CHAPTER 26

       "Why is it that everything you love is either unhealthy, addictive or 2D characters living on a screen?"

        Suzuki-sensei didn't look the slightest bit amused as she worked through documents at her desk. "Miyuki, get out of my office."

        I repositioned my head on the sofa, my eyes glued to the ceiling. "Lately I've been feeling kind of harassed by reality. I just want to stay in my 2D realm but then I'm forced to go to school and on top of that, join a club and socialize with people. It's unfair. Also, may I ask why my favourite characters constantly have to die? Like yeah, just kill them all off why don't you. I didn't need my heart anyway."

My makeshift counselling session had irked Suzuki-sensei to the final straw. She slammed her hands on top of her desk, anger apparent on her features.

"If you're so bored you would come here willingly during lunch, maybe I should give you more homework to do?"

I hoisted myself off the sofa and hung my legs over the edge. "I think it's time for me to go."

As I secured my bag and rose to my feet, Suzuki-sensei exhaled heavily.

"Why don't you spend lunch with the Humanity Club?"

I exhaled through my nose and hastened toward the doorway. "Yeah, my incoming lecture senses are tingling. Goodbye, sensei—"

         "Wait."

I clicked my tongue. When I glanced over my shoulder Suzuki-sensei beckoned me to take a seat in front of her. I bit the inside of my cheek in defeat and dragged myself over to the chair. Great. I got myself into another one.

Suzuki-sensei's countenance was filled with genuine concern. "I know for a fact those guys invite you to join them every day."

"And I turn them down," I responded. "Every day."

"Why?" she pressed.

"May I ask why I'm suddenly being interrogated?"

"Miyuki," she said, reclining in her chair. "You should give it a try."

  "I have," I replied. "With Hiro and Yuji once. Which resulted in me being insulted by Hiro's cousin, challenged to a Food War, and had the club nearly disband."

      Suzuki-sensei erupted into a fit of laughter. "That sounds like such a pleasure! I swear, those guys. Trouble always follows them around."

I deadpanned. "And how exactly is that appealing to be apart of?"

"Miyuki, you've brightened up a bit."

My eyelids fluttered. Suzuki-sensei smiled, resting her chin on her palms.

"I see you, Yuji and Saki talk often during class," she went on. "You've stopped being so persistent to leave the club and you're participating in the requests you receive—with little to no disagreement. That play you put on a while ago was fantastic, too."

My gnawing on the inside of my cheek was becoming tedious. "Can I leave?"

"Listen." I fixed my attention onto my teacher as she rose a brow. "You are no longer allowed to come into my office unless I summon you."

I opened my mouth but Suzuki-sensei beat me to it.

"And yes that means no more pointless counselling sessions or complaints about anime related issues." She answered my thoughts perfectly. "I don't care if you're not a fan of crowded areas or going outside; either you figure out a place to spend lunch outside of this office or you join them. Am I clear?"

"As sand," I answered, hopping to my toes. "Goodbye, sensei."

"You still have twenty minutes until lunch is over," she called after me. "Go join them."

I paused my action of shutting the door behind me. It took a couple seconds to regain feeling in my hand. "Goodbye, sensei."

As soon as I closed the door, a loud sigh pushed past my lips. My hands in my uniform's pockets, I advanced through the crowd of students and animated conversations that rushed past my ears. When I passed the cafeteria doors, my legs halted in place.

Although my reluctance was weighing down my gut, curiosity was at its peak. When was the last time I actually came here?

"Excuse me."

I moved out of the way at once. The group of girls behind me slipped through the doors into the cafeteria, raucous laughter in accord. But even as students continued to enter and leave one after another I couldn't bring myself to go inside.

I already knew what kind of reactions they'd have if I even tried to join them, but a part of me was berating me for ever considering the idea. Lunch was just about over; what was the point of joining them so late?

What was the point of joining them at all?

I'd been perfectly content having lunch myself since I came to this academy. Regardless of what Suzuki-sensei said, that didn't have to change now. I didn't need company.

I didn't.

"Is there a reason you are not entering the cafeteria?"

My heart leapt into my throat from surprise. When I came across the one to ask me the question, I was immediately forced to concede a step. The girl ahead of me carried such poise and beauty that resembled one of a wealthy girl. Her voluminous black hair curled over her cheeks and shoulders, sharp brown eyes narrowed entirely at me.

