Chapter 66

When classes finally ended and it was after school, everyone immediately started getting ready to head to their clubs.

“Alright then, Takashima-kun! Please take good care of Reika, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Not that I think you need to be told. You two get along just fine anyway, but just in case.”

“You two, you really don’t have to say things like that out loud…”

While Satoru was tidying up, Reika’s friends rushed over and tossed him those comments.

“Well, if anything, I feel more like I’m the one being managed by Reika.”

“Oh my, if you say that, it makes it sound like I’m pressuring you and taking all the control.”

“You don’t pressure me, but the part about you having the control? That’s just facts, isn’t it?”

After spending the whole day with their relationship out in the open, Satoru was beginning to get used to it. He found himself able to banter with Reika in front of others almost like they usually did.

“Oooh, I see! Well then, I guess we’ll just have to hear the full story from Reika tomorrow about exactly how she holds the reins!”

“Don’t you girls have enough by now? I thought you’d get bored of us eventually.”

“Bored? No way. We were curious for so long and didn’t learn anything. Now that we finally can, we want to know everything!”

“…See what you’ve caused? Your way of phrasing it just made things more troublesome.”

“My fault? C’mon, this is what you wanted, isn’t it? Can’t be helped.”

“Hmph. You’ve got some nerve… but you’re right. Fine then, we’ll talk again tomorrow, but only within reason.”

“Yay! Looking forward to it~!”

“Ah, there you are, Takashima-kun! Let’s go prep for the sports festival together!”

Just as they were laughing and chatting, Ruri suddenly burst in, cutting right across their conversation without hesitation.

“What the—seriously? We were in the middle of talking here. Don’t just barge in and ruin the mood!”

“Ruin? Hardly. Takashima-kun and Hatsune-san have a meeting to get to, don’t they? You can’t just stand around chatting forever.”

“It’s not like we’ve been talking that long! And barging in like this is seriously annoying!”

“Mm-hmm, sorry about that~”

Just like in the morning, no matter what was said to her, Ruri showed no signs of flinching. She didn’t even seem to care.

“But, you see, while Takashima-kun was absent, I was the one covering for him. If I don’t explain what I did, things won’t move forward. Or are you saying you want to delay sports festival prep?”

“N-no one said that!”

“But if you keep this up, that’s what it’ll turn into, won’t it?”

“H-hold on a sec—!”

“Now, now, calm down. Ruri does have a point—it’s not good to waste too much time here. Like I said earlier, we’ll continue our chat tomorrow.”

“Y-you’re right. Sorry, Reika.”

It was Reika who gently cooled things down before they got too heated. With just one word from her, the tension melted away.

After that, her friends headed off to their clubs.

“Well then, let’s go to the multipurpose room where the meeting’s being held. Once we’re there, I’ll explain what’s been done and what’s left to do!”

“That’d be really helpful, thanks.”

“No problem. It’s only natural to help each other out!”

“I’ll thank you as well. You’ve been a big help.”

To Satoru’s words she responded with a smile, but to Reika’s polite thanks, she acted as though she hadn’t heard at all.

As they walked to the multipurpose room, students along the way noticed the sight.

But unlike before, this time everyone knew Satoru and Reika were dating—and there was Ruri, barging between them without hesitation.

It wasn’t just a boy with two famous girls at his side anymore.

Girls who passed by all showed open disgust, whispering about Ruri intruding on a couple.

Boys, on the other hand, were either openly jealous of Satoru or impressed at Ruri’s nerve.

When they arrived at the multipurpose room, everyone took their assigned seats.

Since her class was right next to his, Ruri naturally ended up sitting right beside him again.

“Well then, here’s what I managed to do over the past few days…”

Finally, Satoru got to hear the details about what had been discussed and what progress had been made during his absence.

And more importantly, everything Ruri had handled in his place.

In short, she had worked really hard for him, clearing away all the tasks that should have piled up during his break.

“You really did a lot for me. Thank you so much.”

“No need! It was nothing, really. I’m just glad Takashima-kun is happy!”

Satoru made sure to leave it at that—just thanks.

He wasn’t about to repeat the mistake he had made that morning. If it were anyone else, he’d probably have said something like, “Please let me return the favor anytime,” without hesitation.

But with Ruri, he knew better.

As he was listening, the teacher came in and started the meeting.

“Today we need to move the new equipment we purchased this year. Since most of it is heavy, this will be a job for the boys. Boys, follow me. Girls, stay here and continue your assigned tasks. That’s all!”

Following the teacher’s instructions, Satoru and the other boys stood and left the room.

Only a few girls remained scattered around the multipurpose room.

“Hey, Hatsune-san.”

“What is it?”

“Do you actually enjoy controlling Takashima-kun even though you love him?”

“…And what exactly are you trying to say?”

“Just what I said. The way you bragged earlier? That was just plain possessiveness. Which means that’s how you treat him, isn’t it?”

“That’s not my intention. But even if it were, what of it?”

“Eh? You really don’t get it? I just think—it’s kind of a pity, you know?”

In the quiet multipurpose room, a new conversation began between the two girls.