Episode 345: From Now On…

「Now then… let the post-festival party… beginnnnnnnnnns!!!!」

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

The venue was enveloped in an extraordinary roar, and on the rearranged stage, the guitars of the light music club began to wail with momentum.

The performance started with a high-tempo rhythm that felt like something I’d heard somewhere… though I didn’t know the song title… and with that as BGM, crowds of people gathered here and there across the ground.

On the opposite side of the stage, a large campfire roared with flames, and people could be seen chatting with drinks in hand.

The School Festival, which had spanned two days, finally reached its final event, and the ground was now filled with most of the students and the general visitors who had remained without heading home yet.

And as for us, we watched the scene from the edge of the ground… under the pretext of a final patrol, we decided to at least enjoy the atmosphere of the post-festival party.

「Haa… it’s finally over, isn’t it?」

「This year’s school festival was way too dense… it’s on a whole other level compared to last year.」

「To begin with, we didn’t even join up last year, right? Sara was acting alone for the Student Council, and both Natsumi-san and I were focused on our own duties.」

「That is true. The School Festival last year was as if it did not exist for me. The reason I was able to enjoy it so much this year is entirely thanks to my meeting with Kazunari-san.」

「If I hadn’t ended up like this with Sara-san, I probably would have gone home and been asleep by now too.」

Because of the meeting with Sara-san, the meetings with everyone else were born and connected, leading to the current situation.

So the beginning of everything really comes down to meeting Sara-san.

Which means… it’s not an exaggeration or anything, Sara-san really is everything to me.

「Marina-san, are you okay? Aren’t you cold?」

「Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks!」

「Hmm… now even Marina has ended up like this… looks like we’re the only ones left on the shelf, doesn’t it?」

「Wait, please don’t call me a leftover!! It’s just that I haven’t had a satisfying encounter…」

「Leftover or not, I’m not looking for a partner in the first place. For a big sister, her little brother is the best.」

Hanako-san aside (whether that’s good or bad), now that things have turned out like this, I can’t help but wish that someone good appears for Nishikawa-san and the others too, even if I’m being meddlesome.

Really… oh, come to think of it, what happened to Uesaka-san in the end?

I wonder if he made any progress… even just a snail’s pace on a thousand-mile road?

「ALRIIIIIGHT!!! Thank you very much!!!! Now then, next up is a performance by a volunteer band…」

The members on stage switched out, and the next to appear was a rare girls’ band made up only of female students. And looking closely, a very familiar natural enemy… I mean, a familiar face was there…

「Yahhoooo!!! Sorry to keep you all waiting!!!! Now then, let’s go all out!!! First, the first song!!! This is dedicated to my beloved Takanashi-kun, OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!?」

「You idiot!! I just told you not to touch on Takanashi-kun material because Satsukawa-san will get mad at you!!!」

The sudden exchange, which looked like a total comedy skit, triggered a wave of laughter from the audience, and the people who had noticed our presence all turned their gazes toward us at once.

Seriously… that person just won’t stop being unnecessary.

「Kazunari-san, do you have any requests for dinner tonight?」

「No, Sara-san must be tired today too, so surely we should go somewhere…」

「If it’s for me, there is no problem at all, you know? Making meals for Kazunari-san is a precious…」

「DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!! You Best Couple Grand Prize winners over there!!!! Don’t you dare ignore meeeeeeee OUCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!」

Unable to bear the noise, I reluctantly turned my gaze back to the stage just in time to see Yuri-senpai being hauled off… I mean, dragged to the wings while having her ear pulled by someone else.

Good, it’ll be quiet now.

「What was that idiot even doing?」

「Was that person Natsumi-san’s classmate? The band is starting as they are, so maybe it didn’t matter if she was there or not?」

「So even as a bonus, she was the one standing out the most? Well, either way, I’ve got more lecturing to do once the break is over.」

「Yes. I also just gained a reason to give her a lecture.」

「Sa, Satsukawa-senpai, are you perhaps angry?」

「Fufu… do you not think she has quite the nerve to tease Kazunari-san right in front of me?」

「H-her eyes aren’t smiling…」

She completely brought it on herself, but it’s now confirmed that Yuri-senpai will be seeing hell as soon as school starts again.

But for me… since it’s a hassle to have unnecessary things done every single time, please just go ahead and do it thoroughly.

