We're Not Generals, We're Prom Floozies, Part 3
1496 Words
Wednesday starts with a more sedate note, especially when compared to the ruckus of yesterday.
First off, my bruises get healed. No surprises there.
Second, I get to finally enjoy some coffee I bought from a local farmer, with its rich brew that thankfully isn't loaded too much with caffeine.
And finally, since I'm practically done with my semestral project, I have no major take-home assignments for the rest of the month.
But that doesn't mean I'm slacking off.
If I want to be an engineer, then so be it.
The sedation is also the first thing Harumi senses on my face, both when we're going to school and when we're going home.
“Gunpei, it looks like you switched moods so quickly. Yesterday, you were so hyper. And today...”
“Why wouldn't I? At least that smile on my face isn't wearing off.”
“Ah yes. I hear you're giddy to narrate to me the finale of your prom story.”
“You sure can read my mind, huh? Well, I won't delay you any further! Let's chop-chop!”
I then grab her hand the same way she (and Noemi) grabbed mine.
“Hey! You're getting all hyper again, Gunpei! What's with your mood swings?!”
Eventually, six o' clock comes.
“Welcome again to the story telling power hour. Before we begin, do you have something you want to ask that I didn't clarify?”
“Yes. About that Touka girl, in particular. Did she have family issues? Mental health issues? Was she bullied?”
“The answer will be revealed during the story. So then, let's get right into it.”
***
And finally, the day of the much-awaited prom came.
Since most of the students in our section also sat in the student council, the plan I concocted was swiftly enforced.
There were 40 students in our section; and for each of the ten boys, a universally-agreed-upon harem of three girls was assigned.
Before the much-awaited dance, I could still sense some worry on Shichiro's face.
He knew of his circumstances with Touka, and the guidance counselor thankfully provided him with much-needed help, including hiring a private investigator.
I asked him, “Any progress with the... you know?”
“Ah, yes, Gunpei. About Touka. The investigator just furnished a report earlier today. He found out that the root cause of her abrasiveness... was her parents getting ready to divorce over political differences.”
Not that surprising. Many children who grew up in broken families have a high tendency to develop mental illnesses and other nasty effects.
“Therefore, Touka had to temporarily stay in her classmates' house. Specifically, the house belonging to twin sisters Kikyou and Himawari Matsuo, who are her long-time friends.”
“And then the sisters provided her with much-needed guidance to calm her down and eventually get to the root of her problems. Which I hope includes adoption.”
“About that... yeah. The Matsuos are seriously considering adopting Touka, considering how close they were with her parents, until the disagreements blew up in their faces and they had no choice but to throw up their arms in surrender.”
“Good, good. Now that's one less roadblock to worry about.”
After a sumptuous dinner that mainly consisted of the above-mentioned talk plus some random small talk, the much-awaited portion of the prom, the dance, was about to commence.
We, the boys, gave our non-verbal cues for the operation to actually start; and we already picked the girls for our own harems beforehand.
We then extended our hands to our harems to begin a unique kind of dance.
“Come... to our paradise.”
The girls organized themselves into groups of three, and then chorused with their cute, alluring voices, “Yes.”
In English, even.
If you're curious as to who are the girls I picked for the night, they are the following.
Anya Kurihara, a somewhat plain-looking and insignificant girl... if not for the fact that she loves to buy items on those old-school home shopping networks.
Saya Nakamura, a member of the school choir and an avid fan of fictional pretty boys.
Ruriko Amano, a member of the weather observation club and a noted fan of online novels who's sick and tired of the rampant themes of promiscuity caused by a toxic and too demanding fandom.
Once the harems have all assembled, the rock band that was commissioned for the prom – to be more specific, a then up-and-coming (and now famous) local visual kei band named Lash Plaster – observed the scene; and after some whispers from its members, they decided to play the following song:
“Deep in the night, I am looking for some fun
Deep in the night, I am looking for some love”
And we all danced gaily to the beat, with the girls giggling softly while their bodies were being held tightly by us boys.
