School Assembly

(chapter originally by faith at writing.com)

Mitsuru stood before the school podium. Outwardly she was the picture of confidence and grace, the living embodiment of the model student. Inwardly, her stomach was full of butterflies. While she would never admit it, she detested public speaking. Standing up on a stage, illuminated by a hundred bright lights, staring out at the sea of faces that encompassed essentially everyone attending her school, Mitsuru felt less like a student leader and more like an exhibit to be gawked at. Every move she made was being scrutinized by her fellow students, and any little mistake was certain to be picked up by one student or another. And despite her best intentions towards her fellows, Mitsuru's standing and academic success had spawned no small amount of jealousy in her fellow students, and that in turn had spawned an endless series of rumors about her attitude and arrogance. Anything she did wrong was bound to spawn endless waves of gossip.

Fortunately, she was an old hand at delivering speeches. Apparently she had an aptitude for it that exceeded the principal's own dry delivery. This day would be no exception. Or so she told herself. If only she could have foreseen...