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 30: Promise (Shizuku's POV)

(Riku-kun must have already gone home by now. It took so much time…)

Carrying the documents that were compiled by the student council to the staff room, I let out a sigh, making sure no one would notice.

The current time was past 20:05.

I had predicted that it would end by 19:00, but the outcome was far off.

Today’s task was to compile the results of a survey conducted among all students and create a chart. That’s what I was told. However, the work of creating other documents also fell on me.

(Even though Riku-kun offered to go home together… Sigh)

I couldn’t stop sighing. I knew I had to, but they just kept coming. That’s how much I was looking forward to going home with Riku-kun.

(Really, when did I become so weak…)

When my personal time was crushed by student council duties, I didn’t feel anything in particular. I could just dismiss it with the words “It can’t be helped.”

But when it comes to matters involving Riku-kun, those words are not enough. I was being dragged down so much…

(Riku-kun, I’m sorry for breaking our promise)

Apologizing in my heart, I switched to my usual demeanor while at school.

Ahead was the staff room. I must not give the teachers I’m about to meet any reason to be suspicious. I can’t make them worry.

As the student council president, I should have been prepared for the possibility that my personal time would be compromised.

With that in mind, I entered the staff room and found the head teacher.

“Yanagida-sensei, the meeting is over.”

I addressed the person in charge of the student council and handed over the compiled documents.

Yanagida-sensei is a young teacher in his late twenties. He has a stern face and is feared by the students around him, but in reality, he is different. He is a kind teacher who understands the students well.

(This situation… it’s a bit like Riku-kun’s, isn’t it?)

“Oh, you worked hard until this late. Where are the other student council members? If they pushed all the remaining work onto you, just tell me.”

“No, everyone worked seriously.”

“Then, why aren’t they here?”

“I just told them to go home first. It’s already this late, and it’s dark outside.”

If I were to say “they pushed the work onto me” here, it would certainly lead to a discussion involving the teacher and the student council members.

Yanagida-sensei’s good point is that he shows concern for each student and tries to solve their problems.

“You seem to be implying that it’s dangerous, but that applies to you too, doesn’t it?”

“In my case, I can call a car.”

“I see. Well, that’s good… but…”

Upon understanding the reason why I was the only one here, Yanagida-sensei finally relaxed his furrowed brow and stopped crossing his arms.

And the next words he uttered were something I had never anticipated.

“Overwhelming yourself with too many things is not a good sign.”

“What do you mean?”

“Today, you had something important to do, right? I can somehow tell.”

“…!?”

I switched my feelings as usual. But for the first time, he saw through me.

Undoubtedly, it was because I wanted to go home with Riku-kun.

I realized that when he said it was because my desire to go home with him was stronger than ever before.

“Geez, you’re too serious. Take a break for a day. The student council isn’t meant to tie students down.”

“Even so, I am the student council president. I can’t take a break for personal reasons.”

“You’re a tough one… Just do the work you missed the next day. You’re still a student. It’s too early for you to prioritize the student council and endure such “hardship”.”

“…”

It’s completely obvious. The feelings I’m holding right now…

“So, you’re basically saying I should ‘slack off’?”

“Don’t be silly, if I say that, I’ll get scolded from above. Especially those damn student guidance committee members, they’re so noisy. Even though it’s not a bad thing to have an escape route, they prioritize their professional values for evaluation…”

There’s probably no other teacher who would complain about their superiors to a student like this.

“That’s why I say ‘take a break’. You have a vice-president, right? Supporting you and taking on the president’s duties when necessary is the vice’s role. It’s also your job to create opportunities for the vice president to grow.”

“Really, you’re quite persuasive, Yanagida-sensei. You’re saying that just to give me an excuse to rest.”

What he said was true and sincere. However, it’s more likely he’s saying it with the primary purpose of letting me rest.

“So, you didn’t want to take a break today?”

“I… I can’t say that out loud…”

With the feeling of “I wanted to rest,” I answered while looking away. This is my childish side, revealing my true feelings that I had been hiding…

Yanagida-sensei understood this intention.

“Well, it’s fine. If you understand, next time you should slack off… I mean, prioritize your personal needs and take a break. That’s good for you and the student council, too.”

“If you say that and get scolded later, Yanagida-sensei, I won’t take responsibility.”

“When that time comes, I’ll just accept the scolding and help the student council myself. I say this because I know how hard you work.”

“I see.”

“Well, even if I say that, there are various ways to create escape routes other than just slacking off. You can decide that for yourself.”

I thanked Yanagida-sensei, who genuinely cared for my well-being, and bowed my head.

“Thank you… I’ll take your advice when the opportunity comes. Now, I should go.”

“Right, take care.”

As I left the staff room with my belongings, I headed towards the main gate.

“Slack off, huh… I wish I could have heard that a few hours ago…”

It was 8:20 PM when I finished talking with Yanagida-sensei.

I had no hope that Riku-kun would still be waiting for me at the main gate at this late hour.

“I wanted to go home together…”

Such words unconsciously slipped from my mouth as I gazed at the stars in the night sky and passed through the main gate.

“A little late eh?”

“Eh…?”

A familiar voice reached my ears from right beside me. Then, a car passed in front of me, its headlights revealing a man standing in the shadow of the main gate…

“R-Riku-kun…!?”

There he was, the person I was thinking about the most right now…