⚪️Short Story｜Fraternity
This place only permits enrollment to those on their second life. It is commonly known as the "Second Life Academy."
I am Akira, a first-year in the high school division.
***
I am Marie, a scholarship student.
I am the (candidate for) student council president and the heroine of this story. My attributes are black hair, black tights, brilliant, and slightly large-breasted.
My future prediction accuracy is over 66.6%.
***
It seems the next president is destined to be Marie-san, the scholarship student. Rumor has it she is already on her sixteenth life. In terms of knowledge and life experience, no one surpasses her.
The vice president is a designated position, so those who wish for it must have prior interviews with the presidential candidate. That said, since Marie-san is effectively the only choice for president, she is always surrounded by an entourage.
I have no interest in student council activities. However, I am curious about Marie-san. Because, well, she is exactly my type.
***
I'll go with Akira-kun this time.
There's no particular reason. Basically, anyone would do. In the end, everything will work out fine this way.
Everyone except me is on their second life. So, I have no way of knowing what they did or where they were in their previous lives. Because they weren't at this academy.
In other words, whoever I choose is a world unknown to me. That fact excites me more than anything.
***
Just as I was pondering how to approach Marie-san, I was summoned. One of her entourage came to me and said Marie-san was waiting in the school cafeteria.
I ordered an iced coffee, and Marie-san ordered a lemon squash. And for some reason, the "entourage girl" who came to call me is also sitting with us, ordering a beef bowl. "With extra green onions. Hehe. I'm hungry."
"Sorry, it was your nap time, wasn't it?"
"I don't take naps."
"Oh my, why are you using polite language?"
"Just because."
"Well, that's fine. May I ask you a few questions?"
"Yes. Anything you like."
***
He is in love. With me? If so, this choice will be very painful.
***
Marie-san's barrage of questions didn't end that day. Each time, the same "entourage girl" comes to call me. I wonder why; is it my responsibility?
The location of the interviews varies by day, from the library lounge to the picnic tables in the Nemophila garden, or the deck chairs in the sunroom.
The questions are wide-ranging, random, and often have unclear intentions. They were just strange questions, like something the CIA or MI6 would use, I don't know.
"Answer with what you associate with the following words."
"Yes."
"Shinkansen."
"Big explosion."
"Boots."
"Puss in."
"Cherry blossom petals."
"Thinking of you in the season of."
***
I am Yukari, the "entourage girl."
I'm not doing this because I want the position of student council vice president. Marie-san is aware of that too.
I don't think Akira-kun remembers, but when I found him at this academy, I was so happy, thinking, 'Oh, he really was here.' Because I am in this world for that very reason.
My attributes are blonde hair, white knee-high socks, airheaded, and high bone density.
***
My mind is made up.
I will appoint Akira-kun as vice president. But before that, there is something I must tell him.
"You might already know, but I'll say it just in case. At this academy, the student council president and vice president are required to take the 'Oath of Fraternity.' This oath is extremely solemn and must be upheld not only during our time at school but for our entire lives. According to its rules, we are never permitted to have sexual contact or even harbor romantic feelings."
"Are there any dropouts?"
"Basically, you could say there aren't. The moment someone breaks the taboo, I have them skip to their third life. You understand what that means, right?"
"Yes."
"So, I want you to think carefully. If you are okay with that, I will appoint you as vice president. And, for the rest of my life, I will love you as a friend."
***
There is still time until the student council election.
So, there is still a little time left to think about where my own desires lie, or how I should come to terms with the world—in other words, the meaning of my life.
That said, I cannot put off the answer forever. Marie-san is waiting for my reply.
"Did you hear from Marie-san?"
"About the oath?"
"What are you going to do?"
"I still don't really know."
"Whether you become vice president or not, Marie-san won't take a lover, you know?"
"How do you know?"
"It's just a rumor, but they say Marie-san doesn't need a lover. Or rather, she doesn't seem to believe in romance. However, she will get married."
"What do you mean?"
"She's going to get married while keeping the oath. With the vice president."
"No way!"
"Hey, want to go eat takoyaki on the way home?"
***
Akira-kun will choose Marie-san.
No one is unaware of the meaning of marrying someone on their sixteenth life. She is beautiful, intelligent, and capable of dedicating everything to fraternity. However, she is a little crazy.
"You know, I want to have sex with Akira-kun."
"Huh?"
"Hey, shh, don't speak so loudly."
"Are you sane?"
"Hey, think about it. You're always with such a wonderful woman, spending every day wrapped in that scent, yet you can't even touch those petals. It's self-evident that a sexual partner is a necessity."
"You have seaweed on your teeth!"
"Oh, sorry."
"I don't really understand, but when are you talking about? Ten years from now, or are you talking about today?"
"Once you take the 'Oath of Fraternity,' I will be your sexual partner then. That's also a predetermined path. So, well, it wouldn't be too late even then, but if you're going to do it, you can only do it now before taking the oath, so if you're going to do it, do it now?"
"You, wait, eh?"
***
"Good morning, Akira-kun."
"Oh, good morning, Marie-san."
"Did you go with Yukari yesterday?"
"Eh? No? I didn't go, I didn't go."
"Takoyaki."
"Ah, ah, takoyaki, takoyaki, yes, yes, well, I went."
"I'm not in a hurry, but please give me your answer as soon as possible. I want to be at ease soon, too."
"Ah, yes, I understand."
I think I can get along well with Akira-kun.
Yukari is there too. I'm glad it was that girl. They say it's a love that wasn't fulfilled in their previous life. It ends up in this form, and I can only let them meet once every six months, but still, it's for her sake.
***
Is it God's grace? Or hell. No, it's no use thinking about it. My future prediction accuracy is at most 2% if I'm being generous. That's all a second life is, after all. I have no choice but to dive in.
I want to see the world of the sixteenth life with my own eyes.
I will accept the nomination. And I will take the oath. I, too, will love you as a friend, unchangingly, for the rest of my life.
(The End)
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#WhatAreYouTalkingAbout
#ThreeLineDialogueStory
#BeefBowlBlondeDeck
#BootsNemophilaBone
#ShinkansenPetalsLemonSquash
#IcedCoffeeCherryBlossomNap
With extra green onions
Oh, he really was here
I didn't go
If you're going to do it, do it now