Chapter 34 Can You Touch Me?
Hinamori Momo stood at the office doorway, looking at the two people inside the room, her expression somewhat stiff.
Actually, it would have been better if Rukia hadn't said anything, but her guilty demeanor made Hinamori feel particularly uncomfortable.
Rukia wanted to explain, but she knew that under such circumstances, the more she explained, the more it would seem like something was going on, which would be tantamount to revealing Hinamori's feelings in front of the President, and might even incur the President's displeasure.
She hadn't paid attention before, but now it seemed that the President touching her head was indeed quite ambiguous...
Had she not noticed it herself, or had she noticed it long ago and simply wasn't resistant?
Could it be that the President hadn't noticed?
She felt like crying.
Hinamori quickly composed herself, a smile appearing on her face: "President, Rukia."
Rukia thought it over and decided it would be better to leave first, so she voluntarily said to Shin: "President, if there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
With that, she fled the office as if escaping.
As soon as she stepped out the door, her entire body pressed against the wall, her chest heaving violently.
How did it suddenly turn out like this...?
Seeing Rukia voluntarily leave and give her and Shin space, Hinamori felt a little better, thinking that perhaps it had indeed been a misunderstanding just now.
The President is kind to everyone...
Shin returned to his seat and casually said, "Someone from the Kuchiki Family, one of the Four Great Noble Families, came just now, saying they wanted to see Rukia."
Hinamori was startled at the news, her attention immediately drawn to it.
"Why were they looking for Rukia?"
"I don't know. The Kuchiki Family left without waiting for Rukia."
"Eh?"
Shin asked again, "How's your friend doing? Is he willing to come to the Spiritual Arts Academy for school?"
Hinamori pondered for a moment, then nodded gently: "But it will have to wait until next year. Toushiro blames himself; he thinks his grandmother's deteriorating health is his fault."
"Fortunately, it was discovered in time, and everything is still salvageable."
"For this, I must thank the President."
Shin chuckled, "You've already thanked me."
Hinamori pressed her lips together, looking at Shin sitting there, with many things she wanted to say in her heart, but when it came to her lips, she didn't know what to say.
The words she wanted to say, no matter what she said, seemed abrupt and presumptuous.
She had been sleepless all night yesterday, but fortunately, she had come to a realization: what Senior Kanisawa did was Senior Kanisawa's business; what mattered was the President's attitude.
How could someone like the President not be admired by others?
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She was one of them, Senior Kanisawa was just one of them, and there would be many, many more people in the future.
Finding a way to become the most special person to the President among these people was what she should be doing. Worrying about others' thoughts was meaningless; she couldn't change that. What she could change was the President's perception of her.
She mustered her courage and suddenly asked, "President, I've actually always wanted to ask you a question."
"Go ahead."
"Why did the President let Rukia be your assistant?"
Rukia, who was outside the door, hadn't actually left. She also wanted to hear what Hinamori and the President would say. She was afraid the two might argue, although she felt in her heart that Momo had no reason or right to question the President about such a matter.
Hearing the conversation from inside, she was instantly stunned.
She also wanted to know the real answer to that question.
But why would Momo ask that... because of what happened just now?
Shin chuckled and countered, "Why are you suddenly asking that?"
Hinamori said, "I think Rukia isn't special in any aspect. Of course, she has her strengths, but did the President see those strengths from the very beginning? Rukia told me about the Student Council assessment back then. I don't think my performance at the time was any worse than hers, and, I..."
She wanted to say that she was more suitable for the position of President's assistant than Rukia, that her personality was more cheerful, and she was more enthusiastic about her work.
She wanted to ask Shin if he had some special feelings for Rukia, if he liked Rukia.
As for Senior Kanisawa, Hinamori had been with the President for several months and could clearly feel that the President had no special feelings for Senior Kanisawa.
Because if you truly like someone, it's very difficult to hide your feelings. The President's attitude towards Senior Kanisawa was no different from his attitude towards others, so Senior Kanisawa was not a threat. She was just relying on the President's kindness and that agreement to dare to make such an excessive request.
In contrast, the President's treatment of Rukia was clearly special.
Shin glanced at Hinamori's favorability in the system interface, which was fluctuating up and down.
He leaned back in his chair. To be honest, he somewhat disliked being questioned in this manner. He slightly tilted his head and slowly said, "I did see Rukia's strengths from the beginning. I also saw Rukia's weaknesses at the same time, which is why I felt Rukia needed some training in this position. If I only let her be an ordinary Student Council member, her weaknesses would certainly not improve in a short period. Hinamori, you might be more excellent than Rukia right now, and everyone likes you, but Rukia needs this opportunity more than you do. Since you are very good friends, you should also understand this first point."
Hinamori couldn't help but speak, "President, but I... I..."
She clenched her fists, but ultimately said nothing more. She was both shy and afraid.
Afraid of the consequences if she spoke rashly, which she couldn't bear.
Shin suddenly chuckled again, "Hinamori, I still owe you a promise. Have you thought about it?"
"..."
Hinamori was speechless; her mind was in a turmoil at this moment.
She had been thinking about what request to make ever since that agreement was made.
Excessive, not excessive, ambiguous, reasonable...
She had thought the most suitable one was to have the President agree to teach her Koten in his spare time. This would not only increase the time she spent alone with the President, bringing them closer, but it was also a very appropriate and reasonable excuse.
The President would go to the Fourth Squad in the future, and her desire to learn Koten in depth also contained enough hints...
But why could Senior Kanisawa make such an excessive request?
Then could she also?
But would she also be as bad as Senior Kanisawa? How would the President view her then?
Hinamori bit her lip tightly, a glimmer in her beautiful eyes. She stared intently at Shin. They were clearly only separated by an office desk, a few steps away.
But she really didn't know how far the distance between her and the President was.
Was it just these few steps, as it appeared on the surface? Was it just waiting for her to take the initiative and speak?
"President..." Hinamori's voice trembled slightly.
"Could you, like you did to Rukia just now, touch me?"
Rukia outside the door had left.