they were all counting on her.
"Thank you, President Mikado!" one friend of Shizuru's who was otherwise on a first-name basis with her, said.
Shizuru nodded. Not one for an acceptance speech, she only had one thing to say before she got down to business.
"Thank you," she said. "I won't let you down."
Present day
"It was my first taste of authority," Shizuru said. "I realized what responsibilities I would have to my subordinates, and how I would need to conduct myself in order to be an effective leader."
"This might sound somewhat direct," Miho said hesitantly, "but if you respect your leaders, why did you openly criticize Kadotani-senpai?"
"That's a good question, Nishizumi-san," Shizuru said. "My father also said that leaders do owe their subordinates a fair amount. They must conduct themselves in a respectable manner, be honest and be fair."
Miho nodded slightly, understanding where Shizuru was going.
"So ask yourself, Nishizumi-san," Shizuru said. "Can a leader who lays down on the job, as Kadotani-senpai was wont to do as president, truly be considered respectable? Is there anything honest about keeping the danger that the school is in secret from the others? And is it fair to expect a new student to join tankery by using coercive means?"
Miho faintly shook her head. She was grateful for the opportunity to get to know the student council, and was staring to understand them more and like them better. But she got along with the Kadotani administration and had a certain level of sympathy for them. As such, while Miho understood why Shizuru would criticize them, she could not fully agree with her.
"Kadotani-senpai did help out where it counted," Miho said, "and she had her reasons for keeping it secret; to avoid demoralizing the populace or putting too much pressure on me."
"I know the Kadotani administration had their reasons," Shizuru said, "which is why I did try to be polite when I criticized to them. I referred to them by their titles, kept my tone civil, and mentioned that it was my opinion."
"And last week, we got an op-ed criticizing us for seemingly favoring tankery over the clubs that got cut," Shiina said. "What goes around, comes around, I guess."
"The article was polite and well-written, Fujino-san, so they had as much of a right to say that about us as I had to say what I did about the Kadotani administration," Shizuru said. "I appreciate well-thought out and polite criticism, which is why I am friends with Ayano."
Two years ago
Early in the year, Ayano met with Shizuru, then class representative of her class, to discuss her tardiness earlier that day, which had essentially resulted in her getting an unexcused absence on her record. Ayano was not enough of a perfectionist to be very upset over this, nor was she absent enough that she would get in serious trouble over it, but she felt the rule was unfair, and as such, hoped to change it.
"Class rep, do you have a minute?" Ayano said.
"Certainly, Satou-san,"Shizuru said.
"I apologize for my lateness and make no excuses for it," Ayano said, "but I do question the wisdom of the policy of marking students absent so soon after the bell."
"On what grounds?" Shizuru said, hoping Ayano would give well-reasoned support for her position.
"First, it seems to be an arbitrary cutoff point," Ayano said. "Second, if students are late enough, they will likely not bother showing up at all."
"Perhaps it is, Satou-san," Shizuru said. "But if I may ask, what would you do?"
"I would award attendance credit based on how much of the day the students attended," Ayano said. "Obviously, we would want students to have as close to perfect attendance as possible, but we would count partial absences separate from complete absences."
"The principle is a good one," Shizuru said. "But it would be a somewhat difficult system to maintain, for a relatively small number of people. For example, when I was absent last Friday due to the stomach flu, I knew from the beginning I would not be able to make it at all."
Shizuru briefly considered mentioning the exact moment she realized- when she vomited her breakfast on her school uniform
"So are you saying that we cannot do anything of the sort right now?" Ayano said.
Shizuru was tempted to say yes, but paused to consider her answer.
"I am not the person that you would have to speak with to make the changes," Shizuru said. "You would need to speak to Sono Midoriko-senpai, head of the disciplinary committee, or President Kadotani Anzu. However, the former is quite inflexible about the rules, and the latter is, to put it bluntly, somewhat unwilling to change the status quo."
"Then I'll bring it up with the people who have the authority," Ayano said. "I'm sorry for wasting your time, Class Rep."
"Not at all, Satou-san," Shizuru said. "This is an issue that you evidently care about and have given some thought to, so I am always glad to talk with you about it."
"Thank you, Class Rep," Ayano said. "I will gladly take you up on your offer."
