Chapter 2: As Expected, He Would Take On Another Request

We began our operation the day after we came up with our plan. The gist of it is that, in the afternoon, we would have one person pretend to invite Isshiki out for dinner. Then, that person would lead her to the other two of us, who would talk to her about her new bill. Naturally, the task of the fake dinner host fell upon Yuigahama, as with Yukinoshita and I, our gaze alone would probably make Isshiki run for her life.

As Yuigahama went around school looking for Isshiki, the other two of us waited in the courtyard. We watched endless trails of students head toward the gate in the hopes we would catch the President as she went home.

We have been waiting for our bubbly host to show up with her honored guest for about an hour at that point, but there seemed to be no progress whatsoever. Understandably, Yukinoshita became visibly unhappy, probably because it randomly gets humid at that time of year.

"So, tell me again, Hikigaya-kun," said Yukinoshita, who were standing next to me,
"Why are we trying to approach Isshiki-san when the other day you were adamant that we don't do that?"

"I said that it's too early for Hiratsuka-sensei to approach her. I never said anything about us doing that." I said.

"And why is it your concern exactly who approaches her? In fact, wouldn't it be more effective if Hiratsuka-sensei were to talk to Isshiki-san? Why are you trying to get her involved in some rotten antics of yours?"

The fact that it would be effective is why we cannot end this now.

"You already figured out the reason. Heck, weren't you speaking in my favor the other day?" I said.

"No, I figured out why we wouldn't want to end this now. What I haven't figured out is why you wouldn't want to do so."

It was because I had an inkling that there had to be more to the story than this, an elaborate origin to this seemingly contrived order of events. And the fact that I somehow had that inkling was why I was faced with such a dilemma.

"I already told you, I don't believe Isshiki is stupid enough to do something like this."

"Heh~?.." Yukinoshita said as she looked at me with an icy cold gaze, "So you must really put your trust in Isshiki-san, don't you?"

Eek! Yukino-san, scary!

"Ahem.. In a word, yes."

"Hmm~? I see."

Everyday, I wonder if I keep coming closer to getting slain with a Winter Rapier.

We waited for a bit more, until Yuigahama ran out of the school building to meet us, weary… and alone. Yukinoshita quickly rushed to Yuigahama who was panting aggressively with a face covered in sweat.

"Yuigahama-san, are you okay?" she said as she got hold of the runner.

"Yeah.. ha.. Ha.. I'm.. fine.. Mostly, haha." Yuigahama said.

As Yukinoshita brought the exhausted girl to the nearest bench, I decided to run off and find the nearest vending machine. Since the machine in the courtyard was broken that day, I had to run some distance back into the building to find one that was in order. Having found one, I grabbed a handful of coins and shoved a couple into the coin slot, dropping some pennies in the process.

As the bottle of water dropped into the compartment below, I heard footsteps and once again some aggressive panting coming my way. As I grabbed the bottle and stood up, the footsteps suddenly stopped.

I quickly turned toward the person, amazed at their abundance of stamina, "You two didn't have to come all the way here, I was about to– "

But it turns out, that wasn't Yuigahama and Yukinoshita. The person stared back at me with the same astonishment that I felt toward them. They fought through the exhaustion and began uttering.

"S– Senpai.. Ha.. ha.. "

"Isshiki.."

"Ha.. ha.. What are you doing here, Senpai?"

I could ask the same about you.

"Here." I said, handing her the bottle of water.

"T– Thank you very much!" Isshiki said as ripped the bottle out of my hand.

I squatted back down to collect the pennies that I dropped earlier, and while that was happening, Isshiki started chugging away.

"So, why exactly are you on the verge of dying?" I asked the girl.

Isshiki almost spat out her drink.

"Oh! Uhh.. I was.. I was busy! Yeah! With Student Council matters!"

"So it has literally been two weeks after you got elected, and you are swimming in piles of work?"

"Y– Yeah!"

"Yeah right, good luck telling that to Hiratsuka-sensei later on."

"Wha– "

Isshiki stopped drinking and stared at me. After her moment of eureka, her expression turned to that of suspicion.

"..So that was your idea? That stupid chase with Yui-senpai just now?"

"Heh.. you're giving me too much credit, Irohasu."

