As was usually the case, I found myself battling an intense wave of drowsiness during the afternoon classes. It was the perfect storm: a full stomach combined with a climate that was neither too hot nor too cold. It wasn't that I was losing my focus... or so I tried to tell myself.
Hanako-san, sitting in the next seat, seemed to have no such problem. She even had enough composure to poke me in the side every time I looked like I was about to nod off.
Poke, poke...
"Come on now, keep your eyes open♪"
I couldn't quite tell, but I had the distinct feeling she was actually enjoying this.
Thanks in part to Hanako-san’s "supportive" pokes, I somehow managed to shake off the sleepiness and keep my pen moving until the chime finally signaled the end of the period. It seemed I had successfully survived the fifth hour.
The final hour of the day wouldn't be a problem, as the sixth period wasn't a standard class but a temporary Homeroom dedicated to the school festival. The agenda was simple: finalize the plans for our stall.
The bell rang to start the session, but before we could even begin, the Homeroom Teacher’s gaze landed squarely on me. I didn't think I’d done anything particularly problematic lately, but his expression told a different story.
"Since we have a Student Council Officer right here, it might be better if Takanashi leads the discussion. I'm counting on you."
Under the Teacher’s less-than-welcome suggestion, I found myself standing at the podium—a situation that felt more like a punishment game than an honor. As I reluctantly stepped forward, the Teacher signaled the class. "Give him a hand~."
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
Give me a break.
As I surveyed the room while being showered with pity-claps, I could see Hanako-san, Yamakawa, and the rest of my closer friends laughing. I made a mental note then and there: if I needed to call on someone for an opinion during the meeting, I’d prioritize them first.
Shaking off the annoyance, I decided to first relay the decisions made at the recent Student Council meeting.
"Uh, first, regarding this class's stall—it passed the screening. It's officially confirmed as a Maid & Butler Cafe, just as we planned."
"...Hell yeah!"
"...We did it!!"
"...I can't wait~"
"...Oh man, I'm actually getting hyped for this~"
The classroom erupted in excitement, cheers rising from every corner. I intended to wait until they settled down, but as the noise level continued to climb, I debated whether I should call for order. Fortunately, some voices began to reign the others in.
"Everyone, Takanashi-kun is having a hard time, so let's be quiet!"
The first ones to speak up were, as expected, those two girls. Following their lead, the buzzing gradually subsided. Having classmates who were willing to cooperate like this was a true blessing.
The final blow, however, came from Hanako-san. She simply muttered, "...Sigh, like children." The way the male students instantly fell silent at her words made me realize that her influence in this class had reached an absolute peak without me even noticing.
Now that the room was calm again, I resumed the talk.
"Just keep in mind that there are two other cafes besides ours, so the customers might be split. Please remember that."
"...Ah, well, that's just how it goes."
"...True. When you think of a school festival, a cafe is the standard."
"...We can't afford to lose, though."
"...Right! We need to think of ways to pull people in!"
"...I want to make sure we have cute outfits."
Rather than being discouraged, they seemed more determined than ever not to be outdone. If that was the case, competition wouldn't be an issue.
"Question! What are we doing about the food?"
The discussion finally reached the point I considered most vital. I decided it was best to confirm the situation early.
"Does anyone here know how to cook?"
I asked the question point-blank while looking around. A few people looked like they were considering raising their hands, but they were hesitant. Their lack of confidence suggested they didn't have much experience.
"By the way, is there anyone who can cook well enough to actually teach others?"
With that follow-up, every hand stayed down. It seemed no one was that proficient.
"Hey, Takanashi-kun, do you think we could use the Home Economics Room after school? If we can, we could all practice together!"
I see. Practice was a solid idea. The Student Council should be able to facilitate that, so I decided to check later.
"I'll look into it. The Student Council is supposed to support these kinds of requests."
"Oh! In that case, can you see if there’s a teacher who can show us the ropes?" the girl who asked about the food inquired again.
It was a fair point. I figured I should include that in my inquiry.
"I’ve got it!! I heard from an upperclassman that Satsukawa-senpai is a pro-level cook!!" a classmate shouted, looking like he’d just had a stroke of genius. "If the Student Council is helping out, and she’s the Vice President, maybe Satsukawa-senpai could teach us!?"
For Sara-san, a task like that would be so easy she could do it in her sleep...
"It’s happening!!"
"Wait, that’s actually perfect!"
"Holy crap, that’s a god-tier idea!"
"Whoaa, a Goddess's Cooking Class? That’s insane!!"
"T-T-T-Takanashi-kun!! Can you somehow make this happen with Satsukawa-senpai!?"
"When you think about it, having a Student Council member in our class is way too lucky!!"
