Lonely Me And The Lonely Caring Goddess - Chapter 204: The New Student Council President and…

The New Student Council President and…

The main topic in today’s homeroom was, of course, the upcoming school festival.

First, we had to decide what our class would do.

If our proposal overlapped significantly with those of other classes or clubs, the student council would step in to decide, or a lottery would be held.

Moreover, if we decided too hastily and our plans were deemed unfeasible during the mid-term inspection, we would be forced to change to a simpler activity – and on top of that, we would receive a penalty for next year.

With that explanation given, the discussion began.

“All right, anyone with ideas, go ahead,” said the class representative.

Immediately, those who had already been thinking about it started voicing their ideas one after another, with supporters chiming in as well.

“Yes, yes, yes! I want us to do a maid café!”

“Uhwaah, isn’t that just fun for the guys? At least make it a cosplay café.”

“I’m in favor of that!”

“I wanna try doing a play!”

“No way, the roles would be unfair!”

“It has to be a haunted house!!”

Well, those are the usual suggestions. Precisely because they’re so common, there’s a high chance of overlaps, and thus a high chance of ending up in a lottery…

“Hanako-san, is there anything you’d like to do?”

“…It’s my first day here. That’s impossible.”

That’s true.

I’d gotten so used to having Hanako-san sitting next to me that I forgot it was still her first day…

In the end… although many ideas were suggested, the majority leaned towards a café. However, some argued that a maid café would place too much burden on the girls, so the final decision was to do a butler and maid café.

…Well, I think that sounds interesting in its own way.

As for me, I didn’t voice any opinions, since I could only participate halfway due to my student council duties.

Once the plan was decided, some of the students started getting really excited. Discussions grew chaotic about who would wear which costumes and what food they wanted on the menu. I understood their enthusiasm, but this was getting out of hand…

“Hey…”

“…Everyone, calm down for a moment. You’re deciding all these things so suddenly, but is there anyone who can actually cook? Are you planning to make all the costumes for both guys and girls? Do any of you even have those skills?”

Just as I was about to step in, Hanako-san, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. Her blunt questions instantly silenced those who had been letting their excitement run wild. Indeed, if they had no foresight, they would only end up in trouble later.

“At the very least, you should cut the number of dishes in half. Without experienced cooks, you’ll definitely run into problems on the day of the festival. And how much ingredients would you even need… What?”

Everyone probably thought Hanako-san was the type to speak only in short sentences, so seeing her talk so assertively must have surprised them. She too seemed to realize all eyes were on her and fell silent.

“No, Hanazaki-san, that was impressive. You’re thinking about everything so calmly…”

“Yeah… honestly, I was worried about the same things, but I was too scared to say it out loud…”

“There’s no point in thinking something if you don’t speak up. If you submit these ideas without confirming feasibility, it could cause major problems later.”

Her words were harsh but undeniably true.

Perhaps reminded of the penalties, everyone now quietly listened to her.

I felt like she had stolen my chance to speak, but I had to step in as well…

“This plan isn’t approved yet, but even if it does get approved, there are still many things to consider – not just costumes, but various supplies too. I understand you’re excited, but it’s better to keep things realistic for now. The student council can provide support as needed, so I think it’s best to submit only the minimum plan for now and add on later if possible.”

As a student council member, I had to say at least this much. Everyone listened to me quietly.

“Wow… Takanashi-kun, nice.”

“Yeah. Did your personality change or something?”

“Hey, look at you, Mr. Student Council!”

“Shut up.”

I wonder how long it’s been since I last joked around with my classmates like this…

“Alright! Like Takanashi-kun said, let’s keep things within realistic bounds for now,” said the class rep, bringing the discussion back on track. Everyone shared their thoughts, and our plan was finalized.

Seeing the class unite like this, despite everything, gave me a sense of relief.

The next topic was the upcoming parent observation day, but it was only an explanation for now.

There was still about a month to go, so I figured I’d call home tonight just to inform them.

Knowing Dad, he’d probably be working, so only Mom would come.

Hopefully, it wouldn’t turn into a hassle… She really liked Sara-san, so I had to make sure she didn’t try to barge in… Wait, if Masaomi-san is busy, then will Mayumi-san come for Sara-san instead?

As I pondered these things, I noticed Hanako-san sitting next to me with her usual sullen expression, staring at the handouts.

She had just transferred here, but…

“By the way, Hanako-san, do you live alone?”

“No. The whole family moved together. My dad’s transfer was the main reason.”

I see, so it wasn’t just her own decision. But still, moving precisely here…

“By the way, my dad works at Saba… well, he’s just a regular employee, but apparently he got transferred to headquarters.”

I had just guessed randomly, but to think I hit the mark.

Isn’t a transfer to headquarters usually a promotion?

(…Wait, if Kazunari marries her, does that mean he’s on track to take over? Wouldn’t that make him her dad’s boss someday…?)

“Hanako-san, is something wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Just thinking how busy it’s been on my first day.”

She said that, but I could see a faint smile on her lips. Lately, I’ve come to understand her expressions better.

“Are you having fun, Hanako-san?”

She used to say school was boring. If transferring here changed that…

“…Well, having a troublesome little brother keeps things lively.”

Sister, brother… I wondered what she was thinking. Watching her faintly smiling like that, I felt she might tell me someday. But I couldn’t help being curious… maybe I should just ask directly.

After school, I headed to the student council room for the first time in about a week. Sara-san had said she would be busy, and if that was the case, I wanted to support her as much as possible.

When I opened the door, the familiar members were already gathered, making it feel strangely nostalgic.

“Good work, everyone.”

“Hey, good job.”

