Club Dispute

"This classroom has been empty for three weeks now."

Before he even entered the club activity room, Takahashi could hear the argument raging inside.

"It's pretty noisy, isn't it? If you're uncomfortable, you can head back first." Ichinose looked at Takahashi with an apologetic expression.

Rewind twenty minutes...

As a member of the student council, Ichinose had been assigned to handle a club dispute—the photography club and the art club both wanted the same activity room.

When Ichinose tried to mediate, they just kept arguing and completely ignored her. At a loss, she had no choice but to seek help from Hoshinomiya-sensei, and coincidentally ran into Takahashi, who was chatting with Hoshinomiya-sensei. Whether Hoshinomiya-sensei actually had an impromptu meeting or just pretended to, she used that excuse to leave, and before she went, she shoved Takahashi toward Ichinose.

As for why Takahashi was chatting with Hoshinomiya?

Heh heh. Ever since he deduced from Chabashira-sensei and Hoshinomiya-sensei's conversation that teachers also had competition similar to the class system among students, Takahashi had taken to fishing for information from Hoshinomiya. Besides, who wouldn't like a teacher who was good-looking, never killed the mood, provided emotional value, and occasionally let you get away with a little advantage?

OK, time back to the present.

"Since I promised Hoshinomiya-sensei I'd help you handle this problem, there's no way I'm leaving you here alone. Besides, cutting and running isn't my style." Takahashi had already grasped the gist of the situation from Ichinose's explanation and the verbal sparring between the two club members in the room.

"Let's go in. Once we're inside, I'll keep them from arguing, and then it's up to you to take over."

"Ahem, everyone..." Seeing that the club members paid him no attention, Takahashi raised his hand and knocked heavily on the door three times.

"Bang, bang, bang."

"Argument's over. Now listen up for a second."

One club member furrowed his brow at Takahashi. He'd been in the middle of a heated rant and getting cut off pissed him off. "Who the hell are you? Why should we listen to you?"

Takahashi shot the club member a cold look. "If you want your club to get a special 'shout-out' in the student council notice, go ahead and say that again."

"Uh..." Hearing that, the club member mistakenly assumed Takahashi was a key member of the student council and immediately shut his mouth.

"Now, photography club to the left, art club to the right. Any club member who isn't in position within one minute means their club won't even think about getting this activity room."

"Who are your club presidents?"

"Hello, classmate. I'm Tanaka Koyano, president of the photography club. Just call me Tanaka."

"I'm Sato Ranjo, president of the art club. Call me Sato."

Takahashi glanced at Ichinose beside him. Ichinose caught on and said, "Please state your needs first. President Tanaka, you go first—what does the photography club need this room for?"

"We need a darkroom for the photography exhibition at the end of the month. The current room's ventilation is terrible; the developer fumes can't dissipate, and some members have already developed allergies. Also," Tanaka adjusted his glasses, pulled out his phone, and opened his photo album, "the old room is way too small. It's packed full of equipment—tripods and reflectors crammed in so tight you can barely turn around."

"President Sato, what about you?" Ichinose turned to look at the art club members.

"Our club recruited a lot of new people this year. The old room is already filled with art supplies, and we don't have enough space. Plus, we're about to get a sculpture for the art club."

"Both sides really need this room. Wait a moment," Ichinose started flipping through her notebook, "There's an empty room west of the gymnasium. It's quite spacious and could be allocated to the art club. How about that?"

"No way, the gym is way too far. We'd have to move a ton of painting supplies." As soon as Ichinose finished, an art club member immediately protested.

"Yeah, and we'd have to move the sculpture too. It's really heavy."

"This..."

Seeing the art club members protesting en masse, Ichinose found herself in a bind for a moment.

"You did great. Leave the rest to me." Takahashi patted Ichinose on the shoulder and said softly.

"Quiet." Clearly, Takahashi's earlier intimidation still had some effect; the protests died down considerably.

"This room goes to the photography club. The art club takes the room west of the gymnasium. Of course, the photography club will help the art club move their equipment. Tomorrow, both presidents write up the activity room applications and hand them to Ichinose in the student council. That's it."

"Phew~" Leaving the activity room, Ichinose let out a breath. "That was exhausting! Thanks a lot, Takahashi-kun."

"It's nothing. You were well-prepared."

"I just noted down the empty rooms, that's hardly preparation."

"By the way, Takahashi-kun, it's almost noon—want to grab lunch together?"

"Is this a date invitation?"

"Oh, come on, it's just a thank-you!"

"Ding."

A phone notification sounded. Ichinose pulled out her phone to check the message. The screen opened to her points balance—she must have been checking it earlier and just locked the screen without exiting the app.

"You saw that?" Ichinose lifted her head and met Takahashi's eyes.

"My stomach's feeling off?"

"Huh? Why the sudden stomachache? Should we go to the nurse's office?" A worried expression appeared on Ichinose's face.

"No, the doctor already checked me. He said I'm only fit for eating soft rice."

"Haha," Ichinose gave a light laugh. "Just like Hoshinomiya-sensei said, Takahashi is a really interesting person."

"Those points..."

"You don't have to tell me. Everyone's got secrets. My lips are super sealed. If you're still worried, how about a kiss to reinforce the seal?" Takahashi leaned his face toward Ichinose.

Ichinose pressed her index finger to Takahashi's lips and smiled:

"Alright, stop messing around. It's not really a secret. It's just that everyone in my class pooled their points together and handed them over to me."

"You're really trusted by your classmates."

Arriving at the cafeteria with Ichinose, Takahashi was a bit surprised to see Ayanokouji, Horikita, and Kushida there too.