Chapter 124: Summer Break Begins

With the final exams over, summer vacation was just around the corner.

Everyone in the student council had made progress in their scores. Ishigami Yu went from the bottom of the rankings up to 147th. Takamine Rinji moved up from fifth place to second.

As for the second-year students: Shirogane Miyuki retained his first-place rank. Shinomiya Kaguya stayed in second.

And then there was Fujiwara Chika…

She dropped from 92nd place to 101st.

All because she believed in Shirogane and Kaguya's nonsense about "it's better not to review right before exams" and "I stopped studying a few days in advance to conserve energy," leading her to foolishly not review either. The results were predictable.

But overall, everyone was set to enjoy their summer break.

"Before we officially start the break, let's confirm our plans," Rinji said.

In the student council office, all five members were gathered.

"Two weeks from now on Friday, we're all going to the fireworks festival together. As for the president, his part-time job runs from next month until the end of August—one full month." Rinji explained the schedule.

"Takamine-kun."

Fujiwara Chika raised her hand.

"My little sister, Moeha, said she wants to come to the fireworks festival too."

"Huh? This was supposed to be a student council outing. You sure you want to bring someone else?"

"Now that you mention it…" Shirogane spoke up. "My sister Kei somehow heard about our plans and said she wanted to join too."

"I see…"

Rinji quickly figured it out.

Clearly, Chika had told her sister Moeha, and since Moeha and Kei were close friends, Moeha must've told her, and then Kei asked her brother.

"Alright, they can all come along."

"Yay!" Fujiwara Chika clapped happily. "The more, the merrier."

Rinji: "…"

It's not that he disliked a lively group. He just felt the more people there were, the more unpredictable things became.

He still had to help Shirogane win over Shinomiya Kaguya at the fireworks festival. Adding two more people could throw things off.

Kei was manageable, but Moeha…

Rinji mulled over the situation between Shirogane and Kaguya, while the two of them were also lost in thought about each other.

Summer break sounded like a relaxing time, but if spent idly, it could easily become a drag—making them wish for school to start again.

Not because they loved studying, but because school was at least more fun. You could hang out with friends. Summer break just meant staying home, staring blankly at a screen.

Both Kaguya and Shirogane had plans for summer.

How could they use the break to get the other to confess?

---

And so, summer vacation finally began.

It wasn't just the students who had time off—teachers got a break too.

Sagara Kaya left Japan during the holidays to visit Sagara Sosuke. The only time they could see each other was during school breaks.

Takamine Rinji had originally planned to go home for the holidays, but just as he was preparing to leave, he got a message from his dad.

[Son, your mother and I went traveling. We won't be home if you come back, so just stay in Japan. Let me know if you need money—From your loving dad.]

Takamine Rinji: "…"

Since his dad had such a chill job, he had plenty of free time to travel with Mom. They loved visiting random places.

Probably only during the New Year would both of them be home.

So naturally, this summer, Takamine Rinji…

Stayed at home playing video games with Ishigami.

With the AC blasting and snacks scattered all over the floor, the two of them sat in front of the TV, each with a controller in hand.

"Got any plans for summer, Ishigami? Family trip or anything?"

"My family doesn't go out much, and I hate going outside. Usually, I just stay home and game all day," Ishigami said. "Not like those damn normies who are constantly going to parties during break."

"Fair enough. Maybe I should set up a three-player game. We can invite the president next time."

"The president, huh… He's probably one of those normies."

Can't blame Ishigami for thinking that. Student council president was a role that required massive popularity. In most people's eyes, Shirogane Miyuki didn't seem like the type to stay home during break. He was probably being invited out constantly.

"Well… I don't know much about his social life either."

Rinji replied while focusing on the screen.

What he didn't know was that during summer break, Shirogane Miyuki only did two things: part-time work—which Rinji had already helped him land—and staying home.

As Ishigami and Rinji were furiously mashing buttons on their controllers, Rinji's phone suddenly buzzed in his pocket.

A message.

He took it out and saw it was a LINE from Kei Shirogane.

[Rinji-nii, it's so hot at home without AC. Can I come over to cool off?]

"Oh?"

Without giving it much thought, Rinji quickly replied: [Sure, you're totally welcome!] and added his address.

After sending the message, he put the phone away and grabbed his controller again.

"Who was that?"

"Oh, Kei."

"Kei?" Ishigami had never heard the name.

"The president's little sister," Rinji explained. "Said it's too hot at her place and wants to come here to chill with the AC."

"…"

Ishigami's expression grew a little strange.

"The president's sister… she must be really pretty, huh?"

"By normal standards, yeah, she's very attractive."

"I see."

Ishigami nodded, then suddenly put down his controller.

"Right, Rinji, I just remembered—I need to go buy some stuff for my family, so I'll head back now."

"Huh?"

"I'll come over again tomorrow." Ishigami smiled. "Oh, and clean up all this snack trash in the room. Don't leave a bad impression."

Takamine Rinji: "Oh…"

"And buy some ice cream too. That's it, I'm off."

Under Rinji's confused gaze, Ishigami grabbed his things and left. Before walking out the door, he even gave Rinji a thumbs-up, leaving him totally baffled.