11 What the Fuck Just Happened?

Lunchtime had finally arrived, and the students in the class let out a collective sigh of relief, stretching their stiff bodies. For me, it was a reminder of my lunch plans with the student council president, although it felt somewhat lighter after dealing with a troublesome matter earlier.

During the first hour, I had been called to the principal's office through my terminal.

Thankfully, it wasn't entirely unexpected, as Saegusa-senpai had given me a heads-up about the teacher's meeting.

Principal Momoyama Azuma, known for his perfectionism and renowned within the magic academy circle, sat in front of me. Despite being in his 70s, his aura had a sinister quality, as if he were a retired warrior from the battlefield.

Apart from his academic reputation, he was famous for his patriotism and had mentored magic graduates who now held high positions in government agencies and the military. However, due to changes in the curriculum, the current magic school no longer focused on military education as it used to. He had also implemented the Course 1 and Course 2 systems.

The teachers, particularly the principal, had become intrigued by my actions of defeating top-ranking male students during a magic test. Consequently, they questioned my entrance exam results. Sweat poured down my back as I remained silent, feeling the pressure of the situation. The principal proceeded to show me footage of me taking down Morisaki, which I had given to the student council the day before.

"Hmm, Yuki-kun, you placed second in the theory test with an average score of 97.5 in all subjects. You're just below Shiba Tatsuya, who placed first with an average score of 98."

Yaosaka-sensei nodded with satisfaction at my results, but I was confused since I didn't recall experiencing any practical or theoretical entrance tests to First High. I cursed the system internally, realizing that it had been paying close attention all along. I had put too much faith in this enigmatic six-dimensional entity.

"Student... why aren't you answering the question? That's not very elegant."

I let out a sigh, dismissing the principal's concern about elegance. I responded, "Um, sensei, I don't remember much, but I think I suddenly fell ill after the theory test. So, I don't remember what happened."

I felt frustrated for resorting to such nonsense about memory loss, doubting that they would believe me. I smiled apologetically to the principal and his deputy, but my eyebrows twitched tightly as the system laughed at my feeble excuse.

[LOL! Did you eat squid with peanut butter seasoning before the exam?]

"I see. If you wish to take Course 1 next semester, you can do so through retesting. However, whether you are eligible to enter or not will depend on the results. This is indeed special treatment, as the mission of the Japanese magic school is to acquire talented individuals like you, Yuki-kun."

Momoyama-sensei spoke with a serious tone, expressing his commitment to nurturing talented students. I couldn't believe he believed my excuse. I was at a loss for words.

Pfft! It's funny, but it's also troublesome. It seemed that I would have to bid farewell to the leisurely life in Course 2. Yaosaka-sensei nodded with an approving smile. I sighed resignedly, caught red-handed.

Returning to the present, I noticed that Mikihiko had rushed off somewhere in a hurry, and Erika waved her hand at me. "Haku! Let's eat together in the cafeteria."

"Sorry, Erika, but I have an appointment with the student council president," I replied as I stood up and approached her. Erika seemed a little surprised but smiled and suggested, "I understand! Then, Tatsuya-kun, let's go together." Tatsuya, who had also risen from his seat, smiled apologetically, "Ah, I have an appointment as well, just like Haku."

"Ah? Hmph! Fine, Mizuki, Leo, let's go," Erika pouted after being rejected twice in a row and walked towards the classroom exit with her arms crossed. Mizuki and Leo quickly followed her, exchanging a few words with me and Tatsuya before leaving.

I'm sorry, guys. I didn't want this either!

"You can go ahead; I need to use the restroom first." I walked out of the classroom without waiting for Tatsuya's response, using it as an excuse to retrieve the bento from the Daikokuten dimension.

After finding a secluded spot at a distance from the classroom, I initiated the magic sequence and enlarged the bento that I had previously shrunk and stored in my special dimension.

To be honest, I haven't used this particular magic much, but I find it quite amazing. It allows me to shrink and enlarge objects by manipulating their molecular structure.

A slight smile formed on my lips as I experienced the sensation of using this magic. It's both exhilarating and terrifying, especially for someone like me who has lived as an ordinary human, categorized as weak.

Shaking my head, I massaged my forehead, feeling slight dizziness caused by the day's surprising events. I carried the bag containing three bento boxes and climbed the stairs to the fourth floor, grateful that I didn't have to change buildings.

