A/N:

Hey guys! You made it till here! This chapter is also quite long and intense 🙊🙈

I hope you guys will enjoy this chapter as well!!! So, here we go...

Sentences in Italics represents Y/N's thoughts.

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Your POV:

"You must be crazy!" Akihiko-san muttered in shock.

"Maybe I am."

"If we are going to do this, it is on all of us. Not just you Kaichou sama" Asami-chan affirmed.

"I am not very pleased but I will agree to this, because-"

"Good, now let's get to it shall we?" Asami-chan intruded.

"But there's a problem!" I stated.

"What now?" Asami-chan shrugged.

"We got to provide an acceptable reason as to why we are cutting funds for the clubs and not buying the equipments for the school purposes"

"Yes! even if the students or the club mentors ask for the reason why we did the budget cut, we should have a perfect answer ready for them." Akihiko-san agreed.

"You guys are literally suggesting that we have to read up, aren't you?" she rolled her eyes.

"Yes!" Akihiko-san and I stated in unison.

"Since we don't have much time, I suggest we should split up the work. I will text Soma-san and the student relations officers immediately. It will help!" Asami-chan passed a notion.

The executive council board gathered and Akihiko-san explained to them about everything that took place. Soma-san raised a few questions so that he could get a better understanding and the reason behind our decision and he agreed to the idea. The student relations officers were not pleased with the concept of cutting funds as they would have to provide answers to everyone who bears questions.

They were finally convinced by Asami-chan's pep talk as she said, "We are all in this together. We all will help each other out. We all have to work well together. We cannot back out now. We will get through thick and thin. We will show our efficiency. I just want you all to understand the position that we are in!"

The council got to work by collecting details such as the efficiency of the club, complaints received, winning streak, and other attributes that will determine how much money a certain club will get to have. Fortunately, we were able to find where we can cut and where we shouldn't as we wanted to be fair with allocating the money.

We were able to find a solution to the raised problem in a couple of hours. Since we already had a budget draft, we just had to reassign the amount in each category. Akihiko-san was allotted with making the final copy of the draft again as he was the treasurer. We all gave him our inputs on where he should cut the funds by indulging him in on the details we gathered from the club records.

The draft was being prepared and I requested Soma-san to visit the Principal's office to gather information about the timings of the meeting. He came back in a few minutes saying that the meeting was scheduled at 3 pm and we had only 20 minutes or so left for the meeting.

The draft was finalized and all the council members signed on it. I drafted a notice that contained information on the budget cuts and copied the same for each club so that it could be posted on the public notice board.

I thanked the Student relations officers and Soma-san for their help and asked them to take a break while Akihiko-san, Asami-chan, and I visited the Principal's office. We left to the Principal's office and met with him with the prepared budget. This time, the Principal was not displeased but he was rather appalled.

"What kind of budget is this? On what basis did you guys do this?" he questioned, perplexed.

"Have you signed the festival committee's budget, sir?" I smugly questioned back.

"Yes. Actually, I signed it just after lunch!" he admitted with pride.

"Respectfully, then this is how the budget will be for this year, sir!" Asami-chan smirked. Holy shit! Asami-chan just did that!!!!

"I am aware of the fact that the funds allocated for this year to your council is considerably less, but-"

"Sir, if you are concerned that this might not be the best method to allocate the provided funds, trust me when I say we thought of every other possibility," I said confidently.

"Or sir, if you think this might not work, then we would be requiring a 20% increment with the funds. I already have a budget for that. Do you want to take a look at it, sir?" Akihiko-san said with a not so innocent smile. Dude, where have you been all this time?

The Principal was tongue-tied. There was strength in numbers after all. I was happy that my council members had my back and we were all in this together. This was the first time in a long while I had felt this kind of support, I felt empowered. This feeling was something completely contrast to what I felt when I met the Principal in the morning.

"Who came up with this idea?" he asked with a poker face.

"We all did, sir!" I responded, almost immediately. I didn't want him to know who it was. He might target them at some point for some reason and that might become a disastrous turnover in their life. I didn't want to leave it to chance and my answer would also seem like the council had each other's back, which was indeed true.

