Monday morning.
The Student Council room.
The familiar smell of Hinoki wood and bad decisions permeated throughout the space.
The room was dead silent, awaiting the Vice President to begin her slide show presentation.
Rin quietly opened another binder.
She looked it over to make sure her notes were in order.
The cover read: Operation Blue Rose.
Kenji looked up from the budget reports he had been desperately pretending to read.
“Why does all this craziness sound like a military operation, Madam Vice President?”
Rin looked at him.
“This is the President’s love life we’re talking about. We have to be prepared for any contingency.”
Kenji sighed.
“I somehow missed that.”
“You were unconscious.”
“…”
“Emotionally.”
Kenji sighed.
“That checks out.”
Yurika entered carrying her usual cup of tea.
“Good morning, everyone.”
The entire room greeted her back.
Except Kenji.
He simply nodded.
He’d accepted that resistance was futile but he no longer had the respect he had previously had for the President.
She almost seemed like some sort of alien creature now, hellbent on destroying the Student Council’s reputation.
Thankfully, only the people here present knew all of this was going on.
He was hoping it would stay that way.
Rin opened the first page.
Then began the slide show.
“Operation Scarlet Ribbon…”
She adjusted her glasses.
“Objective achieved.”
Kenji raised a hand.
“Define achieved.”
“Hikari now recognizes President Amakawa as an active rival.”
“That… sounds bad.”
Yurika looked at him.
“It is acceptable.”
“Why?” Kenji asked in an exasperated tone.
Yurika calmly took her seat and responded.
“Because uncertainty has been removed.”
Kenji frowned.
“Wouldn’t uncertainty have been better?”
Rin answered his question immediately.
“No.”
“Why not?” He retorted.
“Predictable opponents make fewer unexpected decisions.”
“…”
Kenji slowly looked toward the ceiling.
“I really miss discussing budgets.”
Rin flipped the page.
A blue divider appeared.
Operation Blue Rose.
A photograph of Akane smiled back at everyone.
Rin began anew as she expertly read her notes and went through the slides of her presentation.
“Subject: Akane Fujihara. Childhood friend. Girls Basketball Team Manager. Third year.”
Rin adjusted her glasses.
“Popular among both male and female students. No disciplinary record. Academic performance is…”
She gave a short pause.
“…Upper tenth percentile.”
Kenji blinked.
A confused look permeated his face.
“She’s top ten percent?”
“Correct.” Rin nodded.
“Seriously?”
“Yes. She has been her entire time at the academy.”
“I had no idea. I always thought she was just a cute and cheerful yet ditzy type of girl.”
Rin gave him a dry smile and then continued.
“Unlike Subject Hikari… Subject Akane is more proactive both in and out of the school.”
A new photograph appeared.
Then several more.
Akane smiling.
Akane laughing.
Akane volunteering.
Akane helping classmates.
Akane feeding stray cats.
Kenji leaned forward with a concerned look.
“Why do you have so many pictures?”
“That query is not relevant to this discussion,” Rin said with a curt voice.
Rin looked at Yurika.
“Subject’s greatest strength…”
She clicked her pen.
“…is not appearance.”
“I beg to disagree,” Kenji interjected.
Rin ignored him.
Another click.
“…nor popularity.”
Another click.
“…nor athletic ability.”
Yurika smiled.
“It’s natural intimacy.”
“Correct, President.”
Kenji frowned.
“Natural what?”
Rin looked at him.
“Subject Akane effortlessly creates situations that appear romantically significant.”
“That’s… remarkably specific.” Kenji’s confusion was apparent on his face as he said that.
Rin clicked to another slide.
More photographs.
Akane grabbing Kaito’s arm.
The animal shelter.
Shopping.
Lunch.
Walking together.
“You made a slideshow to your stalking?” Kenji said in a shocked tone.
“I prefer to call it observation,” Rin said in a dry voice.
“It’s the same thing!”
Yurika quietly studied every page.
Then… she smiled as she looked at Rin.
“A formidable opponent.”
“Indeed, Madam President.” Rin gave a small nod.
Kenji rubbed his face.
“Please tell me we’re done profiling innocent girls.”
Rin turned another page.
“We have several more binders. As well as presentations…”
Kenji put his head into his arms.
“I just hope the authorities don’t find out about all this.”
The Student Council room had grown quiet.
Though you could feel the excitement in the air from everyone with one notable exception.
