She walks through the crowds as students try to recruit other students to join their after-school club activities.
"COME JOIN THE LITERATURE CLUB!!"
" Read classic novels and learn more about the literary authors that inspire them!!"
"PLEASE JOIN THE BASKETBALL TEAM!!"
" If you have a passion for sports and would like to push yourself to your max!!"
"HYAAA!! IF YOU HAVE THE COURAGE, JOIN THE KARATE TEAM!!"
" Come and test your strength in our new and improved block break test your might and see if you've got what it takes!"
[JOIN THE MULTIMEDIA CLUB!!] The sign was being raised above waving around to attract students to their booth.
Harper walks through the countless after-school club activities thinking she might want to join one. Walking through the crowds of students something caught her attention, she saw a wanted poster that states a big reward for anyone willing to take the challenge hanging on the bulletin board.
As she looks further down she saw the club's recruitment speech in big bold neon green which states
"DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT?"
"IF YOU DO AND WANT TO FIGHT FOR YOUR OWN!"
JOIN THE DEBATE TEAM AND DEFEND WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN!!
WE WANT YOU!!
[What a lame poster who would sign up for this club. Oh well, not like I'm going to sign up for this anyway] Chuckled Harper as she walks away.
" Are you sure our recruitment poster will attract the attention of the students?" Worried Ritsu
" It's fine. I'm sure people will find it funny don't worry so much." Mio replied
" We're in a dire situation here you know that right. We're about to graduate, and we need new members, you know what Miss Wendy would do to us if we turn up without any members at the end of this orientation. She will murder us and I don't want my body to be discovered somewhere in the alps river." Remarked Ritsu
" I know, don't worry so much Ritsu, you're gonna make yourself older than you look if you worry so much. They will come I know it. Trust in your club president Mio Takanashi. They will come like a moth drawn to fire." Replied confidently with a slight hesitation in her voice.
Hours went by, and as the students were dwindling so as the sun and the debate club have yet to acquire their first recruit of the day. The club loses its hope of ever getting a member.
" You still confident that moths you're talking about are just gonna rush in at the last minute?" Mio asked
" AHHH yes." Ritsu felt more reluctant than before
Suddenly the air around started to change as the air feels heavy which caught their attention.
" This aura. It feels so familiar it can't be can it?" Mio panicked
" Yeah, you're right. It just got a bit heavier all of a sudden she's here, isn't she? This can only mean one thing." Ritsu prepared herself
As she draws nearer, footsteps can be heard from a mile away, students step aside avoiding eye contact. Each step she took felt like a step closer to their death, chatters were heard swarming among the student bodies, and the debate club knew that it was for them. The clock ticks and soon the inevitable came.
" Hello, debate club. How are my hardworking bees? Have you managed to make some new members today?" Miss Wendy spoke in a sarcastic yet devilish tone behind it as though she was mocking them
" Ummm. About the members today. We manage to get zero members. Spoke Mio softly
" I'm sorry, I couldn't quite catch what you were saying." Spoke sarcastically
" Did you say you manage to recruit ZERO MEMBERS TODAY?!" Shouted Miss Wendy
" Yes, ma'am that's what we are saying." Replied Ritsu
" I see. So you know what this means right? We did make a deal if you didn't manage to get a single member at the end of the day, you know what would happen to you and Ristu. Am I righttt Mio?" Grinned miss Wendy as she looks at Mio with evil intentions in her eyes, before walking behind them touching their shoulders
They took a deep breath while Mio swallows her sweet, they prepared themselves for what is about to happen. Just then Harper walks past, and in an attempt to save themselves Mio shouted across which caught Harper's attention.
" YOU THERE!! HELP US!!" Struggling from the hard grip wrapped around her head
A startled Harper turns her head towards the direction of the noise, as she saw what was happening she began to walk faster, trying to avoid getting caught in the situation that they were in. Mio started to shout even harder.
" COME BACK!!! PLEASE!! YOU THE ONE WITH A PONYTAIL HELP US GET THIS MONSTER OFF US!!"
