Episode 383: End of Second Term

It’s been a few days since the return of the final exams, which had surprisingly good results.

My grade ranking had made a great showing by breaking into the top spots, and I even got the green light from my homeroom teacher saying「at this rate, a designated school recommendation is well within reach」(how they knew I was aiming for that is another story). I triumphantly reported this to Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san, which led to an off-field brawl(?) between Mayumi-san and Sara-san, but somehow we’ve now reached the closing ceremony of the second term.

And this morning, the classroom was a total 180 from the bittersweet atmosphere of the test returns. It’s now overflowing with expectations for the upcoming winter break. Everyone is boastfully reporting their plans or confirming hangouts, and they all look so incredibly harmonious and happy.

「Sigh… another Christmas girls’ night out this year, huh.」

「What, you got a problem with that?」

「Not really. I guess it’s more relaxing that way?」

「Sigh… another Christmas with you guys, huh.」

「Don’t say such gross stuff. I’m out.」

「Wha!? Don’t tell me…」

「You bastard, are you planning to betray us!?」

Everyone looks so harmonious and happy!!

「Hey, hey, Hanako-chan! If you want, for Christmas…」

「I have plans for Christmas, so I can’t.」

「Eh!? No way…」

「No, that joke’s enough already…」

Meanwhile, Hanako-san was in the middle of being bombarded with invitations from groups planning a Christmas girls’ night out. As far as I can see, she’s already on her third rejection. Hanako-san has really become popular before I even noticed.

「I’m having a party with Kazunari and the others on Christmas.」

「Ah, is that so?」

「Man, that’s nice!! Satsukawa-senpai will be there too, right!?」

「C-could it be that Hayato-kun is also participating!?」

「The Pretty Boy will be there. Also Natsumi-senpai and Kazunari’s best friend and…」

「Whoa, seriously!?」

「W-wait, is that the same lineup from the school festival!?」

「Yes. Everyone is gathering.」

The classmates started getting excited, perhaps remembering the school festival. The contrast between them and Hanako-san, who remained perfectly composed, was incredible.

But I felt like she looked a bit boastful, or rather proud… maybe it was a sign that Hanako-san herself was looking forward to the party.

「A Christmas party where Rinka High’s legendary Three Princesses and the Student Council’s W-Angels all meet in one place!!??」

「Hey, hey, hey, just how extravagant is this party!?」

「A-are there no tickets!? Even at a premium price, I’ll…」

「T-Takanashi, is there no general participation…?」

「Of course it’s impossible.」

「「Dammit!!!!!!!!!!!!」」

When I flatly rejected them in an exasperated voice, the bystanders (the guys) all let out a collective cry of resentment. Well, I guess from a guy’s perspective, the guest list does look terrifyingly luxurious… but why do they think an outsider could just walk into a private party?

Normally, you’d show some restraint, normally!

「But it’s surprising. I thought for sure Takanashi-kun and Satsukawa-senpai would spend Christmas all alone…」

「Idiot, they’re already living together, so either way, on Christmas Eve…」

「On that night!?」

「Whoa, a-anything beyond that is sensitive!?」

「「Dammit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!」」

「Shut up!!」

I know exactly what these guys are thinking, but no matter how much they read into it or try to gauge my reaction, there’s nothing going on!!

My soul’s vow to treasure Sara-san is not something that would ever waver, even on a night like Christmas that holds special meaning for the lovers of the world.

Also, these guys are just loud. Even if it’s just a delusion or imagination, I absolutely won’t forgive them for thinking anything improper about Sara-san.

「Alright, get in your seats.」

「「Okay!」」

With that, the classroom uproar was successfully ended by our homeroom teacher, who arrived unusually before the warning bell. I have no idea why they came into the room with a smirk… it was gross, I mean, I don’t get the meaning, but the result was GJ so I’ll let it slide.

「Kazunari… you look happy?」

「Yeah… I guess I’m ‘looking forward’ to it?」

「Mmh… I’m looking forward to it too.」

When I answered honestly, Hanako-san wore a heartfelt smile. Actually, since this is the first time I’ve ever looked forward to a winter break this much, I’m aware that I can’t quite hide the excitement.

And I guess that shows in Hanako-san’s smile too?

「And with that, the last student council meeting for this term is finished. Good work, everyone.」

「「Good work!」」

Ending with Sara-san’s summary and greeting, the final student council activity of the year was finished.

This student council, which I ended up joining sort of by chance, has now become a precious part of my school life, so it feels somewhat moving… even though I’ve only been doing it for a few months.

「So, want to stop by somewhere on the way home for once?」

「Oh, sounds good. Like karaoke?」

「Ah, I want to go too!」

「Hey, hey, people involved in the student council shouldn’t be going to karaoke on the way home, right?」

Uesaka-san immediately used his inherent seriousness to put a stop to the girls, who were getting more excited than usual due to the liberation of it being the last day. Strictly speaking, making detours for fun while on the way home might not be something to be praised, but that’s kind of an unspoken thing, and the school mostly turns a blind eye, so I thought it would be fine for today.

「Man, Uesaka-kun is as stiff as ever.」

「Come on, the second term ends today!」

「Exactly! Even student council officers want to take a breather once in a while!」

「U-um… no, but…」

The fact that he looked troubled but didn’t flatly reject them suggested that Uesaka-san didn’t totally hate the idea. The girls seemed to sense that too, as they wore meaningful smirks and… for some reason, looked at me?

Uh oh, I have a bad feeling…

「Hey, hey, Satsukawa-san, how about you for once?」

「To reward ourselves for the hard work this year!」

「Well… as the student council president, I can’t exactly agree with both hands raised…」

Even while saying that, since she didn’t flatly refuse, maybe Sara-san also wanted to be a bit lenient… or maybe she was thinking about the little time left with the seniors… or something like that?

