(Chapter6)

(The aftermath of the campaign period.)

(Mae pov)

It still feels fresh… looking like that.

(Mae sits on the couch, laying her head and resting her back as she looks at the ceiling.)

The campaign period ended! But it seems like the occult club is still stuck with their current members

(Mae pov)

In the end we didn’t get any applications.

Ozzy-senpai’s not really mad about it.

In fact, we got two new members: Shirogane, Ryuuji and Amatsuki, Chieri.

With the current number of members, we are now safe from being disbanded, and with that, the club will resume to run normally.

By normally, being like this:

(Flashes scenes of listless members doing nothing.)

A daily peaceful life.

Let’s say I’ve succeeded protecting the daily peaceful life I have with everything I went through these past days.

I feel relieved…

Or so I thought.

What’s with this feeling…

(Flashback from the campaign when she’s standing at the front of the crowd, with everyone talking about her, while she’s in the form of mesmerizing yuuki-onna that Ryuuji have styled her.)

NO NO! I need to get these thoughts out of my head.

“So in the end nobody really applied, huh?” –Said Chieri as she breaks the silence.

“I think it’s better this way.” –Shiori answered as she reads a book.

“Say… Mae-senpai, what’s our next activity?”

“Don’t even think about it.” –Mae shuts down Ryuuji’s offer.

(Now it’s back to the deafening silence.)

I really can’t shake off that feeling… What’s with me?

This is really not good.

Am I being drawn in by Ryuuji?

What did Chieri meant at that time?

(Being lost in thoughts, Mae fell asleep.)

(Mae’s flashback, a foreshadowing of her past that led her to just want to have a peaceful life.)

“Hey hey! Look who’s here!!”

(A kid mae is walking on the school grounds)

“Eeh? That beauty... A fruit of forbidden love.”

“Wow! Seriously?”

(rumours, rumours everywhere.)

I have been popular ever since my gradeschool days.

But it’s not a ‘good’ type of popular, it’s the opposite.

I have been subject of gossiping because of the scandal that my mom experienced on her work.

I have been wondering why people are prone to believing rumors.

My mom did nothing wrong.

Mom was fired because of that incident and my pops was forced to work harder to keep up with our daily needs. Mom had a difficulty being hired because of her background.

Mom and pops agreed to just have her continue being a regular housewife since his pay can cover up for a regular living and for me to continue my studies.

It was a normal peaceful life, but at our home only...

I never told them since I can keep up on my own. I don’t want them to worry. It’s not like I’m being bullied too.

(Mae remembers a scene where she’s being woken up by her mom.)

"Mae, mae, wake up.."

“Wake up... Wake up Mae-chan... Sheesh”

(A faint vision of a woman waking her up.)

“M-mom?”

“Hey that’s rude it’s me Shiori”

“Shiori-chan? Where am I?”

“Geez, what are you a lost traveller brought back by a fairy after being lost for so long?”

“I think you’ve been reading too much manga Shiori-chan. Sorry I dozed off.”

“Yes it’s about time you wake up too. Someone’s here looking for you.”

“??”

(Shiori lessen the distance between them and started whispering.)

“Again, what have you been doing? It must really be nice being the center of attention for a day but this is too much. Look who’s here.”

“Eh?”

(The confused Mae looked aroudn the room and found the other three members gathered at the table, now with another one sitting beside Chieri.)

Eh? I know her... Why is she here?

Chieri? No... Shiori said she’s looking for me.

(A dignified beauty. A look that could only bring astonishment to anyone who can see. An unfair existence that could let anyone tell ‘How can such beauty be allowed to exist.’ The current holder of ‘Takane no Hana’ of the Kamigawa-high. Shirogane, Ria)

“Chieri-chan...” –the dumbfounded Mae called out to her, having her explain the current situation.

“I-I-It’s not me!! I promise you!! It’s not me this time.” –Chieri anxiously answered.

What should I do....... (Swirly-eye mode Mae)

“Hmp! Calm down my little zambies. It doesn’t look like she’s looking for trouble.”

(Scenes with: as expected of god-bro, best support feel.)

“May I ask what business would you have with one of my members, Miss ‘Takane no Hana’?”