"Feel free to do so, Satou-san," Shizuru said, "but if you do so, please do not call me by my title. This is not something I do as class representative, but as an individual."
Ayano nodded in agreement, glad that Shizuru was stepping outside of her role.
"Nice to meet you," she said as she and Shizuru exchanged bows, hoping it would be the start of a pleasant and lasting friendship.
Present day
"Over time, we gradually became friends," Ayano said. "As you may have noticed, Nishizumi-san, but Shizuru is significantly more relaxed and less formal when it's just the two of us."
Miho nodded, noticing Shizuru's relaxed tone and forgoing honorifics on Ayano, fairly significant gestures from someone as polite as her.
"Ayano is not just my best friend, but what I would consider an ideal subordinate," Shizuru said. "She's willing to share her disagreements with me in an intelligent and courteous manner. I have little use for those who make ill-founded criticisms, and even less for those who blindly follow me."
"What about you, Satou-senpai?" Nodoka said. "What were you doing before you met Mikado-senpai?"
"There's not all that much to discuss," Ayano said. "I tend to judge things in terms of the hard facts and leave my feelings and personal experiences out of it. But I do have one experience that illustrates why I think the way I do- the circumstances behind my coming to Oarai Academy."
"How exactly did you come here?" Nodoka said. "Did you perhaps not want to?"
"In certain decisions, desire is beside the point, Haramura-san," Ayano said. "My family is not especially well off, so Oarai seemed like a relatively affordable place while still being of reasonable quality. And when a scholarship was offered, one designed to entice students to transfer over, particularly if their school ship did not have a high school on it, my parents urged me to apply for it."
"What if you didn't get it?" Nodoka said.
"I did ultimately succeed, Haramura-san," Ayano said, "so I can only speculate what would have happened if I had not. But my parents weren't- and still aren't- desperate or strict enough to punish me for my failure, since it was a highly competitive merit-based scholarship. Dozens, or perhaps hundreds, of girls in my age group back then applied, and only ten were chosen."
Miho could not help but be intimidated by the odds, and was also surprised at how comfortable Ayano seemed talking about them. Perhaps if she had gotten involved in tankery early in life, she would have fit in at the Nishizumi school, unlike most of Miho's school mates.
"I was also class representative of my class at the time," Ayano said. "Not only was it an early position of responsibility for me, but through it, my path crossed with that of one of my rivals for the scholarship. That experience gave a human face to my competition for the scholarship, reminding me who I was up against and why I would have to prove myself worthy."
3 years ago
Ayano arrived at school on her middle school, a small public middle school ship.
In homeroom, Ayano was approached by one of her classmates, Misaki Koyomi. Koyomi recognized the red armband around Ayano's blue sailor fuku, the same shade of red as her neckerchief, that said "Class Representative, Class 3-C" in white text.
"Class rep, I have a question for you," Koyomi said. "Where do I turn in the scholarship application form?"
"There should be a box in the principal's office, Misaki-san," Ayano said. "Would you like me to run it over for you, or can you handle it yourself?"
"No, thank, you," Koyomi said, not wanting to impose on Ayano. "I can do it myself. I just want to make sure this gets in."
"You seem fairly invested in getting this," Ayano said idly, almost without realizing that she was voicing her thoughts.
"I am," Koyomi said. "My dad lost his job, and the family's short on money. If I don't qualify for the scholarship..."
Koyomi trailed off, not wanting to think about the possibility or admit any more of her personal troubles to others.
"No, I think I understand, Misaki-san," Ayano said, "and I won't ask about anything you're not willing to disclose yourself. I wish you the best of luck, and hope you will be able to get the scholarship."
"Thank you, class rep," Koyomi said.
"Good day, Misaki-san," Ayano said.
As Koyomi walked off to turn in her application, Ayano glanced at her. If she knew that Ayano was a rival for the scholarship, then she was not letting it on. There were some things that one could confide in a relative stranger, which was why Ayano was surprised that Koyomi let that detail slip, and why she chose not to pursue this matter further.
That evening, after school, Ayano, thinking back to what Koyomi had said, retrieved the packet with the information on the scholarship, and flipped through it. Ayano found clear standards and rules to be comforting; you knew what you had to do, and either you were in compliance or you were not.
