Because the girls got so engrossed with the board games, they decided to stay in the clubhouse instead of returning with me to the Club Building. Or maybe it was their considerate nature of letting me get some reprieve before I go back to the Student Council. They just didn't voice it out as they knew how I would argue about it. Like… I'll tell them their presence alone is all I need for comfort.
Yep. They're not buying that anymore. As much as possible, they still want me to get some breathing space in between. Because of my stubborn personality, they have to go in a roundabout way .
Well, I should just work on that alongside my plan to not stretch myself thinly.
Anyway, I still promised to pick them up later. I also asked Reira-senpai and Miura-senpai to look after them. They're the oldest there, after all.
When I arrived at the conference room again, the number of club presidents lined up outside had noticeably lessened.
I approached Watanabe who was resting against the wall, jotting down something on a clipboard.
The girl jolted upright, surprised at my sudden appearance. She failed to notice me. Most likely, she's too focused on what she's noting.
"Onoda-kun! You're going to give me a heart attack." Watanabe clutched the clipboard to her chest, her eyes wide for a moment before she relaxed, letting out a small, exasperated laugh. "Don't sneak up on me like that! I was just tallying up the approvals so far."
"You know you look great when you're in serious mode. No wonder Masato-senpai fell for you."
"Shut up! Are you trying to flirt with me?"
"Just stating the truth," I shrugged and maintained my teasing smile, "By the way, how was it? Are they the ones left?"
She stared at me for a good few seconds, airing her exasperation before nodding as she flipped through the few pages on her clipboard.
"Yeah. Three more waiting outside, and then we're done for the day. President and Haruko-senpai have been relentless in there. They're barely giving the presidents any room to breathe. Minami-senpai has been keeping everything in line too, though she keeps muttering about you whenever she opens that door to call for the next one."
"Me?" I raised an eyebrow as I feigned innocence. "What'd I do?"
Watanabe shot me a knowing look yet her lips curved up into a smirk.
"Oh, come on, Onoda-kun. Did you think we failed to notice you slipping off with Shizu-senpai, Haruko-senpai, and Komoe-chan earlier? Minami-senpai has been grumbling about 'irresponsible junior' ever since you left. She's not fooled by your little break excuse."
I rubbed the back of my neck and chuckled, "Guess I owe her more than a shoulder massage then."
"You might owe her an explanation too," Watanabe teased, followed by a nudge with her elbow. With the way she smiled, I could tell she already logged that in her notepad.
I glanced toward the closed door of the conference room, imagining the scene inside.
Shizu commanding the discussion with her sharp efficiency, Haruko tossing in playful jabs to keep everyone on their toes, and Minami Shouko overseeing it all with that cool, unflappable demeanor she wore so well.
Thinking about it, the three of them can become the bane of every student in our school if they work together in earnest. Even Enomoto and his ilk won't have any chance to topple their rule.
As for Komoe… I just have to hope she already recovered from earlier, quietly sorting papers while trying to process everything that had happened in the storage room.
"Should I go in and face the music?" I asked half-jokingly.
Watanabe shrugged as she handed me the clipboard. "Up to you. They're wrapping up with the current one now. You can stay here. I'll look for Ma-kun. He's been sent out on an errand earlier so… take care of my job for me, Onoda-kun. I'll owe you one!"
Before I could respond to her, the girl had already run away, she darted out like a bunny that had just escaped her cage. If she tripped, it would be hilarious. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novel[f]ire.net
I skimmed through the list of clubs and their statuses. She summarized it well. Most were marked as approved with a few adjustments, a couple were rejected outright.
Shizu's handwriting was meticulous, her notes concise and cutting. Haruko's, on the other hand, was scrawled in the margins, full of sarcastic little comments like "nice try, but no" and "dream bigger next time."
Our Literature Club also had to face their deliberation but… you know, we could bypass all that. Shizu already approved our proposal without digging too much into it.
That's the power of connection.
Just then, the conference room door creaked open, and the latest club president shuffled out, looking equal parts relieved and defeated. His shoulders slumped as he clutched a revised proposal, muttering something about "budget cuts" under his breath.
Behind him, Minami Shouko stepped out, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable as she scanned the hallway.
Her eyes landed on me and they instantly narrowed. Her stare was long enough to make me wonder if I should brace myself for a lecture.
Then she sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she approached.
"You're back," She said flatly, though there was a faint edge of curiosity in her tone. "Had fun on your little adventure?"
"Productive adventure," I corrected her with a grin, stepping closer to her. "Checked on the clubhouse, made sure the garden's ready for planting. You should come again next time, senpai. It's not the same without you."
Her brows twitched and she gave me a look that was half-skeptical, half-amused. "Flattery won't get you out of everything, Onoda-kun. You left me here to deal with this circus while you went off gallivanting."
"Gallivanting's a strong word. I was just attending to my duty. I also patrolled, you know?" I pointed at my armband that was still allowing me to wield the power of a Disciplinary Officer.
She huffed and rolled her eyes, "Whatever you say."
Before I could respond, Shizu's voice cut through from inside the room. "Minami-san, send the next one in. And tell that numbskull to stop loitering if he's back."
Minami Shouko glanced over her shoulder, then back at me, her smile turning sly. "You heard her. Better get in there before she drags you in herself."
I chuckled, giving her a playful salute. "Yes, senpai. Lead the way."
She called for the next president first who heard our exchange. But looking at them, they were all holding back their amused smiles at what they witnessed.
Luckily, they're from clubs that I don't normally deal with but still, they're all girls… Maybe another rumor will pop up tomorrow.
Inside the conference room, Shizu remained seated at the head of the long table, her posture as composed as ever but her eyebrows were slightly slanted upon seeing me.
Haruko lounged beside her, her mysterious smile drawing me in again. Her smirk told me she was already plotting something and I'd find that out later once we were done here.
Komoe sat quietly near the corner, her stack of papers neatly organized. When she saw me walk in, she shyly smiled and waved. Her expression found a bit of relief.
"Numbskull, come here and interview the remaining presidents," Shizu said without looking up, her tone sharp but laced with something softer underneath. "It's about time you practice for this."
Upon saying that, not only Minami Shouko but even the president who had just sat down at the other end of the table, ready to present her proposal, widened her eyes.
"Onoda-kun will be in charge? President… is he going to be your successor?"
Shizu didn't miss a beat as she nodded while looking at it with her meaningful smile, "Yes. I hope you support him. He's quite considerate to women."
So this is her reason for having me take over… She's already promoting me even though the election will be held in winter. We're barely in summer!