BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

-TheSilentReader-


AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thank you for all your support! Here is another chapter of Behind Closed Doors.


CHAPTER 12: Lillian vs. Hanadera


Summer, two years ago

Hanadera Student Council Headquarters:

The time has come for him to return her shawl. Spring went by and the bright ambiance of such wondrous season was wasted because he never had the courage to confess to her, even see her. Seasons change, but his heart wasn't. But his determination faltered through time, inversely increasing his fear for romance—for Touko's heart. He did not even try to rekindle and had a follow-up his previous attempt for Touko to recognize him. Too bad, almost a quarter of the year had gone to waste.

Furthermore, Kashiwagi had his scythe on his neck.

Today was also too hot for an official meeting. He already removed some articles of his uniform, even considered to remove his top uniform. His white buttoned down shirt, therefore remained.

Yes, the Hanadera culture festival was coming up on the second term, the exemplification of masculinity was always its theme. It was all about competition, competition, and competition. No doubt few Lillian students have attended in the past the so-called "Event of the Year". For his second term as president, he would like to turn things around. He wanted Hanadera to be surrounded with girls. He wanted women to flock the classrooms and interact with the male students. It was his dream for them. This was quite ambitious, and he perceived that the studentry would agree of his plan. To gather women around the campus was always a good idea. Men were easy to read.

The requisite that would convince his critics to approve his proposal: GIRLS.

And he would exploit this advantage.

"I want to have a large-scale host club for the cultural festival."

Nobody in the student council said anything. All eyes were craving for an explanation. Kobayashi understood; drool almost dropped from his lips. At a split second, everyone was talking, either to themselves or to a person farthest from them. This was the reaction Yuuki really needed.

"What do you want to accomplish, Yukichi?"

"You mean a host club? We need to have costumes for it, right?"

"Girls, girls, girls… girls would be the main visitors of the fair!"

"Ladies, ladies. Calm down. This is a frigging official session. We do want to get to this idea, right?" Yuuki could not hide the smirk of his face. All of the members of the student council, comprising of six, put their attention to the man leading them. He was sitting at the far end of the table, in front of him his proposal. He let the bond papers be distributed to all. Eyes were shocked once their direction landed on the pieces of paper.

"Are you sure of this? I mean, this would definitely break tradition."

"And all levels would participate? Would they approve of this?"

"What about the Heiki and Genji clubs? Surely, the festival was not only limited to the class and year level groups."

"And for a whole day? Isn't that tiring?"

"And costly?"

"Please be quiet. Read the contents in the paper first for at least ten minutes. Let's extend the time for the meeting. Then, brainstorm some suggestions separately. After that, we'll discuss each sentence there that you find disagreeable." Yuuki sugested, while his hand was raised to further justify silence.

They complied with his wishes. They turned silent, and as instructed by the president, everyone in the council had been jotting down notes for the three-paged proposal personally prepared by the president. A member almost gasped while staring at the papers, and looked at Yuuki directly if the senior had seen him react.

Yuuki was projected with his eyes closed, his arms crossed around his torso, his head leveled, his back straightened. He intended to be as calm as possible; he wanted this project to be realized. He was using his position just to see Touko, but who cares? This was his ulterior motive, and upfront, his vision comprised all the desires of the male student body.

Ulterior motive hidden.

His hidden objective was to see Touko. To see her constantly until the festival ended. Surely, with the preparation needed to grasp that grandiose enterprise, the help of the Yamayurikai would be needed. Those women must spill anything that they like for a host club. And in return, the Hanadera student council would do anything to help their female counterparts at Lillian about their own project. Even though he was the brother of Touko's beloved Onee-sama, still, Yuuki had no reason, no excuses to go to her house, or to catch her at the front gates of Lillian. That's why his determination to confess diminished from time to time.

And to go to the Matsudaira mansion would relive his drunken night in the Ogasawara mansion. The men liked him in his upright antics, but he didn't want to be remembered as one. Especially by the relatives of the girl he liked.

To get to the girl's heart, is to get to her relatives'.

