Since I was already in the student council room for the first time in forever, I figured I'd hear them out.
As I sank into the sofa, Minami Akagi, the council's treasurer, appeared like a shadow, setting down green tea and yokan on the table.
Both were high-end imports from Kyoto. The president, picky as ever, wouldn't touch anything less.
"Thanks," I said.
"You're welcome," Minami replied, retreating quietly.
As her name suggests, Minami is the cousin of Shinjiro Akagi, the vice president. The Akagi family, a branch of the Saionji clan, has served as their retainers for ages.
While Shinjiro's a hot-blooded nerd, Minami's ice-cold and calculating. Polar opposites, but their loyalty to the president? Identical.
That's why I call Ichijo Academy's suspiciously powerful student council Saionji's personal empire.
The president sat at her desk, hands clasped, chin resting on them. The curtain's shadow made her look like a villain in a manga, but did she really need the theatrics?
I kept that thought to myself.
"Kim Yuseong," she said.
"Yes?"
"What are you doing for Golden Week?"
I paused but answered easily. "Nothing planned. My parents run the restaurant, so I'll probably just stay home."
The gym's closed during the holidays, so I'm genuinely out of things to do.
"Perfect," she said. "I need your help then."
"For what?"
She swallowed hard, speaking slowly. "You know I've been working tirelessly on a project, right?"
"The sister school exchange with Russia?"
"Exactly. Last week, we finalized it. After Golden Week, they're sending an exchange student our way."
"Got it." And?
"I want to make a good impression on them. A small, thoughtful gift for their arrival—nothing overwhelming. So, what I mean is…"
For someone usually blunt, she was dragging this out. I got the hint.
"You want me to help pick a gift for the exchange student?"
"Yes! That's it!" she exclaimed, jumping up, then blushing and sitting back down, embarrassed by her outburst.
"I'd be happy to help," I said. "When works for you?"
"I'm flexible," she said quickly. "It's a big ask, so I'll match your schedule."
I checked my phone's calendar. "How about the first day of the holiday, April 29th?"
"Deal!" she replied in half a second.
Her lightning-fast response startled me. She pointed her fan at me, voice stern. "If you back out later claiming you're busy, I won't forgive you!"
"Uh, okay…" I nodded, intimidated by her intensity.
Satisfied, she lowered her fan and started humming, diving into paperwork.
What even is this woman?
Since her business with me seemed done, I started to head back to class but remembered something. "Can I join a club again this year?"
"Sure, go ahead!" she sang, still humming.
Last time I asked, she shot me down hard. Guess catching her in a good mood paid off.
"…That's the best spot!"
"You're clueless, this is the hot place now."
I glanced at Shinjiro and Minami, heatedly debating something, and said goodbye, slipping out quietly.
Student council members can join regular clubs as long as it doesn't interfere with duties. But last year, Saionji's insistence on focusing on council work forced me to quit the board game club mid-second semester, leaving me clubless.
Now, I had a chance to join something again.
Back in class, I was flipping through a club recruitment pamphlet from the newspaper club when Rika walked in.
"Ryu-chan, whatcha reading?" she asked.
I tilted the pamphlet so she could see. "Club recruitment stuff."
"You're a second-year and still not in a club?" she asked, surprised.
I nodded. "Had to quit last year. Thinking of joining something now."
She clapped her hands. "Perfect! Wanna check out clubs with me after school? They're doing tryouts starting today!"
"Tryouts?"
"Yup! Better to try stuff out than fight with paper in class, right?"
She had a point. Last time, I joined the board game club without much thought. I hadn't explored other options.
Sold on her idea, I agreed to tour clubs with her after school.
"Where to first?" Rika asked, buzzing with energy.
"I wanna check out the sports clubs," I said.
"Sports clubs?"
"Yeah, I'm curious how my skills stack up."
Real talk: I'm just a guy who trains like a beast at the local gym. Would that hold up in a real sports club? I've been stuck in a hamster wheel of home, school, and gym, never testing my limits.
Rika's eyes sparkled with mischief. "To the sports field, then!"
"Which club's doing tryouts there?" I asked.
She grinned. "Soccer club!"
The soccer club is Ichijo Academy's most competitive. Sports guys are cool, and soccer's the most accessible sport.
Some join for love of the game, others to bask in fangirl glory.
Among the freshmen, all roughly the same height, one guy stood out.
Why's he here?
Ryohei, the third-year soccer club captain, stared in shock. Kim Yuseong, the guy with terrifying rumors, was among the tryout hopefuls.
My physique was overwhelming. Towering over the average Japanese guy, my muscles were like a walking weapon.
On a high school field, I'd be unstoppable.
This guy's a goldmine! Ryohei thought, already imagining my position.
Rumors? Irrelevant. Ryohei had poured his soul into the soccer club for three years. He loved the game and craved recognition.
But his team lacked anyone who could match his passion. Soccer's a team sport—no one can dominate alone.
If he had even one player close to his level, they could aim for nationals this year. He was that desperate for talent.
"Alright, one at a time, kick the ball," he called.
He had to play it cool. If he seemed too eager, I might bolt to another club.
He'd persuade me subtly, like rain soaking into soil.
One by one, freshmen kicked toward the goal. Finally, my turn came.
Gulp.
I was intimidating sitting down, but up close? Ryohei felt like a dwarf, despite only a 10cm height difference.
"Just kick this?" I asked in a deep voice, eyeing the ball.
"Uh, yeah," Ryohei stammered, nodding quickly.
I stepped back, raised my leg high, and—
BOOM!
The ball exploded off my foot with a deafening sound.
Ryohei whipped his head toward the goal, expecting a score, but the net didn't move. Confused, he looked back and froze.
The soccer ball, which should've withstood a kick, lay shredded at my feet, its side completely torn.
"What the…" Ryohei muttered.
I glanced at my foot, shaking my head. "This isn't for me."
"Next up, basketball club!" Rika chirped, dragging me away.
Ryohei could only stare at my retreating, larger-than-life back.