“Whew. I’m stuffed!” Watase Shingo exclaimed as he crumpled up his empty sandwich bag. Meanwhile, Yaegashi Taichi packed his bento box back into his bookbag.
Just two weeks had passed since the start of the new school year.
“So let’s hear it. How’s recruiting going for the Cultural Research Club?”
“We’re letting the second-years handle it, and they’ve risen to the task,” Taichi replied as he thought fondly of his two kouhai.
“But there’s only two of them, right? Won’t they need to find at least three new recruits in order to keep the club alive?”
“I’m sure they’ll manage... probably...”
“You don’t sound sure!”
Spiky-haired Watase was the star of the soccer team, and whenever there was an alphabetical seating arrangement, he always ended up sitting right next to Taichi. Hence, they frequently ate lunch together.
And in the middle of their back and forth, someone walked over from the teacher’s lectern.
“I admit, the ‘five person minimum’ rule comes off as rather arbitrary... but then again, the whole point of making clubs mandatory is to teach students cooperation and what have you, so...”
“If it isn’t President Katori himself! Are you gonna overturn the rules for us?” Watase joked.
“I was just making conversation,” Katori replied calmly. The way he casually ran a hand through his hair made him look like a TV star.
Katori’s term as student council president would formally end in September. This was the first time he and Taichi had ended up assigned to the same class.
Two weeks into the school year, the first-years were probably still learning the ropes. But for the third-years, who had already spent two full years here at Yamaboshi High School, not much was different, save for their new class assignment. It was still too early to start worrying about college entrance exams, and here in Classroom 3-E, the mood in the air was peaceful.
“I suppose the smaller clubs are in constant danger of disbandment,” said one Ishikawa Daiki, a tall guy with a burly build and a shaved head. He was currently in a relationship with bright, bubbly Nakayama Mariko.
“While the sports teams never have to worry about that. Must be nice,” Taichi muttered enviously.
“Hey, Taichi! Oh, I see all the boys are here.”
A girl had entered the classroom. With her sharp, angular features and mature aesthetic, she was perhaps not the most feminine girl in the room, but her modest beauty conveyed a quiet strength that captivated all who saw her. Her glossy dark hair and large, almond-shaped eyes were especially striking.
This was Taichi’s girlfriend, Inaba Himeko. He called out to her—
“Himeko!”
“What’s the topic of discussion today?”
“Oh, we were just chatting about club recruitment.”
“Ah, I see. You know, now that we’re third-years, it feels like all those important school events don’t really affect us anymore...”
“Yeah, for sure,” said Watase. “I’ve got one more soccer tournament, and then after that, it’s just... studying for entrance exams, I guess...”
“You should probably start studying before your tournament,” Katori chided.
“Uggghhh,” Watase miserably groaned back.
“Just pace yourself so you don’t burn out,” Ishikawa suggested.
“Now that we’re third-years, we’re all going to be too busy to really care about any fun stuff,” Taichi muttered.
“Why so serious?!”
Out of nowhere, a loud voice called out from the hallway. Then she darted into the classroom and ran right up to Taichi.
“Why so serious?!” she repeated.
It was Fujishima Maiko, president of Class 3-E, her dark hair tied back, wearing her trademark glasses.
“I mean, this whole conversation you’re having is just so shockingly dull, and for the record, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop but the window was left open ever so slightly so I happened to overhear—”
“Take a breath, Fujishima!” Katori commanded.
“I always knew you four boys would get along. And you know what else? I always knew you’d drain the fun out of any room!”
“Ouch,” said Taichi. Not much else he could say, really.
“I mean, think about it! There’s no comic relief character! You’re all so stoic!”
“I’m stoic?” Ishikawa blinked in surprise.
“You all just heard this lovey-dovey couple calling each other by their first names, and yet no one said a thing! Someone ought to be teasing them for this! If only someone in this group had some proper energy!”
“Relax, Fujishima-san... I mean, I’d say I have a decent amount of energy myself...”
“But you’re not a front runner, Watase-kun.”
“I don’t run fast enough...?” Watase clutched his head in despair.
“If it’s such a problem, then why don’t you be the comic relief?” said Himeko.
“I’m trying! Right this very moment! All for the sake of our wonderful class!”
“I don’t think we really need it...”
“Think about it, Inaba-san. Now that we’re third-years, our lives will slowly be overtaken with college entrance exams. It’s a team sport, so we’ll need to be united more than ever... and yet, third-years barely have any special events to bring us together! No more exciting field trips — just the Sports Festival and the Culture Festival, both of which we’ve already been through twice before!”
“Well, it might feel different to experience them as third-years.”
“Maybe for you, Mr. President. But without something new to spice things up, there’ll be no chance to spark any new chemistry!”
“Chemistry?” Taichi repeated.
“I’m talking that kind of chemistry! With the opposite sex! Or the same sex, if that’s what does it for you!”
As always, Fujishima went out of her way to be inclusive of minorities.
“My point is, we should have an exciting new event here at the beginning of the year, while we still have time! Ooh, a new event... I was just sort of spitballing, but now that I’ve said it out loud, I like it!”
Evidently she was having the entire conversation on her own.
“Frankly, I’d just like to give the single students another chance to find love!”
“Yeah, I think you made that part clear from the ‘chemistry’ thing,” Taichi retorted under his breath.
“And maybe I’ll get a chance of my own... No, no, that’ll never happen. I just want to help everyone live their best lives by boosting morale before we head into entrance exam hell. What I need is an event that will heighten everyone’s chemistry and their competitive spirit... I’m not especially hoping I’ll get to have a flirty moment myself... No, of course not.”
“The lady doth protest too much,” Himeko shot back.
“Well, I wouldn’t be opposed to coming up with some sort of event.”
“Thank you, Katori-kun, oh great and glorious leader! I knew you’d understand! Anyway, now that that’s settled, it’s time to put my plans into action! I’m going to rope in the entire school, I promise you that!”
“You really don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do! I said I will, so I will!”
“...I wish I knew where she gets her determination,” Katori muttered, staring after her in awe.
But as it turned out, that was only the beginning. Following a direct appeal from Fujishima and the rest of the student council, a brand-new event was confirmed just three days later. Everyone was gossiping about Fujishima and her Superman powers.
But though Fujishima was powerful, she was still an ordinary human being. She just knew how to use the tools at her disposal. So if anything, she was Batman.