"That was quick." I think dryly to myself. I reach down to pack up my own stuff and am just standing up, prepared to leave, when suddenly Misha and Shizune appear at either side of my desk, flanking me.

"What's with the escort? This doesn't make me feel very comfortable." I question, mock-confused.

"Wahahaha! What's wrong, Hicchan?" Misha and Shizune's hands are busy translating and signing. I could probably barge past them if I really needed to.

"That's right, we're just going to go play a game of Risk, remember?" Misha says.

I don't know, Misha, this all seems a little sinister to me. I start thinking that when we sit down to play the game, they'll tie me down and torture me until I agree to join the Student Council.

I don't think they would appreciate hearing that, though. Getting to the student council room is as simple as turning two corners from where we started.

"What? That's it? This makes you guys being so on top of me seem a little silly." I say, fighting off a strange mix of bemusement and exasperation. What's the word...?

"That's not true, Hicchan. Shicchan says that when their life is threatened, people have shown the capability to pull off superhuman bursts of speed."

I pause.

"My life is threatened?" Her expression unchanging, Misha signs something to Shizune, who makes an - odd - face and puts her hands behind her back, looking pleased with herself.

"Mm...hm hm hm..."

Misha feigns deafness and hums cheerily. Stop that, I know you heard me; you have no excuse, unlike Shizune.

And I know Shizune knows.

Shizune opens the door to the student council room. It's a very plain, sparsely decorated room, although it is quite large. There's a big table in the center surrounded by chairs, and a smaller desk prominently placed in the back that I assume is Shizune's. There are a few regular desks and chairs stacked to one side, as well. Extras, perhaps?

Aside from the tables and chairs, the room doesn't have much else to offer. Just a couple of filing cabinets and bookshelves stacked with old school records and documents. Not much else. In fact, nothing else.

This is... a pretty bleak room. They could at least put a potted plant in here, or something. But the most noticeable thing that this room doesn't have is other people.

"Are we early?" I ask. 'Right after school' is a pretty specific time, though.

"No." Misha says, in a decidedly cheerful tone.

"What do you mean 'no'? Does it mean nobody else is coming today?" There's a slightly longer silent conversation between the two girls after I finish talking.

"Yeah, that's right." She says in that lilting tone of hers.

Before I manage to ask why that's the case, Shizune claps her hands together very energetically.

"Do you want to know the rules for Risk? We can explain to you while we set everything up!" While Misha is talking, Shizune takes out what looks like a board game from behind one of the filing cabinets and throws it on the table.

Actually, this looks kind of interesting.

After Misha spends a while running through the basics with a vague and confusing tutorial, Shizune cuts in and declares the game has started with a decisive motion, slicing her arm through the air.

Shizune's aggressiveness is rubbing off onto me. I start feeling more competitive than I intended to be when I agreed to this.

Halfway into the game, while I wonder how to defend against Shizune's assault from two fronts, Misha breaks my concentration by drumming her fingers on the table to get my attention.

"Hicchan, Shicchan wants you to know that you are taking too long to make a move."

"There aren't any rules for that." I say, deciding to let go of the territory in favor of expanding elsewhere. It's a lost cause, anyways, having too many borders to defend...and, of course, I can easily reclaim them later, if necessary.

"Shicchan also says that she will let you keep Australia if you agree to join the Student Council!"

I send more game pieces to Australia.

"No."

Shizune grins.

"Shicchan admires your fighting spirit and would be a benevolent dictator who will spare your people if you agree to join the Student Council!"

"She won't need to. She isn't winning this game." I'm doing respectably well, I think, keeping hold of Australia and rapidly stacking up reinforcements to funnel elsewhere.

I launch a side attack and claim one of her territories, spreading out over the abandoned continent. Unfortunately, it winds up costing me Australia.

Shizune bursts into a flurry of gestures. Misha looks daunted by the pace of her heated signing.