So far, everyone was quiet. Yuuki also ordered that the members should analyze the proposal depending on their position and area of resposabilities. For example: Kobayashi was analyzing for the proposed budget, expences, and the host club revenues because he was the elected treasurer. Yuuki, however, had been sitting on his chair without minding the rest. He was deep in thought, thinking about the effects of the proposed plan.

"Finish now?" He asked the body.

"This is amazing." One member said. The others nodded.

Of course! You see, men? Girls, girls, girls! This project was not only done in a blink of an eye, or a night without sleep, but with days of canvassing and planning! Just to get Touko to be here for several days!

"You mean to say, Yuuki-sama, that the Lillian Yamayurikai would help with rest of the planning, along with the class representatives of each class?"

Yuuki was about to explain some details that he forgot to put on the proposal. "Yes, they would serve as judges and critics of the themes that each class would be deciding. As you could see in the proposal, each class would have a theme, for example…" He paused for breath, he would be sounding too excited if he rabbled and rabbled his way. "The Tokugawa period, everyone would be in traditional hakama, with swords, and traditional tea ceremony. If a class wants to be more ambitious, they could try for something futuristic—like having Gundam suits or even cosplay.

He further continued. "If one class is crazy enough, they could have a geisha house as a theme… wearing kimono and all that… surely, the ladies would want to see crossdressing. They might be much more comfortable with them.

"The Yamayurikai would help in themes that the women would particularly want in a host club. Wait, don't get me wrong, we know that Lillian students were not . . ." He tried to look for a better euphemism, or any explanation, "push with their fangirling tendencies . . . we just want their opinion."

Yes, the little loophole of this whole endeavor: the fact the Yamayurikai women would consider this an insult to their . . . sensibilities. That, yeah, Hanadera students would make their girlish fantasies, innocent or otherwise, come true. Of course, they would suggest themes that are probably had something to do with a personal liking to a certain pupular culture, or for a personal reason. He did not consult Yumi about this plan; he just mentioned to her that he needed a much more proactive participation from the Yamayurikai this year, not just to seat on the scaffolds, just like last time. No, not this time. He wanted them to enjoy the festival, not to work during that. Plus, he dreamt of touring Touko to the Hanadera grounds. Alone. Just to be near her, not asking for any intimacy like holding hands, just…walking.

Furthermore, the fact that the Yamayurikai was put on the pedestal by the Hanadera high school student body would be an advantage to him. The fact that his sister was also a student leader was even more appealing to them. Sorry, Sis, but I am using your overwhelming popularity here for my projects. The fact that they would be consulting the Yamayurikai during official and non-official meetings in the headquarters, they would be like serving Buddha himself.

Sheesh. The Yamayurikai would be treated like queens and empresses here. Not even a single fly would touch them in Hanadera. The students, after all, considered them as great goddesses, only to be watched from afar.

And that's how he was with Touko now.

And the men would totally be polite and discreet at all times, minding their manners and conduct. The Hanadera Institute would be converted into something so foreign while the Yamayurikai tread in their lands.

"If this proposal would be enough for the student council, we would present this to the class representatives and decide for its approval. Also, after this meeting, I would go to our adviser for this proposal, that is, if you allowed this to happen."

"How about the Genji and Heike clubs? I don't think they would like host club as their theme. Surely they would want to do something for club promotions." A sophomore asked.

Yuuki rebutted tranquilly. "As said in the proposal, they might not participate, only the classes. If they would want to join, it's up to them. Also, it's the class' prerogative to add other services to their costumers. They could have games and prizes, but the main thing is hosting. The unique thing here is the theme of each class."

Yes, they must agree to this proposal. But it was not easy. More and more recommendations were input and discussed just to satisfy not only the body but also the teachers who would be supervising and approving this. The meeting was supposed to be extended for only ten minutes, but according to Yuuki's time, it was extended for another ten.

