Chapter 387: Time Management

"Do you have time during the Hoshin Festival?"

"I..."

"If you dare say no, you're dead."

"Uh... I guess I'm free the morning of the second day."

On the rooftop, Rinji shared his schedule with Ryuju Momo.

For some unknown reason, his time during the Hoshin Festival had been completely booked.

A duet with Fujiwara, invitations from Hayasaka and Kei, now Momo's request, plus patrol duty with Iino as part of the morals committee—one festival, five girls.

It sounded strange, but that was the situation.

"You've only got one morning free?"

"I can't help it—everything else got booked."

"Tch. You've only been at this school and you're already this popular."

"I don't know why either."

Originally, Rinji never considered his popularity. When he first arrived at Shuchiin, his only goal was to leave and return to the battlefield.

But now, he was gradually getting used to school life.

He first noticed the change after he officially started dating Karura. Before that, he never thought girls were interested in him—now, more and more were appearing around him.

Not that it mattered—his heart belonged to Karura.

"Speaking of which, is your girlfriend coming to this festival?"

"Karura? No, she's busy—her school has its own stuff going on."

"Oh, good."

"What do you mean 'good'? Everyone else invited me and she's the only one not coming. That's just depressing."

Thanks to efforts from Rinji and Iino, they had even secured permission for a bonfire event. If possible, he would've liked to invite Karura.

"I don't think it's that bad."

The one who said this wasn't Momo—it was Shirogane.

He was crouched by the railing scrubbing his giant art project made from junk: "Dragon Coiled Pearl"—a traditional piece every student council president was expected to make.

Turning his head with a smile, he said, "You're just a first-year. You can invite her to next year's festival."

"That's true," Rinji chuckled. "But Karura's a second-year. She might be busy with college entrance stuff next time."

The Kure clan were assassins, but they were highly educated. Like Fusui currently studying in college, Karura would definitely pursue higher education too.

Even though she claimed she wanted to marry and have kids with Rinji right after graduation.

"Don't dwell on it. Just enjoy this festival."

Momo sat up from her air cushion and said to Rinji.

"Open your mouth."

"Huh? Mmph..."

As soon as he opened his mouth, she quickly popped something in.

He tasted sweetness—chocolate.

"Mmph, thanks."

"You're welcome."

Momo smiled as she watched him chew the chocolate.

Meanwhile, Shirogane had just finished painting his project and walked over, removing his bandana.

He hadn't seen what Momo fed Rinji, but he did spot the wrapper nearby.

It was a heart-shaped chocolate.

Anyone familiar with the Hoshin Festival knew that giving heart-shaped items—accessories or food—was equivalent to a confession. It was an unspoken rule at Shuchiin.

Seeing this, Shirogane looked at Momo in shock. As someone who had worked with her in the student council, it was hard to imagine someone as hot-tempered and fierce as her actually had feelings for Rinji.

Noticing his gaze, Momo snapped, "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing. Just wanted to ask Rinji for a favor."

---

"I need balloons?"

"Yeah, this is the final part of my plan," Shirogane said.

His class, 2-B, was selling balloons shaped based on customer requests.

Rinji twirled two long balloons in his hands.

"The school will be decorated with heart-shaped balloons to match the festival theme, so I'm hoping we can collect them all later."

"You want me to collect the school's heart-shaped balloons? That's easy."

Rinji said casually, still twisting his balloon.

"This is part of your plan to win over Shinomiya, right?"

"Yeah."

"I'll help you with this."

"Thank you very much. And… I'm sorry. You're both an Festival committee member for Hoshin and have rejoined the Disciplinary Committee. You must already be swamped, and I still have to trouble you..."

"You should learn how to make better use of the resources around you, President. Always prioritize your own goals." Rinji smiled. "And didn't I already say it? I'll fully support you."

"...Thanks."

Just like always, Rinji gave Shirogane a sense of reliability.

"By the way, wasn't your class selling balloons for the festival? I thought you called me over to teach you how to make balloon animals or something."

"No… Actually, I've been learning that myself. Besides, I doubt you're good at everything either..."

"It's done."

Before Shirogane could even finish his sentence, the two long balloons in Rinji's hands had already been twisted into shape.

It ended up as a fighter jet. Judging by the complexity, it was clearly at an expert level. His skill easily outclassed anyone in their class.

"...I forgot. You're a natural genius, aren't you?"