STUDENT COUNCIL

Akage headed for the student council room and hoped the purpose of her summoning wouldn’t stretch into lunch period. She stood in front of the student council room and sighed. She slid the door open and entered.

The student council committee, made up of six students, four males and two girls, sat along with the president of the disciplinary committee. The sitting arrangement was U-shape with a chair and table in the centre for all members to focus on their guest.

Akage sat down on the centre chair without an invitation with a stoic face. She made herself comfortable and stared at Shizuno, who had a confident smirk on her face.

Akage scanned the room and noticed two empty spaces which she believed to be reserved for the President and Vice President of the committee.

The door opened, and a male and female student entered. The committee, including Shizuno, stood, bowed and sat down after the president sat.

The president opened Akage’s file and gave a sly smile.

“We called you here based on the incident in the female dormitory. One of the staff was injured and is unable to present an account yet. We called for your account of the story.” The president said.

Akage response was silence.

The council president, Itona Haruya, placed his hand on the table and smiled more. “You call tell us. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to make things hard for you in this school, given the rumours. I personally want to get to the bottom of this.”

Akage burst into tears. It was awkward, watching someone described as cold, cruel and unrepentant of class 2 crying his eyes out.

“Please don’t cry.” The treasurer of the student council, Sakura Ushio, begged Akage. “You’re too handsome to cry.” She waved her hands nervously.

“If you answer the questions, we’ll make sure everything you say in this room is confidential and we’ll protect you as much as we can. We promise.” She added.

Akage raised her teary eyes at the student council president, Itona, and sniffed.

“Don’t promise me protection. Promise me everything I say will be kept confidential.” Akage pleaded.

“We promise.” Itona gave a verbal agreement.

“I did it. I hurt her.” Akage confessed.

“During sports, I didn’t feel good, so I passed out and when I woke up, I was in a strange room. Miss Ryoko told me she drugged me; I don’t know how, but she did. She started touching me unpleasant and when I told her to stop, she wouldn’t, so I mustered a little strength and pushed her. I tried to run, but the room was locked, and my legs fumbled because of the drugs. I was numb.” Tears escaped Akage’s eyes.

“She didn’t take my rejection to her sexual advances too well and pulled a knife to stab me. We struggled for a while over the knife. I got cut and then I pushed her. She fell hard and smashed her face into the mirror. She said she would make everyone blame me, so he just kept on cutting and cutting herself and screaming and I was terrified of all the blood. She was bleeding out. The blood terrified me, and I passed out until I woke up in the nurse’s office.”

Akage wiped the tears that escaped her eyes with her right hand and sniffed. “I thought I was fine, but I overheard the kohais (juniors) talking about the rumours and I couldn’t focus. I am disturbed because this nightmare is turning into reality. That no one will believe me.”

“Please clean your tears and be a man. We believe you and the nurse mentioned there were traces of drugs found in your blood. I promise we’ll do a strict investigation to bring the truth to light, but until then – I’m afraid you need to take time off school to get yourself. You can resume when we call… for your sake.” Itona informed her.

Akage cleaned her eyes and tried to get her emotions under control.

“Am I getting suspended for giving my account?” Akage asked.

“It’s a safety precaution. We don’t you affecting the ongoing investigation and Miss Ryoko Valentine had a strong reputation so her students could attack you in retaliation and complicate affairs. It’ll also give us time to curtail the rumours until a clear verdict is out. Does that answer your question?” The vice president, Tokyo Tanuki, explained.

Akage nodded.

“You are excused, Akage.” Itona said.

Akage slowly stood up, bowed, and left.

It was time for the committee to discuss.

“It seems Akage isn’t lying. The nurse’s evaluation matches his alibi, and he was drugged from the blood test results. We don’t have any other solid witness to testify.” The secretary, Kotaru, analysed.

“I wonder why Miss Ryoko mentioned nothing except he’s the devil. If she wanted to cause more damage, she would speak more without inflicting that amount of damage.” The accountant, Togo Shiota, stated.

Akage really is as intelligent as ‘Master’ promised she would be. Itona smirked. She must be special for Him to demand I don’t provoke her. Things can finally be interesting.

“Let’s wait for Miss Ryoko’s testimony and continue the investigation because all evidence points to Miss Ryoko as the assailant. Furukawa-san,” Itona faced Shizuno, the president of the disciplinary committee.

“Yes, president.” She replied quickly with admiration.

