The exam is over.
During the last class's homeroom—
Masaki-sensei began a lengthy speech.
For example: homework. And also: safety precautions.
Masaki-sensei—the homeroom teacher—sighed inwardly as she looked at the unmotivated students below.
She couldn't afford to offend any of the students in this school. A noble school was truly annoying. If possible, she wanted to change positions next year—but no other school offered such benefits.
"...That's all for now. You can check your scores and rankings on the school website tomorrow or the day after." Masaki-sensei finished speaking and left the classroom of Class 2-A with her lesson plan.
"Oh oh oh oh!!! Summer vacation!"
As soon as she left, a boy immediately started to stir up a commotion.
"Where should we go to play? I think the mountains are good."
"The beach isn't bad either, right?"
And so it began again—the discussion of mountains and seas. A meaningless argument.
Can't you just choose both?
Japan isn't a country with only one type of terrain. Although some countries don't even need a navy—Japan is an island. How could it lack the sea? It even has quite a few volcanoes.
Before they could start arguing, Sakurai quickly packed his school bag.
After getting his things ready and confirming nothing was left behind, Sakurai said a few words to Hayasaka Ai-chan, then prepared to go to the Student Council Room.
Along the way, Sakurai took out his phone and asked the Five Sisters how they did on the exam in the 'Maki Study Support Group'.
Me: How do you feel? Did you finish the papers?
A few minutes later—messages came from the Nakano Five Sisters.
Ichika: I did them all. [Hands on hips.jpg]
Nino: Everything Sakurai-kun taught me—I wrote down.
Miku: Finished.
Yotsuba: ...There were a few questions I didn't know—but I also wrote down some formulas. Sakurai-kun! I'll definitely pass this time!
He glanced at them.
Shijo Maki also sent a message.
Maki: The questions were so easy—especially the English paper. The science paper was a bit difficult, but I finished it quickly too. This time—I'm going to step on Saki-bao, punch President Shirogane, and claim the number one spot.
Sakurai typed.
Me: Screenshot taken—waiting for the slap in the face.
Pushing open the door to the Student Council Room—
Sakurai found he was the first to arrive. Having nothing to do, he turned on the air conditioning and started making coffee.
He used the coffee beans Kaguya Shinomiya had given him last time. Sakurai rarely made his own coffee at home—usually buying canned ones—so he had left the coffee beans here.
After the coffee was ready, Shirogane Miyuki entered.
His heavy dark circles made him look like an extra from a zombie movie—he wouldn't look out of place if he went to film one.
"Sakurai-kun—you came so early today? Even though the Student Council has no more work." Shirogane Miyuki said with emotion.
Though he was the same.
They both had formed the habit of coming to the Student Council whether there was work or not this semester—as there were few places to relax at school.
Both of them were well-known on campus and were usually watched by many unnecessary eyes.
"How did you do on the exam?" Sakurai walked to the coffee table with his coffee.
Shirogane Miyuki lay on the sofa, looking at the ceiling, and said casually: "How did I do...?"
He took a breath.
Then he sighed again: "Not so good. This time the test was a bit difficult."
If Sakurai's relationship with him were a little weaker, he wouldn't have noticed he was humble-bragging.
'So confident?'
Sakurai held his teacup and took a sip.
This time, Sakurai wasn't confident he would get first place. He had spent a lot of time on the Five Sisters recently—because at the end of the semester, he wanted to give himself a good report card.
That's right—not for Nakano Maruo, his employer—nor for the Five Sisters—but for Sakurai himself.
He wanted to see what he, as a Superpower user, could transform them into in one semester. This might also be a manifestation of arrogance.
"What about you?"
"Me?" Sakurai put down his coffee cup, his expression a little dejected: "How did I do—how should I put it?"
He choked a few times: "This time—I might lose to Kaguya-san."
Mainly—Kaguya Shinomiya, that shameless person, had made Hayasaka Ai-chan call Sakurai every night for a long chat. Sakurai could tolerate this—but after the long chat, when Ai-chan fell asleep, another Ai-chan would wake up. Roughly speaking, when Sakurai returned home, he had no time at all to read.
He did learn a lot in the Health and Physical Education course, though.
Knowledge related to gymnastics—especially those fancy poses—Sakurai understood a lot about them.
"I remember—you two played a big game this time." The smile on Shirogane Miyuki's face was almost impossible to hide.
He was genuinely looking forward to Sakurai's downfall now.
Kaguya Shinomiya's downfall, to be honest, wasn't very interesting. She was a girl to begin with—and wearing a miko outfit was no different from cosplay. Although it would be a bit embarrassing, her acceptance level would definitely be higher than Sakurai's.
"Yes. We played a big game." Sakurai regretted it.
"I have good news for you. The two days you didn't come—Monday and Tuesday—Kaguya-san went to help Ishigami review. Later, Ishigami told me he ate so many dried anchovies he wanted to throw up." Shirogane Miyuki consoled him.
"Why didn't Ishigami ask you for help?"
"I had a part-time job those two days."
"You're still working part-time during the last week of exams?" Sakurai was dumbfounded.
"I'll also be working part-time when summer vacation starts—why are you so surprised?"
"No."
If I accidentally took your first place, I'd feel bad.
Sakurai was thinking about this.
He couldn't bear it.
"Are you still working as a rental boyfriend?" Shirogane Miyuki asked.
"I was busy filming a movie a while ago—but I've started again recently." Sakurai replied.
Having meals with clients—just consider it socializing. Adapting to adult life in advance.
"Ah—I originally wanted to invite you to work part-time with me."
"I'm going to a Kendo training camp during summer vacation—and after a few days of training, I'll go to Fukuoka Prefecture for a competition."
The two were halfway through their conversation—
Kaguya Shinomiya entered.
She surveyed the Student Council Room like a king inspecting her territory.
"Sakurai-kun—I'm very curious about one thing. If you lose—how will you fulfill your promise?" Kaguya Shinomiya closed the door, then sat down very casually next to Sakurai and picked up a cup of coffee.
Although she preferred tea—she could also accept coffee.
"The results aren't out yet—so why do you think you've won? Humans make mistakes, and horses stumble. Besides—last time, I think I won, didn't I, Maid-san?" Sakurai scoffed.
"Master, you truly are forgetful. Have you forgotten the experience of being suppressed by me for a whole year last year?" Kaguya-san took a sip of coffee and retorted calmly.
"Shirogane—I told you back then that it was wrong to make this guy your goal." Sakurai looked at Shirogane Miyuki.
"Why are you suddenly dragging me into this conversation?" Shirogane Miyuki had a face full of question marks.
"When you encounter a fact you can't refute—don't you have to call for external help? President, don't get involved!"
"Our Student Council is only operating for this last day this semester. Can't you two behave?" Shirogane Miyuki sighed.
He continued: "Next semester—after the Student Council elections—it's another matter whether we'll still be in the Student Council."
Sakurai was indifferent to this:
"It's fine—I'll push you into that position."
The value of a Superpower user—Shirogane, you probably don't understand, do you?
Kaguya Shinomiya also nodded.
"President—you know the power of the Shinomiya Family, right?"
"You two?" Shirogane Miyuki's mouth twitched.
Did I say I wanted to be president?
I became president back then just for a recommendation spot! You two aren't planning to let me retire, are you?
And you're even making pre-determined appointments! I'd rather die from exhaustion!