Chapter 21
This is a fictional story by realTensai
"I want to join the student council."
As soon as those words left Alvis' mouth, silence awaited him. Their confused looks spoke volumes about how out of character it was for Alvis to ask such a question. Maya and Lia weren't close to him, yet they knew something was off. Especially Lia.
"Why?" Lia asked, her face indifferent.
Alvis had already gone through his answer in his head and now only had to recite what he had practiced. Her cold gaze wouldn't shake him up.
"I want to start something new and contribute to the school."
This answer was far away from his true intentions. Alvis didn't care about contributing to the school, nor was he keen on starting something new. All he wanted was to get closer to Lia and by joining the student council, he could do that. Yet he couldn't just say that. That was why he told this lie.
Lia's look didn't change, though her eyes seemed to observe Alvis' every move. Alvis knew she wanted to confirm if he was telling the truth or not. But Alvis had a perfect poker face, so there was no way to see through him. This went on for a few seconds before Lia broke the silence.
"Alright. I have nothing against you joining."
Those words triggered an artificial sigh of relief from Alvis. Her accepting his request wasn't out of the ordinary, yet still a tremendous step to clearing the level. It also showed that she may not have received the order to kill him yet.
Or does she also want to observe me?
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. This saying went through Alvis' head. However, he just smiled, this opportunity being too good to back out now.
"Are you sure, Lia? Don't you think it's too sudden? Also, we know Alvis. He isn't someone who would want to join the student council."
"Hey, people change, you know."
"There is no need to argue. I accepted his request because I believed him. Besides, we will have to search for new members, anyway. Last year's third years won't be in the student council anymore because they are in their fourth year now."
Maya still seemed hesitant, yet she went along with Lia's decision. The other member, named Chao, also accepted. And with that settled, Alvis officially became a part of the student council.
——
Right now, Alvis was patrolling the school grounds together with his student council buddy Chao. A few days had passed since he had joined the student council and he was starting to regret his decision.
Alvis valued a peaceful life with a lot of free time and freedom. However, those two things vanished as soon as he entered the student council. If Alvis didn't have class, he had to do student council duties. Those could be patrolling the school and helping students when needed or doing paperwork for whatever stood on. However, every time Alvis thought he finished all of his tasks, a new one popped up. It was pure torture.
Yet Alvis had endured it without complaining until now. Yes, until now. But this was about to change. The only reason he had endured it for so long was because he hoped he could get closer to Lia by doing so. He even got closer to her, so close indeed they were speaking daily to each other. But this didn't help him if she wouldn't open up to him.
Alvis not only had to gain her trust so she would refrain from killing him, but also had to find out how he could save her. And he couldn't say he had made any improvements in both of his goals.
All they ever talked about were student council duties or superficial stuff. Alvis tried to have deeper conversations with her, trying to unveil her true self, yet it never worked. He couldn't explain why, but they always got interrupted, or the conversation shifted to other topics.
She doesn't trust me.
Even a blind person could see that. He would have to try out new things to get Lia to open up to him. He remembered all the skills he had attained by trying to talk to Nero.
Ah, thinking about Nero, I still have to send the message to Mr. Woltzer and Trez.
She wasn't the girl he had to save, yet he did it regardless.
"I guess nothing is going on today," Chao said.
The school grounds lay serene, bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun. Alvis and Chao strolled without urgency, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of disturbance. The absence of raised voices and clashes suggested a rare moment of tranquility.
"After having to deal with such an argument yesterday, this is the least I expected."
"Ha, you're right, those two boys fighting was no joke. We were lucky a teacher was nearby, else we wouldn't have been able to separate them."
"It was a beast man against a giant. Of course, there was nothing we could do."
"What do you think? Shall we go back to the student council room?"
"Fine with me."
——
"I'm heading to the dorms now," Chao said and, by that, ending his duties for the day.
"Good work today. See you tomorrow," Lia saw him off.
With Chao leaving, Lia and Alvis were the only ones left in the room. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
"You can call it a day too, Alvis. You don't live in the dorms, so you should be going home now."
She was right, yet this was the last thing he would do now. There was no way he would just give up on this opportunity.
"You don't live in the dorms too. So the same applies to you."
Lia looked at him, her green eyes making Alvis freeze momentarily. Even though she wore a smile on her face, Alvis couldn't decipher how she felt.
"I don't remember telling you I don't live in the dorms."
Shit!
Cold sweat dripped down Alvis' neck as she exposed him.
"Chao told me," he said, playing it off. "He said even though you don't live in the dorms, you always stay so late."
"I see."
Alvis exhaled, this perfect lie saving him. She most likely wouldn't go out of her way to ask Chao if it was true.
Now Alvis had to go on the offensive!
"We both don't live in the dorms, so how about we go home together?"
Alvis' heart raced as soon as those words left his mouth. His heartbeat was so loud he worried Lia might hear it. His body's reaction surprised even him.
So asking a girl out never becomes easy, huh?
However, this wasn't the only reason his heart pounded against his ribcage. He still couldn't forget the two times he had died by her hands. If the two of them were alone together walking home, it would be the perfect opportunity for her to kill him. Yet he would have to take this risk if he wanted to change the trajectory of this loop.
"I'm sorry, Alvis, but not today. I'm going to meet with some friends after I'm finished here."
Alvis couldn't even listen to the other words, as the first three were enough to shatter his heart into pieces. Her words kept echoing in his head, and his brain was blaming him for acting so recklessly.
He just got rejected.
"O-Oh, okay, no problem. I will just go alone then."
Alvis tried his best not to let his frustration show, though it was pretty obvious he failed. With a smile that didn't even reach his eyes, he said goodbye and left the room.
As soon as he stepped out, he slammed his fist against the wall.
"Shit!"
He had failed miserably. Alvis couldn't use this once-in-a-lifetime chance.
"It's so hard to gain her trust."
They had been together in the student council for almost a week now, yet this was the state of affairs. She just wouldn't open up to him, no matter how hard he tried to gain her trust. Even though he still had more than a week left, his future looked grim. She was the girl he had to save, but if he didn't change his strategy, she would kill him before he could even find out what she had to be saved from.
It was with this realization that Alvis shifted his priorities.
I don't need her trust to find out what is wrong with her.
Even if he had to use unorthodox methods, he would do everything. He wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice this run if he got the information he needed in exchange.
He clenched his fist, a plan already forming in his head.
"Let's do this."