Chapter 16: First Mission

Akuma looked at Sanaka, his jaw stuck wide open.

"I said that the vice president is very popular and will surely be the next student council president."

She looked at Akuma and answered directly without hesitation.

"We're not going to help him! Never! You hear me, everyone? Not now, not ever!"

Akuma stood up from his seat and screamed at the ceiling.

"Sorry guys, I have to give this initial vote to him. I still do owe him for helping our bakery. But this will clear any debt I have with him, so I'll be more sensible next time."

Kiba rested his elbow on top of the table while supporting his head with his hand. He smiled at everyone.

Mimi wrote two tallies under the "Don't Help" column on her notebook. Angelie took a glimpse at the notebook and furrowed her eyebrows. She then glanced at Sanaka, waiting nervously for her vote.

"I… I'd like to help the vice president. He's, you know, kind of cool and… handsome? Ah, what am I saying?"

Sanaka was now covering her red face with both of her hands. Angelie closed her fist in celebration, and then directed her face towards Akuma.

"There you have it. Fair and square, a majority vote."

"Why am I still surrounded by my enemies and outnumbered even in this life?"

Akuma slumped on the table, both of his arms supporting his weight.

---

Angelie, Mimi and Sanaka went to the student council room after the voting was done. Akuma and Kiba stayed behind in their clubroom. The three girls informed the vice president that they were going to accept the request for assistance.

"Thank you for making a swift decision. I will give you the forms tomorrow morning. We will be needing the replies by the end of the day after tomorrow."

Teki was sitting down. Multiple chairs surrounded the table that was placed in the middle of the room. All the other chairs were vacant.

"I see. So, we have two days to get the survey done?"

Angelie looked around the room, especially on the vacant chairs.

"Yes. I do apologize for the short notice."

"Well, if you don't mind me asking. Where is everyone else? I find it hard to believe you're the only one in the student council."

"Ah, they are searching for the president. He skipped out on his tasks but we need his approval on some matters."

"Somehow, I can understand your troubles."

Angelie forced a smile.

"Seeing as you are the one here instead of your club president, I think you do understand."

"You'll make a g-good student council president, Byoudou-san…"

Sanaka was hiding behind Mimi, while averting her gaze towards Teki.

"I appreciate that. I hope you will give me your support at that time."

He smiled at Sanaka. Her face turned red and smoke can be faintly seen coming out of her ears.

"Thank you for your time, Vice President. We'll be on our way now, as I think we need to bring this one to the nurse's office."

Mimi bowed at Teki and dragged Sanaka, who was now tightly clinging onto Mimi's arm. Angelie also bowed at Teki and followed the two girls outside of the room. Teki stared at the door until Angelie closed it.

"The Help club, huh? I hope they won't be causing any trouble this year. I have a bad feeling about them…"

---

The next day, Angelie and Sanaka went to their clubroom before classes started in the morning. They left the door behind them open and stood near the table.

"You didn't have to come with me, Sanaka-san. I know you're still sleepy."

"Well, you said you'd meet with the vice president, so…"

Sanaka was still rubbing her eyes.

"But did you want him to see you with those eye bags?"

"What?! Is it really that visible? What should I do, Angelie-san?"

"I'm just messing with you. I'm sorry."

Angelie laughed lightly.

"That wasn't funny!"

"What is not funny? Can you tell the joke again?"

Someone came in from the door behind the two of them. Sanaka turned around to answer.

"She said my eye bags were big and that the vice president will—"

"Yes, and what would I do?"

It was the student council vice president. Teki looked at Sanaka with a confused look. Sanaka immediately covered her eyes with her hands and dashed outside the clubroom.

"No!!!"

Sanaka screamed while running in the hallways.

"Um, is she okay?"

Teki turned around to look at Sanaka then looked back at Angelie.

"Yes, please don't mind her. She's just not a morning person."

Angelie forced a laugh.

"I still need to reprimand her later. Running in the hallways is not allowed, after all."

(I'm sorry, Sanaka-san. But I guess you'll get to talk to him at least, right?)

Angelie stood there and smiled at Teki. He then took out the forms from the envelope he was holding.

"Here are the forms. Again, thank you for doing this."

"It's no problem, really. We established this club for this very reason, so we can help others."

"Well then, I'll head to class now."

Teki turned around and walked toward the door, then he suddenly stopped and turned back to Angelie.

"By the way, I haven't gotten your name yet, Ms. Vice President of the Help Club."

"Ah, it's Fukushuu Angelie, from 2-B."

"I see. And please refrain from having fights with your boyfriend in school grounds as much as possible."

He walked away while waving his hand.

"He's not my boyfriend!!!"

---

After classes, they decided to split up to cover as many clubs as possible. Kiba, Mimi and Sanaka were in charge of the clubs who were using rooms inside the school building. They thought that it would be best for now that Mimi should not interact with the Kyudo club yet, given the recent incident with them. The two remaining members were left to be paired with each other.

"Why am I walking around with you, damn Saint!"

"I hate this as much as anyone would. I don't want others to keep having misunderstandings…"

"Huh? About what?"

"It doesn’t matter! What matters is that I'm the only one who can keep watch to make sure you're doing your job. You'd just order around Kiba-kun and Sanaka-san. And Mimi-san is too revolted to be left alone with you."

"Well, she can be revolted all she wants, but that won't stop me from eating that damn elf's cooking."

Both of them were in charge of the sports club that have their own clubrooms outside the school building or have their own practice grounds. They walked around the school grounds, going from one sports club to another. Some were practicing on the field while others were inside their club rooms on a separate building.

The last one they went to was the club room of the Kendo Club. The two of them stood outside of the room after they knocked.

"Hi there. We're from the Help club and we were asked by the student council to conduct a survey from each club. Is your club president available now?"

Akuma courteously greeted the person who opened the door of the club room.

(Who is this person?!)

Angelie looked at him dumbfoundedly.

"Oh, sorry. The captain is out on an errand right now. I don't know when he'll be back."

"I see. We'll come by again later, then. Thank you."

Angelie was still looking at Akuma, unable to speak. After their conversation, the both of them walked back to the school building.

Someone was watching them from afar. He hid behind a corner when Akuma and Angelie started to walk away from the Kendo club room. He clutched the plastic bags of water bottles that he was carrying.

"That girl, isn't she…"