Minus One

—

4.0

—

I knocked on the door twice and then waited for a response.

“Come in,” the person on the other side said. As instructed, I opened the door to Nomura-sensei's office, and there she was, standing by her desk with a cup in her hands.

“Thanks for coming, Marcus,” she said, gesturing for me to sit down. “I want to congratulate you on your victory.”

“Thank you, sensei,” I replied.

“The reason I called you here was to discuss what happens next,” she continued, sipping her cup.

“Do you want some?” She raised the cup in her hand.

“It's coffee,” she added with a smile.

“Yes, please,” I said eagerly. Coffee was my weakness.

I watched as she retrieved another cup from a drawer and placed it under a coffee machine. The machine hissed and poured out a fresh espresso, filling the room with aroma. She handed me the cup, and I took a grateful sip.

“Thank you,” I said, savouring the deep flavour. Espresso was always a treat.

Nomura-sensei took another sip from her own cup, set it down, and crossed her arms, her demeanour remaining serious.

“The student council election takes place about seven weeks from now.”

Seven weeks seemed longer than I anticipated. It would fall around the second week of March.

“During that time, you'll need to build your team and start campaigning.”

“Build my team? I see,” I said, assessing the work at hand.

“You'll need to fill the positions of vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Choose your team wisely,” Nomura-senseiadvised.

I could relate to what she said. Winning this election required more than just my efforts; I needed a strong and dedicated team behind me. But finding the right candidates would be more complex.

“I am sure you are already aware,” Nomura-sensei said as she leaned forward, her expression thoughtful.

“For your vice president, you'll want someone who complements your leadership style—someone reliable, organised, and capable of stepping in when needed. Your secretary should be detail-oriented and adept at communication, while the treasurer must have strong financial acumen and accountability.”

I nodded, absorbing her insights.

“Now listen closely, because there are specific requirements for choosing team members.”

Requirements? This was interesting.

—

4.1

—

Upon exiting Nomura-sensei's office, I was surprised to encounter Hazel waiting for me.

“Hey,” she said softly. “Can we talk for a bit?” Her words carried a feeling of urgency that made me agree without question.

“Sure,” I replied as I fell into step beside her. For a while, we strolled silently, the weight of our unspoken words looming between us like a dense fog. The distant buzz of classrooms in session was the only sound disturbing the calm in the hallways.

“I want to congratulate you on winning our bet,” Hazel eventually said, her voice slightly dejected.

“Thanks; it was not easy, though,” I admitted.

“I know that,” She remarked, her steps slowing as we stepped outside into the warmth of the sun. “It seems I have lost my edge. I couldn't even win second place. That was the thing that had the most impact on me.”

There was no denying Hazel's disappointment, and I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her. I'd learned from Nomura-sensei about the election results, including the positions and voting percentages. While I empathised, I decided not to divulge this information.

“You need to cheer up,” I whispered in an attempt to console her.

“Who told you I was feeling down?” With an inscrutable face, she countered.

“Come with me; I will treat you to lunch,” I suggested in an attempt to cheer her up.

“Lunch?” She repeated, her surprise audible. “I don't think that would be the best idea at the moment, plus I just want to rest my head right now.”

“Then I'll walk you back to your dorm,” I countered.

“Thank you,” she murmured, keeping her eyes on the ground as we started the walk back to the dorms. There was a palpable tension between us, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was troubling her deeply.

“Another competition,” she said abruptly, catching me off guard.

“What?” I responded, taken aback by her abrupt statement.

“Me and you, we compete in something else,” she clarified, a hint of resolve in her voice.

“Why?” I asked, as her comment intrigued my curiosity. However, her comments hung in the air like an unanswered question as she seemed to withdraw before answering.

“Sorry about that; don't mind me,” she murmured, regretting her actions.

Hazel's sudden vulnerability took me by surprise, and I couldn't help but wonder what was going on beneath her composed facade. Had her defeat in the election truly affected her that deeply?

We continued our journey in silence until we reached the entrance to her dorm tower, Green. Hazel turned to face me, avoiding my gaze while she spoke.

