Chapter 16

It was a rainy Monday morning as the dark clouds continued to get darker. The cold rain continuously splashed the busy Japanese streets and structures as the raincoat clad businessmen were about to begin their busy day. As the downpour carried on, a colder breeze accompanied this, making the air frigid.

I look at the sky from outside the window, as I change from my boots to school shoes. "What a shame. I could have went running today.", Tomboy-kun says, putting his boots in the locker next to mine. I ask him what his schedule looked like, and he says "P.E., Social Studies, Calligraphy, and Math. I hate Math. What's yours?". I tell him mine for the day, and he responds "Well, here's hoping the rain clears up by first period, or else we'll never get to run.".

As we get into our seats for Homeroom, Bucket-sensei says "I want to thank the Honorary Committee for their clearing up of the incident involving one of our students.". She claps in my direction in a way that felt like sarcasm, but I took the compliment, as it was hard to get one out of her. "Abe-chan will be here to attend class tomorrow.", she says. She follows this up with a glint in her glasses, and quite the sadistic grin "I have quite the surprise in the back of the class for all of the days he has missed, one for each day. Ooooh, I can't wait!".

The class shakes in fear at her implications as we look behind us. Sure enough, on the back wall, was what was waiting for the Wildcard once he came to school. (I wonder whether or not that was what made him leave in the first place...),I say with a gulp so hard, it made my throat dry up. She clears her throat, and says "Let us begin class now, shall we?". The class all say "Hai!" in unison. "Oh, one more thing. The coach told me to tell everyone that outdoor P.E. activities are canceled on account of the rain, so tough luck, kids!", saying this with an even bigger grin on her face than before. A collection of groans roared through the class, but none louder than Tomboy-kun. "This sucks!", he exclaimed, banging his head on the desk.

As the day goes by, the rain turns from heavy to a drizzle, and completely subsides by fourth period. I walk to the School Council room, as I am to help Prez-kun with his duties. He is sitting at his desk as I walk in. Cringe-kun is oddly not here. I walk up to him and ask where his once everpresent assistant is. He responds "Motonoya-san is sick, I'm afraid. Additionally, Kamamori-san is busy with his class at the moment. I hate to ask this of you, but you are the only one I can depend on.", adjusting his spectacles. Of course, I oblige. Half a hour pass, then the door bursts open. It's Shy-kun, out of breath and on the verge of tears. He lowers his head. "I-I-I-I'm s-sorry that I am so l-l-l-late! I c-c-came here as fast as I could! Please f-f-f-f-f-f~", he cries out, but Prez-kun, knowing what he was trying to say, stops him. "All is forgiven. I know you were busy.", Prez-kun says. "I have someone else at my aid at the moment, so you may return to class.", he follows up.

Shy-kun kneels with his skirt on the floor, saying "Please give me a chance to redeem myself! Onegai!", he shouts. Prez-kun, noticing the look of determination in his eyes, reluctantly says "My sincere apologies, Kamamori-san. There actually is no work that needs to be done at this moment."

A dejected Shy-kun gets up off of the floor. He says "Okay..., and with his head lowered, walks to the door, tearing up again, doing well to hide it. Prez-kun is not one to break rules, but in this case, he bends it. He calls out after Shy-kun before he can walk out. "Oi! You may return to class...only if you wish.", improvising on his earlier dismissal. Shy-kun whips his long blue hair around, and his eyes beam up at this, he beams up even further at the tea and cake we usually lay out for clients on the table during assignments, and when I, having heard everything, but been busy with my back turned putting away files since before Shy-kun even walked in finally got up, he beamed at maximum with a wide smile.

After I stretched my back after having been crouched down for so long, I see a blue blur rush toward me at incredible speed, glomping me hard. "Just because you get to spend the rest of the day on break, does NOT mean you can act unprofessional! A student, ESPECIALLY a member of the Student Council must always be diligent while on school grounds!", Prez-kun barks at Shy-kun with order. As Shy-kun is too busy having a nuzzling session in my torso to hear a word of it, I assure Prez-kun that I don't mind that much.

Prez-kun sighs heavily, takes off his glasses, and rubs between his eyes. "Honestly, what am I going to do with both of you?" I sheepishly laugh, as I pat Shy-kun on his head, still nuzzling, still in his own little world.

As the school day ends, we walk out on the damp sidewalk. The pavement is a darker shade of gray than it has been in months, and the parts near the trees are covered in mud and sakura petals. Prez-kun says "I am going to go pay Motonoya-san a visit, and so is his paperwork." Not knowing that Prez-kun was capable of making jokes, this caught Shy-kun and I off guard. We both snicker, while he assures us it was no joke by adjusting his horn-rims until the sun reflected off of them into our eyes. Shy-kun shields his tight shut eyes with one hand, shrieking, as tears start to fall from them, and I look away, profusely apologizing for my laughter. "That was not a joke, and neither is the homework that he is to do on top of said paperwork. I hope the two of you enjoy your evening. Once again, I thank you for your support.", he says, bowing to me before he walks off. We both make a mental note that Prez-kun does not do jokes from that day on. A rainbow greets us in the air as we look up in the sky. "Uwaaaah!", Shy-kun exclaims, looking up at it with one of the widest smiles one could ever muster. I smile too as I look up at it.