"And the new leader of the Disciplinary Committee is…Haruna Kasuga!"

Haruna's jaw dropped. "I…I…I won?! I won?! I WON!" In a rather unladylike fashion, Haruna hopped up in excitement, hands clenched in fists just below her face. The others clapped politely. Even the few that were disappointed not to have won agreed she was a good choice for the job.

"Congratulations, Chairman!" someone shouted over the applause. For half a second, a look of anger flashed across Haruna's face.

"Who are you calling—?!" But a second later, she realized her mistake. For a moment, the old leader of the committee looked confused. "Sorry! Ignore me!" Haruna blushed furiously. "Th-thank you for your praise! You were an excellent leader yourself! I hope I can live up to the example you set for us!" She smiled sheepishly, hoping her compliment would be enough to make the old leader forget her temporary outburst.

"Ah, do not worry, Ms. Kasuga!" the old leader started smiling again. "I'm sure you will do wonderfully!" They shook hands and Haruna started grinning like a madwoman again. Brief slipup aside, to say that she was excited for the upcoming year was an understatement. The reins were in her hands now and the trajectory of law and order in their academy was entirely up to her! Not a day when by where she didn't feel blessed to be here, now she finally had a chance to give something back to Arisugawa Academy, what a rush!

One of the nuns overseeing the event made note in her roster that Haruna was now the new, recognized, official leader of the Disciplinary Committee. Then she handed Haruna a new nametag which read: Chairman Haruna Kasuga.

"Th-thank you, Sister!" Haruna curtseyed, barely able to control her excitement as, with shaking hands, she reached out to take the nametag. It wasn't just a signifier of her new role within the committee, but a medal of honor and a reward for all her hard work to get the position.

"Well done, my child, my Chairman," the nun smiled back at her. "I know you will do Arisugawa Academy proud!"

"I'll try my best!" Haruna replied with another curtsey as she slipped on the nametag. She would ride this high for the rest of the week, easy!

ooo

"Oh, hello, Chairman!" A familiar, nasally voice cut through the air and some of Haruna's delight changed into annoyance.

"Who are you calling Chairman?!" she snapped, purely on reflex, whipping around to glare daggers at Kurumi.

"Uhhh…You, Chairman," Kurumi snickered, a devious smile spreading across her face as she gestured to Haruna's new nametag.

"Ah." Haruna blushed in embarrassment. Man, this year was going to be hard if Kurumi kept the whole "Chairman" shtick up the entire time, and Haruna knew well enough to know that Kurumi absolutely would.

Was this why she was so hopeful that I won the position? Haruna thought, eyes narrowing. She was half right. Kurumi wanted Haruna to win just because she knew it was something that mattered a lot to Haruna, but yes, the other half of it was that Kurumi wanted sorely to be able to call Haruna "Chairman" and actually have it be true. Already, it was paying off and Kurumi snickered again at Haruna's flustered, irritated face.

"What are you going to do now, Chairman? Can't punish me anymore for calling you "Chairman", Chairman!" she sing-songed.

"But I can discipline you for making a mockery of me," Haruna replied coldly, poking her nametag as if it were a badge.

"Oh, no!" Kurumi pretended to look despairing. "No need to be so strict already…Chairman. You've only had the Chairman job for a couple of days!" Then, before Haruna could say anything else, Kurumi went sprinting away, snickering again.

"H-hey! No running in the halls!" Haruna cried after her, but it was too late, Kurumi was gone. Ugh, this is going to be a long year…

ooo

Old habits died hard, and not just for Kurumi either.

"Hey! Chairman! Do you have time to—?!"

"Who are you calling Chairman?!" Once again, Haruna whipped around with anger in her eyes. The moment she realized who it was, though, just like at the election, her anger changed quickly into horror. "Oh, no! I'm so sorry!" It was just one of the other Disciplinary Committee members.

"I- I- I'm sorry, Ms. Kasuga, I didn't—"

"No, no!" Haruna was quick to reassure her, waving her hands with an embarrassed laugh. "It was entirely my fault! I guess I'm just still not used to being…Chairman…" The word that she once thought would fill her with such pride to say now only made her shiver in disgust and annoyance.

Look what you've done to me, Kurumi! This is all YOUR fault! she complained in her head.

