On the Eve of the Verdict

Ever since the day she took off her glasses on the rooftop, Airi Sakura seemed to have broken some invisible seal. When she walked into the classroom on Monday morning, the square glasses that had hidden most of her face were gone, revealing delicate features, bright eyes, and a dainty nose. The boys in class first froze in unison, then let out a series of quiet gasps. They were all surprised that the usually taciturn girl was so strikingly beautiful. When someone happened to learn that she was the idol Shizuku, their astonishment turned to awe. The faint interest some of them had felt immediately became a sense of distance. No one dared express a desire to date her anymore; they simply admired her quiet presence from afar.

The girls in class, on the other hand, quickly set their reservations aside. After all, who could resist asking an idol for beauty tips? During breaks, groups of girls would gather around Airi Sakura's desk, chattering as they asked about her outfits and camera angles. "Airi, your eyelashes are so long! What mascara do you use?" "How did you style that dress from the magazine last time to make it look so girly?" At first, Airi Sakura was a little shy in the face of all their eager questions, twisting the hem of her clothes between her fingers. But under their friendly gazes, she gradually relaxed. These past few days, she'd not only been happy to share her experience but had even started bringing out her phone to show them the outfit photos she'd saved. A faint smile often lingered on her lips, and she seemed more vibrant altogether. Watanabe Hayabara watched from a short distance away, the corners of his mouth lifting without him realizing it. For Airi, who longed to make friends, spending more time with other girls was definitely a good thing.

Watanabe Hayabara had also lifted the "seal" of his glasses, but his circumstances were a little different. Without his plain glasses, his eyes and brows looked sharper, and his once-gentle air had gained a touch of edge. He instantly became the focus of the girls' attention. As soon as the bell rang, they would "besiege" his desk, with one after another offering him a love letter, asking him out for the weekend, or seeking his help with a problem. But Watanabe Hayabara handled them with ease. He always turned them down with a polite smile and a simple, "Sorry, I don't have time," sending the girls away as a group.

"Congratulations, Watanabe!" Kushida Kikyo hurried in through the doorway, making a beeline for him. Her face was lit with a radiant smile. "Congratulations on becoming a Public Morals Committee Member of the Student Council!"

"It's nothing, but thank you for the congratulations." Watanabe Hayabara set down the classic he'd been reading, looked up, and smiled warmly at Kushida Kikyo, his tone modest.

Then Horikita Suzune's cool voice came from behind them, interrupting their conversation. "Watanabe, when did you apply to join the Student Council?" She had clearly only just heard the news. A trace of surprise and confusion showed in her eyes as she stared straight at Watanabe Hayabara.

"President Horikita invited me to join," Watanabe Hayabara replied evenly.

"Oh." Horikita Suzune answered simply, then furrowed her brows slightly and fell into thought, tapping her fingers against the desk without realizing it as she seemed to puzzle over the reason behind it.

Kushida Kikyo soon turned back to Watanabe Hayabara and continued talking to him, her smile still bright.

"Kushida, was there something else?" Watanabe Hayabara asked, noticing that she seemed to have something to say but was holding back. Her gaze had been shifting as she spoke, and she looked a little hesitant.

"Well, the verdict in Miyake's case is tomorrow, right? We need to discuss who will represent us. Only three people from each class can attend." Kushida Kikyo finally explained why she'd come, her tone more serious.

"Is that so? Then Horikita, Sakura, and Ayanokoji should go," Watanabe Hayabara answered almost without hesitation.

"Huh? You're not going, Watanabe? You were the one who contributed the most, after all." Kushida Kikyo looked puzzled, her round eyes full of confusion. She'd thought Watanabe Hayabara would definitely attend.

"It's fine. I have something else to take care of." Watanabe Hayabara spoke lightly, still wearing his gentle smile, though a hint of something deeper flashed in his eyes. He didn't explain further.

"Oh." Kushida Kikyo still seemed a little confused, but she obediently agreed and nodded. She couldn't help wondering where Watanabe Hayabara would be going.

"Have you thought about attending, Kushida? You helped a lot, too." Seeing how obediently she'd nodded, Watanabe Hayabara took the opportunity to ask.

"I think I'll sit this one out. I didn't really help that much." Kushida Kikyo waved a hand, smiling modestly as she spoke softly.

"You're quite modest, Kushida," Watanabe Hayabara said with a smile.

"Thank you. I'll go let Ayanokoji know." Flustered by the praise, Kushida Kikyo's cheeks turned faintly red. She bowed to Watanabe Hayabara, then turned and headed for Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's desk.

Her acting's getting better.

The afternoon sunlight on Tuesday was languid, casting long shadows across the floor through the classroom windows. At 4:45, not long after the bell had rung, Watanabe Hayabara cleared his desk and left the classroom first. He walked briskly and purposefully, heading straight for the Student Council Office. Before long, he'd disappeared at the end of the hallway.

At 4:50, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Horikita Suzune, and Airi Sakura also got up to leave. The three of them first went to the teachers' office to find Chabashira Sae, then followed behind her to the Student Council Office. Now and then, the clamor of other classes could be heard in the hallway.

"Knock, knock, knock." Chabashira Sae gently tapped on the door of the Student Council Office. The crisp sound echoed down the hallway. Then she pushed the door open and stepped inside. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Horikita Suzune, and Airi Sakura followed in turn, their eyes instinctively sweeping over the room.

The Student Council Office was more spacious than they'd expected. A long rectangular table stood in the center, with chairs arranged neatly around it, and several documents lay on the tabletop. The three students from Class C had arrived before the Class D group and were now sitting on the seats toward the back, looking somewhat uneasy. Their homeroom teacher, Kazuma Sakagami, sat beside them, looking down at the materials in his hands.

Chabashira Sae led the Class D students to their seats on the opposite side of the table. She casually glanced at her watch. The hands pointed to 4:53, just a few minutes before the scheduled verdict. No Student Council members had arrived yet. For now, only the students and homeroom teachers from the two classes were in the office, and the atmosphere was still fairly calm.

At 4:58, the office door opened again, and three figures walked in: Horikita Manabu, Tachibana Akane, and Watanabe Hayabara. Horikita Manabu walked in the middle, his expression stern. Tachibana Akane followed on his left, holding a stack of documents, while Watanabe Hayabara walked on his right, looking composed. The students and homeroom teachers from Classes C and D all turned to look at them, and the quiet office instantly grew more tense.

When Kazuma Sakagami saw Watanabe Hayabara, he raised his eyebrows slightly, looking surprised. He clearly hadn't expected Watanabe Hayabara to be there, let alone arrive with Horikita Manabu. Chabashira Sae merely nodded calmly, not the least bit surprised, as though she'd expected this all along.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sat in his seat, watching the three newcomers with an impassive expression. There wasn't a ripple in his eyes, as if he didn't care about the scene before him. Horikita Suzune furrowed her brows slightly, her eyes full of confusion. She didn't understand why Watanabe Hayabara had come with her brother.

Airi Sakura, who'd had her head down and looked tense, brightened when she saw Watanabe Hayabara. The corners of her mouth lifted into a faint smile, and some of the tension seemed to leave her.

Horikita Manabu stopped beside the head of the table and slowly swept his gaze over everyone present.