Chapter 230: Shijo Maki Decides to Cut Off Her Feelings
In the end, Sakurai Saki spoke up to clear his friend's name from the false accusation of cheating.
By the way, he also asked about what Kashiwagi Nagisa and Shijo Maki had done and where they had gone last weekend.
The answer was: they went to buy an anniversary gift for their 4 months of dating…
This left Sakurai Saki with a puzzled expression.
This was the first time he learned that even 4 months of dating needed to be celebrated. Truly… such passionate love.
In short, the misunderstanding was resolved, but Sakurai Saki still felt that Kashiwagi Nagisa had long since paid attention to Shijo Maki. From a few small details in daily life, this could be seen.
Originally, the reason Kashiwagi wanted to get close to Sakurai Saki and build a relationship was actually because he and Shijo Maki, along with Tanuma Tsubasa, had a very good relationship—so good it was a little excessive.
"A friend of my friend should also be my friend." Perhaps Kashiwagi thought this way, Sakurai Saki guessed.
Today was Monday, and Sakurai had to go tutor.
Wednesday would be the start of the student council election, but this time the one speaking on stage in support of Shirogane Miyuki would be Shinomiya Kaguya. Her influence in the school was not something Sakurai Saki could compare to.
Shinomiya Kaguya was someone with a personality that refused to lose, and while Sakurai Saki also refused to lose, he wouldn't fight over this kind of matter.
As for the one speaking in support of Miko-chan, she hadn't asked Sakurai. Otherwise, he definitely would have gone up.
Perhaps it would be Osaragi who would help Miko-chan give a speech?
This person had not left a good impression on Sakurai Saki, her inner world felt rather gloomy. The last time in the infirmary they had argued back and forth, but since Miko-chan had been sick, neither Sakurai Saki nor Osaragi Kobachi managed to convince the other.
————
In the library, since it was just the start of the semester and not exam season yet, the number of people coming to read was surprisingly small.
In the study room, there wasn't anyone at all.
Shijo Maki had to manage the library one day every week, though it was unclear why she had accepted such a troublesome task.
From her appearance, she seemed like someone who disliked trouble.
Thus, she started complaining:
"Why do I have to be your assistant tutor, and without even any pay."
Maki: ( ｡ •̀ ᴖ •́ ｡)
Sakurai Saki sat together with her at the library manager's desk. The Nakano quintuplets hadn't arrived yet, so the two were sitting and waiting.
"Didn't we already make it clear? We'll act as your love advisors. You, in return, help the five idiots study."
"…But right now I just want to study properly." Shijo Maki had completely awakened, realizing that love was only an obstacle. The fact that she hadn't achieved the results she wanted was all because love had ruined it!
As long as she stepped onto the path of heartlessness, wielding the sword of heartlessness, severing infatuation, her grades would surely soar!
"Really?"
"Fake." Shijo Maki said, then once again revealed her familiar losing dog face, eyes brimming with tears: "They… they already went on a date during summer vacation."
Maki: ૮(˶╥︿╥)ა
Sakurai: (｡· v ·｡) ?
That's it?
Surely after two whole months, a couple in the fiery stage of love wouldn't not go on a date, right?
"Don't you think that kind of secretly observing is very… ehm." Sakurai Saki searched for the words, "perverted?"
Sorry, that was the only word he could think of to describe it.
Because Shijo Maki's behavior right now was no different from a stalker.
"They're in the same class as me! And we often hang out normally, how could I not notice?" Shijo Maki replied, adding a little 'hmph.'
The twin buns at the back of her head shook slightly, as if showing that their owner was angry.
"Besides, this lady has such a good relationship with Nagisa, there's no way I could cut ties with her." Shijo Maki continued.
"…." Sakurai Saki rolled his eyes.
He was sure that if Shijo Maki just told Kashiwagi Nagisa that she wanted to cut ties, and said it was because of Tanuma Tsubasa, then very likely Kashiwagi Nagisa would break up with her boyfriend. No joke.
Kashiwagi was well aware of this thought in Maki's heart, which was why she constantly flaunted her love in front of her, teasing her.
"Truly twisted."
To make the girl she liked jealous, Kashiwagi flaunted her love with the boy that girl liked…
Haa, Kashiwagi-san, you really are frightening.
"Haizz." Maki sighed.
Then she laid her head on the desk, looking like a salted fish who had lost all her dreams.
Maki: (* ´ ﹃｀*)
"The last final exam, I couldn't even beat you and Oba-sama, I guess in this life I'll just have to stay like this forever." She spoke with frustration.
Although she was originally very confident in herself, continuous failures had driven her straight down the path of the 'god of giving up' Ishigami Yuu.
"Don't worry, I was defeated by Shinomiya Kaguya for more than half a year, but didn't I eventually surpass her?"
"Thank you for your kind words." Shijo Maki replied.
Noticing someone coming forward to borrow a book, Maki straightened her chest.
"Hello, do you need me to help register?"
"Um."
It was a junior girl, staring fixedly at Sakurai Saki's face.
Seeing this, Sakurai Saki smiled back.
A minute later, the registration was done.
"She kept looking at your face just now." Maki said, then also glanced at Sakurai Saki's face.
…Somehow, there was nothing worth looking at?
Couldn't understand.
"Maybe because I look just decent enough."
Sakurai Saki said a humble line.
"Indeed, on the surface you look like a decent person." Shijo Maki showed no mercy.
"Maki, has anyone ever told you that your words aren't very pleasant to hear?"
"I did it on purpose." Shijo Maki smiled.
Maki: (๑>•̀๑)
Hearing that, Sakurai Saki's face was full of black lines: "Thanks a lot!"
This girl, once she gets upset, her way of retaliating is really childish.
————
Wednesday, the day of the student council president election.
In the auditorium, many students sat below, waiting for the candidates to step onto the stage and give their speeches.
However, the atmosphere was rather listless, hardly anyone seemed interested in this matter, many were whispering in private conversations, and some were even about to doze off.
"Where's Miko-chan? Why hasn't she come in yet?" Sakurai Saki asked.
Although there was still some time before it started, there wasn't even a trace of her.
"No idea." Ishigami Yuu answered with a slightly cold tone.
He wanted to ruthlessly crush Iino Miko, shattering her naïve illusions!
Sakurai Saki realized this guy was on the verge of going insane.
Shinomiya Kaguya and Shirogane Miyuki were preparing their speeches, while Fujiwara Chika was… huh? Why was she chatting with Hayasaka Ai? Did this person really consider herself a student council member?
Sakurai Saki stepped out of the auditorium.
He went out through the back door.
He glanced around.
"So you're here, Miko-chan."
"…Sakurai-senpai?" Iino Miko lifted her head to look at him, her face full of unease.
Miko: (،،>﹏<،،)
"Nervous?"
"Umu." Iino Miko softly said: "Just thinking about stepping onto the stage, my heart starts beating too fast."
"Don't worry, just think of them as weeds." After Sakurai Saki finished speaking, he glanced at Osaragi Kobachi, "Osaragi-san, the supporting speech later, I'll be counting on you."
"Sakurai-senpai, aren't you on the rival's side?" Osaragi spoke in a calm voice.
"Whether Shirogane or Miko-chan becomes president, it makes no difference to me." Sakurai Saki answered.
"Liar."
That baseless denial made Sakurai Saki a little annoyed: "If you don't believe me, you can find an excuse to withdraw from giving the supporting speech, I can immediately take your place."
"I won't yield Miko to you." Osaragi Kobachi pushed her glasses slightly.
"..." Miko placed her hand on her chest, taking several deep breaths.
She was still too nervous.