My steps and breathing were slightly heavy, not due to a lack of stamina but because of the unexpected situations that had unfolded throughout the day. I wondered what other surprises awaited me.

Upon reaching the fourth floor, I searched for the door labeled "Student Council Room." I pressed the entry button while making a verbal request through the integrated speakers. With the sound of the lock opening, I turned the doorknob and entered the room.

"Excuse me."

"Ah, Haku-san, please come in."

The student council room greeted my gaze, featuring a long table in the center, a larger table by the window for the president, and a terminal table for the secretary's work. I walked toward the seat next to Tatsuya, not concerned about formalities in the presence of my seniors.

"Ah-haha, Haku-san, is something the matter? You seem quite serious," Saegusa-senpai asked awkwardly.

Yes, it seems I'm about to experience more trouble.

"Sigh... I suppose Senpai already knows what happened, right?"

"Ya-haha, I'm sorry. Tehe~" She made a silly face in response.

I glanced ahead, noticing that the seniors had already begun their lunch preparations. Fortunately, I hadn't arrived late.

I took out a stainless steel bento box and handed it to Tatsuya. "Give this to Miyuki."

Miyuki, who had been worried due to my cold demeanor, brightened up as she received the bento. I gave a piece to Tatsuya, cautioning him, "Be careful, it's still hot." Tatsuya nodded.

"Wow! You cooked a lot. It looks like you put a lot of effort into this," Miyuki exclaimed, surprised by the tall bento box.

The three seniors in front of me shared equal astonishment.

I grinned, feeling a slight improvement in my mood. "Haku, what did you make for lunch?" Saegusa-senpai asked eagerly, her eyes filled with anticipation, expecting something extraordinary.

"It's Nori-ben."

"Eh?" Saegusa-senpai seemed a little disappointed, perhaps expecting some exotic foreign dish.

She let out a small cough. "We already introduced ourselves during the opening ceremony yesterday, but let's do it again, okay?"

Oh right, I fell asleep during the entrance ceremony.

Before beginning our meal, Saegusa-senpai wanted to introduce her team.

"Seated next to me is the treasurer, Ichihara Suzune. Her nickname is Rin-chan."

Suzune-senpai wearily closed her eyes. "Only you call me that, President." Saegusa-senpai chuckled. "And you surely know who's next to her, right? The chairwoman of the Disciplinary Committee, Watanabe Mari. Lastly, we have the secretary, Nakajo Azusa. Her nickname is A-chan."

Loli-senpai furrowed her brows, which was quite cute. "President, please don't call me 'A-chan' in front of our younger classmates!"

What the heck! Pfft! Her reaction was amusing.

By the way, her nickname suits her well.

Saegusa-senpai seemed to suppress a laugh before turning her attention to us. "Ah, and there's the vice president, Hanzo-kun, who's having lunch in the club supervision room. A-chan and Hanzo-kun are the vice presidents for this semester."

"Don't forget, I'm not part of the student council," Watanabe-senpai chimed in with a small smile, winking one eye. I could tell she was a genuine tomboy.

"Senpai, do you also make your bento?" Miyuki asked, seemingly feeling a bit defeated as a woman.

"Yes... is it that surprising? My skills pale in comparison to my kohai." She glanced at me with a wry smile.

"I can tell you're an expert cook just by looking at your hands," Tatsuya remarked, causing Watanabe-senpai to hastily hide her hands.

"Oh, right! Do we have to bring our bento starting tomorrow?" Miyuki asked Tatsuya, who gave a small smile. "That's a good idea, but finding a place to eat together might be difficult."

"Heh. You two look more like lovers than siblings," Ichihara-senpai commented with a simple smile.

"Really? But sometimes I do think about it: If we weren't siblings, I'd want her to be my girlfriend," Tatsuya said, causing flowers to bloom behind them. I rubbed my eyes, thinking it might be genjutsu.

"Of course, I'm kidding."

Everyone, except me, seemed surprised by Tatsuya's sudden shift from a smile to a flat expression. Miyuki started to feel shy because of it.

"You're a boring person," Watanabe-senpai grinned at Tatsuya's attitude.

Feeling hungry, I quickly opened my lunch.

"Hmm?"

As I opened the lid, all eyes focused on it.

"What? I'm already hungry, sorry, I'll start eating."

"Thank you for the food."

Not in the mood for their lovey-dovey conversation, I began eating my lunch.

