"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 home.
"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... something's off about her."
"Oh?"
Rinji's gaze sharpened.
"Tell me 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 me see."
Rinji took the tickets. They appeared to be complimentary coupons for a café.
"At first I thought it was just some kind of prank. But when Shinomiya-senpai saw me holding them, she threatened me not to tell anyone."
"She threatened you?"
Rinji's eyes gleamed 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 me 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 remembered 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 same... Rinji couldn't say. He wasn't exactly skilled at reading women's emotions.
"If these tickets were something Shinomiya prepared in advance..."
"What would that mean?"
"Nothing too serious. There's definitely something 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 some trouble at her family's casino, so she went home early."
"You mean 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 games. It should really be called the 'Rooftop Mobile Gaming Culture Society Club.'"
"That's... a weird name."
Buzz~
As they chatted, Rinji's phone buzzed in his pocket.
It was a message from Shirogane.
[Rinji, are you still at school? Come to the gym tonight. Come alone. Don't tell anyone.]
"..."
"What's up?" Ishigami asked.
"Nothing important. What time is it?"
"Five thirty."
"School gates are closing soon. Let's lock up the student council room and head home."
"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 moment 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 me here for a match?"
"No, no. The second-years have volleyball class next week, and I needed some practice."
"I see, so this is practice."
Rinji nodded, understanding.
"So, you called me here to practice with you?"
"More or less... The truth is, I'm really bad at volleyball. If I mess 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. Someone 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 slammed into the floor on the opposite side of the net.
"A-Amazing! That's basically pro level!!" Shirogane exclaimed.
"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 times 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 mess 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 movements just proves you're extremely gifted."
"Really!?"