「Since we’re going to be late anyway, why don’t you all join us for a meal? If you’d like, I can make a reservation?」

「I’m in!!」

「I’ll join too.」

「No objections here!!」

「I’m fine with it too.」

「Hayato-kun, what do you want to do?」

「What about you, Marina-san?」

「I… want to go.」

「Then it’s decided for me too.」

Everyone except for Sara-san and me was confirmed to participate. And as for me, I didn’t have a single reason to refuse… so that left it up to Sara-san.

「Sara-san.」

「Fufu… then, shall we accept the invitation as well?」

「That’s a plan, Nishikawa-san.」

「Yes. Then, since everyone is participating…」

Nishikawa-san took her smartphone out of her pochette and contacted someone… that said, I’ve never seen her contact a restaurant directly, so she’s probably contacting someone who handles reservations for her.

But come to think of it, every single time it’s a different restaurant, and it’s always a private room or reserved entirely… is it always like that for her?

「Good work… how is the post-festival party looking?」

「Since the three princesses are all here, it was easy to see where you were.」

「There are many people looking this way instead of at the stage, aren’t there? Well, I guess it can’t be helped.」

「Good work, everyone.」

「Good work… wait, where is Uesaka-san?」

「If you mean Uesaka-kun, he should be here soon? But more importantly… you did it, Takanashi-kun!!」

「To think you’d go as far as a proposal!!」

「Aww man, if you were going to do something that interesting, I should have stayed at the venue until the end!!!!」

「No, it wasn’t meant to be ‘interesting’…」

By the way… because the four of us were stationed at the Miss Contest venue, the other Student Council members and the former Student Council members were all assigned to patrol the entire campus.

Thanks to that, we were able to move around freely… which means, we won’t be able to do this next year.

「Satsukawa-san, congrats again!!」

「Hey, hey, show us the ring!!」

「Aaaah, I want to see it too!!」

「Fufu… very well?」

The area around Sara-san suddenly became noisy, and the population density increased all at once.

Led by the female officers who were letting out high-pitched screams, Natsumi-senpai and Hanako-san and the others were also mixed in… you girls just saw it plenty a moment ago, didn’t you?

「Whoa, it’s an eternity ring!!」

「Wow, Takanashi-kun really went all out for this, didn’t he!?」

「How could you afford something this amazing!?」

「Takanashi-kun worked very hard at his part-time job!」

「Heh… oh, is it that ‘three months’ salary’ thing!?」

While directing smirks and meaningful looks this way, the group peered curiously at the ring shining on Sara-san’s finger.

Sara-san herself didn’t seem to mind, and her somewhat proud appearance was heartwarming… well, I’m just glad she’s happy.

「Hmm… I want to work a part-time job too, but between club activities, I just don’t have the time.」

「True. Hayato has practice on the weekends too… for the record, I’m thinking about a part-time job as well.」

「If you don’t mind slightly late hours, Todo-san’s grandfather’s place or somewhere…」

「No, if I do that, Marina-san will find out everything, won’t she?」

「So you’re aiming for a surprise?」

「Well, yeah. Since it’s the first present, I want to give her something good as a surprise. Plus, next month is Christmas.」

「Me too. I don’t usually get much time for dates. At the very least, I want to go all out for Christmas.」

「Christmas, huh…」

Like those two, I have plans for a Christmas present too, but having just given her the massive surprise of an engagement ring, I’m troubled about what to give her next.

Plus, I definitely want to go on a date that day, so naturally, budget is an issue.

In that case, the part-time job from Masaomi-san is very much appreciated.

「Good work, everyone.」

「Good work~」

「Haa, I’m tired…」

「Good work~」

「Good work.」

Just as the conversation hit a break, all the male officers, led by Uesaka-san, returned. It seems they met up along the way.

With this, all the Student Council members were gathered.

「Good work, Takanashi-kun. I heard you were quite active?」

「Ahaha… everyone’s been saying that to me for a while now.」

「Well, I’m sure they have. I think there have been cases in the past where Miss Contest winners were confessed to… but I’ve certainly never heard of a proposal.」

「I mean, there’s no way there’d be a proposal for high schoolers in the first place, right!?」

「And giving her an engagement ring too, if people didn’t know you two were fiancés, they’d wonder just how much Takanashi-kun has in him.」

「I was at the headquarters tent at the main gate, and a huge number of male guests suddenly left, so I wondered what happened… was the situation really that intense?」

「Wh-who knows?」

Whether the situation was intense or not depends on how the audience saw it, so I won’t bother explaining it myself… but with that many people leaving at once, you can probably guess.