“Please don’t address me formally, you can call me Ria. I’m just your classmate.”

(Clashing of two absolute existences.)

“Oh, okay, then you can call me Ozz too.”

“The environment here is really peaceful. Good job maintaining this, makes me want to pass a club application.”

“Oh please, I really think handling another club besides being the head of discipline committee plus your title would be too much for you to handle.”

“Why, this looks too peaceful that your members are becoming too much lazy.”

“Now now, are you here to represent your committee and have us conduct club activities?”

“Oh no, I didn’t mean to. I only went here out of personal affairs. Your club doesn’t violate any school rules.”

There it comes.

(The other four who can’t keep up with their conversation we’re brought back to their senses after Ria’s last sentence.)

“O-Onee-chan! What are you doing here!” –Ryuuji was the first to speak up.

“EEEH?!!” –Mae and Shiori were surprised.

“Yes, as Ryuuji here implies, I’m his older sister.”

I can’t keep up.

“Onee-chan. What do you need with us.”

“I personally came here to see Kurosawa, Mae.”

“Uhm.. Shirogane-senpai. I believe we haven’t done anything out of order during this club campaigning, have we?”

“Oh, no, you haven’t. I really just came here to meet you. Please let your guards down.”

“My little zambies, it’s as she says.” -Ozz

(The mood lighten up as they listened to Ozzy.)

“I suppose you have some things to say to me, Ryuuji-kun” –Ria

“Onee-chan. This is Kurosawa, Mae senpai. She’s the one I’m choosing.”

“Do you have any basis? Or explanation regarding this decision?”

“No, nothing! It’s just my intuition.”

“Hey Ryuuji... Seriously?” -Mae

“Hmp, another baseless decision. Well, after seeing your display this past club campaign, I see potential in her.”

Wait... did she, the Takane no Hana, just complimented me?

“Uhm, Shirogane-senpai. If I may speak...”

“Yes.”

“I did agree with Ryuuji that one time but that’s to be able to gather new club members to protect the club. I just want to live my high school life peacefully and will not compete with the popularity rankings.”

“Hm.. Now Ryuuji, you have heard. What will you say.”

“I... Uhm... Mae-senpai...”

“I believe I’ve given my decision already.”

“Ryuuji, I can see your determination, but why compete with me at the very first place?”

(Ryuuji cannot answer. Ria stood up and prepared to leave.)

“Oh my, leaving already? We can serve you tea while chatting a little more.”

“As you have said earlier, Ozz, I have lots of matters to attend to.”

(Ria proceed towards the door.)

“—If... Even if Mae-senpai refuses, I won’t fall down!! I will make her! I will make her believe in me! I will find a way to take you on!”

(Ria was shocked at first, but kep retained her composure.)

(Mae pov)

What’s with your expression, Ryuuji?

It was a sad expression.

It was an expression of someone chasing after something while knowing he’ll never reach it.

What’s up with the two of them. What happened?

“Well, I’ll see you try.”

“And you, Kurosawa, Mae. If ever you decided to tag along my little brother’s selfish battles, I’d be glad to take you guys on.”

“I will show you something absolute. I will show you the real ‘Takane no Hana’.”

”Chieri-chan..”

“Hii!! W-w-what is it, onee-sama?”

“I apologize for my brother’s selfishness, could you keep up with her for a while? You’re the only one I can count on.”

“Y-y-yes!! O-o-onee-sama. I will do my best.”

“Thanks... And lastly, Ozzy, I really think it would be better to reveal yourself to these kids here if this club is about to house members that will compete to the popularity rankings. You understand, right? Ozyy Flavius, exchange student?”

(And with that Ria finally left the room)

“Heh, little miss top 1 have no control for words eh?” –Agitated Ozzy.

“Ozzy-senpai. What does Shirogane-senpai imply?” –Shiori

“Heh, you bottom rankers really have it easy huh?” –Chieri

“What do you mean?”

“Within this club, there are two top rankers that resides. Me at top 5, and Ozzy at top 6”

“EH?!! EEEEH?!!!”

Ozzy’s identity has been revealed! Also, will this be Mae’s final decision? Volume 1 ends here! Please stay tuned for the next volume!!