My class’s consultation was over. Since there weren't any other major items on the agenda, we decided to dismiss earlier than usual for the day.
Everyone was heading home, so we agreed to walk part of the way together.
"Alright, I’m going to lock up, so please head out into the hallway," the President said.
As we waited in the hallway, he did a final sweep of the room and then turned the key in the lock.
"Okay, let’s get moving!"
"It’s rare for Satsukawa-san to join us like this," one of the officers noted.
"Rare? It’s actually the first time."
"In a way, it’s something to brag about."
"We have Takanashi-kun to thank for that, though."
Well... Sara-san only came along because I said I would.
Unlike our usual late hours, there were still many students on campus. The sight of the entire Student Council moving as a single group drew attention whether we liked it or not. I felt the weight of everyone's stares as we walked, but the real stars were the President and Sara-san; the rest of us were essentially just accessories.
We passed through the school gates and headed toward the station. We planned to stay together as far as the shopping street in front of the station, where Sara-san and I would pick up ingredients for dinner.
"Kazunari-san, what would you like for dinner tonight?" she asked.
I usually left the menu entirely up to her, but she asked for my input occasionally. She likely wanted to confirm our plan before we hit the shops.
As for what I felt like eating today...
"Hmm... I think I'm in the mood for curry."
"Understood. Then curry it is. Let’s see... what are we missing..."
Sara-san tilted her head in thought, likely visualizing our pantry at home and listing what she needed to buy. She was already acting completely like... well, never mind.
"...Hey, Satsukawa-san," one of the female officers chimed in. "Since you asked for Takanashi-kun's preference, does that mean you're the one cooking?"
"Eh? Yes, I’ll be the one making it."
"Right. And that’s at Takanashi-kun's house, right? Do you eat together?"
"Of course. Is something the matter?"
Sara-san looked genuinely puzzled, as if she couldn't understand why they were even asking. But the questions kept coming.
"You make it every day? Isn't that a lot of work?"
"Not at all. Preparing Kazunari-san's meals is a very important part of my life."
" "............" "
By now, I was used to the envious glares from the male officers. I figured these kinds of scenes would only become more common from here on out.
"By the way... do you do anything else for Takanashi-kun?"
While directed at Sara-san, the speaker’s smirking gaze was locked onto me. I didn't know what they were fishing for, but we weren't doing anything untoward, so I kept my cool.
"As for 'other' things... I take care of his everyday needs in general."
"Whoa... you go that far? Takanashi-kun is one lucky guy."
"No kidding. It wouldn't be surprising if every boy in school was gunning for him."
"But seriously, hanging out at a boy's house who lives alone... wouldn't it be a bit risky if the teachers found out? What do you think, President?"
"...Yeah," the President muttered. "It’s true they might have something to say about it... maybe."
I see... I hadn't really thought about that. It was certainly a possibility. Moreover, we weren't just visiting anymore; we had actually started living together. We probably needed to be quite careful.
"It shouldn't be a problem," Sara-san stated firmly. "Since we are dating with our parents' approval, I won't let the school interfere."
"Parental approval!!??"
"A-Are you serious!? Wait, does that mean..."
"No, if you think about it, it would be impossible for her to be there every day otherwise."
"True! But from the sound of it, it doesn't even feel like you're just lovers anymore... Satsukawa-san, isn't this a bit much?"
The group had become completely fascinated, seizing the opportunity to turn us into the main topic of conversation. If they kept making such a fuss, we would stand out far too much among the other students heading home. Sara-san alone was enough to draw eyes, but the commotion was making it worse.
"Even if you call it 'too much'... to begin with, we are engaged, so we aren't just mere lovers."
Stop.
Everyone except for me and Sara-san came to a dead halt.
It wasn't just their feet. Their entire bodies—even their facial expressions—seemed to have frozen in time.
I wondered for a split second if Sara-san had just used some kind of time-stopping ability from a certain famous manga.
Jokes aside, the cat was finally out of the bag at school. I’d figured we would have to tell the Student Council sooner or later, so I didn't mind.
"E-E-Engaged?" the President stammered, being the first to break the paralysis. "Did you just say... engaged?"
As if on cue, the others turned toward Sara-san with stiff, robotic movements, their joints practically creaking.
"Y-Yes. Since we are dating with marriage in mind..."
