CHAPTER 4

“Yesterday I thought Auclair-san made a good point about deciding things as a club, so I’m making it a rule that all activities will be decided by vote. One by one we will make a suggestion and all those in favor will raise their hands. The first suggestion to reach a majority vote will become today’s club activity. Any suggestions we don’t get to or that don’t pass the vote can still be suggested at a later date so don’t feel too bad about it, ok? Any objections?”

To start off the second day of club, I created this voting rule, presenting it to my fellow clubmates while standing at the head of the table near the window opposite the door. Behind me is a white board that has a brief explanation of the voting rule in written form. I was looking forward to making use of the white board after getting Sensei’s permission to drag it here from storage. I had to do it alone during lunch, and up multiple flights of stairs, but it’s worth it. A white board is absolutely essential. It’s a canvas to pour one’s passion onto. A window into a club’s inner workings. To look at a club’s white board is to peer into its very soul. I found this white board with a penis drawn on it. It’s since been purified.

Since first entering the room, Suzuki-san has put her mirror away, and done her best to face us head on. She’s able to look at us for brief spurts of time before becoming completely petrified. In one of those small windows of non petrification, she gave a thumbs up, implying consent to the voting rule. The act made her extremely embarrassed, her face turning scarlet.

Sakura-chan, as is her way, peers into the crystal ball for answers. It appears as if a dark sinister cloud is forming around her. I blink, thinking I must be day dreaming.

Did I imagine it?

“Mmmmm. I see great joy…. and great suffering. Heh. No objections.”

The faintest of smiles cracks on the chibi fortune teller’s face.

Was that a smile? What was that about? Has she lost it? You’re scaring me Sakura-chan.

Auclair-san stood up, and took a physical stance of defiance, yet made a verbal stance of compliance.

“Of course there’s no objections here. How could anyone ever go against a rule that was inspired by moi? C’est magnifique!”

I almost envy how proud of herself she can be.

“Yes, yes, thank you for the idea Auclair-san, well done.”

I’m not against flattering her a bit. As much as her self love can be a bit much, the things she says have been sound and her passion for club is the real deal.

Sakura-chan gave an indifferent nod.

“Thank you Auclair-san.”

Suzuki-san said sweetly, taking us aback.

“Oh no it’s not a big deal really. Hehe.”

Auclair-san responds abashedly.

Oh, here it is! Auclair-san’s dere mode! And does this qualify as yuri? Inject that sugariness right into my veins!!! This is one of those moments. This is what it’s all about.

“He broke.”

“What are you doing?”

I must have had a weird look on my face, because they’re looking at me funny. There’s a bit of drool too. How awkward….

Looks like I lost myself there. The dere was giving me flashbacks to all that manga I borrowed from sensei. Pure novacaine. I can’t believe things like in the manga are actually happening, just like I couldn’t believe Sensei would read stuff like that. I mean a teacher reading school life rom coms(the fan servicey kind too). It’s not ironic, but what would you call that? Would people consider it inappropriate? In my opinion, I just consider it good taste. Thank you for introducing me to that world Sensei! I have to remember to borrow some more soon. I still haven’t finished the one where the guy named Goldilocks has a love triangle with three girls that turn into bears. What a page turner. I can’t wait. I should head back into the real world for now…..

“Ah, haha, don’t mind. Don’t mind. Ahem! On to the suggestions then. Let’s see…Let us start with….-”

I doubt she’ll suggest something everyone will be onboard with, no offense, but I do feel sorry for her so let’s let her go first.

“-Sakura-chan. Go ahead.”

I move aside and gesture to the board, not knowing whether she will comply. I really hope she does, because I worked hard to get this board in here. I think I may have even hurt my arm. Consider what I’ve sacrificed for this club and use the whiteboard Sakura-chan. Please use it. Please, Sakura-chan.

I breathe a sigh of relief as I see her get up and walk to the board. She grabs the marker and begins writing. This act becomes a salve as the pain (real or otherwise) begins to fade from my arm. I look at the board and see a single word written.

OMIKUJI

“Omikuji, huh. Are those the fortune slips you get from a shrine? Did you want to make them?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting….why Omikuji?”

Though I’m pretty sure I already know the reason why.

“Fortunes are fun.”