For this reason, it was comforting that there would be ten winners for the scholarship from the Ibaraki prefecture, all girls who would be attending high school in the next academic year. But while she had some idea of how many rivals she had, she had less of an idea of how likely she would be to win. The little talking about how the winners were chosen said that they would be chosen based on several factors, such as academic performance and financial need.
But how much weight did each factor have? Who was making the decision? What were their standards, exactly?
Ayano realized that these thoughts were getting her nowhere, and decided to put them out of her head. There was no apparent appeal process, nor was there any way of improving her chances once she had sent the application in. Now that the application was in the mail, everything was out of her hands. All she, Koyomi and the others who were applying could do was wait for and live with the outcome. She knew that their decision was by no means easy, and would acknowledge that, even if she ended up wishing they would have chosen differently.
A few weeks later, in the morning before school, Ayano opened her mail, and found a letter from those offering the scholarship. On the official looking letter, one word stood out most of all- "Congratulations."
Ayano quickly filed the letter away and made her way to class.
"Good morning, class rep," Koyomi said politely, as Ayano arrived in class.
After responding with a "Good morning" of her own, Ayano glanced over Koyomi. She had a smile on her face, but it was mainly the polite kind that showed friendliness to a relative stranger. There were no indications that Koyomi had been crying recently, even though the result had been delivered to Ayano this morning.
Ayano had to wonder-had Koyomi been accepted or rejected? Had she been notified? Had she even checked her mail this morning? Nothing she could glean from her gave her any indication of the answer, and Koyomi was unwilling to tell her. Koyomi's expression did change, however, to one of concern, but that concern was for Ayano.
"Is something wrong, class rep?" Koyomi said.
After pausing a moment, and wondering whether her expression on her face revealed what she was thinking about, Ayano composed herself.
"No, Misaki-san, it's nothing," Ayano said.
Ayano's answer was truthful. She was content with the result, and believed that she deserved what she was given. All that she could do was make the most of it, to prove that the decision to award the scholarship to her was the best one.
Present day
"I never heard from Misaki-san about what her result was," Ayano said. "Perhaps she didn't want to brag about it, or didn't want me to pity her- Shizuru was the first person I told about my result, and only incidentally. Or, win or lose, she perhaps understood that because the scholarship was competitive, with the best winning and even good candidates being turned down, neither she nor I should take it personally if it happened to us."
"I think I understand how she feels," Miho said. "In my family, it's often stressed that we must compete for what we need. I understand the principle of giving prizes like scholarships to those who deserve them most, but at the same time, many of those who would deserve them get left out"
"That's unfortunately true, Nishizumi-san, but I also considered the perspective of those who made that decision," Ayano said. "So many people needed help and so few could qualify. It thus stood to reason that they could only choose those who needed and deserved it most."
"So, Satou-senpai, do you think they chose well in awarding the scholarship to you?" Nodoka said.
Ayano cautiously nodded.
"I believe I needed the scholarship, although it's harder to say how much greater my need was than that of the others," Ayano said. "As for whether I deserved it, I intend to demonstrate that I do."
"So that's why you feel the way you do about the clubs whose budgets are cut," Miho said.
"All the clubs are having some difficulties to various degrees," Ayano said. "For example, I have a friend in the archery club who says they make the members pay for broken arrows and targets out of their own pockets, regardless of how or why they get broken. It's a somewhat controversial policy, but the team captain has no intention of repealing it. And the archery club is one of the more popular clubs besides tankery, as an elective as well as a club."
"So even the well-supported clubs are having trouble..." Miho said to herself. She wondered if she should tell the club leaders who were her classmates, but she realized that they had made up their minds.
"Exactly," Ayano said. "I can't claim that the burden is evenly distributed, but we all have to make do with less. We at the Student Council have been trying to cut down on our operating expenses."
Shiina coughed. "Like not buying 100,000 yen worth of sweet potatoes on the school budget," she said before coughing again.
Natsumi snickered, but Miho and Nodoka were distracted from the sound by another sound they never expected to hear- Shizuru laughing out loud.
"Only 100,000 yen worth, Fujino-san?" Shizuru said as she composed herself. "I should think that with Kadotani-senpai's appetite for those, it would not last her very long."
