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It’s a beautiful serene day, the heartwarming blue sky looks down with care, the sun shines brightly and cheerfully and a fresh wind carries students’ lighthearted voices. However, a fierce storm is raging in the chest of the president of the Student Council.
Doutonbori Tooru stands on the roof of one of the school’s buildings and wants to scream. A fist of tightly clenched fingers crashes against metal bars of the fence — the sharp pain instantly shoots up right up her arm. Fresh and stinging scratches on white knuckles bloom with blood. Tears of pure scalding anger swell up in Tooru’s eyes.
’Stop being so emotional! You are just incompetent!’ A pesky little voice that sounds just like her own rings inside her head.
Tooru’s memory drifts far back, to the time before school. The bright picture emerges in front of her eyes: perfect afternoon, children’s voices, and her own one. She is talking so excitedly and enthusiastically: today’s Tooru can almost feel the thrill of her younger self.
She can’t remember what she was talking about anymore and her classmates’ faces are smudged in her memory. However, the words of her kindergarten teacher are clear as this sunny day.
“Tooru-chan, no need to scream this loud,” Words spoken in such a kind manner, however, stir the first feeling of sour embarrassment.
The next memory is from middle school and Tooru’s days in a Debate Club. Her arguments were sharp and hit the nail on the head and she herself was confident, active, and powerful. Tooru was totally rocking it!.. That was it before her teammates intervened:
“Doutonbori-san, next time could you maybe... ah, control yourself? We don’t want to lose any points so...”
She left the Debate Club not long after that.
Tooru stops herself before she falls into the rabbit hole of depressing memories. She needs to stop that but she has no idea how. Venomous anger continues to boil and drift through her veins.
Shame, annoyance, self-hatred swirl inside of Tooru’s heart like a black storm. Tooru wants to kick the fence with all that she’s got!.. Luckily, she restrains herself. Damage of the school property is the last thing that she needs now. She can feel angry quiet many a time, but this school never fails to bring up the tenderest and warmest feelings in her. It’s her second home... and the place where she met Sowande. Speaking of her... Tooru hears a door being open and then Sowande’s velvety voice tells her:
“President, mind me joining you?”
Tooru wants to say no, not wanting Sowande to see her like this. But school taught her not to shut down from the people how care about her. Student Council is her family and Sowande... well, she’s her most trusted person in the world. So she nods, letting her come closer.
“What’s the matter, Doutonbori-san?” Ever so insightful, Sowande looks impossibility straight Tooru in the eye.
The problem is that Doutonbori Tooru is ill-tempered, fiery, and belligerent... and she doubts that it is how the president of the Student Council should behave. Tooru only looks away and clenches her fists: her nails dig into palms painfully. Her breathing becomes erratic.
“I-I am just so sick of people thinking that they can do whatever they want just because there are special or talented! And that damned Motion Picture Club! Th-they are violating the rules!.. Jeopardize our credibility!.. And I can’t do anything with it and every time the just make a fool of me!”
Sowande listens silently and understanding. She leans on the fence, scooting closer. Her sole presence is comforting by itself and it makes Tooru finally look at her. And oh, she is so beautiful that it surprises Tooru very time. Lips stretched in a calm smile, olive eyes shimmer with amusement and confidence, Sowande doesn’t take her eyes off Tooru.
“You are doing your best. And everyone knows it,” Sowande says — of course, she does — because she is wise and sensible one.
“Yes! I know! But that’s the problem. I do everything that I can and it’s still not enough!..”
Tooru worked so hard for the position of president, but maybe she just isn’t made for it... She remembers that one time when that Asakusa girl mistakingly called Sowande the president. The most dreadful thing that it makes sense. Sowande is powerful, cutthroat, cunning, and really good at seeing through the essence of things. Everything that she does she does in the school’s interests. She’s calm and rational — something that aggressive and tenuous Tooru will never be. Moreover, Sowande was born to be a leader. She... is the one that it’s school needs.
“It would be better for everyone if you were the president... I’m no good...”Tooru whispers in a strained voice, eyes tightly shut.
And now Tooru just feels sick and she knows that she shouldn’t think this way about Sowande. God, she loves her, but everything just hurts so bad. The moment Tooru thinks that the world is ready to fall apart, she feels a warm palm cover hand.
“That’s not true”
“Sakaki-san, you really don’t have to pity me...”
”No, I mean genuinely not true,” Sowande squeezes Tooru’s hand gently. “Doutonbori-san, please, look at all these students.”
Tooru does just so. She can’t see anything unusual: everything is calm and the students walk around, totally unbothered.
“All of these people need you, even if they don’t realize it. I don’t know anyone who would care about this school more than you, who are ready to fight for it with all that you’ve got: both literally and figuratively. You respect teachers and want to protect students. You are honest, loyal, and a great team player. And well, what you call “anger” I call “passion”. What about those moments when you need cool-headedness you always have me.”
With that Sowande brings Tooru’s hand to her plump lips and kisses her, looking right into the eyes. Tooru’s mind goes blank, while heart aches from many feelings. A simple “thank you” will never be enough. And although Tooru doesn’t fully believe these words yet, well, she will have to. After all, Sowande is the sensible one in their couple.
“The Student Council meeting will start soon,” gently reminds Sowande with a smile, “Shall we, the President?”
Finally feeling like she can breathe again, Tooru smiles at Sowande at takes her hand.
“Of course, the Secretary.”