Instead of calming her down, that gesture seemed to have creeped her out instead. Isshiki let out a sigh.

"So, what do you want, Senpai?"

"You already know what I want to ask, so why don't you stop feigning ignorance now?"

"Ahaha, I knew you would do something like this. I'm starting to think, maybe.. I shouldn't have gone to you in the first place."

Ouch! That really stings, President Iroha!

"Tell me, Isshiki, why would you do something so stupid?"

"Hey, don't call it stupid!" she said with a pose that looked like she was about to slap me.

I didn't, Hiratsuka-sensei did.

But to that question, she only smiled back at me.

"I'm not in the position to say… and.. "

Isshiki threw the now empty bottle into the bin and faced me.

"Don't take this the wrong way, it's only because it's you that I'm willing to say this to your face, but I don't trust you.. or anyone else for that matter."

I see, so that is how it is.

She continued.

"And it doesn't really help your case that you're preparing something behind my back, y'know, Senpai?"

I thought to myself, if this is truly the position I find myself in, then how was I supposed to deal with this issue? But doing that just makes things worse, doesn't it?

"Then what would an idiot have to do to gain your trust?"

With that question, her guilt-filled eyes started to kindle with hope. Isshiki then approached me slowly.

"Consider this a request, not to the Service Club, but a personal request to you, Hikigaya-senpai."

Isshiki ran her hands down the lapel of my blazer and straightened up any imperfections she found. After she padded them flat against my shirt as a final touch, she took one step back.

"Please keep on doing whatever you're doing, whatever.. plans or.. schemes you're cooking up this time, but go at it slowly. And please, as long as I'm still unsure about my own situation, never, ever, utter my name. If you can do that, I'll surely come back to you."

Of course, with all the circumstances that fell upon us, I wasn't sure how much of this promise I could keep. Heck, I had already failed the latter part before I even began. But as unsure as I was, I nonetheless gave her the nod, because it's what you have to do. Isshiki Iroha may be the second rotten person in school, but if it is a spectacle she wants, then it is a spectacle that she shall get. That, I swear.

And as if she had an earpiece on, and somebody on the other side told her she had forgotten to be in character, Isshiki suddenly backed off with her face all disgusted. She swiftly delivered her bit.

"Huh, Senpai are you by any chance hitting on me? I'm sorry but I already have someone in mind for prom. I really appreciate your kind gesture and all, but I'd be really happy if you never approached me again."

Sigh.

I bought another bottle of water for Yuigahama, and went my separate way.

"Just, whatever. I'll be off then."

"Hey, at least you could play your part, Senpai!.. Man, you're no fun!"

Thus, I had taken on another task.

The next day, Hiratsuka-sensei happened to come to the classroom early. It was that time in the morning where the bulk of Hayama's clique, including Hayama himself, hadn't arrived yet.

Amazingly, Yuigahama were the earliest to come in. Whether this was a one off miracle, or a genuine change of attitude (or she was just exhausted from running around yesterday and slept early), I couldn't help but gain some respect for her.

She then lost it immediately by dragging me from my desk to Hiratsuka-sensei, and proceeded to explain our activities yesterday to her. In front of the classroom.

"What? What do you mean you couldn't 'catch' her?" said Hiratsuka-sensei, who was understandably confused, "I thought your plan was to just ask her what was going on?"

"Th– That was the plan, Sensei!" said Yuigahama, whose face had gone a spectacular shade of red.

"Then how exactly did you end up trying to catch her?"

Wonderful question, Sensei! I was wondering the same exact thing yesterday.

"So I approached her in the hallway, and invited her to dinner, right?"

"Okay, that makes sense, that's a part of your plan."

"Then she declined. She said she was busy."

"A– Ahuh. Then what?"

As she listened, Hiratsuka-sensei gradually took on an expression that screams 'I know where this is going'.

"So I insisted! I asked her again and she still said 'no'!".

"Y– yeah, and?"

"So I kept asking and asking, but instead of caving, she just ran off!"

Hiratsuka-sensei buried her face under her hands as she tried to recover from second hand embarrassment. Yuigahama, who seemed to not understand the concept of personal space.. or common sense, tried to support her teacher.

"S– Sensei, are you alright?!"

"Are you stupid, Yuigahama?!"

