When I first stepped into the Student Council room, it reminded me of a lion's den, but with a touch of grandeur akin to a throne room. Towering blue-gilded doors, polished marble floors, and walls draped in rich velvet tapestries of gleaming silver swords with two angelic wings.
The overwhelming presence of grandeur wasn’t the cause for it to be like a den of hungry predators, but the Student Council themselves, all appraising me with shrewd gazes.
A U-shaped table encircled the room, with the head raised on rare marble. The outer seats were delicate dark wood with lavender cushions. In contrast, the head table’s chairs were all-white, had longer backs, and silver filigree on the handles and legs with chess piece engravings on the backs of them.
The room crept with whispers of the other members along the sides, while the main table kept their composure with straight faces and masked smiles. Yet, we all shared the same thought.
“Are we even going to give him a chance to speak?” Fergus said, breaking the silence with a hushed whisper. “We haven’t had a non-didactic club in quite some time. I think the other members will eat him alive.”
Two seats down to my left was Fergus O’Takeem, the Council’s Sports and Recreation Manager. His tan, sun-beaten skin complimented his dark-brown messy hair and cunning honey-gold eyes. His school’s blazer and equipped black aiguillette wrapped around his waist showcased his impressive athletic body, strong biceps, and rounded pecs peaking above his unbuttoned white shirt.
Chihiro, sitting beside me, smiled nervously with a thoughtful hum. She then glanced over at Toshiaki, sitting beside me to my left.
“What do you think, Toshi? You’re a lot more accustomed to the Council’s politics. How do you think they’ll react?” Chihiro asked.
Toshiaki sat in the middle chair to the right of me. His hands interlocked in front of his face with a pondering glance, fitting for his contemplative stature. Dark-blond hair, though curled partly to make room for his handsome face, with sprouted tuffs at different spots in his hair. Sometimes, whenever he’s deep into his studying, I like to play with them and create devil horns on the top of his head.
However, now may not be the right time for that.
As the thought passed through my mind, my lips curled into a smile. Toshiaki glanced over at me, a hinting smile growing beneath his fingertips.
“What’re you thinking about, love?” He asked.
“N-nothing.” I mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
“… Who does she think she is? Coming here without her uniform on.” A girl whispered at one of the longer tables.
“… She must think she’s better than us.” Another girl agreed.
Toshiaki glared in their direction, making their eyes widen, then turned to the side with shorter whispers.
He’s always like that. Defending me without giving me a chance to react. He knows I can stand up for myself, but he does it anyway. Maybe because he knows I’d blow it out of proportion. He knows me a lot more than I know myself. That’s for sure.
“You are bold for coming to the first meeting without your uniform,” Toshiaki said. “Knowing you, I thought you’d want to show it off.”
Chihiro gasped with a nod. “That’s what I said, Toshi! We think so much alike! My brains must be rubbing off on you!”
Toshiaki clawed his hands together; A grunt beneath his breath as a smirk curved onto his lips.
“Hilarious, Chihiro… And who was it you asked to help you study for exams last year?”
“You, of course!”
“And whose name is on the notes you mooched off of all last year?”
“Yours too!”
Toshiaki’s eyes widened as he glanced to the side. “Then how the hell do you have more brains than…!—“
Other council members glanced, making Toshiaki bow and lean back in his seat with a sigh.
“Never mind.”
Chihiro’s mischievous giggles made Toshiaki grip his chair’s handles with clenched teeth.
She’s the only person I’ve known to get under Toshiaki’s skin. Usually, he’s calm and collected, but it’s just something about her personality that makes him break character like that. Not even I can—
“The first candidate is here, President.” A stern girl’s voice announced beside Fergus.
Aisha stood up and began walking to the long double doors of the Council room, silencing the waves of whispers with the clacks of her black-inched heels. Her beautiful caramel complexion was flawless… something I hated to admit. Long eyelashes, amber eyes, and silken brown twisted braids wrapped like vines around her head, showing her South Pacific heritage.
I used to joke about her hairstyle style being used to choke people into submission. She and I haven’t talked since our mothers cut business ties with each other. Ever since then… it’s been pretty cold between us.
Her aiguillette was silver, intertwined with gold to represent she was last year’s president. Though it was obvious, she still had a lasting influence on the council.
