This chapter is mostly plots advancement, so there're few time skips. I think I will be introducing Yume into the rest of the Generation of Miracles soon, in about 2 more chapters perhaps? What's your suggestions?
Pairings : Undecided
Warnings : Teikō Middle School Days.
Disclaimer : I own only the OCs.
Chapter 7 - Coming events cast their shadows before them
Making a decision is never easy, and so it was for Yume, but her choice of option is limited, which makes it even harder for Yume to answer.
Yume is standing idly before the luxurious dark-wooden door, her feet shifting now and then. It's the Principal Office she's about to knock.
Yume actually wishes things doesn't have to end this way, but who is she to say? Yume's only a student here, a Special Academic Excellence Scholarship Student, with more obligations to the school compared with Teikō regular students.
With the funs Yume had with Momoi these past weeks, the matters concerning entering the Student Council had totally slipped out her mind, if Momoi hadn't remind her about it.
Momoi was talking animatedly about the Student Council election in 2 weeks time. The collection for candidates had started, and as expected Akashi and Midorima are there, running as the President and Vice President consecutively.
Hearing that, Yume can't help but remember the Principal's decree about two weeks ago. She had to give her answer soon, which is a pre-determined 'yes', seeing how she is left with no other choice.
Yume finally steeled her resolve and calmed her irregular heart beats, then she knocked.
*Knock* *Knock*
"Excuse me, Principal. I'm Manai Yume, I'm here to give my answer."
"Manai-san. Come in."
Yume lightly pushed the door, stepped inside, and closed the door behind her. She walked closer to where the Principal is sitting behind his desk and bowed curtly.
"Manai-san. I have been waiting for you." The Principal smiled, then he gestured to one of the seats by his desk. "Have a seat."
"Oh, no." Yume shook her head as she refused politely. "I'm only here to deliver my answer regarding the matters concerning the Student Council."
Yume stood quietly, pausing for a reaction from the Principal. The Principal smiles, as he patiently waited for Yume to speak, and she took that as her cue.
"..Yes."
Yume finally answered, her tone and gaze straight, unwavering. She can't back out now. She inhaled a sharp breath and steeled her gaze.
"I will run my candidacy for the Treasurer seat in the next Student Council election."
Yume spoke loud and clear, her emerald orbs hues unfaltering. The Principal is quiet for a moment, before he smiled proudly, and wide.
"You made a brilliant decision, Manai-san." The Principal hummed, clearly feeling joyful. "Oh, and before I forgot."
Yume lifted her gaze, inwardly questioning what else is there.
The Principal smiles. "Congratulations to your outstanding aptitude test scores, Manai-san. It's a pleasant surprise." Yume is inwardly relieved. "Let me say it again, Manai-san. I've got great expectations of you."
Yume stiffened. She's not sure what the Principal is planning by exerting more pressures on her, but she couldn't care less about that now.
"Thank you, Principal." Yume bowed. "Please excuse me."
Yume looked up to see the Principal with his 'smile', so she took it as her cue to exit the room without even a glance back.
With the door closed behind her, Yume is downcast as she realised her candidacy for the Treasurer (which is already confirmed), will hinder her part-time works, and that she'll have to give up on some she currently had.
It's unfortunate, because she's already got the hang of things in her new part-time works. She was a mess when she just came from Kyoto, not a real mess, but needs help and guidance.
Yume shook her head to clear her depressing thoughts. 'I'll be fine.' She told herself.
'I need to look on the positive sides of things.' Yume is starting to feel pumped up, her minds clearer than before.
Besides, Yume will still be able to earn enough and save some even with a smaller amount than before. This is also her responsibility as a Special Academic Excellence Scholarship Student.
She'll be fine.
Yume took her first step confidently as she waltzed back to class, where Momoi is anxiously waiting for her returns.
"Yuu-chan!"
Momoi leaped at Yume on her first glance when Momoi saw her. Momoi hugged her first, to provide comfort.
"You did good, Yuu-chan.." Momoi soothed with a gentle voice.
Yume feels warm in her heart, and she feels truly blessed for having Momoi as her bestfriend.
The two then moved to their seats to have a private chat in quiet whispers, mostly about Yume's visit to the Principal's Office.
"I had agreed.." Yume began quietly, her mood somber. "I'll have to give up some of my part-time works, depending on the Student Council's schedule..."
Momoi is listening attentively, and Yume continued with a heavy sigh. "I'll have to inform my employers about this..."
