This is… not going well.

I started off strong in north Africa, pushing up into Europe and threatening South America, but it's there that the wheels fell off in terms of my plan.

Shizune's an apt hand at this, aware that losses are inevitable and that taking cards trumps getting territory bonuses.

Compound that with the fact that Misha is opportunistically picking on me whenever she can, and conveniently ignoring our alleged common enemy, and the game's a lost cause.

"Yeah, I can't salvage this. I forfeit."

I sit up straight, then continue into a full stretch.

Dust gently drifts down from the shelves and windowsill, particles swirling in the sunlight that bears down through the windows.

The school has mostly gone quiet, with classes and almost all club activities over. If I stood up to look out at the track, there'd still be the occasional straggler out there.

"Micchan! You can't quit!"

I most certainly can, even though Shizune's glaring daggers at me.
"Shicchan says quitting before the last move primo-no wait, prematurely forfeits your ability to pull off a daring recovery at the end!"

Misha delivers it with vitality – this is something they both feel strongly about, perhaps?

"Unless these six-sided dice start coming up sixes for only myself all of the time, it's mathematically impossible. I don't want to waste time reaching a conclusion that is not only inevitable, but also only fun for you."

Shizune rolls her eyes, tapping the rightmost European field on the Risk board before making a set of deliberate gestures.
"Doesn't the struggle have inherent value? Even though it might mathematically not work out, your mindset is strengthened by fighting to the bitter end!"

Misha brings a hand up to her mouth and laughs after saying that:
"Shicchan, you're so competitive!"

I barely resist rolling my eyes at the anime protagonism she's pushing.

"If I wanted my inherent value from struggle, I'd go run track instead of playing a board game."

Something shifts in the way Shizune peers over her glasses – perhaps bringing up her main competitor for my extracurricular time wasn't the best call.

Two gestures, wide and sweeping, then a series of quick cuts through the air.

"Shicchan says that, since we're not outside, the point is moot."

Taking a deep breath, I turn to Misha:
"Hey Misha, do you like playing Risk?"

She's clearly unsure what to make of the hard topic switch, judging from the way her eyebrows curl downwards, but decides to play along.

"I, uh, I do! I think it's really neat to turn in the cards and get a whole load of tanks from nowhere!"

"Right? I like that too. But why do you play Risk?"

This is where I lose her, I think.

"Because… it's fun?"

"Did you have fun playing?"

Shizune's been following the conversation – Misha can't help but relay – and decides to interject.

"Shicchan, wait…" she's a bit deflated, "Not really? Like, it was fun until you decided to forfeit."

"But that means you'd win, isn't that part of the fun?"

I'm being annoying, but Hakamichi started it.

"Yes, but…" she looks at the board, "You guys made it weird."

Shizune's controlled expression cracks for a second – as if Misha's take on the situation was supposed to stay a polite omission.

"It was a good game," I offer.

"It's fine, Micchan…" she trails off.

Shizune gives me the stink-eye for a couple of seconds, but eventually something clicks in her mind and she adjusts her posture and throws on her usual slightly smug expression.

"We graciously accept your surrender. Your people will be taken good care of in the new Yamaku nation."

"Oh, so you admit it was a team effort?"

"Bwahahahah! He's got you there, Shicchan~!"

And just like that, the heavy feeling in the air is gone… but something changed between me and Shizune, I think.

The bright light has turned a gentle orange, the first stages of a sunset.

I sit up from our table, stretching out and taking off my glasses to give them a quick wipe with the hem of my shirt.

"So, if it's alright with you two, I think I'll call it a day."

"But Micchan, we didn't get to ask - "she pauses, catching a sign from Shizune.

"Ask me to join the Student Council, right? I don't want to commit to anything at the moment, so I don't know. Can you ask me again in a few weeks?"

"Not commit… oh, non-commitment! Yes, Micchan, non-commitment is a bad quality, Shicchan says."

As is pressuring people.

"Maybe next time we'll have some actual fun with the game. I'm sure the three of us can figure it out."

Part of me gets that she's just trying to be nice to the new kid, but Hakamichi's aggressive style is as grating as it's helpful.

I don't necessarily want to rule out joining the council, but if she's going to hound me about it, I'd say no just to make it stop.

"Well, okay! I guess we'll see you in class tomorrow, then."

And that was that for the day.

It's not long before the duo corner me again.

I say 'corner', but it's not like I'm complicit in the process, having accepted their invitation to a teahouse they seem to enjoy frequenting during our lunch break.

Shizune basically marches down the hill to the location, and I can't help but admire the intensity with which she approaches… well, basically everything.

They're certainly an odd couple – the energetic and airheaded Misha and the all-business Shizune – but it works, and their company is quite agreeable for what little time I have for lunch.

"Welcome, thank you for patronizing this establishment!" a relatively young-looking woman says, presumably the waitress.

"Hi, Yuu-chan!" Misha greets.

"Oh, you're familiar?"

"Yuu-chan works in the library! You didn't stop in there?"

Didn't really feel the need to, no.

"Oh, that's cool. Pleasure to meet you, I'm Mitsuaki."

"Hello!" she's enthusiastic, but then checks herself, probably recalling she's on the clock: "Should I get you two your usual lunch orders?"

I check my watch – not enough time for a meal, but I guess I could have some tea. The place, at least, feels modern, despite some old-timey trappings.

"Yup! Shicchan will have her usual, and I'll have green tea with honey."

"I'll have black tea with some milk."

The librarian-waitress jots it down, muttering to herself all the while. I quickly tune her out.

"It's a nice place," I say.

"So, Micchan, have you thought some more about joining the Student Council?"

I raise an eyebrow. It seems like it's too soon to be asking about that again.

"Uh, didn't you ask about that just recently?"

Shizune seems a bit smug when Misha translates.

"A man should be decisive, Micchan!"
Ah, so that's how it is.

"Look, Hakamichi-san, Mikado-san, I appreciate you taking the time to look out for the new guy, but I don't feel good about being strong-armed into joining the Student Council."

I assume the ploy was to wine and dine me into forgetting how little time I actually have for lunch – it's a good idea, but I don't understand why she'd go to such lengths – this is Shizune all the way, Misha doesn't have the cunning for it I think.

"I decisively don't want to be pressured into it… and please excuse me, but I'll have to leave now if I want to make it back to school in time for my next class."

I grab the menu and look over the prices, and then fish out the appropriate coinage from my uniform's inside pocket.

"Micchan, wai-"

Before they can stop me, I stand up from the table and bow to them.

"Thank you for showing me to this place, I hope we can meet here again."

I'm being deliberately distant, and part of me is aware it's a cold and mean-spirited way of handling it, but then again, so was trying to manipulate me.

Much like the original story's first act, the protagonist will have an introductory interaction with every member of the cast, but only Lilly will have any prominence beyond the original beats of Shizune's route.

Well, that's if we ignore the key scene near the end. Someone else comes in there.