Accepting Tsukasa: The beginnings

Chapter 9: [Take it slow VP]

Chapter 9
[Take it slow VP]

"Take it easy Tsukasa." Melissa says patting me on the back.

"Y-yeah... I know. It's just been very hard lately to try and be VP. I thought it'd be easy you know." I give out a long sigh.

"Do you really think I can do this Melissa? The students here don't seem to take me seriously as Student Council VP, and... I'm not sure if I'm good enough for the position."

"Oh come on now Tsukasa. Why would you say that?"

"Well... I try to talk to some people, but I freeze up and just can't get the words I wish to speak out of my mouth." As I say this I recall days and moments before my talk with Melissa happened. I tried getting some of the boys in class to hide their umm... let's just say... erotic magazines and focus on studying for the test next subject. But the boys didn't take me seriously and just said;

"Yeah yea whatevs Tsukasa."

This outcome probably came as a result of my timid voice. Argh! I hate myself so much! Why can't I just... muster the energy to be outgoing!? To be able to talk to people effortlessly?!

I just sigh. How can I get people to take me as seriously as Melissa does?

I'm snapped back to reality with Melissa snapping her fingers onto my face.

"Tsukasaaaa.... are you listening?"

"Ah, yes! What is it?"

"You want to be more confident talking to other people?" I silently nod, urging her to continue. "Then I have a solution. You'll need to treat yourself to some... exposure therapy."

"Exposure therapy? What's that?"

Melissa answers. "Well, you just... need to start talking to more people. Get yourself out there. Expose yourself to daily human interaction. Talk and talk and talk. It gets easier when you do it a lot."

I raise my brow with curiosity, "How does that work?"

"Trust me. Just do it." Melissa continues. "Oh yeah, I think I got the perfect exercise for you to help you overcome your shy nature Tsukasa."

"W-What is it?"

"The business fare happening next week! I'll organize a group for you, and you manage it ok? You'll get to talk to alot of people. It'll be fun!"

Talk? Talk to people? Yeah, that's a no-go for me. I already have a hard time mustering up the courage to interact with other people. But managing a small business for one day, while talking to big crowds of customers? Oh dear lord, please help me....

2 weeks later.... and the business fare came, and to say that I'm not excited was an understatement. Melissa assigned me to a random group with people named, Mike Berger, Zoey Turner, and Thomas Wilson. I never really talked to any of these students before, so I was hoping we'd at least gel well together.

Before the second week, we talked about what business or well, 'temporary business' we could make as a project for our business and management subject. We discussed many ideas, but we ultimately came up with fruit snacks. Phew! It's a good thing we did, because Zoey said we should make a hot dog and burger stand cooking hotdogs and burgers. But Thomas immediately disagreed to the idea because well... none of can actually cook. Sooo Sugared fruit snacks and drinks were what we decided to do. So now that the business fare came in we decided on our roles.

Mike spoke up first. "Alright, I'll be the manager, you know... just overlooking things to see if they're fine."
The black haired boy turns to point at me. "And you Tsukasa... you're going to be the advertiser!"