Aisha bowed her head as the doors spread ajar. Walking past her was a young boy with a confident stride, dark skin, and low brown dreadlocks. A wide-hooded, puffy black jacket concealed his uniform. He stopped in the room's center. The silver chain around his neck and gold cross-earring glinted in the passing window panes.
Toshiaki stood up and bowed his head. “Tiger Quinn. First-year student, with the highest ranking exams in your class. I must congratulate your accolades. An impressive feat to overcome our Vice President indeed.”
I felt my jaw tighten as I glared at the boy.
So this is him… I expected someone nerdy, to be honest.
Apathetic, Tiger tilted his head, hands in his pocket.
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“Your submission for this year has… caught the council’s attention, to say the least,” Toshiaki said. "Our academy hasn't seen a club like this in a long time. Regarding the submission logs from a few years ago.”
Tiger shrugged his shoulders. “Cool, I guess.”
Toshiaki’s eye twitched. He then grinned and raised two fingers, causing the submission form to appear on a white holo screen in front of all the council members.
“High Royal Gamers Club. I like the name, a sense of regality to it. Do you mind telling us how you came up with it?” Toshiaki asked.
“It sounded cool. That’s pretty much it.” Tiger said.
“It sounded… cool. I see. Well, I suppose simplicity is a good virtue to have. Right, Mr. Quinn?”
“Tiger’s fine.”
“Apologies, Tiger.”
Toshiaki then scrolled down the submission form. “Seya Academy is the most prestigious school in New Tokyo. They founded the council many years ago to uphold the standard for students, and in that regard, facilitating what sort of extracurriculars are provided to our body.”
Tiger nodded.
“If that’s understood, then it’s rather complicated to understand why we would have a ‘Gamer’s Club’ at a school for the top performers of New Tokyo. While I’m on your side, some of my cohorts may be uncertain. Would you mind explaining your reasoning?”
Tiger scrunched his eyes with a raised eyebrow. “What do you mean ‘reasoning’? Gaming’s fun. It helps build bonds or whatever. Enough said.”
Some whispers and idle chatter echoed through the room. Aisha raised from her chair and glanced over to Toshiaki, who nodded and sat down.
“Seya clubs primarily focus on academics or have a learning objective. Students join these clubs for prospective companies and agencies to hire them for an internship once they move up to Seya U. Robotics, Agriculture, and Mathematics, all have a central idea, and companies looking for students with advancing skills. What our President and the council are inquiring is what will gaming provide for students?” Aisha asked, then sat down.
Tiger smirked, then threw his hands out of his pockets.
“Ever heard of the new VRMMO game, Callixtus, by chance?” Tiger asked.
Toshiaki’s eyes widened. He glanced over to Chihiro, who choked while taking a sip of her coffee and began patting her chest.
“What? You two know the game?” I asked.
“No!” they exclaimed in unison.
Okay… That’s suspicious. But I haven’t heard about it. What’s the big deal, though? It’s just a game, isn’t it?
Toshiaki straightened his tie with a mouthed cough. “Ahem. What’s so special about this game, Tiger? Elaborate.”
“I can’t believe so many people live in a bubble.” Tiger groaned while scratching the back of his head. “It has one of the most advanced AI-coordinating game systems to date, an entire economy run by players, and tons of roles to choose from. Not just adventuring, but maintaining small towns and even entire kingdoms.”
A few murmurs surrounded the room.
“Look. If you want a reason for the club’s creation, then check this out.” Tiger said while raising his hands.
“Gaming is a hobby that’s used to relieve stress and build relationships. Many people share this common interest and the game will be huge, really huge. I'd like to introduce a safe club for people to meet and relax.”
“But if this club has aspects of AI or game creation, why not just join clubs that support those subjects?” Aisha asked.
Tiger shook his head with a chuckle. “You weren’t listening. I said I wanted to focus on a single game and build bonds with others. Why not allow students to enjoy clubs?”
The murmurs grew into whispers, with eyes swayed between Aisha and Toshiaki.
Toshiaki began rising from his chair with an open mouth. However, I jumped from my seat with a glare.
“Seya Academy prides itself on hard-working students and outstanding academic aptitude provided by its professors and staff. Allowing a club that doesn't adhere mocks our pride and belittles our successes.”
A few students nodded in agreement while others grinned with satisfaction at my answer.
I knew exactly what these peons wanted to hear. And there he stood, with a lax expression. I could tell his mind was racing, trying to find a decisive rebuttal.
But I won’t let him have the chance.