"She's talking about the banquet we held for our victory, namely, the first prize," Nodoka said. "At the time, I didn't understand why Hisa-senpai suggested that our team would only get second place at best, but now it makes more sense if they rigged it in favor of Turtle Team."
"So do you think Takei-senpai was in on it?" Shiina said.
"I think she knew Kadotani-senpai well enough to know what she'd do," Nodoka said, and Miho nodded in agreement. "But as for whether she was complicit, I can only guess."
"The old Student Council didn't always agree," Miho said. "Kadotani-senpai and Kawashima-senpai tended to go along with things that Hisa-senpai and Koyama-senpai did not necessarily approve of, such as calling me in, and there were various other divisions, such as Kawashima-senpai and Koyama-senpai wanting to tell us about Oarai being on the line."
Shizuru nodded. It would not be entirely accurate to say this was what she expected, but what she heard seemed plausible.
"That's understandable," Shizuru said. "Democratic governments also require those who disagree with each other to be able to cooperate for the good of a nation. Ayano and I may not always see eye to eye, but because she neither shies away from those subjects nor sees it as an impediment to working together with me, I respect her."
"I have a confession, though, Nishizumi-san," Ayano said. "Had I been on the student council last year, I would have considered the possibility of forcing you to take tankery."
"I see," Miho said solemnly. A part of her regretted her initial reluctance on an emotional level, even though, logically, she knew she could not have known about the school being imperiled. But having gotten to know the Kadotani administration, she understood how far they were willing to go, and thus had some comprehension of Ayano's perspective, since among the Mikado administration, she was the most sympathetic to their predecessors.
"Simply put, I see no reason for people who can contribute something for the sake of the school in a time of crisis not to do so," Ayano said, before her expression warmed. "Of course, it's better for all concerned that you do so willingly, so I'm grateful that you decided to help us on your own will, Nishizumi-san."
"You're welcome," Miho said. "But you should also thank Takebe Saori-san and Isuzu Hana-san. They, my first friends at Oarai, stood up for me and gave me the courage necessary to make my decision."
"How about you, Satou-senpai?" Nodoka said pointedly, wanting to know how Ayano contributed to Oarai's victory apart from placing expectations on Miho. "What did you contribute?"
Ayano paused to consider how to reply without seeming self-righteous or arogant. But whle she was thinking, Shizuru spoke first.
"After my letter was published, I was considering what we could do to keep the school going until next year," Shizuru said. "But where I seemed doubtful about any way we could help apart from this tournament in which we had little hope of winning, Ayano was more certain, knowing that every bit counted, and willing to make sacrifices of he own."
Last year
Ayano walked home with Shizuru the day after Shizuru' letter was published, and she was summoned to the Student Council room.
"I heard the Student Council is collecting money for tankery-related purchases," Shizuru said, "since the only hope for us to keep our school open is to win the tournament.
"Are you going to contribute?" Ayano said.
Shizuru shrugged.
"I honestly don't think this is a problem that can be solved with money alone," Shizuru said, "whether we're talking about winning the tournament or the issues that led the government to plan on shutting us down. I am also honestly not sure how well the student council's going to use the money."
"But...?" Ayano said expectantly. "That doesn't seem to be all there is to your stance on this, Shizuru."
"You're perceptive as always, Ayano," Shizuru said. "From what we heard, there are no available tanks open. As inexperienced as the others are, they're still leagues beyond where we would be. At this point, giving money and lending our support are all people like use, without much power or experience in tankery, can do. I do feel like we're placing all our hopes on Nishizumi-san, though."
"Maybe that's why the student council joined the tankery team themselves, after getting us all involved in this tournament," Ayano said. "They wanted to take on their share of the responsibility. But most of all, they wanted to do something- anything- to stop the school from being closed."
Shizuru let off a sigh. Her and Ayano's options as ordinary students were limited, but she felt as though her conscience would never be clear if she did nothing.
"You're right," Shizuru said. "I'll do what I can."
"So will I," Ayano said, as she neared the spot where her and Shizuru's routes home diverged. "I'll see you tomorrow, Shizuru."
"See you then, Ayano," Shizuru said, as she walked off toward her apartment.
