Chapter 304: Return to Shuchiin

Rinji had finally returned from Hyakkaou Private Academy.

Previously, the parents who had caused trouble were all sent to Africa. After some time, the impact of the incident Rinji caused during Shuchiin's student council election had gradually subsided.

On Friday, Shirogane picked Rinji up. And on Monday, he could officially return to Shuchiin Academy.

Today was Monday.

Inside the student council office, Shirogane played with the chips he had gotten from Momobami Kirari and Rinji. To him, these were just plastic tokens.

Putting the chips back into the bag, he looked toward Ishigami Yu and Iino Miko.

"Ishigami, Iino, did Rinji come to class today?"

Hearing the question, Ishigami and Iino glanced at each other.

"Rinji came to class today," Iino replied.

"Aren't you and Rinji from the same apartment, President? Didn't you come to school together?"

"No... we don't always go to school together."

Shirogane found it odd. Rinji usually showed up on time to the student council room. But today, during the lunch break, everyone else had arrived—except him.

Click.

Just then, the office door opened.

Rinji walked in, eyes shadowed by fatigue.

Under the puzzled gazes of the student council members, Rinji silently made his way to the sofa, collapsed onto it, and wordlessly unwrapped a red bean bun. With a blank expression, he took a bite.

"...What's wrong with Rinji-kun?" Fujiwara whispered to Shirogane.

"Did he lose badly at Hyakkaou Academy?"

"That's impossible. When I picked him up Friday, he was perfectly fine."

Shirogane was equally unsure about Rinji's condition today.

"Maybe he lost a match," Fujiwara whispered again, "and someone took an embarrassing photo of him... and then it got uploaded online over the weekend."

"I think you're just making things up," Ishigami cut in. "Do you really think someone like Rinji could be caught in an embarrassing photo?"

"Like in a dress."

"Please elaborate."

Ishigami was suddenly very interested.

"Alright, stop guessing. Just ask him directly."

Shirogane stood up, walked over, and leaned down toward the visibly out-of-it Rinji.

"Rinji... did something happen?"

"...Ah, President."

Rinji looked up slightly at Shirogane before dropping his head again.

"Nothing major. Doesn't affect student council work."

"How can you say that?"

Shirogane rested a hand on Rinji's shoulder.

"Helping students is part of the council's job. If something's wrong, talk to us."

Hearing that, Rinji looked up again. Seeing the genuine concern on everyone's faces, he let out a sigh.

"It's just... sometimes, I really can't understand what my girlfriend is thinking."

"Your girlfriend? You mean Karura?" Shirogane asked. "Did something happen between you two? A fight?"

"Eh!? Rinji-kun has a girlfriend!?" Iino shouted.

"...Is it really that shocking that I have a girlfriend?"

"Didn't you say back when you were a Disciplinary Committee member that we should ban impure relationships between boys and girls?" Iino huffed. "Did you forget that, Rinji-kun?"

Whoosh!

As she said this, Rinji suddenly stood up.

Though he wasn't quite 180 cm tall, standing in front of the 147 cm Iino, he still exuded an overwhelming presence.

"Iino."

"Y-Yes..."

He loomed over her, casting a shadow that made her tremble slightly.

"We've been dating for almost half a year and haven't done anything. Is that still not pure?"

"Eh, I..."

"And I'm not exactly popular with girls. If I miss this chance and die alone, will you take responsibility?"

"Uuu..." QAQ

The once-righteous Iino shrank back like a scared hamster, hiding behind Fujiwara.

Iino Miko—defeated.

Rinji sat back down and addressed the confused group.

"This happened yesterday..."

——Yesterday——

"Rinji, it's been so long~"

"Yeah, long time no see."

Rinji hugged Karura, who had thrown herself into his arms, gently stroking her black hair.

Because of his transfer to Hyakkaou, the prep time had kept him busy, and it had already been two weeks since he'd last seen her.

After letting go of Karura, Rinji looked toward another woman standing at the door and sighed.

"So... why are you here, Fusui?"

"Eh? Karura said she was coming to see you, so I tagged along," Kure Fusui said with a grin.

"Don't make it sound like you just hitched a ride. You really love being a third wheel, don't you?"

"That's harsh. Don't forget who scouted and sniped targets for you at the new school."

"Didn't I pay you?"

"That hurts." Fusui dabbed imaginary tears with a handkerchief. "Has our relationship come down to money?"

"So you mean I can stop paying you now?"

"You're so cold, Rinji."

"...Whatever. Just have dinner and go home."

Rinji didn't want this woman ruining his time alone with Karura. One meal and she's gone.

——Back to the Present——

"So I let Fusui stay for dinner..."

"Wait."

Ishigami raised his hand.

"You're confused about your girlfriend because of that?"

"Of course not. If Karura wanted to, she could bring the whole clan over and I'd still feed them. I'm talking about something else."

"Something else?"

"Yeah, something else."

Rinji folded his hands under his chin, dead serious.

"This morning, I woke up to find Fusui and Karura... one on each side of me. And they were both sleeping naked. Naked! Can you believe that!? Hey—what's with those faces?"

He noticed Shirogane and Ishigami staring at him, biting their lips.