Of Yokai and Hopeless Romantics

Chapter 3

" I'll pet your ego and anything else you might want, if that's what it takes," Yayaka said. Benihime looked at Inna, but the girl seemed unaffected by how her romantic partner was flirting with another girl. Benihime didn't know how Inna could be in an open relationship with Yayaka, there was no way she could do something like that. Yet there was Yayaka flirting with a girl she had a past relationship with and there was Inna not minding. Was it just Yayaka's succubus nature that led to the understanding or was it that Yayaka chose right in Inna? Yayaka often told Benihime she was too old-fashioned in her approach to the opposite sex, something Benihime never denied, she was raised with the traditions and values of bygone eras. While she would never be polyamorous like Yayaka, a yuki-onna was monogamous to a fault, she did have to admit to herself that some of her beliefs were out of date though.

" Ok I don't want you to beg or anything, I'll accept the position," Mari said actually managing to sound as if she was being put upon.

" I say now is the perfect time to get the cake, if none of you object," Benihime said.

" There's cake?" Shoji asked. " You girls really did plan to go all out."

" There's always cake when Beni-chan is involved," Yayaka said getting up to help Benihime.

The two quietly made their way to the kitchenette and got Benihime's cake out of the fridge. It was a small pecan and maple syrup pound cake that Benihime had baked the day before at Cooking Club. As Yayaka grabbed the plates and some utensils Benihime took the opportunity to ask Yayaka something that had been on her mind since earlier in the day, " If I am not out of place for asking, what did Mari-san give you in exchange for your vote?"

" You can always ask me anything, you know that," Yayaka said. Still, as she said it there was a bit of embarrassment on her face, it took a lot to embarrass Yayaka. " I wanted a night with Shoji-kun."

Benihime blushed, Yayaka must have really liked Shoji beyond her typical lust. Mari being a bakeneko was a shapeshifter, with Shoji having chosen Noriko, it was the closest Yayaka would get to have her fantasy fulfilled. " He really did make an impact on us didn't he?"

" You almost killed him on the roof, he was so terrified," Yayaka said laughing.

" That was due to Kurosawa-sama and that was before I knew how kind of a boy he is," Benihime said.

" He's Noriko's boyfriend now, we have to move on, we don't want to be those types of girls," Yayaka said.

" I know, I'm glad that we are all still friends," Benihime said.

The two returned to Yayaka's room, shared the cake with their friends and then slowly made their way to their own rooms.

. . . . .

Benihime had gone to sleep on Saturday night secure in the knowledge that there would be work for her to do at the Student Council. Yayaka was ambitious and Mari was sure to be an effective Treasurer, it would likely fall on Benihime to keep things organized and running smoothly, and to keep those two from going overboard. Sure enough come Monday after classes, during the first Student Council meeting, Benihime had her beliefs confirmed.

" An extravagant lavish school trip to Tokyo, the type of which people will talk about for years to come, that is our goal," Yayaka stated, charisma radiating from her and filling the small conference room that served as their office.

" Take it down a notch there, we're your Cabinet, not voters," Mari said.

" Can't you show some excitement, this is important," Inna said backing up Yayaka.

" I'm just thinking of the work that's ahead of us," Mari said as she lazily leaned back in her chair placing her legs on the table. " Tokyo is an expensive city, just finding a hotel for all of us is going to be costly, if there are any openings at all."

" That is why it is important for us to offer our support to Yayaka-chan and make sure the Cultural Festival is a success," Benihime said. She understood that having an opposing voice in a Cabinet could be helpful, but right off the bat Mari looked to be starting an argument.

" We're going to start making plans for the talent show we'll have at the Cultural Festival, today. Between tickets sales, entry fees, and concessions we'll have enough money for the trip." Yayaka said.

" We're going to need more money if you want to go as extravagant as you said," Mari said.

Benihime and Inna were going to argue, Mari wasn't being productive, but Yayaka raised her arms and stopped them. " Ok, Mari-chan, do you have any suggestions then?"

Mari sat in her seat properly and got serious, " you need to expand your concept of what constitutes a talent show. I think you need to add an art auction, a fashion show, a baking competition, all of those fall under talent."

" We only have that Friday, the other years have the rest of the weekend, we might overload the day and it could backfire," Yayaka said.

" I think if we put our minds together we can schedule it properly," Benihime said feeling Mari's idea had some value.

" Ok, let's start to work this out, I know it's a lot for the first day, but I really want this trip to be something we never forget," Yayaka said.

After that, they laid out the plans for the cultural festival. Benihime was happy to have been asked to be Yayaka's Secretary. The bulk of the organizing of the Cultural Festival would fall on her, but that played to Benihime's strengths. She would also be the point woman for the baking competition and would be coming up with what concessions would be sold. This was the type of responsibility Benihime wanted, to prove that she had matured, gained some of the wisdom of her fox parents. Unfortunately, it came time for the girls to go to their club activities before they could get everything figured out. As Benihime got ready to make her way to the student kitchen, Mari stopped her.

" Do you have free time tomorrow to come to the Arts Studio with me? I want to get all the club president's to agree to the Art Auction," Mari said.

It seemed like a simple enough request, but Benihime recognized the mischief in Mari's eyes. " I am free to go with you, but what exactly do you have planned?"

" I have someone I want you to meet," Mari said before running off to Gymnastics Club before Benihime could argue. So, it was really going to happen, Mari had found a boy for Benihime and she was going to meet him tomorrow. Who exactly did Mari have in mind?