The weekend following the election.
Yuria and Airi had called for a celebration, and for some reason, the plan had morphed into having a "Dark Hot Pot" party at my place.
Tanaka, Airi, and Yuria were busy unloading a haul of ingredients, snacks, and delicacies they had all brought, while Rui and Himesaki took care of the tableware.
As I set up the portable gas stove and the pot, I watched the scene of everyone working together harmoniously.
Tanaka and Airi, who had just managed to scatter snacks everywhere, were being scolded by Yuria, while Rui and Himesaki were whispering about something while stealing glances in my direction.
The enemies of yesterday are the friends of today... I suppose.
"Hm? Oh, wait—this stove's out of gas. I’ll run out and grab a canister."
"In that case, shall I go with you? It looks like everyone only brought food, so we’re out of drinks too."
"O-Oh... sure, let's go."
Rui and I stepped out together and began the short walk to the supermarket near my house.
"It’s been quite a week. Good work, Ryouta-kun."
"You too, Rui. And congratulations. You’re finally the Student Council President."
"You are too, Ryouta-kun—even if you are the Vice President."
"Eh... ah, right. That’s how it turned out."
It hadn't quite sunk in yet, but starting next week, I was officially taking office as the Vice President.
To think that I, who until recently had been nothing but a socially awkward loner, would actually end up in the student council. Life really is unpredictable.
But then again, being Vice President meant my reputation would skyrocket. I might actually become popular. My expectations for Valentine's Day chocolates this year were looking pretty high.
Not just from the underclassmen, of course, but maybe even from beautiful seniors... Heh, being Vice President is the best.
"Ryouta-kun? You were just thinking about other women, weren't you?"
"Wh—! I was not!"
"It was written all over your face."
"Th-That's just a baseless accusation!"
It wasn't like I was thinking anything truly wicked. I just thought it might be nice to get to know a few pretty girls from other grades. Probably. Surely.
"Goodness, you really are hopeless... Hey, lean in for a second?"
"Lean in?"
Rui pulled me by the shoulder. As I leaned toward her while we walked side by side, she suddenly pressed her... against my face... Wait, what?
"E-Eh? Just now, on my cheek... Rui, your lips..."
"This is that 'special thing' I promised you before the election, you know?"
A kiss on the cheek from the Rui Kuroki... an act every boy in school dreamed of... and yet.
A-As for me, I was positive it was going to be some kind of S&M play this time!
"I-I’m really happy, but Rui, you're surprisingly pure for someone who sends perverted selfies, aren't you? Usually, when someone says they’re going to do something 'amazing,' it means an S&M p—"
"How tragic, Ryouta-kun. Relieved of your duties as Vice President before you even started."
"I-I'm sorry! The cheek kiss was the best! It's such a reward that I'll never forget it as long as I live!"
"Fufu... That is acceptable."
Rui looked like she was about to snap for a moment, but her mood quickly shifted back to her usual fearless smile.
"But if you stay by my side from now on... maybe we can do even more 'special' things?"
"Eh, even more?!"
"Yes. So, don't ever leave me. And you’re coming to the University of Tokyo with me."
"Whaaat? No, that’s impossible!"
"Fufu... You can do it, Ryouta-kun. Besides, I'll help you study for as many years as it takes until you pass."
"D-Don't just decide I’m going to be a perpetual student! I'm going to a college that actually fits my grades."
"Then maybe I'll just go there too."
"Why would you do that!"
Rui was in a remarkably good mood today, but everything she said was so unrealistic.
Telling me to stay by her side forever sounded suspiciously like a marriage proposal... Wait, hold on a second.
Could it be that what Rui was saying meant...
"What's wrong, Ryouta-kun? Your face is bright red."
"A-Ah, no, anyway, let's hurry up and buy the gas and juice and get back!"
I ducked into the supermarket, trying desperately to hide my face.
After finishing our shopping, Rui and I headed straight back home without any detours...
"Ah, your sister is home."
"Ugh, this is the worst."
My older sister had returned from university; I could see her shoes in the entryway.
And as expected, when we walked into the living room, the "Dark Hot Pot" party had been completely derailed.
"Hey everyone! Look at this picture diary Ryouta drew back in elementary school. Want to see?"
"Ryouta's picture diary, huh? I wouldn't mind a look."
"Eh, I want to see Ryouta-senpai's picture diary too! Show me, show me!"
"Airi wants to see too!"
A disastrous atmosphere had been created where my sister was exposing every embarrassing detail about her younger brother.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing?! Where did you even find that old thing?!"
"Oh, I found it yesterday while cleaning with Mom. It's fine, it's all in the past."
This girl—she lives a lonely, friendless life at her university, yet she acts so high and mighty the second there are younger people around.
"I mean, the delusions in this diary are just incredible, you know? Like how he gave wafers to a girl in front of a candy store... or how he saved a cat that was about to be run over in a parking lot and the owner thanked him... or how a girl called out to him and they played in the park while he preached manga to her... There's no way Ryouta actually had all those memories with girls! Honestly, he probably watched way too much anime back then and just wrote down his delusions."
The four of us—myself and the trio of beauties—let out a collective gasp of shock.
W-Wait a minute. If what she was saying was true, the events in that diary matched the childhood memories I’d heard from the girls perfectly.
"It’s true! This is definitely about Airi!"
"Wow, even the playground equipment in the park he drew... that's definitely me..."
"Fufu, Ryouta-kun... this means it really was you all along, doesn't it?"
The three of them marveled as they pored over the pages of the diary.
"A-Are you serious..."
Along with the weight of this shocking truth, I heard the faint sound of a new, secret relationship beginning to unfold.