"And the fact that we must secure the security of the female costumers." Alice suddenly came to the view. He has been quiet during the meeting. It seemed that Alice was about to scheme something. Maybe he wanted to cross-dress? That's it; he suddenly turned quiet after Yuuki mentioned that as one possible theme.

That was one hell of a problem. To be disrespectful to an outsider inside the campus was almost punishable by suspension, expecially if it was a woman. Surely, most of the students here would not want to humiliate their clubs because of their behavior, but one would never know.

"Suspension and even disbanding the club could be one punshment. Surely the school disciplinary tribunal would be furious of tattering and insulting the impeccable reputation of Hanadera students." He forgot about this proposal this one thing. Now he was getting nervous about the discussion.

"But we cannot just depend on that sole punishment alone. There could be some incidents…" Alice trailed off.

"I know what you mean, Arisugawa-kun. But that's why every class had a disciplinary supervisor elected aside from the class representative. They could monitor and stop misbehavior in the class that they were assigned on." Takada Magane was always in full offensive whenever misbehavior was heard. Known to every student at Hanadera, Magane usually had fights with many delinquents in the school. His bodybuilding had done him good; he was using it for authority.

Surely, a student would not want to mess with him. He was in the student council, and usually, his fights were very reasonable. Not that he was always called by the prefect of discipline . . . and discreetly thanked him for his concern. But, what would happen if he'd graduate? Who'd be going to take his place?

"On the other hand, we would announce the punishments anyway in the class rep meeting." Kobayashi joined into the conversation.

"And we would post the approved proposal as soon as possible." Magane said.

"Kobayashi, what do you think? Do we need to have a restricted budget for the class to work on?" Yuuki turned to Kobayashi who was still glaring at the budget proposal.

"I still don't know. I'm not sure . . . well, it depends on the theme that the class have decided on."

"So, it's up to them." Yuuki realized.

"Yukichi, still not sure."

"We could always ask the opinion of the class reps."

"Uhuh."

The meeting ended. Well, at least they considered it as a good project. It was then up for the studentry to decide.


Several days later

Rose Mansion, Lillian Academy for Girls:

She felt like she was missing something, but she could not point it out. It was hard for her to be this uneasy; she always put into thought not to miss anything. Well, now, she seemed to have something misplaced, and from time to time, expecially last spring, whenever she was not doing anything, emptiness seemed to cloud her heart.

This proverbial heart that she was thinking about. While helping Nana-chan wash the teacups, that same thought wash over her mind like a raging flood. She was very uncomfortable with this kind of hollow feeling—that's why, as much as possible, she tried to be busy with academics, Drama club, and Yamayurikai, and of course her time with Onee-sama.

She should never be asking for more.

She smiled to herself. She liked the Rose Mansion too much, that she was one of the earliest members to attend for the eight o'clock meeting, having an hour to spare for cleaning and tending on Yamayurikai matters, making tea to anyone who came after her. Usually, Noriko served as the secretary, Nana-chan was the property custodian, and therefore the duty left for her would be in the public relations. Yumi usually had a laugh about that, thinking that the responsibility really suited Touko. Yumi mentioned that she liked Touko being the center of attention, and wanted her to stay as such. Touko often wondered why, but she had a very outrageous speculation: Yumi wanted her to steal the show and leave her Onee-sama into the shadows.

Yumi was still not used to the reverence the schoolmates had for her.

All six members of the Yamayurikai sat on their respective places. Although seats were not officially assigned, it was a custom now that the en boutons would be seated across the grande seours. For Touko, it suited very well. Although she was assured that her intentions would not reach the public. To let Noriko and even Yoshino-sama see her get mushy over her onee-sama consistently was beyond her imagination.

No, she could imagine it, oh, the grin on Yoshino-sama's face. . . .

She being quiet added more to the "mystery." Yumi-sama always reveled on that notion.

"I had a message from Hanadera student council president." The Rosa Chinensis initiated the meeting. Touko was pulled back from her thoughts.