My breathing was forced to a stop when she breached my vicinity even further. There wasn't a hint of emotion displayed on her features. Still and firm; that was what resounded the strongest about her.

"If you're not going to be entering the cafeteria, I'll have to ask you to leave," the girl insisted. "While I'm to perform my duties, I'd rather not have a loafing student around to distract me."

As she withdrew, she adjusted the Disciplinary Committee armband that decorated her uniform. Then she once again raked me over.

"Your bow tie is crooked," she finalized. "Collar is wrinkled. Tube socks too high." As she sent jabs at my outfit, she suddenly whipped out a ruler and held it to my skirt. "Your skirt is five centimetres too long as well... You better make these alterations by tomorrow."

I backed away in disbelief. "Who the hell—"

"Iku-nee," whispered the officer behind her, the male's geeky glasses sticking out the most.

The girl craned her neck back and her lips curved downwards. She spared me one last frown.

"I'll be back. When I do, you better be gone."

Then, with a dramatic hair toss that ended up whipping me in the face, she strode down the hallway, that nervous male posted at her side.

I wiped at my mouth, face scrunched up in disgust. I'd never seen the girl before, but if she was apart of the Disciplinary Committee I wanted nothing to do with her. Nobody did. The people in it worked under the orders of the actual Student Council and administration, and were stricter than any teacher here—Suzuki-sensei included. And once they were on your back you had no chance of survival.

I peeked downwards at my skirt. Five centimetres too long? The heck? It wasn't my fault the uniform came like this!

I ran my fingers through my hair, dismissing the idea. 'Iku-nee,' huh? I feel like I heard that nickname somewhere before...?

"I'm just saying, why do people say "sweating like a pig" when pigs don't sweat?"

        "It's an expression, Saki. It's like asking why the slowest part of the day is called rush hour."

         "Or asking why a camera lens is circle, but the pictures are rectangular."

         I peered over my shoulder to see that the entire group had exited from the cafeteria, stopping for a moment to ponder the weird questions they were asking.

          "Wait," Yuji said.

          "Can you cry under water?" Hiro demanded.

         "Why does a round pizza come in a square box?" Hinata asked.

         Another moment of blank silence, only to be broken by Wannabe.

         "Guys, this kind of conversation isn't getting anywhere." He turned towards Saki. "I hope we managed to answer your question."

         Saki remained as lost as a lamb. "If the sun is in space why is there light on earth but not in space?"

         I couldn't stop my lips from quirking up.

         "I see you guys are still idiots."

        All heads simultaneously jerked in my direction. Saki was the first to gain a glimmer in her eyes and she threw me into a hug.

         "Mi-chan!"

        As I sighed at the girl's typical behaviour, my focus was soon diverted at another cry that filled the air.

         "Hoshino-san!"

         Kouichi had made an unexpected appearance with them, a tiny smile curving up the corners of his lips.

          I cocked an eyebrow. "Kouichi, you decided to join the crazy too?"

          "Actually," Yuji interjected, "Kouichi's been joining us for lunch for quite a while now."

          "The guy's pretty hilarious," Hiro agreed, going so far as to shoot him a grin. "Even today he was freaking out about the way his food was served."

          "The potatoes were touching the carrots," Kouichi said in defence. "And the sandwich wasn't cut in a perfectly symmetrical half! A sandwich that falls apart as you eat it is—"

        "We also learned he's quite the perfectionist," Hinata laughed.

        "It's alright, Kouichi," Wannabe said, grabbing onto his shoulder. "Everyone desires for the world to be perfect, and a path of correct answers to follow. Though, it is only when you push through your struggles and pain—"

         "Ah, Kazuya-sama!"

         In only an instant, Wannabe had unhanded Kouichi and had lunged towards the group of girls who had called out to him, suavely smiling and making small talk. The girls promptly giggled in response.

          The rest of us watched Wannabe's actions and sighed altogether.

          "I can never understand what Kazuya-san says," Kouichi confessed.

          "None of us can," Saki assured him. "But he is our senpai and club president so we have to act like we do."

         "That's kind of backwards," Kouichi noted. "We can't voice our confusion?"

"Nope." Yuji chuckled as he tossed an arm across his shoulder. "And that's 'cause this is Kazu."

          "If you ignore him or put him on the spot it'll only make him uncomfortable and he'll end up sulking," Hiro said.

Hinata sent him a tiny smile. "I find that nodding your head and smiling works pretty well."

