This is a fanfiction by Doughnut Gunso.
The sun rose again, but Hinagiku did not feel like having a new day.
At least it was what she first thought as she went to school. Reporters were once again gathered in front of the school entrance. Miki once again escorted her into the school. The only two differences were that new questions had been asked (“How did you get hurt, Katsura-san?” “Is that because what you have done as Silver Red?”), and that Miki did not kiss her on the cheek this time. Oddly, Hinagiku felt that the lack of such a kiss was a loss.
More new things happened as she went into the Student Council Room. The owner of Deathney’s appeared in the morning news, complaining that his restaurant was heavily damaged and he would like Silver Red to “pay for it”. Hinagiku had no idea whether the owner wanted her to pay in money or karma.
Next up on the news was that the police had issued a warranty against Silver Red. A police spokesman explained that they wished to bring Silver Red in for property damages to Deathney’s, as well as assaults on police officers and vehicles. Hinagiku did not recall landing a single fist on an officer, but then she also realized that the police would be happy to accuse her instead of the serpent – there is simply no way to prosecute a reptile, after all.
She had no idea how the police would track down Silver Red, but she did expect them to come for her soon enough – the media found her, so would the police. She was not particularly worried: they needed solid evidence to prove that she indeed was Silver Red. Before they could show any evidence, she was determined to deny that claim.
Suddenly, Hiangiku heard a knock on the door. She quickly turned off the television and called: “Come in please!”
The door opened and in came Harukaze Chiharu, the secretary of the Student Council. Some would argue that Chiharu was Hinagiku’s secretary, but both girls never thought it this way – they thought they were friends.
“Morning, Hina,” said Chiharu as she handed a piece of paper to Hinagiku. “We have a Student Council meeting after school today. Here’s your copy of the agenda.”
“Thanks, Chiharu,” said Hinagiku as she took the paper and had a quick look over it. As agreed a week ago, they would discuss on several school policies, the coming Student Council election and… Suddenly, Hinagiku frowned.
“What is it, Hina?” asked Chiharu, surprised at the President’s expression of disapproval. In fact, never ever had Hinagiku frowned at an agenda Chiharu prepared.
“Nothing,” replied Hinagiku, but she knew that it wasn’t exactly “nothing”. “How many times have any issues been raised in AOB?” she finally asked.
“Any Other Business?” repeated Chiharu. “No, never. Usually people are too tired to raise any other business… including Aika-san, I must say.”
“I see…”
“Is there anything that worries you?” asked Chiharu, leaning closer to her President.
Hinagiku thought hard as she was torn between her professional manner of Presidency and her girly desire of confiding her feelings into her friend. Finally she came to her decision.
“No,” she said. “Nothing.”
*
The Student Council meeting was called at 17:00 in the meeting room. Attendants include Katsura Hinagiku (Student Council President), Kazumi Aika (Vice Student Council President), Harukaze Chiharu (Secretary), a girl called Takahashi Masumi (Treasurer), a boy called Yukimura Takumi (Auditor), Segawa Izumi, Hanabishi Miki and Asakaze Risa.
As always, the meeting was a one-sided speech by Hinagiku alone, while other members merely listened to her, seconded her motions and approved them by voting. Hinagiku never liked this: she had wished for more debates and discussions during meetings, but that never happened. Hinagiku knew that things must be changed: perhaps she had to shake up her cabinet a bit for the next election.
The next Student Council election was scheduled on 30 September. Aika reported that there were no other candidates to the election, which meant that Hinagiku and her current cabinet were the only ones who were in. The election would therefore be turned into a Vote of Trust, on which students would decide on whether to “trust” Hinagiku and her cabinet. Then again, everybody knew that if they voted against Hinagiku, they would have no Student Council at all, which meant chaos.
At 18:47 the main items for discussion had been settled. All the Student Council members, excluding Hinagiku, Aika and Chiharu, looked tired. Masumi looked at her watch – a signal Hinagiku took as “it is time to let everyone go home”.
“Okay, let’s move to the next item on the agenda… Any Other Business,” said Hinagiku. “Does anybody have any business to raise?”
Usually nobody would raise their hands – just as Chiharu had said – but to everyone’s surprise, Aika raised her hand.
“Yes, Vice President?” said Hinagiku, trying hard to hide her surprise.
Aika cleared her throat. “I think everyone here has watched or read the news over these few days. There has been a masked man, called ‘Silver Red’, raiding the district. There is also the rumour that Silver Red is in fact our Student Council President, and… well, we all know that many reporters have been waiting for a formal reply from the President.”
