Chapter 117: Shiraizuka Yurika (2)

Yurika finished her conversation with Rina and fell into thought.

‘So that’s Kirihara-san’s situation.’

As a student council member and a senpai, she couldn’t just stand by and watch. Especially considering the debt she owed Yukikawa-san, Yurika was determined to intervene. First, she needed an opportunity to talk to Yukikawa-san.

“Kirihara-san, Kurosawa-san, you can leave early if you’re finished with your work.”

Yurika said. Rina, who had been looking around hesitantly, bowed her head and left. Arisu, still engrossed in her paperwork, remained. Yurika watched her for a moment, then approached and spoke gently.

“Kirihara-san?”
“Yes… senpai.”

Arisu’s voice was laced with a hint of sadness. Yurika looked at her, the setting sun casting a warm glow through the windows of the student council room.
She had a handsome face, the kind that would easily attract girls. Her melancholic expression would surely tug at their heartstrings.

And… Rina had started to dislike this girl.
Ah, youth. Youth makes young ladies dance. Yurika suppressed a smile.

“You have something on your mind, don’t you?”
“…”

Arisu’s silence confirmed Yurika’s suspicions. She took a step closer.

“Is it about Yukikawa-san, or Kurosawa-san?”
“I’m concerned about Yukikawa-san, but… right now, Kurosawa-san is more on my mind.”

Arisu’s expression wasn’t just melancholic; it was filled with self-reproach.
Silence hung in the air as Yurika gazed into Arisu’s eyes.

“Kirihara-san.”

Arisu looked up at Yurika. Yurika smiled knowingly.

“I’ll take care of the rest of the work. You should go home and rest.”
“…Thank you, senpai.”

Arisu stood up slowly, bowed her head, and left the student council room.
Yurika, after Arisu had left, turned to look out the window, lost in thought.

Just then, as if on cue, the door opened, and Aya and Mizuki entered. Yurika smiled and waved.

“Good work, you two. Come in.”
“Shiraizuka-senpai… you’re still here?”

Aya bowed her head slightly in greeting. Yurika smiled at Aya and then approached the two of them.

“Mizuki, can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Hmm…? What is it?”

Since Tachibana was still present, Mizuki used honorifics. After excusing herself to Aya, Mizuki followed Yurika out into the hallway. Alone in the quiet hallway, Yurika looked at Mizuki and spoke.

“About Kirihara-san…”
“…Ah, I see.”

Mizuki sighed softly.

“I was worried about it too. You noticed it as well, Yurika?”
“Rina-san seems to be having a hard time. I saw them go to the storage room earlier, and the atmosphere was… strange.”
“Well, with Arisu between Rina-tan and Aya-ring… it’s a difficult situation for all three of them.”

Yurika nodded slowly.

“That’s why I think we should help them. I’d like to create an opportunity for them to clear up any misunderstandings.”
“How should we do that? Do you have any ideas?”
“Let’s have a tea party in the student council room after school on Friday. Just the four of us, without Kurosawa-san. It’ll be a chance for Kirihara-san and Yukikawa-san to talk.”

“Ah, you mean without Rina-tan? That… might be a good idea.”

Yurika nodded at Mizuki’s words.

“I’ll prepare for the tea party on Friday afternoon. Mizuki, could you casually mention it to Yukikawa-san and Kirihara-san?”

“Sure! Leave it to me.”

Mizuki gave a thumbs-up. The two smiled at each other, a silent understanding passing between them, a sign of their long-standing friendship.

****

Friday. The school day was coming to an end. It felt like the entire week had passed in just a few sentences. Time seemed to fly by at the beginning of a new semester…
It was Friday, and everyone was excitedly packing their bags, eager for the weekend.

I was wondering where Aya and I should go… Maybe the convenience store? As I was thinking about it…

“Rina, I have to go somewhere first.”
“Eh? Already, Aya?”
“Yeah, something came up. Sorry. Let’s meet up this weekend.”

Aya waved and quickly left the classroom. Mizuki also started packing her bag.

“Mizuki, are you going somewhere too?”
“Ah, Rina-tan~! I have to go home. Something came up.”

Mizuki also left, leaving me staring blankly at their empty seats.

“Huh…? It’s the first time they’ve both left separately…”

Had I done something wrong? Something felt strange. It was unusual for Aya and Mizuki to both leave at the same time, going separate ways…

‘Ugh…’

I was about to feel dejected, but then I realized that this wasn’t like Aya. Something was definitely up. On impulse, I grabbed my bag and cautiously followed Aya.

I spotted her familiar white figure in the hallway and trailed behind her discreetly.

‘This feels like I’m stalking her…’

I followed her to a familiar hallway, the one leading to the student council room.

‘Eh… The student council room? But why is she alone? There’s no student council activity today.’

Puzzled, I hid in a corner of the hallway. Then I heard soft footsteps approaching from behind. I slowly turned around, and there, walking towards me, was Kirihara Arisu.

‘Gah…!’

I quickly covered my mouth and hid behind the wall. Thankfully, Arisu didn’t seem to notice me.

‘Arisu is going to the student council room too?!’

My mind raced.

This was… strange.
Was there a reason they were both called there separately? Were they going to… fight?

I cautiously followed Arisu and stopped in front of the door, listening intently.

****

Inside the student council room.

Yurika smiled faintly as she poured tea into the cups of Aya, Arisu, and Mizuki. The room was filled with the aroma of tea, but an awkward silence hung in the air as no one spoke.

Yurika placed her cup down gracefully and broke the silence.

“I’ve called you three here today because I don’t want this… old issue to drag on any longer. You all know it’s a misunderstanding, right? It’ll be much harder to resolve once you enter society.”

Silence followed Yurika’s almost declarative statement. Aya, biting her lip, spoke first.

“I want Kirihara to apologize first.”

All eyes turned to Arisu.
Arisu quietly placed her cup down and looked at Aya. Then, unexpectedly, she spread her hands and said,

“Fine. I’ll apologize.”

Mizuki and Yurika exchanged surprised glances.
Aya, who’d been glaring at Arisu, flinched slightly.
But Arisu’s next words changed the atmosphere completely.

“But I won’t give up on Rina.”

The air in the student council room froze.
Even Yurika looked at Arisu with a bewildered expression, unsure of what to say. Mizuki bit her lip, and Aya, her eyes cold, said to Arisu in a hard voice,

“Do you understand what you’re saying?”
“Yukikawa, I’ll apologize to you. But I won’t back down when it comes to Rina.”

Arisu met Aya’s gaze without flinching. Yurika placed her teacup down with a silent sigh. The already tense atmosphere had reached its breaking point.
“Kirihara-san, I hope you haven’t forgotten the purpose of this meeting.”

Yurika glared at Arisu, and Arisu didn’t avert her gaze.

“I know, senpai. I just thought I should be honest.”

Arisu looked at Aya and smiled faintly.

“I was wrong in the past. That’s true. I doubted you, blamed you. But my feelings for Rina have nothing to do with you.”

Mizuki interjected,

“Arisu, you understand what you’re saying, right…? You know what kind of relationship Rina-tan and Aya-ring have—”

Arisu smiled bitterly at Mizuki’s words.

“I know. That’s why I’ve been watching them. But feelings are feelings. I have the right to express mine, don’t I?”
“If you think you can use Rina to hurt me, you should stop. I don’t care, but Rina will get hurt.”

Arisu glared back at Aya.

“Don’t make me out to be the bad guy. At first, yes, I wanted revenge. But… not anymore.”

Yurika quietly interrupted,

“Hold on, I think both of you are getting too emotional.”

At Yurika’s words, everyone fell silent.