This is bad. Very bad.

What should I do?

I thought I could take some time to relax over the weekend, but a problem ruined my plans. That is, I’m running out of money.

It didn’t take long for my expenditures to dwindle away. What’s worse is that there’s no income. I had gotten my allowance from means that no longer exist now. I’ll have to think of a way to get funds.

If I think about what my resume would be… no, it’s no good. I’ll only be able to get low-paying, back-breaking and exhausting jobs with what I could put down. I’ve never had to work before. I don’t want to have to start now. Or ever.

Ah, I’ll have to think about this later. My target has arrived.

“Hey, Michael. Long time no see.”

“Kastille? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in this restroom before,” Michael greets me.

I start to wash my hands as he enters the restroom.

He approaches the mirror on the wall and does his routine: checking his hair, washing his face, checking his hair again and then checking his clothes. While he is doing his own thing, I dry my hands.

“I don’t usually need to.” I reply to his analysis.

Michael replies with a simple ‘Hm’.

“The exams are next week, huh?”, I inquire.

“Yeah. It is. I wish it isn’t.”

“The year went by so fast. Soon, we’ll be sophomores,” I point out.

“You’re right! Didn’t think about that. Sophomore, hmm…”

Michael turns to face me.

“I wonder if, when we’re in our death beds, it’ll feel like this,” he wonders, “my great-grandpa did say something about that.”

“I think it’s healthy to analyze ourselves and make the best of what we can with the time that we have. I want to be able to look back with no regrets,” I declare.

“Speaking of which, do you have any regrets?” I ask him.

“Me? Hmm, not really. You?”

“Meeting a particular girl,” I shrug.

Well, two. Let’s hope that number doesn’t increase.

“Wait, there is one now that I think about it. The year is nearly over and I don’t have a girlfriend yet!” he adds.

“Ah! And the exams are coming up so nobody is going to want to. Damn it, I’ve already regretted something,” Michael cries.

“Is it too late, though?”

“Huh? What do you mean?” he asks.

I put my weight on the sink and relax my posture.

“You don’t want any regrets, right? Shouldn’t we want to make our lives more exciting?”

“You’ve got a point there,” Michael agrees.

 “You said you wanted a girlfriend, right? I’ve got good news for you, Michael.”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

He perks up.

“You know that girl you hang out with? Uh, Lane?”

“Lynn?”

“Yes, her. I heard her say something about not having a boyfriend yet. Then, when she was asked who she was interested in, guess who she said?”

“Who?”

“You, of course.”

From what I have observed, what I said might be true. Of course, I have no concrete proof for her affection towards Michael. Marco’s name did surface in the conversation that I… overheard a few days before the confession. I did ask Cain for some information since he is the same classroom, but he’s rather worthless in that department.

Data collection is such a bothersome business. I hope I don’t have to do this often.

“A-ha, I knew she had a thing for me.”

Nice ego there.

“She said she’ll give up once exam week starts, though,” I lie.

“What? Really?”

“Yeah. So, what are you planning on doing?”

“Ahh, should I wait?”

“What about having no regrets?”

“You’re right. I don’t want to have any regrets! But…”

“Come on, Michael. Don’t tell me you’re scared?” I goad.

“Heh, I’m no pussy. Alright, then. Watch this.”

I sneer. This boy is stupidly easy.

Michael heads for the exit and exclaims, “No regrets!”

I follow behind him.

He enters the classroom, but I stay hidden outside.

Pretty much everybody in the class, including Cain, Marco, and Lynn, are still inside because it’s self-study time. We’re given thirty minutes after the first half of our day’s classes.

This time, I’m just going to silently listen without exposing myself. I don’t need to see if I can hear.

Michael, being himself, loudly asks Lynn on a date.

Lynn is left stupefied by the sudden confession.

Marco, meanwhile, is furious. Understandable, since he’s still waiting on her answer after school today.

I hear chairs and desks moving, yelling, and scuffling. Sounds like my work here is done.

I can only imagine Cain’s face as he’s witnessing this.

---

I’m a bit curious as to what happened next. It’s after school now, about the time Lynn has her answer for Marco. Oh well, if Cain is happy with the result, then it doesn’t matter.

I open the door to the student council room.

“Oh, hey. There he is,” Stella announces.  

“Yes, here I am,” I reply.

Oh God.

“Why is Mia here?” I ask.

Stella is sitting on the sofa opposite of the one Mia is sitting on. Liliana is at the counter, pouring out tea (with actual tea, this time) into five cups. Rhys is at the desk, typing something into the computer.

“Bad news, Kastille,” Mia pouts, “there’s not going to be any gaming club!”

Ugh…

Stella motions for me to sit in the same sofa as Mia. I comply and sit down at the far end away from Mia.

“What happened?” I ask.

Mia looks toward Stella, gesturing her to tell me.

“Well,” Stella begins, “even though there were many people attending the meeting, no one actually signed up.”

“Yeah! They all said they came there for just a quick break. I’m glad they all feel better now, but I really needed members!” Mia sniffles.  

“Ah, I was worried about that,” I commented, “What now?”

 “We were talking about that.” Stella reports.

Mia nods, “I’m not really sure what do now. I really wanted to start the gaming club again, but that’s not going to happen now.”

“A few of them did express their interest in joining in the next school year,” Stella said, “so while it might not be today, the club should have no trouble starting after summer.”

At this point, Liliana arrives at the coffee table in front of us and begins to set down the tea cups.

“But, that’s so far away!” Mia exclaims, but she seems to have accepted this fact already.

“Oh, one thing I almost forgot,” Stella informs, “you can’t start a club if your grades are bad.”

A look of horror washes over Mia’s face.

“That’s right. You’re going to have to pass the exams if you don’t want an academic probation,” Stella continues.

“This school is pretty strict with academics. You’ll lose privileges, you know?” Liliana comments.

Liliana then leaves the table and proceeds towards Rhys to give him his tea.

“Err… My grades are pretty bad… Aren’t the exams next week?” Mia asks.

“Yes,” I answer.

“It is,” Stella answers.

 Mia hides her face with her hands, then leans forward to rest both on her knees.

“I’m so screwed…” she moans.

“Kastille,” Stella turns towards me, “are you doing general studies?”

“I don’t like where this is going,” I sigh.

“Why don’t we all have a group study? I think it’ll be fun,” Stella suggests.

“How about it?” she asks the room.

“That sounds like fun!” Liliana answers.

“Yeah, let’s do that. We could share study material,” Rhys says.

“I don’t really…” I begin.

“Aw, thanks you guys! You’re the best student council ever! Alright, since everybody wants to help, then I’ll do my best!” Mia exclaims.

She’s certainly quick to pick herself up.

“I pass. I don’t really need to have a group study. I’ll just go home now.” I said as I get up from the sofa.

“Ehhhh? Didn’t you have the top score in the midterm exams?” Mia grumbles.

“Stella is enough. Her score is two points below mine,” I reply.

“Actually, Kastille. This is your next task,” Stella smiles.

“We’re the student council. If someone needs help, we’ll be there!” she proclaims.

I sigh…