Although She's a Beautiful Student Council President Who Maintains Her Coolness Towards Everyone, She Wants to Act Spoiled and Lovesick Around Him, Who is Misunderstood by Everyone as a Delinquent - Chapter 2: In the Library......

During that lunch break, Riku asked the library committee member to return the books he had borrowed from the library.

“Please return this.”

“Understood……Hi!?”

The book was handed to him by Riku, but when he saw the person who was returning… his face instantly turned pale.

“Return it…”

“U-Um! I,  don’t have any money!”

“I know….”

“But,I-I’ll do my best! I’ll hurry up! Please don’t hit me…”

“I won’t hit you. ……”

The librarian’s eyes filled with tears as his body stiffened. He was so seized with fear that he was certain that if he made even one mistake, tears would overflow and fall. After that, he wouldn’t listen to me and … After that, he didn’t even listen. …… Riku had no choice but to leave the rest of the work to him.

(Haa, I’m the one who needs to cry. ……)

It was inevitable that Riku felt this way in his heart. He was just giving directions to a man who was lost, but he was misunderstood as blackmailing him,…, and now he was in this situation.

“Haaa …….”

The sighing didn’t stop as he made his way to the bookshelf where the history books were lined up. ーーHe saw a girl standing in front of the bookshelf and reading a book. Shining silver hair that extended to her back. A schoolgirl with large sakura-colored eyes. …. She was so famous that there was no one who didn’t know her in this school.

“…… Ara”

“……, Hi.”

After exchanging greetings with the celebrity, Riku was about to move to another place, but …. was approached again.

“Fufu, you don’t have to run away from me,  you know? It’s an opportunity to talk one-on-one.”

“…I wasn’t trying to run away,  Kujo-senpai. There was a possibility that I might have disturbed your browsing.”

“Ara, you haven’t changed your witty side, have you?…. When was the last time I had a conversation with you like this ……?”

“We haven’t talked since middle school, and I’m in my second year, so it’s been a year and a half.”

“I can’t believe it’s been that long.”

The president closed the book she was reading with a snap and showed a sly smile, then beckoned Riku over with a small wave of their hand.

“… More importantly, why don’t you come over here? I am sure there are books here that you are interested in.”

“……, how did you know?”

“I followed your gaze.”

“I see. ……”

The reason why they could talk so intimately was because they had known each other since elementary school. Riku took up Shizuku’s offer and picked up a history book that he was interested in, when he was approached again by Shizuku.

“……I know I’m saying this now, but isn’t it too late for you to reach out to me? I honestly thought you had forgotten about me.”

“That’s… we haven’t talked for a long time, and I didn’t know what kind of distance I should keep.”

“Fufufu, that’s not the only reason, is it?”

With a smile, Riku answered honestly to Shizuku who was sure there was another reason.

“… Kujo-senpai has changed more than I expected, so I couldn’t even approach you. When we were in elementary and middle school, you were such a shy person, but now you’re the student council president of this academy.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Of course”

Riku clearly remembers Shizuku when she was in elementary school.

Memories of the time when Riku helped Shizuku, who was being bullied for her mature demeanor…. since then, she always followed him around.

“If we are talking about change, I think you have changed the most, haven’t you? You had a kind heart, but now you are the leading delinquent in this school. And it happened right after you entered the school.”

“I’m not a delinquent. ….It’s just that everyone thinks so.”

“Fufufu, you poor thing.”

“You sound like you are having fun….”

Shizuku smiled happily while placing her slender, white fingers on her lips and showing her  teeth. At that time, Riku didn’t know. That smile, where she showed her teeth, was not a natural expression …but rather something she intentionally created.

That smile was something she would only show to one person. ….

“But while there are many students who misunderstand you, I don’t.”

“……?”

“I know. That you’re not the kind of person who would leave someone in trouble. You’re a wonderful person who extends a helping hand to those in need,”

“….That makes me happy to hear.”

“How could I forget that you saved my life?…… Thank you so much  for that time.”

Shizuku spoke with a sincere tone, and she showed a gentle expression with the corners of her eyes lowered. Her words were genuine and honest.

“I don’t know if I ever helped Kujo-senpai, but I do remember you helping me. On the contrary, I remember being saved.”

