Episode 222: A Resolve Long Understood

Since the talk about my class was finished and there weren’t any other major topics, we decided to disband for the day earlier than usual.

Everyone was heading back, so we ended up walking part of the way together.

「Alright, I’m going to lock up, so head outside,」

While we waited in the hallway, the President checked the room one last time and locked the door.

「Alright, let’s head home!」

「It’s rare for Satsukawa-san to join us.」

「It’s not just rare, it’s the first time.」

「In a way, it’s something to brag about.」

「It’s all thanks to Takanashi-kun, though.」

Well, Sara-san only joined because I said I would.

Unlike our usual meetings, there were still plenty of students hanging around at this hour. The sight of the entire Student Council moving together as a group naturally drew unwanted attention. I was bothered by the way everyone stared as we walked, but the ones standing out were primarily the President and Sara-san, the rest of us, including me, were just like extra scenery.

We passed through the school gates and began heading toward the station. We planned to stay together until the shopping district in front of the station to buy things for dinner.

「Kazunari-san, what would you like for dinner tonight?」

I usually leave the menu up to Sara-san, but she asks me like this sometimes. She probably wanted to confirm before we started shopping.

As for what I actually wanted to eat, today…

「Hmm… I think I’m in the mood for curry today.」

「Understood. Then, let’s have curry today. Let’s see… what are we missing…」

Sara-san made a thinking gesture, likely visualizing the ingredients left at home and listing what we needed to buy. It’s already completely… no, never mind.

「…Hey, Satsukawa-san, if you’re asking Takanashi-kun what he wants, does that mean you’re the one cooking?」

「Eh? Yes, I am?」

「I thought so. And that’s at Takanashi-kun’s house, right? Are you eating together?」

「Of course. Is something wrong with that?」

Sara-san wore a puzzled expression, as if wondering why they would even ask. But the questions kept coming regardless.

「You make it every day? Isn’t that a lot of work?」

「No, preparing Kazunari-san’s meals is something very precious to me.」

「「…………」」

I’ve already grown used to the envious glares from the guys. I expect there will be many more scenes like this from now on.

「By the way… do you do anything else for Takanashi-kun?」

While questioning Sara-san, their smirking gazes were clearly locked onto me. I don’t know what they’re expecting, but since we aren’t doing anything strange, I’m perfectly fine.

「Aside from that, I handle all of his personal care.」

「Whoa… you go that far? Takanashi-kun is one lucky guy.」

「Really, it wouldn’t be surprising if every boy in school was glaring at him.」

「But seriously, hanging out at a guy’s house who lives alone every day, wouldn’t it be bad if the teachers found out? What do you think, President?」

「…Well, it’s true there’s a possibility they’d have something to say about it… maybe.」

I see, I’d never actually thought about that before. It’s certainly a possibility, isn’t it? Especially now, since we aren’t just visiting but have actually started living together, we probably need to be pretty careful.

「It shouldn’t be a problem. Since our parents have officially approved of our relationship, I won’t let the school interfere.」

「Parental approval!!??」

「A-Are you serious!? Wait, wait, does that mean…」

「No, thinking about it, it would be impossible to do it every day otherwise.」

「True! Hearing this, it really doesn’t feel like you’re just a normal couple anymore… Satsukawa-san, aren’t you going a bit overboard?」

They seemed to have developed a total interest in us, getting hyped up over our topic as if they’d been waiting for the chance. If we made too much of a scene, we’d stand out too much since there were other students heading home around us, and we were already drawing eyes just because Sara-san was here.

「Even if you say I’m going overboard… we’re engaged, after all, so we aren’t just mere lovers.」

Stop.

Everyone except Sara-san and me stopped dead in their tracks.

No, it wasn’t just their feet. Their entire bodies, and even their expressions, seemed to have frozen.

C-Could it be that Sara-san actually used some famous time-stopping ability from a certain manga!?

…Jokes aside, so it’s finally coming out at school. Well, I figured we’d have to tell the Student Council members sooner or later anyway, so it’s not a problem.

「E-E-Engaged? Did you say… engaged?」

The President was the first to break out of the paralysis, finally squeezing out those few words.

Then, as if they were rusty robots, everyone else turned toward Sara-san at once with stiff movements that practically made a creaking sound.

「Yes. We are dating on the premise of marriage, after all…」

Sara-san looked a bit taken-back by their bizarre movements, but she gave a firm answer to the President’s question.