Sara-san looked a bit taken aback by their bizarre reactions, but she gave the President a clear, honest answer.
" " " " "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHH!!!!" " " " "
I nearly jumped out of my skin.
Even the President joined in on the collective roar of shock. The sheer volume of the scream drew the attention of every student and passerby in the vicinity.
"N-N-No wayyyyy!!??"
"S-S-Satsukawa-san, does that mean..."
"T-T-T-T-Takanashi-kun! Explain! Explain! Explain everything right now!!!"
"What the hell is going on here!?"
The focus shifted entirely to me, a barrage of gazes slamming into me from all sides. Since things had reached this point, I figured it was better to help explain rather than leaving Sara-san to face the music alone.
"Well, due to various circumstances, as of the other day, it’s official..."
"Did Takanashi-kun propose!!??"
"E-Eh, yes. I was the one who asked."
"And what did you say, Satsukawa-san!?"
"......Yes, I happily accepted," she said, offering a blissful smile.
I found myself captivated by her expression. She really was beautiful.
" "UGAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!" "
" " "KYAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" " "
A deafening scream erupted from everyone except the President.
I understood their surprise, but the noise was a nuisance to everyone else on the street. I wished they’d at least keep the volume down.
The President, meanwhile, was just staring at us with wide, unblinking eyes, completely silent. Around us, dozens of annoyed glares from other pedestrians were piercing into our group.
"C-Congratulations!!!!!!!"
"Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!! I can't believe it!!! What is this!!!???"
"This isn't just some light gossip!!!!! This is Satsukawa-san we're talking about! This news is insane!!!!!"
"Uwaaaaaaa, even though I knew I never had a chance, this is such a shockkkkkk!!"
"It’s impossible!! I can't take itttttt!!"
The female officers were in a state of high-octane excitement, while the male officers clutched their heads and collapsed into crouches.
The situation was spiraling out of control. I felt a surge of anxiety seeing the Student Council causing such a scene on a public school route. Just as I was about to intervene, the President finally rebooted and took charge.
"E-E-Everyone! That’s enough! Stop making a scene. You’re being a nuisance to the public, and you're failing to set a proper example as Student Council Officers."
His voice was flustered, quite different from his usual calm self, proving that he was still reeling from the news. However, his authority worked, and the noisy group fell silent.
"W-We're sorry!"
"I'm sorry!"
"My apologies, President. I let myself get carried away too," Sara-san said, looking genuinely contrite.
I didn't think she had anything to apologize for, personally.
"N-No, anyway, let's leave this conversation for another time," the President said, flashing me a mischievous smirk. "I definitely want to hear the whole story later."
He was back to his old self, but we still had the problem of the male officers who looked like they’d forgotten how to stand.
In the end, the female officers couldn't help themselves.
"Hey, hey... since you're engaged, that means you're actually getting married, right!!!???"
"Yes, we've made that promise," Sara-san replied.
" " "!!!!!!!!!" " "
The girls covered their mouths with both hands, their bodies trembling as they fought to suppress another scream. It was almost comical.
On the other hand, the guys were crowding around me.
"T-Takanashi-kun."
"Yes?"
"Listen... we’re only... o-o-only able to stay conscious right now because we already knew you two were dating."
They didn't look very conscious to me, but I decided to play along and let them have their dignity.
"Congratulations... I’m so jealous... S-E-R-I-O-U-S-L-Y!!! I’m so jealoussssss!"
He began shaking me violently, his voice sounding like it was being wrung from the depths of his soul. Being shouted at from inches away was making my ears ring.
"Phew... no joke, this is a massive bombshell... A promise of marriage with the Goddess... If this hits the school, it won’t be a laughing matter."
"Yeah," the President agreed. "Given Satsukawa-san’s overwhelming popularity, this fact is going to cause an uproar that shakes the entire school to its foundations. That isn't an exaggeration. You’d better steel your resolve while the news is still contained."
I understood exactly what he was saying.
I had no intention of hiding our relationship by force, and Sara-san wasn't trying to keep it a secret either. We simply didn't volunteer the information unless asked; when we were, we answered honestly. Since we would be together more and more from now on, the word was bound to spread eventually.
I didn't mind the jealousy or the backlash. I had known that would happen the moment Sara-san and I became a couple. I had made my resolve long ago.
If anything, I felt the need to figure out a way to finally shut those people up for good.