"Yukichi?" Yoshino was fooling around with Yuuki's name. Ever since she heard Kashiwagi-san calling Yuuki by his pet name, Yoshino was having a hard and good time moving on with what she heard. She repeatedly and unconsciously uttered it during the amusement park trip that the previous Yamayurikai, Touko, Kanako and the Hanadera pair had just before the Rei and Sachiko's graduation.

Yumi was somewhat—scratch that—really vexed by the way Kashiwagi was being too familiar with his brother. In fact, this gave her the creeps. She shuddered at the thought. Better focus on the meeting!

"Uh—well, yeah. Yuuki wanted us to have a formal meeting with them about their upcoming culture festival." Still not used to the petname.

"Ah." The en boutons had this reaction. Only Touko burst her composure by running it out of her tongue.

Yuuki-sama was the student council president? Odd. That did mean that Onee-sama's brother had the position for the second time in a row. He was full of surprises. She had a feeling that Yuuki-sama had a high regard for her cousin Kashiwagi-san, but with the second time the Hanadera studentry trusted him for the presidency again, he definitely surpassed his sempai. She could tell, by the way he pressed on council matters diligently, even at Yamayurikai play practices. Kashiwagi-sama sure left an influence upon the previous Hanadera students that Yuuki might thought that he wasn't enough to surpass or maintain Kashiwagi's legacy.

Yuuki-sama. He was always trying too hard.

I guess we have no choice but to see each other again. To think about the last time she had actually seen him, was like a blade of regret slashed upon her head. She should have not looked at him while sleeping. She should have not left her shawl to him, and should've left him in the library basked only with the fire's heat. Not with the faint warmth of her shawl. She should have not insisted to leave earlier than the Fukuzawas so that Yuuki had no other choice but to keep it.

She expected that Yuuki would somehow knew that she owned that shawl. Yuuki was supposed to hand it to Onee-sama and return it to her, in his stead. She should've not taken any chance that he would not return it. Yet, she expected something from him.

She silently demanded that he should be the one who would return it.

"I still do not know their plans though, but Yuuki was asking for a date."

"…"

There was the pun that everyone was so curious to know its… interpretation.

"Well, that one of the announcements. And, oh, I almost forgot: They insisted that we should not be bothered by going there. They would meet us here. The Rose mansion should be a nice place for a meeting, rather than the conference room in the Administration building."

"But that's you, Rosa Chinensis, talking." Something about Rosa Chinensis' statements perked Rosa Foetida's interest.

"Somehow, Rosa Foetida, the air there made the Hanadera people uncomfortable. I think they were more used to our place. Plus, the president requested it." Rosa Chinensis felt curiosity upon Rosa Foetida.

"Yukichi did? Strange."

Still not used to the freaking petname. "Yes, Rosa Gigantea. It seems that the president was energetic about their proposal. He said that to have the meeting here would provide more time for us to discuss it, since the Rose Mansion would not be closed even after club hours." Either Shimako had no idea that Yumi was really vexed by Yuuki's petname, or she was riding on with Yoshino somehow.

"Because the Admin building would be." Rosa Gigantea stated clearly, joining the other Roses.

"Fine for me, Rosa Chinensis." Rosa Foetida muttered, while putting her chin to her palm.

"Well, I guess that the Hanadera president needed a lot of time to discuss things with us."

"You're right, Rosa Gigantea." Rosa Chinensis affirmed.

The air was too formal. With Rosa this and Rosa that. The three Roses were talking as if they were the only people inside the room. This made Touko suspicious. It was as if they were talking cryptically, in codic manner, just from the tones of their voices.

Noriko was rather passive today, too. She was quiet, jotting down on the official journal of the Yamayurikai.

"En boutons, we will meet the student council, I wonder when we should do it."

Noriko, being the note-freak, look at the Yamayurikai schedule and searched into the organizer for a free time. "I think we could have it next week, on a Monday. Since they are very prepared to discuss our role in their festival, we must have the meeting ealier to save their time, and ours."

"Agreed." Touko seconded.

"What do you think, Nana-chan?" Shimako asked the bouton.

"No problem for me, I'll observe as much as I could. Nothing to add, though."