Yume smiled sadly, even though she honestly feels grateful. "...It's a good thing that most of my employers are kind and understanding.."
Momoi heaved a sigh of relief as she put her hand over her chest. At the very least, her bestfriend will be fine.
Momoi grinned, leaning closer to Yume's ear. "Even with the result being fixed, I'll still vote for you, Yuu-chan!"
Yume finds herself smiling at Momoi's playful tone, and she decided to went along with her.
"Please take care of me, and thank you very much for your cooperation." Yume answered formally, which sounded playful in the situation they're in.
The two girls giggle quietly until the teacher came and started the class.
D-3.
Today, students running for the candidacy of Student Council had to give a short presentation as to why they're worthy.
The stages are the same one used for the entrance ceremony, and students from first to third years are neatly seated on the provided seats, along with teachers by the sides.
Students presenting are gathered and seated on the backstage to prepare for their entrance later on - no exception made.
As one of students to showcase their presentations, Yume is sitting on one of the provided seats for the candidates in the backstage. Other students are prepping for their presentation, rehearsing their prepared beforehand speeches and such.
Yume is feeling rattled with the amount of pressure and anxieties floating in the air. She didn't feel comfortable standing before mass of crowds. She never did.
Doubts started to fill Yume. Will she really be able to give a decent presentation that's actually worthy enough to get her the Treasurer seat? What if she makes a fool of herself?
Gray clouds loomed over her as Yume is depressingly quiet and her fringes overshadowed her expression, a habit of hers whenever she's deep in thoughts.
"Manai-san. You're here."
Yume lifted her head, surprise evident in her limegreen orbs. She saw the famous Akashi Seijūrō before her, which is expected and unexpected at the same time.
It's expected that he's here, in the backstage along with other candidates as he is one of them, and it's unexpected that he would approach Yume when they know next to nothing about each other.
At least it is, in Yume's case. She wouldn't know if the redhead had her background throughly investigated. According to Momoi, such action is regarded as common in the world of the rich - not that Yume would know.
On the contrary, Akashi is smiling kindly, full of confidence. Like he didn't feel even an ounce of pressure to stand and talk before the crowds.
Akashi chuckled softly. "You must be nervous, Manai-san."
Yume gulped at that, it's true that she's growing even more anxious by the minutes as the presentations draws closer. She never likes the crowds nor noises.
"Relax, Manai-san. Just do what you do best." Akashi advised kindly. "You'll do fine."
"You won't make stupid mistakes and embarrass yourself." Akashi continued as Yume flinched at the mention of making mistakes.
Yume weakly fiddled with her fingers, in hope to distract her nerves. She's feeling all tensed up, and she can feel her erratic heartbeats.
Akashi orbs then took a sudden steely glints and his tone sharpens. "You will be chosen as the Treasurer with the students' votes, excluding the slated result."
Yume turns cautious after Akashi finished his statements. She warily eyed him with a quiet whisper. "..How did you know that?"
Akashi smiled knowingly, like he expected that. His smile is eerily beautiful in a way it's kind of twisted.
"Because I know everything."
Yume felt the chills down her spine at the dark tone Akashi carried. His intonation, his smile, and the way he looks in entirety...frightens her.
This is not Akashi.
At least not the Akashi that addressed Yume weeks ago. This Akashi is more commanding, oppressive and scary. There's not a shred of humanity felt from this dark Akashi.
And Yume is absolutely terrified, she can feel the icy air surrounding them as time seems to froze over. She is trapped, and she can't shook herself awake.
"Well then, Manai-san." Akashi smiled, returning to his usual gentlemanly demeanour. "I wish you luck."
Akashi walked away without another word, and he finally disappeared from view. Moments after Akashi left, and Yume could still feel her heart thumping in an alarming rate following the rendezvous with Akashi.
It's fear.
Akashi instilled fear in her when he spoke, with his tone void of emotions.
'W-Wha...What's with that just now...?' Yume dumbly muttered in her messed up mind, feeling utterly confused.
"—me!"
What just happened, Yume can't truly comprehend. Only two things she could be sure of: One, That Akashi is not Akashi; Two, Yume is terrified of that Akashi.
"Ma—"
It doesn't make sense, and at the same time, it does. Yume couldn't put into words what she's feeling for the redhead. It's like everything about Akashi is contradictions, where right coincides with wrong.
"Manai Yume-san!"
