I couldn’t stress enough how moments of peace like these really mean to me in the past several days of my life. Ahh~, it’s so relaxing, it’s like I could forget I ever got involved in all those madness in the past…
*knock knock*
I winced involuntarily. As it seems, evil has a way of reminding you that they always exist. But why did it have to be this time?! Taking deep calming breath for whatever was to come. Why? Because this is obviously not Haruki. That person NEVER knocks. If he did, I’d probably be in hysterics from laughing! No, this is obviously another person. I don’t really know who, but I’m sure there must be some profound reason why anyone sane would visit here.
"Ah, Coming."
Asahina-sempai rushed with little steps in his slippers to answer the door. Ugh, now he’s even acting more and more like a girl. And a maid, at that! I actually had half the mind to hide him in a closet to avoid embarrassing him, but it looks like I’m too late.
"Huh?"
Asahina opened the door and blinked his eyes as if seeing a surprise visitor.
"W-welcome. Would you like to come in?"
Asahina-sempai walked two steps backwards.
“……”
A silence hung thickly around the room, peering curiously; I looked at our ‘visitors’.
“Gah!”
It was that perverted yaoi-fangirl Computer Club President!
I immediately clamped my hands on my mouth to avoid exclaiming too loudly. Why the heck are they here? And hey, stop staring dreamily at Asahina-sempai like that!
"A-ah, n-no thanks, I only need to say something standing here."
Her response sounded a bit anxious. She stuck his head through the open door and looked around the room.
"Oh, your commander isn't here......"
Since no one else said anything, I ended up having to handle the negotiations. Asahina-sempai stood there looking confused; Koizumi only sat there and smiled at the president, while Nagato-kun simply continued reading her book.
"How may we help you?"
Since she was a senior, it was only natural to be polite to her. I walked out and stood in front of Asahina-sempai. Hmm? Behind the Computer Club president, who hadn't even stepped over the door line, stood a bunch of female students that seemed to be her vegetative cronies. I tensed up even more as Asahina-sempai hid behind me. Oh dear, what’s this about? Revenge? I don’t think I can handle them alone!
When the president noticed it was me coming out, she breathed a sigh of relief and smiled lightly, brushing her hair with her hand. She then straightened her back and said,
"Here."
“Huh?”
It was a CD case. Wait; is this one of those videos you all have been slobbering over in secret?! I gave her an apprehensive stare.
The president’s eyebrow twitched, “D-don’t get the wrong idea!” she said vehemently, blushing a bit, “That’s just a new game software that we on the Computer Club developed. We had it put up for distribution during the school festival, Don’t you remember?”
School festival? I’m sorry, but I happened to be busy by then. And even if I wasn’t, I doubt I’d remember a computer game being put up since I don’t play those. My little brother should be the one your talking to if you plan on giving this.
"I see......"
Her expression was sullen, “I guess it makes sense, our location wasn’t exactly ideal…”
Okay. I have no idea what this is about. But I suggest that you leave now before Haruki comes or we’ll all be having big headaches.
“Wha-I understand!” she stood up straight and brought her fist to her sides, “But we do have a reason to be here.” The then lifeless minions behind her tensed up as well. Then the president raised her right hand and pointed at us, making me take an involuntary step back. "Let's have a showdown with this game!"
“Eh?”
Why do we want to have a match with the Computer Club with this game? If you're short on players, then my best advice is to try your luck with other clubs.
"This isn't a game!"
Looks like the president wants to struggle on.
"This is a showdown! With stakes involved!"
“Oh, I’m sure Koizumi Itsuko-san would play with you if you asked her.”
"No! We want to have a showdown with the SOS Brigade!"
I cringed. Please stop saying showdown with such a loud voice. If Haruki hears this-
“K-KYAAAH!”
“What the-!”
A small white thing flashed between us, landing in front of the president’s shoes. She dropped backwards to her minions, becoming a messy tangle of limbs.
“P-president!”
“Are you alright?!”
H-hey, please hurry up and stand up all of you. Those poses are highly undignified and expose the parts under your skirts….
I looked down at what caused her to fall down, a card? How did it stick to the grou- Oh. This is one of those trick cards found in magic stores.
