Untimely Withdrawal

For the past five days, I am part of the current student council as the substitute Secretary, thanks to a peculiar decision made by Sakurai-senpai who turned out to be the President.

To describe his style of authority, it is far from what you can call a dictatorship. Since he revealed himself, he has been going out of the room more often and was greeting people than usual. The student body obviously likes him. Is becoming a president carries so much appeal?! ('A`)

"Tanaka-kun, can you hand me the budget papers over there?" asked Sakurai. "And have you already finished the Excel file I asked you to do?"

"Y...Yes, Sakurai-senpai. No worries."

Tsk, I don't want to be submissive but whatever. It would be a waste since he recommended me after all.

To be blunt, my experience here in the Student Council has been tough. I mean, this guy almost had the orders flushed at me. Is being a Secretary this difficult?! My soul can't leave my body, y'know?! ヽ(´Д`;)ﾉ

I wonder how is Suzuki doing? I mean it is already the campaign period so she must be really busy.....

Wait! I'm not thinking about her or being concerned! It's just weird since we haven't seen each other much the past few days.

"Kusakabe-kun, can you help me bring these boxes to the laboratory stock room?" requested Akari.

"No problem, Fujisaki-san!"

Ah~ An angel who called me out because she wants to know more about me. T....This must be my p...popular phase! My youth is starting to get interesting!

"Prez, we'll be off for a while." said Akari as we go outside of the room.

These boxes are heavy though, I wonder what's inside. Maybe several models of the human body? I hope these are not glass wares.....

"Kusakabe-kun, can ask you a small favor?" asked Akari while looking at me.

Ah~ Her soothing voice calms my soul.

"W...What is it?"

"Calling me Fujisaki feels a bit off for me, so can you just address me by 'Akari'?" requested Akari.

W...What a turn of event! T...This beautiful lass.... wants me to use her first name?! Impeccable! (¬‿¬)

"O...Okay then, A-Akari-san." I replied. "You can call me Tanaka too, if you feel it."

"Yay, now I feel that we have this strong connection already!" answered Akari.

S....She looks really happy about it. How cute! (*ﾟ∀ﾟ*)

The stock room is right in front of us. Time to finally unload these boxes.

"Let's go, Tanaka-san. We'll let them unload the boxes since it is their stuff." said Akari.

"F-Fine, okay."

Who are "them" , anyway? Oh, maybe the professors.

"I never noticed that the stock room and the broadcasting room are beside each other. Am I that dense?"

"Well, the stock room is at the farthest point of the hallway and is near the fire exit so it isn't really that noticeable." explained Akari.

Hmm, makes sense.

The two of us walk back downstairs to the student council room. While on the way, I took a glance at the computer laboratory where I saw Suzuki printing her campaign materials. If Sakurai-senpai sees her, I bet he'll be lightning quick to help her.

By abiding to the rules, the President and Akari-san are the only people who are allowed to help the candidates. She must be tired.

"Want to help her?" asked Akari.

"N...Not really! She can do it herself."

"Haha, you're pouting."

"I...I'm not! Why would I?!"

Geez, Akari-san can be a teaser sometime. Not as worse as Suzuki, though! Hmp!

............

"Eating inside the student council room really feels thrilling!" said Akari.

"Why do you say that?"

"Prez is really furious if we eat inside this room. He's a clean freak, after all."

So that dude has not so good of a side, huh? I mean being a clean freak is fine but.... Ugh! Why do I feel that something is off about him?

"Where is Sakurai-senpai this time? Was he at the faculty?" I asked.

"Uhmm, I think he's eating his lunch somewhere else...or probably he is in the headmaster's room." answered Akari.

"Headmaster's room? What is he doing there?"

"Report and other complicated stuff. I've done it once when he was away and it was nerve-wracking!"

Wow, being in the higher position really is stressful. Hmm, great power comes with a great responsibility, I guess?

"That reminds me, I have to go to the faculty room!" said Akari. "Sorry Tanaka, I wish we could have bond longer but I have to leave now. See you later!"

"It's fine, Akari-san. Take care."

C...Crap, isn't this the first time I said 'Take care.' to a girl?!

"I wonder how can I kill time.... Hmmm...."

Should I take a peek on what's happening in the computer lab right now?

I....I said earlier, I'm not concerned about that teasing freak. I'm just going there to kill some time.

And there I go, to the computer lab.

......

"Hmm, she's not here?" I uttered. "Maybe she took her lunch already."

Agh, I wanted to startle her for fun. Now this is boring.

"Who took her lunch already, you say?" whispered Suzuki directly in my ear.

"Waah! Suzuki, you startled me!"

"Isn't that your plan against me?"

T...Tsk, she read me like a book yet again! Wait, it's been a while since something happened identical as this.

"If you're not here to tease me, perhaps you're here because you are concerned about me? How sweet you are, Tanaka." teased Suzuki.

"I am not!" I answered. "F-For prank, yes! I was here trying to prank you since it will be a priceless memory if you expressed a funny face! Haha...."

She's carrying a load of paper. Four reams, I think?

"Let me carry that for you."

"Whoa, now that's what you call a gentleman." said Suzuki while grinning.

"Are you praising me or is it the other way around?!"

"Thanks for the help, Tanaka." said Suzuki. "Though, I can do this myself already. Can you just get my phone in the library for me? I left it in the bookshelf beneath the second table."

What am I now, an errand boy?

"Sure, then."

"Thank you, Tanaka. You're a lifesaver." answered Suzuki.

Tsk, you don't have to praise me like that. (•ﾟдﾟ•)

Ugh, now time to go to the library.....

........

Huh? It's closed already? It's just 1 pm. Let's see if it's locked.

"I...It's open?"

Weird, the library head will always lock it if he leaves the vicinity.

Whatever, I'm just gonna claim the phone and scram out of here.

As I approach the second table, unexpectedly there are two persons conversing in that table.

It is Sakurai-senpai and Miyuki.

Hmm, this is a pretty unusual combo, isn't it? What are they talking about?

"T....Tanaka-kun?! What are you doing here?!" asked Sakurai as he look disturbed.

"Weren't you in the Secretary duty?!" asked Miyuki.

Whoa, whoa. Why do they sound so mad?

"C...Calm down, I'm just here to get something I left."

Got the phone, now it's time to leave. Gosh, they must be discussing something important about the campaign.

"S....Sorry to intrude. Have a nice day~"

My goodness, that was so tense. Now, time to return this to Suzuki.

Computer lab.... Computer lab....

"Suzuki, I have your phone. Here."

"Thanks, Tanaka. I thought somehow might have stole it already."

"It was unnatural there. Miyuki and Sakurai-senpai were talking about something inside." I explained.

"Maybe they were talking about the campaign? Anyway, everything will be stabilized the soonest. Thanks again, Tanaka."

"Y...Yeah, no problem. See you."

Stabilized? What is she talking about?

I never thought that peculiar scene would result into an uncanny event the next morning.

..............

"I still ponder on why Prez called us out here. It's not yet duty hour." said Akari.

"It must be an important announcement."

He's late, though! What the hell?

"Oh, speaking of the devil. Good morning, Prez!" greeted Akari.

"Everyone, I have an announcement. This is regarding to a change in the election line-up." said Sakurai.

What? A change at this point? It's just two days before the election period. I wonder who withdrawn?

"Tsuchimikado Miyuki has withdrawn from the election. She's going to be replaced by Saionji Riko as the bet for the Secretary position." revealed Sakurai.

W....WHAT?!

--------TO BE CONTINUED--------