"At some point or the other, the students will get to know that the management didn't allocate enough money and that's why your council made the budget cuts. I don't have any other choice but to sign this. So, I will." The Principal heaved a sigh.

The Principal started to sign the budget and the prepared notice as he said, "But I don't want the council to tell the students that the management didn't allocate enough money. You understand?" he cocked an eyebrow, halting the signing process. I thought as much!

We left the Principal's office shortly after collecting the papers. We returned to the council room after taking a couple of dozens of xeroxes of the circular so that it can be issued to the clubs as well. The school was over by the time we finished sticking the pamphlets on the notice boards.

A few representatives from their respective clubs came into the council room to submit the final name list of their club. We, the student council members began to issue copies of the circular to them so that the clubs can be informed about the matter at hand.

A tall shadow was cast upon my table as I looked up to see a smiling Haiba Lev. He submitted the final name list to me and I issued him the circular as well.

"Senpai, what is this?" he asked, confused.

"It is a circular regarding the budget for this curriculum. You should take it to your captain and the club mentor!" I said, blatantly.

"But the amount allocated for our club looks very less compared to the other clubs!" he exclaimed, skimming through the circular.

"Yeah, budget cuts have been made for almost all the clubs and speaking of the volleyball club, a sufficient amount has been allotted due to various reasons. You guys can swiftly run the club with the allotted money though. So, it should be fine!" I half-smiled.

Lev's facial expressions tensed up and he left the council room with his long strides. I was slightly disheartened since they were the only club that I was getting to know personally but I did what I had to do. The council room was busy with people strolling in and out, the door closing open and shut with a bang as the representatives were a bit agitated to hear the news.

When the council room was filled with just the council members, I requested them to be polite to everyone who will come with inquiries regarding the issue and reminded them not to blame the management if questioned. I knew for a matter of fact that all of the council members were drained but this had to be handled with care. It was a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode once the matter reaches all the students and we had to brace ourselves for the impact.

A few minutes later, I heard a familiar voice. I knew this was going to happen sooner than later but I was a little startled to see the whole team standing behind Nekomata sensei.

"We are coming in!" Nekomata sensei announced as Kuroo held the council room door open for him.

"Yes, sensei. Please come in. Please, have a seat!" I offered him and he took a seat.

I took a glance at a very bitter looking Kuroo, a stern but calm Kai-kun, an expressionless Kenma, a nervous Lev, a raging Yamamoto-san, a displeased Yaku-san, and a bunch of confused first-year volleyball players.

"How may I help you, sensei?" I played coy.

"You exactly know what you did and why we are here!" Yaku-san stated angrily.

The council room started to fill up with the staff who were mentoring clubs and the club members just as I expected. The news spread like fire and a few students just came up to the council room without their mentors as well. The council members took the incoming litter of cats as they began to explain the situation at hand and I was left to deal with the volleyball club myself.

"Are you even paying any attention to us?" Lev asked.

"Yes. Sorry, I got a little distracted by the crowd" I apologized.

"We have been allotted just enough to run the club. We just came to enquire about this matter" Kai-kun spoke in a composed manner.

"I thought we could get a female manager this year and now we cannot" Yamamoto-san shrugged in disappointment. Instantly, Kuroo gave him a look of warning and Yamamoto-san smoothly escaped and stood behind Kenma.

The door to the council room flew open as a high-pitched noise shrieked, "Where is that bloody bitch?" What is her problem now? Ughhhh!

It was none other than the festival committee secretary, Kaneda Ichika. The people in the council room grew silent upon her grand entry. Asami-chan excused herself from the students who stormed her with questions to my side as Kaneda-san weaseled herself to the front lines to face me as she stood next to Kuroo.

The council room began to flare up with questions thrown by the mentors and the students. It was too much to handle, the nonstop questions, the creaking of the floorboards, the arrhythmic shrills and shrieks, the pressure of being confronted by the whole volleyball team, Kaneda Ichika in front of my face for god knows what.

I grew irritated and I was about to shout 'Decorum please!' but a powerful thud was heard from my desk. It was Kuroo who banged my desk and immediately Nekomata sensei said, "That's enough" in a loud and stern voice.

