Seven Minutes in Heaven
00:03
by Ina-chan
First Posted Online:  August 18, 2004
History: My first fanfic greatly  involving the Student Council

            When I was eight years old, my grandfather told me...

            /“Naohito, men are born to climb and overcome mountains. But it takes an exceptional amount of greatness to lead other men through those obstacles. And the first step in reaching the top of the mountain is finding the right mountain to climb.”/

             And that I did.

             Those words will forever be engraved in my heart to my dying day. After all, my grandfather was probably the wisest person who ever lived. He was a self-made man. Even though he didn’t finish school beyond the sixth grade, he was able to do great things for himself, his family, and the community. He’s a family legend and my idol - a far cry from my own father who was something of a disappointment... That’s why, even at a young age, I always aspired to become just like my grandfather.

             /“Hard work, perseverance, discipline, and dedication to order, Naohito... these are the keys to success.”/

             I’m going to find my mountain, climb it and overcome it!

             So when I found out about him, I knew that I found a formidable rival. Who, you ask?

             Him....

             Yuki Souma.

             I first heard of this Yuki Souma way back during my high school entrance examinations cram school days. I already had my goal set to go to Jougakou High. What? You haven’t heard of Jogakou? Shame on you! You obviously don’t have your priorities straight. Jogakou is practically a ticket to get into Todai!

             Jougakou also has one of the hardest schools entrance examinations. Yes, aside from the National High School Entrance exams, you also have to take their own entrance examinations. The national exam is a pop quiz compared to Jogakou’s entrance exam. So naturally, I researched on everything I could find out about it.

             That was when that I found out that only one year before, the student who topped the exam not only placed number one, he also broke the top score record the school had for the last ten years. He only made two mistakes. Rumour has it, the mistakes were so stupid that it almost seemed as if the person who took it, made them on purpose. At least that’s what my old senpai, who went to Jugakou, told me.

        To make the story even more intriguing, this particular student did not even go to Jougakou. Instead, he chose some second-rate public school whose reputation doesn't even amount to the size of a speck of dust in the academia map.

Yes... you got it. It was Yuki Souma.

             Mind you, I’ve seen my share of Yuki Soumas in the past. Gifted, arrogant, honor roll kids whom teachers kiss the ground they walk on. Though, there are actually two kinds of Yuki Soumas. The first type, are the frauds. Trained parrots and monkeys with their special supplementary classes and private tutors. Then, there are the real ones, the truly gifted. They excel in anything they do without any effort whatsoever. It was as if everything they touched turned to gold...   

            But they were also the ones who usually take their gifts for granted.  

            This particular Yuki Souma was the second type.  

            Those types disgusted me beyond belief. How dare he waste such an opportunity that ordinary people could only dream of? If there was one thing I hated more than complete frauds were those talented and gifted people like him, who idle and waste their gifts away, when people like me had to work hard to get to where I want to go.  

            I may be smart in my own right, but I had to earn my niche in that elite academic circle through hard work and study. Those perfect test scores were the result of sleepless all-nighter study sessions. My father didn’t need to donate a new wing named after some dead principal for me to earn a place on the honor roll.   

            Hard work, perseverance, discipline, and dedication to order... that’s how I got to where I am!  

            I almost brushed Yuki Souma aside for the gutless talent waster that I thought he was who was not worth a single second of my time. Until... I saw Yuki Souma in person for the first time. I don’t think he even remembers it, but it was during the regional high school debate meet that Kaibara High was hosting. Another one of my old sempai, who was in his high school’s debate team, invited me to watch. As if it was fated, first year representative Yuki Souma just happened to be the student guide assigned to welcome us and show us around the school.  

            As much as I hated to admit it, I, too, fell under his spell. It wasn’t just his good looks, which everyone immediately noticed... he has that undeniable charisma that draws people to him. It makes them want to follow him wherever he goes. Even the seniors who normally bullied underclassmen became timid sheep in his presence.   

            It was a little creepy.  

            /Naohito, there are extreme sides of leadership. /

             So just like that... I changed my plans at the last minute and went to Kaibara High. Up to this moment, I’m still not quite sure if I made the right choice. But to climb and overcome my mountain, I’m willing to make sacrifices--- even if it meant having to endure the annoying presence of the less than capable other members of the student council.