The girls in the room were all hanging on every word and staring at the dossiers and the slide show like they were the One Ring.
Akane Fujihara’s file remained open on the table.
Rin calmly adjusted her glasses.
“As previously stated, Subject possesses numerous strengths.”
She flipped another page as she continued to click on her slide show..
“High academic performance.”
Another page.
Another slide.
“Excellent interpersonal relationships.”
Another.
“Dependable.”
Another.
“Popular among students and faculty.”
Another.
“Trusted by teachers.”
Another.
“Trusted by classmates.”
Kenji sighed.
“At this point you’re just listing reasons everyone likes her, Madam Vice President.”
“Correct.”
“That’s the problem?”
“Correct.”
Kenji leaned back in his chair.
“I hate how often that’s your answer.”
Rin ignored him yet again.
“Unlike Subject Hikari…”
She placed more photographs onto the table.
All were about Akane with Kaito.
Akane laughing beside Kaito.
Walking home together.
Talking to each other during lunch.
Akane casually linking arms with Kaito.
The girls in the room ate it up.
They passed them around like they were sacred artifacts.
Some were potentially now shipping Akane and Kaito instead of Kaito and the President.
Not that any of them would dare admit that out loud.
Kenji blinked.
“She does that a lot.”
Rin nodded.
“Physical contact frequency is approximately four hundred and twelve percent higher than Subject Hikari.”
“You calculated that?!” Kenji looked completely shocked as he asked that.
“Yes. It took astute observations to deduce that.”
“I regret asking.” He slumped back down into his chair.
Yurika quietly studied each photograph.
She wasn’t looking at Akane.
She was looking at Kaito.
Relaxed.
Comfortable.
Natural.
Yurika was a bit annoyed at how he seemed to have no issue with Akane being all over him, though it didn’t show on her face.
“Interesting,” Yurika said out loud, uncharacteristically sharing some of her inner thoughts.
Rin nodded.
“The subject does not intentionally pursue romantic situations.”
“I beg to disagree, Rin.” Yurika’s smile softened.
“She’s a natural at creating them.”
“You may be correct, Madam President.”
Kenji frowned.
“I don’t get it,” Kenji raised an eyebrow as he said that.
Rin turned toward him.
“Subject Akane behaves the same way toward everyone.”
“Seems nice,” he said with a hint of both sarcasm and jealousy.
“It is.”
“So what’s the issue?”
Rin tapped one photograph.
The animal shelter.
“Mr. Sakamori seems not to have any issues with her being in such close proximity with him.”
Kenji looked closer.
“Oh.” His face lit up like he was having a eureka moment.
“He relaxes around her.”
“Looks that way. Especially here.” He pointed at one of the photographs in the binder.
“He smiles more.”
“Yeah, I can see that.”
“He willingly spends additional time with her.”
“…”
Kenji slowly rubbed his forehead.
“That’s… actually kind of adorable,” he said meekly.
Neither Rin nor Yurika responded.
Some of the other girls in the room nodded in agreement with Kenji’s statement.
Then some excited chatter began amongst them.
A quick glare from both Yurika and Rin immediately shut that down.
A quiet silence settled over the room.
Finally, Yurika closed the binder that Rin had laid out in front of her.
“I understand the situation much better. Thank you for your report, Rin.”
Kenji looked up.
“You already have a plan?” He was amazed at the speed at which Yurika could come up with solutions.
Yurika shook her head.
“Not yet.”
She folded her hands.
Then asked a single question.
“Rin…”
“Yes, Madam President?”
“…When was the last time Akane Fujihara refused someone’s request?”
Rin didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she opened another binder.
Kenji stared.
“Another binder?!” He was slowly getting sick of all the binders.
“This one is significantly smaller,” Rin said in a matter of fact tone.
“That somehow doesn’t help.”
Rin flipped through several pages.
Then stopped.
“Approximately eleven months ago.”
Kenji looked shocked.
“You’ve been stalking her for that long?!”
Once again he was ignored.
Yurika tilted her head.
“The circumstances?”
“A teacher requested assistance supervising detention,” Rin replied.
“And?” Yurika had an intrigued look on her face.
“Subject declined.”
“Reason?”
“She already had an Art Club meeting scheduled for that afternoon.”
Yurika smiled.
“So…” She looked toward the window then back at Rin.
“…She only refuses when acceptance becomes impossible.”
“Correct, Madam President,” Rin answered succinctly.
