Several days had passed since our return to the school grounds after surviving two brutal special exams and a luxurious cruise vacation.
The scorching August sun blazed down upon the artificial island, while the deafening cries of cicadas painted the scenery of midsumr.
"Ahhh, it's so cool…! Air conditioning really is humanity's greatest invention."
"Hehe. After spending so long relying on natural wind on the island, this cold air feels truly wonderful."
At Hiyori's invitation — "If you aren't too tired, would you like to go read together?" — I had co to our favorite café inside Keyaki Mall.
Ichinose had joined us midway with a cheerful, "Mind if I co too?" and now the three of us sat together at a table in the back of the pleasantly chilled café.
Hiyori elegantly sipped iced lemon tea through a straw while turning the pages of a thick mystery novel.
Ichinose happily dug into a fruit-loaded parfait while replying to ssages in the class group chat.
As for …
I traced the condensation on my iced coffee glass with a finger while quietly admiring the beautiful profile of my best friend imrsed in the world of books.
(…Ahhh, peace. After enduring that hellish island and those shipboard exams, even an ordinary tea break like this seeps into my soul. Honestly, all I want is to spend ti reading books with Hiyori and eating good food with everyone…)
Just as I basked in that small, peaceful happiness, the phone in my pocket vibrated rudely.
The caller ID displayed:
Horikita Manabu
(Geh— the Student Council President!? Why is he calling in the middle of sumr vacation after the exams are already over!? Did I screw sothing up and get targeted!?)
Internally panicking, I nevertheless maintained a perfectly calm expression and answered the call with elegant composure.
"—What business brings the solitary king seated upon the summit to seek out?"
(Translation: Hello, President! Good afternoon, what's up?)
"…Aizen. What are you doing right now?"
Manabu's voice was as emotionless and cool as ever.
"—I am currently restoring my spirit beside a pool of amber together with beautiful fairies. …Surely you do not intend to rob even of this fleeting respite?"
(Translation: I'm at a café in Keyaki Mall with Hiyori and Ichinose having tea.)
"…I see. Then I'll co there. Wait for ."
Click.
He ended the call imdiately.
(Whaaaaat!? Why is he coming here personally!? And what do you an "wait for "!? Also how did he figure out exactly where I was from that!?)
"Sosuke-kun? Is sothing wrong?"
Perhaps sensing my inner turmoil, Hiyori lifted her gaze from her book and tilted her head.
"…It seems the solitary king is on his way here."
"President Horikita is coming?"
"Eh!? Horikita-senpai is coming here!?"
Thanks to Hiyori's flawless translation, Ichinose froze mid-stab with her parfait strawberry.
A few minutes later—
The bell above the café entrance rang.
Around us, students began whispering.
"Ah, it's the Student Council President…"
"Tachibana-senpai's with him too…"
Horikita Manabu and Tachibana Akane walked directly toward our table without hesitation.
"Excuse , Aizen. Ichinose. Shiina."
"Ah, good afternoon, Horikita-senpai!"
"Good afternoon."
Ichinose and Hiyori imdiately stood to greet them politely.
As for , I remained relaxed against the sofa with one leg crossed over the other.
"—Fufu. The king certainly travels lightly."
"You may remain seated. I'm not here on official student council business today."
Manabu sat down opposite us and looked directly at our group.
"First, allow to offer my congratulations. Your promotion to Class A… achieving such a dramatic reversal only a few months after the midterms is an accomplishnt unprecedented in this school's history."
The strict Student Council President had openly praised us.
Ichinose's face lit up imdiately.
"Thank you very much! It was all thanks to everyone in the class working so hard!"
"—It was rely a trivial ga. …The pieces upon the board simply fulfilled their assigned roles. Nothing more."
(Translation: Thank you! We only succeeded because everyone in the class worked hard together!)
Manabu exhaled quietly.
"You're as confident as ever."
(Alright, the President seems to be in a good mood… Speaking of which, Ichinose said from the beginning that she wanted to join the student council, right? This is the perfect chance to recomnd her. And while I'm at it… if I can get my greatest best friend Hiyori into the council too, maybe we could spend ti reading books and drinking tea together in the student council room…!)
