Bang!
A student burst through the door with aggressive momentum, strode straight up to my desk, and slammed both hands heavily onto the tabletop.
I lowered my head and glanced at the documents that had been pierced by a ballpoint pen, the corner of my mouth twitching. I put the pen down and sighed helplessly.
"Sigh, what is it this time, my young lady?"
"At a time like this, you are still pretending nothing happened. Is this how adults act?" Ako stared at me fiercely, flames seemingly burning in her eyes as she demanded sharply, "Be honest. What did you do to the President?"
"…So what exactly happened?"
I felt thoroughly baffled, but considering this was Ako, who was strange as usual, it was not entirely incomprehensible.
As a cow lover, I was still willing to show generosity toward livestock.
After all, she might just be finding another excuse to seek punishment.
I glanced at Ako's chest rising and falling with anger and spoke to soothe her. "Calm down first. Sit and explain slowly."
Ako snorted coldly, pulled out a chair, and sat down. She crossed her arms over her chest, crossed her legs, and lifted her long neck proudly.
"What do you have to explain?"
…She really seemed to be asking for a lesson.
That said, Ako's nostalgic, overbearing posture had its own kind of charm, making one involuntarily imagine the contrast afterward.
Thinking of that, my attitude softened even more. "Ako, I still don't know what happened."
"Please do not casually change the subject. I am the one asking you questions right now."
Even so, Ako pouted and, with obvious reluctance, explained the situation to me.
"President Hina, she was really strange today!"
"How exactly was she strange?"
"The President, she actually…" Ako took a deep breath, her expression extremely solemn. "She actually smiled at me when I handed her the documents!"
So Hina has never smiled at you before or what?
Recalling Hina's radiant smile from last night, I answered as tactfully as possible. "I think that is a very normal thing, is it not?"
"Do you still not understand how serious this is!" Ako suddenly raised her voice. "That was the President while she was working! As the administrative officer of the Prefect Team, based on my understanding of the President I assist, I can assert that something absolutely out of the ordinary happened!"
But Hina smiled sweetly at me while discussing official matters last night too.
Feeling a bit of pity, I fell silent for a moment. "So you suspect that I did something?"
Ako said excitedly, "You are the most suspicious one!"
Does this girl have some kind of prejudice against me?
Setting that aside for now, I continued. "And then you abandoned your administrative duties and rushed all the way to Schale early in the morning just to question me in person?"
"Heh, you need not worry about that. I already asked Iori to cover for me. If it is just doing some miscellaneous work, it should be fine."
"…Wait a moment. Isn't Iori today's Schale duty!?"
No wonder she still had not shown up by this time and there was no message either. So she had been forcibly moved to the back of the bus by Ako
I hope Iori is alright.
Looking at the smug Ako, I rubbed my aching temple.
"Nothing happened between Hina and me. It was just work…"
"So you really were with the President last night!"
Ako slammed the desk and stood up, her face flushed red as she spoke anxiously. "You, you despicable, shameless, vile bastard! What exactly did you do to the President!? Could it be… did you also do those strange things?!"
Hearing that, I finally understood why she was in such a hurry, and could not help feeling speechless.
"…Your imagination is way too wild."
I would like to ask, where would I even get the chance?
"W-what!?"
Ako's delicate body shook. "Are you saying that I, an administrative officer of the Prefect Team who has made outstanding contributions to maintaining Gehenna's order, am a foolish person who likes to indulge in wild fantasies?"
Is that not the case?
Thinking that in my heart, I flatly denied it aloud. "I did not mean that."
"You absolutely did!" Ako argued stubbornly. "I would not be wrong… so hurry up and confess. What exactly did you do to President Hina?"
"I already told you. Yesterday I only gave Hina some work related suggestions, about the joint investigation plan for the next quarter."
Ako did not believe me at all. "Do not think you can fool me. If it was just work discussion, why meet alone late at night? Did you grab hold of the President's weakness…"
How would I know what Hina was thinking? Maybe she simply harbors feelings for me. That would not be strange.
Seeing how impervious Ako was and how convinced she was that I had done something to Hina, even I was finally stirred to anger.
"Putting aside the fact that Hina and I are completely innocent, even if something really did happen, what does it have to do with you? Ako, what standing do you have to interrogate me like this?"
As soon as those words left my mouth, the world finally fell silent.
The beautiful girl with sky blue hair stood frozen in place, her lips trembling, her eyes filled with tears.
Taking in Ako's reaction, I felt a trace of unease and reflected on my actions, but I did not think I had done anything excessive.
I had already been tolerant enough toward her, had I not?
Even with her being so unreasonable, the tone I used at the end was not particularly harsh.
Women really are troublesome.
I sighed inwardly, considering whether I should temporarily apologize and back down, or hold firm to my principles.
At that moment, however, I heard Ako shake her head and let out a self mocking laugh.
"Just as I thought…"
"What?"
"So it really was all a lie…"
Ako sniffed, her voice taking on a sobbing tone. "After you already did that kind of thing to me… after saying you would take responsibility… in the end, it was all lies, right? From the very beginning, you just wanted to get close to the President through me, did you not?!"
What is all this supposed to mean?
"Wait a moment."
I stopped Ako's crying and tried to sort out her jumping logic.
To put it simply, could it be that she was jealous?
After pondering for a moment, I said, "Ako, please forgive me if this is just my overinflated self awareness, but you would not happen to like me, would you?"
"Who-who would like someone like you!"
Ako wiped away her tears and said viciously, "I hate you! I hate you the most! You always make people care so much, you are irritating everywhere, just thinking of you makes anger flare up, and for some reason I feel gloomy and upset… it is all your fault! Because of you, extra feelings sprouted in my heart!"
How should I put this.
No matter how you look at it... it is quite late to recognize, but Ako is still a pure hearted maiden after all?
"…Well, in general terms," I said while suppressing my laughter, "that kind of feeling is what people call liking someone."
Ako blinked, tilted her head, and looked confused.
"…Eh?"