'We need a bigger room.' thought Shizune.
 
A cacophony of conversation buzzed throughout the tightly-packed student council room. All members were present and accounted for today for the planning of the upcoming Christmas program at Yamaku. Where there were no chairs, students sat on top of desks and talked to each other about the latest happenings and rumors going around the school. In the far left corner in front of a waist-high cabinet, the rantings of Kenji Setou could be heard about the evils of feminism and its effect on modern society. His surrounding compatriots nodded in agreement.
 
"What we need is a medium to get our message out." said Akio.
 
 
 
Towards the middle of the room, Keiko was writing down ideas for a fundraiser. Leaning her chin on her palm, Aio began to daydream.
 
"How about... hmm, a bake sale!" Keiko piped up, snapping Aio out of her reverie.
 
After going through so many unsuccessful ideas which Keiko crossed off the list, the pair agreed that it was an easy and sensible solution and started writing out a plan. As the council treasurers, they were good at managing a budget. The problem was that they usually didn't have much money to work with. Not as much as they would have liked anyway. They were both great at generating ideas for projects and events, a trait Shizune liked a great deal.
 
 
 
A group of four students pushed their desks together and started handing out sheets of paper to make the flyers for the upcoming Christmas program out of.
 
As Misha tried to follow all the action, Shizune kneaded her knuckles into her forehead. The pink-haired girl noticed her friend's distress and stood up to clap her hands together.
 
"Ok everyone, we need a progress report~." she announced.
 
The conversation came to a halt and everyone turned their attention to the front desk.
 
"The posters are coming along nicely." said Lilly.
 
She then took her seat.
 
"We're organizing a bake sale to get extra funds." Keiko explained.
 
"O-Oh, can I h-help?" Hanako asked.
 
"Sure. We need all the hands we can get." Keiko replied and brought her over to their group after Lilly gave Hanako a reassuring nod.
 
Shizune signed something to Misha before she turned back to the crowd.
 
"What about a notice in the newspaper? People need to be aware of the Christmas program beforehand." Misha translated.
 
"We can clear room on the second page for an article in next week's edition." Naomi told her.
 
"Next week? Are you sure we can do that? I thought we had it formatted already." asked Natsume.
 
"Trust me." Naomi answered her in a hushed voice.
 
Pressing her fingers together, Shizune looked pleased with the results so far.
 
"How about the music?" Misha asked after following the swift motions of Shizune's hands.
 
Molly Kapur rose and spoke softly, "We're missing a few instruments. Since last spring's concert in town, we've got a lot of new members in the music club this year. More than Yamaku has ever had actually."
 
"Then cut those students who don't have instruments from the program." Misha translated.
 
She turned back to Shizune with a frown.
 
"Are you sure? This might be their only chance to get to do something like this."
 
[What do you want me to do? We don't have enough money to buy enough instruments according to the budget report from Aio and Keiko. They're just going to have to either miss out this year or share instruments somehow.]
 
A smile lit up Misha's face as she held up a finger.
 
"Actually, you might be able to keep all your members. Just share instruments by switching off every other song." she told Molly.
 
Proud of the quickly reached compromise, Misha flashed a wide grin which Shizune mirrored.
 
Eying the crowd, Shizune looked to see who was left. There were still a few details to work out. Some students from 3-1 were in charge of decorations, and she wasn't sure what the group of boys surrounding Kenji were tasked to do.
 
[What were they supposed to do again?] signed Shizune, motioning towards them.
 
"Uh, what did we sign you guys up for?" Misha asked, turning through a series of pages stapled together and pinned to a clipboard.
 
"Uh.." Taro began.
 
"FLYERS! We're handing out flyers. For the Christmas program." Kenji spoke up.
 
"Oh, ok. I don't see you on here, so I'll just write you in." Misha said in reply.
 
"Thanks for covering for me." Taro whispered.
 
"No prob. That's what bros are for. Besides, with this we're getting a free opportunity to hand out anti-feminist propaganda." Kenji answered coolly.
 
[Ok, you're all aware that we need to-] Shizune started signing to Misha before there was a bang on the door and a rumbling of voices outside.
 
