Chapter 25: Student Council New Member Welcome Party

“Here, fill this out.”

“Aya, thank you!”

During lunchtime, I received the student council application form from Aya.

From the name to simple personal information, unlike the enormous name value of the Takamari Academy student council, the form itself was not much different from a general club application form.

But… the envelope containing the form was decorated with a gold ornament.

I felt a strange sense of pressure, but I couldn’t just not fill it out.

The desire to be by Aya’s side.

And a vague anxiety urged my decision.

In my past life, I was used to being alone, and I thought it was natural to live like that.

But now, I couldn’t stand being alone.

I came to this world, and I didn’t want to live lonely, and Rina felt the same way.

As the number of times I was confessed to while taking a walk alone during lunchtime increased, that loneliness came closer.

So, I thought it would be better to be with the two of them under the name of the student council rather than being a normal going-home club member.

However…

‘Is this place really mine?’

It might be natural for doubts to keep popping up inside.

In the novel, there was a male student who had been active in the student council since middle school.

He was a sincere and charismatic figure, and he played an important role in the middle school student council.

I heard that he lost to Aya in the vice-presidential election (in Takamari, the vice president generally takes over the presidency a year later), but he accepted the result and did his job well…

Originally, he was supposed to spend his high school life studying abroad, but due to family circumstances, he was set to return to Japan around the second semester.

In the novel, the protagonist takes his place, and after he returns, they have a fierce debate over the leadership of the student council.

‘Then… I’ll have to prepare for the debate.’

Thinking about that made my stomach churn.

A public debate watched by more than half of Takamari Academy’s middle and high school students.

This place was full of promising future successors of large corporations and people from prestigious families.

To have to confidently express my opinions in front of over 300 elite children…

Just imagining it made me feel breathless.

But, anyway, I have to pay the price for taking his empty seat.

“They’ll contact you after the screening!”

“Uh…!”

So I made up my mind and submitted the student council application.

Honestly, I didn’t think I’d get in.

But…

“They said you can come after school today!”

“Huh?”

So,

I submitted the documents around the end of lunchtime

and they told me to come after school, just a few hours later…?

‘Why is it so fast? It took the protagonist a week just for the screening.’

While feeling embarrassed by the incredibly fast pace, I eventually walked to the door of the student council room.

Familiar voices can be heard from beyond the door.

And I imagined Aya, who would be waiting for me there.

I took a light breath and knocked lightly on the door.

“May I come in…?”

“Yes, come in.”

Hiiragi senpai’s low and soft voice was heard.

I took a deep breath and opened the door.

“Congratulations, Rina! Welcome to the student council!”

As soon as I opened the door, I heard Mizuki’s cheerful voice, and a small party popper exploded.

Glittering pieces of paper flew through the air and scattered in all directions.

“…Huh?”

I stood there with a bewildered expression.

On the table were a small cake, snacks, and neatly arranged teacups.

Mizuki was sitting comfortably in a chair, waving her hand, and Shiraizuka senpai was pouring black tea with an elegant smile.

“Rina, welcome.”

With a quiet voice, Aya approached with the cake.

On the small strawberry cake, ‘Welcome’ was written in delicate handwriting.

‘Ah, there was a welcoming party like this.’

It was the same welcome party that the protagonist in the novel received.

But I wasn’t the protagonist in the novel.

But… I’m a new member of this student council.

“Tha, thank you…”

I lowered my head shyly.

Then Mizuki smiled brightly, approached me, and patted my shoulder.

“Well~ We’ll be working together from now on, so this kind of welcome is basic!”

“That’s right. It’s natural to welcome a new member.”

Shiraizuka senpai poured black tea with an elegant gesture and smiled softly.

In the novel, she was portrayed as a character who was difficult to approach, but when I met her in person, she was surprisingly kind.

No, maybe I feel this way because of what happened at the game center last time.

However.

Only one person in this place was different.

Fujimoto, who was sitting quietly on one side of the desk.

He glanced at me, sighed, and said softly.

“…Congratulations.”

A concise sentence.

There was a complex emotion in it that didn’t fully acknowledge me.

I avoided that gaze, smiled vaguely, and sat down.

“Well, well, welcome everyone to the welcoming party!”

Hiiragi senpai clapped lightly and brightened the atmosphere.

As expected of the vice president, the practical head of the student council, his leadership made even the tension retreat.

“Then, shall we all wet our throats with a sip of tea and talk?”

On the table, teacups and desserts on small plates were neatly arranged in front of each person.

The soft scent of black tea and the sweet scent of cake filled the student council room.

I held the warm teacup and smelled the scent, looking around.

The problem is…

I don’t know anything about tea etiquette, and there were different types of spoons, so I was worried about which one to use.

Not knowing what to use where, I carefully held the warm cup, and Mizuki already stabbed the cake with a fork and put it in her mouth.

