CH 175

The only difference now is that I have more time.

Those days when I wasn’t promoted to the second year, I used to spend a lot of time alone.

Today, I went to the school dragging myself, where the student council election was to be held .

Koizumi and Shiraishi were greeting the students around the them, so I hid myself inside the school building to escape from the crowd.

Going up the stairs and through the corridor, I entered the classroom I was going to.

Inside stood Yuuto and Shizuku who were surrounded by students, and also Kirasaka reading by the window.

I advanced along the wall, feeling my eyes on them for a moment.

Yuuto’s gaze and Shizuku’s expression were as if they wanted to say something, but I moved myself to my seat as if ignoring them.

Then, as I sit down on my seat and put down my belongings, Kirasaka opens her mouth.

“Good morning.”

“…Yeah.”

A short exchange of words.

Normally, this is where our meaningless conversation would begin, but that is not the case today.

I put my earphones in to block out the noise from the class.

A sound rejection of conversation.

I’m sure that no one around me would ever talk to someone wearing earphones.

After about ten minutes had passed, I finally removed the earphones after seeing my homeroom teacher has arrived.

“There is also a student organization election activity today, so students who have time should go and see what’s going on there.”

The homeroom teacher announced this as he concluded today’s classes.

Then, the students who had club activities left the classroom at once, and a few of the students who were going to go home or had nothing to do were moving on to watch the elections of what our homeroom teacher had previously told about…

I picked up my luggage from my side and stood up.

“Minato-kun…”

As I was about to get up and walk out of the classroom, a low voice reached my ears.

I’ve heard it around for so many years that I stopped when I heard it, even to the point of it just being a whisper.

“…I’m sorry about yesterday. I invited you to participate with me and I didn’t even say anything…”

“You know better than anyone that I don’t get mad at you for things like that.”

I’m not mad at you for that.

I’m not even angry to begin with.

I’ve just reconfirmed it.

With my back turned, I told it to Shizuku behind me.

Because if I turned around, I was sure to see her there with a sad expression.

Seeing her now won’t change my mind, but I still don’t want to see her like that.

Not only Shizuku, I didn’t want to see Yuuto and Kirasaka as much as possible.

Because I can’t tell them with confidence that there’s no possibility that my emotions and beliefs, which I thought I have started remembering, could be shaken.

“…Then, I’ve gotta go to the student council meeting.”

“O-Oh, that! …right, please go.”

After confirming the whisper in a voice so low that it started fading at the end of the sentence, I resumed my steps.

By the sound of footsteps, it was easy to imagine that Yuuto had stopped next to her.

Kirasaka must be watching this scene by the window.

Yuuto had heard directly what I said yesterday, so he didn’t speak to me even once today.

Is he wondering, or is he trying to guess, or has he already realized everything.

Whatever it is, I’m thankful for that choice.

As if fleeing from the busy school building, I make my way to the wing where the student council is located.

I navigated my way between the students and push open the door of the student council without knocking.

“Thank you for your time…”

Inside that classroom were Hino-kun and the president.

But, Koizumi and Miura were nowhere to be seen.

“They are working on the campaign in the place in front of the main gate, and Hino-kun is supposed to be on his way to help them.”

“Koizumi-senpai asked me to hold the signboard for him.”

“Are you a vendor or something…?”

He proudly slaps his arms and shows off his muscular body.

Chuckling at the sight, he raised his hand and responded with a wave.

Hino-kun prepared drinks for me and left the room quickly.

Was he really here just to prepare my drink, that guy…

In the student council room where we are alone, president drinks the tea Hino-kun has prepared.

She closed her eyes, as if enjoying it’s aroma.

“…”

I sipped from my cup as I watched her.

A moment of silence enveloped the room.

Usually there are documents on the table that needs to be analyzed, but today there are none.

Well, it would be inefficient to give that kind of work to the student council during the election period because it would only delay our actions.

The staff is not that stupid.

I looked at the president to see what she had planned for the day and said.

“At this rate, there won’t be much work to do until after the student council elections are over…”

“Every year we’re shorthanded, and sometimes there’s no work for a few days.”

After drinking the rest of the tea, president took a breath and then told that to me.

Then I guess I can go home today already.

Likewise, I drank all of tea Hino-kun made in one gulp and hung my bag on my shoulder.

As I turned around and headed for the door, president turned her gaze toward me with interest.

“Today Minato look like you did a little while ago…”

“…I don’t mind if I’m not looking bad though.”

A school life with Akane Hiiragi having a bad image of you wouldn’t be a good one.

That is bad situation from ‘Minato-kun’s’ point of view.

Cold sweat started flowing when I returned those words to the president, hoping that she would not realize, it was then when she burst out laughing.

“Oioi, senpai what are you laughing at?”

I looked back with a silly thought in my mind that I have finally developed a sense of humor…

“No, you can rest assured, I know that you have your own worries too. …The student body has a lot of free time during elections, and I have no problem working alone, so you should focus on yourself.”

I wanted to say something to her, but no words came to mind as she told that to me with a gentle smile.

Instead, I gave a small bow before leaving the student council room.

I looked out the window of the hallway and saw many students gathered together forming groups.

Shiraishi and Koizumi must be there.

Below me, students laughing happily were running inside the school building and heading out.

Contrary to that flow, not many students were on their way home