Maybe Kuroo observed my irritation and did that to help me!

"Now, speak!" Kuroo stressed. I mouthed a 'thank you' looking into his eyes and he nodded acknowledging it.

"Dear staff and students, if you all could lend us your ears, we would like to make a common announcement to all the people in this room and you can raise your questions one by one in an orderly fashion!" I announced.

The council members stood up from their seat and moved to my side and Akihiko-san addressed, "The student council has made budget cuts to all the clubs for this curriculum. We have made the cuts by taking many attributes into account. It is done such that the clubs will make proper use of the allocated money and not spend it lavishly as they have done so far."

A group of students started to murmur amongst themselves and we waited for them to settle down.

"We have also done this to reduce the overall budget for the year which will be helpful to the school in many accords. So, I request you all to understand the given situation and make do with the allocated money!" Asami-chan appealed.

Nekomata sensei and the other staff left the room with the pamphlets in hand. They probably understood why all this was happening and they didn't want to question us further and push us into a corner. A few students left along with their mentors as well but a few decided to stay.

"Helpful to school? What kind of nonsense is that?" Kaneda-san hissed.

"Kaneda-san, why are you even here? You got what you wanted didn't you?" I enquired.

"The festival committee's budget was signed way before you got your budget signed and I am not here to express my thanks for that matter. I am here on behalf of the Theatre Club and you've cut off all the money leaving us with a minimal amount" she hollered.

"What festival? What are you guys talking about?" someone from the student crowd raised a question.

"The official announcement was supposed to be happening tomorrow but since you all are asking, let me tell you right here right now. It's just the summer festival guys! Duh! The festival committee is completely different from this stupid council and you all can trust me that it will happen successfully" she announced in glee.

"We would like some answers now Kaichou-san" a tall, blond guy from next to the door requisitioned. What is Shiroma-san doing here?

"Please, state your question Shiroma-san" I affirmed.

"I am the archery club's captain and a good chunk of money from our club has been cut off. I would like to know the reason behind this" he cocked his eyebrow.

"There have been complaints made by some members and other students. We cannot divulge you on what the complaints were but that's the reason why the funds were cut. Next please?" Akihiko-san insinuated.

"Thanks for ignoring me Akihiko-san even though I asked the question first!" Kaneda-san fumed.

Asami-chan stepped in this time. "There has been no production, not even a script was produced by your club in the past year. I am sure you are aware of that Kaneda-san. So, spending money on a club that just spends its time in the name of practicing didn't sit well with our council. So, we decided to cut off money for your club" Asami-chan cooed mockingly.

"What if we decide to produce a play this year? What should we do then Aizawa Asami-san? or should I say Fuku-Kaichou sama (Vice president)?" Kaneda-san asked sarcastically.

"Then please approach us with a plan, budget, and most importantly a script in hand. We will proceed with it thereafter!" I replied smugly.

"We all have been patiently waiting for our turn, Kaichou-san!" Yaku-san scoffed.

"We have cut off money for your club for various reasons Yaku-san" I glumly replied as I looked into Kuroo's eyes.

"And what might those reasons be? Enlighten me Kaichou sama!" Kuroo seethed.

"Did you receive any complaints? Did we just practice for namesake? What is it?" Yaku-san taunted.

"None of that Yaku-san. It's just-" Soma-san croaked.

"It is your efficiency and winning streak. Your team hasn't been to the Nationals in five years. Hence, -"

I was interrupted by a bunch of 'Huh' 'What' and 'No's'. I knew that it wasn't just the volleyball team that got the money cut off due to their efficiency but popularity doesn't bring medals.

"We are in the top 8 in the Tokyo prefecture's ranking list!" Kai-kun debated.

"Top 8 is not number one and people only remember the number one. Plus, number one means our school would be having the trophy. I see no trophy!" I said looking into Kuroo's eyes and I could see him clench his jaw so tight.

Everyone in the room stiffened upon hearing that and let's just say the volleyball team wasn't ready to hear that from me.