Since Mizuki, who is probably the most prestigious young lady in the entire school, is acting like this… maybe I don’t need to worry too much?!

“Hmm~ The cake is delicious. Where is this from?”

At those words, Shiraizuka senpai took a sip of tea elegantly and answered with a smile.

“It was specially ordered from Montclerc Patisserie.”

“Oh~ Let’s go together sometime.”

“Oh ho ho, sure. Asakurasan.”

I listened to their conversation and chuckled inwardly.

Wow… the two of them were shouting at each other while playing fighting games at the game center, but they’re acting so ridiculously in front of people.

On the other hand, Tachibana senpai adjusted her glasses and was calmly recording something.

“Please be aware that it came out of the student council budget.”

“It was handled within the budget for the welcoming party anyway, Tachibanasan.”

“Hmph, Shiraizukasan’s sense of money is too loose.”

Tachibana senpai’s light sigh followed.

Her tone was not aggressive, but rather felt like a light joke.

I could feel that it was a joke that was possible because they knew each other well.

At that moment, Hiiragi senpai, who was sitting at the head table, looked at me quietly and said.

“Kurosawasan, I look forward to your work in the student council.”
“Ah, yes, I look forward to working with you.”

I held the teacup tightly with both hands and bowed politely.

“Don’t feel so pressured. Kurosawasan is fully qualified.”

Tachibana senpai, speaking in a calm voice unlike her cold impression.

Thanks to senpai’s firm yet rational tone, I could feel relieved.

“By the way, since this happened, shouldn’t we have time for self-introductions, including our new member?”

At Hiiragi senpai’s suggestion, everyone nodded.

Ah…

Actually, I know everyone…

But since I officially joined the student council, it’s right to listen to everyone’s self-introduction.

First, the second-year students.

Hiiragi Haruto, Vice President

A dark-haired young master.

At first glance, he is perfect with a sophisticated atmosphere, a soft smile, and deep eyes.

…But.

Is it just my imagination that he’s looking at me with eyes that are subtly dripping with lingering feelings?

I’m sorry, senpai. Men are not my type.

Shiraizuka Yurika, Secretary

When I first saw her, she had the impression of a typical noble young lady with rolled-up hair and an elegant smile.

But in the novel, and the senpai I actually saw?

She was actually a person who enjoyed a double life, secretly going to game centers.

Now that I know the truth, I can see a subtle mischievous temperament like Mizuki’s in her smile.

Tachibana Kaho, Treasurer

A thorough realist whose inside and outside match.

Very cool-headed, and probably has a strict personality when it comes to budgets.

But she was warm and kind to her juniors, so she’s not someone to worry about.

Kamisaka Ren, Public Relations

…I just learned his name.

Ren senpai, Ren senpai… I repeated his name in my head several times, but I’ll probably forget it soon.

I’ll just remember him as ‘the senior in charge of public relations’.

Next, the first-year students.

Asakura Mizuki, Treasurer

Always a bright and lively mood maker.

Honestly, if it weren’t for Mizuki, I might have been overwhelmed by the atmosphere of this noble school and spent every day feeling stuffy.

Thanks to Mizuki, at least the student council feels a little more familiar, so I’m always grateful to her.

Yukikawa Aya, Planning

Aya… my goddess.

I’ll skip further explanation.

Fujimoto Kenichi, Secretary

The guy who looks at me with disdain.

But when he said he was the secretary, I think it surprisingly suits him.

I don’t particularly want to get close to him, but I know he’s competent in his work.

After the self-introductions, the conversation naturally turned to the vacant position in the first year.

“Then, is the remaining position in the first year public relations?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

“Rina in public relations…? It doesn’t suit her.”

“What…?”

As Mizuki said, I’m a person who is far from public relations.

Public relations requires running around in various places and actively communicating with people.

‘Uh, can I do it…?’

When I was hesitating without being able to speak, Mizuki readily raised her hand.

“Then I’ll go to public relations instead of Rina.”

“Asakurasan?”

“Yes! I’ve helped with public relations activities before, and I’m used to meeting people.”

“Hmm… Okay, let’s do that.”

So Mizuki ended up in charge of public relations, and the gaze naturally turned to me.

“Then Kurosawasan will be in the treasurer’s department?”
“…Uh, yes.”

At my answer, Tachibana senpai narrowed her eyes and looked at me.

Ugh… No matter how kind she is to her juniors, will she be kind to a junior who has taken on the important role of treasurer?

I already feel my stomach tightening.

But, since I’ve joined, I have to do my best.

Mizuki tapped my back and grinned.

“Let’s do our best together, Rina!”

“Yeah… I’ll be counting on you.”

And, what I feel most relieved about in this place is, above all, Aya’s presence.

When I see that face that always smiles at me, I feel like I can do anything.

“By the way, today doesn’t end with just the welcoming party.”

At Hiiragi senpai’s words, everyone slightly lowered their heads or nodded.

“We need to talk about the spring festival in earnest.”