This meeting started differently than usual.

It could have been because of the new setting: Azami had moved the Elite Ten into the extra-large meeting hall, which only he had the key to. Kinokuni had been successful in confiscating the master-key, so there shouldn't be an issue with barging in. However, it wasn't just the extra space that made this meeting feel empty. Three of the chairs were vacant, as well: the usual one for a missing Erina, but also the chairs first and second seats, leaving two empty spaces at the Headmaster's left and right side. An awkward silence filled the hall, until…

Knock knock knock.

Ding dong.

Echoes. This hall was closer to the door than the previous one, and the emptiness caused the noise to reverberate off the walls.

"NOT TODAY!" Azami shouted at the door, his own voice bellowing back at him. Suddenly, there was a thump. And another. Then the locked doors burst open.

The Elite Ten turned in alarm, to behold… a cow. A GIANT cow. And, on top of the animal, sat none other than…

"TSUKASA!?"

"And Rindou, too!" someone exclaimed, noting the second seat was behind him on the farm animal, arms wrapped around his waist.

The first seat looked queasy, as he woefully moaned, "I'm not sure I'm up for this."

"Stop being such a wuss and go for it!" Rindou proclaimed.

"I still don't know..."

"Just imagine you're cooking," his girlfriend prompted

That seemed to calm Tsukasa down a bit, as his face became serious. With a deep breath and an encouraging nudge, he suddenly belted,

"On the eighth-"

"NOT YOU TOO!"

Ignoring the headmaster's cry, he proceeded, "-day of Christmas, my Rindou gave to me: eight maids a-milking!"

Sure enough, several young maidens in colonial costume scampered into the meeting room and attempted to milk the cow they were riding, as well as the three other cows that had appeared behind them. The line of livestock circled the table, directing the attention to the second cow, where Arato and Aldini rode with their respective fowls.

"Seven swans a-swimming,"

"Six geese a-laying,"

Rindou leapt off the cow onto the meeting room table, spinning around while merrily caroling, "FIVE GOLDEN RINGS!", then laughing hysterically.

By this point, the parade of cows had circled around the table, and was headed back out the door, just in time for the riders of the third cow to add,

"Four calling birds,"

"Three French hens,"

Finally, Alice and Kurokiba turned back to wave at the Elite Ten members as their cow exited the meeting hall, finishing,

"Two turtle doves,"

"and a partridge in a pear tree!"

As Azami stood up to angrily slam the door, Alice quickly squeezed in, "Thank you for your ti-"

THUD.

He was done. Headmaster Nakiri Azami was done, avoiding these Christmas carols. It was too much work for not enough gain. Aloud, he questioned, "Should I call Alice's mother? Would that stop it?"

Rindou shook her head. "Nakiri Lenora was the one who bought the cows."

"I thought..."

"Nah, I bought the maids."

Said maids, who had stayed behind, suddenly thrust a pail of milk in the first seat's face. "Is this good, Master Tsukasa?" one of them pondered in a Swedish accent.

"Uh, yeah, sure, thanks," he hastily replied and dismissed them from the meeting room.

Headmaster Azami suddenly stopped them from leaving, blocking the door as he declared:

"I suppose there are only two things left to say. First, Tsukasa… You truly have a wonderful singing voice."

The choir's most recent addition shifted uncomfortably, before adding, "Um, thanks?"

"See? I TOLD you!" Rindou cheered.

Secondly, he requested, "Maids? Please tell Alice that I'll open the door for her tomorrow; there's no need to barge in again."

The young ladies hastily nodded before rushing off to relay the message.

Hayama sat up in his seat. "What do you mean 'open the door for her'? Isn't this a giant waste of meeting time?"

Azami simply shook his head. "It is, but I can't think of a way to stop it. Besides, it isn't so bad. Don't you find it amusing, to see what they add to their chorus each day?" There was a general murmur of agreement from the Elite Ten, before they settled back down and got to work, trying to ignore the scent of barnyard in the room.

To be continued...