「If you guys want to target Satsukawa-san, you should attack Takanashi-kun first!」

「Oops, that’s right. If we take down the husband first…」

At this point, the seniors’ eyes completely locked onto me. Now I was in trouble. As the vice president, my position was… no, but.

「Sara-san…」

When I turned my gaze to the side to see how Sara-san was doing, my eyes met hers as she was staring at me with a contemplative look. She gave a small nod along with a tiny smile.

It felt like she was saying,「I’ll leave it all up to you, Kazunari-san」…right then.

「I guess it’s okay once in a while?」

「Oh, yes!!」

「Takanashi-kun, you’re so reasonable!」

When I gave a positive answer, the seniors let out cries of joy as if to say「that’s the answer we were waiting for」…

「Takanashi-kun, you don’t have to force yourself, okay? These two are just getting carried away.」

「No, I don’t really…」

「Hey, Uesaka-kun! Takanashi-kun went through the trouble of saying he’d participate, so don’t say unnecessary things!」

「Yeah, yeah!」

The girls once again fiercely turned on Uesaka-san for trying to back me up(?). Since it was clear that the other members were leaning toward joining, even if they didn’t say it out loud… Uesaka-san should just be honest with himself.

「If Kazunari is going, I’m going too.」

「Ah, since we’re here, I’d like to join too!」

「I-I’m in too!!」

「Me too, me too!!」

「I’ll participate too.」

「Then I will too.」

In the end, all the remaining members declared their participation, so the only ones who hadn’t spoken up were Sara-san and Uesaka-san. But…

「If Kazunari-san is participating, there is no way I wouldn’t go.」

「Right!? Alright, if you want to win over Satsukawa-san, attacking Takanashi-kun is the way to go.」

「Please don’t get carried away. I will forcibly remove anyone who causes unnecessary trouble for Kazunari-san, you know?」

「Y-yes ma’am…」

Sara-san gave the senior a sharp warning with a dangerous look and stood there as if to protect me. Even if the opponent is a senior, there are no exceptions for Sara-san.

「Sigh… I guess it can’t be helped. Then I will go as well.」

「Oh, Uesaka-kun, you don’t have to force yourself to come, you know?」

「H-hey, wait a minute. I never said I wasn’t going.」

Having the rug pulled out from under him… well, not exactly, but it’s a bit funny to see Uesaka-san flustered for once. Anyway, that means everyone’s participating.

「Then, is the place in front of the station okay?」

「I don’t mind. I was planning to do some grocery shopping for dinner at the shopping district anyway.」

「Th-that sounds so housewife-like…」

「Even if you say that, I am essentially like a housewife.」

Sara-san let out a small giggle, perhaps finding it amusing to be called a housewife. But no matter how much it’s her own wish, the fact that I’m leaving it all to her just as she asks probably makes the world see me as a useless guy who does nothing… maybe?

So please, don’t look at me like that. I’m trying to do what I can do myself too, yeah.

「Hmm… the idea of a woman taking the lead in housework in this day and age is…」

「Please don’t misunderstand. I have been entrusted with the housework entirely by my own will. Taking care of Kazunari-san’s daily needs is something I personally want to do.」

「Haaa… honestly, Satsukawa-san is like the embodiment of a man’s ideal woman, isn’t she.」

「Super beauty, super devoted, perfect at housework and professional-level cooking. The selflessness of serving her husband to the end without asking for anything in return… what kind of anime heroine is this!?」

「Really, the person who marries Satsukawa-san… I mean, Takanashi-kun is a lucky guy.」

「I’m the one who’s most aware of that.」

I know that better than anyone in the world, without being told. That’s why I can declare that I’m the happiest man in the world… wait, didn’t someone say the same thing before?

「Oh, look at you.」

「Was that flirting!?」

「Hehe… Kazunari-san♪」

When I admitted it honestly, Sara-san’s face softened happily, separate from the teasing of the seniors. But this isn’t flattery, it’s just the pure truth.

「Still, I never imagined Satsukawa-san would transform this much. Honestly, love really changes a woman.」

「But she hasn’t changed much except toward Takanashi-kun. Especially her dislike for men, that seems the same as ever… the fact that even her transformation is limited to Takanashi-kun is so very like Satsukawa-san.」

「You won’t get anything even if you praise me that much, except for Kazunari-san?」

「No, that wasn’t exactly praise… I mean, so in the end, it’s only Takanashi-kun!」

「Of course. I have absolutely no intention of doing anything special for anyone but Kazunari-san.」

Sara-san laughed happily while casually saying that, ignoring the exasperated interjections from the seniors. That said, since everyone knows those words about「not doing anything special for anyone but me」are not an exaggeration at all… that’s why no one laughed as if it were a joke.

「Now then, let’s leave the teasing of the stupid couple at that and head out soon.」

「True. The fact that Satsukawa-san can’t take a joke is also the same as ever.」

「Sigh… I’m jealous.」

「I’ve already been made to realize it so many times, yet it’s still frustrating.」

Apparently realizing that further talk would be like pushing on a wall of water, everyone started preparing to leave, ignoring us. Uesaka-san started getting ready too, and Sara-san and I packed our things.

「Well, see you next year… I guess.」

「Good work~」

「Thank you for everything!」

「See ya~」

Greeting no one in particular… or perhaps the「student council room」itself, one by one everyone left the room. Finally, only Sara-san and I were left, and we glanced at each other.

「Hehe…」

「Haha…」

Finally, with our thoughts lingering on things, the two of us left the room together.

And with that, the second term ended safely… or something like that.