“Haha! Who dares disturbed the peace of our Brigade?!” boomed an extremely arrogant male voice.
I planted my face on my palm before looking at the one who spoke.
Suzumiya Haruki, with an expression that I assume should look cool for him sauntered over to our location, shuffling several cards. Hey, aren’t those disallowed in our school?!
“Hah!” Haruki ran forward and jumped, doing an honestly well-executed somersault before landing with a pose in front of me, facing towards the Computer Club girls.
“Who are you and what’s your business with us?!” he demanded as he stood up and pointed at the girls, looking pleased with his entrance “So, are you perhaps an Evil Syndicate that has sworn to become the SOS Brigade’s enemy? HA! Let me tell you now that it’s useless. Your felonious plans shall be purged by the light of our justice! If you’re just going to bring small fry, then you might as well forget it! Where’s the boss?! Let’s take this battle to the climax right here and now!” he said while gesturing flamboyantly like those costumed superheroes you see on TV.
The president and her members seem to be too busy untangling themselves and pushing down their skirts to have listened properly, so I think I was the only one who heard Haruki’s speech.
"Haruki, Do you have any idea how rude that was?! "
Ever since I entered high school, I've forgotten how many times I had tried to hold Haruki back.
"You should at least hear what she has to say before announcing your challenge for mortal combat. Thanks to you, I don't even know why she came here! All I know is that he wants to have a showdown with us on some computer game......"
“Ssshhoooww-DOWN?!” Haruki drawled laoudly as he turned to face me.
Oh great, wrong word.
He clamped a hand on my shoulder and pumped up his other hand in a power-fist gesture, "Kyon! When someone declares a showdown, then it's decided. This is a declaration of war. Anything else the loser says are excuses! Who cares about what they say even before we beat them!"
Okay, okay! I give up! Just get your hand of my shoulder, your squeezing too hard!
Like a hunter going to check on his prey, Haruki walked towards the trembling and moaning girls of the Computer Club. He seemed to have only noticed who they are now, since he looked rather surprised as he exclaimed, “What the-?! It’s just you girls from next door! What business do you have with us?” he smirked, “Are you going to lend us another computer?”
That's why I told you that they needed a chance to explain herself… you were the one who threw in a sneak attack before launching into a gratuitous monologue!
"That's because," Haruki scratched the back of his head, "I thought it was the Student Council coming to drive us from our club room. It's probably about time they came as well. Really, why do people come to us looking for trouble all the time?"
Even if it were the Student Council, I doubt you would have acted differently.
As I was trying hard to talk Haruki out of it......
"Come to think of it, we still haven't held that other activity......"
Koizumi suddenly appeared outside in the corridor and reminded Haruki about something in deep thought. Must you really be such a busybody?
"Ugh...... SOS Brigade...... you really are shameless......"
Don’t bunch me in with Haruki, please. I happen to know etiquette. And I’m quite sure I know it even more than you.
After moaning even more, the president finally managed to stand up, aided by her members carrying him,
"A-anyway, let's have a showdown. I know we don't get along well, so I've prepared a written statement. Once you read it, you'll know what the showdown is about."
One of the members, a bespectacled girl, took out a stack of photocopied paper and CD boxes, and walked towards us in fear, as though trying to feed the wild lions with raw meat.
"Thanks."
Koizumi smiled sweetly and received the papers and CDs.
"We've received the game software, but is there an instruction manual?"
A second member carried another stack of papers and handed it to Koizumi, then said quietly, "President, we've completed our task. Let us return to our club room."
"Yeah, let's go back."
She nodded weakly, looking slightly relieved.
"Then, please excuse us......"
After explaining just part of the events, the president prepared to make her escape.
“Just wait a damned second.” Haruki quickly walked around and blacked their path.
“W-what are you doing?!”
"Explain everything properly before you leave! Don't think you can shut me up with a stupid written statement! Now say it in a language that even this idiot Mitsuru here can understand!"
“E-EH?!” exclaimed Asahina-sempai, who was just being silent.
Wha-?! If anybody’s an idiot here, it’s you!!?
As a result, the poor Computer Club president got dragged back into the Literature Club room. Before the other Computer Club members could rescue their president, the door was slammed shut.