#287

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At Sakuranaoka Academy, the atmosphere within the school began to change.

The presence of third-year students was diminishing, and the second-year students were, in essence, becoming the senior class.

Perhaps because of this, there was a slightly lively atmosphere within the second-year building.

However, this lasted only for a short while.

Familiarity comes to everything.

Everyone can sense the buoyant atmosphere around them, and their own spirits rise as well. However, observing someone calm instantly organizes the situation within oneself.

Whether one translates that into action depends on their personality.

Yuuto, Shizuku, and Kirasaka, even though they saw the same atmosphere, remained as composed as ever.

Observing them, the classes gradually began to regain a sense of calm.

It was during the time when I went to buy a drink from the vending machine on the first floor during lunch that I noticed a familiar figure behind the window of the distant staff room.

Today was not a day for third-year students to attend.

Some were studying at home, and others were comfortably spending their days after securing admission through recommendation.

As far as I knew, that person was rumoured to have a recommendation interview scheduled for next week, and it was expected to go smoothly.

Wondering what business she had at the staff room at this point, I hesitated before turning my steps toward it.

When I arrived at the entrance to the staff room, the person I was looking for was just finishing up and giving a slight bow at the entrance.

“President…”

“Minato! I was just about to come and meet you.”

Calling out, I approached her, and the former student council president, Hiiragi Akane, greeted me with a smile as if flowers were blooming on her face. She swiftly approached me.

Stopping in front of me, she checked the surroundings.

She was probably checking if Shizuku and Kirasaka were around.

Unfortunately, both of them were having lunch in the classroom.

I, too, intended to return and finish my remaining lunch after the conversation with President.

I was about to ask her why she was here at school when President took hold of my arm and started walking away.

“…The level of physical contact is quite intense, isn’t it?”

“Oh, we’re a couple arranged by our families. Besides, today, there’s no need to be considerate of my junior today.”

Humming a tune, President continued to pull me along towards somewhere. It wasn’t until we had advanced a bit that I noticed the direction we were headed in—the familiar student council room.

It seemed like that’s where the conversation was going to take place.

Silently allowing President to guide me, as we walked towards the student council room, I stole a glance at the person next to me.

Come to think of it, I may have never seen President’s face up close like this.

In this academy, there were two beautiful girls, Shizuku and Kirasaka, who were certainly outstanding in terms of appearance. However, President herself was undoubtedly a beauty as well.

Upon reassessing her appearance, I couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed. If other students were to see me in this situation, rumours might spread… well, maybe not.

In the first place, people might wonder who the student next to President is. While there was some attention during the student council elections and, among our grade, the incident during the school trip, I’m aware that I lack personal charm.

Even if I’ve been forgotten, there’s no need to feel down about it now.

However… if I were being observed by Shizuku and Kirasaka, it would be a bit scary.

There’s a slight sense of guilt towards them that’s beginning to sprout, and I’m aware that deep down, I’m avoiding understanding the reasons behind it.

Admitting it would be an easy thing.

That they, Shizuku and Kirasaka, are becoming something different within me.

If I keep overthinking things beside President, she might keenly pick up on even the slightest changes. Brushing away the thoughts intruding from the side of my mind, I quickly return to the main topic.

“Haven’t you had lunch yet?”

“Ah, well, I was planning to stop by the staff room on my way back.”

I understand upon seeing President’s appearance. Since there shouldn’t be any classes today, there’s no reason to visit the classroom. However, she doesn’t have any bags or belongings, so she probably came dressed in her uniform with the intention of just stopping by for a chat.

As the two of us arrive at the student council room, President takes a seat on the visitor’s sofa, not her usual president’s seat.

She graduated from the student council, and now Koizumi has taken over, leading the new organization. I also participated in the student council election to support Koizumi, continuing my role as the assistant to the president.

However, even with these changes, the figure sitting in the chair in front of me is still Hiiragi Akane.

So, seeing her sitting on the visitor’s sofa instead of her usual seat, I feel a slight sense of loneliness. It’s an emotion I wouldn’t have considered before.

The inexorable flow of time and memories silently overwrite the existence of Shinra Minato, and I can’t help but keenly feel it. President raises her gaze.

“Next week, there’s the entrance exam for the university I aspire to. It’s in the afternoon, but…”

“But what?”

Interrupting her at this awkward point, I ask. Why stop talking at such a crucial moment? Her words are usually so clear and decisive. She rarely stumbles or hesitates.

Looking unusually fidgety, glancing around and playing with her hair like a maiden, she waits for a moment before gathering herself and continuing.

“On that day, it’s a weekend, so I really want you to share your energy with me.”

“…”

Who is this person, blushing and muttering with an unusual shyness? She looks exactly like the Hiiragi Akane I know, but could they be twins?

She’s acting like a maiden. Come to think of it, she was a maiden, wasn’t she? If I say something like that, she might end up punching me in the face, so I resist the urge and bury it deep inside.

There are things that shouldn’t be said out loud, a lesson I’ve learned recently.

Well, everyone gets nervous before an exam. Even with regular tests, I have that unpleasant feeling.

Being perceived as a perfect superhuman and maintaining that image without changing her behaviour is why it’s easy to forget that she’s just a high school girl with only a one-year age difference.

Naturally, she has the same exam experiences as me.

Positively, it should be seen as a sign that she doesn’t need to be concerned enough to show a different side to those around her.

…However, what should I do?

Even if she asks for me to share my energy, I can only respond in my usual way, and refusing would be unreasonable.

As an option that comes to my mind, it seems best to bring Shizuku and Kirasaka, and maybe even Yuuto, and support her during the exam.

As I was about to convey this to President, unfortunately, she spoke at an inconvenient time.

“If possible, I’d like only you…”

“Really, just me?”

“Yes, just you.”

“Really? If you want, I can gather the whole cheering squad without hesitation…”

“It’s okay. I want only you.”

To President, who emphasized the word ‘you’ in a peculiar way, there was only one option left for me.

Closing my eyelids, I quietly pondered before nodding slightly.

No… there’s no other choice.

President had presented a one-way path from the beginning.

When I nodded, I heard a small sigh of relief coming from the front.

When asked about plans for the weekend, I couldn’t think of any reasons to evade the request.

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: I was going to start a bit early but my mouse broke. \*crying noises\* ---