Student council meetings—where representatives plan events, debate policies, manage budgets, and act as the voice of the student body—are often described as a school's miniature government. Proposals are drafted, votes are cast, and decisions are made with the goal of improving student life.
But at Seiran Academy of Arts, an elite institution nestled within Hakua-no-Sato, the student council was anything but ordinary.
Handpicked by the principal and higher authorities, its members were not only academically exceptional—they possessed abilities. Power, intellect, influence… each one was chosen for a reason. There were only nine of them.
And every single one could change the balance of the school.
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Takahashi Hiroshi — Treasurer
A boy with deep, earthy red hair reminiscent of fox fur, darkened at the tips, and crimson eyes that gleamed even in low light.
His power: Pyrokinesis. Hiroshi could generate and control intense flames—explosive punches, fireballs, flame-laced kicks. In his "burning rush" state, his entire body ignited, amplifying both speed and strength to terrifying levels.
Mischievous by nature, he toyed with people's thoughts and reactions, always watching, always calculating. But when he turned serious, the air itself seemed to tighten—because Hiroshi never treated anything lightly twice.
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[Name Unknown] — Vice President
No one knew his real name.
He was simply known as "The Mask."
Flowing caramel-colored hair tied in a loose, low ponytail that swayed with the slightest breeze. His face was always concealed behind a black-and-white mask, split into two expressions—one calm, one twisted. No one had ever seen what lay beneath it.
His power: Mind Manipulation and Illusion.
He could alter memories, distort reality, and rewrite perception itself. Entire rooms could forget events as if they had never happened… as if reality had been edited.
Detached from anything that failed to interest him, yet dangerously obsessive over what did, he thrived in quiet destruction.
Sly. Two-faced. And disturbingly… he enjoyed it.
---
Kurogane Itsuki — Science Lab Prefect
Soft chestnut hair brushing his neck, paired with low-lidded brown eyes that always seemed half-lost in thought.
His power: Shapeshifting.
He could become anyone—or anything. Human. Animal. Something in between. He could even restore life to withered plants, coaxing dead flowers back into bloom.
A brilliant yet unhinged scientist, Itsuki spent most of his time buried in laboratories and libraries, chasing one impossible goal: to prolong life… or perhaps, one day, reverse death itself.
To him, classes were irrelevant—unless they involved science.
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Shinonome Suzumi — Disciplinary Head
Mid-length dark red hair framed her quiet expression, often partially hidden behind a book she rarely lowered. A black blindfold with red stripes covered her eyes, concealing what no one had ever seen. At the back of her neck, a faint snake tattoo coiled silently.
Her power: Invisibility, Teleportation, and Mind Reading.
She could vanish, move unseen between spaces, and—if she chose—peer into the minds of others.
Introverted and eerily quiet, Suzumi existed like a shadow within shadows. You never noticed her… until she wanted you to.
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Yurina — 1st Secretary
Long, flowing black hair and completely white eyes devoid of any color gave her an almost porcelain, doll-like presence. A ballet dancer marked by vitiligo, her beauty was haunting—fragile, yet unsettling.
Her power: Voice Dominion.
With a whisper, a command, or a song, she could bend others to her will—lulling them into sleep… or ending them entirely.
She could also distinguish the living from the dead and see spirits—especially those bound by vengeance.
Yurina despised being disturbed. And those who ignored that… rarely did so twice.
---
Kobayashi Aimi — 2nd Secretary
A sharp, chin-length black bob streaked with gold framed her lively face. Her black eyes carried warmth, contrast to the others.
Her power: Earth Manipulation.
She raised stone walls, summoned thorned vines, created binding traps, and drained energy through blooming fields of flowers that weren't as harmless as they looked.
Friendly, outgoing, and effortlessly social, Aimi balanced the council's darker atmosphere with a light that didn't break… no matter how strange things became.
---
And then—
The triplets.
Korean.
Indistinguishable at first glance. Unmistakable once you knew them.
---
Kim Min-hyun — The Eldest
Messy black hair tied into a short, loose ponytail, streaked with emerald green. His sharp, golden eyes glowed with quiet intensity.
His power: Shadow Manipulation.
He wielded shadows like weapons—forming blades, tendrils, even clones. He could merge with darkness, travel through it, and execute his signature technique: Shadow Bind Execution—where a target's own shadow turned against them.
Silent. Watching. Speaking only when necessary… if at all.
---
Kim Jae-hyun — The Middle
Layered black hair with the same green streaks, eyes burning with restless energy.
His power: Telekinesis.
He could move anything with his mind—effortlessly, violently.
Short-tempered and easily irritated, Jae-hyun reacted before thinking… and rarely held back.
---
Kim Tae-hyun — The Youngest
Longer hair cascading over his shoulders, identical streaks of emerald woven through black strands. His eyes held the same glow—but softer.
His power: Precognition.
He could see moments into the future—just enough to change outcomes before they happened.
Friendly, extroverted, and unexpectedly warm, he formed an instant bond with Aimi.
