Chapter 897 Announcing it

Chapter 897 Announcing it　　Having my affiliation to the Student Council revealed to everyone was something I already expected sooner or later. That’s why Shio doing that a little ahead of time didn’t really matter. The attention I received from those unaware of it was also waved off.

But apart from that, seeing Fukuda’s group as well as the trio of Ogawa, Tadano and Taku freezing up as though they couldn’t believe it, somehow satisfies me.

Well, being seen walking behind Shizu back when we went for the riverside-cleaning activity probably only gave me the status of a lackey in their minds.

But with the way Shio worded it, being part of the council meant I’m holding an official position. And that’s what froze them in their tracks.

That’s like an unexpected jab thrown at them. Fukuda would now have to think twice about how he was going to deal with me for Chii’s affection. He still believed he had a chance, after all.

As for the trio, they just couldn’t believe it when my first interaction with Shizu was blown out and filled with hostility. Furthermore, my relationship with the girl wasn't fully exposed in their little circle. They only knew that I somehow got myself tangled with her to gain her approval for my relationship with Nami. Only my girls were clearly aware of what’s the real deal…

Anyway, I soon left the room, not waiting for questions to fall on my head. Being instructed to look for Shizu, my feet soon led me to the Club Building. However, I ran into someone on my way there. I received a tap on my back.

“Yo, Onoda-kun! On your way to see the President?”

With a weird salute, Watanabe greeted me while grinning playfully. She then giggled and hopped forward, matching my pace.

“Watanabe-san, do you still have to ask? You’re the same, aren’t you?”

“Heh. Of course! What? Can’t we converse anymore? That’s going to make me sad, you know?”

Huh? Is she always like this? Isn’t this girl originally timid? Or is it because she’s just a little reserved with her new acquaintances? Anyway, our situation was slightly similar. We were both brought in by our partner and given an official position. That’s most likely why she’s seeing me as a likely comrade.

“Uh… Then it’s fine. But won’t senpai feel bad if he sees you talking to me again?”

“Don’t mind! We already talked about it. As a fellow 1st year in the Council, won’t it be better for us to get along?”

Now that I got to observe her closer, this girl seems a little carefree. The way she carried herself was like a tranquil river. Even if she just stands there or walks like this, she can influence those around her, making the atmosphere a little lighter than normal.

I mean, I could feel it. I didn’t feel the need to break her character, going along with her pace was enough to preserve my peace of mind.

Yet, when she’s in the presence of Shizu, she’s like a meek little chick that could easily freeze and shiver from the cold that the girl was involuntarily exuding.

“Well, if you say so…” I answered with a shrug.

“I’m glad that you get it, let’s go!”

And with that, instead of going alone, I followed and matched Watanabe’s pace until we arrived at the Student Council.

Upon seeing us arriving together, both Shizu and the Secretary reacted.

“Good morning Ms. President, Mr. Vice President and Maa-kun, I mean, Mr. Secretary.”

As though she expected that, Watanabe strode forward in a carefree manner and greeted everyone before taking her seat.

As for me, well, I just copied her and acted the usual but that still earned me Inugaki’s ire.

When I passed by from behind him, I heard the dog mutter something that was clearly directed, “You’ve done it now. You managed to provoke someone you shouldn’t have.”

He then raised his head and smirked.

Did he just announce his affiliation to Ichihara? Can he be even more obvious? Now I wonder if he’s really intelligent or just someone with dog-like intelligence. No. It’s probably an insult to compare him to a dog. At least, dogs can be trained but this idiot is a hopeless case.

Ah. Well, I never had a lot of interactions with him. Moreover, it was Shizu who was always putting him down whenever he would say something. At the end of the day, he’s still functioning as the Vice President.

Anyway, although I didn’t pause in my steps, Shizu noticed that I slowed down a bit.

“Stop standing there, Ruki. Come and take your seat.” Shizu called out to me and tapped the seat that was specifically placed next to her. If one would see this without the long table in the middle, our seats were like thrones. She wouldn’t want me sitting anywhere else but next to her.

With that, Inugaki groaned again but he already lost the will to object. Or he already objected earlier and he got shot down again. Either way, Shizu acted like a tyrant in this little detail. No, calling it little might offend her… That’s why I opted not to question it and just sat down next to her.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked.

Upon hearing that, Shizu nodded confidently and proudly, “Absolutely. If you’re worried about the Vice President here, I advised him to bring his partner if he didn’t want to feel left out.”

“T-that’s ridicu—“

“Enough, I don’t want to hear your objections again. Also, this wonderful dynamic in the Student Council shall not be leaked outside. And that goes for you too.” After cutting off Inugaki mercilessly, she then pointed at the other couple in the room.

“Understood, President!”

“Y-yes!”

So… She’s preventing leakage of our relationship and in the process of doing that, the other couple also got the same treatment.

But isn’t their relationship already exposed? Wait. No. Now that I think of it. I haven’t heard anyone gossiping about Watanabe and her boyfriend. They’re also hiding it…

Well, the only threat here is Inugaki and if he’s under someone else, like that alleged delinquent leader then it’s possible that he already mentioned Shizu being in a relationship.

But I couldn’t be sure. If those friends of his were aware of his infatuation with Shizu and he revealed that the girl was already in a relationship… No doubt. That’s an indirect jab to himself. He’s not so much an idiot as to put himself down, right?

Will you announce that you got beaten by a junior to the girl you’re chasing after?

In any case, Shizu and I already talked about the possible leakage of our relationship. Worst case scenario is admitting to it but if the majority of the school body wouldn’t believe it then we didn’t have to say anything.

“Anyway, for the matter at hand… We’re supposed to just assist the Principal and the teachers in the Gymnasium. However…” As her voice trailed her, Shizu’s head turned to me. Her hand also crept its way to my thigh before settling above my hand. “… I’ve received instructions to use this assembly to announce the creation of the Disciplinary Committee. Ruki, you’ll be going up the stage with me.”

After saying that, the cold aura that she had just spread in the roam quickly melted by her beautiful smile. The look she was giving me was full of pride. It’s as if she could already predict that this introduction would be a success because of me…