Part 6: The Leadership Team's Proposal

As I entered Kobayakawa's office, I found him seated in his chair and Makoto directly in front of him. So that's why they were all called to the office. The fruits of their discussions with the teaching body were bountiful - many ideas presented had a lot of thought placed into them.

"Welcome, Amamiya-san. Sadayo. Please take a seat." He gestured for me to take the seat next to Makoto whilst Kawakami sat besides him. The student council president seemed to be in good spirits today - her notepad happened to be etched with lots of ideas in pretty handwriting. I didn't have any idea what they were for though so I didn't bother bring it up.

"Amamiya-kun, I take it you went to a session today?" Kawakami asked.

"Yeah. It was alright." I answered.

"Good." she commented, well and truly pleased I heeded her words.

"So…you're providing an update for me?" Prez and our Principal would not have called this just to say hello and to catch up with me. I'd lose a huge amount of respect they earned back.

"Well, from what you can see on the board, there are many forward thinking ideas to the way Shujin moves forward on its campaign. Our teachers have truly contributed in this regard." Makoto answered hesitantly. I took the chance to read a few proposals: Open offices where students could see teachers in their free time? Teachers aren't gonna be in the mood for this, not when the upcoming questioning is at the forefront of their minds. They'll be too jittery. A weekly open mic in the gymnasium to allow a disciplined debate between (non-council and non-disciplinary) students and teachers to take place? It sounded nice but that was about it. The trust is rock bottom right now. It only makes it clearer that it's us vs them.

"I see you are hard at observation, young Amamiya-san."

"These ideas sound nice but they need to be fleshed out in full before anything can come out of them. Plus, the funding for the ideas might need to be taken into account too." I summarised. It was nice to see that staff believed in Kobayakawa and while I had no clue if Makoto had the trust of students again, I could at least guess. The lack of student proposals were the biggest problem seeing as they…well, we were the supposedly the lifeblood of this academy.

"Where are the student ideas though?" Makoto had a somewhat long face as I said that.

"Student engagement is a little…disappointing, putting it lightly." she remorsefully replied. I knew the campaign wasn't gonna be an instant hit and Prez all but confirmed it.

"In blunter terms, the overwhelming majority of things that we've really received so far is petty complaint after complaint about the teachers from their clothes to how they talk. Utter nonsense, really. Not enough students have come forward with their experiences to any of us - Maruki-san hasn't had very many see him either. That's one of the reasons I'm happy to know you've at least visited him." Kawakami interjected. I was a little more appreciative of her stance but the barrier of student and staff was still the largest hurdle. Students are still scared to speak…it's perfectly reasonable. In no way would the change be instant, no matter how rousing a person's words. The nurses and doctors broke privilege so the possibility that Maruki can do the same still exists.

"That's to be expected. It's going to take a lot of time to actually convince the students the leadership actually means what was said last week."

"I would like to hear your honest thoughts, Amamiya-san." Kobayakawa offered. From the way this man requested our presence as well as Makoto, it felt as if he wanted me to do his work for him.

"Really? My HONEST thoughts?" The others in the room balked at the mention of that answer. Thought not…I got back onto the main issue regarding the lack of communication and trust.

"If students don't speak up in this bubble of safety provided, we can't expect for them to be ready for the investigators to bulldoze in with their questions. It'll be far too daunting because they've not had time to accept the gravity of this situation. They'll end up spooked and in a perfect position for the police to frame the narrative in their favour. The alibi falls to pieces and everyone's screwed. Anyone wanna follow on?" I theorized. All that hard work would be for naught if the school can't provide education anymore.

"So to maintain the alibi, the students need the guarantee they'll be free to talk. But they don't trust us enough to let them say want they want…I don't think they will speak, not without something really big to motivate them." Kawakami suggested. Makoto had an assured expression as if waiting on cue. Took you long enough she was probably thinking.

"We'll use you, Amamiya-san." Makoto suggested to all of us in the room that I would play a part in- wait…hang on. Come again?

"Sorry…what do you mean, use me?" I doubled back. Ne'er did I expect I'd end up doing more for the leadership team. What sort of scheme was the younger Niijima plotting?

"Exactly that. You were the person that brought us this far. It's not that much of a stretch to think you can help us carry on forward. I know that this is going to be a huge burden for you and I'd like to reassure you that all of us at Shujin actually will help you shoulder it."

"You didn't answer my question." Kawakami. Kobayakawa. Are you guys not going to weigh in? The two happened to approvingly smile and not do a thing.

"...I'm borrowing a page from your book. If we're playing to the nation's heartstrings, you're the most useful person for that. While the other victims have suffered far longer than you, you've suffered the most noticeable cruel treatment since stepping foot here. An inspiring story of a student who spoke out against his aggressor and wears his scar out as a symbol of pride and survival, being broadcast for the entire nation to see…it would move mountains for other students too afraid to speak up." Makoto cleverly proposed. Seems she could scheme if she put her mind to it.

"I mean, you get to go on TV too. Your friends and family all over the nation get to see you in a different light." Makoto added, doing nothing other than stating the obvious. The profile that could come with a national TV appearance was nothing to sneeze at.

"What am I? Your prize pig?" I shot back.

"Ready for the slaughterhouse." Makoto mocked. So doing this, I'd go from being Shujin's pariah to Shujin's saviour. I was no fan of the imagery and the fact I could get distracted and really think I did something heroic - I chose to take a person's right to free will away along with everyone else.

"The helpless principal supposedly threw everything to chance bringing in a criminal but saw the person behind the profile for what he truly was - the way to save everyone." Kawakami continued, picking up Makoto's newfound momentum, much to my chagrin.

"Kobayakawa, something you wish to say?" I pitched but alas, it was in vain.