"Efficiency my foot. That is not valid enough. We need a valid reason!" Kaneda-san yelled.

"Yes, give us a valid reason! We won't accept this!" a bunch of students started to chant.

"I will have decorum in this room and if you cannot maintain it, you may leave while your respect is still intact!" I bellowed.

A few of them left the room murmuring 'Oni-Kaichou (Demon President)', 'such a bitch', 'asshole', and a few other words that were left unheard. The minute the staff left the room this was expected to happen. I was waiting for more of an uproar to occur and Kaneda-san triggered it with ease.

"Stop talking like you own this damn school. Remember that you are just a newcomer here, bitch" Kaneda-san pointed her finger at me as she sneered.

"Kaneda-san, I am warning you. Choose your next words carefully, she is our Kaichou" Asami-chan butted in.

"I don't have to choose my words, Aizawa-san! You guys are so stupid to cut off funds on every club. The reason you gave makes me think that you guys are struggling to keep up with the school accords under this impotent Kaichou" Kaneda-san snarled.

"Kaneda-san I-"

"Stop it Akihiko-san. She wants answers? I will give it to her. The funds were cut off on all the clubs because you guys were not making use of the allotted money efficiently. I don't see good results from any of your clubs and we don't have to allocate money on your entitled hobbies. We would rather spend it on something useful." I asserted.

Asami-chan and Akihiko-san didn't even blink. The volleyball team looked appalled and a few students started to talk amongst themselves.

"Entitled hobbies?" Shiroma-san raised his voice.

"Yes, hobbies. If you are damn serious about what you do, give me results. There is enough money allotted to every club to attend their respective tournaments and competitions. The allocated money will be enough to run your club throughout the year without any hurdles. In case, you need more money for something in the future, you can request but remember that you have to earn it by proving your worth to the school!" I declared.

"I don't have to prove anything to you, you vermin" Kaneda-san screeched and turned to face Asami-chan and Akihiko-san and said "I wonder who came up with this idea. If it was one of you two, you just lost the respect of all the students from Nekoma!"

"Tell me who came up with the idea"

"Yes, tell us!"

"Tell us now!"

"We don't have to tell you anything! Kaneda-san, you may leave!" I insisted.

"Protecting your fellow council members, I see?" Kaneda-san rolled her eyes and continued, "We are not leaving this room without knowing who is behind this foolish act. We want to know who is behind this plan that mocks us all as losers!"

"It was all of us," Akihiko-san appealed.

"Like we are going to believe that nonsense!" someone in the crowd scoffed.

The students wanted to blame someone, someone to be their punching bag because they couldn't handle my words. They wanted to express their anger on this issue at someone and they weren't going to back off until they got an answer that pleased them.

Asami-chan gave me a look that I knew all too well. She was about to tell them all that it was her idea. Though it was the truth, she would have to face a lot of hatred and lose all the friendships she had made all over the years in this school. I didn't want that to happen.

"It was me!" I declared.

It was a pathetic way to save Asami-chan, but I couldn't think of anything else at that moment. Moreover, it would be easy for the students to blame the outsider. If they knew it was Asami-chan who gave the idea, they would feel disheartened. They would alienate her without thinking twice and it was better me than her.

"The nerve you've got to admit that! You, insolent prick!" Kaneda-san yelled and threw the register book at my face.

Awh shit! Ughhhhh it hurts!!! Fuckkkkkk!!!!!! It hurts like a bitch!!!! Arghhhhhh...

I instinctively took my palm and laid it on my eye to soothe the pain. The book was a hard-bound book and the spine of the book almost hit my eye. It hit me right below my left eyebrow making my eye and the region around, red. I was about to charge at Kaneda-san despite the pain, but Kuroo swiftly moved in front of me to hold me back.

"Kaichou sama, don't!" he whispered as he shook his head left and right.

Some of the students gasped at her gall and I decided to calm myself down. If it was a different scenario, this creature who stood before me would have gotten a fistful of my punch. I had already made myself a target to the students and if it weren't for Kuroo, I would have beat the shit out of her which would have resulted in a black mark on my transfer certificate.

