"Do you really think you will find anyone? We should have been informed of any transfers from the other families, right?" A girl watched the auditorium through a camera feed in the backstage waiting room.
Of the roughly three hundred incoming seniors, all of them were silently waiting with their heads down as if they had a weight on their shoulders, without a single sound breaking the atmosphere. The air itself felt thick, as if you had just walked into a sauna.
"Too boring. Well, I guess there's nothing to it. Anyone with the possibility would have been snapped up long before they got to high school and taken to one of the families." Across the room, a taller girl looked up from her thoughts. She stared at the screen with white flames in her eyes, as if judging the audience.
Her eyes widened for a second as she watched one girl, the smallest in the auditorium by far, looking around the room like nothing was wrong. The small girl tapped the girl next to her and tried to talk to her, but getting no response, gave up and kept looking around eagerly, waiting to see what would happen next.
"Perhaps I spoke too soon. I can't say for sure, but it may be my lucky day." She stood up and headed for the door that led to the stage.
* * *
Just when I was trying to figure out if the girl next to me was sick, the curtains on stage shifted and a tall girl came out from behind them. When she came out, my eyes immediately jumped to her chest, which was almost bursting out of her uniform. As my eyes slid down, I noticed her waist, which was extremely narrow. I could already envision some cosplay outfits she would look extremely nice in.
I was so distracted by my intrusive thoughts that I almost didn't notice the very specific air she had about her. She looked like the usual queen character from manga, the kind that would tell everyone else what to do with unquestionable authority, while also doing questionable things with them on the side.
After she came out, four more students came out and stood at her side. They were also all very attractive, tall and slender, with curves in the proper places, but they did not hold a candle to the queen now standing at the podium. Despite that, I still had some ideas that would work well for them.
She adjusted the microphone and began speaking. "No need to feel so nervous. You may be entering a new school, but I promise, we are all very welcoming here."
The atmosphere seemed to recover with her encouraging words, and the other students started to raise their heads and look around. "Even though most of the students here have been together since they entered this school, or even since middle school, I do not want you newly enrolled students to feel like you are outsiders, even though you are entering in your final year of high school. Be bold in making friends and learning, even if it feels like you are breaking into a club that’s existed for many years."
"If any of you find that you are being excluded as new enrollees, you can find any of the student council and we will deal with the issue immediately." The president clapped her chest as she said this, glaring out at the audience. I was instead entranced by her body once more.
"That said, I have been the president ever since I enrolled in this school, so if anyone thinks they can do better than me, just ask me whatever you want and I’ll answer it honestly."
My thoughts turned back to envisioning the president in various outfits. Before I even realized it, I had shot my hand into the air, my curiosity burning through my chest. To my surprise, I was immediately called upon.
"Yes, the small one in the 14th row. You are going to have to stand up so I can see you." The president immediately poked at my weak point, but I couldn't worry about that yet.
I stood up and spoke loudly. "If I became president, the rest of the student council would have to wear any outfits I tell them to, right?" My brain caught up with my mouth a few seconds too late, and I realized what kind of strange question I had asked. My face started to blush but I tried to stay calm.
The entire atmosphere of the room froze when I finished my question, and only after several very tense seconds, was the silence broken by the president's response. "Of all the questions I expected... this was not one of them. But I can personally guarantee that the president’s orders are final and absolute. The rest of the student council can attest to this as well."
She spread her hands out to the girls standing behind her, but all she got back was mumbling and looking in the other direction. "Does this mean you are aiming to take my position then?"
I immediately shrunk back from the question. "Oh, no, of course not. I just wanted to kno--"
I was interrupted by the president's next words. "Because I think you would do great! It's been quite some time since I was asked a question like this straight to my face, so it's a refreshing feeling. Good. I nominate you to be the next president in my place."
I was completely flustered at the speed the situation was evolving at. "But... You don't even know my name yet!"
The president smiled. "There's an easy way to fix that. Why don't you introduce yourself?"
I felt like I was riding on a train I couldn't get off. "...I'm Kogamo..."
The president clapped her hands together. "Great, Ko-chan, my name is Matsuko, I hope we can get along well in the future~"
Wait! We just met, why are you already calling me by this sort of friendly nickname? ...But she was just my type, so maybe it wouldn't be so bad to get close to her more quickly. Before I could make my objection, she had already continued speaking.