"Well, then, next topic is about the Sports festival. . . ." Rosa Chinensis flipped a page from her student notebook after she closed the Hanadera agenda.

Touko sighed. When would he return it? The time when I don't need the shawl for warmth anymore?


Several days later, Monday

Lillian Academy for Girls:

"Hanadera student council. Rosa Chinensis' brother is the student council President!"

Women. He really wanted to be unpopular with the Lillian students, thinking that being incognito would do him good. Popularity's always a double-edged sword—either it would be your life force, or the opium that would eventually kill you. For Yuuki, he was trying to be on the middle of both situations. Being happy about being popular would eventually be the death of him. He wanted peace. And popularity was its absence.

But that notion about popularity would be for Touko.

The same thing was happening all over again. He felt so dissected like a frog back when the Hanadera council participated in the Torikaeba Monogatari. All eyes on him. The fact that Yumi was the previous Rosa Chinensis en bouton. And they all loved Yumi. They wanted to measure him, if ever he also was the same as his sister.

Well, I'm hell way different! If you really knew Yumi, she's now very different from me.

The current Hanadera student council was waiting in the gate of Lillian Academy. Alice was figeting with his uniform; Magane was talking lively with Kobayashi while arranging his hair, while Kobayashi was also arranging his collar. The sun felt that it was still in full force even though it was afternoon. Magane and Yuuki put two buttons down because of the heat, but with Alice having the female sensibilities demanded to have them buttoned. Well, only Magane complied.

With this heat, Yuuki did not considered those two buttons of his uniform.

But everyone tried not to have sweated wetly their shirts. Not a good presentation for those women. Yuuki thought of the former Rosa Chinensis. Even if Sachiko-sama already graduated, the males felt that the senior was somehow the embodiment of Lillian Academy; they felt like she was always . . . watching them.

Many students were flowing out of the bricked road, and not far away, other students were saying their prayers to Maria-sama. Some were talking with their friends while walking their way to the bus stop, some solitary and with their own thoughts. But definitely not running. With Hanadera, it was always the otherwise. There was always full of energy. Running was a sign of vigor, enthusiasm, and vitality.

Here, everything was in slow motion. Just like now.


"Onee-sama, It's three p.m. I think they are now waiting at the school gate."

"Good. En boutons, you show them the way to the Rose Mansion."

"Excapt for Nana," Rosa Foetida commanded. "Nana, please stay, I'll let you handle their refreshments and snacks."

"Yes, Onee-sama."

"Touko-chan, Noriko, please guide them to the Mansion." Rosa Gigantea commanded just a second away from the other Rose.

"Hai."

Weird was the word that she would describe the situation by now. Every time the Hanadera student council would be mentioned, the three Roses were too serious, too formal that even the en boutons were pulled into their tricks. Rosa Gigantea was not acting suspicious, because she did call the other Roses by their formal titles during any formal and non-formal meetings. The Rosa Chinensis and the Rosa Foetida, however, were so out-of-character. They would always goof around. Sure, they were very serious during meetings, but titles were seldom stated in discussions. It was always Yumi this and Yoshino that.

Touko was so enamored with the closeness and friendship of Onee-sama and Yoshino-sama that she felt a little jealous of their foundations. Undoubtedly, the two were best friends. She was quite confident of how good she read people, but not whenever Yumi and Yoshino were together. They were of different attitudes, but when they mashed up, their actions were quite unpredictable, like only they could actually decipher.

Sometimes, she had to admit to herself that she could not always know everything that her Onee-sama did or would do… because Yumi somehow would talk with her about anything without restraint. To further poke onto her other businesses (that would not even concern Touko) would be too disrespectful.

Her jealousy was just getting into her.

Not that she was being neglected by her Onee-sama; it was just that she wanted to know everything about her. She only has a year to be with her in high school.

In fact, Yumi liked being the Onee-sama that her attentions to the en bouton were too much compared to a normal older sister. That, she was very thankful. To have her attention for the last spring was incomparable.

