Chapter Text
Hyakkaou’s student council room had seen many things:
broken egos, shattered dreams, Midari’s questionable hobbies, occasional explosions.
But nothing… absolutely nothing… struck fear into all nine members quite like Kirari Momobami humming.
The president sat at the long council table, legs crossed, chin cradled in her hand, humming a soft, sweet, dangerous little melody.
That was how everyone knew she was planning something.
Sayaka stood beside her, fingers trembling.
Runa played on her handheld console in the corner.
Kaede worked in his laptop, pretending he wasn’t nervous.
Itsuki sat quietly, kicking her feet.
Yuriko sipped her tea with serene dread.
Yumemi took selfies.
Midari sharpened a knife against her chair leg because of course she did.
The room was peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Then Kirari spoke.
A single word.
“Trip.”
Sayaka froze violently. “E-Excuse me, President?”
Kirari’s smile grew, slow and catlike. “A retreat. For all of us.”
Midari perked up. “Retreat? Like, survival? Hunting? BLOOD—”
“No,” Yuriko interrupted firmly.
“Maybe,” Kirari added, amused.
Sayaka inhaled with the force of a dying vacuum cleaner. “P-President, the annual off-campus school trip will be held soon. We are expected to supervise preparations. A council retreat before that would be—!”
“Convenient,” Kirari finished.
Sayaka stopped breathing.
Yumemi flipped her hair. “Wait— WAIT. You want us to supervise the first-years’ field trip while also being on our own trip? That’s insane!”
Kirari tapped her fingers on the table, enjoying every millisecond of Sayaka’s collapse.
“The first-years will be visiting the Chitose Hot Springs District. A charming town with many attractions. But before they arrive…” She rested her cheek on her hand. “…we will enjoy the same area. Comfortably.”
Yuriko blinked. “Comfortably? That doesn’t sound like you.”
Kirari’s smile brightened with unsettling innocence.
“Oh, don’t misunderstand. Comfort is merely the environment. What I wish to observe is…” Her eyes gleamed like blades wrapped in silk.
“How the council behaves when placed through a series of shifting conditions.”
Sayaka dropped whatever she was holding “P-President… y-you mean an experiment?”
Midari clapped. “YES! YES! CHAOS! I’M IN!”
Kaede rubbed his temple. “Do we have a choice?”
“No,” Ririka said softly.
Yumemi stood. “WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. Is this one of those situations where you pretend it’s a normal vacation but it becomes psychological warfare?? Because I’m not mentally prepared—”
“Too late,” Runa chirped, scrolling through snack menus online. “I already ordered travel snacks.”
Sayaka finally found her voice.
“President! The council cannot simply abandon school responsibilities for your— your experiments!”
Kirari lifted a perfectly shaped finger.
“We are not abandoning them. We are…”
She paused, letting the silence dangle like a noose.
“…making sure the area is appropriate.”
“Appropriate for what?” Sayaka asked.
Kirari beamed.
“For the school trip."
Everyone stared.
Kirari continued, sounding pleased with herself.
“The hot springs resort is adjacent to the town the first-years will visit. It is an ideal location to study both the environment… and all of you.”
Sayaka slumped in her seat like her soul was leaving her body.
“President… this sounds like a logistical nightmare.”
“Precisely,” Kirari whispered happily.
Yuriko folded her arms. “And the purpose of this… retreat?”
Kirari stretched like a satisfied cat.
“To see how each of you adapts to changing situations. A serene resort. A bustling town. Responsibility. Leisure. Perhaps…” Her voice dropped like velvet around a blade. “…even danger.”
Midari trembled in excitement. “P-Please let there be danger. PLEASE.”
“No,” Yuriko said again.
“Yes,” Kirari corrected.
Kaede exhaled deeply. “Fine. When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow,” Kirari said brightly.
SAYAKA SCREAMED INTERNALLY.
“P-President— T-TOMORROW?! I need at least a week to prepare documents, coordinate supervision protocols, create schedules, check safety procedures—”
“No schedules,” Kirari said.
Sayaka visibly died.
“Then at least packing—”
“No packing lists,” Kirari added.
Sayaka nearly slid under the table.
Everyone else exchanged looks.
Runa leaned back in her chair, grinning. “Hehehe… this is gonna be fun.”
Yumemi swallowed. “This is going to be a disaster.”
Itsuki clapped. “This is going to be amazing!”
Midari pumped a fist. “FIELD TRIP INTO MADNESS!!”
Kaede pinched the bridge of his nose. “This is going to give me an ulcer.”
Ririka simply nodded. “It begins.”
Kirari rose from her throne-like seat, voice dripping elegance.
“Prepare yourselves, my dear council.”
She leaned forward, eyes shimmering with thrill.
“For tomorrow… we embark on a journey of luxury, chaos, and psychological intrigue.”
She paused.
“And please,” she added sweetly, “try not to die.”
Sayaka shrieked.
Yuriko folded her hands. “President Kirari… this experiment of yours may create unnecessary strain among the council.”
Kirari’s reply was gentle.
“That is the point.”
Yuriko: “…I walked into that.”
Ririka, silent until now, finally spoke.
“I will bring first aid supplies.”
Sayaka crushed her tablet against her chest.
“I— I’ll begin outlining potential—”
Kirari lifted a hand.
“No outlines.”
“…No outlines?” Sayaka repeated in horror.
“No rules,” Kirari added.
Sayaka’s soul left her body.
Midari clapped loudly. “YEEEEAAAH!! NO RULES!! I’m gonna set the forest on FIRE—”
“No arson,” Yuriko snapped.
“Some arson,” Kirari corrected calmly.
Sayaka actually screamed that time.
Yumemi rolled her eyes. “Fine. Whatever. Let’s just get this over with.”
Kaede sighed. “Agreed. The sooner we go, the sooner we return.”
Runa swung her legs. “Hehe… this is gonna be soooo fun.”
Kirari stood, her presence filling the room like a velvet storm.
“Pack what you wish. Prepare for everything. Expect nothing.”
She turned toward the door.
“For tomorrow,” she said, voice dripping with excitement,
“our little expedition begins.”
The doors closed behind her with a soft, ominous thud.
The council stared at each other.
Silence.
Then Runa grinned.
“So who’s betting on Sayaka fainting before we even get on the bus?”
Sayaka fainted.
Runa won.