Intermission: A Student Council’s IdioSYDcracies

Intermission: A Student Council’s IdioSYDcracies

Intermission:

A Student Council’s IdioSYDcracies

A FTER SCHOOL, IN A CERTAIN STUDENT COUNCIL room…

Vice President Basori Tiara burst through the door. “President! You won’t believe it!”

Tiara stormed up to her desk, where she threw her hands down with a mighty thud .

Houkobaru Hibari, president of the Tsuwabuki Student Council, looked up and regarded her with calm, dignified curiosity. “Now what’s got you so flustered?”

With a face as red as could be, Tiara blustered, “It’s Shikiya-senpai! She undid my b…th-the hook! She’s done it again! In front of a boy this time!”

Houkobaru puffed amusedly, shutting her textbook. This was the third such incident already this year. But before she could get another word in, a shadow emerged from the ether just behind Tiara.

Secretary Shikiya Yumeko wrapped her lanky arms around the blushing girl, yielding her weight to her. “It doesn’t…fit right.”

“I-it will fit fine when I grow into it, thank you very much!”

“They’ll sag…you know.”

“They will be fine ! Whatever these ‘they’ you’re referring to are!”

Houkobaru waved her hand, not even attempting to hide the entertained grin on her face. “Shikiya is Shikiya, I see. Although, I would like to see her tone it down in front of others.”

“I’ll do it…in private from now on.”

“Very good.”

“It’s not even slightly good!” Tiara snapped. “The problem is that she’s doing it at all! Am I crazy?! Tell her, President!”

She twisted her lips, conflicted. “Yes, well, my concern is whether it’s my place to intervene.”

“I’m sorry? Is intervening in problematic behavior not literally the exact thing you should be doing?”

“No need to be shy. I see what you and Shikiya are, Basori-kun.”

“Uh, we’re not?!”

“Love comes in all shapes and sizes. Rest assured, I’ll be making it a point to keep an open mind. I want you to know you have an ally in me if you ever need—”

“You are so off base it’s not even funny!”

Shikiya shook her head at her. “Cat’s…out of the bag.”

“No it isn’t! What are you—I mean, there’s no bag in the first place! Agh , now you’re confusing me!”

“Tea’s ready,” came a bastion of calm among stormy seas. “Why don’t we all take a break?” Last on the student council team, and its only boy, was the treasurer, the first-year Sakurai Hiroto. He came over with a teapot. “We’re having Yumeko-san’s favorite. Peach tea. I just opened it up today.”

Sakurai-kun set a cup down by her and filled it with the fragrant liquid.

Shikiya drifted toward it, as if magnetized. “I like…peach tea.”

“You too, Basori-chan. Have a seat.”

“I could certainly use a minute.” Tiara pressed her forehead against her palm and collapsed into a chair.

Sakurai-kun began handing out small plates next. “We got some chocolates as a gift, if anyone would like any. Handmade, I hear.”

“Oh? Handmade? Who do we have to thank?” Houkobaru asked, eyeing the sweets.

The boy filled her cup, smiling. “You know Nukumizu-kun, don’t you? From the literature club. They’re from him.”

“What?!” Tiara’s cup fell from her hands.

Sakurai-kun hurried over. “Basori-chan, are you okay?”

Tiara shot up and ignored the handkerchief he’d offered, instead clutching his wrist. “You got chocolate from Nukumizu-kun?! Did I hear you right?!”

“Y-yes? I gave him last year’s open house materials, and he gave me these in return.”

“I don’t believe him,” she mumbled, her grip tightening. “The president wasn’t enough? He’s got to have Sakurai-kun in his filthy clutches next?”

“What are we talking about?”

“Sakurai-kun. I need you to tell me everything he said to you when he gave you—”

Tiara’s hands suddenly shot up to cover her nose.

“Er, Basori-chan? Is everything all right?”

Tiara tilted her head up, nodding ever so slightly. “I just, uh, have a bit of a nosebleed. I got a little worked up.”

“Over…what, exactly?”

Appearing once again out of nowhere, Shikiya put her arm around Tiara’s shoulder. “Let’s get you…somewhere quiet.”

“Right. Yes. Thank you,” she said. “The sofa will be—why are we leaving the room? Shikiya-senpai? Where are we going?!”

“Don’t worry about it… Trust me.”

“Why do I need to trust you?! Why are we—”

The door shut behind them.

Sakurai-kun saw them off with a heavy sigh. “More tea for us I guess, Hiba-nee.”

He turned to find Houkobaru just standing there, holding the teapot’s handle. But no teapot. He then found a mess of shards and tea right around her feet.

“I was only trying to pour you a cup, Hiroto, and the darn thing went and broke all on its own.”

“Are you hurt? It’s fine. Just take a seat while I clean this up.” His forearm pressed firmly against his stomach, Sakurai-kun knelt down and started picking up hunks of glass.

The Tsuwabuki Student Council was a gathering of the best and brightest. Precariously held together behind the scenes by one unsung hero.