Yume jerked out from her stupor when one of the committees member called her for the third time.
"It's your turn soon." The committee member muttered exasperatedly.
Yume nodded meekly, before she then readied herself with sets of breathing to regain her composure.
'I need to focus..' Yume straighten her gaze and finally head to the stage.
As soon as Yume stepped into the stage, faint murmurs could be heard, and she could feel her anxieties crawling up.
Yume could feel her mental state failing and crumble under pressures, because crowds and noises are her greatest enemies.
"Listen, Yuu-chan.."
A remnant of memories from this morning flashed before Yume's mind - it was her conversation with Momoi before she went to the backstage.
Momoi was smiling as she held Yume's hands, not too tight, but reassuring. "Girls have their own ways to fight." Momoi looked up to Yume, her peachpink orbs meeting Yume's limegreens.
"Smile. It's a girl's greatest weapon, a beautiful, charming one."
Momoi flashed a smile to Yume, and it brightens her entire being as she seems to sparkle and shine.
Yume stood by the podium, with her eyes closed. Sat-chan is right. No matter where and when, a smile is a smile.
Yume opens her eyes, her limegreen orbs seems to glimmer so softly under the dim stage lights, and her warm smile lights up her features, her serene expression makes her looks prettier.
These effects immediately calmed the crowds, as they were momentarily entranced, some of the guys even blushed, despite Yume not being a knock-out beauty.
"Good morning." Yume saluted politely. "My name is Manai Yume from 1-B."
"I am the holder of this year Teikō's Special Academic Excellence Scholarship Student."
Some gasps were heard, along with murmurs from the students, even Yume's classmates. Little to none knows who held the Special Academic Excellence Scholarship, and Yume's classmates certainly didn't expect Yume to be it.
Yume smiles. "I know the scholarship doesn't reflect my ability, but it shows my credibility."
"..I have been handling my family's monetary issues since I was a child, when my parents entrusted it to me."
"I had also helped managing my primary school's monetary fund back in my hometown."
"...and I have been offered an internship at one particular company after my primary school's Principal recommended me for my managerial capabilities."
"I...am lacking charisma and confidence...that's why I am attracted to leaders who possessed such qualities to lead and guide me."
Yume then walked to the podium's side and bowed gracefully. She then lifted her head and smiled softly.
"I wish for your most generous cooperation and thank you for hearing my presentation."
It was silent for a while, and Yume internally wondered if she did so bad that it's awfully quiet.
Until a single clap from Momoi started with an absolutely blissful and proud look, and quickly followed by many others thunderous claps.
*CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP*
Yume flinched at the loud noise, she then searched for Momoi. When she found her, Yume smiles to Momoi and Momoi smiles back, lifting a thumb up.
Yume heaved a sigh of relief as she put her hand over her chest, calming her erratic heart beats. She is currently sitting at one of the seats backstage.
It's finally over.
"Yuu-chan!" Momoi exclaimed as she ran to hug Yume. "Congratulations! Oh, perhaps it's too early? A-Anyway! You're absolutely amazing out there! The students were so entranced they forgot clapping!"
Yume smiles wearily. "Thanks, Sat-chan.. I feel relieved now.." Yume admitted, she's been feeling a little under the weather these days when thinking about today.
The heavy burdens had rolled off her shoulders now that she's done it. Now all it's left is to wait until the presentation ends, then the election result two days away.
Momoi nodded and tugged at Yume's wrist towards the seats on the hall. "We can watch the other candidates now!"
As always, Yume let herself be dragged by Momoi. It's been counted as normal after she had went out with Momoi couples of time.
"I'm interested in Akashi-kun's and Midorin's presentation!" Momoi chirped.
Akashi is likely to be as perfect and flawless as ever, but she is very very interested in how the grumpy Midorima might perform.
"Oh! I also want to introduce you to Dai-chan!" Momoi turned to Yume. "He was sitting next to me because he actually attended this gathering!"
Momoi remembered that 'Dai-chan' can't skip because his homeroom teacher caught him when he's about to escape. It was so amusing, how Takeda-sensei dragged said boy by the ear.
After hearing 'Dai-chan', Yume stiffened. She did remember seeing a tanned boy, frowning as he sat next to Momoi.
It seems like with her presentation over, Yume would have others to attend to before the Student Council election in two days time.
Like with a certain tanned male, a scary red-head, and wordless greenette.
Oh boys.
Author's note:
So yeah, how is it?
Read and Reviews~
