In the student council room, an unseen tension reigned. Only Miyuki, its source, and Azusa, attuned to her moods, sensed it.
"President, something wrong? You seem shaken," Honoka asked.
"N-nothing!" Azusa stammered. "Mitsui-san, you settling into council work?"
"Not quite, but I'm careful not to mess up," Honoka replied.
Less than a week into her role, Honoka was managing, if not yet mastered, her tasks.
"Nakajou-senpai, where's Izumi-senpai?" Shizuku asked.
"Chiyoda-san dragged him off," Azusa said. "Something about missing Discipline Committee documents."
Tatsuya usually handled those, but in his absence, Kanon leaned on Izumi, a pattern set in mere days.
"Chiyoda-san should be more organized," Miyuki said, her pressure spiking.
Honoka and Shizuku finally noticed the unease but couldn't confront its cause, glancing at Azusa instead.
"Uh… Shiba-kun's persuading Hirakawa-senpai again?" Azusa ventured.
"So it seems," Miyuki said coolly. "Onii-sama's too kind, dutifully handling requests, even reluctantly."
"R-right…" Azusa forced a laugh, silently pleading for help from Honoka and Shizuku. Both averted their eyes, burying themselves in paperwork, ignoring her SOS.
"Well, we're mostly done," Azusa said. "Good work, Shiba-san, Mitsui-san, Kitayama-san."
"""Good work,""" they echoed.
No one questioned Azusa's abrupt dismissal, the bulk of the work already finished. When Izumi returned, he found Azusa visibly drained, a stark contrast to before.
Earlier, in the counseling room, Koharu's face lit up at Tatsuya's arrival, dragged there by Haruka.
"Congratulations on making the team, Hirakawa-senpai," Tatsuya said.
"Thanks, but I'm not confident…" Koharu murmured.
"Come on!" Haruka urged. "You earned it. Be proud!"
Koharu only shook her head weakly.
"Ichihara-san and Izumi-kun's selections make sense," Koharu said. "But me? I don't think I beat Sekimoto-kun."
"I haven't read your thesis, so I can't say for sure," Tatsuya said, pulling up her first-term results on his device. "But the faculty chose you. Your grades back it up. It's a fair pick."
Tatsuya's persuasion, though reluctant, was earnest when faced with her directly.
"No progress here," Haruka said. "Shiba-kun, walk her home again."
"We can talk here—" Tatsuya started.
"I've got plans, so I'm closing the room," Haruka cut in. "Please?"
"Neglecting your job?" Tatsuya quipped.
Haruka, unable to withstand his stare, ushered them out. It might look like shirking, but she believed this was the best way to help Koharu.
"Let's go?" Koharu said, a hint of excitement in her voice.
"Fine," Tatsuya said, a wry smile forming. Those who knew him would see he wasn't truly annoyed—his wry smiles had layers.
"Why don't you think you're fit for the team?" Tatsuya asked as they rode the cabinet. "You were chosen as an engineer for the Nine Schools Competition. That's no small feat."
"The Nine Schools showed me how outclassed I was by you," Koharu said. "And Kobayakawa-san…"
"I've said it before: that wasn't your fault," Tatsuya insisted. "Saegusa-senpai, Juumonji-senpai, even Kobayakawa-senpai herself agree."
"But I still dream of it," Koharu whispered. "Kobayakawa-san losing her magic, falling to the ground…"
An awkward silence filled the cabinet. Koharu's memory likely twisted Kobayakawa's expression into something harsher, perhaps accusatory. If Tatsuya's mother, skilled in mental interference magic, were alive, she could've reduced that memory to data. But Tatsuya lacked that gift.
"I feel bad for taking your time," Koharu said.
"Don't," Tatsuya replied. "This is Ms. Ono's request. If it eats too much time, I'll tell her."
"Good," Koharu said, relieved.
Tatsuya didn't catch what eased her mind. They chatted lightly until reaching her station.
"Onee-chan," Chiaki called.
"Chiaki? What's up?" Koharu asked.
"I'll head out, Senpai. Your sister's here," Tatsuya said.
Though slow to notice affection, Tatsuya was sharp to hostility. Sensing Chiaki's ill will, he opted for a swift exit.
"Sorry for making you walk me again," Koharu said.
"No problem," Tatsuya replied, boarding the opposite cabinet.
Chiaki hugged Koharu tightly. "Congrats on the team, Onee-chan!"
"Thanks, but it feels too heavy," Koharu said.
"Why? You worked so hard on your thesis all summer," Chiaki said.
"I just… don't think I'm cut out for it," Koharu murmured.
Walking home, Koharu seemed lost in thought, dismissing her achievement as if someone else deserved it. Chiaki watched her with sad eyes.
"You're not quitting school, right?" Chiaki asked suddenly.
"What brought that up?"
"That guy walking you home—he's persuading you to stay, right?"
"Yeah… I'm such a burden to Shiba-kun," Koharu said. "With those rumors too…"
"Onee-chan…" Chiaki's sharp gaze darted to empty air, unaware of why she harbored resentment toward Tatsuya.
Note on Chiaki's Jealousy: Chiaki's envy is simmering nicely, her vague hostility toward Tatsuya growing as she perceives him as a threat to her bond with Koharu. This could lead to petty schemes against him.
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