...
After what feels like an eternity, we escape the cold and enter the Red Winter library. We never escaped the cold, even at the Spec Ops girls' hideout, so this is hella nice.
It's not massive, but there are a large amount of shelves, plus the building is quite large. Fortunately, the hill the building is on wasn't a problem, as we took a longer, albeit less steep route.
I enter first to 'scope out' the place while the other two stick behind me.
As I enter, I see a small girl sat behind the main desk, talking to herself while holding a book.
She has green hair with two long bangs framing her face, which end at her waist, it also allows me to see that the inside of her hair is purple. How's that work? Her eyes are a pale green. She wears a massive, white coat that ends near her ankles, its hood pulled over her head, hiding most of her hair. The hood also has two small shapes, resembling bear ears. She wears large, brown shoes and has on black leggings, from what I can see. Her hands are covered in large, white gloves. Next to her is a bright white rocket launcher with a small, white bear shape on the front and the Red Winter logo on the back. Her halo is a blue gear shape, but is much more filled in that other gear-shaped halos I've seen thus far.
"I finally got it!" She says, happily. "The new Sharl x Rei fan book from Luriel! I'd almost given up because it only had a limited release at Trinity, but I scored big time! I wonder what steamy passions await me in this issue?" She asks herself with anticipation. "I'm going to stay in the library and read this all weekend!"
"Sounds fun." I say.
"WAH?!" She shouts, fumbling with the book, before whirling around to see me. "Some guy and... P-President Cherino?!"
"Oh, I'm Joshua, a teacher from Schale." I say politely.
"Well, I'm Akiizumi Momiji. But, wait... H-How long have you been standing there?" She asks, hesitantly.
"A while." Cherino says.
"Since you started talkin' about that fan book." I say, causing the bear-themed girl to deflate.
"Then you heard everything!" She shouts, cutely.
"Oh, don't be like that. You made me curious about it, actually." I say.
"Really?!" She shouts, before clearing her throat and composing herself. "D-Do you have business with the Knowledge Liberation Front?"
"I'm glad you asked!" The white haired girl says. "I'm here because-"
"Don't even say it!" Momiji shouts, pointing at the other short girl. "You're here to confiscate our precious books again, aren't you?"
"W-Wait, I think you have the wrong idea-" Cherino tries to speak.
"Please don't take this one! I haven't even gotten the chance to read it yet!" The green haired girl pleads, holding the book to her chest.
"Hey, come on now. I'm only here to-" The white haired girl tries to speak again.
"No! Please, let me read it at least three times..." Momiji begs. "Actually, ten times! This was really hard for me to get my hands on.
"Oh my gosh, shut up and listen!" Cherino roars, causing the bear girl to backpedal. "I don't care about your stupid books."
"...Huh?" Momiji looks confused. "Then what did you come all the way out to the library for?"
"It should be obvious, the library's true purpose..." Cherino begins.
"Oh, for fuck's sake! She's wants to take a nap!" I snap, getting annoyed. "This comedy routine needs to stop..." I say, massaging my head with my hand.
"What? The library is for reading!" Momiji protests.
"That's what I said!" I agree.
"Let's skip this part." Cherino says. "All right, let's see..." She walks away and begins looking all around.
I look at Momiji, equally confused, and shrug.
Cherino then stops. "Ah, this is the perfect place!" She says, standing next to a table and pointing at the ground. "It's warm since the heater is so close, and the bookshelves cast some nice shade. This is the best! Tomoe, prepare this spot for me!"
"Right away, President Cherino! I'll make sure it's exactly to your liking!" Tomoe cheerfully says, before pulling out a blanket and laying it on the ground...? Where was she keeping that?
"W-Wait! You'll disturb the other readers if you block the walkway with a blanket!" The green haired girl protests, before noticing what Cherino's doing. "And if you're going to sleep, why are you looking through the bookcase?"
"I need a nice, thick one to use as a pillow!" The white haired girl says.
I unconsciously sigh. "Phrasing, Cherino..."
She then goes back to skimming through the bookcase. "Hmm... Which one of you gets to prop up my head today...? Oh. 'The Rose of Bastille: 30th Anniversary Limited Edition'. This will do nicely."
"W-Wait a second! You can't use that book!" Momiji says, grabbing the book from her hands, looking very worried. "That's a rare book! There are only a hundred copies in existence. You can't find it anywhere else in Kivotos, never mind Red Winter Academy! If all you need is a thick book, why don't you use..." The trails off, picking up a big book. "...this encyclopedia?"
Cherino takes it in her hands for a moment, before handing it back. "Eh. Too hard. This one's bound with leather, so it's nicely cushioned. Prime sleeping material."
"What is your obsession with napping in the library?" Momiji asks, upset. "If you want to sleep, do it at the secretariat!"
