Chapter 4: Public Presentation

The next day, after classes ended, the president called for a talk in the auditorium.

There was so much buzz about Aizawa’s summons that she had to calm things down… or her new partner wouldn’t make it to the end of the semester alive.

In the hall, everyone was on edge, glued to their seats as if waiting for a historic announcement.

What had Aizawa done to deserve a meeting like this?

The small president stepped up onto the stage, serious, firm, and flawless as always.

She gave a small stumble.

She quickly regained her rigid composure.

"Seems like there’s a loose board on the stage…" she said calmly.

She never imagined it, but those words caused the school to renovate the entire stage the next day, replacing all the boards with new ones.

Adding yet another myth to her figure.

She reached the center and adjusted the microphone to her height.

"Students of Katagiri, principal, teachers, and everyone present…"

Her voice was elegant and firm.

"Why did everyone show up? This was supposed to be a simple announcement…" She thought nervously.

"As you know, the work of the student council is demanding…"

"And that’s why we love you, President!" a student shouted from the back.

She didn’t react. Her face remained unshaken.

"Don’t interrupt the president’s speech, idiot!" another student shouted.

At that moment, two members of the fan club dragged him out of the hall.

"Ahem… as I was saying…"

"I love my job as president, but I also need help, since the rest of the members left the council."

"An assistant could help me improve even more as your president."

She made a small pause.

"I present to you the new member of the student council… the secretary of general affairs, Aizawa."

Haru stepped onto the stage, visibly nervous, while the crowd murmured.

"So he wasn’t being expelled…"

"So jealous… that should’ve been me."

"What is that idiot doing in the council? I hope he quits soon."

He only gave a slightly nervous smile.

"I can hear everything you’re saying, you know?"

His eyes landed on the creepy girl with the wooden doll, who was now sticking pins into it with what looked like contained fury.

"Scary…"

He stood next to the president, who gave him a small smile.

That tiny gesture only increased the collective hatred toward him.

In the front row, a hand shot up, bouncing energetically to get her attention.

"Yes, you. The one with orange hair. Kobayashi, if I remember correctly."

"That’s right! Kobayashi, first year, reporter for the journalism club!" she replied excitedly.

"Why did you choose Aizawa?" she added, looking at a list. "As far as we know, his GPA is a six, he has no notable achievements, he doesn’t belong to any club, he’s not athletic, he has dead fish eyes, and the list goes on…"

She showed a fairly long sheet of paper.

Each word hit Haru like he was in a boxing ring, taking the beating of his life.

"He doesn’t have anything special… I’d say he’s an average student."

The president looked at the audience with absolute calm.

"That’s exactly what the council needs. An average student."

There was a moment of silence in the audience as the students looked at each other, then the crowd burst into cheers.

"The president is so amazing and understanding!" a female student shouted before fainting from excitement.

Haru blinked in disbelief, suddenly, he was no longer a parasite, but someone closer to everyone else.

"I don’t know whether to feel offended or flattered…" he thought.

"No more questions…" Kobayashi muttered as she took her seat, writing notes frantically.

The president turned her attention back to the rest.

"Does anyone else have another question for me… or for young Aizawa?"

There were no answers.

"Then, with nothing more to add, I formally welcome you to the student council."

Haru simply bowed to her and then to the audience.

The high school principal stood up and began to applaud. Something like a tear appeared on her face.

Then the rest of the students applauded, and that was how Haru’s presentation as a member of the student council ended.

************

Later, back in the council room.

The president collapsed heavily into her chair.

"Don’t forget to lock the door," she said.

Haru nodded and locked the main door.

When he returned, she was much more relaxed than usual; she was no longer stiff like when she was in public.

"President, would you like me to make you some tea?"

She seemed to choke on her own saliva.

"We don’t have tea…"

"Then coffee?"

She looked away nervously.

"There’s no coffee either…"

Haru looked in the kitchen. There was nothing, just dust and cobwebs. Even the fridge was empty.

"May I ask why there’s nothing?" he asked while handing her a glass of tap water.

She blushed and, embarrassed, answered in a low voice:

"It’s just… no one ever comes here and I haven’t bought anything."

He hadn’t noticed before, but the room seemed like it hadn’t been cleaned in a long time.

"Now I understand why the door is locked… Well, we’ll have to celebrate another day," he commented.

"Don’t worry, I’ll figure out how to fix it. Just let me finish this pile of documents and… and…" she seemed nervous, not knowing what to do.

Haru simply took cleaning supplies out of the storage room, tied a cloth around his head, and started cleaning.

"Don’t worry, you just keep working on those documents…"

She was about to tell him something, but stopped.

After a moment, she smiled softly.

"Thank you."

He felt happy at her gratitude as he watched her continue working.

After all, he had always wanted to support her. No matter how strong and rigid she seemed, the real Yuna truly needed help.