To calm my pounding heart, I took a short walk and came back to find the President sitting neatly on the floor, looking much more refreshed than when she had just woken up.
“You’re back?”
The President greeted me with a polite bow and a formal attitude.
Seeing her suddenly act like a refined lady after usually behaving like a villainess was quite the contrast.
Is this the President’s genuine mode?
“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? It’s scary.”
Crack!
When I pretended to rub my arms and said that, the President’s perfect poker face cracked slightly, but she quickly regained her calm expression and spoke.
“As the daughter of the Saionji family, I have received an immense favor that I can never repay, so I am showing proper respect to my benefactor.”
“What did I do? It was the Vice President who planned everything, not me.”
But the President shook her head at my words.
“Shinjiro has been my retainer since I was a child. But you, my benefactor, are an outsider unrelated to my family, so it is only natural for me to repay the favor as a member of the Saionji family.”
“...I made a mistake, so please stop using honorifics. It’s so awkward.”
“Good judgment, Yu-seong.”
When I hurriedly apologized, the President finally ended her sincere mode, placing her hand on her chest as she spoke.
“But what I just said comes from the heart. As the daughter of the Saionji family, I will never forget the favor I received from you, Yu-seong.”
“Got it, so please stop with the cheesy lines!”
When I showed my disgust, the President laughed and nodded.
At that moment, Satoru, who had been silently listening to our conversation from the corner, asked.
“Kim Yu-seong, what on earth were you doing yesterday?”
“I just helped the President, who was in a difficult situation.”
“That’s what you call an explanation? No, never mind. I’ll just stop talking.”
He seemed to have given up on thinking deeply about it.
“Now that Yu-seong is back in the room, I’ll be off. Thank you both for your consideration.”
“Oh, yes. Take care.”
As Ryuji, who was watching the situation, said goodbye, the President held the ends of her skirt that she had been wearing since the engagement ceremony and slightly bowed.
The way she did it was so natural; it wasn’t something done just once or twice.
Click!
After the President, who had spent the night, left, the three of us were left in the room, exchanging meaningful glances before coming to a conclusion.
“We’re hungry, so let’s go get something to eat.”
As soon as we headed to the restaurant to eat, the first ones to rush to us were none other than Karen and Sasha.
“Kim Yu-seong! Where did you go yesterday?!”
“Kim Yu-seong! Where did you go yesterday?!”
The two of them spoke the same words as if they had planned it in advance.
Come to think of it, aside from Rika, who I met at the bus stop, I hadn’t told the two of them where I was going.
So I scratched my head and made an excuse.
“Well, yesterday, I met an acquaintance in Kyoto.”
“An acquaintance? Was it a man or a woman?”
“It was a man.”
“Oh, then it’s fine.”
“I was worried for no reason.”
The two, seeming unsatisfied, said that and stepped back.
It was as if a storm had passed.
“...What was that all about?”
Both of their families being martial artists, Hattori and Yaguchi displayed a brawl in the restaurant that almost resembled WWE, and were dragged outside by Teacher Matsuda for a lecture.
And Ryuji, who was the cause of the fight, was also taken.
There were various disturbances from the morning, but fortunately, they were sorted out, and we checked out of the inn where we had stayed for three days.
“Thank you for your hospitality!”
We all greeted the innkeeper, who came out to see us off, and boarded the prepared tour bus.
The President said she would take the bus with another class, so we couldn’t see her here.
Even though it was the last day of the school trip, everyone seemed energetic, maybe because they were young.
The girls were chattering about their group visit to Universal Studios Japan in Osaka yesterday.
Honestly, I was a bit tempted.
As you get older, you don’t often get to go to amusement parks.
I’ll definitely visit if I come to Osaka again.
Making that secret vow, I looked at Rika, who was chatting happily with the other girls.
“Hahaha, really?”
She was talking with her usual lively smile.
The dark side I saw yesterday felt like a lie, but in reality, no one can always be positive.
‘She asked me out on a date.’
I know well the feelings she has for me.
And until now, I’ve pretended not to know.
Because I didn’t want to hurt her.
But since I confessed my love to the President, I now have to give an honest answer to those feelings.
Before it’s too late.
Feeling the complex emotions towards her swirling inside, I folded my arms and closed my eyes.
I planned to take a short nap before we arrived at Kyoto Station.
“Good job, everyone! Don’t wander off on your way home! Your parents will worry, so make sure to go straight home!”
We left Kyoto Station at 11 and arrived at Tokyo Station around 1 PM.
Instead of going back to school, the second-year students disbanded right in front of Tokyo Station, not paying attention to Teacher Matsuda’s words and already discussing where to hang out in small groups.
“What should we do?”
“Three days of fun is enough. I’m tired, so I’ll go home and rest.”
When Satoru said that while waving his hand, the others began to agree one by one.
“Then let’s call it a day here. Everyone did well on the school trip.”
“The Class President did the hard work. Thanks to the meticulously planned course, we had fun yesterday.”
“Hehe, it was nothing.”
“See you at school tomorrow!”
“Bye! Bye!”
Everyone waved and left.
As those who were leaving left and those who were staying stayed, only the usual group I walked home with remained.
Rika, who was next to me, spoke with her hands behind her back.
“Then, Ryu-chan, let’s go home too.”
“Alright.”
“Ryuji, stop by my house for a bit.”
“What? Yuika is waiting at home... Okay, I’ll stop by.”
Ryuji, that guy, already being tied down, has a rough road ahead.
The four of us then went down to the subway platform side by side.