“Thank you for accompanying me back here,” she said, her voice almost audible above a whisper.

“It's no problem,” I reassured her. Before leaving, I felt compelled to say something. “Anytime you want to compete, just call me.”

“Call you? Well, then we better exchange numbers,” Hazel answered, smirking a little. We swapped phone numbers.

“See you later, rival,” she teased before entering her dorm building.

“Rival, huh?” I thought to myself, slipping on my earbuds and heading back to my room.

—

4.2

—

I knew there were a few things I needed to do when I woke up, so the first thing on my agenda was texting Diya. As our Marketing class ended, I made my way over to the green area where Diya was already waiting, her presence a welcome sight amidst the bustling campus.

“You got here early,” I said to her as I walked up.

“Took a shortcut,” she replied with a grin, gesturing for me to come sit down at the table with her.

“First of all, congratulations on your nomination,” Diya sincerely remarked.

“Thanks. I've been hearing a lot of that lately,” I acknowledged.

“Well, get used to it, because becoming president won't make things any easier than they already are,” she cautioned, with a note of lighthearted cynicism.

“Anyways, I need your help and advice on a couple of things,” I said, getting straight to the point.

“Again?” Diya scoffed.

—

4.3

—

Each step up the winding path brought us closer to the overlook. Eight minutes of steady ascent had passed, and as we neared the summit, I noticed a contemplative look on Diya's face.

“What's on your mind?” Curious about her sudden quiet reflection, I questioned and she turned to me.

“Why do you want to take part in this election? Is it just because of Hazel?”

“Hazel? Why do you think I did this because of her?” I answered, sincerely curious about her assumption.

“Because of this weird competition between you two, you probably joined the election after finding out she was competing, right?” Diya clarified.

“Well, that was one of the reasons, I suppose. I've always been competitive, and when the opportunity arose to challenge someone like Hazel, I couldn't resist,” I shrugged.

Diya took a moment to process my answer.

“That's pretty cool,” she finally said as we arrived at the overlook. Haku-senpai was waiting for us there, resting against the railing with his phone in hand.

“I assume this is our first official meeting, Marcus,” Haku-senpai said, extending his hand for a firm handshake.

“In a way,” I retorted, reciprocating the handshake.

After that brief exchange, we positioned ourselves near the railing. I leaned back while Diya stood with her arms crossed, attentive to our conversation.

“I don't want to waste any of your time, so I'll begin by asking what your opinion of the school is during your time here,” I asked, eager to learn from Haku-senpai's viewpoint.

“Interesting question,” Haku-senpai mused as he considered his answer. “I've been in this school since grade school, which means I've seen it change over the years—policies, highs, lows. The truth is, there are very few persistent issues for students under the current administration.”

“Is that so?” I probed further.

“My focus was bridging the communication gap between students and the school. I succeeded in that, so apart from minor issues, there wasn't much else to fix,” Haku-senpai said in a tone that was both pragmatic and proud.

“What do you mean by that?” Diya spoke up, her doubts clearly visible.

“Was that why last Halloween's party was an absolute snooze fest? So many things went wrong that day,” Diya questioned, remembering with clarity the disappointment of the event.

Haku-senpai acknowledged her criticism with a scratch of his head.

“That was my fault, honestly. I agreed to the party plan a bit late, causing everyone to scramble at the last minute.”

“I was looking forward to it. I even had a costume ready, but the party fizzled out before it even began,” Diya bemoaned, covering her face with her hands in mock despair.

“How long did you have to plan it?” I inquired, curious about the timeline.

“Only four days,” Diya cried out in shock, clearly frustrated.

“Back to business,” Haku-senpai interrupted, redirecting the conversation and quelling Diya's mini-outburst. He turned his attention to me, his demeanour now more serious.

“Why did you ask that question?”

“If I want to win the election, I need to propose something different. From what you said, there are few problems to solve within the school, so I want to steer clear of academic reforms,” I explained, my mind already churning with possibilities.

