Eve of Judgment (Seeking Everything)

Ever since she took off her glasses on the rooftop that day, Airi Sakura seemed to have broken some invisible seal. When she walked into the classroom on Monday morning, the thick-rimmed glasses that usually obscured most of her face were gone, revealing delicate brows and a petite nose. The boys in the class froze collectively, followed by a low murmur of astonishment; everyone was surprised that this usually reticent girl possessed such striking beauty. When someone accidentally learned she was the idol "Shizuku," the astonishment turned into awe. The vague interest they had felt instantly transformed into a sense of distance, and no one dared to easily express a desire to pursue her, choosing instead to admire her quiet demeanor from afar.

The girls in the class, however, quickly set aside their reservations—after all, who could refuse to ask an idol for beauty tips? During breaks, groups of girls would always gather around Airi Sakura's desk, chattering away as they asked for fashion advice and photography angles. "Airi-san, your eyelashes are so long! What mascara do you use?" "How did you style that dress from the magazine last time to look so youthful?" Facing these enthusiastic questions, Airi Sakura was a bit shy at first, her fingers twisting the hem of her skirt, but under everyone's friendly gazes, she gradually relaxed. Over the past few days, she was not only happy to share her experiences but would also take the initiative to show pictures of outfits saved on her phone, a faint smile often hanging at the corners of her mouth, making her seem truly vibrant. Watanabe Hayabara sat not far away watching this scene, his lips curling upward involuntarily—letting her interact more with other girls was indeed a good thing for Airi, who longed for friendship.

Watanabe Hayabara, who had also removed his "seal" of glasses, found himself in a slightly different situation. Without his non-prescription frames, his brows and eyes appeared sharper, and his previously gentle temperament gained a touch of edge, immediately making him the focus of the girls' pursuit. As soon as the bell rang, his desk would be "besieged" by girls, with a constant stream of love letters, weekend outing invitations, and requests for help with problems. But Watanabe Hayabara handled it with ease; he always wore a polite smile and dismissed the girls collectively with a simple, "Sorry, I don't have the time."

"Congratulations, Watanabe-kun." Kushida Kikyo ran in from the door with excitement and quickly reached Watanabe Hayabara's side, her face beaming with a brilliant smile. "Congratulations on becoming a member of the Student Council disciplinary committee."

"It's nothing, but thank you for your well wishes." Watanabe Hayabara put down the classic novel he was reading, looked up at Kushida Kikyo with a gentle smile, his tone carrying a touch of humility.

At this moment, Horikita Suzune's cold voice came from behind, interrupting their conversation: "Watanabe, when did you apply to join the Student Council?" She had clearly just learned the news, her eyes filled with a trace of surprise and doubt as she stared straight at Watanabe Hayabara.

"President Horikita invited me to join," Watanabe Hayabara replied in a flat tone.

"Oh." Horikita Suzune gave a simple response, then furrowed her brows slightly and fell into deep thought, her fingers tapping the desk unconsciously as if pondering the reason behind this matter.

Kushida Kikyo quickly turned back to Watanabe Hayabara and continued to chat with him, the smile on her face remaining bright.

"Kushida, is there something else?" Watanabe Hayabara asked proactively, looking at Kushida Kikyo's hesitant expression; he noticed her eyes flickering with a hint of uncertainty as she spoke.

"It's like this, tomorrow is the judgment for Miyake-kun's case, right? We need to discuss the selection of representatives; each class can only send three people," Kushida Kikyo finally stated her purpose, her tone becoming much more serious.

"Is that so? Then let Horikita, Sakura, and Ayanokoji-kun attend." Watanabe Hayabara gave his answer almost without hesitation.

"Eh? Watanabe-kun isn't participating? After all, Watanabe-kun is the biggest contributor." Kushida Kikyo's face showed a hint of confusion, her round eyes filled with bewilderment; she had assumed Watanabe Hayabara would definitely participate.

"It's fine, I have other things to take care of," Watanabe Hayabara said in a relaxed tone, a gentle smile still hanging on his lips, though a flash of unfathomable meaning crossed his eyes, and he did not explain his affairs further.

"Oh." Although Kushida Kikyo was still somewhat puzzled, she obediently agreed with a gentle nod, though she secretly speculated about where Watanabe Hayabara was headed.

"Kushida-san, have you thought about participating? You also provided a lot of help," Watanabe Hayabara asked, looking at her obedient appearance.

"I won't participate; actually, my help wasn't that significant," Kushida Kikyo waved her hands, a modest smile on her face, her voice soft.

"Kushida is also very humble," Watanabe Hayabara smiled.

"Thanks for the compliment. I'm going to notify Ayanokoji-kun now." Kushida Kikyo felt a bit embarrassed by the praise, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. She bowed to Watanabe Hayabara and then turned to walk toward Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's seat.

Acting skills are improving.

The Tuesday afternoon sun was somewhat lazy, casting long shadows across the floor through the classroom windows. At 4:45 PM, shortly after the bell rang, Watanabe Hayabara tidied his desk and was the first to leave the classroom. He walked with a light, purposeful stride, heading straight for the Student Council office, his figure quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor.

At 4:50 PM, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Horikita Suzune, and Airi Sakura also stood up to leave. The three first headed to the teachers' office to find Chabashira Sae, then followed behind her as they walked toward the Student Council office. The occasional noise from other classes could be heard in the hallway.

"Knock, knock, knock." Chabashira Sae tapped her finger lightly on the Student Council office door, the crisp sound echoing through the corridor. She then pushed the door open and stepped inside. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Horikita Suzune, and Airi Sakura followed in turn, their eyes subconsciously scanning the room.

The Student Council office was more spacious than imagined. A rectangular table was placed in the center, with chairs arranged neatly and several documents laid out on the surface. The three students from Class C had arrived before Class D and were currently sitting in the inner seats, their faces showing a hint of anxiety. Sitting next to them was the Class C homeroom teacher, Sakagami Kazuma, who was looking down at the documents in his hands.

Chabashira Sae led the students from Class D to take their seats on the other side of the long table. She glanced naturally at the watch on her wrist; the hands pointed to 4:53 PM. With only a few minutes left until the scheduled judgment time, no Student Council members were present yet—only the students and homeroom teachers from both classes—and the atmosphere remained relatively calm for the moment.

At 4:58 PM, the office door was pushed open again, and three figures walked in: Horikita Manabu, Tachibana Akane, and Watanabe Hayabara. Horikita Manabu walked in the center with a stern expression; Tachibana Akane followed on the left, clutching documents; Watanabe Hayabara walked on the right, looking composed. The students and homeroom teachers from Class C and Class D all turned their gazes toward them in unison, and the previously quiet office instantly became a bit more solemn.

When Sakagami Kazuma saw Watanabe Hayabara, his brows arched slightly, and a look of surprise appeared on his face; he clearly had not expected him to appear here, let alone arrive with Horikita Manabu. Chabashira Sae simply nodded calmly, without a hint of surprise in her eyes, as if she had long anticipated this scene.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sat in his chair, looking at the three who had entered with a calm expression, his eyes devoid of any ripples, as if he did not care about the scene before him. Horikita Suzune furrowed her brows slightly, her eyes filled with confusion, not understanding why Watanabe Hayabara would appear with her brother.

As for Airi Sakura, who had been keeping her head down and appearing somewhat nervous, her eyes brightened the moment she saw Watanabe Hayabara, and a faint smile curled at the corners of her mouth, her tense nerves seemingly relaxing a little.

Horikita Manabu stopped beside the head of the long table, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone present.