"She can't." I say, drawing the green haired girl's surprised gaze. "There was a coup."
"What?! But coups are usually taken care of quickly!" Momiji shouts.
"The one who takes care of the coups, Marina, was the one who led this coup." I explain.
"So she was overthrown again?" Momiji asks.
"...I feel like I just heard something crazy." I say, slowly. "Did I just hear 'overthrown again'...?"
"Coups are pretty popular with the students here at Red Winter Academy. They want the position of power, so President Cherino gets overthrown rather often." Momiji explains.
"It's true. This is actually the third coup this month." Tomoe helpfully adds.
I just massage my head. "...Fuckin' Russia..."
"But, really, Chairman Marina this time, huh? That must be a pain." The green haired girl says.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Now that you know, it's nap time." Cherino says with a yawn, before reaching to grab the rare book from the librarian.
"I said this one's off limits!" Momiji shouts, causing the ousted leader to recoil. "If you don't understand its importance, I can't give a book like this to you."
"Sheesh! You're so stubborn about this." Cherino complains. "It's not like using it as a pillow ONCE is going to wear it out or something."
"You don't understand at all! It's a very valuable limited edition copy!" The green haired girl shouts.
"Fine. It's clear that if words can't win me the book... then I'll just have to take it by force!" The white haired girl declares.
"Pfft! You think I'm scared of you? All you are is a defenseless fugitive." Momiji says. "The comrades of the Knowledge Liberation Front will defend our rights to open knowledge and the sanctity of our library... If it's a fight you want, then that's what you'll get!"
"Hey." I say, catching their attention. I then lean down and look the aggressive girls in the eye. "No fighting in the library," I say sternly. They recoil a bit, eyes wide, their rage fading away. "If you wanna decide something, just play a game of cards or somethin'."
"O-Okay, then... I think we have some cards here..." Momiji says shakily, before running off.
"Good."
—————
And so, the two short girls played cards for a while.
That is, until...
"Ugh. I lost!" Momiji cries. "And The Rose of Bastille: 30th Anniversary Limited Edition is now in the hands of that ignorant little brat... Talk about casting pearls before swine. I'm sorry civilized society. I've failed you."
"Stop being so dramatic! Also, I told you I'm not a little brat!" Cherino shouts, before walking to the librarian girl and...
...handing the book back to her.
"Here. Take the book. I don't need it anymore." The white haired girl says.
"Huh? But you were so insistent on sleeping on it just a few minutes ago..." Momiji says, confused.
"Fighting you got me all worked up." Cherino says simply. "My nap will have to wait. Besides, you really seem to care about that book, so... I'll let you keep it."
"President Cherino..." The green haired girl says, surprised.
"Is this book really that valuable?" Cherino asks.
"Of course it is!" Momiji proudly says, clutching the book tightly to her chest. "Like I said, this is a limited edition print of The Rose of Bastille's thirtieth anniversary. Only a hundred copies were printed, so it's a hard item to come by. Plus, the bonus story in the appendix is unique to this version. Any fan of the original would kill to get their hands on this book!" She explains passionately, causing the other short girl to backpedal. "Of course, this is just a copy. The original is on display at the Trinity Grand Library."
"Geez. Quit it with the puppy dog eyes, I get it already." Cherino says, annoyed.
"But if the original's at Trinity, why don't ya go see it yourself?" I ask.
"Well, outsiders don't have access to the books at Trinity's library." Momiji explains, downtrodden. "Since we're just Red Winter students, we'll just have to make do with our own copy..."
"You should know something, my dear Momiji." Cherino suddenly says, drawing our attention. "So long as I am at the helm of our Red Winter Academy, nothing is impossible! If Trinity's library is closed to students of other academies, then we'll just have to conquer Trinity Academy! Have the Knowledge Liberation Front swear loyalty to me, and I promise to show you all the realm of books that have remained just out of reach until now!"
"D-Do you really mean that, Madam President?" Momiji asks, touched.
"Of course!" The white haired girl says, proudly. "Under my leadership, all the academies of Kivotos; Gehenna, Millennium, Hyakkiyako, you name it, will fall before us!"
Note to self, don't help Red Winter with any invasions. I'm staying neutral in that nonsense.
"However,-" She continues. "-the first step to this glorious future is to drive Chairman Marina out of the secretariat so I can be president again."
"We'll follow you to the end!" The green haired girl says loudly, before catching herself. "I mean, please let us follow you, President Cherino!"
"I can't believe you've gotten the Knowledge Liberation Front begging to follow you... You're just too amazing, Madam President!" Tomoe coos.
"What did I tell you? No one can resist the undeniable charisma of the Great Cherino!" The military loli says boisterously.