Even though nothing was set in stone, the conversation took on a life of its own. The sheer volume of the commotion reminded me once again of Sara-san’s overwhelming popularity. I hadn't even agreed to ask her yet, but if she actually accepted, I could only imagine the chaos it would cause.
Truthfully, I didn't want to accept the request.
The ulterior motives were transparent; they didn't really care about cooking. They just wanted a chance to get close to her. If they approached her with those intentions, there was a good chance she would be furious, but beyond that, I just didn't like the idea of it.
However, the request for a Cooking Class came from the class as a whole, and the girls seemed to be taking the idea seriously. I wondered if it was right for me, as a Student Council Officer who was supposed to be impartial, to crush the idea solely because of my own feelings.
"Alright. I'll consult with her for now. But if she refuses, even a little bit, then the idea is dead. I want you to understand that we’ll have to find someone else."
If Sara-san showed even the slightest hint of discomfort, I would kill the plan immediately. I wouldn't let anyone complain about it, either.
"That’s fair."
"Yeah, I wouldn't want to make Satsukawa-senpai angry by being pushy."
"If she says no, we'll give up. Just do what you can!"
"Please! We're counting on you!"
They were more reasonable than I expected. Now, it all depended on what Sara-san had to say.
When I finished my duties and returned to my seat, Hanako-san was waiting for me.
"Is this really okay?" she asked.
"I'll stop it if Sara-san is even slightly against it."
"No, that’s not what I meant..."
"?"
"(If your wife actually comes to this class, it’s going to be a total madhouse... well, if the two of you are fine with it, I guess it doesn't matter.)"
I decided to bring it up at the Student Council meeting later that day. I felt a bit guilty, as if I were favoring my own class, but I told myself this was just a formal student request.
Today’s Student Council meeting was mostly focused on announcements, so the official business wrapped up quickly. When the President asked if there were any other reports, I decided to bring up the request from my class.
"Excuse me. This might be a bit irregular, but there’s a request from my class..."
I started tentatively, feeling a bit out of place, but the President nodded for me to continue.
"It’s about the food menu for their stall. Almost no one knows how to cook, so they were wondering if they could use the Home Economics Room for practice sessions."
"Ah, that’s fine. We’ve had similar applications before. Several classes have used it for practice in the past."
That part was easy enough. The real issue was what came next.
"But if no one can cook, how exactly are they going to practice?" the President pointed out.
It was an obvious question.
"They asked if I could consult with the council to see if anyone could act as a cooking teacher..."
"Hmm... the Home Economics teachers are only part-time. We’d have to see if their schedules align..."
"Um, I would be more than happy to accept, if that's alright?"
...As I expected, Sara-san volunteered. I knew that if I was the one bringing the request, she would be the first to step up. But no matter how much I thought about it, I still felt a lingering reluctance.
"True, Satsukawa-san would find that easy enough."
"Man, I'm jealous of Takanashi-kun’s class. The other classes might start complaining about favoritism."
"Actually, that's likely. We might get other classes asking for her next."
The more they talked, the less enthusiastic I became.
"Hmm. Takanashi-kun, you don't look very happy about this, do you?" the President asked.
"Kazunari-san, am I not able to be of help?"
Sara-san’s expression clouded over as well. She had clearly picked up on my mood.
"It's not that. If it's you, Sara-san, the guys in my class will be thrilled. In fact, they specifically asked me to request you."
"In that case, let me—"
Even as she spoke, the feeling in my chest didn't go away. It was pure jealousy and possessiveness. I knew logically that Sara-san would never let anyone else get close to her, but I still hated the thought of it.
Seeing her face grow more troubled because I wouldn't give her a straight answer, I decided to be honest about my concerns.
"...You might think I'm being petty... but the truth is, there are definitely guys who have ulterior motives and just want to get close to you, Sara-san. They don't actually care about the cooking. I don't want those kinds of people near you... I just don't want them getting close... but... mph!?"
I had been staring at the floor in shame as I spoke, so I didn't see Sara-san move. While I was still sitting, she pulled my head into a firm embrace.
"Kazunari-san..."
She stroked my hair while holding me against her, and I felt the tension drain right out of me.
"It's alright. I have no intention of paying attention to any other man. More importantly, I want to be of use to you. So please, leave this to me."
Her voice was incredibly gentle, yet firm. Not only did she accept my pathetic display of jealousy, but she also reassured me with such devotion. I couldn't let myself look like a coward anymore.
"I'm sorry. I was being pathetic. Sara-san, I’m counting on you."
"Yes! Leave it to me!"
With that, Sara-san enthusiastically accepted the formal request.
"...Hey, how long are those two going to stay like that?"
"...I'll bet they won't stop until someone tells them to."
"...I’ll take that bet too."
"...Sigh. Even though I know exactly what's going on, I still can't help feeling envious..."
"...We have to watch this at every single Student Council meeting from now on, don't we? This is going to be rough."