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 37: To That Moment...(2)

After school… Riku was waiting at the main gate for Shizuku’s arrival.

[Shizuku, there’s something important I want to talk about today. If it’s okay with you, would you like to go home together?]

The reply was as follows:

[I have a student council meeting, but is that okay? I don’t think it’ll take too long today…]

[It’s fine. I’ll wait for you at the main gate until then.]

In response to Riku’s message, Shizuku sent a cute panda stamp with the words “Thank you.”

“Phew… I’m nervous… this is bad…”

As the words suggested, Riku was enveloped in knee-shaking tension. It was precisely because he had made up his mind that he felt such an overwhelming sensation. This was a first for Riku… There was no doubt that this was the most nervous he had ever been.

“Ah, Riku-senpai!”

“What a coincidence, Riku-san.”

“…Huh?!”

In that state, Riku was suddenly called out to and turned around with a start. There, Mimi was energetically waving her hand and Rinka was approaching with a smile on her face.

“What’s the matter, Riku-senpai? You’re so surprised…”

“Ah, no… I was just spacing out…”

“Um, did something happen?”

“No, nothing like that… Haha…”

Riku tried to deceive Mimi and Rinka, who immediately sensed that something was off. He definitely didn’t want to tell them about this. If he told them what he was trying to do, they would surely laugh at him… It was embarrassing.

“Anyway… I have to thank you, Mimi.”

“Me?”

Mimi tilted her head, not understanding what he meant. Riku managed to change the subject successfully.

“I heard that you’re getting rid of the rumors about me being a delinquent.”

“Oh, that… Please don’t worry about it!”

“Thanks to you, some middle schoolers talked to me the other day. They must have cleared up the misunderstanding because of you.”

“No, not at all! I just wanted to do something to thank you, Riku-senpai!”

“Thank you, really.”

Riku smiled back at Mimi, who looked happy, and then Rinka spoke up.

“Now we just have to get rid of the rumors in the high school division… but that’s just a matter of time, Riku-san.”

“What do you mean by ‘a matter of time’?”

“Fufu, I think you’ll find out later.”

“That’s a very Rinka-like answer… I’ll look forward to it, then.”

Riku couldn’t understand Rinka’s true intentions, but she wasn’t the type to lie. She must have already seen something with certainty.

…Of course, Riku had no idea.

“I’ll keep working hard too!”

“Don’t overdo it, okay? I’m already somewhat satisfied with the current situation, and it would be a problem if something happened to Mimi.”

“…After all, you’re… like an Onii-chan to me.”

“Eh?”

“Don’t worry about it, Riku-san. …Well then, we have some errands to run, so we’ll be going now.”

“Excuse us!”

“Ah, yeah…”

Rinka skillfully covered for Mimi’s bombshell comment, bowed, took Mimi’s hand, and went on their way home.

“Take care on your way back!”

Riku said his farewells to the two girls as they walked away. At that moment…

Rinka turned back to Riku with a mischievous grin and moved her lips.

But no sound came from her mouth. Her lips moved slowly and accurately, as if to convey something.

“Good luck.”

Riku understood the meaning of her lip movements… Rinka had seen through all of Riku’s thoughts and spoke those words because of that.

It was encouragement for what he was about to do…

*****

The sun had set. A long, reddish cloud floated in the western sky, and a flock of crows took flight.

The soft, reddish sunlight illuminated Riku, who looked up at the sky with determination and resolve in his gaze.

“Good work today, Kaichou.”

“Thank you for your hard work too. I’ll see you again tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

Riku heard the voices of two female students nearby. One of them had a familiar, clear voice…

(She’s here…)

As Riku turned to the source of the voice, the two students had just parted ways, and the person he was waiting for was coming towards the main gate at a quick pace.

“Good work, Shizuku.”

As Shizuku approached, Riku offered words of comfort and reached out to take her belongings.

“Ah, thank you…”

Shizuku handed over her belongings, seemingly taking advantage of Riku’s kindness, and thanked him with her eyes downcast.

“I’m sorry for making you wait…”

“No, no, it’s fine. Rather, I’m sorry for suddenly sending that message.”

“No, I’m happy to go home with Riku-kun… You don’t have to apologize.”

“…Even if it’s just flattery, I appreciate you saying that.”

“Fufu, it’s not flattery…”

Shizuku showed him a bright smile, which was a sign that she had already switched her mode to the one she only shows to the people she treasures. It was something she cared about.

“So, what’s going on? You said you had something important to talk about?”

“…Well, yeah…”

“Could it be that there’s some trouble because of me…?”

This morning, Shizuku had raised her voice in the hallway in front of the classroom. It was because someone was bad mouthing Riku.

There was no guarantee that the incident wouldn’t have any impact on Riku. The word “worry” appeared on Shizuku’s face.

“It’s not like that. It’s a different matter.”

“A different… matter?”

“But I’d like to talk about it on the way home… if possible, I’d like to stop somewhere to discuss it.”

“…In other words, you want a place where we can talk slowly. Let’s go quickly then.”

Hearing those words, Shizuku hastened her pace, walking ahead of Riku.

“Hey, you’re walking so fast.”

“Worrying takes time to resolve. It’s more important for you to take your time discussing with me right now.”

Shizuku seems to think Riku has something on his mind, and her expression suddenly turns serious.

Worry. That emotion dulls her usual sharp intuition.

She probably has no idea that Riku is planning to confess his feelings to her at their destination.

“…That’s so like you, Shizuku.”

“What’s that supposed to mean…? Is it bad that I’m worried?”

“Haha, no, not at all.”

“It’s not a laughing matter… really.”

Despite her concern, Shizuku can’t help but feel amused by Riku’s laughter. Showing her displeasure, she pursed her lips and gazed at Riku with a stern look.

“We’re going quickly.”

“I-I get it, okay?”

Riku nodded in response to Shizuku’s expression, which clearly conveyed her intentions, and walked at a brisk pace.

However… the faster they go, the sooner the “confession” time will come.

That isn’t a good thing for Shizuku…

Because it means she’s cutting off her own time to mentally prepare herself.