As for me...
I did my best to hold all three girls' waists tight while speaking the following softly...
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, you know. You all earned being on this dance floor rather than the bland floor of your own rooms.”
Anya replied...
“Yeah. This feels definitely better than you forking out money to rent a girlfriend. Not that I saw you actually doing it, anyway.”
Saya cut in.
“Wow, Gunpei. I've never thought you'd be a pretty boy yourself just by seeing your face closer to mine. In fact, you look so much like one of my favorite characters ever, Ryota Katsura.”
And then, it was Ruriko's turn.
“I-it's practically the first time I met you face-to-face, Gunpei. I-it's a little embarrassing... but at least... it's better than being caught up in that scandal, right?”
As long as I and the other boys were doing this calmly and without too much fanfare, we were all fine.
Even Shichiro, who had finally managed to fix the once unfixable Touka.
From the whispers I heard, Touka was repeatedly saying “Thank you” while shedding tears of joy.
We were all glad this plan of mine went without a hitch.
But then, we didn't expect the next thing that transpired.
The other sections gradually noticed what we were doing.
And, in an unforeseen move, the females invited the males to organize their reverse harems – and then copied every move we’ve made.
This “replication” left us surprised, but we've ignored the “copycat” reverse harems anyway as we enjoyed our unique prom moment.
An hour of dancing had elapsed, and the band had finished playing its songs.
The principal of Sango-minato Central High School, Juzaburo Shimabukuro, unexpectedly went up the stage and proclaimed the following:
“It has come to my attention that some brave young man has found a way to prevent some girls from skipping this otherwise memorable prom... and whoever he is... I thank him from the bottom of my heart.”
I was surprised to learn that the principal was commending me. The girls of my own harem all hugged me as a gesture of thanks.
“He has found a way to circumvent my ruling that no two students from different sections shall take each other as prom dates, and he did it without any hint of indecency, despite my earlier suspicions. And with the student council and his section's homeroom's adviser, Mr. Hirano, backing his plan... no scandalous actions took place, so I must congratulate them too. You have all found a safe approach in enjoying this wondrous prom, dear students... and for that... I hereby declare... that starting next prom, this ruling of mine will be rescinded.”
The announcement elicited a massive round of applause from the students.
“Furthermore... harems in proms are 100% allowed, as long as nothing scandalous happens. So, dear students, enjoy what this prom has to offer while the night is still young. Thank you.”
This statement educed a bigger round of applause.
And as the night was about to end, instead of the usual prom king and prom queen, the best prom harem award was being awarded impromptu!
And in what seems to be called Lady Luck's grace...
“The Prom Harem Award goes to... Mr. Gunpei Imahara and his harem consisting of Ms. Anya Kurihara, Ms. Saya Nakamura, and Ms. Ruriko Amano! Congratulations! You just won yourself a trophy and some other great prizes from our generous sponsors!”
...me and my harem were announced the overall winners!
I couldn't believe it all!
But then, the plan I concocted in the first place earned me this weird, but still acceptable, accolade.
As the sashes and crowns were adorned on us, I've felt like I have won a trillion yen – since I've saved the prom from turning into a total disaster.
***
“And thus ends the tale of practically the only harem-oriented prom in the world.”
“And how'd the prom in the senior year turn out?”
“Basically more gender-balanced. And of course, I got to actually ask Noemi out.”
“Ah yeah, I remember that! She was so jealous of what you did. But then, she and you went to different schools, so that's that.”
“Well, after she found out about it, she swore to have me and only me as her prom date. And that'll be another story for another day. Tomorrow, if you may wish.”
“Yes! Please do! I've never been this excited before for that one story that leads to another!”
“Yup. But until then, nighty-night.”
“Good night then, Gunpei.”
Indeed, one thing led to another.
This is but one of the curiosities of life – events that were unknowingly linked due to the circumstances that surrounded them.
- Writer
