III/ The Girl Who Won’t Leave Me Alone
At this academy, there are two main heroines who are absolute romantic powerhouses.
The second-year student, Amasaki Amane.
And the other one was the third-year student council president.
On that day, there was an all-school assembly. It seems they intended to rein in the first-years who were starting to let loose after getting used to the school.
However, it was not an enjoyable time for the students. In the relaxed atmosphere, the female teacher in charge spoke into the microphone.
“There is an announcement from the student council president, Shiragiku Hakua, about next month’s athletic festival.”
The students suddenly started murmuring.
A beautiful female student slowly ascended to the stage.
As they say, “elegant as a peony when standing, graceful as a peony when sitting, and walks with the beauty of hundreds of flowers combined”…but her name is also no less charming.
Shiragiku Hakua.
The student council president of this academy and the daughter of a world-renowned confectionery company.
She holds a position unsuited for such an ordinary high school, and on top of that, her academic performance is naturally excellent. Since enrolling, she has never relinquished the number one rank, maintaining top scores even at the national level.
She is deeply trusted by the teachers and is expected to advance to an elite university before eventually taking over her family’s major company in the future. This girl is truly the embodiment of the perfect student.
Hakua gracefully bowed on the stage. Just that alone seemed to purify the stagnant air of the dull gymnasium, filling it with a refreshing spring breeze.
“Please be quiet.”
A tense atmosphere enveloped the students.
Just those words were enough to silence the previous commotion. Even students who normally wouldn’t listen to the principal’s words were captivated by the student council president’s voice.
“I am the student council president, Shiragiku Hakua.”
Her voice was also beautiful.
Some students in the crowd gazed at her with dreamy eyes. This had become a regular scene at the academy that no one found strange anymore.
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She seems to be called the “Ice Princess.”
Along with second-year Amane, she is one of the academy’s powerhouse romance main heroines.
However, her personality is the opposite of Amane’s. Unlike the friendly Amane who doesn’t discriminate, Hakua is not the type to casually interact with others. Yet her transcendent demeanor instilled a sense of reverence in the students.
In the midst of this, Hakua began explaining the precautions for next month’s athletic festival. The content was nothing particularly special – things like not causing trouble, maintaining good sportsmanship, and not inconveniencing the neighborhood around the academy.
It took her precisely five minutes. While the content was not much different from the principal’s speech, this one felt like it passed in an instant. At least, that’s how the students perceived it.
“…That is all. Let us all cooperate to make this an athletic festival to remember.”
With just those ordinary words, the students responded with great satisfaction, leaving the teachers unable to interject.
Izumi listened to Hakua’s speech amidst the various students in the rows.
The male students next to him were whispering to each other.
“Shiragiku-senpai looks beautiful today too…”
“Yeah. It’s not about being cute or pretty.”
“I wonder if she has a boyfriend?”
“Apparently the basketball club’s Yoshino confessed and got shot down recently.”
“Yoshino failed too? Then it’s impossible for us regular guys.”
That was Sato-kun, who had asked me about a group date yesterday. Come to think of it, I wonder how that turned out…well, the lack of a success report says it all.
(Shiragiku-senpai’s boyfriend, huh…)
As I was idly pondering that, I thought I briefly made eye contact with Hakua as she descended from the stage.
It seemed like she gave me a faint smile, but it was probably just my imagination since we were so far apart.
Izumi concluded as such and turned his attention to the next speaker, a male teacher discussing career guidance.
After school.
Another uneventful and peaceful day had passed.
After his part-time job ended, Izumi pondered on the train ride home.
(What should I do for dinner…)
As he considered just grabbing something from the nearby convenience store, his phone rang. Seeing the message, Izumi furrowed his brow.
(Huh? But I told her I had work today.)
After seeing that message, Izumi passed by the convenience store. Arriving at the apartment building where he lived, he took the elevator up to the third floor.
This 1LDK apartment meant for families…it felt like a waste for just a single high school boy living alone, but it was provided for him so he found it difficult to request a change.
Situations like this made him aware of being more fortunate than others. With a sense of guilt about his privileged environment, Izumi returned to his room.
Unlocking the door and entering,
he found a pair of girl’s loafers as expected, along with a delightful aroma wafting through.
(Wow, it was a bit chilly today so beef stew would be perfect…)
Peeking into the dining area, the resident of the adjacent room welcomed him.
“Izumi-kun, welcome home.”
The student council president, Shiragiku Hakua.
She seemed to have returned to her room once, now in casual attire. Her hair was tied back in a large ponytail, in a style suitable for cooking. She wore an apron politely, exuding the aura of a newlywed wife. Hakua scooped some beef stew from the pot with a ladle, tasting it.
Noticing Izumi, she gave him a bright smile.
A smile completely contrary to her cold demeanor at the academy.
It was like watching a flower bloom, with the sweet scent of honey drifting through the air…but that moment was fleeting as Hakua set down the ladle and removed her apron.
Then, with arms spread wide, she tightly embraced him.
Surrounded by her soft warmth, Izumi tensed his body and…
“I…I’m home, Shiragiku-senpai…”
“…Muuun~”
For some reason, she puffed out her cheeks in seeming displeasure. Realizing her intention, Izumi forced a wry smile.
“…Hakua-neesan.”
“!!”
Her face instantly brightened.
Like with a child, she gently patted his head.
“Good boy ♪”
“Well, I am a high school student though…”
“Ufufu. You’ll always be like a little brother to me, Izumi-kun.”
“To be fair, we did first meet when I was in elementary school…”
This exchange was a tradition since their parents first introduced them to each other.
In the midst of this rather passionate greeting, Izumi awkwardly averted his gaze.
(The Ice Princess, huh…)
From a teenage boy’s perspective, this welcome was excruciatingly embarrassing. Not to mention the overwhelming presence pressed against his chest.
He hurriedly placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to increase the distance between them.
“Uhh, Hakua-neesan, please back off…”
“A welcome home hug has a calming effect, you know?”
“Even if proven at academic conferences, I don’t think it’s something a teenage boy and girl should do casually…ah!”
This level of physical contact was simply bad for his heart.
(This person really loses her sense of boundaries in private, huh.)
It had been this way since long ago.
Ever since he still lived at his family home, Hakua had maintained this stance toward Izumi. In fact, he was surprised to learn her usual demeanor after they ended up attending the same high school.
But Hakua paid no mind to Izumi’s inner thoughts, taking his hand instead.
“Welcome back from work. Let’s eat ♪”
“Y-Yeah…”
After placing his bag in his room and changing into casual clothes, he returned to the living area. The table was already set with dinner prepared for the two of them.
Of course, Hakua naturally took a seat across from him.
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