Both she and Noriko turned to from the left fork of the park-like school. As they walked, Maria-sama was now behind them. They were now in parallel with the students that walked their ways to the gates. Their mission was to get to those men on their ash-colored uniforms. They were on a spot behind the gates, watching the female students vacating the school. Men.

Noriko chuckled to herself because of the situation. She did not miss her co-ed school back in middle school, but watching the Hanadera students fiddled with their shirts after they saw her and Touko walking to them was so funny. Back in middle school, men treated other women like their own, having fun of or with them, as if gender didn't matter. To think that these men were too nervous just to see them.

She was never nervous with men, but her counterpart beside her was otherwise.

She never told Touko this, but whenever Touko got nervous, she would put her right hand on her skirt pocket, and then she would join it with her left hand to her front in a relaxed position. Just like whenever Yumi-sama would talk to her in private: Yumi-sama would ask her to join her outside the mansion for a while, then Touko would put first her right hand to her pocket, then she'd joined it with her left hand before she stop in front of the onee-sama. It was not weird watching it for the first time, but repeatedly . . . it was subtly noticeable.

Good, only Noriko noticed. Well, Rosa Gigantea too, after Noriko told her in one of their lax conversations.

Now, Touko was doing the same thing.

Her unconscious behavior never bothered Noriko, but Touko being nervous with men, she thought it awkward. She never considered Touko to be as abhorred or even annoyed with men as much as Sachiko-sama used to be, since she had Kashiwagi-sama as one of her closest relatives. She even talked about him with praises, which left Yumi-sama quiet and deep in her own thoughts. Yumi-sama's aggravation was even more pronounced after the incident in Sachiko-sama's party. Everyone knew that Kashiwagi-sama enjoyed "flirting" with everyone, but not as much heartiness with Yumi-sama. He was irritatingly attentive to her.

Too much for Grandma's sanity.

Now, Touko's right hand was removed from the pocket. They were at least ten meters away from the Hanadera boys. The men fully returned their attention to the two Yamayurikai, with Yuuki-sama ahead of the others. Noriko even observed Yuuki-sama's hand holding more tightly to the handle of his black leather atache case. Strange.

Both girls went at least three meters away from the male group. Alice was smiling to them, so was the rest. Yuuki-sama, however, had an indistinguishable expession.

Why was there a heavy atmostphere between both councils?

For a moment, nobody said a word. Everyone was looking for something wrong. Noriko signaled Kobayashi and Alice for a clue, but their expressions were the same with hers. She looked at Yuuki-sama, whose face was focused on Touko, and then she looked for Touko for a clue of what was going on—

"Hanadera student council, welcome to Lillian Academy. I hope we did not keep you waiting." Touko smiled.

Touko was talking to the whole Hanadera council, but her eyes were only focused to Yuuki-sama's.

"No, it's all right. We just went on time." Yuuki smiled paralled to Yumi's. With care and concern. He was also talking for both girls, but his eyes never left Touko's.

Noriko noticed a slight twitch of Touko's right eyebrow.

"Please, come with us. We'll show you the way to the Rose Mansion." Touko's enthusiasm was waaay different from how Noriko observed it.

"Thank you. Sorry for being a bother." Yuuki smiled even jollier than expected.

"Not at all. It's a pleasure to show you the way." Somehow, there was a sudden innocent note in such sarcastic tone of hers. Noriko shrugged.

What the hell? Noriko felt like she's watching a to-the-death duel. What's wrong with these two?


"Weird Yumi. Not nervous?"

Yoshino, Yumi, Shimako and Nana were walking their way to the Rose Mansion. As they walked along their path, Yoshino noticed her amused smile. Yoshino knew that there was something . . . some plot that Yumi had been conspiring. She, therefore, began to search for a clue using Yumi's replies to her questions. Because, she wouldn't want anything shrewd being plotted before her, just like what Yumi and Sachiko-sama did last summer.

All of them were nervous about their plan to make Sachiko-sama to feel at ease with men—at least with the Hanadera student council. No, what do you mean by "nervous"? We were very terrified at the possibility of being killed by that Ojou-sama with her bare nail-polished hands!