「「「「「 WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!! 」」」」」

!?

Wh-whoa…

Even the President joined in, as everyone suddenly let out a massive scream with expressions of pure shock. The bizarre scene completely captured the attention of all the surrounding students and passersby.

「N-N-No way!!??」

「S-S-Satsukawa-san, th-th-th-that means…」

「T-T-T-Takanashi-kun, explain, explain, explain, explain everything!!!」

「What kind of story is that!!??」

「No way!!??」

The spear of the conversation turned toward me as well, and everyone’s gaze came rushing in. Since it’s come to this, it’s probably better if I join the explanation instead of leaving it all to Sara-san.

「Well, due to various circumstances, it became official the other day…」

「Did Takanashi-kun propose!!??」

「Y-Yes, well… I was the one who asked.」

「And Satsukawa-san!?」

「……Yes, I gladly accepted.」

Seeing Sara-san give such a happy smile, I found myself captivated by her.

She really is beautiful…

「「 UGAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! 」」

「「「 KYAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!! 」」」

Everyone except the President let out an extra-large scream.

I understand being shocked, but could they tone it down a bit since they’re bothering the people around us?

By the way, the President was just standing there frozen with his eyes wide, without making a sound. And on top of that, we were being pierced by a massive amount of annoyed glares from the people nearby.

「C-Congratulations!!!!!!!」

「Incredible! Incredible! Incredible!! I can’t believe it!!! What is this!!!???」

「It’s not that light of a matter!!!!! It’s the Satsukawa-san, you know!? This story is definitely insane!!!!!」

「Uwaaaah, even though I’d already given up, the shock is too much!!」

「It’s impossible!! I can’t take it!!」

The girls were causing a massive uproar in their excitement, while the boys were crouching down with their heads in their hands.

It had clearly become an uncontrollable situation, and I felt a sense of panic, thinking it was bad for the entire Student Council to be making such a scene on the school route. Just as I was about to try and calm them down, the President, who had rebooted at some point, stepped in.

「E-E-Everyone! Stop making such a scene here. You’re bothering everyone around us, and it’s a poor reflection on us as Student Council officers.」

His panicked tone was different from usual, making it clear he couldn’t hide his own agitation. But for now, everyone who was making a scene bit their tongues in a panic after hearing his voice.

「S-Sorry!」

「My apologies!」

「I’m sorry, President, I ended up joining in as well.」

Amidst everyone offering their words of reflection, even Sara-san offered a regretful apology. But I don’t think Sara-san has anything to apologize for.

「N-No, anyway, let’s save that talk for next time. I definitely want to hear more about it myself.」

The President smirked at me with his usual mischievous face. But more importantly, we should probably do something about the guys who still haven’t managed to stand up…

In the end, it seemed the girls in particular couldn’t suppress their interest afterward.

「Hey, hey, if you’re engaged, that means you’re getting married in the future, right!!!???」

「Yes, since we’ve made that promise.」

「「「 !!!!!!!!! 」」」

I almost laughed seeing the girls desperately suppressing their screams by covering their mouths with both hands and shaking violently.

However, I was busy having the distance closed by the guys on my end.

「T-Takanashi-kun.」

「Yes?」

「Listen, because we already knew you two were dating, we’re… m-m-managing to endure this, okay?」

It didn’t look like they were managing at all, but should I just act like they were?

「Congrats… I’m jealous… R-E-A-L-L-Y!!! I’m so jealous!!」

Shake shake shake shake.

He shook my body violently while letting out a voice that sounded like it was squeezed from his very soul.

Screaming right next to me is making my ears hurt!!

「Phew… no joke, the shock is too strong… If the school finds out about a marriage promise with the Goddess, it’s seriously going to be no laughing matter.」

「Yeah, I think so too. Given Satsukawa-san’s immense popularity, this fact will probably cause an uproar that shakes the entire school… that isn’t an exaggeration. You should prepare yourself before the word spreads any further.」

I understand perfectly what the President is trying to say.

I’m not trying to hide it by force, and Sara-san isn’t exactly hiding our relationship either. She just doesn’t say anything because she isn’t asked, but like this time, if she is asked, she answers. And since we’ll be moving together more often from now on, the word will spread sooner or later anyway.

I have no problem with the jealousy that will gather on me as a result. I knew that would happen the moment I became Sara-san’s lover, and I’ve long since made my resolve.

If anything, I felt the need to think once again if there was something I could do to shut those guys up.