The gentlest of the three… yet perhaps the most dangerous, because he already knew what came next.
---
They dressed the same. Moved the same. Stayed when one fell ill.
They could sense each other's danger—like a single soul divided into three bodies.
---
The President's seat remained empty.
And yet, somehow—
Shiharu found himself sitting among them.
Ten seats. Ten presences. Ten forces that could bend reality itself.
Just when he thought he could avoid trouble…
…it found him first.
______
"Hotaru Shiharu, right?"
The voice cut through the quiet murmur of the room. Shiharu tilted his head, glancing toward the speaker from where he sat.
The student council meeting room resembled a boardroom for corporate directors more than a high school space. Five seats lined each side of a long, polished table, with important school files and students personal information book record neatly arranged in front of each member, along with a bottle of water. The atmosphere was formal and heavy with expectation as everyone prepared to present ideas or raise unresolved issues.
Shiharu looked completely out of place, and his expression made it obvious. He had no desire to be here. How had he even ended up in this situation? That damn principal. He had clearly told her he possessed no special powers or abilities, yet she had insisted he join the council anyway.
He let out a quiet sigh of annoyance and scratched the back of his neck, giving only a small nod in response to the question. The girl who had spoken offered him a welcoming smile, though it felt carefully measured. She was observing him. In fact, nearly everyone in the room was. Everyone except the three he already knew: Hiroshi, who was flipping through files; Itsuki, who flashed him a relaxed smile; and Yurina, who sat beside him in calm silence.
Either way, Shiharu had already made up his mind.
Avoid them.
Their gazes felt piercing, as though they were trying to read his thoughts. Perhaps they couldn't accept that he had joined the student council purely based on academic performance, without any powers. Or maybe they simply believed he wasn't on the same level as them. He was just someone with an encyclopedic brain and skill in sports, nothing more. He even ignored the school dress code, wearing his uniform however he pleased. Strangely, none of that had stopped the principal from inviting him. If anything, her interest in him had only grown.
"We have a new addition to the council," Aimi announced, her voice carrying natural authority. "This is Hotaru Shiharu. He joins us at the principal's request and will be working with us from now on. Let's give him a proper welcome."
Her smile remained perfectly in place as the others introduced themselves one by one. Most mentioned their abilities; a few did not. Shiharu received a light, polite welcome.
*She definitely deserves her position as secretary,* Shiharu thought, giving her one more glance.
"Well… I look forward to working with you all," he replied briefly — a clear signal that he wanted to move straight to business.
"Is he… like, a girl? I thought he was one just dressed as a guy when he walked in. He has such beautiful looks," whispered Tae-hyun, the youngest of the triplets.
"Am glad am not the only one who thought of that," Hiroshi muttered, looking up from his files. " Cause damnn, he's really good-looking… and pretty smart… hella cool too!!"
"You've met him before?" Tae-hyun asked, looking at Hiroshi with clear envy.
"Yeah. Yesterday. He fought all those disgusting things by himself and even figured out who was pulling the strings behind it. I'm his biggest fan now."
Hiroshi had almost mentioned the guardian spirit, but Shiharu had pulled him and Itsuki aside earlier and asked them to keep that part secret.
"He really did?" Yurina asked, her voice carrying a hint of light shock.
"I wish I had been there that evening. I regret going home early," she added with a sad sigh
"That alone is reason enough for the principal to choose him as the tenth member," Aimi said, resting her fingers thoughtfully on her chin. "Unlike the rest of us, whose powers revealed themselves gradually, he's the first to have fought such a strong, strange creature without possessing any abilities at all."
"Do you think he'll develop any powers?" Itsuki asked.
"I'd give him credit for being extremely flexible and skilled with a sword."
Aimi and Tae-hyun looked at him curiously. Itsuki smiled lightly.
"Right. The principal mentioned that Hiroshi and Itsuki were the only council members present at school that evening after dismissal. Somehow, they happened to be with him when those living-dead creatures appeared."
Aimi explained as she wrote something down on a plain white sheet and passed it to Itsuki.
"As far as I'm concerned, Shiharu deserves to be here with us. His intelligence far exceeds ours," Itsuki added, earning a nod of agreement from Hiroshi.
"Guys…"
Jae-hyun called out, his head bent low so his hair veiled his expression. They had come here to discuss important matters, yet here they were, completely engrossed in talking about someone else.
"Guys…"
He called a second time. When no one responded, his irritation boiled over.
"GUYSS!!"
He slammed his hand hard on the table. Several water bottles toppled over, and a few files scattered. He breathed heavily, irritation etched clearly on his face. Everyone turned toward him with varying expressions of surprise. Among them, one person seemed deeply pleased by the outburst.
"Have you all forgotten what we came here for?!" he fumed, gritting his teeth. "Gahh— I want to leave this place, okay? If you don't, I don't give a flying fuck. Let's just do what we need to do today and get the hell out of here."
"He's right," Suzumi muttered quietly before adding, "The female junior student who attacked teachers, students, and staff after school yesterday… was among those who died on the school trip."