Applauding my own flawless plan internally, I turned toward Manabu and spoke grandly.
"—Student Council President. Have you no desire to invite new light into your ancient fortress?"
"…What?"
Manabu frowned slightly.
"—A golden blade radiating like the sun itself, guiding the masses onward. And… a pure white oracle who spins my words into truth itself. With these two pieces upon your board, your reign would beco even more perfect. More absolute. I guarantee it."
(Translation: Could you let Ichinose and Hiyori join the student council? They're both talented and would definitely be helpful!)
"...?"
My overwhelming, galaxy-brained poem filled the table with silence.
Tachibana sighed.
"Honestly… why can't you just say you want to recomnd them normally…"
Ever since I joined the student council as vice president, Tachibana-senpai had relentlessly drilled administrative work into , so she'd beco strangely resistant to my bizarre speaking habits.
As she sighed in exasperation, my best friend beside smiled gently like a compassionate angel.
"President Horikita, Souyosuke-kun is saying… 'Honami-chan possesses strong leadership qualities and would certainly be valuable in the student council. And if possible, I would also like to join together with her.' …He's recomnding us both."
Hiyori's translation flowed perfectly.
Hearing it, Manabu widened his eyes slightly before looking back and forth between Hiyori and .
"…Wait. Shiina… you can actually understand what Aizen is saying?"
Hiyori nodded naturally.
"Yes. Souyosuke-kun's words are very poetic and filled with taphors, so they can sound difficult or cold at first glance. …But hidden beneath them is always kindness and genuine concern for others."
"…Kindness, huh."
Even Tachibana muttered with amusent,
"Hard to imagine from this cheeky brat…"
Hiyori continued softly.
"He recomnded Honami-chan because he wants to support her dream. And he recomnded too so I wouldn't be alone. …Souyosuke-kun is a very warm and caring person. That's why I can understand every word he says."
"————!!"
Her completely sincere words pierced directly into my soul.
She saw through the timid, gentle nature hidden beneath all my dramatic nonsense and accepted it entirely.
(Hiyoriiiiiii!! You're the greatest best friend in the entire universe!! I'll follow you forever no matter what happens!!)
Internally sobbing in gratitude, I maintained a perfectly cool expression.
"—Fufu… you flatter ."
After silently observing us for a mont, Manabu let out a quiet breath.
"…I see. Aizen… so this is how deeply others trust you."
Then he nodded.
"Very well. Ichinose. Shiina. I approve both of your admissions into the student council."
"Eh…!? R-Really!?"
Ichinose nearly leapt from her seat.
"Thank you very much, Horikita-senpai! I'll work as hard as I can!"
Seeing her bright smile made internally fist-pump in victory.
(Nice, Ichinose!)
Now all that remained was enjoying elegant tea ti with Hiyori in the student council room—
Or so I thought.
"President Horikita. I'm very grateful for the recomndation, but… I must respectfully decline."
""Eh?""
Both Tachibana and Ichinose froze.
"Shiina. Why?"
Manabu asked calmly.
Hiyori lowered her brows apologetically.
"Um… I'm already a mber of the tea ceremony club. I've heard that this school prohibits students from participating in both club activities and the student council simultaneously. I treasure my peaceful ti in the tea ceremony club, so… I'll have to decline. Souyosuke-kun, I'm really sorry."
"————!!"
(Whaaaaat!? Hiyori's not joining!? NOOOOOOO! My dream of reading books together in the student council room has crumbled to dust!!)
Inside, I collapsed to my knees while shedding tears of blood.
But—
(…No. Wait. This school has rules against double mberships. I have no right to take away the precious ti Hiyori spends in the tea ceremony club. A true best friend should respect her wishes and support her hobbies with a smile!)
Suppressing my heartbreak with every ounce of willpower, I looked at Hiyori gently.
"—Do not concern yourself. No one has the right to bind the wings of a bird. …If resting upon that branch brings you peace, then that alone is my greatest joy."
(Translation: Don't worry about it! If the tea ceremony club makes you happy, then I'm happy too!)
