“Well then, my work for today is done, so I’ll excuse myself first.”

Saori-san bid farewell with a smile that showed not the slightest trace of the seductive atmosphere from earlier. After receiving my “thank you for your hard work” response, Saori-san opened the door to leave, only to run into Shino who was just coming in.

Both stopped in their tracks and looked at each other, their gazes crossing.

Shino was expressionless. She just quietly stared at Saori-san who had stopped while trying to leave. In contrast, Saori-san seemed to be confronting her. She met Shino’s gaze and stared back.

“Is something the matter?”

“No. Nothing in particular, but…”

“Then why don’t you hurry up and leave?”

“…”

Until now, even in situations like this, they would just greet each other and pass by, but today was different. Saori-san had just had that incident with me moments before. Additionally, since beginning her relationship with me, Shino had been gradually abandoning the effort to hide her true nature within the student council.

“You’re beautiful, Shino-san. You have long eyelashes and deep eyes. Your figure is incredibly voluptuous too.”

“That’s right. So? What’s your point?”

“But I won’t lose. I have feelings for him too.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but… Well, good luck with that.”

“Yes. To both of us.”

Saying this, Saori-san left through the door with a dignified bearing. Shino entered and silently fixed her gaze on me.

“…”

“What? You’re staring.”

I answered while trying to appear calm, but my heart was pounding.

Part of me thought that even if something were to happen with Saori-san, it wouldn’t really be a problem. Shino and I weren’t lovers, after all, we just had a contractual physical relationship where I helped with her stress relief. Even if I got a real girlfriend, it wouldn’t be a betrayal of Shino.

But… even so…

Was it because my mindset was still that of a virgin that I somehow felt guilty toward her?

“Really… is there something? You keep staring.”

“No. Nothing in particular.”

Shino answered my question with “nothing much” and headed to the kitchen. She boiled water, prepared hojicha tea for two from her bag, and handed me one of the mugs. She then leaned against the desk and put the cup to her lips.

“Today’s work. Saori-san took care of it for us. As always, she’s competent and helpful.”

“Yeah… that’s right. Saori-san looks calm, but she works really fast.”

“Unlike me who puts on an act, she’s a pure beautiful girl both inside and out.”

“That’s… true.”

“She would have been perfect if she hadn’t made moves on someone else’s man.”

Shino’s words made me spit out the tea I was drinking.

“You…”

“I arrived outside the room an hour ago. I was about to enter, but it seemed like adultery was in progress, so I eavesdropped from outside…”

“…”

“Since she said the sounds of our activities leak out, she should have thought her own voice might be overheard outside too.”

“You were listening…”

“Yes. I thought about bursting into the room, but since Mitsuya rejected Saori, I did an about-face, killed some time, and came back.”

“I see…”

Feeling an indescribable awkwardness, I looked away from Shino’s meaningful smile, but she cheerfully pressed her attack.

“You showed good restraint. There probably isn’t a single guy in this academy who could reject being pursued by that Saori, right?”

“Honestly, I wanted to… But somehow, I felt bad about it toward you…”

“Of course, since you’re my man.”

“I’m not your man, am I?”

“You’re just my contractual property. So even if Mitsuya got a girlfriend, I wouldn’t think anything of it.”

Shino placed her finished cup on the desk with a clink and continued.

“Let’s go home. After school. To Central Station. As usual.”

“Since Saori-san finished the work for us.”

“That’s right.”

I was curious about Shino’s true feelings when she said that she wouldn’t think anything of me getting a girlfriend, so I tried probing by bringing up Saori-san’s name, but there was no reaction.

I was a bit disappointed, wondering if I really was just a partner of convenience as her words suggested. But I was comforted by Shino’s cheerful smile when she said “let’s go,” and thinking that if I could receive this smile, maybe that was fine too.

I left the student council room together with her on that particular day.