Episode 241: Adjourning the Student General Meeting

The moment my name was called.

The sound that reached my ears as I stepped onto the stage was a small, and certain stir, mostly from a portion of the male students.

What was that about?

If it meant they didn’t know who I was, I could obviously understand that. I wasn’t an official officer; to be precise, I was closer to a helper. I was definitely plain.

But, it didn’t seem like that kind of vibe…

「Ka… Ahem, Takanashi Kazunari-san, please stand here.」

Sara-san, who had reflexively started to call my name as usual, hurriedly corrected herself.

Actually, in the meeting just before this, the Pre… Uesaka… it’s hard to call him that, so I’ll go with Former President… that Former President had warned us not to mix public and private matters during the meeting, especially on stage, in our positions as Student Council President and Vice President. In short, he meant「don’t flirt,」and the reason Sara-san looked displeased when he said that was probably because she wanted to say,「I know that without being told」… probably.

And the place Sara-san designated was the podium where she stood… in other words, right next to her.

I didn’t stop and stood directly beside Sara-san as directed, then steeled my resolve and looked straight ahead…

…This is bad… my body is shaking… what is this sight…

Standing before the entire student body.

I knew it from the start. I understood it in my head, I steeled myself, I was encouraged… but…

I didn’t understand the meaning of being the center of attention for this many people.

Everywhere I look, there are gazes, gazes, gazes… looking with interest… like they’re looking at something strange… like they’re watching a sideshow…

Experiencing it like this, I finally understand. Sara-san has been exposed to these kinds of gazes all this time. She remained dignified even in a situation like this.

Thinking that far, her appearance from a moment ago came to mind. It suddenly occurred to me. Maybe「that thing」where Sara-san plays another version of herself also served the purpose of overcoming these kinds of situations…

Right now, I’m just being noticed out of simple curiosity. But Sara-san is different. Being popular sounds good, but it draws attention filled with all sorts of thoughts. Especially from the men, she must often face the kind of gazes she hates the most.

A solitary mask that aims for the heights without relying on anyone or seeking support. Maybe there were other reasons for its existence besides that… I don’t know why, but that’s what I thought at that moment.

And now…

I’m panicking at「something」completely different from the tension I felt before, and my mind has gone blank. In this state, I…

Squeeze…

!?

Underneath the podium, in a spot where no one could see, a hand softly reached out from Sara-san and linked with mine. Gentle feelings, loving feelings, a warm heart transmitting through the palm… it was as if Sara-san’s feelings were telling me that it’s okay, and that she’s by my side.

Sara-san remained facing straight ahead, not moving a single eyebrow. But the warmth and kindness coming through my palm give me certain strength.

Steel yourself one more time, there were words the people of old used to say.

「Everyone is a pota…to.」

Realizing that I was okay, I looked forward again. I won’t flinch anymore, the gazes aren’t scary, because Sara-san is by my side. Because the kindness transmitted from our linked hands gives me limitless courage.

When I put a little strength into our linked hands, Sara-san, who must have felt it, seemed to understand that I had recovered.

「Now then, we will move on to the introduction of the new Student Council officers. After the introductions, those who approve, please applaud.」

Sara-san made the declaration, and first, the introduction for me as the Vice President began. If I can receive approval safely, the flow is for me to be officially appointed by Sara-san and then give a brief inaugural greeting.

「Takanashi Kazunari-san joined the Student Council as a special member midway through the first semester. At the sports festival, he provided commentary in the broadcasting booth with the Former President, Uesaka-san, so I’m sure many of you know him. Although he didn’t have an official title, he is someone who has supported various activities and tasks as my personal assistant.」

From there, Sara-san’s passionate speech began. How much I supported her, how much I helped, how much I assisted her… she was praising me so much it made me embarrassed just listening.

However, I also noticed a buzz starting to grow among some of the students listening. Since the attention is on Sara-san, I think this stir is also related to her statement, but…

「Both I and the Former President, Uesaka-san, strongly requested that he take this position. In my activities as Student Council President, he is the most suitable person to serve as the Vice President who will assist me. Please, give your approval.」

Sara-san finished my introduction with a satisfied expression, as if she’d said everything there was to say.

Now, what happens next…

Clap clap clap clap!!

Gratefully, applause was heard immediately. It seemed like more than I expected, and looking at the student section, I could see people here and there clapping. It seemed to be mostly my class and… many girls. I suspect these are the fan clubs for Natsumi-senpai and Hayato.

And then I saw one student suddenly stand up while clapping.

That’s Hayato…

And following him, Natsumi-senpai…

Then, like they were following suit, the number of standing students (mostly girls) increased… over there, that’s our class… it kept spreading…

And then applause began to rise from the entire crowd.

