Afternoon sun cut through Seika Academy's old corridor, painting the carved window frames long across waxed hardwood. Dust motes hung in the light — gold powder, slow-swimming.
"Satsuki-chan."
Amy, walking beside her, stopped and patted the small, hard lump in her skirt pocket through the fabric.
"What's up?" Satsuki tilted her head.
"I was thinking, if I took out property insurance right now, named myself beneficiary, then 'accidentally' fell in the hallway and 'lost' this…"
Amy pushed her glasses up. Mischief in her smile.
"Given Argyle Pink Diamond premium index… couldn't I retire, buy a Hawaii island, done?"
"You could try."
Satsuki smiled too.
"Though compared to a Hawaii island, I think you'd rather have the latest Cray-2 Supercomputer, right?"
"Hmm… busted."
Amy shrugged. Finger flicked the diamond pocket. Soft thump.
"Joking. Besides, this stone's safe in my 'mobile security system' —" she tapped her chest "— no thief's ever beaten me."
She caught up. Leather shoes crisp on floor.
"Come on, aren't we meeting the legendary Iron-Faced President? I want to see what kind of guy makes our Young Miss run errands herself."
"Depends on your performance."
Satsuki turned and kept walking.
End of corridor: heavy double oak doors. Brass plaque, polished bright:
End of hall. Heavy oak double doors. Brass plaque gleaming:
Knock, knock.
Satsuki's knuckles tapped the wood, light.
"Come in."
Male voice. Calm. Steady.
Satsuki pushed.
Student Council office: huge, bright. Filing cabinets wall-to-wall. Big conference table center. Deep inside, a boy at the desk, reading.
Seika uniform. Tie perfect. Top button done. Hair short, neat. Rimless glasses. Eyes thin behind lenses, looking up from paperwork at the two girls.
Kudo Kei.
President, Seika Academy High School Student Council. Second year.
"Nice to meet you. Saionji-san. And Suzuki-san."
Kudo Kei set his fountain pen down. Stood. Nodded, polite.
"Rare visitors. Month into term, first time I see the year's top student in person."
"Family business. Delayed in America."
Satsuki walked to the desk. Set down her prepared forms — make-up class application, club formation application.
"This is the make-up application. And new club registration."
Kudo Kei took them. Eyes scanned fast. Pages turned, crisp sound in quiet room.
"'Society Observation Club'?"
His gaze paused on the club name. Eyebrow up a fraction.
"Activity purpose… 'research underlying logic of modern socioeconomic forms and capital flow'?"
He looked up. Met Satsuki's eyes through glasses.
"At Seika, girls usually file tea ceremony, flower arrangement, equestrian. Saionji-san's interests are… unique."
"Tea and flowers are elegant, but as Old Kazoku, I'm confident there already." Satsuki smiled back. "President Kudo, is there a problem with the application?"
"Process-wise, no."
Kudo Kei pulled a red pen from the holder. Signed. Clean. Stamped the student council seal.
Thud.
"Approved." He handed the papers back. "Old building wiring is aged. If you plan high-power appliances, report to General Affairs first."
"Thanks for the heads-up."
Satsuki took them. Turned to go.
Then her eyes caught the desk.
Beside neat document stacks: one check.
Bright-colored bank draft. Numbers not hidden.
5,000,000 Yen.
And under it: pink perfumed letter. Delicate hand, slightly childish.
Signature: Class 1-A, Ezaki Mariko.
Satsuki's steps stopped.
"Seems President Kudo is popular, as rumors say."
Kudo Kei followed her gaze. Flash of disgust crossed his calm face. He reached, like he wanted to sweep the check into trash. Hand stopped mid-air. Just pushed it away, annoyed.
"This isn't adoration. It's insult."
Kudo Kei's voice went cold.
"That transfer, Ezaki-san. Sent it this morning. Said it's five million yen to 'improve student council office environment.'"
"Isn't that good?" Satsuki played dumb. "Budget's always tight. Five million replaces that jam-prone copier, buys new library books."
"If it were just donation, I'd welcome it."
