Part 11: 4/27/09

4/27/09

Busy day today. For one, there was another assembly in the morning.



Loud Student: Didn’t you say the same thing last week?
Is that special morning assembly today? How come we’re having one? We just had one last week…
Gossiping Student: Remember how great Kirijo-senpai’s speech was last week?
Loud Student: Oh yeah, that speech was awesome! Although, I didn’t understand most of it…
Gossiping Student: What I heard was, the principal got jealous, so he scheduled his own speech to compete with her.
Loud Student: Seriously!? What’s up with that? Why do we have to suffer because of his ego!?
> The first bell has rung.

And suffer we did.



Teacher: First, our principal has some words he’d like to share with you. Please give him a warm welcome.
…Thank you.
What’s the deal with the assembly?
…You think it’s about the recent incidents?
Who cares?
The Principal doesn’t know anything about the Shadows, anyway.
I just hope this doesn’t take too long…
I know. His speeches always drag.
Ahem. Today, I’d like to tell you about my, um, vision for this school year.
As you are aware, strange incidents have been reported on the news lately.
It is my firm belief that none of you are involved.
However, if we want to better our school, then we all need to accept responsibility for change.
Dig deep down inside, and tap into your imaginations. …But don’t lose touch with reality.
As they say, “There’s no use crying over spilt milk.”
This is the key to reaping all the rewards that school has to offer…
> The Principal continues with his speech…

Seriously, terrible speech.



Yeah, you’re right…
What’s up with that!?

Speaking of Mitsuru, she came by our class at lunch to warn me she was going to ask me for some help later in the day.



I’m sorry, but I need to talk to you after school. I have a special request for you.
What kind of request?
I apologize for being in a rush, but I don’t feel comfortable asking anyone else.
I’ll tell you more about it after school, okay? Au revoir.

We had math in the afternoon, the teachers here are so strange.



Hmm? It isn’t? Oh, I see, this becomes 11, so…
I’m sorry, you’re right, X=2.
Wait… Is that right?
Okay, uh, your assignment is to figure this one out.
Anyway… Wasn’t that incredible?
Even with a difficult problem like this one, once you solve it, X still equals 1. Or maybe 2.
What I’m getting at is, math is fun! Don’t you think so?
Civilization owes its very existence to math!
All right. Today is the 27th, so that works out to… your turn, Aelita.
Do you know when numbers were invented?

Numbers have pretty much existed since the dawn of civilization, since keeping records is basically impossible without them.



You got it! The Sumerians invented numbers 6.000 years ago.
Later, Arabic numerals were invented in India, which brought us the number 0 and countless equations!
Ahh… the beauty and wonder of it all. Math is MAGNIFICENT!

After that Mitsuru came back by and explained what she wanted me to help with.



To make a long story short, I want you to join Student Council.
Why so sudden?
Well, it’s not like you’d have to participate in every activity.
Just come to the Student Council Room when you have the time.
Why me?
…Because of your leadership ability.
Being President is very time-consuming. I’d like to have additional help available in the event of an emergency.
You understand my situation… I’m asking you since you know what it’s like to be a leader.
Roger!
I knew I could count on you.
…I’ve already made an appointment for you with the faculty advisor.
But, you’ll have to go to the Faculty Office on your own.
> In order to join Student Council, you must speak to Ms. Toriumi.
> Just tell her that you are interested.
I’m sorry I made the arrangements without your permission, but I hope you understand the position I’m in.
Please go to the Faculty Office, Tolstoy. I’ll be waiting for you in the Student Council Room.

I headed down to the Faculty Office as Mitsuru had asked.



About Student Council…
Oh, yes, I heard from Mitsuru.
All you need to do is read this and sign here.
Aelita Tolstoy… …Alright, then.
Leave the rest to me. Good luck in Student Council.
> You now have access to the Student Council Room.

I decided to head up to meet everyone.



> You have permission to join Student Council. Would you like to enter the room and introduce yourself?

They seem pretty nice, I’m sort of surprised. I’ve met some really nasty people who were into student government in some of the other places I’ve lived.



Everyone, this is Aelita Tolstoy. She’ll be joining us in Student Council.
Aelita-kun, huh…
I’m Hidetoshi Odagiri. I supervise the Disciplinary Committee.
I’m Chihiro Fushimi, the Treasurer.
I’m a sophomore, and um… I’m still learning the ropes, so… please be patient with me, Aelita-san.

This might actually be fun.



……
> Hidetoshi is sizing you up.
…You must be talented if the President hand-picked you.
Nice to meet you.
> It seems Hidetoshi wants to learn more about you.
> You’re getting to know the members of Student Council.
> You hope that you can get along with everyone here…

As long as it doesn’t get crazy, that is. Even for supernatural powers putting up with a bunch of petty politics is a drag.



> The school day is about to end.
…Today, we’ll just do introductions.
It’ll be your job to help us, Tolstoy.
From now on, you have my permission to enter the Student Council Room whenever you need to.
That includes after school, too.
The Student Council meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We don’t meet on days before tests.
Thank you, Tolstoy, for joining us today.
> You decided to go back to the dorm.

Junpei had heard about me joining Student Council.



Yo! I heard Mitsuru-senpai asked you to join Student Council!
Mitsuru-senpai, are you sure you wanna let a girl who just transferred in?
I need some assistance, that’s all. I won’t let the responsibilities stack up too high.
Why, are you interested in helping too, Iori?
Oh, uhhhh… I’ll pass. But, thanks for the offer.

Yeah, Mitsuru threatening to volunteer him definitely shut Junpei up.



Well, as exciting as THAT sounds… I think I’ll pass.

I’m glad to help her out, though.



Sorry if it felt like you were forced to join…
But any help you could give her would be appreciated…

She’s even more busy than I am.



In fact, I don’t even have time to rest.
I would be grateful if you could help out sometime.
Just stop by the Student Council Room when you have the chance.

I think Yukari’s got some kind of problem with Mitsuru beyond what she’s told me, but I can’t be sure.



Every minute is either spent studying, attending club, or fighting Shadows.
Speaking of which, you know about Mitsuru-senpai’s—
Oh, never mind. Forget I said anything.

Yukari’s still sick, so we’re taking it easy for tonight. Better to be safe than sorry.