“Yes, that’s just how you are – being absent-minded like that. …It’s been like that since the old days,”

“…Are you analyzing ?”

“It’s a fascinating thing to observe people.”

“I’ll give it a try when I get a chance. ……”

In reality, what Shizuku said was accurate. It was a form of observing people, but he knew it wasn’t entirely accurate…… It was more like he had been caught lying……. That’s probably the more appropriate way to phrase it.

“Ah, um… I just want to ask you one thing.”

“Yes?”

And at this point, the president, who was making a preface while wandering her gaze, asked a question.

“Are you good friends with girls…. after entering high school?”

“No, I can’t do that. I’ll ask you the same thing. Violence, blackmail, and threats. Do you want to be friends with me who has all three?”

“I don’t think so,”

“….That’s a blunt response,”

“But it’s the truth,”

“…I was hoping for a little follow up.”

Violence, blackmail, threats. Riku was not capable of doing such a thing. He has never done it before. However, because of the rumors surrounding him, it is regarded as the “truth.” Once it has come to this, there is nothing he can do.

“….But don’t get me wrong, I know who you really are…so the things you said don’t apply to you. ..Fufufu, and yet, here I am saying this kind of thing.”

“Are you confessing to me?”

“Ara, you’re quite the delinquent for thinking that way,”

Shizuku had a natural smile on her face again. Riku was unaware that his chest was now overflowing with ‘joy’ …..

“I’m just kidding.”

“You’ve got some nerve making fun of your senpai”

“I’ll be more careful next time…. Then, I’ll excuse myself here.”

Riku, who decided it was time to say goodbye, turned his back on Shizuku, and at that momentーー

“A-Are you really…going?”

From behind him, a voice sounded as if it had not yet said enough.

“I have already decided on the book I’ll borrow next, and since there is a possibility of being seen talking with Kujo-senpai and causing unnecessary trouble due to the rumors about me, I better go”

“W-Wait”

“What is it?”

He turned to Shizuku again and she took a couple of steps. Then, after mumbling,

“T-this… can you do it for me?”

Shizuku slowly held out her own hand.

“Shake hands,……?”

“I-it’s been a year since we last talked… there shouldn’t be any reason to refuse.”

“I’m fine with it.”

He took the offered hand and shook it. Riku’s hand felt the thin, soft hand of Shizuku, which was slightly cool to the touch. In Shizuku’s hand, she felt a warm, manly, rugged hand.

“…….”

“…….”

Silence, as if time had stopped. It was broken by Shizuku.

“Ah, um… can I hold your hand with both hands…”

“B-both hands? I don’t mind, but…”

“T-thank you…”

There was no reason to refuse. Riku was on board with Shizuku’s pointless argument. Riku’s one hand was wrapped by Shizuku’s two hands.

“…..”

“……”

“Haaaa……”

And then, suddenly, Shizuku’s charming voice came out.

“Eh?”

“……,W-what is it?”

“Did you just make a weird sound?”

“It’s all in your head”

“That’s fine, but …… don’t you think it’s time to let go of my hand?”

The handshake lasted only a few dozen seconds, but the physical sensation gave the illusion that it took longer than that.

“…R-Right If I continue any longer, I won’t be able to let go. …..”

“Hmm?”

“W-What’s wrong?”

“Oh, no, ……. I think I’m just imagining things, so never mind.”

“Y-yeah.”

Once aroused, excitement was not something that could be suppressed. Shizuku was self-destructing one after another, but the ‘cool’ impression she had created so far was working as a cover.

And …… their hands left each other.

“Then I’ll excuse myself.”

“Y-yeah,…….’

Riku walked away from the place quickly, and after looking behind him, he took a slow, deep breath.

(…… handshake, huh?)

Riku gazes at his right hand, which the president had held in both hands earlier,….

******

After parting with Riku, Shizuku moved to the end of the library so that no one would see her.

“Wh-what should I do… I-I didn’t mean to do something like this…..I hope Riku-kun doesn’t think I’m a weirdo… I’m such an idiot…” 

Shizuku, with her hands on her reddened cheeks, was shaking her head. No one would ever imagine such a scene.