             A creepy treasurer with a tendency towards sudden bouts of violence, a bubble head of a secretary who has a vast amount of space in-between her ears, and a slacker of a vice president whose mere existence would make my grandfather turn in his grave. What was the previous President thinking? I heard that the guy was nuts... but this was shameful! No one will ever take this school seriously if such a group of undisciplined... children... was shown to be the leader of its student population.

             One shiny apple was not enough to make a rotten fruit basket look good... even if that lone good apple was Yuki Souma.

             Frankly, I was disappointed. Not because Yuki Souma didn’t take my challenge to name him as my rival seriously... at all! I was disappointed to come to realize as time passed by, that he didn’t seem like he was the strong-willed and decisive person I first imagined him to be.  That idiot Vice-President of ours was able to sway and manipulate him effortlessly.

             “Sakuragi-san, have you seen Manabe anywhere?”

             “I’m sorry, President. I haven’t seen him around since this morning.”

             “Why is that person never around when you need him?”

             He couldn’t put his foot down and make our vice president do his job. Don’t get me started about how he couldn’t set clear personal boundaries with that airhead secretary of ours. A real president would command respect and authority over his peers. It was unacceptable how he was allowing his subordinates to walk all over him. What will the other students think if they see our student council President as being so weak?

             “What is it that you needed him for?”

             “I was going to attend an unofficial meeting. He agreed to come with me.”

             I couldn’t help but get annoyed with his reply. I frankly don’t understand why he continued to depend on that idiot even though our vice-president has proved time and again that he was not the most dependable person in the world when it comes to things that count.

             “Do you want to come instead?”

             “Eh?”

             Did Yuki Souma just do what I thought he did? Did he actually ask ME to accompany him on Student Council business, instead of our idiot vice-president? A project where the president was to ask me for my opinion before everyone else in the council! I felt my heart starting to pound in excitement. After all this time of being ridiculed and my opinions being set aside, belittled and ignored...  I finally get my chance!  

            “Sakuragi-san? Well, if you’re busy...”

             “YES! YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, PRESIDENT!!!” 

             “Uh... okay...”

             / On one side is the visionary. This leader has the gift to see the top of the mountain in the distance and firmly takes on the lead to direct his followers to victory./

             The Gardening Club greenhouse?

             This was the unofficial meeting? I mean, sure... the fire that gutted the place was big news. Considering that it was closed down by the Fire Marshall as a hazard, it actually didn’t look too bad. But this was not our jurisdiction. This was technically not Student Council business. Why were we wasting our time poking a stick at this place when there were other more important matters that needed the Student Council’s attention? Besides, students weren’t supposed to be  here! What would the students think if they found out that members of the student council were disobeying rules?

             “Souma-san!?!”

             “Ah! Takamura-san? Isn’t it?”

             Takamura!?!? Ah... the Gardening Club president! He suddenly popped out of nowhere before I could voice out my concerns to the President. This was my worst fear! He’s going to report us, and we’ll get in trouble for sure! I’ll be suspended from the student council and be expelled from school! Todai will never accept my application now. And I will be such a big disappointment to my family! Worst of all... I’llneverbeabletoclimbthatmountainthatmygrandfatheraspiredmetoovercome!!!!

             “I DON’T WANT TO END IT LIKE THIS!!!”

             “Is he alright?”

             “You get used to it. Ah, those look really nice.”

             It was only then that I saw Takamura carrying a tray of potted purple plants. The butterfly-shaped leaves flexed out as if in mid-flight as the delicate stems swung daintily in the gentle breeze. In between the multitude of reddish purple wings sprouted tiny fragile white flowers, swaying in time with the leaves... as if in a flirtatious flower and butterfly dance.

             That was when it hit me... Takamura... with plants... by the greenhouse... what the heck was he doing here in the first place?

             Why was his eye twitching like that?

             “They’re derivatives from the clover family. They were in the far corner and survived the fire. Honda-san really liked them... and... uh... we were supposed to sell them for the seedling sale...”