"Hey! I want a taste!" Suddenly, Saegusa-senpai appeared out of nowhere with her lunch.

"Huh? How did you get here so fast?" I stared at Saegusa-senpai, astonished by her swift movement.

"Hmmph! Give me some! Oh, how about we make a little trade?" She started pleading with watery eyes and clung to me like a spoiled brat.

"Alright, alright, hey! Stop clinging to my arm." Cough. Honestly, I didn't want her to keep clinging before something bad happened.

"Ehe~"

I divided my Okazu in half and gave it to Saegusa-senpai's tray. "I'll take this, okay?" I also took her lunch. "Hey! You took too much!" she protested.

"Haku~ it's delicious and tender!" Glancing to the side, I saw Miyuki and Tatsuya starting to taste the side dishes. The three seniors looked at the two of them with a little envy and surprise, especially Azusa-senpai, who had tears in her eyes.

Pfft! She's such a poor kid.

"You two, open all your bento," I instructed them, and they both opened all the lids.

"Wow! What is this? It looks so beautiful."

Miyuki exclaimed in surprise. The appearance of the meal was elegant and pleasing to the eye. Tatsuya looked surprised and pondered the trick behind this dish, while the four seniors were amazed by the bento.

On top of the warm rice were dark and shiny pearl-like balls.

"You said this was Nori-ben, but I don't see any Nori at all," Miyuki said, puzzled. "Just eat it, and you'll see," I replied as I transferred a portion to Saegusa-senpai. I wondered why she wasn't shy or bothered by the indirect kiss from my used chopsticks.

"Did you finish your meal, senpai?" I asked, wondering if she could finish her lunch after asking for mine. "Of course not, but since it's like this, you should help me finish it too. Hmmn!" Senpai said, shoveling food into her mouth.

I simply nodded and continued my meal.

"Oh, so this is Nori? But how did you make this?" Miyuki was amazed. "If I'm not mistaken, this is molecular gastronomy, right?" Tatsuya said, observing the nori balls with his chopsticks.

"That's right. I extract the umami flavor from the nori, and to make the nori balls, I use sodium alginate and calcium chloride. It's honestly more fun than just putting a piece of nori on top of the rice."

They all nodded as I explained, some even taking notes on their terminals.

"Hmmn, there's a piece of meat in the center layer. This is fun, Haku; your bento keeps surprising me," Miyuki commented as she ate.

"Cough! Shiba-san, can I have a taste?" Watanabe-senpai asked shyly.

"Of course, Senpai."

"Don't forget to try the onion bacon soup, and on the top lid is Kudzu Sauce; pour that on your rice."

I explained as I poured the sauce onto my rice.

"Gulp!" (x6)

"Hey! You should have said that earlier! The rice you gave me is almost gone!"

"Oh really? It's your fault for eating like a glutton."

"Hmmph!"

After that, lunch continued quietly...

Not really.

Senpai kept nagging me because I was late in telling her about the sauce.

Next time, I'll just eat the lunch provided by the cafeteria.

After the eventful lunch, the student council room settled down, and the president regained her composure.

"Ha! That was the best lunch I've had at school. Thank you, Haku~" the president said, smiling sweetly with her peace-style finger.

"In this school, the position of Student Council President is elected by vote, but the elected president has the authority to appoint and remove members for other positions in the Student Council."

"Under certain conditions, the student council president also has the right to appoint and remove members of other committees," the student council president explained.

"Of course, the Discipline Committee that I lead is an exception," Watanabe-senpai added.

"The Student Council, Club Activities Supervision, and the teachers each nominates three candidates for the Discipline Committee, but the Chair of the Discipline Committee is the one who decides on the elected members."

Saegusa-senpai nodded in agreement.

"Well then, since it's an annual tradition to invite first-year representatives to the student council to train them as potential successors, it's hoped that the first-year representative will eventually become the next student council president. This has been the practice for the past decade."

Clearing my throat, I smirked and said, "So... Glutton-senpai is also a first-year representative, huh? That's great..."

"Ah~, umm... Yes. But what the hell is Glutton-senpai!?"

Tatsuya joined in the teasing conversation, saying, "Seems like you guys are pretty close..." Saegusa-senpai blushed and pouted, "Ahh! Stop teasing me!" she exclaimed.

Taking a sip of tea, I nodded in agreement with Saegusa-senpai's suggestion. "Well, Miyuki-san, I hope you can join the student council."