“So you're aiming to shake things up with extracurricular activities?” Curiosity piqued, and Diya spoke out.

“That would be predictable. I suspect others might have the same idea, so I need a pitch that stands out,” I said, recognising her insight.

“So you need my help to brainstorm?” Diya asked.

“Not exactly. There's a reason I wanted to meet the student council president,” I answered, a cunning smirk appearing on Haku-senpai's face, seemingly understanding my intentions.

“You're a sneaky one, Marcus Luna,” Haku-senpai said, leaning against the railing and sounding slightly amused.

“I want access to information about the school and all the changes it's undergone since its inception,” I stated.

“You'll need the change management documents, then,” Haku-senpai pondered.

“It might take some time, but I can arrange it for you,” he added, his countenance contemplative as he pondered through the details.

“That's great. Can we go now?” Diya chimed in, pulling lightly at my shirt, her agitation obvious. I glanced at her, noting her fatigued demeanour, and I knew I had already taken up too much of her day.

“Before you leave, I'd like to remind you that this favour doesn't come without a price,” Haku-senpai interjected, a shrewd glint in his eyes.

“I'm not surprised,” I shot back, ready for the eventual trade-off.

“As for what I'd like in return, I'll get back to you on that. Diya can give you my number,” Haku-senpai said, before gracefully excusing himself and departing, leaving us standing by the railing.

“I'm tired,” Diya remarked, stretching her arms above her head in a display of weariness.

“Sorry for basically dragging you into all of this,” I apologised, feeling a tinge of remorse for monopolising her time.

“It's nothing. But I can't help but wonder if your decision to trust me with all this information is either incredibly foolish or incredibly bold,” Diya pondered, her expression a mix of amusement and curiosity.

“That remains to be seen,” I grinned and led the way as we started to descend from the overlook.

“Well, I may be Hazel's friend, but that doesn't mean I'll betray the trust you've placed in me,” Diya said, with a note of resolve in her voice. Fortunately, she was unable to see the fleeting but sincere smile she brought to my face.

—

4.4

—

“You want Hazel to be your vice president?” she questioned, sounding a little surprised.

“Yes, or did you want that position?” I teased, but Diya just laughed them off.

“Of course not; I have way too much on my plate already, so I don't think I can become a council member. Besides, Hazel might be very suspicious about that,” she clarified, her laughter fading into a contemplative look. Her remark didn't surprise me because I knew she had a lot going on.

“I know, but I am serious about wanting Hazel to be my vice president,” I replied.

While I fiddled with a piece of paper on the table, thinking about what to do next, Diya took a sip from her drink.

“I'm not doubting your reasoning for choosing her. On the contrary, I'm happy that you do want her to be in that position, but you called me here first to discuss it with me. Why?” she questioned. It turns out she was more observant than I thought.

“It's really simple. I wanted you to call her over here,” I explained.

“So, Marcus, am I now your school messenger?” She grumbled as she slouched slightly, a slight frown on her face.

“No way. I just want you to be here when I ask her.” Her remark made me laugh.

“Are you serious?” Diya said with a sigh.

“You don't have to say a word. Just watch,” I reassured her, confident that Diya would follow through. Taking out her phone, she called Hazel and arranged for her to join us.

“You owe me big time for all this,” Diya muttered under her breath.

She was right—I definitely owed her.

The wait was brief as Hazel arrived at the green area. Considering the small number of people there, it didn't take her long to find us. I noticed a hint of curiosity mixed with caution in her expression as she greeted Diya.

“Diya?” As she took a seat, Hazel questioned.

Hazel's attention was diverted from Diya as she took a slow sip from her drink and gestured towards me.

“I'm the one who wants to see you,” I interjected, cutting through the confusion.

“Why the backhanded approach, though? I gave you my number so you could have called me yourself.” Hazel's brows furrowed slightly as she queried.

“That's not really important. What is important is your answer to my proposal,” I answered directly.

“Proposal? Diya, what's going on?” Seeking clarification, Hazel glanced at Diya, but Diya remained nonchalant, focusing on her drink.