Misha walked over to the door and let them in.
 
"Oh great and powerful Shizune! We are humbled by your presence."
"Miss Hakamichi! You're so cool!"
"We brought gifts for you!"
 
A male student dumped a pile of boxes onto Shizune's desk and then fell to the ground, bowing.
 
"For our daily sacrifice, Hakamichi-sama." squeaked a short girl in purple triple braids.
 
She set a bag of Chinese takeout onto the desk and bowed.
 
The rest of the students got down on their knees and continued worshipping her.
 
"You are the best student council president ever!"
 
"W-will you go out with me?" asked a male student who was wheelchair bound.
 
He took her foot and kissed it. Misha clapped and all the students joined in applause. Everyone in the room began showering Shizune with praise. A cat-like grin was plastered on Shizune's face as one of the girls placed a jewel-laden golden crown on her head.
 
"Hey, this deserves a party!" Miki shouted over the roar of voices.
 
"Yeah!" the room cried in unison.
 
In walked Ms. Miyagi from 3-2, wheeling in a giant cake with Shizune's face on it.
 
"It wouldn't be a party without me." came the voice of Akira.
 
She passed out beers to everyone. This truly was the greatest day of Shizune's life. Not only did Akira make a surprise visit, but Hideaki and Jigoro came as well.
 
Jigoro embraced his daughter in front of everyone in the room and signed to her.
 
[I'm so proud of you. You are truly worthy of the Hakamichi name. Anyone who says otherwise is a faggot.]
 
[I'm so glad I have you for a sister.] Hideaki signed.
 
Lilly approached the desk and hugged her cousin.
 
Then, Hisao came to the room. He was shirtless and buffer than usual. Emi's training clearly paid off. He strode forward, his wide shoulders nearly clipping the doorway.
 
[I love you, Shizune.] he signed.
 
He got down onto one knee and brought out a small box.
 
[Will you marry me?] he asked.
 
Shizune took the ring and nodded yes, placing it on her finger and marveling at its sparkling beauty.
 
Jigoro let out a haughty laugh. "Welcome to the family, my boy! Why aren't you wearing your sweatervest though? A man of such excellent taste in fashion should keep it on all the time."
 
Amongst all the celebrating, no one noticed Misha slip out of the room. The hallways were completely empty. It felt as if the entire school cancelled their classes and had convened in the student council room. She fell against the vending machine and slid to her knees, crying.
 
"Excuse me, are you alright?" someone asked.
 
"Wahaha! I'm fine..." Misha replied with a smile, choking on her poorly-hidden tears. "No. No, I'm not." she said, shaking her head.
 
She turned around to see Suzu Suzuki facing her.
 
"What's the matter?" she asked in a genuinely concerned voice.
 
"It-it's Shicchan. She has everyone in the world in love with her, but I... I..." Misha found herself unable to continue.
 
She wanted to say that she loved her the most. That she was most deserving of her affection after all she had done for her. Without her, she would have never been able to talk with the outside world. At least that would have been true a few months ago. Thanks to her own idea, the school forced mandatory sign language classes onto the students. She thought it was a good idea at the time. She felt it was unfair that the deaf students couldn't communicate with the hearing ones. She just wanted to break down that wall of isolation so that the deaf students didn't just keep to themselves. Misha was still necessary to translate now since sign was still pretty new to everyone, but by next year, or even the end of this year, she would become obsolete.
 
"Well she does work hard. Of course she's popular. You've gotta admire her spirit." Suzu replied.
 
Misha wiped her tears. That was what made her so striking to her. It was like Shizune was a living embodiment of fire. One that refused to go out and lit a path for everyone towards realizing their own potential.
 
"She's the type that doesn't need a man to be in charge of her. I like that." Suzu continued, a slender finger stroking her chin.
 
'That's right. She doesn't need a man. She should be with me.' Misha thought.
 
"Where is she now?" Suzu asked.
 
Misha leaned her back against the warm glass of the vending machine and exhaled.
 
"Down the hall in the room all the way to the left from here." she told her, pointing down the hall.
 
"Good. I have to talk to her. I've got an idea for a club." she said.
 