Yup, Sakura-chan seems like a simple girl who likes fortunes, but there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, there always seems to be a market for that kind of thing. How many manga have I read with people obsessing over reading their fortunes and hoping for great luck in studies and romance? By the way don’t most protagonists get bad luck or extreme bad luck? What’s with that? I wonder what I’d get. Not that I’m saying I’m a protagonist or anything, but aren’t we all protagonists of our own story? Also, I’ve never gotten an Omikuji. Should I vote for it? I probably should vote for anything reasonable for the first round of suggestions anyway, for the sake of morale.

“That’s as good a reason as any. All those in favor of making Omikuji raise your hand.”

Sakura-chan and I are the only two of the four to raise their hands. It didn’t pass the vote, but at least this way the vote seems split, so it’s not a total loss. Hopefully that softens the blow, if there is one.

“Looks like a no for Omikuji, sorry Sakura-chan. Maybe next time.”

“Sorry Sakura-chan. I don’t hate the idea…but….”

Suzuki-san seems conflicted. The horn drilled oujo-sama tilts her head to the side as if she’s only just now considering the suggestion. She must be that set on her own idea.

“It’s ok.”

Sakura-chan went back to her spot at the table. She sat down and resumed staring into her crystal ball.

I can’t tell if she’s disappointed.

She pulls the hood of her cloak over head hiding her face.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Ah, she is.

“Ok Omikuji is gonna be tough to beat. How about-”

“I have a suggestion that everyone’s going to love.”

Another day, another interruption from Auclair-san. Is this going to be an everyday occurrence? She starts walking to the board, but I stop her in her tracks.

“Not yet Auclair-san, it’s Suzuki-san’s turn.”

“But I’m telling you my suggestion is going to win. Might as well-”

“Auclair-san please sit down. If you don’t get a turn today, I promise you can be the first to make a suggestion next time. So please.”

Auclair-san goes to sit down in a huff. She didn’t like it, but she did as I told her. Maybe if I’m stern with her she’ll listen, at least in a club setting. Since she respects and idealizes clubs so much, she must have some respect for me as the club president. Though my sway over her is likely limited to just this room. Best not try my luck in the outside world.

“Ok Suzuki-san, your turn. What would you like to suggest?”

For the sake of surprise I turned away from the board so as not to see what she was writing. However, it’s taking longer than I anticipated. I can hear lots of pen strokes followed by board swiping. Seems like she’s shy or indecisive. After a minute or so it sounds like it’s over and I turn to look.

Gasp!

NUDE SKETCHING OF THE MALE FORM

“Uhhh Suzuki-san. What’s this?”

“My suggestion.”

“But what is it? Why?”

“I’d like to sketch the nude body of a man.”

“Isn’t that a bit daring? Aren’t you terrified of men?”

“Exactly. If I can see them in their natural state and put it to canvas, then maybe I’ll be able to overcome my fear. I will see that man is nothing to be afraid of. Just another animal with an assortment of parts.”

Assortment of parts? What weird phrasing. It seems she gets quite talkative when it comes to the subject of facing her fears. And she’s pretty daring too. Actually, she’s dangerous and kinda scary, just not in the way people think. Wait, does she intend to make me the model?

“Uh huh….And who will be the model?”

“....You….”

Who else would it be….but…..I wonder if she likes drawing. What would her drawing of me look like…. What am I thinking? I’m shutting this down right now.

“No No No. Let’s not entertain this any further. This suggestion is banned. You hear me!? BANNED!”

I frantically banish the suggestion from the board and from my mind.

“Boring. I was actually thinking of voting for that one. How lucky you would have been to behold yourself as depicted by the marvelous and benevolent moi.”

“Naked. I want to see. Better fortunes.”

Ignoring the peanut gallery I push things along in a direction that hopefully involves more clothes and less sexual harassment.

“Try again. Something less extreme please.”

I hand her the pen.

“But I thought it was a good idea….”

Dejectedly she writes a new suggestion on the board, this time less extreme, but still daring.

TRUTH OR DARE

“This is better. Though, now I’m worried about what kind of things you’d ask me to do…..Similar reasons as before?”

“Yes. Though likely not as effective….I think through harsh truths and daring actions I could make a lot of progress.”

What harsh truths? What daring actions? Does this count as unreasonable? I really don’t want to vote for this.

