"Damn authoritarian employers."
I wanted to skip class using student council work as an excuse, but I ended up regretting it more than anything.
Before, the president and Tachibana-senpai went easy on me because exams were approaching and I was preparing for them, but after the results were announced, they dumped every paperwork task on me, from organizing data to all kinds of annoying jobs.
They seriously drained all my energy to the point that I couldn't even walk properly after work ended and could only drag my legs the whole way back.
Am I going to stay like this all the time?
The only good thing was that the president paid for my dinner after work. He said it was my reward for finishing all my tasks.
Doesn't this feel exactly like working at a company?
I didn't go easy on him and picked the most expensive meal on the menu. It was honestly delicious and filled my stomach completely. All I need now is a good night's sleep.
I stood in the hallway in front of the elevator so I could head up to my room. I waited for the doors in front of me to open while rubbing my stiff neck. Hunching over paperwork for hours really is awful.
The strange thing is that I don't see any other members around at all. It's almost like I'm the only employee there. Are the others on different schedules from me, or am I the only one stuck with that evil president?
I should ask him about it...
The elevator doors opened after coming down from the upper floors. There were already people inside, so I waited where I was until they came out.
"Hikigaya-kun..."
It was Hirata Yousuke stepping out of the elevator wearing casual clothes, and beside him was a girl with long blonde hair tied in a ponytail. I think her name was Karuizawa.
They seemed really close.
"Yo..."
I gave Hirata a quick greeting before stepping in.
"Good evening, Hikigaya-kun. You look exhausted..."
Hirata greeted me politely, but then he started examining me with a worried look after noticing how tired I was.
"Ah... I've just been a little busy."
I tried standing straighter to hide my exhaustion. There was no reason for people to see how miserable I looked.
Hirata nodded as if he understood my situation, but I couldn't ignore the hostile look from the girl beside him.
She was staring at me with obvious disdain. My eyes could recognize that kind of look easily.
Still, there was something strange about her behavior. I always got the feeling that she didn't really know how she was supposed to act or what exactly she should do.
"Karuizawa-san, could you wait outside for a moment? I want to talk with Hikigaya-kun a little."
Hirata turned toward Karuizawa and asked her to go ahead outside first.
Why does he want to talk to me? Did something happen?
"Hirata-kun, but..."
Karuizawa tried to object, but Hirata simply gave her a bright smile and she backed down immediately.
His influence is seriously terrifying.
Maybe they were planning to go out together and spend some time after exams. The biggest nightmare chasing them had finally ended.
Karuizawa puffed her cheeks in annoyance at my interruption and left the dorm entrance without hiding her irritation toward me, glaring at me on the way out.
Sorry, but it's not my fault. If it were up to me, I wouldn't want to talk to anyone either.
Only Hirata and I remained in the hallway while he kept watching the girl until she left.
"Sorry about her behavior. I promised her that after exams we'd go together to a restaurant she wanted to visit, so she's a little upset."
Hirata began apologizing for his classmate's behavior.
"No, it's fine."
I waved my hand quickly. There was no need for him to apologize. Anyone would get annoyed if some weird guy suddenly showed up and interrupted their outing.
Hirata simply smiled before suddenly moving as if he had just remembered what he wanted to talk about.
"Sudou-kun's problem has been resolved. He won't be expelled anymore."
The joy on Hirata's face grew as he mentioned the disaster that had almost hit the class, but we had managed to overcome it.
"Ah... yeah, that's good."
Maybe he thought I didn't know because I hadn't been in class, so he wanted to tell me.
Well, that was kind of him.
"Ayanokouji-kun told us that Horikita-san was the one who solved the problem."
Hirata continued explaining everything slowly.
"Hm..."
I couldn't help raising an eyebrow after hearing that.
Looks like Ayanokouji really did something useful for once. I don't want to get involved in this right now and end up standing in the spotlight having to explain what happened.
Explaining things was exactly why I ignored Horikita today.
Good job. Really, good job.
I lowered my eyes to the floor and watched my shoes while thinking about Ayanokouji's involvement. He had wanted to say something earlier too. Was this all he wanted to mention?
"Hikigaya-kun... but I think you had a hand in this too."
I quickly lifted my head toward him.
"Hah...? Why would you suddenly say that?"
What made him think that? And he sounded pretty confident too.
"Well... you also left the classroom, and I can't help but think you got involved in this too."
Hirata stared at me with eyes that practically declared he was convinced of his own words.
A dry laugh escaped me. I had no idea what made him come to those conclusions.
The way he thinks is still strange to me.
"You think too highly of me. Just because I managed to do a few things at the beginning doesn't mean I can solve every problem."
Even if we managed to change the class situation at first, that doesn't mean I'm capable of overcoming something like this too...
The truth is much simpler than what anyone imagines.
"Is that so...?"
Hirata simply laughed and scratched the back of his head.
"But I really think you're an amazing person. You always try to help in your own way."
Hirata looked at me with that refreshing face and smile of his. Anyone who saw him like that would believe him and wouldn't even try to argue back.
Even I would. I had no intention of continuing to deny it and argue with him.
"Well, just don't raise your expectations too much."
Hirata laughed out loud after hearing my response, as if he hadn't expected those words from me.
"Why say that now?"
"So you won't end up disappointed later."
I threw those last words at him and left him behind before stepping into the elevator.
Dealing with expectations is always exhausting and annoying.
Working away from everyone else is better. If you succeed, then great. And if you fail, nobody expected anything from you in the first place.
Nobody wants to deal with problems caused by a failure everyone mistakenly believed was something else.
The elevator quickly reached the floor where my room was. I stepped out and started walking through the empty hallway. Night hadn't fallen yet, so bedtime was still far away, but I already felt exhausted.
I stopped in front of my room door and searched my jacket pocket for the keycard to unlock it.
But then voices from the room next door surprised me.
Up until now, the best thing about my neighbor, Ayanokouji, was how quiet he always was. You could barely even tell whether he was there or not, and honestly that suited me perfectly. I didn't want any disturbances, and I didn't cause any either.
But now there were loud voices coming from his room.
Cheerful voices?
Did he actually make friends and start holding parties? It'd be annoying dealing with that noise if it continued for long.
Well, whatever.
I opened my room door and stepped inside, then switched on the lights in front of me to see my room, which hadn't changed at all since I first moved in back in April. It still looked exactly the same.
I hope I can stay the same too.
Protecting my principles and beliefs. I went through a lot to become who I am now. New people entered my life, and I got involved in other people's problems and lives.
All of that made me who I am.
That's why... I like myself.