GJ Bu - Volume 1 - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The President’s Job

After school as always.

In the clubroom, everybody was doing what they always did: be it reading manga, enjoying one-man chess, or knitting; each one was doing what they liked.

In such a setting, only Mao was doing something unusual.

“Hng.”

Standing on top of a chair, she had her hand extended towards the ceiling.

She hopped up and down, standing on the tips of her toes.

“What are you doing, president?”

Mao’s eccentricities were nothing unusual but, unable to contain his irresponsible curiosity, Kyouya ended up asking her about it.

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m trying to change this fluorescent light.”

“Oh, so that’s it.”

He could see one of the lights had gone out.

On top of that, a new light bulb rested on the round table.

Kyouya understood the situation.

“It’s dangerous, I’ll do it.”

Just seeing her standing on the tips of her toes, while swaying back and forth, was enough to give him the chills.

Kirara and Shion were both taller than her; weren’t they more suitable for the task? With thoughts like that in mind, Kyouya started standing up himself.

“Don’t!”

Mao’s potent voice came down from above his head. It felt a little fresh hearing that voice which always came from below coming from above.

“This is the president’s job.”

“But you’re not even close to reaching it, are you?”

Mao was extremely short. Short enough that even someone in the upper grades of elementary school might be taller than her already.

Of course she wouldn’t reach the lamp just by climbing a chair.

“I don’t care if it’s impossible. If I say I’m doing it, I’m doing it! Taking care of the budget and the room equipment is the president’s job. Obviously, that includes changing the lamp.”

“I don’t get it. Didn’t you just say that it’s impossible?”

“Please let her do it. Mao was entrusted with this by the previous president, so it’s very important to her.”

Shion said while taking a white piece with her black piece.

“Hey, Shii! Stop running your mouth like that!”

Mao called Shion by “Shii” and Shion addressed Mao without using honorifics. Kyouya felt this intimate girl-friend vibe from them.

What kind of person was the previous president? A boy? A girl?

While thinking about that, Kyouya returned to his chair for the time being.

Swaying left and right on the chair, with no chance of reaching the lamp, Mao continued extending her hand up.

In the end, he couldn’t just stand there watching that.

“Um…”

Kyouya looked at Shion. She played chess with an unconcerned expression.

Kirara wanted nothing to do with it. She just kept chowing down on her meat as usual.

Megumi watched the water she’d put to boil on the kettle while skillfully manipulating her two knitting needles.

It wasn’t as if they were being cold hearted. These people had definitely known the previous president; that was why. That’s how Kyouya explained it to himself.

Even if that was the case, he wouldn’t go along with it.

“President, It’s okay if I help, right?”

He placed his hands beneath Mao’s armpits.

Not having much confidence in his physical strength, he wasn’t sure if he could pull it off, but making up his mind, he went for it.

“Eh? Wha… Wait!”

“I did it!”

He held Mao up like you’d hold up a baby.

“Did what?! Let me down, idiot!”

Even if she continuously hit his head and struggled, she couldn’t get back down to the top of the chair.

“You… what are you… have some shame!”

Mao had lost her temper, but Kyouya didn’t pay her any heed.

“I’m just helping so it’s fine, right? I’ll hold you up, so please change the lamp.”

“Listen to people when they’re talking!”

“Please let me help. I want to be helpful, okay?”

After much insistence on having things his way, Mao reluctantly nodded in agreement.

But for whatever reason, she refused to do it in that “upsies” pose.

They agreed he’d help by letting Mao ride on his shoulders.

On that day, the lamp was safely replaced… but Mao didn’t utter another word.

CHARACTER PROFILE:

Amatsuka Mao – Part 1

The president of the GJ Club.

Because of her small size she always gets mistaken for an elementary schooler, but she’s actually in the second year of high school.

A strong and forceful person, she always gets her spirits up in vain.

Surprisingly, she gets lonely very easily.