             “I’m sure she would appreciate your gesture, but you really shouldn’t have gone in there. It’s dangerous, and you could get into a lot of trouble if any of the teachers found out.”  

At last! Our President was finally enforcing rules!

             “That’s right, it was clearly announced it’s absolutely forbidden to go in there!”

             “But I wanted to save as many of the plants as I could before any of the girls start getting ideas about going in there themselves!”

             “Then how do you expect any of your club members to do the right thing, if you, the president are breaking the rules yourself?”

             “I’m President of the Gardening Club, that’s why I’m doing this! I’m responsible for my members’ safety and well-being!”

             “That’s completely unreasonable!”

             I was actually feeling rather smug with myself at that point. That is until the President's voice suddenly intervened.

             “Sakuragi-san, that’s enough.”

             “But...”

             “Enough!”

             It’s a little scary. Yuki Souma normally looks so kind and easy-going, but in the blink of an eye, he can suddenly turn around and bite your head off without much warning. He didn’t really need to raise his voice either. Just one word, and one look... and the atmosphere around him changes. It almost seemes as if the very air turns deathly cold, and it forces you to snap to attention... otherwise, something bad might happen to you.

             /The other side is one who mostly sees what’s in front of him and makes sure the ropes are secure so that those following him will not stray or fall./

             “Uhm... are... are you going to report me?”

             “Report you? I didn’t see you inside the greenhouse. Did you go inside?”

             “...S-souma-san?”

             What the heck? What the heck was that innocent look for? This was not right! Takamura had clearly broken a rule and he should be punished. Why wasn’t our President doing something about it?

             “Did you see Takamura-san go inside the greenhouse, Sakuragi-san?”

             Oh, no! I am not going to be dragged into this.  The keys to success are hard work, perseverance, discipline, and dedication to order. See that? DEDICATION TO ORDER! I was not about to help harbour a... a... an ORDER-destroyer!

             “Takamura has clearly...”

             “Did you SEE Takamura-san go inside the greenhouse, Sakuragi-san?”

             DAMMIT!

             “No.”

             “Now that we have that clear, there really is no problem, is there? But Takamura-san, you really have to be careful. The green house is off limits to students until further notice.”

             “Y-yes...”

             “I’ll talk to the vice-principal and ask if there’s anything we can do to transfer the plants left inside to a safer place.”

             What was he thinking? Not only was he letting Takamura get away with murder, he was also acting like an accomplice! I was about to very loudly give him a piece of my mind when Takamura suddenly did the unexpected.  

             He burst out in tears and started bawling like a baby.

             /Both leadership qualities are good in their own right, and at times, necessary. But be careful, Naohito./

             “I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to lose it like that. But it’s been such an overwhelming time. Our club ran into bad situations before, but no one’s really taken us seriously. I certainly didn’t expect the Student Council to make time to hear our club’s problems.”

             “Technically, this is an unofficial visit.”

             I couldn’t help stressing that point. I intentionally looked away, not wanting to know if the President was shooting me a look of disapproval. Well, it was the truth!

             After what seemed like an eternity, the President finally spoke.

             “I’m sorry, Takamura-san. But he’s right, I didn’t come to represent the Student Council. I’m really here for my own selfish reasons.”

             “Ah... even so, I’m grateful. Despite all the bad things that happened to our club, there were some good things too. Dwindling membership already threatened to close our club last semester. Honda-san was the miracle who saved us by joining to meet our membership number quota. If Souma-san’s kindness is a sign, I’m sure another miracle to save our club for the second time will be on its way.”

             /“Someone who always leads with an iron fist can easily become an ogre, while one who always leads with kindness and compassion can easily be made a fool.”/

             There are no such things as miracles. That was what I wanted to say aloud, but sensing the President’s mood, I made the valiant effort to hold my tongue. My grandfather used to say that miracles were merely the result of exceptional efforts made by ordinary men against what seemed like impossible odds. And sometimes, those efforts didn’t need to be of a noble nature either.  

It was obvious that the President agreed. From the polite but forced smile that the President gave Takamura in reply to his words, it doesn’t take a genius to realize that Takamura was more than just your pathetic crybaby. That’s why, when Yuki Souma already turned to leave, I couldn’t help staying back a little bit, to give Takamura that piece of my mind that I held back a while ago, away from the President’s ears.  