With that, Suzu waved and was off to join the others, leaving Misha alone again.
 
She turned around towards the vending machine again. Misha's forehead bumped the glass and she closed her eyes.
 
'Why doesn't anyone care? Am I invisible?' she thought.
 
After opening her eyes again, she looked at the choices the vending machine had to offer. She tapped her fingernails against the glass. Unable to decide on just one item, she bought a candy bar with caramel, a fruit dessert, and a drink. She could always have the rest later. Misha carried her bounty to the roof and sat down. The wind was especially breezy today. The sky, a lifeless gray, was buried underneath thick clouds. The crestfallen girl found a place to sit on the gravel and set out her snacks. She held her skirt down as the cold air whipped her drills back. She opened the candy bar and took a bite from it. The sweet taste whisked her away from her troubles, if for but a moment.
 
"I just don't belong here." she said aloud after a gulp.
 
"Why not?" asked a voice behind her.
 
Misha nearly jumped from the surprise. She turned around to find Rin, the armless girl from the art club.
 
"H-hi." she responded, unsure which emotion her voice should take on.
 
The auburn haired artist walked over and sat down next to her.
 
"You said you don't belong here, but where are you supposed to be? Are you cutting class?" Rin asked.
 
"No, not like that~. I just don't feel like I belong in this school." she told her before taking another bite.
 
"I like it here. Here is where I get to think. You should stay here if you don't know where you're supposed to be so you can figure out where you're supposed to be." Rin said.
 
Misha popped open the can of aloe juice and drank the pleasantly sweet liquid.
 
"I just feel like I've wasted my time. The people I thought needed me really can go on with their lives just fine without me. Maybe I'll find somewhere that needs a sign language translator after school, but that's not for the next couple years." Misha explained.
 
"So you feel like you need people to need you to belong?" asked Rin.
 
"Yeah. Doesn't everybody?" Misha replied.
 
"I wonder about that. See, people think I paint for others' enjoyment, but not really." said Rin.
 
"Why do you do it then? For fun?" Misha asked in a puzzled voice.
 
"I do it for my own sake. Painting for me is like words coming out for you. You use your mouth, I use brightly colored chemicals." the artist explained.
 
"You must paint a lot then. You seem like you have a lot to say." Misha concluded.
 
"I think everyone has a lot to say. They just don't say it." Rin said in a tired voice. "I'm going to sleep for a while, so if you've got anything else to ask, you'd better ask now."
 
Misha's mind drew a blank.
 
"Ok then." Rin told her and closed her eyes.
 
She leaned her head back and turned her body to the side.
 
Misha finished her drink and pored over her thoughts.
 
'I think I get what you were trying to say. I need to keep doing what I'm doing anyway. I'm here so I can help people after school is over.' Misha thought.
 
She got up and dusted herself off.
 
'Shicchan would be disappointed if I went through all of this schooling and didn't do anything with it. This is stupid. The world's bigger than her. It's bigger than school.'
 
Misha found herself back in the hallway in a matter of minutes. The student council room was markedly silent, but the door was still open. She wasn't sure what she was going to say, but she had enough conviction that she knew she needed to tell Shizune how she felt. Misha peered inside to find only Shizune sitting alone at the desk. Party decorations and empty paper plates with frosting on them still lingered. She hesitated before going in and walking up to the desk. Shizune lifted her head from the pillow of her crossed arms to meet eyes with Misha.
 
 
[Shicchan, I'm not giving up.] Misha signed.
 
That was all she said before leaving to her dorm. It could have been interpreted any number of ways. Pursuing her crush or powering through her studies towards her goal. Misha didn't know which Shizune thought she meant, but she hoped not to give up on either. Struck by curiosity about what she meant, Shizune got up to follow her, but Misha was gone. She stepped into the hallway, but found that her surroundings started bubbling away into a colorless blur.
 
 
Shizune opened her eyes and stared at ceiling of her room. She shifted under the warm covers and turned her head to see that morning had already sprung upon her.
 
'Argh, I was really enjoying that. At least the party part.' she thought.
 
She closed her eyes, trying to continue the dream to find out what happened next.