I don’t know if this applause is for me or for Sara-san who spoke so passionately. But there’s no doubt this applause is an approval of me as the Vice President.

A little more strength goes into our linked hands. I’m not the only one who’s happy about this sight, Sara-san is happy too.

Hayato secretly gives me a thumbs-up signal.

He really is a handsome guy, that one…

Sara-san waited for the applause to settle down before facing the microphone again. It was to declare that approval had been received.

「Thank you very much. With your applause, Takanashi Kazunari-san has been approved as the Student Council Vice President. Now, we will have the inaugural greeting.」

This time Sara-san stepped to the side, and I moved to the center. But Sara-san wouldn’t let go of my hand. When I stole a glance at her, she showed a faint, mischievous expression. It was probably only visible to me since I was so close. But thanks to that, I can give my greeting without being nervous.

I stared straight ahead and faced the mic.

Even if I’m not enough right now, as someone who stands beside Sara-san, I’ll become a man who can easily overcome something of this level. This is the first step.

「Once again, I’m Takanashi Kazunari, the new Student Council Vice President. I’ll do my absolute best, so I look forward to working with you. Normally, I should probably talk about goals or my spirit here, but there is only one thing I want to tell you.」

I had no intention of sharing superficial goals or temporary spirit from the start. As the Vice President, as someone who supports Sara-san, I will appeal for what is truly necessary.

There is only one thing I want to say!!

「My role is primarily to assist and act as a deputy for the President. I will work on that with everything I have, without needing to say it. However, in the end, what is necessary is the cooperation of all of you. Because no matter how much we plan and how much we prepare, you are the ones who actually take action. It is through your actions and cooperation that the results of the President’s… of our executive committee’s activities are realized. The power of each individual becomes our power, and the President’s power. So everyone, let’s build up the Student Council… and the President, with our power and yours!!! So…」

Clap clap clap clap!!!!!!

The timing of the cutoff seemed bad, and I wasn’t able to finish speaking… but that’s okay.

It wasn’t a wave that spread like ripples from small applause like before. Like a surging wave from the start, just like with Sara-san, everyone is taking the initiative to clap. I can clearly feel it.

This probably meant they agreed with what I said more than they recognized me personally. But that’s fine too. Either way, the real recognition starts from here. By me moving for Sara-san’s sake, it results in being for the President’s sake, and by extension, for the Student Council’s sake. If the result is that I’m truly recognized in the future, then it’s exactly what I hoped for. If I can achieve both, I consider that exactly what I want…

After I finished my greeting and took my seat, next came the introduction of the new members joining the board.

Called by Sara-san, the two of them, Hanako-san and Todo-san, made their appearance.

The descent of the W-Angels caused a stir of a clearly different color from the student section, but there were zero problems here.

Hanako-san, who received approval first, gave her self-introduction in her usual blunt, calm way. Whether they found her attitude reliable because she wasn’t intimidated at all, or the gap with her appearance worked in her favor, she seemed to be accepted without issue.

On the other hand, Todo-san seemed to be incredibly nervous and was flustered the entire time.

「I-I-I-I’m Todo Marina!! I look forward to working with you-sh!!」

She bit her tongue at the very end and ended up with watery eyes, which was a point of charm. But thanks to that, a funny (?) situation arose where cheers came from some parts of the crowd, and she seemed to receive a powerful round of applause in the end.

…………

Thus the new administration successfully launched, and under our lead, the meeting continued to the next agenda items.

Reports on upcoming planned events and the budget, raising agenda items prepared in advance, and seeking approval for necessary matters.

But the scene was, as I’d heard from the Former President before, not something that could be called a debate even as a compliment. There were some students who offered opinions, but it was basically just letting things flow from right to left, closer to a literal「report meeting.」

However, while I think that’s a shame, I don’t exactly find it hard to understand. Many students show no interest in the executive committee’s work, and there aren’t many students with the spirit to stand up on their own and voice an opinion to the point of drawing attention.

In the first place, a format where people cooperate if we propose something has already been established, so if we want more than that, we’ll probably need to change the awareness of the students themselves.

「With that, all the agenda items for the student general meeting are finished. Finally, if there are any questions or opinions, please raise your hand.」

After the final report was finished and she confirmed no opinions were coming, Sara-san spoke the closing words. I wasn’t expecting the atmosphere of a heated debate session, but my frank impression was that it was unexpectedly simple once it was over.

「Then, this concludes this year’s student general meeting.」

Sara-san made a loud declaration, and thus the student general meeting successfully came to an end.