"Ah, that is understandable." The other girl looked much relieved that Haruna wasn't mad at her. "I hope you aren't too stressed?"

"No, not at all, I'm perfectly fine!" Haruna flashed her a winning, charming smile. "Forgive me for my outburst. I wasn't thinking. Now, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

As the girl would report, she wanted to go over the meeting agenda with Haruna before the meeting began in an hour. All looked well on that front, and 60 minutes later, the rest of the committee joined them in one of the academy's conference rooms.

"Chairman, care to give the opening remarks?" one of the committee members asked once the last person arrived. For half a second, another look of irritation flashed across Haruna's face, but another half a second later, she remembered who she was talking to and quickly caught herself.

"I would be happy to!" she smiled. "Is everyone ready?" Take THAT, Kurumi! I'm learning!

"Yes, Chairman." In almost robotic unison, the group nodded their assent.

It is still so strange to hear that word used to address me, at least by a non-Kurumi person! And it is ever stranger to think that, for once, it's true. I…am the Chairman! Haruna felt another giddy rush, but she cleared her throat politely before opening the meeting. In front of her spot at the table was a nameplate that read "Chairman Haruna Kasuga".

ooo

"Oh, hey, look, guys! It's the Chairman!" Once again, Kurumi's voice split through the air and made Haruna grit her teeth.

"Kurumi, I may be the Chairman now, but surely you remember that I have a name," she growled, but when she caught sight of who was trailing after Kurumi, her face softened…somewhat. One of the people in tow was Miiko.

"Chairman, Chairman! Hi, Chairman!"

The other was Miyu. "Hello, Chairman Haruna!" she smiled. Haruna felt her heart skip a beat. Maybe she would put restrictions on what Kurumi was allowed to call her, but as far as she was concerned, Miyu could call her anything.

"How's the Chairman life treating you," Miyu asked politely.

"It's going well!" Haruna was more than happy to brag about some of her achievements so far. After implanting a newer and more efficient way of writing up misbehaving students and then documenting those write-ups to the rest of the board, her popularity with them skyrocketed.

"Oh, great, Chairman. It's barely even been a month and you're already turning into a total dictator!" Kurumi sighed.

"Hey!" Haruna snapped. "Who are you calling dictator? You wouldn't think that way if you weren't in trouble so often yourself! Besides, I'll have you know that I also implemented a clemency clause!"

This, in layman's terms, was an appeal system. After a write-up, the accused could either submit an apology or appeal to explain themselves, and based on how it was received by the committee, the prior write-up could be waived. Haruna may have been a stickler for the rules, but she was not without mercy. She believed in fairness and justice, which meant hearing everyone out and taking circumstance into account.

"How kind of you, Chairman," Miyu said, sounding genuinely touched by Haruna's unexpected show of generosity.

Haruna blushed. "Y-you don't need to call me Chairman, Miyu, but…thank you…"

"Hey, that clemon-whatever certainly hasn't benefitted me!" Kurumi put her hands on her hips.

"Or Miiko!" Miiko agreed, putting her hands on her hips as well.

"That's because you two never have a good excuse," Haruna replied, blush fading quickly as she looked ready to lecture them again.

"Awww, don't be like that, Chairmannn!" Kurumi put on her best puppy face. Haruna felt her age-old "Who are you calling Chairman?!" rising up in her throat, but she managed to swallow it back down and only roll her eyes at Kurumi instead. Would she and Miiko never learn?

ooo

Old habits died hard, but Haruna was determined to get it right eventually. There finally came a time when she fully trained out the side of herself that used to respond to the name "Chairman" with defensiveness. She grew accustomed to being addressed as such and associated with positiveness and professionalism. Eventually, she didn't bristle at all when she heard it. If anything, she came to enjoy her new title.

"Hello, Chairman!" one of the student greeted her as they passed each other in the hall.

"Hello!" Haruna beamed back at them, a swell of pride filling her heart at the title.

"I hope all is well today, Chairman?" another student asked.

"Yes, it's been lovely, thank you!" Haruna replied graciously.

"Hey, Chairman, when's the next meeting?" a third student asked.

"Next week after our last class, in the same room as last time!" Haruna said helpfully.

"Thanks, Chairman."

