Flashback:

The document lay on the table. Thick, eggshell colored, and relatively banal. The only hint to its importance was the three official-looking seals stamped on the top right corner. Both of us stared at it with no small amount of regret but neither tried to reach for it nor looked away from it.

We both tried to act like if we didn't acknowledge it then it wouldn't exist. But it did exist, and one thin document's weight was enough to crush the amicable silence we once had together.

I smacked my chapped lips as I was stared down by a blonde-haired boy in front of me with a blue-eyed glare that pierced through most people's veneers.

He spoke first, succumbing to the awkwardness saturating the air. "Are you sure about this? There's nothing we can do to change your mind?"

"Nothing, president," I responded just as uncomfortably, eyes far more interested in the wood-paneled walls beside me.

"Please, you aren't attending Shuuchin anymore, besides they're only officially giving me the title starting at the beginning of the second year, so far this has just been a trial run. Call me Miyuki." And when I started to protest, "Or if that's too much for you Hikigaya then just call me Shirogane."

I weakly cracked a lopsided grin. "Okay, Shirogane. Good luck with the student council, and Shinomiya." I stood up from the chair, pretending not to notice the blush creeping towards his ears.

As I walked past the several large bay windows and he reigned in his blood pressure, the silence between us grew. Finally at the door to the student council's headquarters I stopped. "Goodbye, Miyuki."

He didn't gasp, but the slight pause before he spoke more than announced his surprise. "Bye, Hikigaya; for what it's worth I'm sorry that it ended this way. Your transfer to Soubu should be seamless, we had all documents faxed already; they're very eager to receive an ex-member of the Shuuchin Gakuen Student Council. " His voice broke for only the slightest of moments before he regained his stoic composure. "I...no, we are all gonna miss you. We're all sorry to see you go."

It was now my turn to pause and fight back my welling tears.

"Me too, me too." And with that I stepped out of the office, letting the thick oak doors close behind me.

As I walked down the empty hall I couldn't help but stare at each thing that I had become accustomed to. The enormity of what had happened didn't strike me until I stared at my favorite water fountain.

The water was always ice cold and came out of the spigot with the ferocity of a roaring dragon but now I'd never get a chance to drink from it again. Okay, maybe one more time for nostalgia's sake.

I walked up and drank like a man possessed I drank. Until water ran down my chin and soaked the collar of my shirt. Water also ran down from my eyes although it was saltier for some reason.

Oh, I guess I'm crying. As I shuffled down the adorned corridors I wondered who would take my place. My seat in class is always in the furthest back corner. Or my spot at lunch tucked away in the library working on some manuscript or file. After school, as the snarky sidekick of the student council. Or just who would run general affairs in the future.

Once I'd left the building and only the perfectly manicured lawn stood between me and the gilded gates did I see her. "Hey, Shinomiya-san. I thought you were in Kyoto for clan affairs."

Her red eyes looked at me flatly, like I was an insect she hadn't yet decided to crush, "I just got back. I had my driver take me over here once I heard what you were doing."

Threats are coming next or maybe a bribe, neither of which will convince me. Ideally, I should put her on the back foot; I'm going to reveal I know the information she thought was a secret. "Wow, you must've really rushed over here. Especially without your trusty maid, Hayasaka."

Just like the president, no better, in fact, she hides her reactions with pure textbook precision. Only a slight dilation of the pupils gives away my surprise, if I hadn't been looking for it, I'd never have seen it; just like the President. God, they're perfect for each other, I hope that they get together soon watching them dance around each other has gotten old quite quickly.

She continued, without missing a beat, "I don't know what you're talking about. Anyways you better not leave the student council, it's going to create so much more work for the president and me." Okay, no more talk of her maid. I might be able to miff her with that reveal but she could still eviscerate me and my family on a whim.

"I've done all the upcoming paperwork for the next three months, that should be more than enough time to find and train my successor." I stepped around her and resumed walking. "Besides, the word is you've already found who you want to replace me." I never looked back as I walked towards the wrought steel gate, plated with platinum.