「Good work!」

「It’s overrrr」

「Man, I was nervous!!」

The moment we retreated to the wings of the stage, everyone collapsed as if they were releasing the tension held inside them.

Even I felt a sudden rush of exhaustion, as if the thread of tension had snapped.

The reason I didn’t fall, though… was of course thanks to the existence supporting my body.

Sara-san must be mentally tired too, yet she still prioritized supporting me. She immediately caught me as I stepped back into the wings.

「Kazunari-san… good work. It was a truly wonderful inaugural greeting.」

「No, I definitely wouldn’t have… without you, Sara-san.」

「No, regardless of the process, the final action can only be your own power. It’s important that Kazunari-san had courage and was able to move into action.」

Sara-san is endlessly sweet to me. From my perspective, it was exactly because Sara-san held my hand in that place that I was able to summon my courage. I feel like I was able to move properly. But Sara-san still praises me even then.

「Since it was in the shadows, nobody probably noticed, but I didn’t think you’d hold hands on stage.」

Apparently Hanako-san had seen us.

It’s true that from the angle of the wings, she probably could see. That means Todo-san must have seen as well. When I reflexively looked her way, Todo-san, who had just turned toward me, was wearing a wry smile.

「Ahaha, actually I… I didn’t have the luxury to notice…」

It’s true that seeing her so stiff with nerves, she probably didn’t have the luxury for anything else.

「Is it not fine? Me supporting Kazunari-san is the same as a wife supporting her husband. Right, Dear?」

「So, that’s… that’s right, Sara」

Uuu, I think I need to get used to this soon, but the embarrassment always takes precedence.

Or rather, Sara-san is gradually starting to stop caring about the location…

「…S-Satsukawa-san has finally started acting like a wife…」

「…N-No, but Takanashi-kun replied without an honorific too…」

「「……………」」

「…Let’s just leave those two alone for a bit.」

「Or rather, the content of Kazunari’s greeting was secretly all for the sake of his wife, so your Onee-chan feels complicated.」

It’s natural for Hanako-san to feel that way. I intentionally made the content emphasize cooperating with Sara-san, after all.

「But, since it was right after Satsukawa-san’s inaugural speech and the atmosphere in the venue was in the mood to support the new President, I think the timing was skillful. Did you… intend that?」

The Former President followed up, but of course I had zero calculated intent like that. Or rather, there’s no way I had that kind of luxury. I just wanted to say,「Sara-san had no choice but to take the job because you guys dumped it all on her. At least cooperate with her.」

「I just really wanted to say it. Since Sara-san is taking on the most difficult role of Student Council President, I wanted to say at least everyone should cooperate… I knew it wasn’t correct for a greeting myself. But I…」

Squeeze…

Sara-san, who was listening to the talk, strengthened her grip while hugging me. Of course I intend to understand the meaning of that action. She’s saying she doesn’t want me to say any more.

「Kazunari-san, as long as I have you by my side, that is all I need. With that alone, I can overcome anything. I can do my best to any length. If I’m with you, my beloved, anything…」

As if she’s trying to convince me…

Slowly and carefully…

While hugging me gently and stroking my head, she tells me…

「I’ll do my best too. To tell you the truth, a position like Vice President is just like a convenient title to me. Because thanks to that title, I can be with Sara-san with total confidence, and I can help you with total confidence.」

To be blunt, that’s really all it is.

No matter how grandly I spoke in the greeting, my true heart is summed up by this.

「Geez, Kazunari-san. I’m happy about it, but if you say that in front of people… it’s a no-no, okay?」

Poking my forehead with her finger, Sara-san spoke a warning that had zero intention of actually being angry. Since she’s happy, she immediately hugged me again.

「Sorry, but it’s my true heart… mgh.」

「I gave you a no-no… yet Kazunari-san won’t listen to me. This is a punishment then.」

Because I didn’t stop even after being warned, Sara-san unleashed her finishing move of forcibly silencing my mouth. I don’t know if she really thinks this is a punishment, but to me, it’s nothing but a reward.

……Or rather, I feel like I’m forgetting something?

「…Hey, someone do something about them?」

「…How far can those two go with their flirting…」

「…They’ve definitely forgotten we’re even here…」

「…The Satsukawa-san I just saw on stage was a phantom… a phantom…」

「Hanako-san…」

「Sigh, what a handful…… Kazunari, pull away already, and make the next one for your Onee-chan.」

「That way!?」

In the end, after being warned by Hanako-san (for some reason just me), I had to say I’m sorry and was forgiven by Sara-san.

And then, for some reason, everyone started calling me by my title, Vice President, with blank looks, and I was worked like a dog during the cleanup.