"Oh, and occasional compliments work too," Saki added.

"But don't go overboard," Yuji warned, shuddering at a memory. "He'll end up flirting with you..."

      Even with the addition of Kouichi, they rambled on easily, laughing, making cracks and smiling as freely as always. And as if to betray me, instead of wanting to secretly slip away, there was a tiny urge squeezing at my chest. Fiddling with my bangs, I veered my gaze.

      "Miyuki, you've brightened up a bit."

I hadn't. I really hadn't. I wanted to leave this club as much as I did when I first joined.

Except now, the cause seemed to stem from another reason entirely.

------------------------------------------------------

"Let's all play cards!"

Prying my eyes away from my manga, I stared into energetic periwinkle eyes posted at the edge of the sofa I was lying on.

Seeing my evident confusion, a wide smile graced Wannabe's lips. "Let's play cards!" he repeated.

"Huh?" I mumbled.

He held up a deck of cards, elation not settling the slightest. "I've always wanted to play a game of cards so let's all play together!"

"Where's this coming from?" Hiro asked.

Yuji sat straighter in his seat. "Wait, you haven't played cards before?"

Wannabe withdrew from my vicinity and bobbed his head. "I've never received the opportunity in the past but it's always been a dream of mine to play an earnest game against my friends!"

Kouichi, the only other outsider who'd decided to pay us a visit during club time, sent me a hopeful glance. "Maybe we're not all friends—"

"Kouichi's right. I, myself, am a lone wolf," I responded before he could finish, returning my gaze to my manga. "Have fun with that yourselves."

Wannabe rose to his toes and jutted his chin. "I will not accept that excuse."

"Don't care," I said.

Wannabe didn't want to give up. "As your club president, you do not have the right to refuse me—"

"I refuse. I refuse." I stopped to give him an impassive look. "I refuse."

Wannabe was stock-still in disbelief, his jaw plummeting rather rapidly. With a snort, I went back to my manga and seeing that cracked Wannabe. He went scurrying to cower behind the sofa Yuji and Hiro were seated. "Sh-she refused me three times."

In response, Yuji sucked in a breath, a smirk of his own upturning his lips. "Teasing Kazu already? Someone's a little sour today."

"And someone should mind his own damn business," I scoffed.

Yuji was silenced with that, only allowing Hiro to break out into a loud laugh. Yuji immediately sent him a dirty look but Hiro's attempt to stifle his laughter took quite a bit of effort.

"Oh, c'mon even I have to give her that."

Yuji smacked his hat off his head.

Saki crouched down beside me, a frown of her own painting her face. "Mi-chan, is everything okay?"

"Just fine, Bitch-chan 2.0."

Saki gaped as a result. Hiro, who had been sending Yuji death looks, subdued and turned his attention to me.

"I haven't heard you say that since you first met us," Hiro pointed out. "What are you playing at, Hoshino?"

"When are you ever gonna grow, shortie? We're all asking questions."

Now it was Hiro's turn to be quiet, and Yuji's to snicker like an idiot.

Wannabe shot to his feet, fists clenched. "Hoshino, what's going on? If something or someone is troubling you, we'll gladly help—"

"Then help me by shutting up."

Officially, awkwardness had swept over the entire room, drowning us all in a silence too quiet you could only hear the ruffling of my turning pages.

"A salty Hoshino-san is such a turn-on..." Kouichi broke it soon enough. Considering his drool-y behaviour, I could imagine hearts taking up the position of his eyes, only causing my skin to crawl as a result.

"No," Wannabe said, gaining a serious glint in his eye.

"She's saltier than usual," Yuji pointed out.

"She's deliberately trying to rile us up," Hiro agreed, throwing on his cap and turning it backwards on his head.

"Why, Mi-chan?" Saki inquired, reaching for my hand.

        I broke down with their piercing stares but I didn't dare let it show.

"Didn't I say leave me alone?"

Saki's hold didn't loosen. "I'll never leave you, Mi-chan!"

"No, please do. I want you to be the first one out of my life."

"Why would you say that Mi-chan?" she pressed, brown eyes huge in conviction. "Aren't we best friends?"

I popped a nerve as fast as my head whipped towards her. "What don't you understand? We never were and we'll never be friends, let alone best friends!"