"Now, let's move on to the election. You all will participate, right?" When she said 'right', the atmosphere suddenly became heavy again. The students that had just started murmuring about this sudden election all quieted down in an instant.
The students around me suddenly looked anxious again like they were facing something dangerous. I didn't quite understand their reactions, though. President Matsuko is intense, but she looks like a kind person to me?
President Matsuko looked over to her left. "Asami, if you will assist?" One of the girls behind the president went to the side of the stage and opened the curtains a bit, revealing a projection screen behind it.
Then she came to the front of the stage and spoke loudly. "Use your student portal on your phone to cast your vote. 60% approval will confirm the election of our new president." She then returned to her spot behind the president.
Hey...um...I never said I was okay with this! Why is it all moving so fast!?
The votes started tallying up, but they were only getting to around 40%. President Matsuko looked over at the results and glanced sharply at Asami, who shook her head at first, then crumpled her face and took out her phone. After a few seconds of fiddling, the approval rating started to climb once more, finally landing at 63%.
President Matsuko smiled and announced the results. "Looks like we have a new student council president! From now on, I will step down to become the vice-president. Shall we invite our new president up to say some words?"
My mind was going blank. Everything was moving too fast. Why would people vote for me? I just asked a nonsense question and that's all it took? Wasn't this too easy?
The girl next to me pulled on my sleeve. "Hurry up already, can't you see everyone's waiting?" She seemed to be physically suffering from something as if she couldn't breathe very well, but I didn't have time to worry about that. I stumbled down the row and up to the stage, where I faced my first challenge as president.
The podium was designed for someone around 180cm, like Matsuko, but I was a mere 140cm, which meant that my eyes were barely able to see over the podium. Matsuko watched me with an amused expression, seemingly trying to see how I was going to deal with the situation.
My frustration quickly reached the peak and burst over, breaking through my anxiousness at once. "Hey! Can I get some help here? Don't just stand there watching!"
Matsuko smiled and said "Of course, president. I will help you." She leaned down and grabbed me by the waist and lifted me up so that I was at the proper height to speak into the microphone.
My brain overloaded with embarrassment at being suddenly picked up, and I barely managed to get out a few words about studying hard and making friends before I pushed away and was put down on the ground again.
Matsuko stepped up to the podium again and spoke with her usual dignity. "We'll hear more from the president later when she is more prepared. For now, your first class awaits, and I hope for all of your futures at this school."
She walked behind the curtains, followed by the other four, and I hurriedly followed them.
* * *
After we got backstage, I was quickly locked onto by four pairs of curious eyes. Only one stepped forward and introduced herself, though.
"Hello, President Kogamo. I am the secretary Asami, I hope we can have a productive and efficient year going forward." She introduced herself formally, but her eyes seemed a bit wary.
She handed me a packet of papers and a keyring. "These papers will help you understand your new duties as student council president, and the key goes to the council meeting room. I hope to see you at the first meeting in a few days."
After giving me the packet, she collected her bag and left the room. The other girls followed her out, quietly talking among themselves. I also left to get to my first class on time.
* * *
I spent most of the day in a daze, trying to catch up with the reality of what happened this morning. As soon as I stepped out of my final class for the day, I was nearly tackled from behind by a mystery assailant, who wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tight, burying my head into her full chest as she whispered into my ear, "Ko-chan, how was your first day? We're going to have so much fun together!"
"Ah... President Matsuko... Nice to see you too..." I didn't know what to say, but it was a struggle to keep my thoughts from straying while my head was being pressed into her chest so tightly.
"That’s vice president, I’ve already given up my seat to you, after all." Matsuko waved her finger like she was scolding a child but the smile never left her face.
"Wait, wait, wait, I never said I wanted to be president!" I protested, but I was quickly shut down by an interjection.
"But, you never said you didn't want to be president. And the fact is, you are ALREADY president, so in that respect, your opinion doesn't really matter." The singsong style of her speech was already getting on my nerves, as I felt like I was being played with, but she was also right.
"Now, Ko-chan, you got your wish, so let’s see all these big plans you have worked up inside your head. Based on your question from the assembly, I'm sure you've got quite some interesting ideas for us, right?"
The more I thought about it, the more I agreed with her logic. Now, I was the president and it was time for me to implement all of my dreams...