Kudo Kei sneered. Finger tapped the pink letter.
"But her letter hints she wants to join the upcoming 'Culture Festival Executive Committee.' As vice-chair."
"Five million to buy a title. That's her 'donation.'"
He looked up. Eyes straight at Satsuki.
"Saionji-san, I know your circle's rules. But in Seika Student Council — my term — I don't want dirty deals."
"I'll return this money."
Righteous. Absolute.
Amy, beside them, adjusted glasses. Looked at president. Looked at check. Silent.
Satsuki laughed, soft.
"Dirty?"
She stepped forward. Hands on desk edge. Leaned slightly. Closed distance with Kudo Kei.
"President Kudo, your father's a prosecutor, right?"
Kudo Kei frowned. "This has nothing to do with my family."
"It does."
Satsuki stared into his eyes.
"Because you inherited that black-and-white system. Your world: line down the middle. Legal and illegal. Clean and dirty."
"But real world?"
She reached out one finger. Pressed the check. Slid it gently. Back to desk center.
"Five million yen. To Ezaki family — Apex Group — it's loose change. Return it, Ezaki Mariko won't feel shame. She'll think you found it too small. Or that you're an ungrateful bookworm."
"Then she'll use this money to bribe others. Club Federation head. School board with more pull. She'll get the position anyway. And you? You get an enemy who hates you. Nothing else."
Kudo Kei's face stiffened.
"So? Saionji-san, you're saying I should take it?"
"No."
Satsuki shook head.
"I'm saying: taking private donations is part of social life. Question is how you handle it. Which money you take. Which you don't."
She picked up the check. Flicked it. Paper snapped, crisp.
"This paper isn't guilty. 'Dirty' only exists when the transaction completes."
"If she gives money, you give position — that's bribery. Dirty."
"But."
Satsuki shifted tone.
"If she gives money, and you book it to public account, turn it into new AC for library, or club equipment. Then, when picking exec committee, you follow rules, DQ her for 'insufficient ability'…"
"Then this money isn't a bribe anymore."
"It's 'enthusiastic classmate's unconditional donation.'"
Kudo Kei stared.
Like looking at alien.
"This… this is fraud." He got the words out, hard. "Violates contract spirit."
"Did she sign a contract with you?" Satsuki pointed at pink letter. "Does it say, 'If not vice-chair, refund'? No, right?"
"Since no written contract, it's her wishful thinking."
Satsuki patted the check into Kudo Kei's hand.
"President Kudo, politics — it's turning private desire into public good."
"Ezaki Mariko wants vanity, give her vanity — say, school paper thank-you note, praise her generosity."
"As for power…"
Satsuki stood straight. Clapped hands.
"Power isn't for sale. You're right to hold that line."
"Eat the bait, spit the hook. That's mature management."
Office went dead silent.
Kudo Kei held the check. Fingers trembling a little.
Five million yen.
Fix the old gym's leaking roof. Or scholarships for poor students… He breathed deep. Looked up at Satsuki.
"Saionji-san."
Kudo Kei's voice dry.
"Are you… really a high schooler?"
"Of course."
Satsuki tilted head. Pointed at emerald ribbon on her collar.
"Authentic first-year. Fresh."
She picked up her bag. Toward door.
"Well, won't disturb your work, President. Society Observation Club room needs cleaning. We'll go."
Amy followed. Bowed slightly passing Kudo Kei.
At door, Satsuki stopped.
Didn't turn. Just said, back to him:
"Oh, President Kudo."
"About Apex Group behind Ezaki… rumors lately aren't good."
"That company's stock, like this check, looks tempting. But mishandled, it burns hands."
"Consider it… return gift for approving our club."
Said it. Pushed door. Stepped into sunlit corridor.
Heavy oak door closed behind her. Thud, muffled.
Kudo Kei alone at desk.
Looked at check. Looked at perfumed letter.
Long time.
Opened a drawer. Pulled out ledger stamped "Finance Use Only."
Picked up fountain pen. Wrote neat in income column:
Source: Class 1-A, Ezaki Mariko. Purpose: TBD (recommend library AC upgrade).