That morning was particularly peaceful, birds chirping, nice cloudy skies almost looking like it was about to pour cats and dogs. This weather certainly divided the school, the disciplinary and student council’s combined efforts to rally up students into joining the fund raising campaign in the form of a marathon was at stake. And honestly, many weren’t too enthused about the idea of a marathon. This ended up causing quite the trouble for the student body team because even they weren’t too excited about the running either. Regardless of the heated discussion, or rather arguments at the school gates that happened to attract a crowd, another individual seemed to be having his own internal conflict on the matter.
Holding steadily onto his backpack straps, he paced oscillating back and forth outside and inside the school entrance. Contemplating within himself a very important decision for the betterment of the world. To think his contribution to see a prosperous economy is being held from his reach because of a mere marathon? Preposterous!
“Lu-Lu! What are you doing dancing about near the gates?” A familiar voice approached the troubled soul.
The boy turned rapidly as he sets eyes on his best friend, Aiden. “Bro! Great timing. I need you right now!”
Aiden pretends to think with his fingers holding up his chin, but really he’s got his friend figured out inside out. “Let me guess, the marathon?”
He nods aggressively.
“Hmm… and you want out?”
“No… I want to help with the fund raiser, but I’m in no shape for an exhausting three hour run around the mountains.” His back slumped which oddly resembled a boiled shrimp.
“Ok then, good luck! Save the world’s nonexistent economy in my stead. See ya Lu-Lu!”
Aiden bolted off in the opposite direction to enter the campus through the back entrance. Completely betrayed, the boy started to grumble to himself. Will it be his own body or the lives of others actually in need? The answer was simple, but truly his mind said yes, whilst his body was screaming no.
“Ahem!” Another voice approached from behind the boy. He turned immediately to witness the person. She seemed to be in a rush and certainly did not get up on the right side of bed. Drooping eyelids covered her midnight pupils almost entirely, and those dark long strands, although untamed seemed to suit her youthful face. He quickly fled to give her space. The person with the messy hair walked away but then stopped in her tracks.
She turned and faced him. “You.”
“M-Me?” He gulped backing away slightly.
“Yes, you. Sorry, but are you here to register for the marathon?”
“Uh… I’m undecided on that actually…”
Her expressions turned displeased as her eyebrows furrowed and twitched. “What is your name?”
“Why do you want my name?!” He screamed impulsively.
She looked intently at his uniform.
“Where are you looking?” He covered his body.
“Lucio Mendoza. Pleasure to have you onboard this enlightening experience of reforming the world one step at a time! I’m Suiren, by the way. Part of the disciplinary team in collaboration with the student council team.”
She turned away and alerted the crowd of students huddled together. “Student body! We’ve got an applicant, sign him up!”
The noise from the argument soon dispersed and one of the students walked over to the two. “Suiren, where the hell were you this entire time!? Do you know how much chaos has erupted without you here?”
“Halley, please, not now. Sign this applicant up first, I’ll sort it out soon.”
Lucio was thoroughly impressed, confused and dumbstruck by all the things happening around him. Regardless of his current emotional state, he most definitely knew he had walked into the lion’s den totally unaware of the dangers lurking under the coated and suited flamboyant student body.
“Well… I guess I’ve been played… Saving the world, huh? In my dreams.”
Suiren gripped her forehead as she glanced at the list of applicants, there weren’t many but they could make it work. The student body has a great cause and one of those is presenting who they are as a school. This marathon is important for the reputation of the school and not for the actual cause itself—for the betterment of the people. It’s cruel, twisted and unethical, but they have no choice but to comply. Whilst all the teachers are getting caked with makeup for the interview scheduled to be in two hours, the students have to begin a hike through the mountains.
“Guys, we’ve got fifty five people, a little more than the average class strength. Even if it was twenty or ten, we will be doing this marathon.”
The entire team looked down and moods were off. The quota was supposed to be at least two classes big from 11th grade.
One of the sorrow ridden faces spoke, “But, don’t we need at least 70 kids? Why can’t the teachers get involved?”
“Why should that matter? Including all of us we are now at a strength of 63 kids, so what I’m trying to say is you can’t escape this, I’m sorry. Besides, think about the children…” Suiren looked at everyone’s reactions intensely and saw a singular person still down. She called out to her, “Halley, you can think about the dogs, I guess…”
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With a slightly brightened expression and a newfound resolve and morals put back into place, the student council wasn’t falling apart anymore and was back to being the supreme authority once again.