"Now how should we handle Marina?" Momiji asks. "Why not drag her out of the secretariat and throw her into the icy laky off campus? Or perhaps we tickle her into submission all night long so she'll never dare to stage a coup again?"
"Wh-What the..? Hold on, even I wouldn't think of doing anything so cruel! Let's handle this like civilized people!" Cherino shouts.
"That's not so bad. There was an internet trend a few years ago back home where people dumped a bucket of ice water on themselves. Got really popular too, even celebreties were doing it." I say, drawing confused and surprised gazes.
"That sounds stupid." Cherino says.
"It was very stupid, yes."
—————
We left the library soon after, and began walking down the streets of Red Winter. Cherino said it was to look for more allies, but I dunno.
We then overhear a group of students planning festival related activities for they day. This makes Cherino look... annoyed? "Hmph! Just horrible! I don't like them at all!" She says.
"Whaddya talkin' about?" I ask, confused by her reaction.
"Look at them! Look at all of the Red Winter students prancing down the streets because of the festival!" The short girl says, holding her hand out. "While they're having the time of their lives, I, the most powerful person at this academy, am suffering... No job, no snacks, and no nap! This is so unfair!"
"Life is suffering." I say, looking at the students roam the streets, as I can see Cherino and Tomoe's curious gazes drawn to me from the corner of my sight. "There's always gonna be problems, but if you give up, then things ain't gonna get any better." I look down at the short girl and offer her a smile. "You're tough. I know you'll get your job and stuff back soon, so long as you keep pushin' forward."
Cherino's eyes widen, before she relaxes them and chuckles. "Thank you for that, Comrade- no, Sensei."
"Anytime." I say simply. "But for now, how about we forget all those troubles and just enjoy the festival for a bit?"
"Hmm..." Cherino looks skeptical.
"You're always in your office, directing the festival, right?" I ask, causing the short girl to nod in affirmation. "Then why not enjoy it like everyone else for once? Might give ya some insight on planning the next one."
"That's... That's a wonderful idea!" The short girl says happily. "Understanding your subordinates is yet another duty of a leader! It's important to put down your work and see life from a student's point of view! ...And I surely won't use this as an excuse to goof off!"
"Of course not. No goofing here." I say with a knowing grin.
"All right." The white haired girl says, with a sigh. "The first place that requires investigation must be that cake shop there! Full speed ahead, Comrade!" She says, walking towards the shop.
I just give Tomoe a smile, which she returns, and begin following the short girl. "Aye aye, Comrade."
—————
After buying some cake, we continued to walk the streets, food in hand, and mouth.
Cherino happily muches on her cake. "Wow... This is so good! The honey in this medovik is so good! I could eat this every day!"
"I agree. I haven't had good medovik like this is years." I say, taking a bite of mine.
"Cherino, you have some cream in your mustache." Tomoe points out, moving her hand towards the short girl's face.
The white haired girl recoils. "Tomoe! I'm not a child! Don't go touching my mustache whenever you please!" She says, causing me to chuckle. "Mustache faux pas aside, I just realized that I blew all my spending money for this month. The Ivan Kupala is a danger to my wallet's safety... Now it's obvious why all the merchants in Kivotos break out their sweets for the festival." She then turns to me. "Okay, Comrade. Where should we hang out- er, I mean, investigate- next?"
"Hmm..." Looking around, something catches my eye. "How about that big pile of firewood in the middle of the street?"
"Firewood?" The short girl asks, following my gaze. "Oh, that's not firewood. That's probably the altar the Labor Party is constructing!"
"Altar?" I ask, confused.
"I personally instructed them to construct an altar for the traditional burning of the giant springtime doll." The white haired girl happily explains.
"How long should it take for 'em to be done?" I ask. "It's still just a pile of wood."
"Well... You're not wrong. It's not much of an altar without any decorations." Cherino says, observing the 'altar'. "The festival will begin soon, so why is it not done yet? Those lazy bums! Are they trying to sabotage the festival?"
"Calm down, President. Perhaps there's been a misunderstanding." The purple haired secretary says, hoping to placate the smaller girl.
"A misunderstanding?!" Cherino all but roars. "Gah! Layabouts who don't finish their work on time have not place at our academy! Demerits all around!"
"Hang on. Maybe Marina's got 'em working on something else." I theorize. "Why don't we go look for them?"
"Just a moment." Tomoe says, drawing our attention. "This isn't where you told them to set up the altar. The would be the square in front of the secretariat building. This structure must have nothing to do with the festival."
"R-Really?" Cherino asks, surprised. "Then what's up with that pile of scrap wood?"
"Let's ask those girls next to the pile." I say.
"Those girls are Labor Party members." Cherino points out, before walking towards the wood pile. "Come on."
As we reach the group, Cherino happily addresses them. "Hello, my fellow comrades. How is work going...?"