“Voting time. Who wants truth or dare?”

I refrain from raising my hand this time. If there is a reasonable doubt in my mind that the suggestion could be detrimental to me or my person, then I must not vote for it! Fortunately the vote does not pass, but again the vote is split. The vote in favor is Suzuki-san and Sakura-chan.

Sakura-chan voting for this intrigues me. Is she fishing for information for better fortune telling? Or is she still upset about getting dragged? One reason leaning on truth, the other dare. What constitutes a dare in the eyes of Sakura-chan. I’d like to see that, or maybe I wouldn’t. She’s a hard one to read. Who knows how far she’s willing to go herself or how far she’s willing to push others. This might just be another crisis avoided.

“Another split vote. These are close. Better luck next time. Ok Auclair-san-”

Impatient, Auclair-san gets ahead of me and quickly closes the distance and takes the pen. She writes at a blazing speed.

Squeak Squeak Squeak

She slams the pen down when finished.

“I applaud your eagerness. Let’s see what you have for us….”

KINGS GAME VIDEO GAME EDITION

Kings game, what a classic. This is definitely something I envisioned myself doing at some point, but it's more something you do during a field trip or at a mixer. And yes these girls are cute and I have some ideas of what I could have them do, but what If I lose? I’m in no way a pro gamer and there’s no telling what these three will come up with. This could be yet another dangerous suggestion. Club ending, even. What does she mean by Video Game Edition?

Everyone but me, suddenly raises their hands in unison.

“Oi, she hasn’t even explained what this is yet. Hands down.”

They lower their hands in unison.

Is it the suggestion or Auclair-san that has them so enthralled? Whatever the case, show some resistance you two! Do you want to be seen as easy women? Now I’m the one dishing out sexual harassment.

“What do you mean, Kings game video game edition?”

“It’s that well-known, often celebrated, Kings game where one person holds power over the others and forces two of their vassals to participate in a form of punishment. The roles and punishments are usually decided by draw, but I’ve come up with a fabulous twist that only I, the oh so creative moi, can devise, hohoho. The king and their vassals shall be decided via friendly video game competition. The winner shall be king and decide punishment for two of their three vassals.”

“That’s an interesting idea Auclair-san, but we don’t have the means to-”

“Sebastian come.”

Auclair-san snaps her fingers and the clubroom window opens. Her servant who I now know is named Sebastian comes through the window(again) bearing gifts. He’s carrying with him a Stupendo Click and four Expert controllers.

He just came in through a third story window you know(without using his hands presumably)? Is he human? Did he get isekai’d only to come back and become an overpowered butler? I may have read a manga like that before.

Sebastian sets down the Stupendo Click and the four Expert controllers next to the tv which I now notice is no longer an old ctv, but a plasma.

When did that get there?

After setting down the important items he does a forward roll across the floor into a dive out the window. An even more audacious maneuver than in class and at a greater height.

“Woah!”

Clap Clap Clap

I go to look out the window to see where he landed, but he’s gone. No trace of a safety net or inflatable landing pad either. What a mad lad. If I ever get the opportunity I must ask him how he does it. Maybe he can teach me some kind of secret ninjutsu techniques like those ninja that wear beanies from that one grass village.

“Where does one find servants like that?”

“I don’t know, but father only buys the best for me. It’s a given that my servants should be able to perform such logic defying feats such as this. But you shouldn’t be impressed just yet. Sebastian has jumped out of windows much higher than this.”

“I see….”

Seriously? My isekai theory may not be that far off the mark.

“Now that the explanation is out of the way-”

Once again all three of the girls raise their hands in unison, this time emphatically.

“Sakura-chan, if you don’t mind me asking, why did you vote for Auclair-san’s suggestion?”

Fun? Or revenge? Are you going to get revenge?

“Seems fun.”

“I see.”

Could still be revenge.

“Do you want to know my reasoning, Furukawa-san?”

“Not really, Suzuki-san.”

“Eh….”

No thank you. The inner workings of your mind scares me Suzuki-san.

“Kings Game Video Game Edition it is then. However, if we are going to do this, then there’s going to be some ground rules.”

I glare directly at Suzuki-san as I say this.

“Why are you looking at me when you say that?”

“Oh, no reason.”

***