「Man, school’s gonna be nothing but talk about those two after the break.」

「There might be a mass of absences. There were quite a few guys in my class who were seriously in love with Satsukawa-san.」

「My class too. If anything, my buddy was normally thinking of a confession. I told him to give up many times, though.」

When I think about what school will be like after the break, I feel nervous and scared in a lot of ways… but I think the scariest part will be the teenage girls, starting with the girls in my class.

I can imagine myself being surrounded the second I step into the classroom…

「Good work, Uesaka-san.」

「Good work, Daichi.」

「G-Good work, Nishikawa-san!」

「No, I didn’t do anything. More importantly, thanks to you, I was able to take some free time like this.」

「Since it was a rare opportunity, I’m just glad you were able to enjoy yourself.」

Hmm…

Uesaka-san is a refreshing type to begin with, but his current appearance feels like it’s been boosted by twenty… no, thirty percent.

Over these two days, his attitude when interacting with Nishikawa-san seems to have improved to some extent too. Is he secretly intending to move to the next step?

「Hey Daichi, don’t you dare ignore me.」

「N-No, it was just a coincidence. An accident. More importantly, do you have some business with me?」

「Hah? Not really?」

「In that case, don’t you have someone else you should be dealing with instead of me?」

「Hoooon… so you want me to leave that badly? I wonder why?」

「Wh-What’s with that look!? Th-There’s no special meaning!? I’m just thinking of your sake…」

「Fufu…」

「Nishikawa-san?」

「Eririn?」

Nishikawa-san, who had been watching them curiously, let out a laugh as if she couldn’t help it. I also have a feeling I know what that laugh means…

「No, I’m sorry. I just thought once again that Uesaka-san has that side to him as well.」

「That side… you say?」

「Yes. Being childhood friends, you show quite a relaxed attitude toward Natsumi-san… I thought.」

「Ah…」

A look of「crap」appeared clearly on Uesaka-san’s face.

Yes… this was very easy to see even for me, but when Uesaka-san is interacting with Natsumi-san, his usual「(former) Student Council President」demeanor vanishes completely…

It looks like his ease as a childhood friend is being pushed to the front, so maybe this is actually his true self.

「Fufu… please don’t make that face. It’s not a bad thing, you know? If anything, I think it’s charming.」

「Eh!? I-I-I-Is that so!?」

「Daichi, your grin is reaching your ears, you know?」

「S-Shut up!! Stop saying unnecessary things every single time!!」

「Yeah, yeah. Then I guess I’ll head over to Yuji’s place.」

With a massive smirk… I mean, a meaningful smile, Natsumi-senpai headed toward Yuji.

Whether it was intentional or a coincidence that she ended up providing cover fire… well, it was probably a coincidence.

That said, I should probably back off and let those two be together…

「That’s right, I need to…」

「Nishikawa-sa-a-an!!!」

「Eri-cha-a-an!! It’s been a long time!!」

「Fufu, it has been a long time.」

…Or so I thought.

Nishikawa-san was suddenly surrounded by a group of girls who appeared out of nowhere, and Uesaka-san and I were easily shut out.

Things just don’t go as planned… and since Nishikawa-san’s side is vague anyway, I’m also in a vague position on how much to cooperate.

「Takanashi-kun, what are you doing after this?」

「Um… we’re going for a meal together.」

「I see. Then we’ll save our wrap-up party for another time. The School Festival was a success, after all, and we’ve all worked hard until today.」

「You’re right. And we’ve really been helped a lot by Uesaka-san and the seniors.」

「No, we were doing it for fun too, so it’s fine. But…」

「Yes. We won’t be able to do this starting next year, will we?」

「Yeah. You’ll be able to enjoy it while patrolling, but having many officers gather… that’ll probably be impossible.」

「Yes.」

Just as Uesaka-san said, as we move up a grade and the seniors leave… and as more first-year officers like we were join, it’ll be our job to take on the main work.

So… even if it was just for this year, I’m truly grateful for being allowed to enjoy it so much without any regrets.

