Chapter 5
At 10:14, my phone vibrates. It is a rather unusual turn events. My parents know that it is unacceptable to text me in class and I have very few if any friends. It is be possible for it to be brother as he has never had the respect for education and school that I have, but it is unlikely; he wouldn’t want to risk a scolding from me when he’s only home for a day. For a time, Midari was frequently sending me strange pictures known as “memes,” as well as other disturbing images, but after I threatened to take her gun away, she stopped. The most obvious choice is the President, and with this mornings development, it is likely that she will need my assistance with something during lunch. The President is in class; she really must learn the importance of respecting your teachers and paying attention in class. I will check what she wants during my next break.
————
“You do not have to come to the Student Council room today during lunch.” It’s not exactly a rare occurrence, but today it comes as quite a shock. Normally the President informs me the day before that my presence will not be needed during lunch; after all she is well aware of my love of planning. The possibility of this text being the result of this morning’s events are quite low. The President has never been one to be passive aggressive, and I am certain if she was displeased with me, she would make it abundantly clear. The more likely reasons are either family business or a risky gamble. Secrets and the president have all ways mixed well together, and it has become clearer and clearer to me that she does not see the value in sharing any of her secrets with anyone including me. Well it is not my place to pry into the affairs of the President. You must remember this, Sayaka. Do not allow your feelings to tell you differently.
——————-
During lunch, I sit outside on a bench and eat alone. I could go into the cafeteria, but it is always so loud and seeing some many students caught up in all this gambling worries. It’s the President aquarium and it’s what she wants, but that doesn’t mean I have to love it, it just means that I have to protect it. I could eat somewhere with Midari, but her presence is often not worth the effort, and I am certain that she spends most of her lunches masturbating in that terrible basement of hers. I fear for her...constantly locking herself away and participating in degeneracy simply cannot be good for her already poor mental state. And besides outside truly is the best choice for today, it has the privacy of the student council room and it is quite nice out.
Or rather that is what I have always believed based on my past experiences of eating out here. Unfortunately, today there is the distinct sound of a wheelchair and footsteps. The Totobami sisters. Do not turn around to do so would be to give them attention and to give them attention would be to give them power. Allow her to make the first move and act accordingly.
“Sayaka Igarashi, secretary of Kirari Monobami, am I correct?,” Terano Totobami asks. It is not a real question; it’s said out of politeness as we have never actually spoken. Even so it angers me that she would speak the President’s name with such hatred.
“Yes, and your names are Terano and Yumi Totobami?” A polite response is in order, to jump to aggression instantly would be reckless; her motives are still unclear so caution must be my forefront. I wonder did she plan for this or is simply an opportunistic move. To relay on someone like the president as a piece in your scheme is risky. The President is an uncontrollable variable; one must plan around her not attempt to predict her actions. But perhaps this manipulation is within Terano’s skills.
“You were responsible for the the inflation of the price of the voting chips, correct?” She asks; her voice is passive. While I did not attempt to keep this a secret, my lack of personality often leads to my actions falling out of the view of the public eye. She must have eyes in the school or perhaps she has done some digging. This Totobami does not strike as the kind of girl who would make statements like this without proof. She is too careful.
“Yes. Buying votes in an election based on gambling seemed to be unfair to me,” I answer. Not quite the complete truth, but to claim my total loyalty to the President is not necessary or beneficial at the this point. To keep your cards close to your chest when dealing with an unknown, dangerous enemy is key. “How did you know?”
“I simply suspected. Kirari just isn’t one to worry about those things, and with your intelligence it would be no problem.” A lie clearly, but one based in truth. So she is aware of the President’s weakness and hates them. Her hatred is a concern; it’s boiling. It’s dangerous. Remain passive, Sayaka. “What do you think of Kirari?”
A dangerous question. She’s trying to get a feel for how I view Kirari, but why? To test my loyalty? To see how I could be of use to her? I must continue to remain objective until her motive is revealed.