"Sheesh, Yoshino, we're just going to talk to my brother," Yumi frowned upon Yoshino's accurate inspection. Too bad. Until now, she couldn't even copy her onee-sama's blank demure expression whenever she's hiding something. But being too quiet was somehow too suspicious. Because she was never too quiet. "Why should I be nervous?"

"It's just that, Yumi, you seemed amused with all of this. The boutons were nervous." Yoshino was trying to find something with the words Yumi was saying.

"That's why I try to calm myself for their sakes. Wait a minute—so you consider being amused nervous?"

When this pigtailed Yumi did started being a smart-ass? Nevertheless, Yoshino was starting to like Yumi and her increasing rebuttal at anything the former said.

"Well, only Touko and Nana, those two are new to this, after all." Yoshino said. Along the way, she almost tripped along the brick pathwalks. She quickly recovered.

"Something funny, Yumi?"

"Nothing, I just want to see how this meeting would go." Yumi tried to hind her giggle with the palms of her hand.

"Seriously, I feel something was not in place, though." The quiet one finally talked.

"Shimako, it's weird that you'd say that," Yoshino said. She turned to her en bouton instead. "Nana, are you nervous?"

"Well, yeah. This is my first time meeting them, you know. I still don't know what to expect. But I hope I'd not be a disappointment." Nana was rather contemplating about this whole thing. No wonder she's nervous.

"Nana, you'd never be a disappointment," Yoshino piped in. "Everything a Lillian student does is nice and fluffy for a Hanadera student." Boring, boring, and boring. Because she could not decode the reason why Yumi was so calm about this. Surely, she was never the queen of deceit and mischief, but she knew that Yumi had something so juicy that she was not telling her yet.

"Except for my brother." Yumi deadpanned.

"Please, do not judge them as if they considered girls aliens." Shimako rebutted Yoshino's claims.

"Well, I observed it last year. We're like . . . I don't know. Like we have this unknown power over them. Especially you, Shimako." The White Rose blushed.

"Do you hate that feeling?" Yumi began to ponder on that thought.

"No. I rather want to use this advantage." Yoshino smiled malevolently.

"Yoshino!" The rest gasped. Nana-chan just laughed it off. Sure, with Yoshino's strong attitude, she had this different view on men's idiosyncrasies. She was always the known power-tripper, and she was proud that she knew about this power. With Yoshino being so weak almost all her life because of her cardiac problems, she was really enjoying the sudden turn of the wheel.

"I wonder what's happening right now," Yumi was still pondering. With a smile.


So that was it? Why are you being such a tsundere now?

He could not even consider this girl as tsundere. She was not exhibiting any care with that sarcastic face of hers. Yuuki was very eager to return her kindness to him back when they were in that party. Yes, he knew, he knew that it was her shawl.

It was a stupid idea, the reason on how he knew the proprietor the moment he woke up wrapped with it. It was its smell. Her perfume still lingered on the material. He knew, because he burned it to his memory, the night when he danced with her at the balcony. Thinking it over and over again, every time he's idle, whenever he could not sleep, or whenever he was wide awake in ungodly hours of the night, was sending him to fits of silent squeels. "I'm a real boy!" sort of thing. He even caught himself in a nausiating feeling, and felt wamth in the upper nostrils. Yes, he felt like he was going to have a quite disruptive nosebleed.

What would happen if ever they decided not to be quiet? What if I had the courage at that time to make a move, would she give in? What would happen if she did not excuse herself to the bathroom? What does her kiss taste like? Or her skin?

His head began to sway.

Damn this heat. This summer was not good at all; he felt he needed to be in a freezer at all times because he felt like melting. He was sweating profusely, not to mention that he almost consumed three liters of water just not to get dehydrated. The consequence though was that he peed more frequently. He was not even consulting medical books for this. He should be, he wanted to be one, remember?

The towel on his back was now soaked with his sweat.

They still were standing in front of the gate. Noriko-san and Touko was still facing them. His head was still mushed from all his imaginings.