Miyuki nodded politely, raising her teacup to her lips.

Meanwhile, I contemplated gathering information on Flying Magic from the library.

"Oh, by the way, don't forget to congratulate Haku-kun as well. He has become a new member of the disciplinary committee after receiving a teacher's recommendation. Congratulations, Kohai-kun!" Watanabe-senpai said, accompanied by enthusiastic applause.

As I drank my tea peacefully, I suddenly choked. "Dammit! I forgot about that," I cursed myself.

Congratulatory remarks filled the room. "Congratulations, Haku~" Saegusa-senpai and Ichihara-senpai chimed in, clapping with smiles on their faces. However, Miyuki seemed surprised as she looked at me.

Setting my cup down, I crossed my arms and expressed annoyance. "Yeah, it's the most blatant abuse of power I've ever seen. Why would a Course 2 student like me receive a recommendation? Do they want me to become the enemy of all Course 1 students? This sucks!" I protested the idea.

Ignoring any possible microphones or CCTV cameras in the room, Watanabe-senpai confidently replied, crossing her arms and emphasizing her figure, "In my opinion, it's only natural. After you displayed your skills by defeating Morisaki and using Counter Magic Gram Demolition, the school must have taken notice. Besides, with that attitude, Morisaki won't find a place on the disciplinary committee."

Her words were accompanied by a playful smile, and I couldn't help but feel captivated by her, despite being younger than me.

Although I may be physically 14 years old, mentally I am a 25-year-old man.

"But still, it would have been better to select a first-year student from Course 1 rather than choosing me," I insisted, still believing that this was an imposition.

However, there seemed to be little I could do. I felt Tatsuya's gaze, and he smirked while nodding at me. Did he enjoy seeing me in this predicament?

"Ahaha... that's right, Haku-san. Even I can't use magic like that. Well, what about Miyuki-san then?" Miyuki glanced at Tatsuya, seemingly awaiting his permission. Tatsuya nodded subtly, and Miyuki nodded back with determination.

"President, do you know my brother's score in the entrance exam?" Miyuki asked seriously.

Tatsuya's eyes widened, seemingly caught off guard by Miyuki's question. I chuckled internally, reveling in his surprise.

"Well, I know that, even though I'm not confident I can achieve grades like Tatsuya-kun and Haku-san, who scored only 0.5 points higher than him," Saegusa-senpai praised our entrance exam scores. However, I didn't consider it something to be proud of, given that I had secured my admission through the nepotism system.

"If the student council truly needs a talented individual for a desk job, I'm certain my brother would be more suitable than me," Miyuki continued, standing up from her chair. "I'm honored that the student council has offered me a position."

"Hey, Miyuki, hold on," Tatsuya interjected, whispering urgently for her to stop speaking.

"I'm also happy to accept the offer, but can you include my brother as a member as well?"

Despite my reservations about Miyuki's blatant use of nepotism to try and bring Tatsuya into the student council, I couldn't help but wonder how I could escape this situation without drawing attention.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I felt the tension in the room escalate with Miyuki's request. Was it impossible?

"That's not possible," Ichihara-senpai replied calmly, her eyes closed. "According to school regulations, student council officers can only be elected from Course 1. To change this, a school-wide vote with a minimum of a two-thirds majority is required. Considering the equal number of students in Course 1 and Course 2, realistically, it would be impossible."

Ichihara-senpai's explanation though delivered softly and with some regret, struck a chord within Miyuki's heart. It was evident from her voice that she was one of those who did not care about the divisions between Course 1 and Course 2 students.

"...I apologize. I spoke without fully understanding the situation. I'm sorry," Miyuki said, bowing respectfully. The seniors smiled awkwardly, silently conveying their sympathy for her plight.

"In that case, Miyuki-san can join the student council as the secretary. Is that acceptable?" the president inquired. Miyuki nodded and resumed her seat. "Yes, I will work hard. Please take care of me," she said, bowing once again. I had grown weary of these formalities.

"If you need any details, A-chan will fill you in."

"President! I've told you before, don't call me A-chan!"

Loli-senpai protested, her eyes welling up with tears. I couldn't help but pity her.

"Assuming there are no objections, could you all come here after school today?"

Ha! Saegusa-senpai completely ignored Loli-senpai's protests. Azusa-senpai seemed resigned, while Saegusa-senpai's sadistic tendencies became apparent for some reason. I made a mental note to steer clear of her.