「Uesaka-san… once again, thank you very much.」

「Haha. It’s embarrassing to be thanked so formally. But… you’re welcome. Good luck next year, Vice President-san.」

「Yes.」

I reached out and shook the hand Uesaka-san offered.

When I think about the Student Council activities after Uesaka-san and the seniors are gone, I’m not without anxiety, but I have to keep working hard.

I’ll support Sara-san as the Vice President, and…

「Fufu… are you finished talking?」

「Sara-san?」

「Satsukawa-san, good work.」

「Yes. Good work to you too, Uesaka-san. And, thank you from me as well.」

「No, no, Takanashi-kun said it too, but we were enjoying ourselves. So, it wasn’t that big a deal…」

「Is that so? Then I shall leave it at that.」

「Whoa…」

「I am joking.」

Whether she was being serious or not was easy to tell from Sara-san’s expression, but it was rare for her to make such a joke to anyone but us, so her mood must be that good.

「By the way… is that the engagement ring from Takanashi-kun?」

「Yes. It is my lifelong treasure.」

「Haha, to think the day would come when you’d say that about a gift from a man. You really have… changed, haven’t you?」

「Yes, I think so too. But… there is only one person in this world, before or after, who can change me.」

Taking her gaze off the ring, Sara-san stole a glance at my face and smiled.

Seeing that made me feel proud in some way…

「Well then, thanks for the treat. Please be sure to invite me to the wedding too.」

「Fufu… I shall consider it. Kazunari-san is the one who will ultimately decide, though.」

「Wait just a seconnnnnnd!!!」

「Satsukawa-san, you’ll invite us too, right!?」

「Sa, Satsukawa-senpai’s wedding dress!!」

「If you were a guy, just seeing that would be worth dying for, wouldn’t it?」

「…Hey, hey, a wedding!!」

「…Well, they are fiancés after all… after all… oooooh!!!」

「…Dammit!!!!!!!!!!」

「…Satsukawa-san is…!!!!!!!!!!」

「…Man, it’s gonna take a while to recover from this.」

「Now, next up is a very popular volunteer band!!! It’s ‘Rapid Stream’ with Saeki-kun on vocals, who is rumored to already have scouts from a certain agency after him!!!」

KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

A group of women let out an intense cheer as the next volunteer band appeared on stage.

Apparently there was someone famous, but… honestly, I didn’t know the name and had zero interest, so it had nothing to do with us…

「Thanks for the support!! Something really sad happened today, but with your cheers, I can keep working hard from now on!!」

KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

「Saeki-kun is popular as ever, isn’t he.」

「What happened that was sad?」

「Wasn’t it the thing with Satsukawa-san? Apparently he’d declared that he liked her.」

「But I’m sorry!! This song… just this song, I want to dedicate it to Satsukawa-san!!」

KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

…Or so I thought, but he blurted out something that was more than just something I couldn’t overlook… it was actually irritating. A mysterious figure then started running toward us.

Looking closely, there was something like a microphone in his hand…

「Satsukawa-san!! A word for Saeki-kun!!」

「Hah? I do not care about some fellow who speaks such cringeworthy nonsense that makes me doubt his sanity. Disgusting.」

「D-D-Disgusting!!??」

「Do not speak my name so casually ever again. It is unpleasant.」

GWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!!

At Sara-san’s sharp words, Saeki-whoever collapsed to his knees on stage.

It felt great… I wanted to say, but I was honestly irritated too, so I decided to give him a finishing blow.

「Don’t ever say such ridiculous nonsense to my fiancée again.」

I snatched the microphone that had been offered and made the declaration clearly, even knowing I was making more unnecessary enemies.

It seemed almost certain that the fact we were fiancés was known by the whole school now… but still, there were likely to be people saying unnecessary things, so I had to handle this properly.

「Kazunari-san… fufu.」

「Sorry, I overstepped.」

「No. I was happy… Dear♪」

Chu.

Sara-san leaned into me and stood on her tiptoes slightly, and I felt a soft sensation on my cheek. After meeting my eyes and giving a happy smile, Sara-san moved back to her usual position as she snuggled against me.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!??

KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

「…Honestly, those two aren’t hiding it from the public eye at all anymore.」

「…Isn’t it too late for that? Satsukawa-san especially didn’t hide Kazunari-kun from the start.」

「…That’s true. But with this, the Student Council’s top secret mission is over, huh.」

「…After reaching this point, those two should be fine. All we have to do is be careful about the President and Vice President mixing public and private business… once we graduate, we’ll count on you, Hanasaki-san?」

「…As long as you leave Kazunari to me, there is no problem.」

「…So dependable. I mean, if Hanako-chan hadn’t been here, what would have happened to next year’s Student Council?」

「Kazunari-san, shall we go over there?」

「Sure. I wanted to see it from up close too.」

The direction we were looking was the campfire, which was still roaring with flames. It had clearly grown in size since the beginning, and its presence was now arguably stronger than the stage.

The people around it looked like they were having a blast too… I was interested, so this was perfect timing.

「Shall we go too?」

「Understood.」

「Hayato-kun.」

「Yeah, let’s go too.」

「I’ll go too.」

「Then me too~. What about you, Nishikawa-san?」

「Of course, I shall join you.」

As we started moving, everyone else started moving together as if they’d been waiting.

Since it had become natural to move with everyone yesterday and today… I suddenly felt a wave of regret when I thought about not being able to play like this at next year’s festival…

「Kazunari-san… was the School Festival fun?」

「Yeah. This is the first event since I came to this school that I’ve enjoyed this much. It’s a waste to have it end like this.」

「Yes. We will likely be busier next year too…」

「Yes.」

「I touched on it a bit during lunch, but my school is also planning a festival for next year. So… if you would like, shall we gather there next time? It’s the first time we’re holding it so there are plans to go all out, and the dates won’t overlap, you know?」

「Ah, that’s right. Then we can all enjoy it together next year too!!」

「I’m looking forward to going to Nishikawa-san’s school!!」

As long as the dates don’t clash, we should surely be able to have everyone participate by adjusting our schedules.

If so, we might be able to enjoy a school festival together like this again next year!!

「Kazunari-san, you look happy.」

「Haha… I just thought we could all enjoy it together next year too.」

「Big sister is happy too. Of course, School Festival is School Festival, and since I can enjoy it with Kazunari, there’s no problem.」

「Hanako-san, for next year’s School Festival too, Kazunari-san will be with me…」

「Not for everything. Considering this year’s situation, the other officers will be troubled if Kazunari and the Wife are always together.」

「Ugh…」

True… this year Uesaka-san took on work like waiting at headquarters and coordinating with teachers that the President normally should have done, which was why Sara-san was able to move around so freely.

In short, I couldn’t argue with Hanako-san’s point at all.

「The third-years entrusted next year to me. So I’ll have the Wife follow my lead to some extent.」

「Haa… I guess I have no choice.」

「Whoa, as expected of Hanako-san. To think that Sara would give in…」

「I did not give in. I just thought it was unavoidable considering my position.」

「Right. I’ll endure on that point too.」

As the Vice President… more accurately, I don’t know what things will be like this time next year… but still, I don’t want to just dump everything Uesaka-san did this year onto Sara-san.

So, no matter what situation I’m in…

「Don’t worry, Kazunari is already decided as next year’s Student Council President.」

「Yes. I believe there is no one other than Kazunari-san to succeed me. However… my true heart has a feeling that I do not want you to face unnecessary hardships…」

「Um… isn’t it way too early for that…」

I’d had a hunch I might end up that way once Sara-san, the Vice President, became the President… but if there’s an election, there’s no guarantee it’ll turn out like that.

「Oh, if there’s an election, I’ll be supporting Takanashi-kun.」

「I’ll be supporting Kazunari too.」

「Good luck, Takanashi-kun!」

「With this, we’ve basically secured most of the female vote. Even if the male vote is somewhat split, he’ll definitely win. Basically, Kazunari’s presidency is confirmed.」

「Kazunari-san, I shall help you with everything I have, so let’s work hard together, okay? If you are tired, I shall take care of you with all my heart at school and at home.」

「No, like I said, I only just became the Vice President…」

I mean, why are they talking like I’m already the Student Council President?

Sara-san especially is acting like she’ll start doing that from today… and to begin with, the positions for helping the President are reversed.