Ayano, after returning to her apartment, opened up a piggy bank, which contained a few thousand yen she had saved and used to treat herself, such as dessert, a new book, or other such things she bought once she had paid for the necessities. While she did momentarily think of what she was giving up, she found the prospect of doing what she could to save her favorite ice cream place and bookstore from being closed along with the ship all the more reason to contribute to the cause.
Ayano counted out the money, and calculated the total. It was likely small compared to what a club could raise, and smaller still compared to what kind of expenses the team was facing. But this was her contribution to her school's efforts, her way of giving all she could.
The next morning, Ayano, her donation concealed inside her fist, walked to the donation can that Gomoyo was holding. The disciplinary committee, in addition to policing Oarai Academy, also dealt with some of the work for the student council, such as distribution and collection. A member of the committee was dispatched to each class, with most classes done by one of the members who attended them.
Gomoyo heard the clank as coins fell into the can, and thanked Ayano, evidently not knowing how much Ayano had given; the bills Ayano had dropped in there, the greatest portion of her donation, had fallen in almost silently. To Gomoyo, the amount mattered less than the fact that she was giving, and she'd given the same thanks to everyone, from one girl with a large bag full of coins to one who fished out some pocket change.
As far as Ayano knew, Gomoyo did not recognize her or know her name, and that was how she wanted it. It was a small donation, albeit a personal sacrifice, but while it was not enough to save the school, and would have to be combined with many others to be able to purchase anything significant, Ayano hoped to do her part.
Present day
"I won't say how much I gave," Ayano said, "since I consider it a matter of duty and principle, and have no wish to brag. But it was simply what I felt I was obligated to do, and could do, to help keep our school going."
"Unfortunately, Satou-senpai," Nodoka said, "it seems your assumptions about there not being any available tanks were correct. The auto club volunteered to deal with the Porsche Tiger, while the gamer girls not only offered their services, but also found their tank. Nevertheless, I appreciate your contribution."
"Regardless of the amount, every bit every student gave was quite helpful, Satou-san," Miho said. "So I'll say to you what I say to everyone else who helped us in what way they could- thank you."
Miho, while not religious, had read the Bible before, and found the story of the woman who gave the only two coins she had to the temple a touching one.
"That's what I consider leadership about," Ayano said, "making difficult decisions and sacrifices for the sake of those under you, while inspiring others to do the same. You don't do so to be admired or thanked, but because it's right and so that others will do the same."
"You and Mikado-san do seem to be good friends, Satou-san," Miho said. "How exactly is your relationship affected by your professional one?"
"I tend to think of her as two different people," Ayano said. "Shizuru is the person I became friends with. President Mikado, however, chose me as a subordinate because she knew enough about me to have faith in my skills and personality."
Last Year
In a somewhat last-minute campaign, Oarai elected its new student council.
As one of the few groups to put forth an organized effort, Shizuru's team was easily elected. Some of Oarai knew that Anzu's deal had enabled the school to keep going, but they saw Miho and most of the others on the tournament team as their saviors. A large portion thus believed Oarai was in need of new leadership, and the greatest portion of those saw Shizuru's group as th ones best suited to the task.
"It's going to be quite an adjustment," Shiina said at a small victory celebration at a local restaurant. "We're no longer ordinary students, but now have inherited the responsibility of running a school that nearly went under."
"To be honest, you'll have to get used to it," Shizuru said. "While doing student council work, or on student council business, I ask that we refer to each other by our titles."
"Why is that?" Shiina said.
"It's a matter of professionalism," Shizuru said. "But it's also to recognize that we're acting within the context of our roles. For example, I, as an individual, may feel a certain way, but my obligations as president may require me to take an entirely different course of action, and it's important to recognize the person's role.."
The three other members nodded in consent. They had recalled that Shizuru disapproved of the Kadotani administration's lack of professionalism, so this was not news to them, even if Shiina was a bit surprised she was taking it this far.
"Even you and your best friend?" Shiina said, and Ayano nodded.
"We discussed this at length earlier, Vice President," Ayano said. "I am here because the president believes I am an asset to her administration. My friendship with Shizuru is separate from our professional relationship."
