Courage

"Moriyama Kairo, I know you are an annoying person but this is next level annoying! Why did you take me to Fubuki-sama in that state?! It's really embarrassing!"

"Hatsugawa, you've been standing for minutes there in that very same spot. And besides, I don't understand why you're that overwhelmed with someone. I mean, she's human like you."

"I know, it's just... She has been my role model ever since, and now you have ruined the first impression my role model could've developed towards me! " Erika throws her tantrums when she was isolated with Kairo by the rooftop. It's been bugging her for hours now; how things happened back there in the club recruitment.

"Who even sets up tea ceremonies during such a busy time?" Lately, there have been a lot of commentaries coming from Kairo and it annoys Erika so much.

"Why do you care?! It's probably their strategy to attract new members. Aren't you enticed by how they projected the ceremony? Didn't you feel that particular feeling where you really wanted to join them?" Erika couldn't understand how Kairo doesn't show enthusiasm towards her passion.

"Fine fine, whatever you say. Anyway, I have the form." Kairo said while waving the papers in front of her face, which Erika grabbed all of a sudden. She started scanning the contents of the form.

"It says here that they plan on including not only history, but also culture and tradition for the club's activities! Moriyama did you see that?! It's like Fubuki-sama will teach us how to be worthy enough to be in the castle! As expected of Seito Gakuen's Princess!" she said excitedly.

"The speed of developing new nicknames here always surprise me." Kairo said.

"That's it! I'm not going to waste this opportunity! It's destiny's game to make Fubuki-sama transfer here and become the club president! God has blessed me enough to have Fubuki-sama cultivate me to become a refined woman worthy to be the Prince's bride~". Surprisingly, the trace of humiliation disappeared completely in her current expression. It was replaced with a passionate, fired up face that even Kairo couldn't comprehend how one can shift moods that quick.

"Take your time since the submission is tomorrow. Also, there will be a club promotion in the gym later this afternoon. Do you wanna go?" he asked.

"Why would you even ask that? OF COURSE I WANNA GO. It is a rare opportunity to hear Fubuki-sama speak with great intelligence and elegance!" she said happily.

"Well okay then.... For now, let's have our lunch."

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"..... And with that, we aim of winning the National Championship for this year's InterHigh so please, join us, the Volleyball Club, in fulfilling this dream! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!"

There were several students assembled in the gymnasium right now for the club promotion. The crowd applauds every end of speech, meanwhile there's Erika, who kept on looking at her watch while endlessly tapping her foot.

"When will Fubuki-sama give her speech?! This program is long enough already!" she said irritably where Kairo just sighed as he looked at her.

"So the next club will be the Japanese History Club. Sayaka Fubuki is the current club president and she will deliver the speech. Let's give her a round of applause." the teacher announced.

The very same lady who was in the middle of the ceremony hours ago was the same lady who now walking towards the pulpit. Even the way she walks shows how trained she is regarding proper manners. Kairo then shook Erika by her arm.

"What?!"

"It's her."

Erika looked at the stage and saw her role model. Delight filled her heart all of a sudden and she took out her cellphone. "OH MY GOSH, IT'S HER. I have to record this!" she said as she pressed the video button.

"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire. Nowadays, the youth take our tradition lightly that sometimes they forget those even existed. Modernized ways have polluted some of our traditional ways that isolate us from the rest of the world. That's why we, The Japanese History Club, aim to re-educate the youth about the essence of our culture in order to preserve our nationality, our identification, or original way of life. So that we'll be reminded that we're more than just human beings, but Japanese people who's identity remains stable. That's all." she bowed gently. There were no extra movements in that bow rendering her beautiful among the rest.

The crowd applauded in admiration. In response of the applause, she smiled softly that it was barely noticeable. Erika tried her best not to squeal that loud because of her video but she looked at Sayaka and happily waved her hand for attention, hoping she would notice her. However, there was no response from her and she just returned to her seat. "Maybe she did not see me"...is what she said to herself.

The program was over after a few hours and when Erika returned home, she kept on replaying the video over and over again.

"Ahhh she's really beautiful. Look at her Kairo, she's so perfect!" she said and showed Kairo her cellphone where Sayaka was seen delivering her speech.