My voice resounded off the walls, hitting me back full force with guilt. Mainly because, Saki's expression had dropped to a mixture of both hurt and shock. I pried my hand from hers, avoiding her eyes. Though I hadn't said anything different from as I've always done, this time it felt as if I crossed an invisible line I shouldn't have.

To prove that, Wannabe spoke up, "Don't you think that's a little..."

"It's fine." Saki's forced laugh snatched our attention at once. Though she wore a closed-eyed smile, it was weak. "If we can't be best friends Mi-chan and I can be lovers! Haha, imagine..."

        The moment she opened her eyes and saw my countenance, devastation slapped her across the face. She fumbled backwards and with a ragged laugh, unsteadily rose to her feet. Her breathing began to stutter as she opened her mouth, and on top of that, unexpected tears had welled in her eyes. Despite her efforts, she couldn't withhold them.

       "I knew it," she said, shakily, small. "I really am a bother to you, too, Mi-chan..."

My throat and mouth were dry. And for a good amount of time, I couldn't get myself to speak. I gnawed the inside of my cheek and parted my lips, "Saki—"

         "Excuse me. Is the club president here?"

        All focus had swivelled to the doorway, where company was waiting. Their identities hadn't slipped past me; it was the Disciplinary Committee. And leading the timid looking boy behind her through the door was the stoic girl from lunch.

         "Why are you here?"

         The hostility from Yuji's voice startled me. I craned my neck back to see that all boys, with the exception of Kouichi, were on their feet, guards high. Yuji's face was scrunched up in anger; an expression completely unlike him.

         The girl came to a halt front and centre in the room, chin high and radiating her importance, lustrous black hair flowing after her. Without even batting an eye at Yuji, her eyes settled upon Saki.

         She had retreated, as far back as Hiro, her watery eyes standing out against her brown skin.

"You've been crying, Saki," the girl noted, voice smooth and silky. "Are you being mistreated here?"

"Like hell she is," Yuji snapped in her stead. "You're the one—"

"How rude of a welcome," she said, propping a hand on her hip. "Then again, what else do I expect from a club consisting of failures?"

I furrowed my brows. The reaction this girl brought was different from Rack. In fact, this kind of discomfort was the last thing I expected to be radiating from the people of this club.

"Ikumi-chan," Wannabe tried anyway, strolling up to her and pinning his trademark smile on his face. "It's a pleasure to see you again."

'Ikumi' stared as blankly as ever into his eyes. "I see your pathetic personality hasn't changed, Kazuya," she scoffed. "And as I've repeatedly told you, it's Ikumi-san."

Wannabe shrugged it off and beckoned to the sofa. "Ikumi-chan, why don't you take a seat?"

"No thank you," she responded. The atmosphere shifted as she spared each of us a long, calculating look. Then, she glanced over her shoulder at the quaking boy. "Eita."

He whipped out a clipboard and placed it into her hand at once. With a sigh, Ikumi scanned the sheet over.

         "Ikeda Hiroshi. Sato Yuji. Hoshino Miyuki. Yamamoto Saki. And also Club President, Hayashi Kazuya," as she recited all our names, she dropped the sheet and fixed her gaze onto Wannabe. "As of today, under Student Council orders, your club is to officially disband."

The news hit us all full-force.

         "Under Student Council orders?" Wannabe repeated, now serious.

Kouichi whistled. "Things just got real, quick..."

Nobody spared the jab any attention.

"This... Humanity Club isn't stable," Ikumi elaborated, tucking the clipboard under her arm. "First off, it is an extracurricular that is vastly similar to an already existing club, the Volunteer Club. Moreover, the number of students signed up which includes the Club President is a number only five—the exact amount needed to start up a club and keep it instated. And although the Club President is required to hand in the extracurricular's monthly accomplishments, this club constantly produces the least favourable results."

Hiro gritted his teeth. "You didn't..."

         "Of course," said Ikumi, "As somebody whose sole goal is to make Seisein Academy the best school it can possibly be when the Student Council declared they had to cut some existing clubs in order to remain under a fixed budget, my suggestion was to demolish one of the least value. And considering Seisein Academy is renown for its broad range of extracurricular activities, the Humanity Club is sadly damaging to that said reputation. Thus it's disbandment was approved rather easily."

       "What the hell's your issue?" Yuji spoke this time. "Just because—"

       "It isn't only because my adoptive sister is apart of this club that I am out to get it," Ikumi responded. "For you to reach such a conclusion proves your ignorance."