“Furthermore, video games are a time waster. Nothing more, nothing less. We should aim to set the standard for our students and provide organizations that better benefit their future. I can’t possibly see how this ‘Gamer’s Club’ would do that.”
Tiger lowered his eyelids, shoving his hands into his pockets.
A smirk crept onto my face, but I reactively moved my hand in front of my face to move back my hair, so I had time to relax my expression.
He shut down, excellent. And look at the deceitful and nefarious grins of the other council members. They loved seeing him get belittled, which meant they loved me. Despite initial impressions, a small performance quickly revealed my alliance.
Now, what will you do, Tiger?
He raised his head, a smile both captivating yet enigmatic, as a twinkle from his cross-earring dazzled in the passing mirror.
What the hell is he smiling about? I won… So why does he seem so relaxed? Did I say something wrong? No, my points were-
Without me knowing, he’d walked a few inches in front of me while I continued to be vexed by his demeanor.
“What do you like to do in your spare time, Reina?” Tiger whispered, his voice low yet vivid.
I looked at Toshiaki and Chihiro, both confirming their approval to respond.
“Well, I like to…”
Wait… what activities do I like to do in my free time? I used to go shopping with my mother, but she’s not home anymore. My brother stopped cooking lessons with me in grade school, and I never had the need nor want to hang out or make friends.
“I guess… reading…” I said.
That’s… all I do nowadays when I’m not studying. But I don’t do it because I want to. The books I read aren’t even that interesting and I only read them for the satisfaction of having read them. But… can anyone even consider that…
“Can you even consider that a hobby if you don’t enjoy it?” Tiger asked as if he peered into my thoughts. “Guessing from your answer, you didn’t seem passionate about it.”
What the hell is he talking about? Passionate about something…?
“When people with similar interests come together, something magical happens,” Tiger said, then turned around to the rest of the council. “Student council should prioritize both academic success and allowing students to express their individuality.”
He then looked back at me with a smirk. “Maybe that’s how I stole the top seat from under you. I have a little secret.”
“How dare… You… I…”
My cheeks and chest burned with embarrassment as I stuttered for words.
I sat back down and crossed my arms.
Damn him! How dare he do that to me in front of the council! I’ll—
“I think we’ve heard enough,” Toshiaki said, then snapped his fingers. “Now it’s time to vote.”
Black holo screens with two buttons below the words ‘Yea’ or ‘Nay’ appeared in front of all the council members. Some of them began whispering with others, laughing and giggling as they input their answers while glancing at Tiger.
Tiger calmly returned to the room's center, unfazed by the hostile atmosphere. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. He’s got a good poker face, I’ll give him that.
Wait… did I just… compliment this guy? No, no way.
I shook my head as I inched toward the ‘Nay’ button.
He’s not getting his stupid club, and all that passion crap is just idiotic. Like he actually knows some secret that I don’t. Yeah, in fact, I want to see his face when he discovers his club has been denied. I’m sure he’ll drop this facade then.
But… what if it is true… that he knew something that I’d been lacking…
I lowered my hand and pressed ‘Abstain’ beneath both the answers and sighed.
It’s not like it’s going to be accepted, so I’ll just let fate handle this one.
Toshiaki stood from his chair, watching as the rest of the voting screens dispersed from in front of the council. “I believe we can tally the votes now.”
A larger screen blinked in front of him, growing on a green and red pie chart.
“In a unanimous majority vote of over 99 percent, High Royal Gamers Club…”
“Wait!” I said and jumped from my chair.
Toshiaki tilted his head with a smirk. “What is it, darling? The tallies have already been—“
“I have ultimate authority in this decision since I’m a first-year and Vice President, correct?”
“Well, technically—“
“That’s correct, Reina,” Aisha said, interrupting Toshiaki. “And since we have not announced the vote, you can still use your power.”
I balled my fists, gripping my nails into my hand as grit my teeth.
What am I… What am I doing? Why am I doing all of this? I… I should be glad this nuisance isn’t getting his way! He stole my spot! This could be my chance to make him pay!
Tiger closed his eyes and bent his head. He looked as if he was patiently waiting for… something.
No… No! I could deliver the final blow! I could make this personal and use my authority to denounce his club. Yes… Yes! That’s perfect! All the council members would admire me, and possibly even the higher echelon would recognize me. This is my chance to deliver some divine judgment!
My mouth opened, and I knew the exact words I wanted to say.