The student council members began to take action when the proposed limitations on whether or not the festival will be a joint event were presented.

When the board members, led by President, were about to make their moves after being assigned to their respective responsibilities, but Shizuku said something that made them all wait.

“What I’m saying is… if it’s within my capabilities, of course I’ll do my best…”

President stopped her steps as she heard Shizuku’s words.
The two of them faced each other and their gazes crossed.

There is no one between the two of them.

I, Kirasaka, and the other board members were all standing there watching the situation unfold.

What did Shizuku really want from the president?　

Is there a job that Shizuku, who is supposed to be in charge of contacting and consulting with the students, would like to do?

The student council must be thinking so.

But, for some reason, my thoughts were going in a different direction.

I knew what Shizuku was trying to tell the president.

What Shizuku is trying to say is the only thing that clearly separates her and me.

It’s like a boundary.

If I stepped over it, there would be no going back and I would be deprived of a reasonable amount of time and freedom.

However, she stepped in here because she wanted to.

She knew it was what she had to do, that there had to be something she could do.

She, is different from me.

She is a person who originally had no reason to enter this place.

Shizuku, who must have spent all this time suppressing her own will, deserves more time for herself.

I know this, but I can’t stop her from speaking out, even though I know in my heart that she is about to do so.

“Please put me in the student council.”

“…”

At Shizuku’s words, even President gulped.

The clear separation between me and Shizuku here is whether or not she is a member of the student council.

She herself had once refused to join the student council, and had declared that there was no need for her to be a member.

However, her words that overturned that idea showed her determination.

“The reason for this …I guess, it’s obvious isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

President’s voice sounded almost like resignation, and Shizuku replied without a pause.

Shizuku’s gaze, which should have been fixed, turned for a moment to me standing behind her.

And then, she quickly returned to her former position and expressed her feelings.

“I can’t find any other way for me to enter the place where Kirasaka-san and President already are.”

As she tells her, Shizuku stares at President, as if looking for a reaction.

President is talking with Shizuku with her back to me, so I can’t see her expression.

I can tell you that President is also conflicted.

The fact that she doesn’t answer immediately, as she usually did, is the best proof of this.

Naturally, the student council members don’t know about the relationship between the president and me.

Koizumi, Miura and the others must think that Shizuku wants to be involved in the negotiations with Kikyo Jogakuin.

Also, they know that Shizuku and Kirasaka have feelings towards Shinra Minato that go beyond the concept of a friend.

However, they do not know for sure whether it is as a childhood friend or as an object of observation.

They don’t know, the relationship between me and Shizuku.

They don’t know, the moment of encounter between me and Kirasaka.

They don’t know that a rift has been building between Yuuto and Shizuku since before the summer break.

I was the one who kept them from knowing, and even if they knew, I was the one who kept them from getting in.

I definitely did not tell them this unnecessary information to keep the student council members engaged.

I assumed that if a problem arose, I would solve it myself.
I knew I couldn’t do that.

Somewhere in the back of my head, I already knew.
I knew that my actions would have some influence on the people around me.

In fact, Shizuku wanted to join the student council.

The reason, as she stated, was to get herself a title that would be appropriate for this joint meeting.

The underlying reason is to be close to Shinra Minato.
Also, the fact that I am still unable to respond to her feelings.

Understanding all of this, she made her wish.
She knew that this action would not change my feelings.

“Certainly, if Kanazaki joins us, things might go smoothly. …Also, it’s not for me to worry about the future of the student council…”

Breaking off her words, President looks back.
From her eyes, she was asking Koizumi and me.

“Of course! I welcome Kanazaki-san to our group!”

Koizumi said happily.
Miura and Hino-kun nodded with smiles on their faces without any objections.

Shiraishi, who was not present at the meeting, would surely welcome her with open arms.

“Shinra… how about you?”

President turned her attention to me at the end and muttered quietly.
In reality, this is the last question she will ever ask me here.

According to the rules for the student council members, a student can be nominated for an open slot with the recommendation of the enrolled members and the approval of the teacher in charge.

I have no doubt that Sudo-sensei would agree.

She would be the right person in terms of ability, popularity, and everything else.

So, if I stop Shizuku from joining, I would be denying them all.

“I…”

I grunted and squeezed a little bit out of my throat, and my eyes met Shizuku’s at the edge of my sight.

She was gently smiling at me.

Her eyes were filled with a strong will, as if she had made the decision on her own.

To be honest, I’m scared.

I was afraid that she might be tied down by me.

I have only one life, and I can never be sure that I will be able to live up to her expectations of the future.

My personality and beliefs negate the relationship I’m trying to build up in a vague way.

I will not be able to respond to her words until the day I can truly understand what it feels like to love someone on my own.

Until then, I am sure that she will look back on all the time she has spent with me as a waste.

Such useless thoughts were the only thing that passed through my mind.

“Minato-kun… you bad habits are coming up again, aren’t they?”

In the silent atmosphere, Shizuku said in a gentle tone with a hint of laughter.

“You’ve been thinking negatively again, and you think it’s your fault, don’t you?

“…”

I couldn’t say anything back.
She was right.

She has been by my side for many years and seems to know what I’m thinking at times.

When she pointed out my bad habit, she also shook her head.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while. …If Minato is in the student council, I’d like to help out. Like Minato-kun, who wants to do something as an assistant to the president, I want to do something for Minato-kun too.”

…How’s it like to be a student council member?
I can’t help but think about it.

Why am I still coming up with cryptic questions in situations like this?
Minato-kun, you have a bad habit.

Having been told that much by Shizuku, I could not deny President’s question.

I nodded slightly and conveyed my intention of approval.

“Then, I will ask Kanazaki to act as secretary of the student council, albeit temporarily. I will officially notify you later, after receiving approval from the faculty.”

“Thank you!”

At President’s words, Shizuku lowers her head dramatically.
Koizumi and the others applauded and Shizuku smiled and showed a little embarrassment.

I’m not sure if this was really the right thing to do…

The answer is still not clear.

However, if there is anything I can do now, it would be to try to avoid any regrets, regardless of the future relationship.

“Once again, I ask you all to work hard for the success of the Sakura Festival.”

President asked everyone, smiling and nodding.
Koizumi, Miura, and Hino-kun replied and started their activities.

With documents in their hands, they talked about what they needed to do and started to move.

I watched the situation and turned my attention to the girl next to me.

She, too, seemed to be thinking about what she should do.

Then, President turned to other girl standing next to me, Kirasaka.

She asked the question openly without hiding it from her.

“Was it okay for Rei not to join the student council?”

“Me?”

If Kirasaka had wished to join at that moment, I wonder what would have happened.

There was a great possibility of that, and in fact, she might say that she would have joined too.

I was also interested in President’s question too and turned my attention to Kirasaka.

“Right…”

She puts her hand on her chin and falls silent for a while with a thoughtful look on her face.

Then, as if she had come up with a bad prank, she says it with that usual wicked smile on her face.

“As long as I’m involved in the situation, I don’t care where I am… Besides, it doesn’t matter if it’s mine in the end.”

At these words, Shizuku’s cheeks puffed out her cheeks, and President let out a sigh.

Kirasaka Rei, it seems, will not waver under any circumstances.

“You are totally a scary woman, you know.”

President’s words sent an involuntary shiver down my spine as well.