"I understand, Treasurer," Shiina said. Throughout the campaign, she and Ayano had addressed each other by their last name and -san, so speaking with each other formally came naturally to them, even if they had to adjust to doing the same for their respective best friends. "Although I still don't understand why the president made you treasurer, rather than vice president."
"Her talents were best suited to the position, just as yours were for the vice president position," Shizuru said. "Additionally, I can keep an eye on you and ensure that you don't slack off."
"Yes, ma'am," Shiina said with a sigh.
"You know, Vice President," Shizuru said, "I do actually like the sound of that. Feel free to call me that as an alternative to 'President,' if you so desire."'
Shina could not help but let off a nervous chuckle as she realized what sort of person she would be working under for the the next school year. It was obvious at this point that this was not the easy way of appeasing her mother Shiina had hoped for. In spite of that, perhaps it would be worthwhile in its own way, and Shiina might even end up enjoying it
At the start of the year
As Shizuru settled into her office, she looked out the window, over the school ship below. She had come into the office a few times, even before her meeting with Anzu, but had never gotten a chance to simply look at the view.
Down below her was Oarai Academy, which was not all there was on the carrier, but it was the carrier's primary reason to exist. The school was now her responsibility to keep going, and hand it off to the next generation of students, much like she had inherited it herself.
The phone began to ring, and Shizuru picked it up.
"Oarai Student Council office, President Mikado Shizuru speaking, how can I help you?" Shizuru said.
"Hey there, Mikado-chan; it's Kadotani, " Anzu said. "How's Oarai doing? Is it still open?"
"Yes, it is, Kadotani-senpai," Shizuru said, wondering why Anzu would ask such a question. "
"Then we set out to accomplish what we could do, and did as much as we could," Anzu said. "We'd like to stay around and handle the rest, since the job of keeping a school together is not one you can accomplish in a year. But for now, it's your job. You've got difficult times ahead of yours, different in many ways from our final year or the year before it. So let me see if you can do a better job than we did."
"I'll do my best," Shizuru said.
"Well, that's about all I had to say," Anzu said.
"Goodbye for now, Kadotani-senpai," Shizuru said. "The next time we meet, I hope to have an answer for you."
"See ya around, Mikado-chan," Anzu said, before hanging up.
After the call ended and the other student council members got to their work, Shizuru looked out the window, over the Oarai school ship. This was her responsibility now, and it was up to her to govern it as well as possible.
Present day
"Now that I think about it..." Shizuru said, "when Kadotani-senpai called, she seemed far less arrogant and self-righteous than she normally was when it came to her decision."
Ayano nodded.
"She believed that what she did was for the best, but it wasn't perfect," Ayano said. "Kadotani-senpai's task was to forestall an imminent threat to the school, lest all her planning be rendered null and void. Our task is to ensure Oarai's long-term survival and success as an educational institution. She'd accomplished what she'd set out to do, but realized there were many issues left unresolved. "
"But that doesn't mean that I have to agree with her," Shizuru said. "And it doesn't mean that it's impossible for us to do better."
"Fair enough, Shizuru," Ayano said.
"And later that day, we called you and Haramura-san in," Shizuru said. "We had heard of both of you before, but this was the first time we had properly met."
"I know," Miho said, "and I think I now understand the context for that meeting better. I, too, have a similar goal, hoping that the tankery team will remain present and successful for years to come."
"Your task will not be easy, Nishizumi-san," Shizuru said. "But it's also one that you won't face alone, as it's a responsibility that must be carried on by Haramura-san and all the others who come after you. You have the duty to ensure that those who come after you are prepared for the challenges they will face, and so do we."
"That sounds like good advice, Mikado-san," Miho said. "I appreciate you sharing your story with us."
"Feel free to share this story with anyone who asks," Shizuru said. "We see transparency as of the utmost importance."
Miho and Nodoka nodded, and got up to leave. They faced a starkly different struggle this year, but their values and their goals remained the same. As long as they had the support of their team, they believed they could find a way to accomplish both.
Author's Notes:
Incidentally, Natsumi and Ayano's given names, as well as Natsumi's last name, come from canon Saki student council members from Kiyosumi, although their personalities don't match, and Natsumi's names don't come from the same person.
Edited to fix a few minor typos and add in other things, as well as remove an outdated note about the poll.