"Y– Yes, I am stupid! I'm sorry, please don't hit me!"

The teacher took one very, very deep breath and turned to me.

"So? What about you Hikigaya, did you see Isshiki at all yesterday?"

"No, Sensei. Yukinoshita and I stayed stand-by in the courtyard in case she stumbled upon us on her way out but.. neither of us saw her at all yesterday."

She took another deep breath, her face becoming increasingly pale.

"...Can you guys really handle this?"

By that point, more people had come in, and the classroom gradually got noisier as usual. One person in particular came straight to the front after they entered. Someone with a fiery persona who cuts through the hoard of those who she deemed below her.

"Good morning, Hiratsuka-sensei. Yo, Yui. Yo, Hikio."

Who the heck are you?! Are you the real Miura?! Why are you greeting me?!

"Yahallo, Yumiko!"

"..Oh, good morning, Miura."

Miura, seeing the state that her homeroom teacher was in, immediately rushed to the latter's side.

"Sensei, are you okay? You don't look so good."

The girl then brought out a peculiar item from her school bag, a white tube no bigger than a lip balm stick. The tube was separated in half by a blue cylinder, of which at the bottom half was a flower logo and its brand name printed in a language I don't recognize. She twisted off the hollow cap, which was about half the length of the tube, exposing a slit at the top.

"Here, this'll help." Miura said as she wagged the thing right below her teacher's nose.

Hiratsuka-sensei took a couple of sniffs before her face suddenly brightened up. Miura then handed her the product, to which she happily continued using.

It was good that my homeroom teacher seemed better, but I had to think, What the heck is in that thing?! And Hiratsuka-sensei seemed to have the same suspicion.

"What's this, Miura?... It's not something illegal is it?"

"Of course not, Sensei! It's a nasal inhaler – that one I handed you is mint scented. I went abroad to the tropics last year and found one of those at a local shop. I tried one and immediately fell in love with it so I bought a bunch back home."

"I see. I gotta say, this thing is great. Fixed my migraine right up."

"You can have that one, Sensei. Like I said, I have loads at home!"

"Really? Thanks, Miura! I see that even you can be kind at times."

Wow! Phrasing, Sensei! Although Miura, with that prideful smile of hers, didn't seem to interpret that the same way I did. She then proceeded to take a selfie with Hiratsuka-sensei with the dang thing. Somehow I just had to cringe at the sight of a teacher holding up a product along with a peace sign for a photo..

I guess it's not so surprising that Miura would have such an exotic item. It's one of those things you can show to your friends and say 'hey, look at what I have!'. What an item worthy of such an owner.

"But now that you're here, Miura, I have a question for you."

"Yes, Sensei?"

Hold on, don't tell me she's gonna..

"What do you think of the new bill from the Student Council?"

The crazy woman, she went ahead and did it!

"Oh yeah, Yumiko! You must have some opinions, right? Being the Class Rep and all." Yuigahama said.

That's right. Miura Yumiko, Representative of Class 2F. What a position worthy of such an exemplary individual. I could keep going.

"Bill? Oh, you mean that thing that Iroha told me to announce on Monday?.. Hmm.. opinion, huh?"

While I genuinely appreciate Miura's effort in trying to analyze the situation objectively, I also genuinely believe all of that effort was in vain. Considering the current state of things, this can only go one way, can't it?

"It's some complicated stuff about money, so I don't really get it. But I'm not really worried, though, since Hayato is there to help Iroha out."

"I see." Hiratsuka-sensei said, "But now that you mention it, it's true that the presence of upperclassmen in her team should keep her in line on some things."

"Right, Sensei? I'm sure our friends can figure something out." Yuigahama said.

Then, Hiratsuka-sensei looked over Miura's shoulders and grinned as if what she was waiting for had finally arrived.

"Speaking of the devil.. Hey, Hayama."

Hayama had just arrived when the classroom was almost full. He had tried to come in quietly and ignore what was going on near the blackboard, but he had forgotten one important fact that I also always have to re-learn the hard way: the homeroom teacher is all-seeing.

"..Yes, Hiratsuka-sensei?"

"Come see me at the Service Club this afternoon, I have something to talk to you about."

"Y– Yes, Sensei." Hayama said before furtively continuing the journey to his desk.

This whole thing is a disaster.