075.Don’t come over here!

"Just move it over here. Thanks for your help, Ishigami, Shirogane." Wiping the sweat off his forehead, Natsukawa Kanade offered a polite nod to the two who had been helping haul equipment. "The rest can be handled by me and Secretary Fujiwara. You're free to go now."

"..."

Before either Ishigami or Shirogane could voice a response, Fujiwara Chika's indignant wail broke through the air. "Eh?! Why me?! Why do I have to stay behind? This is discrimination! Unfair treatment! I demand justice!"

Natsukawa Kanade raised an eyebrow, his expression utterly unimpressed. "Because you've been slacking off this entire time," he replied flatly, crossing his arms.

From the very beginning, he'd noticed Fujiwara's antics. She moved at a snail's pace when it came to carrying equipment, constantly muttering excuses like needing the restroom or feeling parched. While the others went back and forth three times, she managed a single trip before dramatically wiping away non-existent sweat, all while flashing a sheepish grin that screamed mischief.

Did she really think he was that oblivious?

"Don't even think about lazing around. I'll personally supervise you to ensure you stay on track," Kanade added, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

"Ahh! The president is such a tyrant! A heartless, black-hearted capitalist!" Fujiwara stomped her foot in mock outrage.

"That's fine by me. I'll just make sure to squeeze every last drop of surplus value from you before I'm hanged," he shot back nonchalantly, waving off Ishigami and Shirogane as they made their retreat.

Grabbing Fujiwara's wrist, Kanade firmly led her away, her protests echoing through the hallway. "Come on. No more excuses. Let's get moving."

"Violent tyrant! Public enemy of women! Idiot president!" she screeched, flailing dramatically as if trying to stage her own kidnapping.

"Give it up," Kanade replied coolly. "No amount of whining will change my decision."

Fujiwara's over-the-top resistance earned a few curious glances from passing students, but the moment they recognized the infamous new student council president, their expressions quickly shifted to indifference. It was as if they collectively decided, Yep, not our problem.

Despite her exaggerated struggles, Fujiwara couldn't match Kanade's strength. He maintained a firm grip as they made their way to the auditorium, where a pile of equipment still awaited their attention.

"This, this, and that one over there—all of it needs to go to the storage room," Kanade instructed, gesturing at the assortment of speakers, cables, and other items. His tone was firm, almost daring her to object.

Fujiwara shot him a pleading look, her hands clasped together in mock desperation. "President! I can't possibly carry all of this by myself! Can't you help me? Pretty please?"

"..."

"I know I've been lazy, but I'll change! I'll work hard from now on! Just this once, can't you let me off the hook?" she begged, her big eyes sparkling with forced sincerity.

Kanade's gaze remained unyielding. His silence only deepened her despair.

Seeing her tactics fail, Fujiwara stomped her foot in frustration. "You tyrant! Power abuser! You're just like one of those overpowered protagonists from some light novel!"

Kanade smirked faintly, a hint of disdain curling at the corners of his mouth. Her feeble attempts at an argument barely registered on his radar. After all, he'd honed his skills in countless online debates over light novels—this was nothing.

"If you keep complaining, I really won't help," he said with a raised eyebrow.

Immediately, Fujiwara straightened up and gave a mock salute, her demeanor flipping in an instant. "Yes, sir! The president is the best! Hehe..."

Kanade ignored her antics, bending down to lift a hefty speaker with ease. "Go gather the cables and roll them up neatly. Don't let them drag on the ground. Someone could trip," he instructed without looking back.

With Fujiwara Chika's capabilities—or lack thereof—it would have been unrealistic to expect her to carry something as heavy as the equipment in his hands. Natsukawa Kanade never really planned to make her do everything alone; his only intention was to scare her a little.

"Don't worry, President. Your concern is unnecessary. I'm not some weakling!" Fujiwara declared proudly, puffing out her chest.

Kanade raised an eyebrow, his voice dry. "Why do you think I'm concerned?"

"Because you're a big idiot, that's why!" she fired back without missing a beat.

Kanade smirked, lifting the heavy equipment with ease. "Hmm? Look at what I'm holding, Fujiwara. Care to repeat that?"

Fujiwara's eyes darted nervously to the equipment, and she immediately changed her tune. "Oh! I meant to say the President looked so cool today! So dazzling and radiant—like a shooting star!"

"Shooting star, huh?" Kanade muttered, unimpressed. "I'm guessing that's from whatever nonsense you saw online again."

Fujiwara grinned, completely unfazed.

=========

As the saying goes, teamwork makes the dream work. Or at least, it's supposed to. Kanade wasn't sure if Fujiwara qualified as a teammate.

"Seriously, Fujiwara, you're exhausted after moving such a small amount? Your face is red, you're sweating buckets… Are you that out of shape?" Kanade crossed his arms, observing her breathless state with mild irritation.

"It's not like that!" Fujiwara protested, her face puffing up indignantly. "It's just that—uh—because…" She faltered, clearly unable to come up with a good excuse.

She couldn't possibly admit her shoulders were sore, or that she'd used more energy than she expected. No way!

"Because I live life to the fullest every moment!" she declared dramatically, planting her hands on her hips. "Anyone who puts their heart into life knows it can be exhausting!"

Kanade blinked. "What?"

"That's right! If you're truly alive, you'll always have psychological pressure! Only people who don't care about anything—mental zombies—can live stress-free lives!"

For a moment, Kanade stared at her in silence, his expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. Did he completely misjudge her? Could it be that beneath her airheaded exterior, Fujiwara actually had a profound outlook on life?

But then she added, "Cool, right? I found it online. Thought it sounded awesome, so I memorized it!"

Kanade sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Give me back my respect, you absolute idiot!"

=========

The two continued their task, taking frequent breaks to accommodate Fujiwara's stamina—or lack thereof. By the time they finished arranging all the equipment, the sky outside had turned pitch black, and the school was eerily quiet. Most of the students had already gone home.

Kanade surveyed the now neatly organized warehouse, nodding in satisfaction. "Well, it's finally done. Good work, Fujiwara."

He turned to her, intending to express some semblance of gratitude, but stopped short at the sight.

Fujiwara Chika was slumped in a chair, fanning herself dramatically with a notebook. Her flushed face and exaggerated groans of exhaustion made her look like she was on the verge of collapse.

"It's so hot! So hot I'm melting! I can't take it anymore!"

Kanade sighed, shaking his head, but his gaze inadvertently lingered. Despite her antics, there was an undeniable charm to her. Her round yet delicate features, bright blue eyes, and cherry-colored lips—all highlighted by the soft red glow of the setting sun—gave her an almost ethereal beauty. Even the beads of sweat glistening on her collarbone seemed to catch the light just right.

"...Would you like a handkerchief?" Kanade offered hesitantly, pulling one out.

"Thank you, President…" Fujiwara reached out to take it, but the moment she got a whiff of the air around him, her eyes widened in horror. She leaped up, backing away like he'd just handed her a live grenade.

"The President smells like sweat! Too close, too close!"

Kanade froze, his brief moment of admiration shattered. His face twisted in annoyance as Fujiwara glared at him with mock resentment.

"I'm never helping you again," he muttered under his breath.

Why had he even entertained such foolish thoughts about this ridiculous girl? Clearly, he'd lost his mind.