Character Analysis: Shizuru Mikado
The President of the Student Council. Shizuru had many disagreements with Anzu's leadership, not just over the decision to keep Oarai's impending shutdown secret. She dislikes Anzu's laid-back demeanor, preferring a more dignified approach to student governance. Shizuru believes that Anzu's laissez-faire policy is a mistake, with an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure.
Shizuru is strongly principled, but also somewhat aware of how things work. Ayano's pragmatic objections prevent her from pursuigng her ideals when they become impractical.
Shizuru is brutally honest, but not to the point of being rude. She believes that people make their best decisions when properly informed, even when the information is unpleasant, yet another reason why she believes Miho should have been told about the school's possible closure.
She is slightly aloof from most of the student body save for Ayano, although while on their duties, the two act professionally to each other. She believes that it's a matter of professionalism, but over time, finds herself getting closer to those she trusts most, including Natsumi, Shiina and Miho.
As Shizuru spends more time in her position of authority, she realizes more and more that things do not always go as she imagines, and her choices are not always easy. Perhaps she will never fully agree with Anzu's decisions, but she may yet come to understand why Anzu did what she did.
Character Analysis: Shiina Fujino
Shiina is the relative idealist of the group, as well as the one for whom maintaining a calm and stoic facade comes the least easily.
Shiina tends to go with the flow in most cases; she dislikes working hard, but realizes that the consequences for not working are worse than actually doing it. She's somewhat more empathetic with the student body than the others are, since she has the least experience in student government.
Shiina sees Shizuru as something of a harsh taskmaster, but genuinely respects her, even if she does occasionally believe that she expects too much of Miho. Shiina has also long been friends with Natsumi, preferring her more sour personality off duty to what she sees as a sickeningly sweet persona. Despite her disagreements with the more pragmatic Ayano, they get along and respect each other, which one day may become friendship.
Of course, Shiina is also leading a double life of sorts, as the gamers of Anteater Team know her as a significantly different person than her friends on the Student Council do. That will change over time, as her roles in each mix together through the tankery team. She realizes the connections between them, though; she works hard for the student council for the sake of the school where her friends from both groups go, and does her best in tankery for the sake of her teammates and the student council's mission. Through it all, much to her surprise, she's also starting to enjoy working hard more, or at least is forgetting that she ever disliked these responsibilities that she chose to take on.
Character Analysis: Natsumi Teradaira
On the outside, Natsumi is a cheerful, polite and affable individual. If you were to meet with the Oarai Academy Student Council, she would be the one to greet you warmly, offer you something to drink, and wish you a pleasant day on your way out.
In reality, Natsumi is not entirely like she is on the outside, being somewhat aloof and detached, suppressing this personality to make a good impression on people, as well as conform to people's expectations of her. Contrary to her expectations, though, her long-time friend Shiina likes this personality more, finding it more honest and true to herself.
For Natsumi, assuming a personality is a bit like getting dressed. She steps into her assumed role, and finds acting politely comes more naturally to her the more she does it. She keeps these aspects of herself compartmentalized, much like she would keep her school uniforms separate from her casual clothing, so that she can more easily retrieve them, designate each as being for certain situations, and shut away the ones she is not using at the moment, out of sight.
But as the Student Council becomes involved in tankery, and Natsumi finds herself expressing herself more, the lines between her personalities blur. The Natsumi you see now, and will see over time, thus is no longer quite the same as the person Natsumi pretended to be, but the true Natsumi is also no longer quite the same as she once was.
Character Analysis: Ayano Satou
Ayano is calm, analytical and pragmatic. As the treasurer for Oarai, she realizes that there are times when everyone will have to make sacrifices, some more than others. She does not consider herself an exception to this rule, and will gladly volunteer to give what is necessary. She is not very emotional, and has not had many experiences that deeply impacted her emotionally, so there are few experiences that she would confidently say had a definite role in shaping her personality.
Ayano has some idea of what it's like to be on the receiving end of difficult decisions, and to have her worth judged with what she desires on the line. Out of an understanding for those who make such decisions, she strives to be worthy of their favor, and not take it personally when the decision is unfavorable. When making these decisions, she considers the feelings of those who are affected by them, but ultimately decides based on facts and logic, and for the sake of the greater good.