"Ah, wait, please slow down, Shicchan... Um, Hicchan! Shicchan says you're going to lose!"

Things aren't looking too well. I've certainly kept up a respectable game, all things considered, but it appears that she has a better grasp on the game than I do.

"Tell her I will crush her world empire with my rebellion."

"Ah... Okay..."

Shizune's eyes shine with childlike mischief.

"She says you have no chance if you keep playing like this!"

She is either really mocking me, or trying to trick me. I have nothing else to lose, though, so I might as well try something different. Maybe if I spread out my forces and try to control more territories, I can recoup the advantage.

Shizune seems to focus on conquering whole nations, so maybe I can sacrifice my hold on continents to gain more small countries. It's worth a shot.

A dozen turns later, I end up losing the game anyway. Shizune adjusts her glasses victoriously and allows herself to tentatively pump a fist in the air in celebration.

"I win, I win! Yay!" Misha translates.

"There's no need to translate that, it was pretty clear." I return dryly.

"Wahaha! Don't look so sad, Hicchan! You were really giving it your best, that's what I thought! Sometimes, your best just isn't good enough, though. If anyone knows that, it's me! You did very well for someone who just learned how to play today!"

This is one of those times where not knowing who says what is a severe detriment. I caught that little hint of wistful self-pity in the mix of words, but both of their faces radiate appropriate amounts of happiness and satisfaction.

"Hicchan, you attacked Iceland and North America at the same time, that's a very daring move. Shicchan is impressed!"

I blink.

"The mark of great people is that they are daring, and that they can follow through! You're already halfway there; isn't that great, Hicchan?"

"No." I say blankly. She continues on.

"That isn't enough though; just potential isn't enough! There is no point to potential if you don't take the first step, and there is no point to that if you don't keep going. I want to see more."

"You're right, Shicchan, but, that's so demanding..."

"Slave driver..." I quietly, playfully concur under my breath. Misha hears it and translates anyways, Shizune's mock glare being her response.

Shizune leans forward, suddenly looking a lot less playful and more like the serious person I expected her to be.

"Hicchan, would you like to join the Student Council?" She really doesn't waste any time, does she?

"I'm...not sure. Maybe. I'll get back to you on it." I leave them with a half-hearted answer.

I don't think I'm at all willing to commit to anything so early. I don't mind the friendship, but it's joining something potentially time-consuming and requiring dedication that I can't risk until I know what I'm in for.

But, somewhere between this morning and now, my resistance to joining the Council has crumbled a bit. I am of course aware that it won't be all fun and games, but…

"Okay, Hicchan! But, I hope you're not just saying that so we don't feel bad." Misha says, after a short conversation with Shizune.

"No, really." And I will consider it.

"Really?" Misha asks disbelievingly.

"Really."

"Hicchan, if you're going to say that, you're saying that it is definitely the truth, and there can't be any mistaking it!"

"Yeah, I know. I guess I should have my revenge for losing, at the very least."

Shizune smiles at that in a mischievous way that feels like twisting the knife in the wound of my loss. I take a glance at the clock on the wall and realize I've spent far longer playing Risk than I expected.

"Sorry, I think I have to go. I wanted to go to the library. It's not closed yet, is it?" Shizune scratches her hand and gestures at Misha as I scoop my bag off the ground. How hard can it be to determine whether the library is open? There's a clock right there on the wall.

"We... think the library is open. It's on the second floor; can't miss it. Do you want us to show you where it is?"

I remember my morning wandering.

How hard can it be, right? It's not like the library should be that hard to find. Now that I have a better idea of the layout of the floors, I won't be stumbling into dead ends.

"I should be fine. Thanks, though." I flash a genuine smile at them.

Even with the personality clash, they're really kind people. That's not something to be ignored.

"Okay. See you tomorrow!" Misha says cheerfully, as I wave. Shizune mimics my gesture, an odd grin on her face as I shut the door to the student council behind me.