"Alright, senpai."

"I'll be waiting for you, Miyuki-san."

"Hey~! Why am I called A-chan while Shiba is called Miyuki? It's not fair, President! You should stop teasing me."

Not wanting to overlook Azusa-senpai's distress, I interjected, "May I ask something?"

"What is it, Kohai-kun?" Watanabe-senpai replied, using a familiar nickname for me.

"If the disciplinary committee doesn't prioritize including Course 2 students, why not make Tatsuya a member like me?"

Given the circumstances, it seemed like a reasonable suggestion.

"Nice! Haku-san, you're a genius," Saegusa-senpai scream with that suggestion.

I exclaimed spontaneously, expecting a rejection.

"Ah?" Tatsuya and I responded in surprise, assuming that our proposal would be rejected.

"That's not a problem, Haku-san. Mari, since the student council hasn't nominated any members yet, the student council hereby nominates Shiba Tatsuya as a member of the disciplinary committee."

"Wait a minute! Shouldn't you consider my opinion on this? Besides, I haven't received any information about the duties of the disciplinary committee members."

Pfft! Look at this kid.

"Miyuki-san hasn't received the details of her duties in the student council either, right? The same goes for Yuki-kun," Ichihara-senpai countered, emphasizing her point and dismissing his objection.

"Well, that's true, but..."

"Uh, Rin-chan, it's fine. Tatsuya-kun, the disciplinary committee's role is to uphold discipline within the school," Watanabe-senpai explained with a mischievous smile, seemingly enjoying the situation.

Tatsuya shook his head, looking slightly perplexed. It was amusing to see how a girl younger than me could have such an effect on him. Mentally, I was a 25-year-old man despite being 14 years old.

"...Is that all?" Tatsuya asked after a brief silence. The seniors seemed unwilling to provide a definitive answer, masking the facts behind their smiles.

Saegusa-senpai smiled, Ichihara-senpai closed her eyes serenely, and Watanabe-senpai watched the scene with a playful smile, clearly reveling in it. Once again, I was reminded that women could be quite intimidating.

Tatsuya's gaze shifted from one senior to another, eventually settling on Azusa-senpai. It seemed everyone enjoyed teasing Loli-senpai. She tried desperately to avoid his gaze, but the pressure emanating from Tatsuya's eyes made her give up instantly.

"Um, our disciplinary committee is responsible for enforcing the school's rules," she explained, unable to withstand the pressure. I made a mental note of that.

"The primary task of the disciplinary committee is to identify individuals who violate school rules using magic and apprehend those who cause disruptions within school grounds through the use of magic. Once a committee member determines the appropriate punishment, they will present the case before the disciplinary committee, along with the student council president and student representatives. In short, they serve as the school's law enforcement."

Miyuki seemed thrilled, exclaiming, "Isn't that great, Onii-sama?"

"Hold on, Miyuki. Let me clarify something," Tatsuya interjected, turning to Watanabe-senpai.

"Based on the explanation, once a conflict is discovered, the committee's role is to stop it, correct?"

"Yes, that's right. We also handle non-magical conflicts, but if magic is involved, we are obligated to intervene."

"That's precisely my point! My practical skills are abysmal, and on top of that, I'm a Course 2 student!"

I had never seen Tatsuya look so serious. "I'm in the same situation, so how can I become a member?" I lazily raised my hand.

"No!" Saegusa-senpai and Watanabe-senpai both exclaimed, firmly rejecting my suggestion. I gave up.

Women are scary.

"It's not an issue. If there's a need for combat capability, I'll step in as well, and Kohai-kun will be your partner in justice," Mari said, sighing wearily.

"Hey! Don't drag me into this," I protested.

"I understand..." Tatsuya muttered.

Watanabe-senpai chuckled. "Then we'll reconvene here this afternoon."

With that, our rather eventful lunch came to an end, and we all returned to class with mixed emotions.

I felt irritated, while Tatsuya seemed uncertain about his abilities or unwilling to display them. Miyuki returned with a bright smile, looking forward to her new role in the student council.

As for Saegusa-senpai, she reveled in the chaos and enjoyed teasing others. Ichihara-senpai seemed calm and composed, as usual, and Azusa-senpai appeared both nervous and relieved.

What a diverse group of people.

Little did I know that our encounter at the student council room would mark the beginning of an unpredictable and exciting chapter in our lives.