            “It’s very lucky that Honda-san is just as kind as our president then, isn’t it?”  

            “It was lucky...”  

            Jerk. He didn’t even try to hide it.  

            “...but, I can’t help feeling a little jealous.”  

            Eh?  

            “She said she only started gardening last year. But even though we were just using her as a needed body, she really did seem happy to be in the club. I never saw anyone so happy with gardening. Whoever got her into gardening, must have given her a lot of happy memories. To have someone like that, I can’t help feeling a bit jealous. I wonder who that person is...”  

            Now THAT was totally unexpected. I expected him to deny it or do some delaying tactics in an attempt to sway me. What he said took me completely off guard.

            “Sakuragi? Are you coming?”

             “Y... yes!”

             The dropped honorific with a little bit of that lilt in his voice normally reserved for our Vice President. It was obvious that the President was more irritated than he let on. It was somewhat a relief, since I honestly didn’t know what to say to Takamura without looking foolish. So with that quickly forgotten, I hurried after the President, expecting to feel the brunt of one of his silent seething anger spells. So I was completely taken aback by the expression on his face... as if he was deep in thought

             “I need to ask you a big favour.”

             So he says, but it sounded more like an order than a favour.

             “Okay...”

             “I need you to help me get as many club presidents as you can for an unofficial meeting.”

             “Eh? What for?”

             /A person with either trait has the making of a good, strong leader... but a great leader knows when and how to balance the extremes.../

             I didn’t get my reply right then and there. As soon as he barked his order, he was already gone. As great as our President can be, he also has moments of flakiness... something that the Vice President infected him with. And also something that leaves me with a feeling that absolutely nothing good will come from whatever it was that he was planning.

             By now, you probably already know the rest of story... the plan to salvage the Gardening Club, that stupid misunderstanding that our idiot Vice-President caused, and that now infamous stalemate match in the Student Council room...

             "GET OUT OF THAT CLOSET SO I CAN KICK YOUR ASS!!!!"

            Like I already knew before, absolutely nothing good will come out from all of this!

            “Are they stupid? What were they thinking!?! Student Council members should set an example to the entire student body! What kind of message were they sending by acting like complete delinquents?”

            “Which one is stupider, the hot-headed monkey who joined in on the fight or the cowardly monkey who simply stood back and watched noisily?”

             Guh... the heck? Of all the times she had to open her mouth, why did she have to open it at a time like this?

             “Are you implying that I’m nothing more than a coward, Kuragi?”

             “If you really think you’re better than them, march over there and set them straight yourself.”

              “.........”

             Annoying bitch...

             /Whether you choose to lead or to follow is entirely up to you, Naohito. But always remember that the person you choose to become, the people you choose to put around you, and the people you devote your support and loyalty to... those are all very important in your journey./

             “Thought so.”

Return to 00:02
Continued on 00:04   

   Author's squawk:

             ARRRGH! Chapters are getting longer and longer and are getting more serious! I absolutely had a hard time trying to find Naohito’s voice... this is actually the 2nd version of the chapter, that’s why it took so long to post. Thank you so much to the members of the FURUBA Round Robin group for beta-ing. (Very special thanks to Adria!) BTW, Chapter 6 by Jun of the Round Robin Project is now up in FF.NET. Make sure you check it out!

             On with the fic side notes...

             The plants Takamura was carrying are real. One of the nurses in my unit found like two sickly stalks from a plant sale from the patient gardens, and they flourished in the nursing station. They are absolutely beautiful! The leaves really look like butterflies (and they even fold at night!). The problem is, none of us know what the plant’s name is. One of our doctors, who is very fond of plants and flowers, didn’t know the name either... but he identified that it came from the clover family. If anyone has an idea what I’m talking about, please let me know. I want to know that plant’s name! ^_^.

             Jougaku High doesn’t exist... I made that name up. But I can imagine Yuki being forced to take an entrance exam to a school like that by his mother. “Jougaku” is actually a play of words that translates roughly as “best school”. ^_^. “Todai” is the nickname for “ Tokyo University ”. That’s all folks!

Ja!
Ina-chan