It would also give the students a reason to petition to the school to remove me from my position. Even though it was Kaneda-san who started it, after my declaration I would be surprised if there would be a soul to support me on this except for my council members.

"Kaneda-san, I hereby strip you of your title in the festival committee and every other position you carry in this school. I will be filing a complaint regarding your assault and I will be recommending your suspension for a week!" I thundered.

Kaneda-san furiously charged at me and held my collar and shouted, "You fucking bitch! Who do you think you are? You cannot do that, you are no one!" as she kept on yanking me.

"Aizawa-san, clear the room for me, would you?" I growled.

Akihiko-san and Asami-chan cleared the room for me but Kuroo, Yaku-san, and Kenma stayed back along with the executive council.

Without breaking eye contact, I glared at her and demanded, "You will take your hands off me right now or I will extend your suspension for this."

She didn't loosen her hold on my shirt even though she heard my words clean and clear. Students had left the council room on Asami-chan's request as they didn't want to witness a brawl in the council room. The boys on the other hand moved next to my side and I could see them scowling at Kaneda-san.

"Kaneda-san, remove your hands right now!" Kuroo stated sternly.

"We all are upset about this but you don't see us reacting this way. Take your hands off now, Kaneda-san!" Yaku-san added.

"You heard them!" Kenma frowned.

Kaneda-san took her hands off my collar hearing the council members joining Kuroo, Yaku-san, and Kenma warning and glaring at her.

"Get the fuck out, Kaneda!" I ordered in a menacing tone.

⌜

⫷ KANEDA ICHIKA ⫸

⌟

"You will regret this you pretentious twit. I will do whatever it takes to bring you down! Remember, I will come for you!" she threatened and scurried off.

If I had to look at her nasty face any longer, I would lose any control I had left. I was so angered, I just wanted to punch anything that comes my way and scream until my throat went dry.

"Let's get you to the nurse's office!" Kuroo offered.

"I just want to be alone!" I dryly replied.

"You okay?" Yaku-san enquired.

"Can you all please leave me alone?" I snapped.

"I will be back at 6:30 pm. I will walk you home. Let's give her some space," Kuroo asserted.

I was left alone upon my request and I felt a little bit of peace. I knew being the Kaichou would bring me pressure but I knew I fucked everything up when I made myself a target. What I didn't know was that I would get hurt from time to time. Both physically and mentally. What have I done? How am I going to deal with this mess now? Do I regret this?

I put on my headphones to listen to some classical music as it was my escape from this purgatory. A few minutes passed as I kept thinking of ways on how I was going to deal with the mess I had made for myself and Asami-chan barged into the council room disturbing my thoughts.

"Why did you do that? You didn't have to do that!" she spoke almost teary-eyed.

"Because I am crazy?" I stated as tears started to pool into mine.

She came running towards me and hugged me. She cried as she kept mumbling several thank you and 'Boke' (Stupid) and after a while, for some odd reason, I wanted to laugh. I started to chuckle and she followed my suit.

We laughed for a whole minute and she cooed "I am coming for you!" mimicking Kaneda-san.

It only made me laugh harder than I already did and it was soothing. It made me less glum and grumpy. Asami-chan took me to the nurse's office and I got myself treated for the wound. I could see a black patch of blood clotted beneath my skin in the mirror as it encircled my left eye, leaving it swollen.

"I am going to annoyingly stick around with you, [F/N]-chan!" Asami-chan smiled for which I smiled back and nodded briefly.

Asami-chan left after a few minutes and Kuroo appeared at the council room right on time. He looked like he was brooding over something. I knew full well that he was mad at me for everything that I did but he was still here to escort me back home.

When we were almost at the 4th street crossing, I halted to check my phone as I felt it vibrating.

Mom: I will call you at 8 pm. We need to talk.

What the hell? What does she want to talk to me about? Can this day end already?

"[L/N]-chan, this is as far as I go! You should take care of yourself!" Kuroo stated gazing into the horizon. Wait! [L/N]?

"Have I lost you already?"

He didn't even respond to my question as he just left my side and walked towards his house. I was stuck to the ground, unable to move only to watch him disappear into the streets.

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A/N:

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