Harper started to walk over to avoid any further embarrassment from the two.
" What do you want?" She asked
" Would you like to join the debate club? Its a very exciting and thrilling place to be in." Trying her best to make her agree to stay.
" Ah, no thanks I don't think I would want to be part of this club." Walking away from the booth
Just then Mio grabbed Harper's wrist tightly preventing her from walking away.
" PLEASE!!! JOIN US!! WE ARE OUT OF MEMBERS! WE NEED YOU DESPERATELY!
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PLEASEEEE!!" Begging her to consider their proposal
Her back was against the wall and she couldn't escape until she agrees to her request. She nodded slightly in agreement.
" So is that a yes? Would you please come and join us?" pleading as if their life was on the line.
" Fine, I'll join your club." She spoke softly
" YESSSS!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! YOU SAVED US!!" Hugging her tightly
" Look at that Miss Wendy, we manage to get one person to agree to join us." Ritsu and Mio replied with confidence
" Good, you barely survived this time. Next time you pull this kind of stunt again I won't go easy on you." She walks away with a slight grin on her face
[ They managed to get a member after that disastrous recruitment poster they made. I worry for the future of the debate club with only her as the new member this will bring the end of this club before we even get started.] She thought to herself
The club packed their stuff, closed down their booth, and head home.
" We owe you one. Thank you for saving us again. Sorry, what's your name?"
" My name is Harper."
" Oh, Harper. My name is Mio and this is my childhood/best friend Ritsu. Nice to meet ya."
" Nice to meet you guys. Ok, I'm gonna head home now see you."
" Do you want to hang out with us? We're gonna go to café universe to get some drinks and hang out."
" No, it's ok I need to get going soon."
" Aww don't be like that. Come on, let's hang out we owe you one. I'll treat you lets go it's gonna be fun."
Mio grabbed Harper's hand and head towards the entrance of the school.
" Harper, where do you live?" Asked Mio
" I live near the Hamiltown Station, it's only a five minutes walk from my house." She replied
" Huh? Where's that?"
" Oh, that's right!! It's the one where it has a lot of murals along the road, and there's this most amazing and delicious donut in the city.”
“I love going there whenever I have to run an errand. Don't you remember that time Miss Wendy asked us to run some errands for her, and we stop at that donut shop on the way home, Mio?" Ritsu replied
" Oh, that's right their donuts were super delicious but they're super expensive too I nearly went broke after we ate there Ritsu. So you lived closed to that shop which means we can visit each other I live just three-station from that place who knew that you live so close to me."
They reached the café, there were a lot of people queuing up they became anxious as they might not be able to get a seat. The peak hour was at its peak so it was expected for this kind of crowd, especially working people who just finished their job, and are looking for a relaxing place to distress after a long day of work.
" So how many siblings do you have? What's your race? Where were you from? How long have you lived here? Do you have a boyfriend?" Mio threw Harper with a barrage of question
" Mio!! That"s not something you asked anyone that easily. That kind of question is kind of sensitive to some people and might take offense. Go apologies to her right now." Ritsu hit Mio’s head with a chop
" I'm sorry for asking such an insensitive question." With tears in her eyes in pain from what Ritsu had done to her
" It's fine. I don't mind as for the question you asked I only have one other sibling my younger brother he's in fourth grade. I'm Ethionial and I was born in Ethion. I've been here since my parents moved a few years back and as for the last question that will remain as it is, a question."
" Fair enough I deserve that."
" It does amaze me how you managed to know that I wasn't from this country."
" Well, it's not that hard to figure it out, your skin tone doesn't exactly match with the people of this country, and sometimes when you speak your accent slips out." She explains
"Oh, that's true I guess. Still, not a lot of people tends to ask me these kinds of question so I was caught by surprise."
" Harper, if she ever asked you something insensitive like this again feel free to hit her in the head that will show her not to ask such questions." Replied Ritsu
" I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the advice."