Unfortunately, none of them hear her and one with an orange and black megaphone shouts into it. "We are slaves to no one! We shall be the masters of this world!"
The one with the megaphone has long, dark blue hair coming from beneath a white hard hat with the Red Winter logo emblazoned in the center. Her bangs frame her face and her pale green eyes. Around her neck is a white scarf. On her torso is a grey shirt under a white vest and skirt, held with a red belt. An oversized dark blue coat with orange details reaches to below her skirt. Her legs are covered with black leggings and her feet and most of her shins are covered with thick grey, dark blue and orange boots. On her back is an orange and black rifle. Her halo resembles a neon teal crosshair. The halo is comprised of an innermost ring with four protruding shapes at 11, 1, 7 and 5 o'clock which split the outer two rings, making them near-half circles. The outer rings are 'held together' with straight shapes at 10, 2, 9, 3, 8 and 4 o'clock.
All of the Labor Party members cheer in agreement. "YEAH!"
Yup, it's official. This is definitely communist Russia.
"Wh-What the heck is going on...?!" Cherino shouts in disbelief.
"Comrades, the Ivan Kupala begins in a month." The girl with the megaphone speaks, more quietly now. "But what is Ivan Kupala if not a time to celebrate the bounty of nature to throw away winter's salted meat and bread and enjoy the fresh fruits of the sun? The students of Red Winter are no exception to this tradition. We have the right to enjoy the festival!"
"Hear, hear!" Another member shouts.
"Let us celebrate too!" Yet another shouts.
"But instead of enjoying the holiday, we're forced to work double shifts day in and out in the freezing cold!" The girl with the megaphone continues. "As this is a blatant violation of Red Winter Academy's values of freedom and equality, we denounce the secretariat!"
"YEAH!" Another member shouts.
"Get outta here!" Another yells.
"President Cherino and the other executives must guarantee the rights of the Labor Party!" The megaphone girl continues. "Until we're guaranteed plenty of rest, additional pay, and, uh... two puddings, the strike will continue!"
"YEAAAH!" Another member yells.
"Let's strike!" Yet another shouts.
"Wait, wait, wait! Who said you could organize for protests?!" Cherino shouts. "Engaging in this conduct without express permission from the secretariat is grounds for demerits! You'll all be punished brutally for insubordination!"
"...President Cherino?" The megaphone girl asks, surprised.
"Former President." I correct.
"Former?" She looks confused.
"Marina staged a coup and took over." I explain.
"Indeed!" Tomoe adds. "If your goal is to topple tyrants, then you should be with us, not against us!"
"Chairman Marina has taken over?" The megaphone girl blinks a few times.
"Yes. I, in all my glory, have been on the run since she staged her dastardly coup!" Cherino declared, quite dramatically for some reason.
"I don't know if you should be saying it like that, Cherino." The purple haired secretary says.
"Are you saying that Chairman Marina is in charge now and Cherino here is just some powerless little brat...?" The megaphone girl asks.
"What'd you just call me?!" The short girl roars.
The megaphone girl turns to her group. "Listen up! We have a new target! We shift our eyes from this stupid little brat, to the new president, Chairman Marina!"
"You called me a little brat again!" The white haired brat shouts. "And you even called me stupid this time! Your insolence can no longer be ignored! Demerits! You will all be punished!"
"Cherino." I say sternly, causing her to recoil a bit as she looks at me. "Stop acting like a brat, you're just provin' their point." I say, causing her to look down a bit.
The girl with the megaphone continues. "All right, troops. For the rights and freedoms of the worker, and... uh, for various other reasons, let's storm the secretariat!"
"Okay, now this is familiar." I say to myself.
"YEEAAAH!" The Labor Party members shout as one.
"They totally ignored me..." Cherino says, upset.
"The Labor Party is as formidable as I'd heard, but having them basically on our side is certainly a blessing." Tomoe says, as the megaphone girl turns around to face us.
"I suppose we'll assist you in taking back the secretariat, former president, and, uh..." The megaphone girl says, looking at me.
"Joshua, Sensei of Schale." I greet.
"Labor Party Spokeswoman, Yasumori Minori." The megaphone holding girl introduces herself, before turning back to her group. "Now then, MARCH!" She shouts, as the group moves, as one, toward the secretariat.
"Well don't just stand there with your mouths open, let's go!" I say, motioning for Cherino and Tomoe to follow me.
"W-Wait! I'm supposed to be leading the way! I'm in charge here!" Cherino protests.
Shaking my head and chuckling, I make a call to the Spec Ops girls and Momiji to get them to meet us there.
Can't say this is the first time I've ever been part of a revolution, though this one will certainly be less bloody.
—————
AN
Sensei is a real diplomat. Or maybe the Kivotos girls are just prone to violence.
Momiji was a wierdly fun name to type.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and look forward to the next!