I was heading back to class when I received a message that all transfer students should go to the school hall for a school orientation.
There was no reason to say no, neither did I want to, so I headed there right away.
As I headed there I noticed the girl from the train–she wasn't alone though, she came with two girls.
Wow so she made friends already. She's a fast worker.
On entering the hall, I went toward the front row, and while looking for a seat I saw the blonde boy from the train.
"Hey," I sat beside the blonde-haired boy. "This seat taken?"
"No, also hey what's your name again? Sorry that I didn't ask before now," he looked up from his phone.
"Nah, no problem. It's Nakamura Eiya, what's yours?"
"I'm Kisaragi Renjiro."
"Oh, ok. Anyway, do you think that man that addressed us in the morning is going to do the orientation?"
"I hope so. I've been thinking about buying a mirror and he looks like the perfect one."
"Mirror? I thought it was the sun."
"Pff ha ha."
"Ha ha ha."
We laughed quietly before an awkward silence settled in. Kisaragi went back to his phone to avoid the awkwardness.
It seems like neither of us are conversationalists.
After some silence, a figure entered the room. Instead of the principal stepping up, a male student entered.
As he entered, his presence filled the room as we looked at him for, he had striking features:
White hair and blue eyes.
He looked like a Gaikokujin as well as an ikemen; it wasn't an understatement to compare his looks to a model or a Jpop star.
He knew this and walked rather slowly and deliberately to emphasize his features. He walked up to the podium with a confident look on his face before he then began to speak.
"Hello everyone. I am Satou Gotou and I'm the president of the student council. I was given this position for a sole reason, does anyone know what it is?"
There was some silence till a lone girl raised her hand to answer, she was subsequently given a mic.
"Is it populari—"
"No, next person," he cut her off before she was done.
What is this guy getting at?
Another person was given a mic just a moment later.
"Influen—"
"No, next person."
This pattern continued for a while. People mentioned just about everything—going from physical, mental to even religious attributes.
"This guy is so full of himself."
"Like for real."
"Yeah, we get we don't know what made you president, not like we care anyway."
"Like look at him, he's probably having the time of his life. I won't be surprised if he says the answer is luck."
Judging from the comments here and there, people were getting more and more agitated, though he completely ignored it—just keeping a sly grin.
"It seems no one can answer. I expected more from this batch when I asked the first term's first years, they answered quite quickly. To be honest I'm really disappointed."
"Pardon me but," the girl from the train spoke up. "Can I try?"
"Please do."
"Is it merit?"
"Yes," his grin grew wider. "Merit or value is the most important thing here, never forget that. I excelled in all sectors whether physical, social, mental or academic, so when the election came, I won by a landslide–people only support those with promise.
You are all here for one reason or the other, you want something—to be frank, I don't really care. However, what I do care about is students that have value.
Fight for what you came here for—because when all else fails, your goals are all you have.
But notwithstanding you are aware of the school you're in; it is a special school therefore the only conclusion is that to exist here you must become special," his voice was calm yet it cut through us even sharper than any knife.
Some people thought he was egotistic, some thought he was having fun at their expense, some thought he was a weirdo, and others thought he was just passing time—however at this moment no one made a side comment but courted him their unbridled attention.
Even someone as lackadaisical as myself, was listening to the point where I felt somewhat motivated.
Really Impressive.
"I would like to have a successor, someone who will come to claim my position. This applies even if you're in your first year, I want you to try to surpass me, but to do that, you must of course join the student council," he said. "I advise you all to try to apply, as there is no special qualification for candidacy except for not joining any other club activities.
If you even have a second thought, don't have enough courage or have a weak self-image, I suggest you don't attempt to join us. Besides the fact you won't be elected, I don't want any naïve fool that thinks they can have merit to come and do nothing–sullying the school's image in the process.
We as the student council are the executive and judiciary of this school—we make and interpret rules and there's a lot of external pressure from the school so I'm sure you can guess why such a person cannot survive in that environment.
Now show me you have enough value, enough merit. Make me respect you. Now, thank you for your time."
His speech was strategic yet adaptive, it was most likely not planned and if it was it was more impressive.
"This guy…He must have wanted to put us on an emotional rollercoaster."
Well said. That guy really is something.
His speech moved in such a way that a normal one couldn't. He drove all of us on a rollercoaster, from making us agitated to making us inspired.
Truly impressive.
As the student council president left a huge number of people followed, probably motivated by his words though not everyone was impressed.
Anyway, as he was leaving I heard a girl talking behind me—the girl was a friend to the girl from the train and was talking to her.
"Hayashi, why don't you join the student council?"
So, the girl from the train's name is Hayashi, huh?
"I'm not cut out for it. You heard what he said. If you don't have enough courage you shouldn't join."
"Don't listen to him, he probably just wants to scare off slackers."
"Umm… I don't know. Do you really think I have what it takes?"
"Yes, I mean you were the only one able to answer his question."
"That was a fluke but… Maybe I'll give it a shot. No promises, though," she chuckled.
"I'm sure you will."
Hayashi went to meet Satou along with her friends.
So, she's that easy to convince, I expected some more back and forth. Also why convince someone that doesn't want the job?
I know that she was the only one to answer the question, but like the student council president said, the first years from first term got it way faster.
I'm sure there are other intelligent people so her competition will be immense, though maybe she's more capable than she seems.
After the event ended, Kisaragi stood up to leave and I followed suit.
But as I left, the vice president looked at me with prying eyes as if watching my every move.
Was he looking at me? Nah, what will he want to do with me anyway?
After I left the hall, Kisaragi abruptly stopped walking then turned around to look at me.
Huh? What happened?
After some seconds of silence Kisaragi spoke up.
"So do you want my number?"
"Uhh...Sure."
Number?
"Sorry, I meant account name. This system is kinda weird sometimes," he laughed nervously. "Ahem. Anyway, if you want it then the name's Kizzy."
"Oh, I see, well ok."
This is weird and awkward. But I'm sure if I was Hiro this would be a breeze.
I really need to talk to people more
"Yeah. So see you later."
I wonder, why'd he just tell me his account name? Maybe he also doesn't have friends, but does this make us friends?
Guess not. Anyway, what kind of nickname is Kizzy?
At any rate I got my first account name.
***
Author's Note:
Yo! Finally we've met my favourite character, Satou Gotou. Yes, he was based on Gojo but he isn't a ripoff I can promise that.
Anyway, Nakamura is finally making 'friends.' Well, I can't really call Kisaragi his friend but at least he's making progress.
So that's all I have to say, see you in the next one.