" Come on Ritsu, why would you say something so hurtful to your best friend. Have some consideration will ya?" Pleaded Mio
" I would if you stop asking such stupid and uncomfortable questions every time."
" Hello!! Welcome to café universe what would you like?" The staff greeted them with a smile
" Hello, I would like a golden caramel chocolate chip Frappuccino and a chocolate lava cake. How about you Harper what would you like?" asked Mio
" I'm not sure what to get I haven't visited this place before. I guess I'll just get the same thing as you just the drink." Replied Harper
" How about you Ritsu? What do you want? You know what, I'll just order ours first I know this will take a while. Harper, can you find us a place to seat?"
" What!! That's hurtful I don't take that long to order. What should I get? Hmm, maybe this and this and this ohh and that." Ritsu went on and on
Mio continued to pay and headed over to where Harper was seated
[ Honestly that girl has one big appetite. I'm so curious how she can eat so much and still maintain the same figure.] She thought to herself
" Hey, Harper this is gonna take a while so just be patient for a bit."
" She really loves dessert, doesn't she? I wonder how is she so petite and so slender with the amount of food she eats." She questioned
" That is the big question and on to of that she's popular with everyone at school, and it doesn't hurt that she's also one of the most beautiful people in school and a lot of people would confess their feelings to her. If only they know how much brute strength she has, if that happens all of that would go away."
" WHAT DID YOU SAYYY!!!" The energy suddenly became tense and the aura became darker
" AHHH!!!" Mio startled herself
" It's nothing. I'm sorryyyy." Ritsu smacked her on the head over and over again
" Here's your order. Thank you for waiting."
" Oh wow! That's a lot of food can you really finish all that?" questioned Harper
" Oh yeah! Course I can."
" Ok, let's get down to business shall we."
The regional debate competition is in 2 months, we don't have a lot of time to prepare so we need to start as soon as possible. Addressed Mio
" WHAT!! Two months are you serious?! You want me to take part in that?! You're insane! I can't even do debate it's not my forte."
" I know! I'm sorry for this, but we don't have a lot of members, so we need all the people we can afford for this competition, if not we won't be able to get through the finals." She pleaded with her
" Joining your club is one thing, but I can't. I honestly do not know what you do in this club. I have no experience doing debate or being a debater in general." Explain Harper
" I know we're asking a lot here, and it's not your fault if you wish to quit, but we have no other people to turn to since you're the only person that joined us. Please understand our situation." Ritsu spoke as she swallows each bit of every dessert that she ordered
" Ahhh!! Fine but I don't even think I can even reach the level that you want me to in just two months that's close to impossible." Harper exclaimed
" Don't worry there's still a lot of time till then. Well teach you everything we can and we will help you along the way, you don't have to worry one bit." Mio reassured her
" Man, that was such a good place to eat!! Such delicious food. I'M STUFFED!!" Ritsu exclaimed
" You sure can eat a lot Ritsu, I still wonder where you place all this food that you ate." Mio remarked
They walked through the streets as the lights started to light up and the peak hour passed, the night took over the street of Waldron. Walking through the shopping district, Harper can't help but think about the situation that she was in and how she got herself into a lot of problems by joining the debate club.
[ What should I do? There's no way I will be able to pull this off. I'll just drag them down. Oh man, what have I gotten myself into? Only if I'd just walked past the booth and never looked back I wouldn't be in this situation in the first place.] She thought to herself
They went to the train station that was part of the shopping district, they went in and waited for the train to come, they took the train and chatted about school as they wait for their stations to come before saying goodbye.
" This is my station. Thanks for the treat even though you just used it as bait for me, so I don't quit the debate club. You sly little she-devil Mio." Harper retorted
" Don't be like that Harper. She grinned slightly at the corner of her mouth thinking she outsmarted her, believing she's gullible enough to trust her words."
" It's just a thank you for joining the club there's nothing more to it than that." Mio replied
" Bye Harper!! See you tomorrow! We’ll start our training then." Ritsu added