"Rinji, don't you think the student council's atmosphere is kind of... weird?"
"What's weird about it?"
The next day after school, Rinji Takamine and Ishigami were alone in the student council office.
Chika Fujiwara and Kaguya Shinomiya had gone to their club activities, and Shirogane was nowhere to be found. That left Ishigami and Rinji to finish up student council duties until the last of the students went ho.
"The only weirdo in the student council is Fujiwara. The president's normal, and the Shinomiya heiress… well, I don't like her, but she's not weird. I've been here for almost two months now, and nothing's felt off."
"I don't think Fujiwara-senpai is weird. But Shinomiya-senpai... sothing's off about her."
"Oh?"
Rinji's gaze sharpened.
"Tell more."
Ishigami pulled two tickets from his pocket and handed them to Rinji.
"I found these taped to the back of the coffee table. They were hidden there with tape."
"Let see."
Rinji took the tickets. They appeared to be complintary coupons for a café.
"At first I thought it was just so kind of prank. But when Shinomiya-senpai saw holding them, she threatened not to tell anyone."
"She threatened you?"
Rinji's eyes glead coldly.
"That heiress is going down a dark path."
"It wasn't that serious," Ishigami waved his hand. "Shinomiya-senpai is usually nice. She helps out with student council tasks I don't understand. It's just… the relationship between her and the president seems a bit complicated."
"Shirogane and the Shinomiya heiress, huh..."
Rinji rembered that when he and Shirogane had gone shopping together, Shirogane had admitted he had feelings for Shinomiya.
Shirogane definitely liked her. But as for whether Shinomiya felt the sa... Rinji couldn't say. He wasn't exactly skilled at reading won's emotions.
"If these tickets were sothing Shinomiya prepared in advance..."
"What would that an?"
"Nothing too serious. There's definitely sothing going on between her and Shirogane, but it's not a big deal." Rinji casually crumpled the tickets and said, "Anyway, she told you not to talk about it, right?"
"Yeah."
Ishigami didn't really get it, but he figured Rinji had his reasons.
"Rinji, you're not going to club today?"
"No. Momo-senpai had so trouble at her family's casino, so she went ho early."
"You an Ryuju-senpai from the yakuza family? I've heard of her. I didn't expect you to be in the astronomy club, though."
"Calling it 'astronomy club' is a stretch. Momo-senpai just lounges on the rooftop playing mobile gas. It should really be called the 'Rooftop Mobile Gaming Culture Society Club.'"
"That's... a weird na."
Buzz~
As they chatted, Rinji's phone buzzed in his pocket.
It was a ssage from Shirogane.
[Rinji, are you still at school? Co to the gym tonight. Co alone. Don't tell anyone.]
"..."
"What's up?" Ishigami asked.
"Nothing important. What ti is it?"
"Five thirty."
"School gates are closing soon. Let's lock up the student council room and head ho."
"Sure."
At the entrance of the massive gym, muffled sounds of volleyballs bouncing and thuds from heavy falls could occasionally be heard from inside.
School had long since let out, and the area around the gym was deserted.
Rinji arrived at the door and pushed it open.
"President, you called m—"
BAM!!
The mont the door opened, the first thing he saw was Shirogane, dressed in sportswear, smacking face-first into the floor with a heavy thud.
"You okay, President?"
"Ugh… Oh, it's you, Rinji."
Clutching his sore face, Shirogane relaxed a bit after seeing it was Rinji.
Rinji looked at him, then at the volleyballs scattered all over the gym. "Were you playing volleyball? You called here for a match?"
"No, no. The second-years have volleyball class next week, and I needed so practice."
"I see, so this is practice."
Rinji nodded, understanding.
"So, you called here to practice with you?"
"More or less... The truth is, I'm really bad at volleyball. If I ss up in class, it'll ruin the competent image I've worked so hard to build." Shirogane said with a sheepish smile.
There was a reason he called Rinji in particular.
To maintain the perfect student council president persona, he couldn't let anyone see his weaknesses—except for Rinji. Shirogane trusted him 100%, and didn't mind showing vulnerability.
Also, in Shirogane's eyes, Rinji was a true genius. Soone he could rely on.
"I get it. So which part of volleyball are you struggling with?"
"Serving... I guess."
"Alright, I'll give you a demonstration."
Rinji, still in his winter school uniform, hadn't even changed into sportswear.
He picked up a volleyball and tossed it lightly into the air. With a powerful jump, he spiked the ball high—sending it rocketing like a missile across the court.
WHAM!
It slamd into the floor on the opposite side of the net.
"A-Amazing! That's basically pro level!!" Shirogane exclaid.
"That's an exaggeration. It's just average high school level."
Rinji grinned and tossed the ball to him.
"Your turn, President."
"Alright..."
Shirogane caught the ball, focused, and tried to copy Rinji's form. He tossed the ball high, jumped, and swung...
...and smacked himself on the back of the head with his own hand.
The blow knocked his head forward into the ball, and he face-planted hard, tumbling several tis across the wooden floor before coming to a stop.
Rinji: "...President..."
Shirogane got up and brushed himself off with a weary expression.
"As you can see, Rinji... I suck at sports. I always ss up at the last second."
That was putting it mildly.
"No, President."
Rinji walked over, clapped a hand on his shoulder, and said, "The fact that you can do such physically impossible movents just proves you're extrely gifted."
"Really!?"
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