「Fufu… if both Kazunari-san and I serve as the Student Council President, that means a husband and wife would have served as the President of the same school, doesn’t it?」

「Now that you mention it…」

「Destroying a Miss Contest, winning the inaugural Best Couple and Baka-Couple awards. A proposal and engagement report starting from a surprise intrusion, plus both serving as Student Council President… just how much do you two intend to leave your names in this school?」

「Now that you put it that way, there really is a lot. By the way… won’t someone else also have their name left, having the largest fan club in this school, being the Best Couple runner-up, and reporting their relationship with a princess carry?」

「Wait!? Why did the conversation suddenly turn to that!?」

「I just thought Natsumi has plenty of elements to leave her name too, you know? Especially Natsumi at that time was really… fufu.」

「Daaaaah!!! Don’t remind me every single time!!!!!!!!!!」

Natsumi-senpai lunged at Sara-san playfully, and Yuji watched their exchange heartwarmingly.

Meanwhile, over there…

「Marina-san, about tomorrow…」

「Eh?」

「My club is off all day so I’ll have time. So, um… if you’d like…」

「…Y-Yeah, I’d like to…」

Those two were acting completely fresh, fidgeting around each other.

It looked like they were already making plans for a date, and watching them made me feel embarrassed too.

And…

「Haa… a boyfriend, huh…」

「Come to think of it, I’ve never asked, but what kind of man is your type?」

「Mmm… type, or rather, I like someone I can feel safe around. No thank you to assertive handsome guys or self-conscious handsome guys, specifically.」

「I agree. Appearance is, in the end, just one piece of individuality.」

「Satsukawa-senpai is the same, but Nishikawa-san is realistic about those things too, isn’t she?」

「Well… if you often see people who are just dressed up on the outside for marriage interviews and such, you naturally start feeling that way.」

「Hmm… that’s a world I have no connection to. But I completely agree.」

It seemed they were enjoying a deep conversation over there, in a sense.

But Tachikawa-san’s comment was undoubtedly pointing at Yamazaki… so she’s moved on enough to be able to say it as a joke.

「Kazunari-san, what is it?」

「Sara-san? No, everyone just looks happy…」

I wasn’t trying to hide anything…

Looking around us, there were people chatting and laughing just like us, and a cheerful group singing and playing around the campfire.

There were men and women giving off a unique atmosphere, whether they were already lovers or about to become them…

One thing was certain, everyone was enjoying the School Festival…

「The preparation period was busy and tough every day… but seeing everyone enjoying themselves like this makes it feel like it was worth it.」

「You are right. To be honest, part of why I worked hard was because I wanted Kazunari-san to enjoy himself. But seeing a scene like this, I understand how you feel too.」

「Sara-san…」

「Fufu… I am surprised myself that I can think that way… but when I think about the reason I was able to change like this, I think it is a very happy thing, you know?」

「I also never thought I’d be able to think this way, when I consider my self from six months ago.」

To be able to feel happy and proud that so many people are enjoying an event we led. That’s something that would have been absolutely impossible for my self from six months ago.

But the fundamental reason for that was Sara-san… and thinking about that, I can truly feel happy that I’ve changed.

「Shall we keep working hard together?」

「Yeah, I’ll work hard. Student Council, studies, and helping out… for myself and the future.」

「Yes. I shall help with everything I have. However, you must absolutely not push yourself too hard, okay?」

「I know. I won’t do anything to worry Sara-san. I don’t want to either.」

「Good boy♪ Then… this is a reward.」

Chu.

A gentle, sweet kiss from Sara-san on my cheek. I think I’m simple, but I don’t hate that this reward makes me feel like I can work even harder.

「Sara-san…」

「Fufu… do not make that face. We will continue this slowly after we get home.」

「Eh!? No, I’m not…」

「Do you dislike it?」

「…I don’t dislike it.」

「Yes♪ I shall give you plenty of rewards… so please act spoiled with me as much as you like, okay?」

「Y-Yes…」

If Sara-san is happy and I’m happy too, then there’s no need to hold back.

So I’ll just act spoiled with everything I have… but that means my lonely battle starts again today.

But for the sake of Sara-san’s smile, I can work as hard as it takes.

「Hey, how long are you two going to flirt!!!!」

「You can flirt as much as you want once you get home!!!!」

「Kazunari, your Big sister’s lecture is after the break.」

「Honestly… you really never let your guard down…」

「Takanashi-kun, something interesting started over there!」

「Shall we all go see?」

「Come on Kazunari, everyone’s waiting!」

「Fufu… Kazunari-san, shall we go?」

「Yes!」

Sara-san is by my side, and everyone is with me.

So for now, I’ll savor this happiness…

Treasuring my time with everyone, from now on too.