“Hazel, I want you to be my vice president,” I said while maintaining a firm gaze on her.

Her reaction was palpable; her eyes widened, and she seemed momentarily stunned.

“I… I… But why?” she stammered.

“You are the best fit, Hazel. Your intelligence and critical thinking are unmatched. Plus, you have a good reputation in the school, which would be beneficial in building trust with students from other classes,” I explained.

Whirling in her mind, Hazel fell silent. Diya's watchful gaze didn't escape my notice; she seemed as eager as I was for Hazel's response.

“Fine. I'll do it,” Hazel finally replied, her voice quiet as she avoided looking directly into my eyes.

“That's great. Thank you, Hazel,” I responded, offering a warm smile. Diya caught our attention with her spontaneous applause; her excitement was evident.

“Now you just need two more members,” Diya said. Hazel glanced over at me, seemingly wanting to ask something.

“Hazel, are you familiar with how the election team is structured?” I asked.

“Not really. Someone was supposed to explain it, but they left it as a surprise,” Hazel replied, sending Diya a scathing look that Diya skillfully evaded.

“Let me explain,” I said, giving Hazel the rundown on the composition of the team. “The winners of the in-class voting across every Year 11 class need to assemble a team of four: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Vice President must be from the same class as the President, while the Secretary and Treasurer come from the other Year 11 classes. This means we'll need to recruit members from other classes.”

As I finished speaking, Hazel's face showed signs of understanding.

“Got it. So, we need to start scouting other classes for potential team members,” she concluded.

“Exactly,” I replied.

“Alright then, lunch is almost over. We should head to the other classes now to start scouting,” Hazel suggested, rising from her seat.

“You're coming with us,” she said to Diya, who grudgingly got to her feet, her sulky expression not entirely masking her underlying curiosity.

The three of us headed back into the academic building. Our first stop was Class 3. However, as we approached the class, we were denied entry when a large, intimidating figure suddenly appeared in our path. His rough manner exuded a sense of hostility.

“Already scouting, I see,” the boy said in a sarcastic tone.

“Cohen, can you let us through?” Diya said, attempting to defuse the tension with a polite request but she was met with a dismissive laugh.

“No can do, sweety,” he shot back, dismissing her request.

I moved forward, ready to address the confrontation head-on.

“And why is that?” I asked, drawing Cohen's smirking gaze.

“You came here to scout for a member to join your election team, isn't that right, Marcus?” Cohen was clearly aware of my recent win in the in-class voting, which made sense considering a day had passed since that.

“We did; is there any problem with that?” I replied, refusing to back down in the face of his antagonism.

“Actually, yes. You see, you guys are not getting any members for our class. It's already decided,” he stated, with a tone full of finality.

“What's that meant to mean?” Hazel interjected with a hint of aggression.

“You heard what I said. Class 3 is off-limits for you guys,” he declared, his tone uncompromising.

“Cohen, what you're doing makes no sense. If you prevent us from getting members from your class, then we'll be forced to do the same to you. It's a lose-lose situation for everyone.” Diya pointed this out, attempting to reason with Cohen.

“I know you wouldn't, and even if you did, we can risk that,” he countered confidently, his tone unwavering in the face of Diya's logic.

“That's an absolutely crazy plan,” Hazel said, expressing her astonishment at Cohen's irrational stance.

“It's just my way of making things interesting. Marcus, just in case you didn't know, you're going up against me in this election, and I'm going to do anything in my power to crush you,” he declared, his words dripping with malice.

“Oh, you think you stand a chance against me?” I said, almost laughing.

“I'm not joking around here. Now, leave,” he ordered, his tone non-negotiable.

Hazel moved to face Cohen, but I reached out and caught her hand, silently urging her to stand down. Recognising my intent, she reluctantly withdrew, acknowledging that further confrontation would only escalate the situation and we decided to retreat for the time being.

—

4.5

—

As lunchtime drew to a close, the cafeteria gradually emptied, leaving only a handful of students scattered throughout the space. Tucked away in a quiet area, Hazel, Diya, and I gathered around a table, engaging in a hushed conversation.

