The Student Council Room
Simon and the Student Council members spread out bags of snacks they'd bought from the campus store and launched into an animated, snack-fueled gabfest.
Because the good-natured Leonard was the department representative, Simon had come away with a fairly decent first impression of department life — but the other three felt very differently.
"He's only a year older than us, right? And he's already a total old fart!"
Meilin was fuming.
"Do this! Do that! The second the seniors walk in during a meal, everyone has to jump up and bow their heads. If there are seniors in the showers, you can't even go in — you just stand there waiting forever. We're supposed to share everything anyway, so what's the big deal? This is Kizen, the academy of merit. What is all this nonsense?"
"They'll probably run things with an iron fist for the first few days, at least."
Dick said in a weary voice, thumping his own shoulder.
"This year's third-years have kind of an inferiority complex going. Our second-year class is being called one of the greatest in history, after all. They'll want to break our spirit while they have the chance."
"Exactly! And their excuse for hazing us is beyond ridiculous!"
Meilin's breathing grew ragged as she vented.
"'Proper etiquette between seniors and juniors'? What etiquette have they ever shown us? Honestly, it's plain as day what they're thinking — we got put through it, so you brats get to suffer too."
"W-well, still."
Camibarez fidgeted with her fingers.
"……There were some nice seniors too."
"Ah, right, right. Of course there were!"
Realizing she'd gotten a bit too worked up, Meilin flushed and sat back down in her seat.
"We can't just declare war on all the third-years."
Simon stepped in to cool the overheated mood.
"Like Dick said, let's just be extra careful for the first few weeks. If things don't improve with time, then the Student Council will step in and mediate."
"Heh heh! Give it a little while, Simon, and I doubt you'll be saying that."
Dick chuckled darkly and clapped Simon on the shoulder.
"The Summoning department's initiation is famous for being absolutely brutal."
"Is it?"
"Word is Summoning and Toxicology are the two worst of them all."
Dick stuck out his tongue and drew a finger across his throat. Simon didn't know the details, but he gathered it meant hazing bad enough to kill you.
"Haah, well, at least we're on the Student Council. Small mercies!"
Meilin said, the corners of her mouth curling up.
"If we're out late, we might even get out of the initiation entirely, right?"
Camibarez gave a soft laugh too.
"Everyone back home was so jealous when I said I'd be busy with Student Council work. Their faces were all grim with worry about the initiation."
"Hey, hey, Simon! We're staying here a long time, right? Let's go as late as possible! As late as we can!"
"Haha, that's up to you guys."
Simon was worried about Toto, the only one left behind in the department, so he intended to attend the department welcome party, if a little late.
Knock knock.
A knock sounded at the door. When Simon told them to come in, the henchman who had escorted him earlier entered the room.
"Everything is ready. I will now escort you to the Student Council Room."
Meilin let out a shriek of joy.
"We're finally going!"
* * *
The top floor of the Student Council Building, on the second-year campus.
Simon and the council members strode down a corridor of floor-to-ceiling glass.
"Beautiful."
Meilin gazed out at the lamplit second-year campus with an enraptured expression.
The Student Council Building stood at the very center of the campus, which meant the night view was gorgeous no matter where you looked. It would probably be a great vantage point for watching students go about their business during the day, too.
"So we get to walk this path every time now! I love it!"
Camibarez scampered ahead, her face glowing with excitement.
"This way, please."
The henchman led the four of them to a door at the end of the corridor.
It was a rather grand double door that swung open when you pulled the two handles apart, and mounted prominently at its center was a large plaque reading Student Council Room.
Simon's heart thudded in his chest.
Straightening his collar and adjusting his tie as if performing some important rite, he flung the door open with gusto.
"Whooooa!"
A chorus of gasps erupted from the members behind him.
The first thing that met their eyes as they stepped inside was an enormous window, moonlight pouring down through it in a wan silver wash. One entire wall of the room was nothing but glass.
With their backs to that window stretched a long, lavish table of solid hardwood, and at its center sat an opulent chair with a high backrest.
Simon realized the table was his seat.
And no wonder — a plaque engraved with his own name sat upon it. Beside it rested a mana stand and a potted plant.