“She is an intelligent woman who is quite skilled at gambling.” A rather neutral truth.
“Do you believe her to a terrible person, a narcissist with little regard to the lives of others?” Her voice is angry again. So this is an attempt to lure me to her side or to trick me. This girl is truly dangerous. Sure it doesn’t seem that way what could a girl in wheelchair due to us, but that hatred and those clever eyes are not to be underestimated. There is also Yumi to consider; she appears to be an enthusiastic dunce, but the possibility of this act being a mask is always there. Bami sisters and their masks... it makes sense, I suppose. Since they were children, they have been surrounded by hungry eyes. The pressure coming from those seeking power is simply too much for a child; it’s no wonder mental instability seems to a common factor in this family. They’re children with too much power and too little awareness of their consequences...the President included.
I am faced with two choices an outright refusal or to lean into her plan. Logic tells me to step away and leave the wolfs to fight it quit amongst themselves, but despite what the President believes I am not completely logical.The tower gamble is proof of that. This really isn’t my business, but Totobami’s hatred changes everything. If the president were to lose the election, she would lose her protection. I’m certain it would not be enough for this girl. The president would be alone, vulnerable, with no one to protect her, and Terano would kill her. If the president were to win the election, that loss might set Terano off. No matter how much power you have you are still human and you still bleed. There would be major consequences for her, but an unstable Terano’s hatred may be more powerful than her fear. I could warn the president.
Oh my. Their are too many choices, too many calculations, too many unknown factors. If I cannot choice with logic what else is there to turn it. The President will die and I will fail to protect to her. My heart is beating fast now, and the urge is to hyperventilate is strong. I feel the ability to keep my face passive slipping. The image of the President’s broken body flashes in my mind. No! I must protect her. But how? Suddenly a voice echos in my mind. ‘You knew something you hadn’t even begun to consider.’ Her voice calms my heart. Of course the only choice is to follow my instincts.
“Do you believe me to blind? Or perhaps do you take me as fool? Of course I know who the President is. How she is,” It’s all becoming very clear now the choice I must make. Some believe me to be a girl unwilling to takes risks, but I’m well aware of risk and reward. There will be no rewards without risks; I simply believe that the rewards gambling give are not equal to the risk. The balance must be right, and it never is when it comes to gambling. It can be difficult for young people and those with poor impulse control to see this, but it has always been clear to me.
“Yet you still follow her. Why is this Igarashi?” Her voice is calmer now but a bit suspicious. This is as I expected.
“Why not?” It’s not a completely false statement truly I cannot understand why I follow the President so loyally. Lies that hold some truth are the only believable ones.
“This seems unlike you Igarashi. I’ve heard word of your love of logic and loyalty to the President.” Her tone is more curious now, but the suspicion remains.
“Indeed. I am a logical being, and it makes sense to follow the President. I do not wish to participate in the gambles that President supports, and one way to accomplish this was to become her secretary.” Once again it is a partially true statement, but my loyalty runs far deeper than that.
“So you’re okay with being used, and how can you be certain that this relationship will continue to be beneficial to you?” Do not underestimate her. I must keep telling myself that.
“There will always be uncertainties, but one must look at the signs to weigh how strong this uncertainty is. At this point, the uncertainty does not outweigh the benefits.” Once again this true, the president means too much to me for it not to be.
“And if there was more signs that this relationship will soon become harmful to you?” Her voice is completely calm. A mask perhaps? Too hard to say at this point.
“Then the uncertainties would outweigh the benefits, and I would have no choice but to leave.” The bait is set, and I am certain she will take it, but it remains to be seen if this a fish hungry for my bait or a shark hungry for me.
“Well have a good day Igarashi.”
“Byyyyeeee Sayaka hope you had a great lunch.” Yumi yells out while laughing. I did not.
“Thank you. Goodbye.” Before my driving force was to become number one, but now it is to protect my President. It does not matter how she views me only that she is safe, and if she hates me, then so be it.