Our victory and the subsequent management chaos in the club brought a temporary reprieve from Akane Sato's direct scrutiny. She was busy with her own Drama Club and Student Council duties, and perhaps the sheer, undeniable public display of our 'real' relationship (and our win) had momentarily satisfied her need for investigation.
But 'temporary' is the key word.
A few days after the chaotic club meeting, I was helping Mr. Yoshida sort through some old club records when Akane-san appeared at the clubroom door. Mr. Yoshida, bless him, immediately decided it was the perfect time for a quick nap.
Akane-san walked in, her gaze sweeping over the tidied-up room (a result of our victory funding and new member enthusiasm). Her expression was neutral, but her eyes still held that sharp intelligence.
"Tanaka-kun," she said, acknowledging my presence.
"Sato-san," I replied, feeling that familiar tension return, though less intense than before.
She walked over to where I was working, looking at the dusty boxes of records. "Still dedicated to the club, I see," she commented.
"Yeah," I said. "Winning the contest meant a lot. We want to make sure the funding is used well."
She nodded slowly. "Sakura seems happy with the club's new direction. And... happy in general."
Her gaze shifted from the records to me. This was it. The real reason she was here. Not about the club, but about Sakura.
"Tanaka-kun," she began, her voice low and serious. "I told you before I was watching. And I told you my priority is Sakura. What I've seen since the contest... the public response... the way you two are around each other... it's different from the performance."
She paused, letting me absorb her observation. She saw the change.
"Sakura seems... genuinely happy," Akane-san continued. "Relaxed, even. That's not something I've seen consistently in a long time. She carries a lot of pressure, even if she doesn't show it."
She looked directly into my eyes. "Look. My initial suspicions... about this being just a project, or somehow being forced... they've lessened. The way she looks at you on stage wasn't just acting. The hug wasn't for show."
My heart hammered against my ribs. Hearing Akane-san admit she saw the reality, that she believed it, was incredibly significant.
"However," Akane-san added, her tone turning serious again, "just because it seems real doesn't mean it's easy. Dating Sakura comes with things you haven't experienced before. The constant attention. The jealousy. The expectations."
She gestured vaguely. "You got a small taste of it with those idiots in the hallway. That was nothing compared to what it can be. Can you handle that long-term, Tanaka-kun? Can you protect her from the negative parts of that attention? Can you stand beside her in the spotlight without wilting?"
Her questions were direct, challenging. They weren't asking if the relationship was real, but if I was strong enough for the reality of her world.
"I... I don't know," I admitted honestly. "It's new to me. It's... overwhelming sometimes."
Akane-san nodded, her expression acknowledging my honesty. "It will be. Sakura is used to it, but she also needs someone who can be a solid presence beside her, not someone who gets swallowed up by it. Someone who can be her refuge from it sometimes."
She looked at me, her gaze softening slightly. "She clearly cares about you, Tanaka-kun. Enough to let her guard down. Enough to be... unexpectedly happy." A faint, almost-smile touched her lips at the word 'unexpectedly.' She knew. She had seen that too.
"Just... don't break her heart," Akane-san said, her voice low and serious. "She's stronger than people think, but she puts so much of herself into things. If this... if this real thing... goes wrong... it will hit her hard."
It wasn't exactly a blessing, but it felt like conditional approval. A recognition of the reality, a warning, and a plea to not hurt her friend.
"I won't," I said, my voice firm, looking her directly in the eye. "That's the last thing I want to do, Sato-san. I... I care about her too. A lot."
Akane-san held my gaze for a long moment, searching my sincerity. Then, very slowly, she gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. It wasn't a smile, but it felt like a moment of understanding passed between us. The protector acknowledging the protector-in-training?
"Good," she said, her tone returning to its usual calm. "Keep working hard on the club, Tanaka-kun. It seems to be genuinely important to her."
She glanced at Mr. Yoshida, still napping peacefully. "Tell Sakura I stopped by. And... tell her I said congratulations. On the club win." She added the last part with a hint of something in her eyes that suggested she meant more than just the club.
With that, she turned and walked out of the clubroom, leaving me alone again. Mr. Yoshida snored softly.
Akane Sato. The formidable guardian. She saw the reality. She acknowledged the change in Sakura. She gave me a glimpse into the pressure Sakura carries. And she issued a direct warning, coupled with a form of conditional acceptance.
It wasn't the easiest conversation, but it felt important. Getting Akane's conditional approval, and understanding the challenges of Sakura's world from her perspective, felt like another step in navigating this real relationship. The spotlight, the jealousy, the expectations – these were the new dragons to face. And I had a feeling Akane-san would be watching to make sure I was ready to face them.