“So, who was that?” I inquired and Diya wasted no time in providing an answer, her voice laced with irritation.

“That rascal was Cohen; he's such a loud, obnoxious guy who loves stirring up trouble with everyone. He's going to be annoying, honestly,” Diya said, clearly frustrated.

“I've only interacted with him a few times, but I can say that Diya is right; he has an aggressive approach to things.” Hazel interjected, expressing her own viewpoint on Cohen.

“That's a problem. It means that his plan to stop us from getting members from his class is actually possible because of the use of fear.”

“What I do wonder is why Ralph would let this happen?” Hazel muttered, her voice barely audible over the din of the cafeteria.

“Ralph?” I queried.

“He is Class 3’s representative,” Diya chimed in. “The thing is, not everyone would agree with his strategy, would they?”

She had a point, though. Class 3 members may take offence at Cohen's harsh methods, leading to internal discord. If we could identify and ally ourselves with those individuals, it could significantly bolster our recruitment efforts.

“That's true,” I said, thinking about what to do next. “What we need to do right now is find out if Cohen is only targeting us or if Class 2 is also in his crosshairs.”

“That's a good idea. I'll talk to Class 2 and get back to you on their answer.” Hazel got up from her chair and gestured to leave.

“I'll come with you. You look like you could use some company.” Diya followed suit, offering her assistance to Hazel.

I paused to gather my thoughts as they left, leaving me alone at the table. There was plenty to ponder, but first, I needed to nourish myself with a meal. I was about to stand up so that I could order something when someone slammed their hand on the table, drawing my attention. Looking up, I found myself face-to-face with a familiar figure.

“I'm sorry,” she said, putting her palms together in an apologetic position.

“Hashimoto, correct?” I asked, just to make sure I remembered her name correctly.

“Yes, it is but you call me Natsumi; I prefer that, plus we would become close real quick; I just know it.” She nodded, her gaze softening with relief. “I challenged you to a battle and couldn't even make it past the first stage. This is a terrible display of my character.”

Her unexpected apology caught me off guard, and I wasn't sure how to react. Before I could gather my thoughts to respond, I noticed curious gazes from the few people around us starting to drift in our direction, drawn by the sudden commotion.

“It's alright; there's no need for all that,” I comforted her. “You can try again next time.”

Natsumi's eyes lit up with renewed enthusiasm, a bright smile gracing her features.

“I look forward to it,” she said and pivoted to leave.

“Remember the name, Hashimoto Natsumi,” she said before disappearing out of sight.

Just like before, Hashimoto Natsumi was a strange one.

—

4.6

—

With lectures ending and the day coming to a close, I packed up my things and left the academic building, eager to get back to the comforts of my dorm room. I was so engrossed in the glow of my phone screen that I barely noticed the approach of a fellow student until his voice broke through my reverie.

“Hello, Marcus! I'm glad to have met you out here,” he said, his voice tinged with eagerness.

Upon raising my gaze, I spotted a shorter figure, labouring due to the weight of several books cradled in his arms. Immediately, I extended my hand.

“Hi there. Do you need some assistance with those?” I made a gesture towards the books he was carrying.

“Thank you; I actually do,” He said with gratitude, clearly delighted as I lightened his load and helped him with a few of the books.

“Where are you headed?” I inquired as we fell into step together.

“The library, please,” he responded, and I gave him my knowing nod.

“Thanks once again for this,” he said, to which I simply shrugged in response.

“It's no problem,” I reassured him.

“Oh, by the way, my name is Ryo from Class 2.” He then introduced himself. “And I came to ask you for something,” he added, his tone shifting slightly.

His mention of Class 2 piqued my interest.

“And what is it you came to ask for?” Curious as to why he had come so suddenly, I prodded.

For an instant, Ryo paused, his expression changing slightly as though he were grappling with his thoughts. Finally, he gathered his courage and spoke up.

“I want to join your election team as your secretary.”