"Souyosuke-kun… thank you."
Hiyori smiled with relief.
(Ahh… if her smile is protected, then sacrificing one dream is a small price to pay…)
After quietly watching our exchange, Manabu turned toward Ichinose.
"Ichinose. Once sumr vacation ends, you'll officially join the student council. Until then… learn the basics from Aizen here. He's an exceptionally capable man."
"Yes! Please take care of , Aizen-kun!"
(Eh!? I'm teaching her!? Sure, Tachibana-senpai drilled all the paperwork and administrative work into perfectly, but Hiyori won't be there to translate my nonsense! How am I supposed to teach Ichinose anything speaking like this!?)
As I sweated internally, Manabu stood up.
"Good. Then this conversation is over. …To celebrate your promotion to Class A, I'll treat you all to dinner. Co with ."
""Eh?""
And so—
Inside the most luxurious yakiniku restaurant in Keyaki Mall—
An incredibly strange group sat gathered around a private dining table:
Horikita Manabu.
Secretary Tachibana.
Myself.
Hiyori.
And Ichinose.
"There's no need to hold back. Order whatever you want."
As he said this, Manabu personally picked up the tongs and began grilling premium marbled beef over the net.
"H-Horikita-kun! I'll do it! We can't have the Student Council President grilling at himself—!"
"Tachibana. You always overcook it. I understand the optimal cooking ti better than anyone."
As Tachibana tried to snatch the tongs away, Manabu effortlessly dodged her while staring at the at with terrifying seriousness.
(…Premium yakiniku paid for by Manabu-senpai tastes absolutely incredible!!)
Internally dancing with joy, I devoured the perfectly grilled at he distributed.
"This is amazing! I've never eaten at this delicious before!"
"Hehe. Honami-chan's cheeks are practically falling off from happiness."
Ichinose and Hiyori were both smiling brightly as well.
"…Aizen. Can you maintain your position as Class A from the second sester onward?"
Suddenly, Manabu asked while flipping a piece of at.
"—Naturally. I have no hobby involving surrendering a throne once obtained."
(Translation: Of course! We'll all work hard together to stay in Class A!)
"I see. …I look forward to it."
After a pause, Manabu quietly added:
"…What do you think of Class D?"
(Oh? So he's asking about his little sister's class. For soone who acts cold toward her, he really is worried about her after all. What a siscon.)
Then suddenly, a horrifying mory resurfaced.
(…Wait. During the island exam I insulted Horikita Suzune nonstop because of this cursed poetic speech pattern! Crap. I need to smooth things over in front of her brother!)
I cleared my throat dramatically.
"—Even insects crawling through mud may one day raise their eyes toward the heavens. …Yet until they shatter their immature cocoons and bare true fangs, we possess no obligation to halt our own advance."
(Translation: They're still inexperienced right now, but they might grow stronger soday. Still, we won't slow down for them.)
Hiyori smoothly added:
"'They're still struggling because they're inexperienced, but they have the potential to beco powerful rivals soday. However, we don't intend to stop moving forward either.' …I think Horikita-san and the others will definitely beco stronger."
Manabu's lips softened very slightly.
"…Fufu. I see. Then do your best not to be dragged down."
(Nice save, Hiyori! The President definitely looked happy just now!)
Still…
The true danger within Class D wasn't Horikita Suzune.
(Kiyotaka is there too. As long as I can't predict how he'll move, Class D remains a dangerous irregularity. …Fufu. But even in a clash between classes, I won't lose to you, Kiyotaka.)
The sizzling sound of at filled the room.
Tachibana's complaints.
Ichinose and Hiyori's cheerful laughter.
And the awkward Student Council President silently grilling at.
This school was bound by cruel and unreasonable rules.
But if I could spend monts like this surrounded by incredible friends and my irreplaceable best friend, then perhaps I could even embrace this troubleso curse of dramatic poetry.
On that midsumr night—
With our promotion to Class A etched proudly into our hearts—
We enjoyed a peaceful, passionate, and unbelievably delicious yakiniku celebration to our fill.
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