She never called after me either, she held no particular fondness for me and had just fulfilled her own notion of due diligence.

I stepped off the school grounds, hands clenched, and heart heavy. I headed towards the station with leaden shoes.

My memories of what came next are slight at best. I robotically swiped my train pass and sat down. One thing I must confess that I would miss is that Shuchin paid for a luxury train car pass. Compared to the standard fare these cars were more spacious and less crowded. A fugue deadened me to the outside world as I retreated to my inside one.

When that proved just as unsatisfying I picked up a document from my school bag and began reading. Nodding along as I rapidly flipped the pages. Filing each word and diagram into the data bank that I called my mind.

Hmmm, if we use the precedent established in Jackson vs. The EU, … use forensic accounting to prove the weapons they make are being funneled through Pakistan then … International Trade Agreement - Article IX - clause fifty three-paragraph sixteen - line five … the stipulation would therefore conclude … beyond reasonable doubt … if we use all agreements signed to in the Geneva convention then we can interpret the action as a breach of conduct … bringing the entire nation's reputation into jeopardy … therefore … Maybe this will make up for what I've done … No, I'll never be forgiven …

I was brought out of my melancholic musings by a cough behind my seat. The kind of cough one would perform at an event to begin a speech. It was practiced, demure but clearly audible, in other words; perfect. I'd never hated another sound more.

The girl the sound was attached to was just as ideal and fake. When I'd turned she'd been looking away slightly and if I was any less experienced I would have fallen for the veneer of a shy maiden.

But wading through the elite of society's events had taught me more than I ever wanted to know about observing and analyzing human behavior. Her behavior was calculated to portray a friendly girl striking up a conversation with a young man near her. A bit forward but nowhere near unacceptable. But the faintest hints in her behavior told me all I needed to know; when she had been looking down her eyes had flickered to the logo on my lapel. My soon-to-be-retired uniform was still good for something I guess.

"Hey, do you go to Shuuchin? I heard it's a super hard school to get into, so you must be really smart." She tried to stroke my ego, and the me of a year ago may have very well fallen for it (and her).

"It's also a hard school to stay in." I offered a bitter laugh. Okay, I don't have to lie, but just let her draw her own conclusions.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I saw the uniform and assumed you were attending." She spoke, eyes narrowing momentarily.

The accusation was there. Why was I wearing the uniform if I didn't attend? I decided to humor her. For I had finished all the files in my bag and didn't feel like being alone with my own thoughts.

"Today was my last day." She nodded along sympathetically, still maintaining her facade of the perfect girl.

"I tried to get in myself, but it didn't work out." It was my turn to nod, shooting for the top is hard and sometimes you miss. She probably didn't have a massive conglomerate backing her like Shinomiya, the insurmountable work ethic of Shirogane, or the unfair advantages of my own.

"It's hard to get in, the only person below, moderately wealthy there is the president; and it's a huge pain to get in without the letters of recommendation," I spoke candidly for once, despite her fake veneer. Maybe I could be just a little genuine with her.

She sighed, "I had the letters of recommendation and my grades were great but the recommendations fell apart when the political winds shifted."

The walls that had lowered an inch slammed back up, higher than ever. This wasn't someone who tried and failed, this was someone who knew how to play the game and would have succeeded if the environment hadn't become unfavorable.

"Ah, I see, that's a shame. You seem like you would've been a good fit for the academy." I nodded politely. I wanted to escape this conversation and glancing at the stops would probably help put an end to this.

She noticed and decided to pull the ripcord. "Well, my stop is coming up. Have a nice day and good luck at your next school." She hopped up, then seemed to glide down the aisle, steps graceful and silent.

With her departure as sudden as her arrival, I smirked, I had successfully repelled my last social climber hoping to get in my good graces.

Time to go home and see the cutest little sister in the whole world.