“I’m leaving the entire investigation in your charge. You are the most capable that I can trust in handling violent cases in our academy unbiased.” Itona said with a docile smile.

“Anything for you, president! I won’t let you down.” She blushed and stomped out.

She slammed the door behind her with excitement.

I’m the only one the president trusts. I won’t let him down, so maybe he’ll reward me. Shizuno thought as she trended down the halls in a jolly mood.

It was lunch and Akage headed for class 1B. The students whispered and gawked as walked past them.

She stopped in front of class 1B and opened the door, searching for her until her eyes locked on her—Hisa Akiyama.

Hisa sat at the corner of the classroom, eyes bent and bothered while tapping her feet. Akage stepped in; her presence drowned the noise in the class as everyone stared in curiosity.

Hisa looked up when a shadow towered over her and gasped. “S-senpai.”

Akage grabbed her wrist and dragged her off her seat. They walked past people in the hall, eyes focused on them, but no one said anything as Akage led her to the school roof. She locked the door behind them and glared at Hisa.

Hisa trembled. She closed her eyes, wondering all the things Akage would do to her as her footsteps got closer and closer.

She deserved it. She wouldn’t blame Akage for anything after being Miss Ryoko’s accomplice.

She gasped when Akage placed her hand on her shoulder and Hisa stared into Akage’s blank face.

Is senpai mad or sad? Why isn’t he saying anything? Hisa thought as she gulped. I’m so scared, I can’t say anything.

Akage raised her other hand and Hisa closed her eyes but the hit she waited for turned into a hug. Hisa stood petrified, and she sobbed when Akage wrapped her arms tightly and cried.

“Senpai, please forgive me. I got you in trouble to get good grades in English; I didn’t know Miss Ryoko would do that. I’m really sorry and I feel so guilty.” She sniffed.

Akage hugged her tighter, unbothered by her tears and expressionless. Hisa struggled to break free, but Akage didn’t let go.

“Don’t you hate me? Why won’t you hit me? Why won’t you say anything hurtful? Why are you hugging me after everything I’ve done? Why are you being nice to me?”

“I’m not being nice. I feel sorry for you.” Akage confessed. “I’ve watched you for a while, and I know a few things about you. You have many friends, but you’re struggling to meet their standards. They treat you like an outcast and you sat with your lunch, alone. I’m only comforting you.”

Akage stepped back. “If you want my forgiveness and to be free of that guilt. Tell the student council the truth. I was suspended because of your foolishness, so do the right thing, Hisa, if you’re sincerely sorry.” Akage advised.

She left the school roof and Hisa fell to the ground, staring blankly as streams of tears fell down her eyes.

The sound of the bell rang, and Hisa got up from the ground, heading for class. She paused when she stopped on the path to the student council and paused.

Senpai has never done anything bad to me. If telling the truth is the only way I can help him; Hisa ran towards the student council room. I want to do it for him.

She barged in the middle of a meeting, panting with her face flushed.

“President Haruya, I have a confession to make.” She said under her breath.

“Can it wait? We’re having a meeting.” Itona responded with a shocked expression.

“No! It can’t! I’m Hisa Akiyama from class 1B. Akazawa-senpai didn’t do anything wrong because I was the one who put the drugs in her drinks in the lunch I made.” She yelled.

All the committee members except the president gasped, eyes wide and speechless at another piece of information.

“Why don’t you sit down so we can talk?” Itona requested, with his arms stretched to the chair.

She took the vacant seat in the centre with her head lowered.

“You understand that if what you are saying is true, there will be serious consequences, including the risk of expulsion?” The vice president, Tokyo, asked as she adjusted her glasses.

“Yes.” Hisa replied.

The committee looked at the president and discussed with Hisa, asking questions related to the case while Shizuno joined them and listened to the questions.

“Do you believe Akage Akazawa is capable of harming anyone, including you if he were to find out?” Shizuno asked, and Hisa shook her head.

“Akazawa-senpai isn’t that type of person. He isn’t the friendliest, but he’s not someone who can cause any harm to another or wish evil.”

“What makes you so sure?” Shizuno asked. “What is your guarantee?”

Hisa hesitated. “I don’t have any guarantee.”

“Now, now Shizuno, let’s not put pressure on the first year. It takes a lot of guts to announce something like that.” Itona said.

“Of course, president.”

“We should discuss her punishment.” Itona said and exhaled.