Chapter 54: Secret Strategy
The day after Kashii-san scolded me in the art room. After school on Wednesday, when there are no club activities.
I head to the art room as instructed.
(What's going on today?)
As I enter the art room at the appointed time, Kashii-san is already there in the room.
With a bright smile, Kashii-san starts speaking.
'Thanks for coming. Sorry about yesterday, okay?'
(Huh? She's different from yesterday?)
'No, I'm the one who should apologize. So, what's up today?'
Kashii-san hesitates for a moment before speaking.
'Well, this might sound like compensation for yesterday, and also about something I mentioned before, but I have a request for you, Tachibana-kun.'
'Something you mentioned before?'
'It might be an unpleasant memory, but when you were removed as class president, you said it'd be nice if we could do something together again, right?'
(Refer to Chapter 15: Class President Removal)
'Yeah, I did say that. I said it, but?'
Kashii-san continues.
'This is a bit off-topic, but when we talked about your worries or the bullying issue, you regretted not being able to fulfill your role as class president, right?'
'Yeah, that's true too.'
I didn't become class president because I wanted to, but I was frustrated that I couldn't see it through, and there's no doubt I wanted to accomplish it with Kashii-san.
'So, my request is this. I want you to help me. I want us to do the class president work together, just the two of us. This is something I can only ask of you, and I don't want to ask anyone else.'
???
'Wait, isn't the class president role yours and Sotomachi-kun's?'
Kashii-san gives a look like, "Yeah, right?" and continues speaking.
'As I mentioned the other day, Sotomachi-kun is good at and eager to handle things like leading meetings or acting as the class representative, but he absolutely hates tasks like tallying, collecting assignments, handling submissions, or managing supplies. Even our homeroom teacher, Mr. Yanagi, finds it a hassle and just passes the work off to us. So, I got the key to this art room and borrowed space in that locked locker over there to store things like career forms or submissions that shouldn't be seen by others before they're handed to the teacher.'
She continues,
'So, I've been allowed to keep personal items in that locker, and I got the perk of using this room freely to some extent. Since people push work onto me, I've been told it's fine to get help with the tasks as long as it's someone I trust and who can keep secrets.'
'And that's why you're asking me?'
'Yeah, this is a chance for you to get revenge on the class president role. Last year's homeroom teacher was awful, but I thought that idea of yours might actually be good.'
'Idea?'
(What was that annoying homeroom teacher's idea again?)
Kashii-san says while taking out a piece of paper.
'Class President Assistant. Of course, it's not an official position, and it won't bring honor or boost your school record, so if you don't want to, Tachibana-kun, it's totally fine to decline. In fact, I think it's a terrible proposal since it's just piling work on you. But, you know, I wanted to do more class president work with you, Tachibana-kun. No, I want to do it together from now on. So, I know this is a bold request, and it might sound like I'm holding you to your past words, but I want to do this together. Please, will you help me?'
'I'll do it. Thanks for asking me.'
I didn't hesitate at all. Being removed as class president had always left a lingering knot in my heart.
The regret of wanting to do class president work with Kashii-san can be cleared if I see this through.
Plus, I'm happy to be working with Kashii-san.
The girl I like asked me for help. And she did it while considering my feelings and regrets.
School record? I don't need that. There's no greater honor than this.
I accepted without a second thought.
'Then, here you go.'
Two sheets of paper are handed to me.
The first one is an appointment letter?
Appointment Letter
Affiliation: ○○ Middle School, Second-Year Class 1, Class President Rena Kashii's Assistant
Position: Class President Assistant
Name: Sho Tachibana
Please assist Rena Kashii, Class President of Second-Year Class 1.
Term: For as long as Rena Kashii serves as class president in middle school
That was the content.
The second sheet is a confidentiality agreement, stating that I must not disclose any information about desired schools, career paths, or other details I learn through this work to anyone else.
(She's so thorough. I'm impressed.)
Kashii-san is amazing. I wouldn't leak anything to others, but considering the risks, something like this is probably necessary.
Perhaps sensing my agreement, Kashii-san raises her energy a bit and says,
'For now, I'd like to ask you to help with miscellaneous tasks after school on Wednesdays when there are no club activities, here in the art room. Things like working together, organizing submissions or notebooks by roster order, pulling event supplies from the storage, or returning submitted notebooks to each person's desk. Though, when things get really busy, I might ask for help outside of these hours too. But I'm not saying it's for free!'
Kashii-san stands in front of the locker with a bit of a smug look and says,
'I've gotten permission from the teacher to use this room, and a certain level of freedom is allowed. As long as other people don't find out, we can boil water with an electric kettle and make coffee or tea, and bringing in cookies is okay!'
Of course, things like cakes or cooking here or anything too flashy are not allowed, but as long as other students don't notice, it seems they turn a blind eye within reasonable limits.
Apparently, there's a 2-liter PET bottle in that fridge over there too. That's appealing!
(Being able to use a fridge in this hot season is great.)
Looking at me, Kashii-san opens the locker while saying,
'Look, isn't it cute? Tehal's electric kettle! When it gets colder, freshly brewed tea or coffee will be delicious, right? And right now, my homemade snacks come with it! ...Hm?'
Is an electric kettle cute?
!?
Kashii-san looks at me with a puzzled expression.
When Kashii-san turns her face toward the locker where my gaze is directed,
Inside the locker, a pink bra is hanging to dry.
Sure, there's an electric kettle there too, but I can't take my eyes off the bra.
It's decorated with pink lace? Is it bigger than I thought?
'!! N-No, I meant the electric kettle is cute... um... no! Don't look!!!'
Kashii-san slams the locker shut with incredible force.
Her face turns bright red all the way to her ears as she looks down.
'Um... I'm not usually this sloppy, I swear! I just sweated too much in PE today... Of course! I'm wearing a spare bra right now! It's a light yellow... No, wait! Don't imagine it!'
I had already agreed from the start, but
'Tachibana-kun, you perv! You'll take responsibility and help as my assistant, right?!'
She said, and I signed the confidentiality agreement and received the (unofficial) appointment letter.
'Here's the mark of Team Kashii, okay?'
I received a matching pin badge.
She called it a Silver Leaf?
It's designed like a silver leaf turned into a badge.
'It's a badge that doesn't look out of place even on a boy! We match!'
I attached it to the inside of my student uniform.
And so, I was appointed as the (unofficial) Class President Assistant under Rena Kashii, the class president.
On my way home, I thought that being appointed as Class President Assistant by the Kashii-san I admire, at her request, felt many times more honorable than becoming class president through a recommendation from Koishi and the others.
More than that, I couldn't get Kashii-san's pink bra out of my head, and Sho Tachibana couldn't sleep well that night.