Chapter 37
[53]
“Uuugh.” Ren laid his head on the table of the student council room. It’d been 2 days since he stopped Tombstone and his gang and the vigilante was still recovering from his injuries.
“Aaand that should conclude our session today.” The student council president tapped her papers on the table. “Look I know you’re tired Ren, but we can’t let your grades drop any further than they already have. Your ‘extracurricular activities’ have been keeping you from studying so you need all the help you can get.”
“Buuut Makotoooo, there’s criiiiime.” Ren spoke without lifting his head.
The third year girl looked down at her exhausted junior and a small smile graced her lips. She had to admit, Ren was a pretty cute guy. His hair, despite being the unkempt mess it always, looked incredibly fluffy and she had to resist her urge to touch it.
“Oh, I almost forgot! Have you gotten all your paperwork done for the class trip? It’s due tomorrow.”
“The what now?” Ren raised his head.
Makoto scoffed, “Really? You know, the class trip to Hawaii? The second years do it every year.”
“Hey gimme a break! I only just got here this year! Not to mention I’ve been busy with other stuff.”
The girl rolled her eyes before reaching into her bag and pulling out the necessary forms. “Get Sojiro to sign off on these and you’ll be able to go.” She sighed and looked out the window. “The trip is gonna be a lot smaller this year. As it turns out, not many parents are too keen on sending their children out of the country with the same school who had a psychotic teacher kill the principal and attack the school.”
“Yeah...Hey do we seriously still not have a principal? Like, who’s in charge of the school right now?”
“The faculty are managing the school’s affairs while the school board is searching for someone to take over the position. In fact, it’s because of that third year students are being requested to supervise the Hawaii trip.”
“For real? Were you asked?”
Makoto’s expression turned a bit somber. “I was, but I’m staying here. I have to be here in case my dad wakes up.”
“Makoto…” Ren remembered the state her father was in, comatose at the local hospital after an encounter with Tombstone. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. Because of you, the bastard who did that to him is in jail.”
Ren was surprised by her sudden change in tone, once again being determined and upbeat. The two of them exited the student council room and walked through the halls, now empty as classes had ended for the day.
“By the way, the girl who’s going in my place for the trip is pretty nice. I don’t know her too well, but I’ve heard good things from others. Her name is Haru Okumura.”
“Wait, Okumura as in Okumura Enterprises?” Ren questioned.
“Yeah her dad is the CEO. I’m surprised she’s not more popular around the school considering she’s filthy rich.”
“Yeah well, so’s Morgana, but no one really likes him. Speaking of, I can’t imagine he’s too excited about his ‘Lady Ann’ going out of the country.”
Elsewhere, a young blue haired boy sobs while clinging to the leg of a blonde girl.
“Pleeease Lady Ann. Don’t go! I beg you! Please don’t leave me Lady Ann!”
“Let go of me Mona! Please! This is humiliating! I’m going on the trip and you can’t stop me.”
Morgana only cried harder. “Laaady Aaaaann”
Finally arriving at Leblanc, Ann dragged Morgana with her into the cafe. Yusuke was behind the counter being chewed out by Sojiro for wasting coffee beans while Futaba sat at the booth on her laptop with headphones on.
“Hey guys,” Ann kicked Morgana to remove him from her leg. “Ren’s not back yet?”
Sojiro turned away from Yusuke to welcome her. “No, he’s still at school. He texted me that he was staying after with Ms. Student Council President. Looks like they're ‘studying’ together more often now.” He chuckled and looked off wistfully. “Ah, to be young again. When I was his age, hoo boy.”
“That’s not what they’re doing! Ren’s not like that!” Ann’s cheeks became flushed and she covered her mouth.
Sojiro raised an eyebrow at the girl before chuckling again. “Huh, maybe I’ve rubbed off on the kid more than I thought.”
Morgana and Ann, both pouting, sat down at the counter before being passed a cup of coffee by Sojiro. “It’s on the house.” He said.
Ann took a sip and turned her attention to the TV. The news was on and by the looks of things, they were discussing the gang war from the other night. A portly balding man (with a mustache not too dissimilar from a certain German historical figure) was being interviewed and yelling loudly about his hatred of Spider-Man.
“He’s a menace I tell you! A number of reports came in from that night regarding property damage committed by Spider-Man. Why? Because he’s a reckless, foolish, horrible…” He seemed to pause to think of a word. “MENACE! The people of Tokyo just aren’t safe with him around! I mean, he tore down a building for god’s sake!”
The news anchor chimed in to correct him. “Actually, it says in those reports that he only tore down a wall of the apartment complex, not the entire building. And those reports also state that he used said wall to stop a ‘rampaging lava monster.’”
The portly man scoffed. “And you believed that? People will say whatever they need to justify his actions when the simple reality is that he’s a, say it with me folks, MENACE! Mark my words, Spider-Man will be the end of this city.”
The anchor seemed uncomfortable with her guest’s furious energy and decided to end the broadcast there. “Well you heard it here first folks, this is Channel 9 News, I’m-”
She was interrupted by her guest before she could finish. “If you want the truth, listen to my podcast! Just the Facts with Toranosuke Yoshida!” The man yelled into his microphone while pointing straight at the camera.
The report cut out there and Ann turned back to her coffee. “Wow, I guess some people really hate Re-uh Spider-Man.” She remembered Sojiro was in the room.
“Tell me about it,” Futaba chimed in without looking up from her laptop. “I’m already memeing it.”
“What the hell is memeing?” Sojiro asked Ann. “She talks about it constantly and I have no idea what it means. Is it code? Should I be concerned?”
Suddenly the cafe bell chimed and everyone turned their heads to the door.
“Whassup dudes and dudettes?”
“Oh,” Futaba turned back to her laptop. “It’s just Ryuji.”
Ryuji looked hurt by that. “What? Just cuz I’m not Ren no one cares? Y’know Ren’s not the only one with stuff goin’ on.” He smiled as he took a seat at the counter. “So get this, I was just at the Triple 7 when the craziest thing happened-”
His story was interrupted by the bell chiming once more.
“Ren!” The teenagers called out excited to see their friend.
“Hey guys, did I miss anything?” Ren asked as he entered the cafe.
“Nope, nothing.” Futaba said as she hugged him. Ann looked at the two with a scowl.
“Oh hey Sojiro.” Ren set a stack of papers on the counter. “Could you sign off on these so I can go on a class trip to Hawaii?”
“Kids these days. Do they even teach you anything in school anymore?”
“Excuse me!” Ryuji interrupted, everyone turned to the angry blond. “I was about to tell a really cool story!”
“Sorry Ryuji, go ahead.” Ren apologized.
“Promise I won’t be interrupted this time?”
“I promise. No one will interrupt your story.”
“Okay, so get this-”