I saw the autumn leaves this morning.
A variety of plants were meticulously tended in the gardens of the Konohana estate, and the leaves of the trees standing tall in the corner had already turned a deep crimson. While it was still a bit early for the peak of the autumn colors, I could feel the end of autumn and the beginning of winter drawing near.
The atmosphere at Kikou Academy was undergoing a similar transition. The Management Game was over, and the period of lethargy where students were suffering from burnout had finally passed. Now, we were in the midst of busy days preparing for the next event.
"Tomonari-san!"
After school, Tennoji-san entered the classroom and called out to me.
"Please check the posters and flyers I have prepared!"
"Understood."
Tennoji-san spread the materials out on the desk for me to see.
"Hmm... they're still a bit too flashy. It might be better to reduce the number of colors."
"I see. Then I shall revise them at once!"
Tennoji-san immediately gathered the posters and flyers and hurried off.
As if passing her in the doorway, a female student with her black hair tied back in a ponytail entered the room.
"Itsuki! Take a look at this!"
Narika spread her own posters and flyers across the desk.
"Let's see... there are too many annotations. I think you should cut them down. Let's omit the finer text."
"Got it! Just wait right there!"
Grabbing her materials, Narika put those strong legs of hers to use and dashed out of the classroom without looking back.
I let out a long sigh.
I was starting to feel the fatigue, but I didn't want to show it in front of those two, especially since they were working much harder than I was.
I had spent my after-school hours like this for the past few days. Today alone, this was the sixth time Tennoji-san and Narika had asked me to check their posters—twice during lunch and four times since school ended, including just now. Given their momentum, I expected they would both be back again soon.
"Itsuki... is it going to take much longer?"
Hinako, having dropped her Young Lady mode and returned to her natural self, spoke up.
Before I knew it, Hinako and I were the only ones left in the classroom. Everyone else had already headed home.
"Sorry. It looks like they're going to do at least one more round."
"I'm oka-ay. If you're fine, Itsuki... then that's enough for me."
She was clearly worried about me. I gave her a silent smile to let her know I was alright.
Outside the window, the sky had shifted into a deep sunset. The wind was beginning to carry a chill, and the sun was setting earlier every day. This might have been the first time I had stayed at the academy this late for something other than a Tea Party.
"It's tomorrow already, huh..."
"Mm. It's finally starting."
It was no wonder Tennoji-san and Narika were feeling anxious.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow marked the beginning of a crucial period for both of them.
Actually, it was a crucial period for me as well.
As I braced myself for what was to come, I noticed Hinako was faintly smirking.
"You look like you're having fun, Hinako. I thought you didn't like these kinds of events."
"Fufufu... well, I'm not the one involved this time."
Hinako wore a completely relaxed, lazy smile.
I suppose she can purely enjoy things when it's someone else's problem.
"Besides, if one of those two becomes Student Council President... I might end up with even more freedom than I have now."
"...Well, that's true. The attention on you might be dispersed a bit."
"Mm... Papa will probably be mad, though."
I wondered about that. Kagen-san had been changing lately, too.
"Won't you feel a little lonely once people stop paying so much attention to you?"
"Not at all."
She answered instantly.
"...But, I'd hate it... if you went off to someone else's side, Itsuki."
As Hinako lowered her gaze anxiously, I gave a wry smile.
"It's okay. I am your caretaker, after all."
"Mm..."
It wasn't like I only paid attention to Hinako because everyone else did.
So, even if the rest of the world stopped looking at her, I would still be there, watching over her. Though in reality, I doubted a future where people stopped noticing Hinako would ever actually come.
"............Even if you weren't my caretaker."
"Eh?"
Hinako had murmured something in a tiny voice, so I asked her to repeat it.
"I want you... to always look at me, Itsuki—"
"—The revisions are complete!"
The classroom door was flung open with great force.
Tennoji-san marched over to us, then tilted her head as she looked at our faces.
"Oh? Is something the matter, you two?"
"No..."
I glanced over at Hinako.
"It's nothing at all."
Having switched back into her Young Lady mode, Hinako gave a gentle, perfect smile.
It was late October.
Kikou Academy was about to begin the Student Council Election.