"Leave him be for now."
Kaoru looked at the budget sheet in front of him. "Has no one applied to us yet?"
"Not so far."
Sosuke Tonokawa probed, "If you need candidates, I can help you recruit from the first-year class."
"No need."
Kaoru dismissed his suggestion. "If no one applies, so be it. We already have Komiya anyway."
The third-year students would step down next semester, leaving only the second-year executives, so they now needed to recruit first-year executives.
Over the past few days, only Komiya Kaho had applied to join the Student Council.
Sosuke Tonokawa felt somewhat awkward and closed his mouth, continuing with his paperwork.
Just then, Kaoru picked up his phone.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka reported the afternoon's encounters, including the exchange meeting with Ichinose Honami.
Since all of Class 1-D had skipped the exchange meeting, Horikita Suzune decided to check on their situation.
On their way to the first-year classrooms, they accidentally ran into Ryuen Kakeru, who seemed to have similar intentions, leading to an unexpected encounter.
Despite their frustration, both sides discovered that Class 1-D's classroom was completely empty.
Horikita Suzune immediately realized that this class likely had a leader.
Kaoru put away his phone. It seemed Horikita Suzune had hit a wall.
Wasn't Class 1-D Tsubasa Nanase's class? Had she unified the entire class?
Bang!
"Onii-chan, I'm here again!"
Along with Komiya Kaho's voice, her smiling face burst through the office door.
However, upon hearing this voice, Katsuragi Kohei and Sosuke Tonokawa simultaneously turned their faces.
But the two of them still couldn't escape.
"Good afternoon, Katsuragi-senpai, Tonokawa-senpai!"
Komiya Kaho energetically greeted the two, "Is there anything I can help with today?"
"No, it's fine, we've actually handled most of it already."
Katsuragi Kohei seemed to struggle with dealing with this type of girl.
"Eh, did I come too late?"
Komiya Kaho looked disappointed, but soon showed a smile again, "I'll bring you some delicious treats tomorrow then!"
Katsuragi Kohei didn't know how to respond, remaining silent like a block of wood.
"Hey hey hey, what does Katsuragi-senpai like to eat?"
"A-anything is fine."
"What about Tonokawa-senpai?"
"..."
Ever since Komiya Kaho joined the Student Council, the atmosphere had suddenly become livelier.
In just a few days, she had already built good relationships with all the executives.
Katsuragi Kohei probably couldn't handle such a forward girl, leaving him at a loss, while Sosuke Tonokawa seemed to have misunderstood something, keeping his distance from Komiya Kaho while occasionally stealing glances at Kaoru's reactions.
Even so, Komiya Kaho had still managed to win everyone's favor.
Who could bear to dislike such an energetic and polite junior?
As Kaoru was thinking this, he saw Komiya Kaho skillfully brewing coffee, then bringing it to him with a smile.
Though he hadn't tasted it yet, the aroma reminded Kaoru of his days at the agency.
Especially when he saw Komiya Kaho turn around and obediently sit on the sofa, her slender legs pressed together, her small feet lifted and swaying back and forth - it gave him a sense of déjà vu.
Back when he worked at the agency, Komiya Kaho would often sit quietly like this, never disturbing his work.
Kaoru tried hard to suppress his emotions.
Lately, he kept recalling things from his agency days, which troubled his state of mind.
...
Closing the office door, Kaoru felt someone tug at his clothes.
"Hey, Producer-san."
Komiya Kaho stood beside him, her small hands clutching her skirt, speaking somewhat hesitantly.
"Actually... I can help too. You don't have to work so hard."
In the past, she would often watch the producer work hard, unable to help and could only watch silently from the side.
But now it was different.
Komiya Kaho felt she had grown up, and with it being just Student Council work, she could definitely help Kaoru - there was no need to just watch from the sidelines!
"Just having you by my side is already helping me."
Kaoru's tone was like coaxing a child, "Every time I see Kaho, my mood improves."
"You're lying again!"
Komiya Kaho murmured, her cheeks flushed red.
Even though she knew he was just humoring her, she still felt shy because of it.
"What does Kaho want to help me with?"
Kaoru gently squeezed her small hand, "Actually, it's only busy like this during these first few days. Next month we'll be so idle we'll feel restless, so Kaho just needs to stay as you are."
"No way."
Komiya Kaho puffed out her cheeks, "If everyone finds out I'm just here freeloading, I'll definitely be done for."
"Alright, Kaho can be my secretary."
Kaoru said with a stern face, "If I tell you to go east, you can't go west. Can you do that?"
Komiya Kaho immediately broke into a smile, replying confidently, "I always listen to the producer the most!"
Her expression made Kaoru unable to resist reaching out to pinch her cheek. "Don't speak so confidently. The exam is in two weeks—don't end up scoring zero, understand?"
"Ugh, how could that happen? Producer, you're always underestimating me."
Komiya Kaho guiltily averted her gaze, then seemed to realize she was being too obvious.
"Don't worry, the producer and I will definitely take first place!"
"Really?"
Kaoru looked at her suspiciously.
Although this child usually had good grades, it had been several years, and he didn't really know her current level.
"As long as the producer is with me."
Komiya Kaho grew even more guilty.
Kaoru fell silent for a moment. "Fine, I'll help you with tutoring."
"I knew the producer would help me!"
Komiya Kaho's eyes sparkled brightly.
After all, he was already used to tutoring others—one more wouldn't make a difference.
"Let's go to my dorm!"
Komiya Kaho enthusiastically invited him. "Speaking of which, the producer has never been to my dorm before!"
Kaoru suddenly sensed something amiss, but faced with the girl's eager invitation, he couldn't refuse.
However, upon second thought, what did he have to worry about?
Komiya Kaho was probably one of the most harmless girls around.
He hadn't made a move on her back then, let alone now.
As long as he didn't act inappropriately, nothing should happen.
Just as Kaoru was thinking this, Komiya Kaho had already wrapped her arms around his.
The unique softness of a girl pressed against him, full and swelling, rubbing against his body as if deliberately reminding him that she was no longer a child.
"Destination: the first-year dormitory building, room 1206!"
Seeing Komiya Kaho's smile, Kaoru could only suppress the turmoil in his heart.
He figured he must have been eating too much lately, making his emotions easily unsettled.
"Kaho, stop calling me 'producer.' Someone might hear it."
"Not even in private?"
"Try to avoid it."
"Does the producer like it when I call you 'big brother'?"
"..."
"Onii-chan~"