Another quiet moment passed.
Then, Yurika’s smile widened ever so slightly.
“I see.”
Kenji immediately pointed at the President.
“There it is.”
“There what is?”
“That smile.”
Yurika blinked innocently.
“What about it?”
“I don’t like that smile.”
“I fail to understand.”
“Every time you smile like that, somebody’s week gets significantly worse. Usually mine…”
Rin looked down at her notes.
“Historically accurate,” Rin said dryly.
Kenji threw both hands into the air.
“WHY WOULD YOU CONFIRM THAT?!”
Yurika stood and slowly walked toward the window overlooking the courtyard.
Students laughed below.
Teachers crossed between buildings.
Everything appeared peaceful.
“She cannot be separated from Kaito,” Yurika said softly.
Kenji nodded.
“Finally. Some semblance of common sense. I’m-”
“Because she will separate herself,” Yurika cut him off.
“What?!” Kenji once again had an exasperated look on his face.
Yurika continued.
“Not intentionally, of course.”
She watched Akane below helping two first years carry supplies across the courtyard.
“We simply have to ask.”
Yurika smiled.
A wicked smile that she hid from everyone else.
“How beautiful.”
Kenji looked out the window.
“I don’t see it.”
“I do.”
She turned back toward Rin.
“No fabricated emergencies, Rin.”
“Understood, Madam President.”
“No false reports.”
“Understood.”
“No manipulation.”
“Understood.”
“Only legitimate requests.”
Rin’s pen was already moving.
Yurika continued.
“Requests that genuinely benefit the school.”
“Yes, Madam President.”
“Requests she would never refuse.”
“Understood.”
Kenji frowned.
“That’s your strategy?”
Yurika nodded.
“I have no intention of changing Akane Fujihara.”
She glanced toward the window one final time.
“I merely intend to let her remain exactly who she is. She will defeat herself.”
Kenji opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Then quietly muttered, “That’s somehow even scarier.”
Rin finished writing.
She neatly underlined the operation’s objective.
Operation Blue Rose
Objective: Weaponize the Subject’s kindness through legitimate administrative obligations.
Rin closed the notebook.
“Operation Blue Rose…” She looked toward Yurika.
“…ready for implementation.”
Yurika picked up her teacup.
“Then let’s begin.”
Monday morning.
The operation began exactly as planned.
Or rather, it began so ordinarily that nobody would have noticed.
Least of all Akane.
Just like with the previous operation against Hikari, Akane’s own personality would be weaponized against her.
Yurika was eager to see this new operation in action.
Though she would never admit it out loud, after having read all of the dossiers on the various girls closest to Kaito, Yurika saw Akane as her greatest foe.
“Fujihara?”
Akane looked up from organizing attendance sheets at her homeroom teacher.
“Yes~?”
Her homeroom teacher smiled.
“I heard you helped organize last month’s library volunteer event.”
“I did~”
“Excellent.”
He handed her a folder.
“The Cultural Festival committee is looking for someone to coordinate volunteers. I was hoping that could be you.”
Akane blinked.
“Me~?”
“I recommended you.”
“Oh…” She smiled warmly.
“I’d be happy to help~”
Across campus, Rin stared at the encounter through her binoculars.
She made a small checkmark.
Volunteer Coordination: Accepted.
The following day…
“Fujihara?”
Akane turned around.
A nervous first year stood in the hallway.
He struggled to get his words out.
“Um… I heard you’re really good at math…”
“I try~” This story is hosted at g.com.
“Would you… maybe… help me study?”
Akane smiled immediately.
“Of course~”
The first year bowed repeatedly.
“Thank you so much!”
“No problem~”
Across campus, Rin smiled as she ticked off another checkmark.
Tutoring Assignment: Accepted.
Wednesday afternoon.
Girls’ basketball practice had barely ended.
Akane had already begun putting basketballs back into the equipment cage.
The coach called out to her.
“Fujihara.”
“Yes, Coach~?”
“I need someone to update inventory before the tournament.”
“Okay~”
“And make sure uniforms are ready.”
“Okay~”
“And coordinate transportation.”
“Okay~”
“And send reminders.”
“Okay~”
“And—”
“I’ll take care of it~” Akane interjected.
The coach smiled.
“I knew I could count on you, Fujihara.”
Akane laughed.
“I’ll have everything ready~”
Across campus, Yet another checkmark.
Basketball Administration: Accepted.