“I’m assuming that settles it for now, I’m off duty until the marathon begins. It will be beginning two hours from now and the reporters will be here soon enough. They will be dealt with by the teachers and staff, so relax guys. You did great!” With a smile she bolted off to her own class.
As she plodded up the stairs to go up to her classroom, her lost sleep was catching up to her. But whatever happens she can’t miss the marathon, not after the pep talk she just gave to fire up the team. A horrible example for the disciplinary committee’s leader to be giving. She’s doesn’t feel the need to give up just yet.
She presses her fingers against the glass pane door and slides it open. The class was under chaos as usual with no supervising teacher. She scuttled her way through the rampant students and finally makes it to her seat. She exhales and melts on her chair.
“Hey, Suiren!” A lovely voice was heard to her right, directly a seat behind her.
“Oh, Mel! You’re here today! How’s the cold?”
“A mere cold can’t stop me from coming today! I have to be there for the marathon no matter what!”
Suiren laughed at the enthusiasm, as much as Mel claims to want to help the world, her intentions for being present today were slightly different. You see, her brother will be arriving as the new reporter for the marathon and as much as excitement that he might have had has certainly rubbed off on Mel as well.
“Good for you, Mel. We can take our time and watch the scenery while we are there.” Just then a loud thump was heard. Her ears perked up and came to witness the unfathomable destruction of school property. Broken chairs and students running out though the glass windows.
“HEY!” She screamed with all her might. Her two years of committee experience has equipped her to deal with such hooligans. “Stop right there! What are you doing?!” She pointed at the boy with a thug persona doing acts of felony.
“Huh?” He sounded with a mocking tone. “Oh my! If it’s isn’t the disciplinary head, what was your name again?”
“Jarred, we’ve been in the same class for four years.” She looked at him with an unimpressed look.
“Oh? You were so insignificant in your duties, I didn’t even notice you.”
“Dude, did you wake up and choose violence today? Why are you messing with Suiren for no reason?” Another student opened up in defence for Suiren.
Suiren was not having it. She was mad and infuriated by such behaviour and added to the workload lately, she snapped. She walked over with a looming aura, closer to him.
“Ok, let me tell you in a way you can properly understand, buddy.”
“Do you know that famous show, where they write names in a book and immediately after they die of heart disease?”
“Yeah…?” He looked confused.
“Well, guess what? Even I have a power similar to that. I have your name, your face, and all of your personal details and all I have to do is write your name on this tiny rectangular paper. And there, you are now suspended for a month!”
“WHAT?! You did not just do that!!” He screamed upon realising the power difference between the two. But that realisation also clouded his thinking, that piece of paper must be signed by the principal afterward for it to be actually approved.
Suiren turned around without a word and moved away from the chaos and walked back to her seat.
“Girl! You’re on a roll today!” Mel sounded from the back. She didn’t have to worry all that much, because she knew wholeheartedly that Suiren would deal with his situation in less than a second.
As Mel, looked over at Suiren’s sunken face, she noticed sparkles on the table. “Huh?! Are you crying or drooling?"
“I don't know, Mel!” She said with mild sniffles.
“Oh my gosh! Are you okay?” Mel immediately stood up and reached for her back. She wondered what could have happened for her to be this distraught and grew worried. Regardless she smiled at the duality Suiren possessed and found it fascinating.
"I don't think I'm okay in the slightest. I've been getting these dreams lately..." Suiren began, "and it has been taking a toll on my sleep!"
Mel leaned in indicating she was willing to listen to her friend's woes. This was a first for her after years of their friendship, Mel had not the slightest clue as to how severe those dreams were, but regardless, she listened intently to her description of this fascinating landscape crashing down right in front of her eyes.
"Personally i thought lucid dreaming is actually pretty cool, i didn't know it could be this detrimental." she leaned back onto her chair and pondered looking up at the ceiling, "Sorry, Suiren. All I can offer are google diagnoses."
Suiren looked up at her a little disgruntled, "I thought you would give me an astrological solution."
"Huh? I don't mix those delusions with reality! But it is concerning that you have stooped so low." She promptly pulled out her phone in hopes she could come up with a way to solve her friend's predicament, all the while giving reassurance that she will not give up until Suiren can sleep soundly again. But that enthusiasm had to be put on hold for the next two hours, for it will be the commencement of the most gruesome and soul-sucking activity for homebody teenagers like themselves.