"Hnn.... Well she is pretty. She just seemed a little bit, I don't know, fake? "

"Fake?! How can you say that? ! Look at that genuine beauty over there." she said and paused the video, took a screenshot on the stop and zoomed the photo in. "LOOK AT THAT GENUINE BEAUTY OVER THERE. How is that fake?!"

"I did not say it was her looks that are fake." he huffed.

Do you think I could ever be like her?"

"No."

"You're so damn rude, you didn't even thought twice." Erika said after hitting Kairo with her pillow.

"Ow! I really had enough of your constant bullying! This is the time I get to stand up for my right as a human being!" he said and stood up in combat position. "BRING IT ON!". But then he fell all of a sudden because Erika pulled the futon bed he was stepping on, making him fall on the floor. "DAMN YOU!!" he said while groaning in pain.

"It was your fault for picking up a fight with me." she said with a smug face. "Anyway, you'll be joining the club with me alright?"

"Hell no. You wouldn't drag me along with you this time."

"AAAHH I KNOW. You're probably dumb in history that's why you don't wanna join the club."

"You're not using that card on me. I will not join the club."

"You'll get better in history if you join that club. And don't worry, I'll teach you from time to time in exchange of your service."

"Nope. I wouldn't join. You can't convince me." Kairo said grumpily when he pulled his blanket up and snuggled himself inside.

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"So.... Kairo Moriyama and Erika Hatsugawa huh?" said the current club vice president while scanning their Club Application Forms.

"Yes sir!" Erika said excitedly.

"You'll pay for this." Kairo angrily mumbled to Erika with his head lowered down, where he was responded with Erika's tongue out.

"I think I've heard of your name before, Erika Hatsugawa. Weren't you the champion in last year's Japanese History Quiz Bee - Middle School Division?" said the vice president as he filed their papers.

"Yes! I actually have heard of you too, Mitsuo-san! You ranked third in the National Quiz Bee right?" Erika said while staring excitedly at the senior.

"Well ranking third isn't something to be proud of though." he chuckled softly and looked at them. "I'll have Sayaka check your applications and she will decide whether you join us or not. In the mean time, why don't you answer some exercise questions we have here?"

"Exercise questions?"

"While cleaning the club room, we noticed that there were workbooks from the past years' quiz bees stocked over there in the bottom shelf. Rather than just waiting for Sayaka, why don't you answer some of these to keep you from being bored?" Mitsuo said while flipping through the workbook's pages.

"Sure thing! This will also help to refresh my mind." Erika blindly took one work book and after analyzing a few questions, she started answering.

"How about you, Moriyama-kun? Do you want to answer some?"

"Ah no. These things don't particularly interest me.. I'll jusy chill right here." he said, awkwardly.

"If you say so. Well then, if you'll excuse me for a while. I'll just run some errands for Shinichiro-sensei. You two can stay here and Sayaka might come after a few minutes, okay?"

"Okay." Kairo said with a smile while Erika wasn't able to answer her senior since all of a sudden, she got endulged in answering the workbook, which Kairo did not mind. He actually got relaxed since things finally got quiet.

However, it got too quiet that Kairo did not realize he already fell asleep and that it was already past 6pm. He was only awakened by the sound of a door opening, which happened to be Mitsuo.

"You're still here? Did Sayaka not pass by?" he said alarmingly while scratching his cheek, looking worried towards the two of them.

"Yeah, sadly she did not come." Erika said quite downheartedly. "But I finished half of the workbooks! It did keep me awake through the waiting. Also, they're qreally challenging, I had fun!" she said, as if trying to raise her mood with it.

"I'm glad you liked them." Mitsuo said. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting that long. Now I don't wanna keep you longer here. You two should probably go home now, it's getting late. I'll just endorse your application to Sayaka and contact you immediately okay?"

"Okay! Thank you for letting me answer the workbooks, Mitsuo-senpai!" Kairo then picked up his bag along with Erika's while she said her goodbyes. The two of them went home afterwards.

Mitsuo was curious with how she answered the books. He took one of the workbooks Erika answered and started scanning the questions. It was then that his eyes widened upon looking at the answered questionnaires.

"I'm sorry for taking too long, Mitsuo . The principal was talking to me." Sayaka Fubuki said as she entered the room, but only to witness Mitsuo frozen while looking at the workbooks.

"Sayaka...."

That was the only word he was able to say.