Thursday afternoon.
The library.
Akane was shelving returned books after finishing another study session.
The librarian approached and spoke softly.
“Fujihara.”
“Yes?”
“We’re short-handed preparing reading materials for the Cultural Festival.”
“Oh~”
“Would you be available?”
Akane didn’t even think.
“Of course~”
Across campus.
Another checkmark.
Library Support: Accepted.
By the end of the week, Akane had somehow become involved in…
Volunteer coordination.
Festival planning.
Library support.
Tutoring.
Additional basketball management.
Class Representative assistance.
Plus helping classmates whenever they asked.
Plus her normal homework.
And somehow… she still smiled.
She hurried through the hallway carrying three folders stacked against her chest.
She nearly crashed into a large first year.
“Sorry~!”
She sidestepped two first years.
“Excuse me~!”
She nearly collided with a teacher.
“Oh~!”
She almost walked straight into me.
I instinctively caught the top folder before it slipped.
“Careful, Akane. Last thing either of us need right now is a trip to the infirmary,” I said teasingly.
“Sorry~!” She laughed sheepishly.
“I wasn’t looking where I was going~”
I handed the folder back.
“You’re carrying half the school’s paperwork.”
“Only half~?” She looked down at the stack.
“I guess that’s an improvement~”
I couldn’t help smiling.
“You should probably take a break.”
“I will~”
“When?”
Akane opened her mouth.
She blinked.
“…Eventually~?”
I sighed.
“That’s not a real answer.” The expression on my face turned to concerned.
“It sounded real to me~” She said sheepishly.
“It sounded optimistic. At best.”
She giggled.
“I guess it did~”
For a brief moment, neither of us said anything.
It wasn’t awkward.
Just… comfortable.
Akane smiled.
“I’m glad we ran into each other~”
I rubbed the back of my neck.
“Yeah. I feel like I haven’t talked to you all week.”
“Now that you mention it…”
She looked toward the clock mounted in the hallway.
“Oh~!” Her eyes widened.
“I’m late~!”
She hurried backward a few steps.
“I’ll talk to you later, Kaito~!”
Before I could answer, she was already jogging down the hallway.
Halfway to the stairwell, she turned around.
“Don’t forget practice today~!”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Good~!”
She waved energetically before disappearing around the corner.
I watched her leave.
“She really is amazing.”
Tadashi appeared beside me as if summoned by me saying the word “amazing.”
“Who are you talking about, Kaito?”
“Akane.”
“Ah.” Tadashi nodded sagely.
“She’s got Golden Retriever energy.”
“What?”
“Always happy. Always helping. Always running somewhere.”
I laughed.
“That’s weirdly accurate.”
“I usually am.”
He looked me directly in the eyes.
“You know…”
He paused.
Most likely for dramatic effect.
“…You always look happier after talking to Akane.”
“Do I?” I asked as I looked him straight in the eyes.
He nodded.
“Yeah. You do. Trust me.”
“Never noticed.”
“Same with Hikari. Even after she hits you.” He laughed.
I shrugged.
I had absolutely no clue how to respond to that.
Maybe he was right.
Wait… do I really look happy after getting hit by Hikari?
No way.
Okay, that’s throwing his whole statement into question now.
But I am man enough to admit that I enjoy talking to both of them.
Even when things are awkward or crazy between us.
Later that afternoon, the girls’ basketball team finished practice.
Akane was already wiping down benches while checking inventory on a clipboard.
One of the players smiled at her.
“You really don’t stop working, Fujihara.”
Akane giggled.
“I like helping~”
“You don’t have to do everything.”
“I know~”
Akane let out a sigh.
“But if I don’t…”
She looked around the gym.
“…who will~?”
The player didn’t have an answer.
High above the courtyard, Yurika quietly watched from a second floor window.
Tea in hand.
Rin stood beside her and began to speak.
“Operation Blue Rose…”
She looked down at her notebook.
“…Is proceeding according to schedule.”
Yurika watched as Akane smiled while carrying another box toward the gym storage room.
“Beautiful.”
Rin looked up.
“Madam President?”
Yurika’s expression softened.
“She never asks…” Yurika picked up her tea.
“…whether someone else can.”
A sip of tea.
“Only whether she can.”
Rin made another note.
Subject continues accepting all legitimate requests.
Yurika looked out across the campus.
“Kindness…” She smiled faintly.
“…can become a habit. A dangerous one.”