"It feels as if I'm bearing witness to two student council presidents: the innovative newcomer and the tried and true veteran. What purpose do I have to interfere in such an engagement?" Kobayakawa commented. That's nothing more than a boost of Makoto's ego…

"And the more I think on it…you could appeal to your parents through this method. Let them see first hand just how much you care for your place here. That is, if you still want to stay at Shujin." And provided I don't make an ass of myself, you forgot to add. In all seriousness, if this could help me shift my parents' position towards my view, then I'd be an absolute imbecile not to take this seriously.

"Someone likes that idea, I see. To really go the full mile with this story, naturally, your fraught relationship with Kamoshida and how it affected your time here for one."

"Of course." I concurred.

"The other reason I'm truly happy you went to see Maruki-san is because you can open up a little about the counselling sessions and how he's provided you a blanket of safety." she finished. There wasn't really much to say so I'd need to visit him more to make my answers sound a little convincing.

"That'll boost the numbers who go and see Maruki for sure." Makoto approvingly added. That's also a part of their agenda, isn't it? It'd be pointless paying a guy to sit around and do nothing.

"We'll go over whatever else we need you to talk about and anything you might want to talk about."

"So…this campaign is designed to encourage students to speak up. You need a face to inspire them to talk. And I'm that face. I know that much. Why my face though? Any other person who suffered under him that goes to Maruki would work." The three in the room besides me had looks of wonder on their face as if I'd said the most alien thing in the world to them.

"You're pretty much the first choice we had. The way you brought it up, it was like you were saying you would do it." Kawakami answered.

"I would've been a little more explicit if that was my plan." I responded. Makoto changed her tactics.

"It wasn't as if we haven't considered other effective students. How would you feel if Takamaki-san was the one to be interviewed?"

"Why don't you ask her directly?" I wasn't going to be forced into a corner let alone answer for my perfectly capable vice leader.

"Let's say for argument sake that she agrees. It's already public enough the relationship that both of them had - can you honestly tell me you could sit there and watch as she has to answer the intrusive questions they throw to slander her? Her favourite position? What her game is? Who else she throws herself onto for example?"

"Niijima-san. May I remind you of your surroundings." Kawakami scolded.

"Apologies, Kawakami-sensei. If she goes up, it'll do nothing but convince the victims to continue staying quiet in fear they'll become the targets of fury." Makoto pitched this to me but it didn't do a thing.

"Awful as it is...the online trolls, commentators and Kamoshida extremists do that anyway. Not just to her, of course." I responded back.

"What if Suzui-san was to take on the task instead? I have a strong gut feeling you wouldn't accept the interviewers tearing her apart over her desperation to get on the team and how low she would go." Good grief…try a little harder.

"Are you just trying to get a rise out of me?" I responded. Makoto wasn't even paying attention to my response, solely focused on pushing her perspective on me.

"Could you really be so indifferent that, for any other victim who was abused whether sexually, mentally or orally, you could watch them relive their horrors again and not regret stepping in?" And here I thought you didn't put this much consideration into it. Push came to shove, Makoto really did empathise with the other students' plight - never mind the fact it was her job to do so, it felt like she really took the declaration of the old Shujin way being dust to heart. It was like she was begging for a win with how much she pushed for this. Why would I mock her for her efforts? Kawakami stepped in again.

"Soon, the questioning of each and every person here will happen behind closed doors. You've already demonstrated that crowds don't bother you in the slightest. You'd be able to handle the pressure of answering the interviewers when they ask you questions and once the other students see, they'll be inspired to talk to outlets too."

"I am utterly roused by the way you carry yourself and of the air of maturity surrounding you." So what is my plan then? Such high praise that felt genuine and at the same time, stroked my ego.

"Several of Niijima-san's ideas have already been rejected by the principal, Joker. This one is one where she and the council took a massive gamble on you saying yes." Mona added.

"Amamiya-san…how do I put this? You don't just have a way with words but…you're really believable when you need to be. You've got the charisma to back the words up too. *sigh* But if you really don't want to do this, we'll think of something else." Did I really want to scupper her hard work putting this together? It must've been glaringly aggravating to end up constantly rejected so to try and propose something as daring as this - with such a high risk opening up Shujin to commentary, the damage it could do if going wrong would be enough to shut the doors for good. And then I'd have to move away again…

"Looks like you're spoken for, Joker." Mona's highly necessary comment aside, I made my request:

"You want me to sign on, you agree to the following in writing and verbally: if this hits the fan, we're all taking responsibility for it equally. No one gets to benefit from the problems that arise." Relief spilled onto Prez's face - she wouldn't have to get a migraine trying to clean up a mess that wasn't entirely hers.

"And just as we were going to ask what we can do for you." Kobayakawa responded.

"Hmm…there is an idea I had in my head to do with clubs. Makoto, I'd like to have a meeting with the student council to go over it."

"Eh?"

"We will leave it in your hands, Niijima-san and Amamiya-san." Kobayakawa concurred.

"No, wait. We can't just…that's not how it works!" Makoto stammered.

"I don't mind if the room's in a state or something." I retorted.

"We've still got a lot of council work to do!"

"I have a way of addressing said work which I'm sure you'll be happy to take." I assured with a smile. Makoto had pleading eyes, begging for some sort of intervention by the teachers who stood back and smiled. At least she realised that it's not so fun being on the receiving end. Eventually, she gave up that front.

"I'll ring at some point."

"Not at 1AM or something silly like that?" I teased. She sighed belatedly. Concluding the meeting with the trio and saying my goodbyes, I'd figured the rest of the day would go relatively smoothly. Leaving Yongen-Jaya station and heading for Leblanc's backstreets, things took a turn I least expected.