"Something wrong, Kaichou-sama?" Noriko was the first to speak, after Touko and Yuuki exchanged pleasantries, if one would consider their pleasantries a while ago pleasant.

"No, I'm fine. I think I need . . ."

Touko noticed his discomfort, therefore began to talk again. "I think it's because of the heat. Let's go."

Touko notice the redness on Yuuki-sama's face after their exchanges. She never liked this kind of conversation with him: he was always this jolly, honest guy while she was always acting like a stupid brat who met someone cuter than her. The fact that she was hiding her unexplained gladness by being such drama queen was quite . . . the reason why I'm acting now is for my own good! I could not just flirt like Suguru Onii-sama just to verify my feeling for a certain person!

For some reason, before she was three meters away from Yuuki-sama, she thought of many possible greetings and pleasantries, and how she should do them. Should she be like the jolly one, with all her smile exposing all her front teeth and the corners of her lips almost touching her ears? Or the serious one, like having a formal business meeting? She weighed her thoughts that she never realized that she was this close to him.

So she decided to be in the middle. The blend of both extreme emotions: the sarcastic one. Good job for being an actress, Touko.


Now, the battle had just begun.

Noriko was talking with the rest, while Touko was with Kobayashi-san and Yuuki-san. Touko however, never spoke directly to Yuuki, and as if Yuuki was only watching the conversation unfold unto him. Yuuki, however, was replying to Touko's questions, but looking at Kobayashi. They never met halfway. They never talked to each other directly.

For the whole way to the Rose Mansion.

They were talking about the Lillian sceneries and gardens, Yuuki's speech and victory during the last Hanadera student coucil elections. But with the help of their immediate messenger Kobayashi.

Noriko, along with the other Hanadera members, was behind the leading pack. She thought that if Kobayashi was not between them, something might happen. A fight, maybe.

No, a very different event from a fight.

Oh, my.

She almost mimicked Shimako's expression in her head.

The rest of the Yamayurikai members met the Hanadera council at the bi-forked, bricked road leading to the door of the Rose Mansion. Yumi smiled at the Hanadera, and turned her face to both Touko and Yuuki. She smiled further.

The two en boutons joined their grande seours. The Rosa Chinensis led the pack to the door tand picked up a key. All the females came inside, the males followed. The Yamayurikai changed to their indoor shoes, while the Hanadera council put on theirs, which they brought in their bags.

They went dicreetly to the second floor. Rosa Foetida opened the Biscuit door, telling the men to settle inside first. The Hanadera student council president led the males inside. There was a long table, covered with white linen. Six chairs were situated on the other side, near the window, while six was also on the other side, near the Biscuit Door. The Yamayurikai members went afterward and situated themselves near the windows, behind the chairs. The three Roses were close together and on the middle of their line, and the en bouton were at their edges. The Hanadera president was at the middle of their line, facing Rosa Chinensis, Kobayashi facing Rosa Foetida, Magane facing Rosa Gigantea.

The rays of sunlight coming from the window shone on the backs of the standing Roses, making their figures turned into dark silhouettes.

The Hanadera student council was now surrounded by the intimidating Roses.

Touko gulped. Something was brewing within her Onee-sama. Unknowlingly, Yuuki had the same sentiment.

"Welcome, Hanadera student council," Said Rosa Chinensis with a serene smile. "Shall we start the meeting?"


TO BE CONTINUED


AUTHOR'S NOTES: There, that should do it. I hate to post something that I considered draft. I would like to thank CelticX for advice and guidance while I was scavenging every bit of imagination and put it to paper—or rather—to a softcopy document. And VRosa for the inspiration.

Hah, please leave any comment and/or suggestion for this chapter that you'd really like to point out; negative, positive, you decide.

By the way, this is a HETFIC. This was never a Touko/Yumi fic; I just put Yumi as one of the main characters in the category because . . . Yuuki was not included in the list. And since Yumi was beginning to be one of the major supporting characters, why not enlist her to the category?