Disclaimer: Full Metal Panic! and its characters are the property of their respective owners. This piece is not for profitable purposes.

Chapter 2: The Planning Committee Meeting

Ready to begin the planning committee's first meeting, Kaname walks to the head of the table and stands in front of the blackboard. She waits a few moments, expecting the group to notice her and stop talking. This clearly does not happen, so she decides that she'll have to act if the committee is going to accomplish anything.

"Order," Kaname says in her usual tone of voice.

The committee members ignore her, so she tries again, this time with her voice raised, "Order!"

The chatter continues, and she becomes frustrated.

She clenches her fists at her side and shouts even louder, "Order!"

This time Kyoko hears her, but no one else.

Before Kaname can execute her next plan to slowly scratch her fingernails down the chalkboard, Kyoko stands and places her hand on Kaname's arm, trying to get her to relax.

Kyoko looks to Kaname and says in an anxious tone, "Kana-chan, maybe if we both say it together, people will listen."

Realizing the good sense in what Kyoko said, Kaname calms down and says, "Sure, Kyoko."

Kyoko smiles and the two shout out, "Order!"

After only one try, the group amazingly falls silent, and Kaname is pleased when the members all look towards her.

With more than a hint of annoyance, she says, "Now that I finally have everyone's attention, let's begin."

Seeing that Kaname has things under control, Kyoko returns to her seat.

Kaname lifts her right arm in the air, her pointer finger extended upwards.

"Before anything, we'll have to decide on a theme for the dance."

To her surprise, people begin to shout their ideas left and right.

"The American Old West!"

"Dating sim!"

"A coal mine!"

"Calculus!"

"The circus!"

"Dinosaurs!"

"A candle factory!"

"Swimsuit catalog!"

"Alien abduction!"

Infuriated by the interruption and ludicrous responses, Kaname grits her teeth and resists the urge to scream.

Trying to re-attain calm, she breathes deeply, places her hands on her hips and says determinedly, "Enough. This year's theme will be," she pauses for a moment to think, "a flower garden."

The room fills with silence as most members wonder if they should say something – or if it's even safe to do so.

"Who would have though Chidori likes flowers the way she is?" one male student whispers not so quietly to another.

Having overheard the comment, Kaname leans forward and glares at the speaker and says, "Is there something you'd care to share with the group?"

Visibly sweating and his voice trembling, he responds, "No, nothing at all. I think it's an excellent idea, Chidori-san!"

She straightens and smirks as she says, "I'm glad you think so."

With an almost threatening gleam in her eyes, Kaname lets a few more moments of silence pass before placing her arms again at her side and saying, "Well then, that's settled."

Seeming to have realized something, she looks towards Ren and says, "Ah, Ren-san, could you take some notes to help us plan?"

Ren smiles and says, "Certainly, Kaname-san."

"Thanks very much."

Ren takes a notebook and pen out and places the notebook on the desk and the pen in her hand, ready to begin.

Kaname's glance returns to the group as she says, "Next we'll have to list all the tasks that need to be done, then we'll assign people accordingly."

Expecting similar ridiculous responses, she quickly continues, "I'll start us off, and we can add to that."

The others listening intently, she proceeds to name a series of tasks that Ren dutifully records.

It is when she's beginning to run out of ideas that she hears one, then two, then half the room start coughing, and sees white and gray smoke filtering through the room. The students rush from their seats out the door, gasping for breath.

Choking back coughs herself, Kaname calls out the name of the only person who could be responsible, "Sousuke!"

Stricken by the smoke, she clumsily makes her way out the door and leans against the wall as she turns her head, searching the hallway for the source of her troubles.

She spots him behind a corner and approaches him, clinging to the wall for support.

Noticing her approaching, Sousuke's eyes widen, he swallows, and he begins sweating.

When she is standing in front of him, Kaname grabs onto Sousuke's shirt and shouts his name loudly in his face.

His eyes close at the sound, and then re-open, as he looks away.

"It was a miscalculation, though it may have been the result of a defect in production."

"Is that so?" she says sarcastically through her gritted teeth.

She breathes heavily in anger, but soon convinces herself that she needs to remain calm. She looks at Sousuke's face, and can tell that he is genuinely regretful about what happened.

She lets go of his shirt, surprising him.

"Chidori?"

She turns her body around, but turns her head so she is looking back at him.

With a slight smile, she answers, "Let's go clean up the classroom, Sousuke."

Without waiting for a response, she starts walking to the classroom, Sousuke soon afterwards following.