"Man, this is so cool, Simon! It's exactly what a president's seat should look like!"
Dick laughed heartily and threw an arm around Simon's neck.
"The classic move is spinning the chair around, staring out the window, then turning back with a smirk when someone walks in and going, 'Oh, you're here?'"
"Quit talking nonsense, peasant. So where are our seats?"
"I think it's over there!"
Two long tables flanked the president's seat — those were the spots for the other executives. The tables adjoined his, two seats on the right and two on the left, arranged so that everyone faced one another around the president.
And in the center of the Student Council Room stood a plush, comfortable sofa for relaxing.
Dick plopped down on it first, savoring the soft cushioning.
"Guys! This stuff is all really, REALLY expensive!"
Meilin opened a shelf and pulled out snacks and black tea. Even the teapot and teacups were extravagantly luxurious.
"Of course it's Meilin who goes straight for the food—— ow!"
Meilin hurled a sofa cushion at Dick's head, then turned to the henchman.
"Is it okay if we eat all of this?"
"Of course. It's normally for entertaining guests, but whenever it runs low, we restock it for you."
There was even a magic circle set into the table that boiled water when you set the teapot down — and another that would find any book you wanted. The idea that this would become their hideout from now on felt like a dream.
Swish!
Camibarez was busy pulling back the curtains at the rear of the room. As they parted, the great window behind the president's seat was revealed in full, the campus glittering in its night lights beyond.
"It's so pretty!"
Simon admired the view of Kizen's campus for a moment, then spoke.
"Want to try sitting in the president's chair, Cami?"
"Huh?"
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Am I… allowed to sit there?"
"Why not?"
At Simon's urging, she carefully settled into the president's chair. It was, admittedly, rather enormous compared to her small frame.
She lowered her eyes shyly.
"How do I look?"
Before Simon could answer, Meilin shrieked from behind him.
"Kyaaaaa! Too cute, Cami!"
Dick snickered.
"What is this? It's like that chair moms sit their babies in."
"D-don't tease me!"
Camibarez wailed, her face scarlet, and the three of them burst into raucous laughter.
"Okay, now it's Simon's turn to sit. It's your seat, after all."
"Alright."
Camibarez stepped aside, and Simon took his turn in the president's chair.
"Hey, strike a pose too!"
The chair was so large it was big even for Simon, but he leaned back against the high rest, crossed his legs, propped an elbow on the armrest, and rested his chin on his hand.
"Like this?"
"……"
A brief silence fell. Dick gave an awkward chuckle.
"The pose is a little cringe, I'll admit, but honestly? It really suits you. Right, guys?"
Meilin and Camibarez said nothing.
For one thing, the angle of the moonlight was simply too perfect.
The pale silver light streaming down caught Simon's blue hair and lent it a mysterious sheen, and the sight of him seated in that grand chair in his black Kizen uniform, wearing a confident smile — how could anyone describe it?
Their eyes simply wouldn't leave him.
"Ahem."
A belated wave of embarrassment washed over Simon, and he quickly rose from the seat. Ever since the photo of him riding atop the Deimos on the Parona Peninsula had made the papers, he'd grown wary of striking such smug poses.
They're adorable.
The henchman had been watching the children fuss over a single council room with complete satisfaction — until footsteps sounded behind him, and he turned.
"Ah! Everyone, the professor in charge of the Student Council is on her way."
At those words, all four snapped to attention, standing at rigid attention. The henchman pivoted, folded his hands over his navel, and bowed deeply.
A professor in charge of the Student Council?
Who could it be?
Everyone tensed and stared at the door. With light footsteps ringing against the floor, a woman appeared through the doorway of the Student Council Room.
The four tightly wound faces transformed in an instant into bright delight.
"Professor Jane!"
Jane waved off the bowing henchman and entered with a calm, measured stride.
"It seems we keep meeting like this. I am the professor in charge of Kizen's Student Council."
With a smile so faint it was nearly imperceptible, Jane looked over the four students.
"It's been a while, all of you. The troublemakers of Class A."
"Proooofessor!"
Meilin let out a joyful dolphin squeal, while Dick roared with laughter and whispered to Simon.
