The student council president of Millennium Science Academy, Tsukatsuki Rio.
During our previous brief meeting, she spoke only a few words, yet her firm presence and cold tone left an initial impression perfectly matching her reputation.
And Rio's sudden appearance was clearly something Yuuka had not anticipated.
"P-president? Weren't you at a meeting?"
Yuuka asked in surprise, with a hint of barely concealed panic.
"It ended early, so I returned." Rio paused, then asked in return, "My coming back early troubles you?"
"N-not at all…"
Even Yuuka, who should have been familiar with Rio, found her aura overwhelming. The girls of the Game Development Club were even worse, frozen like frightened birds.
Part of this was Rio's natural intimidation, but the real issue was that the club had violated school rules.
Because the incident caused no actual harm, the gentle hearted Yuuka had intended to overlook much of it, give them a warning, and let it go lightly.
But if Rio, president of the Seminar, learned of it and questioned it personally, then it could no longer be handled quietly.
Rio nodded once and returned to her initial question. "So what is going on? Everything is a mess, and even Schale's teacher is here."
"Good afternoon, Rio."
I took the chance to greet the ice cold beauty I had only met once.
"Yes, good afternoon. Save the small talk for later."
Rio glanced at me, a faint smile flickering briefly across her stern expression.
It showed that she did treat me politely, or at least made the effort to appear so.
"Sorry, president." Yuuka lowered her head apologetically. "I asked them to clean, but they were clumsy. I got irritated and scolded them too much. I'm sorry, I lost my temper."
After speaking, Yuuka shot a look toward Momoi, who still stood frozen.
Midori, the younger sister, reacted first, realizing that Yuuka was trying to cover for them. She quickly added,
"I-It's fine, Yuuka. It was our carelessness. We'll make sure to clean the office properly."
Momoi and Yuzu caught on as well and nodded desperately.
But Rio remained silent for a moment before asking with confusion,
"…You punished them for illegally operating a casino on campus with nothing more than cleaning duty?"
Yuuka's eyes widened. "Eh? How did you know about that, president?"
Rio frowned slightly, her expression growing more puzzled. "As the head of the Seminar, I naturally have my own information channels. Is that strange?"
"No, but…"
Yuuka seemed unable to imagine that someone as busy as Rio would bother with such a trivial matter.
"So, do you intend to continue indulging and covering for them, Yuuka?"
"Eh? P-president, what are you saying?"
"What? Do you disagree with the facts I just stated?"
Rio's cool gaze swept across the girls' swollen eyes. Her brows tightened in disapproval.
"A club like the Game Development Club, according to regulations, should have been disbanded months ago. Letting a club that has long failed to produce results continue to exist disrespects the students who are working seriously in more meaningful fields. You understand that, don't you, Yuuka?"
"Th-that may be true, but…!"
Yuuka tried to defend them, but Rio cut her off.
"If it were before, I might have granted them another chance for your sake." Rio looked calmly at her trusted subordinate. "Now it seems I have been too lenient. Letting them continue running wild will only damage the school's reputation."
"We… we… we really have been trying…"
Momoi forced herself to meet the president's inorganic, intimidating red eyes and said with a trembling voice, "We'll produce results soon…"
But Rio's reply struck directly at her heart.
"If you could, why didn't you do so earlier?"
"…That…"
Watching Momoi bite her lip in frustration, Rio shook her head lightly.
"I've heard of your situation. Since that game of yours received heavy criticism, you haven't carried out a proper activity or produced a new title."
Midori tried weakly to defend them. "We're already working on a new project…"
Rio's words grew sharper. "Is that so? But that still doesn't erase the fact that for months, you have been idle, using the Seminar's funds and occupying a clubroom, spending your days playing around.
"A club like yours is nothing more than a parasite clinging to Millennium's great tree, enjoying… no, stealing the fruits of others' efforts."
I frowned. That was going too far.
The twins were only first year students. Their president Yuzu suffered from social anxiety. Game development required creativity, experience, and time. It was reasonable they had not yet produced something new.
Yet from a rational standpoint, none of that counted as justification.
No results meant no results.
As head of the Seminar who oversaw all of Millennium, Rio had far more to manage than the Game Development Club.
Given their current state, disbanding them would have been entirely reasonable.
Abolishing them was duty, sparing them was mercy. Not everyone was like Yuuka, harsh in words but soft at heart.
Still… did she really need to go this far?
Yuuka clearly thought the same. "Wait, president, isn't that a bit…"
"What is it? Did I say something incorrect?"
Although Rio asked this, her tone softened slightly. After a brief silence, she even offered an apology.
"Sorry. If my overly direct statement of facts made you uncomfortable, then I apologize. But."
Her tone shifted again.
"That apology applies only to the way I phrased it. I do not believe my assessment of your club is unreasonable. Can any of you refute it?"
None of the three girls could answer. Tears gathered in their eyes, but not a single rebuttal came forth.
Yuuka hesitated, wanting to speak on their behalf, but the truth left her with nothing to say.
The room fell silent.