Sakuramoria

“Guys,” Mana approaches the trio, “do you have a minute?” The unexpected appearance of the attractive classmate in this secluded spot immediately brightened the guys’ mood. “Yeah, I think we can spare two or three,” James replies, moving closer. “Right, guys?” James and Nage approach her from either side and put their arms around her shoulders. “Do you remember the disciplinary committee?” she asks them, suppressing her own discomfort. “Vita made a proposal, and Futaba included it in her campaign.” “There was something like that, yeah. What about it? Are you inviting us?” Nage recalls. “Not exactly... It concerns Stella, Yukki, and Jin.” “Ah, I see.” Aorih frowned. “So, the committee has already been formed, and you’re one of its members? Then you can save your breath; we have nothing to say to you. Right, guys?” “Yeah…” “Guys, please, listen to me!” Mana pleaded, still standing between the two guys. “You have to understand the situation we’re all in, right?” “Exactly, we understand,” Aorih retorted. “Any day, we could be beheaded, shot, or forced to lick the boots of some floozy. Are you really going to lecture us at this stage of the game?” “No, I understand your position, but you have to understand that your behavior won’t end well, and I don’t want to see anything terrible happen to my classmates again.” “Pfft, you won’t fool us!” Aorih turned to leave. “Come on, gentlemen.” “Well, guys…” Mana looked at the guys with tearful eyes, grabbing James’s sleeve. “I don’t want anything to happen to you…” “Well, uh,” James blushed, “we don’t have any money left, so… even if we wanted to, we wouldn’t be able to pay you back.” “James!” Aorih exclaimed. “Don’t listen to her!” “Come on…” Nage replied. “You can see she has good intentions.” “You’ve already spent it all, haven’t you?” Ignoring Aorih, Mana smiled at James and Nage. “I understand; my money doesn’t last long either, haha!” “Haha,” James scratched the back of his head. “So, what are we going to do? We don’t have any money.” “Hmm…” Mana batted her eyelashes and thoughtfully put her index finger in her mouth. “If you promise not to do it again… and agree to work off your debt somehow, I think that will be the end of it.” “Heh-heh…” James’s face looked as if he were slightly tipsy. “Well… okay! But only because you’re asking, got it? Right, Nage?” “Yeah. But how are we going to work it off?” “Don’t worry; the principal and the committee will come up with something. Aorih, what about you?” She looked at him with sad eyes. “Are you against this idea?” “Of course, I’m against it! Your words are useless against me, succubus!” The guy looked at the disapproving glances of his friends and finally gave in. “Fine, whatever!” After chatting with them for a while longer, Mana leaves them alone and returns to the other members of the committee. “This is the best I could do.”