"Wow! No wonder the Student Council's got power — the vice principal herself, Professor Jane, is backing it up!"
They decided to take a seat on the sofa and talk. Jane sat in the place of honor, and the remaining council members settled in around her.
"We've been briefed."
Jane said, drawing a stack of documents from her bag.
"All the way up to the deal between Phantasos and Eisel."
Simon's expression stiffened slightly. Are professors even supposed to know about that?
"The Student Council is a self-governing organization that represents the students, and the principle is that professors interfere as little as possible. If the previous president set it up that way, I have no objections."
Jane spoke smoothly, as if she'd read Simon's mind.
She then went over the composition of the members.
"Simon as president and Meilin as vice president. Not a bad combination. And our secretary is the meticulous Camibarez. I know all about your exploits in Class A, so I can rest easy. However—"
Dick, whose turn had come, looked up at her with a face full of hope.
"You, I'm a little worried about. Dick Hayward."
"What?! Why is it always me!"
Hahahaha!
Everyone erupted into sharp, merciless laughter. Jane flipped to the next page.
"Of course, I'm well aware of your abilities, Dick Hayward."
"!"
"But if a Student Council member were to be expelled partway through his second year, nothing would stain the council's reputation worse. Keep up with your coursework this year. Diligently."
A feeble smile crept across Dick's lips.
"Of course, Professor!"
Rattle-rattle.
Just then, henchmen pushed a cart into the Student Council Room, setting down black tea before Jane and the four students. Simple refreshments were laid out in the center.
Simon took a sip of his tea and marveled.
Wow, this is so good my jaw might drop!
So this was the 'luxury' Meilin had raved about. And with teas like this stacked to the brim on the council room shelves, it looked like he could feast happily every time he came here.
Jane finished her own cup of tea and spoke.
"Do you know what the Student Council actually does?"
Simon raised his hand calmly.
"It represents the students and submits their concerns and demands to the school as proposals."
"Correct."
Meilin's hand shot up next, practically waving.
"We plan and run all kinds of school events!"
"That's right."
Camibarez raised her hand hesitantly.
"We p-participate in external events and work for the honor of the school."
"Indeed."
Dick raised his hand.
"With the headmistress's approval, we have a say in adjusting and expanding the school budget!"
"Yes."
Jane closed her eyes.
"Everything you've said is true. The Student Council is an organization that represents the students. It wields considerable power. But, to put it in rather fundamental terms—"
Clink. She set down her teacup.
"The greatest virtue of the Student Council is 'dialogue' and 'mediation.'"
Dialogue and mediation.
Simon's eyes gleamed.
"Even now, countless organizations coexist within this school besides your council. The seven departments, the clubs, the student federations, the self-governing bodies, the teaching staff, the TA corps, the Henchman League, all manner of partner companies — all the way up to the Rochest Merchant Guild. Nearly all of them act in the interest of their own organization alone."
She spread open her palm.
"But the Student Council alone must remain neutral. For the sake of the school, you must negotiate with these groups, drag them to the table, and draw out an agreement everyone can live with."
Everyone hung on Jane's every word, rapt with attention.
"That said, the Student Council isn't free to throw its weight around the school however it pleases."
Jane reached for a cookie as she talked. But the two cookies she'd been about to eat had vanished without a trace.
She continued, a faint suspicion flickering in her eyes.
"The organizations I mentioned hold influence in every corner of the school, and within their domains, you are expected to acknowledge them and defer to them. For example, in your second-year classes, you are nothing more than one student among many. You take the same exams as everyone else, receive the same punishments, and are evaluated on equal footing. The same goes for department life and everything else."
Munch munch—
The sound of someone eating cookies filled the air.
At the same time, more than half the basket's contents had vanished. Jane heaved a deep sigh.
"Come out."
Then she thrust her arm under the table. Meilin and Camibarez recoiled with a startled yelp.
A tiny silver-haired girl, stuck flat against the underside of the table, was stuffing cookies into her mouth, crumbs smeared all over her face.
Jane held her up by the back of her collar, and she dangled in the air, swinging back and forth.
"Lady Nephthys!"
Simon cried out. Nephthys raised a hand.
"Hiya, everyone!"