There was a moment of silence as nobody spoke.
“If you are demanding a reply from me, Vice President, I decline,” said Hinagiku finally.
Aika shook her head. “No, President. It is not me who demands a reply, but the general public.”
“What do you mean?” asked Hinagiku.
Aika put a piece paper on the table. “There is a petition started by the Chamber of Commerce. Please read through it.”
Hinagiku took the paper, which read:
“We, the undersigned, criticize the actions of Silver Red over the last two days, which caused heavy damages to properties and injuries to our fellow citizens. We declare that these are not acceptable practices in our society, and the fact that Silver Red branded his crime as ‘justice’ makes him highly hypocritical.
We strongly support the police in bringing Silver Red to justice and would aid the authorities in any way necessary.”
There were about 70 signatures or seals on it.
“I suggest,” said Aika with a smile on her face, “that we sign this petition as ‘Student Council of Hakuou Academy’, and issue a public statement that our Student Council President is not in any way related to Silver Red. This would bring an end to the rumours surrounding our President, and shed good light onto the Council. After all, we can show to the public that we side with justice.”
Hinagiku looked at the petition again. She reflected on the actions she took over the past two days. She then looked at the words “crime” and “hypocritical”. She then thought about what Aika said about “siding with justice”. She then…
“No,” said Hinagiku finally. “I do not want to sign this petition.”
The smile on Aika’s face vanished. “Why, President?”
“I do not think that this is the right thing to do, that’s why,” said Hinagiku dismissively. “This topic should be closed.”
The corner of Aika’s mouth twisted. “Very well,” she said.
Nobody else said anything on this.
*
In the next morning, Hinagiku returned to school expecting the same flock of reporters. To her surprise, there were no reporters, but quite a lot of students – over 300, Hinagiku estimated – holding banners. “Say no to Silver Red! Sign the petition! Say no to Silver Red! Sign the petition!” they kept on shouting. Hinagiku knew at once from her experience what this meant: it was a demonstration.
“This is so strange,” Hinagiku thought to herself. It happened so quick, so organized, and so sudden – she heard nothing the day before, but this day she faced hundreds of angry students. It seemed that they were manipulated by someone.
There was something Hinagiku wanted to know. She held up her hand – her signal, as Student Council President, for silence. “How do you know about the petition?” demanded Hinagiku, very loudly, as the noise around her died down.
Nobody spoke.
“How do you know about anything on the decision of the Student Council regarding this petition?” asked Hinagiku, trying to narrow down her question. There was no reason to hide the fact that the Council did discuss on the petition, now that the students had raised this subject.
“They heard it from me,” called a voice behind Hinagiku. She turned around, and she was shocked.
“Aika-san!” cried Hinagiku. “What are you doing?”
“I am trying to let you know that many of the students demand the same justice as this petition,” said Aika, smiling. “It is easily the opinion of the majority of the students, President. As the responsible representative of the voices of the students, I once again suggest you to sign the petition.”
The students around Hinagiku cheered very loudly.
“No!” shouted Hinagiku, very determinedly. “Arresting Silver Red is a wrong move. He is fighting for our people, and for justice! Why would you expect me to observe justice by agreeing to arrest someone who observes justice?”
The students booed.
“What do you know about Silver Red, President?” asked Aika. “He is seen by the public as a criminal and a hypocrite! What do you know about Silver Red which suggests that he is actually a hero?”
“H – he did not cause those damages intentionally!” said Hinagiku weakly, who was fully aware that she could not give any evidence to support her claim. “Surely, he might be a bit reckless, but he was helping those who were in need!”
“Do you know Silver Red in person, President?” demanded Aika. “Are you in the position to defend what he has done?”
“No, I do not know him,” answered Hinagiku, desperately trying to think on her feet. “But…”
“If you do not know him and have no defense for him,” said Aika loudly, interrupting Hinagiku, “then please sign the petition! This is the voice of the students at this school!”
“Then they are quite wrong on this!” said Hinagiku stubbornly. She knew that it was stupid, but she also thought that it would be more stupid to support a petition which condemned herself. Suddenly, she had the feeling that she had fallen into a trap, with no hope of escaping no matter how hard she struggled.
The students booed even louder.
“What is wrong here,” said Aika, now grinning, “is that you can no longer effectively represent the students in this school. I suggest new leadership is needed.”
The noise died down. Everybody turned to Aika abegan to realize what was coming.
“I call for a Vote of No Confidence in the leadership of Katsura Hinagiku.”
Hayate Report 