Chapter 576: Hold off

When everything calmed down and Hayashi-sensei finally turned serious, she pointed to the nearby coffee table and had us sit down.

Next to that coffee table was a side window overlooking the entirety of the campus. Being lined up with the School and Club Building, it’s not part of the view but from there, I could easily see the gymnasium, the library and the open fields occupied by the athletic clubs.

The Student Council Room had the same view behind Shizu’s table. From that window, Shizu caught me with Satsuki when we’re leaving the Gymnasium. Furthermore, she also followed us with her gaze from the windows outside the Student Council Room when we’re leaving the school gates.

That incident was what triggered another interaction with Shizu which ended with her suggestion about evaluating me if I was fit for Nami.

Anyway, with Shizu bringing up how she appointed me as her successor, the two of them talked about it for a while with me as a silent spectator.

Hayashi-sensei talked about it being too early and she’s advising Shizu to hold off on that thought for now and be open to a possibility that she would find a more befitting candidate.

The Student Council Election would be held after winter vacation and that meant, during the second semester and next year. It’s only the third week of May, still more than half a year before it.

Furthermore, since I wasn’t that keen on being the next SC President like her, I quite agree with that advice from Hayashi-sensei.

Shizu was adamant though.

The girl firmly believed that I could take up her post. And according to her, it’s not a decision based on her whim.

She apparently saw more leadership qualities in me and I could become an even better SC President than her.

Shizu being that confident in me, a certain feeling rose in me. The feeling of wanting to back up her words and prove that she’s not wrong with her assumption.

However, that feeling and his desire to become one were still different.

With my already busy life, acting as the SC President just in case I won, would cut the time I had for my girls.

True, I was trying out everything that could possibly be my career path for the future. Unlike the part-time job at the Boxing Gym or my appointment with Mizuki where I would be experiencing her world, acting out my role as the Student Council President would take all of my weekdays or even some of my weekends as I had observed with Shizu.

Sometime later when Hayashi-sensei and Shizu reached a standstill where neither of the two would back down, I broke my silence and said my piece.

“Can I say something?” I started.

The two immediately acknowledged it as they waited for what I’m about to say.

“I appreciate your confidence in me, Shizu. But... Hayashi-sensei has a point here. It’s too early to appoint me as your successor. Furthermore, you said I have what it takes to become one but I don’t see myself standing in front of the whole school body to make speeches. You know it, I don’t prefer being in front of a crowd. I’d rather be a bystander and observe from a corner.”

Upon hearing that, Hayashi-sensei expressed his agreement with my words. Following that, she looked at me in interest with a slight smile on her lips. “See Shizu-chan. Even though our encounters are few with this one being the longest, I can grasp some of his character traits. Onoda-kun, although he has this confident and mysterious air around him, he’s the type who can be uncaring to another person, especially those not close to him or if he deems it unnecessary to do something.”

Another observer, huh? And she only had a proper look at me this time. Ever since entering this room, her gaze would occasionally focus on me.

From our brief encounters, she failed to see past my character. Otherwise, she would easily find out about Hina faking her sickness or that girl was just too great at acting sick.

If I recall correctly, she also told me to go back to the infirmary to show that she’s truly a diligent school nurse. However, with how busy I was, that was put at the back of my mind, only surfacing again this time.

“Is that how I appear to you, sensei?”

“Mhm. Let me add one more, although you can step forward and sweep the stage with your charisma if you feel like it, you’d rather step back and become a background character away from the spotlight. But you seem to have this inherent caring attitude or rather, you’re the type to worry easily when it comes to those connected to you.”

... Am I easy to read? Anyway, that’s how I always appeared anyway. Especially if I am with one of my girls. And that includes the time when I was still in middle school, driven solely by my desire. I might be unaware but the way those girls described me back then matches with it.

This time. I’m with Shizu... More than impressing the mysterious school nurse, I was more concerned over her.

As if agreeing to my thoughts, Shizu sitting by my side put a hand on her forehead as she said in a defeated tone. “That’s exactly Ruki...”

“Uhm... What about this? Shizu, keep that spot of your successor open for now. Hold it off for a while. I can accept it to please you but that’s equivalent to a half-assed decision when I'm not really keen to it, right? Instead of that, can I observe you more to determine if I truly have what it takes to be the SC President?” I reached for her shoulders and had her face me as I said all that.

Shizu’s eyes stared at me for a while before she eventually nodded her head, albeit weakly. If I had to guess, she’s ashamed that she jumped ahead and brought me here on her own accord without hearing my opinion if I want to or not.

Seeing that, I patted her head and slightly pinched her cheeks to ease her sullen expression.

After a while, I faced Hayashi-sensei and bowed my head slightly. “Sensei, I know it will be quite impudent of me but by what I gathered, you mentored Shizu to become one. Can I also receive your guidance?”