“It feels like it’s been a while!”

“Takanashi-kun, good work!”

“Welcome back. Your class was pretty lively today, huh?”

“Yeah, did something happen?”

Currently, there are eight members in the student council, three of whom are third-years including the president.

To match the number for the handover, we would need to add three new members. Though I was an irregular addition, created as an assistant – a role that technically didn’t exist. If we consider that, two might suffice…

“There was a transfer student today.”

“Oh? A girl?”

“Of course, the guys must have swarmed her.”

“Isn’t it a cliché for transfer students to be cute girls?”

I didn’t know if such a cliché truly existed, but in this case, it certainly seemed to fit.

Rattle

“Good work, everyone.”

“Good work, President.”

As we chatted, the president and Sara-san finally arrived, completing the group.

Once everyone was seated, the president looked around and began speaking.

“Before we discuss the upcoming election, I’d like to say something. I truly appreciate all the support you’ve given me. Thanks to everyone, I’ve been able to fulfil the duties of president, a role I never thought I deserved.”

Speaking more sincerely than usual, the president’s words carried genuine gratitude.

“I want to especially thank Satsukawa-san. From the start, you’ve supported me in everything I lacked.”

“No, that’s what I’m here for. You’ve done a wonderful job as president.”

Even Sara-san, who usually spoke so formally to the president, conveyed her heartfelt thanks this time. Their bond must run deep from working together long before I entered school.

“I’ve said this before, but I truly believe the only one who can succeed me is you, Satsukawa-san. I’m sure everyone feels the same.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, myself included. But unlike them, I knew that if Sara-san showed any sign of reluctance, I would oppose it. Her feelings were my top priority.

“Satsukawa-san, I know you declined before, but…”

“President, there are others who can…”

It seemed she was about to refuse again.

“Wait, Satsukawa-san, please hear me out. We have no intention of forcing everything onto you. The entire council will support you actively, and even after graduation, I’ll help however I can. Plus… fortunately, you already have someone who’s been supporting you perfectly.”

Wait, this was sounding ominous…

The president’s serious expression turned mischievous – the same look she got when teasing me.

“Everyone agrees, right? There’s no one better suited to support Satsukawa-san than Takanashi-kun.”

Everyone understood the shift in conversation, but they still nodded obediently. Only I felt anxious, and Sara-san seemed puzzled.

“Takanashi-kun, would you consider becoming the next vice president? The final decision will be made at the general assembly, but we’d like to recommend you as a council. Who else could support Satsukawa-san better than you?”

“No objections!!”

Whoa, such unity I’d never seen before. And without any prior discussion – they were all in perfect agreement.

“Wait.”

Finally, Sara-san spoke up.

“I’ve been listening silently, but this is getting out of hand. I absolutely refuse to let anyone inconvenience Kazunari-san.”

Uh-oh… she might actually snap.

“Takanashi-kun, you know Satsukawa-san is the only one suitable to succeed me. And with you as vice president, the two of you would make an even better team than I ever could. What do you say?”

Shifting the conversation to me, the president was skillfully swaying both of us. Sara-san, flustered, fell silent.

But… what should I do?

I knew that, practically, we needed Sara-san as president. And I knew she didn’t want to inconvenience me. That meant she understood the situation, but still prioritized my feelings.

Then…

“Sara-san… honestly, I didn’t like the idea of you being forced into this just because others would struggle otherwise. I was ready to oppose it immediately if you felt even slightly against it. So please, tell me your true feelings. Forget about me for a moment – what do you want?”

“………I…”

She looked down, thinking deeply. The entire room fell silent, waiting.

I wanted to make it easier for her to speak her mind, so I added one more thing from the bottom of my heart. I stood, walked to her side, and gently held her hand on the table. She looked up at me with tearful eyes.

“I don’t care about anything except being with you. If being vice president lets me stay by your side at school as well as at home, I would gladly do it. Please, choose freely. No matter what you choose, I will always be by your side.”

“…Kazunari-san… I…”

Her eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at me with pure happiness.

“…Wow.”

“…Isn’t this just flirting at this point?”

“…That’s a little unfair.”

“…Satsukawa-san looks like a complete maiden right now.”

“…Wait, did he just say they’re together at home too?”

“…Eh!?”

Honestly, I wish they would all just shut up. But seeing her smile at me with newfound determination, I felt something had been decided within her.

“…More than anything or anyone, Kazunari-san is most important to me. I understand I have no choice but to take on the role of president. But rather than feeling forced, I do feel like I can accept it now. Even so, my top priority will never change.”

That’s exactly how I felt too. There was nothing I would ever prioritize over her.

“Will this not burden you, Kazunari-san? If taking this position causes you any trouble, I could never forgive myself. But… hearing that you want to stay by my side made me so happy. If you’re with me, I can do anything. Truly, will this not trouble you…?”

…At this point, I no longer cared about the president’s manipulations. Seeing her looking at me so earnestly, that was all that mattered.

“It will never trouble me. I want to be by your side and support you more than ever. That is my wish.”

Upon hearing my answer, she finally smiled.

Thump

Suddenly, she threw herself into my arms. I held her tightly.

“…Kazunari-san, I think I will try taking on the role of president. But… I don’t want to do it alone. Without you, I could never do it. Please… always stay with me…”

“Of course. Let’s do our best together.”

“Yes… together forever… Kazunari-san… I love you…”

She whispered, leaning against me sweetly. I embraced her tightly once more.

“…No way… Satsukawa-san is… acting so cute…”

“…She’s adorable.”

“…I didn’t know she had that side to her…”

“…This is too shocking for me to handle.”

“…Uwah… Satsukawa-san… like that…”