In fact, it finally reached a point where Haruna (sometimes joking, sometimes serious) would chide people for not using her title.

"Hey, Haruna, can you—?!"

"Chairman, if you please," she said, curtseying to show that she meant no offense.

"Oh, yes, right, of course, my apology!" the other student slapped her forehead.

"Pay it no mind. What was your question?"

"Haruna! Over here!" Miyu flagged her down in the dining hall an hour later.

"That's Chairman to you, Ms. Sakurada!" Haruna teased. For a moment, though, Miyu actually looked worried.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Chairman! I didn't mean to offend—"

"No, I was only kidding, Miyu, you can call me whatever you'd like," Haruna smiled shyly, and Miyu looked much relieved.

"Hey! What's going on in here!?" Haruna came back from lunch to find what looked like a fight almost breaking out in the classroom.

"She started it, Haruna, she stole my necklace and—!"

"No, Haruna, don't listen to her! I didn't steal anything! Honest!"

"Haruna—!"

"Ahem! That's Chairman to you all!" She didn't normally use such a harsh, authoritative tone against anyone, but if it reminded everyone who was in charge, and if it prevented a fight from actually breaking out, Haruna would do it.

"Y-yes…Chairman…" Both of the girls looked properly ashamed. They knew better than to defy the orders of Haru—the Chairman.

"Now, let us speak as mature, responsible young ladies. What happened?"

ooo

Once the fight was resolved (it turned out the necklace hadn't been stolen, merely misplaced), Haruna was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Thanks Haru—I mean—Chairman," one of the girls said. Haruna nodded to her politely. She didn't normally insist that her peers use her title all the time, but it did feel nice, and until she was certain all the tension was gone, it was a nice reminder for the others to be on their best behavior. Not everyone adhered to that rule though, of course. After class, Haruna ran into the prime example.

"Hey, Haruna!"

"That's Chairman, to you," Haruna said on reflex.

"Oh, what?! Awww, come on, Haruna, even after school hours?" Kurumi put on her best puppy face.

"My role as Chairman does not end when class does," Haruna replied seriously. Neither of them were blind to the irony of how Haruna used to loathe Kurumi calling her "Chairman", and now she insisted upon it. "You wanted to call me Chairman, so do it," she said.

"Ugh. Ok. Fine. Chairman," Kurumi pouted, and Haruna smiled to herself. It was her own little bit of revenge. "Did you still want to go out with Miyu, Miiko, and I to grab something to eat later?" she asked.

"Sure, I'd love to." Despite herself, Haruna's face softened. She may have insisted Kurumi and the others call her Chairman, but she was still no tyrant about it, and she did not see her herself as any better than any other student of the academy.

"Alrighty then, Chairman!" Kurumi perked up a little. She was never one to remain upset for long. Besides, she could always prank Chairman later to get even with her. "I'll see you then!" She started to turn away, but then she seemed to remember something. "Actually, I made something for you in honor of your new title!" she said, holding out a small, plastic rectangle. Haruna eyed it with suspicion. Was this a prank?

It was one of her old nametags that only read "Haruna Kasuga", although the name had since been crossed out. Now it read "Chair Man".

"Very funny, Kurumi," Haruna rolled her eyes, but she couldn't stop a small smile. It was kind of charming, and it wasn't the worst thing Kurumi could've done. She remembered last year when Kurumi stole everyone's nametags in class and replaced them all with bad words.

"Will you wear it? At least for a little while?" Kurumi asked hopefully. Once again, Haruna was put on high alert, but because she couldn't see how this would end up as a prank, she finally accepted. Maybe she'd wear it just for the rest of today, and then she'd—

"Ha, ha! Looking good, Haruna!" Kurumi teased as Haruna absentmindedly switched out her nametags.

"Hey! Who are you calling Haruna?!" she snapped back…Wait…While she tried to process what she just said, Kurumi snatched the normal nametag (the one that read Chairman Haruna Kasuga) away from her before sprinting away, giggling like a fiend.

"KURUMI!" Haruna/"Chair Man" went sprinting after her.

"Gotta catch me, Haruna!" Kurumi called out over her shoulder, sticking out her tongue as Haruna barreled after her.

"That's Chairman, to you!" Haruna shot back. Haruna or Chairman, it was nice to know that some things never changed.