"Then why did you come here?"

"As I've already said," she enunciated, "the Humanity Club is a worthless club to Seisein Academy. There isn't one reason to keep it around, and I'm sure after it's officially gone you'll thank us for that."

This cold, data-based severity—that was what the Disciplinary Committee was known for. And this girl—Saki's older sister—was the one responsible for it.

"Ikumi-chan." Wannabe had begun sweating bricks but his previous expression still hadn't fallen as he repeated his previous statement. "Why don't you take a seat?"

"Kazu," Yuji said.

"Ikumi-chan," he said for the third time, clearly out of it. "Why don't you take a—"

"Chill, Wannabe." A loud exhale exited my mouth as I joined him, patting his shoulder to settle him down. She'd shocked him pretty good.

Ikumi didn't appear the slightest bit impressed. "If the leader is this inadequate, no wonder this club is the same."

"You can't do this," Hiro growled.

"But I already have." Ikumi spun on her toes. "Tomorrow after school we'll be assigning this clubroom to another more worthwhile club. Gather your belongings and be out by then."

Eita dogged her, but before they were out the door, they were stopped by a yell.

"Iku-nee! Eita-nii!"

Both of her siblings turned around.

"Saki, I've already put down my word," Ikumi said.

"I know." Saki balled her fists. "But there has to be another way around this."

"There isn't. The Humanity Club will disband."

"Saki," Eita murmured. "You know Iku-nee's orders are absolute."

"She Akashi Seijurou or something?" I mumbled under my breath.

They hadn't heard me.

"Saki, I'm sure you already know this, but it's been made very clear your presence is not a necessity in our household," Ikumi stated. "Ever since you arrived you've been nothing but baggage. Unable to live up to the expectations my mother and father have placed upon you; you've been an utter disappointment. And your involvement in this credit-less club isn't anything different."

Saki had stiffened, and she dropped her head. "The Humanity Club isn't..."

"Mother and father were kind enough to take in a girl like you and this is how you repay them? It's because you're involved with people like the failures of the Ikeda and Sato family you're not getting anywhere."

"You—" Yuji started.

"I want to repay them!" Saki cried. "But, I'm just not good at math and business. I'm not good at sitting at a desk and studying all day, making friends..."

Ikumi scoffed, freezing her in place. "'Friends' are worthless. And considering how many you've lost in your lifetime I'm sure you're already aware of that fact," she said. "Family comes first and yet you brush us aside and expect us to treat you like one of us. You're seriously the disgrace of the Yamamoto family and that will never change."

"Ikumi-chan," Saki pleaded.

"Fine."

"Iku-nee," Eita whispered.

Ikumi brushed him aside. "Saki," she said, "I'll give you one last chance to make it up to us."

Her eyes widened. "Y-you will?"

"Saki doesn't have to listen to you," Yuji snapped.

"As her sister, she has more of a reason to listen to me. Still, you are not incorrect. A little part of me is trying to disband this club because of my sister's involvement in it." She stared directly at her. "So, if you want to do something useful in your life, join the Disciplinary Committee."

Ikumi brushed aside our surprise.

"I'm saying leave this club." She was as poker-faced as always. "Maybe if you do, I'll be kind enough to persuade the Student Council into letting the Humanity Club escape disbandment."

That said, a tiny smirk tilted her lips. She twirled on her toes and left at that, Eita in pursuit. Saki stood still, features fuzzy with melancholy.

"Saki, you can't seriously be considering her," Hiro pressed.

Yuji nodded. "We'll talk her out of it. We can figure out a way."

"Exactly." Wannabe raised his fist. "The Humanity Club doesn't waver!"

Though they tried to talk to her, the once bubbly Saki didn't appear convinced. She could only produce a weak smile—a despondent and sullen look I was starting to familiarize with now.

Regardless, maybe it was because I hadn't bothered to try. To start up another friendship again; get close to someone only to be left behind.

Needless to say, Saki stopped showing up to the club after that. We'd walked in a the next day to find a transfer notice plopped onto the main table, and although it was devastating, despite the attempts to talk her out of joining the Disciplinary Committee, everything had fallen through our fingers. We could do nothing except move forward from the existing heaviness. Like we did with Hinata.

We were down from six members to four, and a Kouichi who'd offered to join as our pedestal.

The Humanity Club just wasn't the same as it was. And maybe, it never would be again.