Today was the last day of exams. Yesterday, three subjects; today, the remaining two: Mathematics and Social Studies.
Sakurai General Affairs wasn't afraid of exams. He even looked forward to them.
He had spent much of the previous week helping the Five Sisters review. They would probably get good grades.
In the afternoon, the final exam ended.
Sakurai Saki exhaled.
He had made a bet with Kaguya Shinomiya. He didn't want to lose. He couldn't lose. If nothing unexpected happened, he should place second this time. Taking first place from Shirogane Miyuki was genuinely difficult—in terms of sheer volume of practice problems, they simply weren't on the same level.
Thanks to Shuchiin Academy's massive, freely accessible library, Shirogane Miyuki had the potential to surpass others. It also made it harder for Sakurai Saki to catch up, as he had slacked off quite a bit last year.
After school, Sakurai had cleanup duty. His partner was a girl from the same class he didn't know well, so he didn't talk to her much.
Hayasaka Ai had also left very early today. Sakurai Saki had very little private contact with her. Despite being a couple, they had only gone on one date. Other times, they dated online. If it weren't for seeing each other at school, Sakurai would have doubted whether he was dating her at all.
Last weekend, he had accompanied Minamoto Mashiro to a movie audition. It went very well. The female director looked at Sakurai as if she had discovered a rare treasure—which made him slightly uneasy. When acting opposite him, Ichika's skills were very good. Perhaps because she had been observing her sisters since childhood, Sakurai had noticed this while tutoring them. Among the five, Ichika was not only the mediator during disputes but also the one who enjoyed observing the most. Her gaze would occasionally fall on her younger sisters—a manifestation of her gentle side.
Like a scarecrow in a wheat field. The sisters' guardian.
Summer meant late sunsets. It was four o'clock now, and the sunlight outside the window was still scorching.
"Sakurai-kun, I'm leaving first." The girl from his class spoke softly, then picked up her schoolbag. She had club activities.
"See you tomorrow."
Sakurai Saki wiped the blackboard. After a while, he watered the plants, then left.
Student Council Room.
Shirogane Miyuki watched Sakurai Saki walk in. "How were the exams today?"
"Not bad."
"Looks like you did well." Miyuki smiled.
It was well known at Shuchiin Academy that Sakurai General Affairs was not modest. Even when praised, he would only say thank you.
"I probably can't beat you," Sakurai said, his expression serious.
"Then it seems I need to be careful. I won't believe your 'probably.'" Miyuki's tone was light, joking.
He didn't think he would lose. But it didn't really matter which of them came first. Shirogane Miyuki and Sakurai Saki wouldn't fight tooth and nail over that.
Sakurai walked to Shirogane's side and glanced at a few papers. "This semester, there shouldn't be much left to do, right?"
"Yes. The big event is the Sports Festival. There will be a lot next semester—the school trip and the Fengxin Festival are both in the second semester."
Sakurai nodded. "And the Student Council election will probably be set for then too."
"There's also summer camp this summer, but I actually prefer the beach. Summer camp is usually arranged in the mountains."
Suddenly—
"The mountains are clearly better!" Fujiwara Chika shouted as she walked through the doorway.
"Chika, there are more mosquitoes and bugs in the mountains."
"No matter what Saki-kun says, the mountains are better!"
That's what she said.
"Fujiwara Secretary, I think the beach is better." Kaguya Shinomiya walked in behind her.
Here it came.
The great mountains-versus-sea debate. Just like sweet tofu pudding versus savory tofu pudding. An eternal topic.
"What about the President?" Fujiwara Secretary began canvassing. "President, which do you think is better?"
Shirogane Miyuki thought for a few seconds, then chose neutrality: "I like both very much."
Fujiwara Chika's expression fell.
"Whenever it's time to choose, they either avoid it or want everything." She crossed her arms. "Men are such creatures!"
After she finished speaking, she smiled sweetly at Sakurai. "Right?"
"Why ask me?" Sakurai Saki picked up some documents and sat on the sofa. "I won't choose 'all of them' between the sea and the mountains."
The mountains? No one would go there.
Chika and Ai-chan? I want them all.
"Fujiwara Secretary, humans like compromise." Shirogane Miyuki also picked up some documents and sat opposite Sakurai Saki. "And humans are inherently resistant to making choices."
He gave an example: "If you go shopping outside now, you'll also listen to the salesperson's advice, right? For example, 'This is the latest model this year, Miss. What do you think?'"
Sakurai Saki echoed: "They've already made the choice for you. You just need to say 'yes' or 'no'—instead of picking from dozens or even hundreds of items. That's one of the sales tactics. Humans dislike making choices, so they subconsciously consider whether this one is good, whether they can buy it, rather than rejecting the other person's suggestion and making their own decision."
"When buying crepes, a smart shop owner will also ask, 'Miss, would you like to add strawberries?' instead of asking, 'Miss, would you like to add chocolate, vanilla, strawberries, or bananas?' The former saves more time and makes it easier to sell things."
...The above was Sakurai Saki talking nonsense.
But Fujiwara Chika couldn't tell.
"But what does this have to do with where we go this summer?" Fujiwara Secretary sat next to Sakurai Saki, her face full of curiosity.
A few seconds later, realization dawned.
"Are you two changing the subject?"
"The discussion about going to the mountains or the beach is a war, Chika." Sakurai Saki didn't look up from the documents. "You're still too young."
This was about the Sports Festival. Arrangements had begun a month in advance. Personally, Sakurai preferred holding the Sports Festival in autumn. Summer was too hot, and there was no need for "training grit" or anything like that.
"But I want to play in the mountains!" Chika whined, shaking Sakurai Saki's arm.
"I think the beach is better." Sakurai ignored her and looked at Shirogane. "Although it's a bit early to say this—do you have plans for the summer, Shirogane?"
"Work." Shirogane Miyuki uttered two very heavy words.
"How about Kaguya-san?" Sakurai turned to look at Kaguya.
"...Probably at home." Kaguya Shinomiya was brewing tea. She had started the moment the others began chatting. The aroma of black tea gradually filled the Student Council Room.
"At home?" Sakurai raised an eyebrow. "Kaguya-san, are you a shut-in?"
He didn't want to spend summer at home. He wasn't exactly an outdoors person, but staying home too long made him restless.
"A shut-in?" Kaguya Shinomiya rolled her eyes at him. "It's over thirty degrees in summer. Anyone who goes out to play must be sick in the head, right?"
"Kaguya-san, if you keep this up, you'll become a societal shut-in." Sakurai's tone was dry. "Hayasaka Ai would probably agree with that statement."
Recently, Miss Shinomiya had been showing a tendency toward NEET princess behavior.
"None of your business." Kaguya walked over with the tea, her expression haughty.