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Final Chapter: The Hidden Facet of This Youth

After school, in the student council room.

We had finished our work and gathered to report to senior Shidou about the recent events.

“————So, that’s it. The president’s speech was successfully delivered. Arisu, it was all thanks to your script.”

“Is that so?… I’m glad it went well. But the smooth progress is thanks to everyone present, isn’t it?”

“Yes, indeed.”

Senior Yaegashi glanced at us and then smiled.

I’m sure senior Shidou, on the other side of her smartphone with the speaker on, must be smiling too.

Even so, she’s a patient.

It’s better not to call and let her rest early.

“Senior Shidou, it’s about time for you to rest. We’re all good here.”

“Hehe, thank you, Hanachiro-kun. Then I’ll take your kind advice.”

“Alright, let’s meet again when you’re fully recovered.”

“……Next time we meet, I’ll thank you personally. Look forward to it.”

“Personal thanks!?”

Before I could ask for details, senior Shidou had already hung up the phone.

What exactly could her personal thanks be?

Unsavory fantasies flit through my mind.

No, no. Natsuhiko, that’s not right.

It’s been a satisfactory conclusion. If I still have rosy thoughts in my mind, wouldn’t my efforts seem like they were just for a reward?

I am a gentleman, not one to act for lewd rewards, but out of a pure desire to help women————

“You’re too lecherous.”

“Whoa!”

I got a chop on the nose from Hiyori.

Damn, my body seems too honest.

“……Everyone, let me thank you again.”

Our eyes focused on senior Yaegashi.

With a serious face, she bowed slightly before us.

“If it weren’t for you all, I might have stepped down from the president position long ago. Thank you very much.”

“Why… Suddenly thanking us, it’s troubling.”

Hearing this, Hiyori blushed unexpectedly and scratched her cheek.

Futaba remained expressionless as ever.

Meanwhile, I smiled radiantly.

Though not seeking a reward, being thanked made me happy. A strong sense of achievement enveloped us, having overcome huge challenges.

“Summer vacation starts tomorrow. We probably won’t be able to gather in the student council room like this for a while. I hope everyone can recharge and prepare for the second term. There will be many events like the sports festival and cultural festival where our participation as council members is essential. Let’s be more spirited than this term.”

Seeing us nod, senior Yaegashi also nodded contentedly.

It might be funny for someone like me to say this, but it seems like senior Yaegashi has grown… I feel that way.

No wonder, after all, it’s because she overcame all crises with senior Shidou.

(Hmm, nice…)

Can I become like that one day?

If it’s me, who’s never had a place to belong, here————

“Natsuhiko, can I interrupt?”

“Eh!? Ah, yes!”

Startled by my name being called while I was deep in thought, my shoulders shivered.

Lifting my head, their gazes were all on me.

“Is there, um, something? Even if you look at me like that, I don’t have anything to give you…?”

“Don’t say weird things. We just want to thank you.”

“Thank you…? Didn’t we just do that?”

“No, it’s a special thanks to you.”

I couldn’t understand what she meant and became suspiciously fidgety.

“Ha… You, you only become dull at times like these, huh?”

Surprised and sighing at my reaction, it was Hiyori.

“Thanks to your hard work, we managed to finish the script in time. Although it’s hard to admit, if it were just me and Tsubaki, it probably wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.”

“You’re exaggerating…”

“No exaggeration. When we went to get the script, we rarely got help from Rumi. Because of you, we had the bike as a tool.”

“……”

She said so, so it must be true, right?

At least, I know I wouldn’t have made it without the bike.

In that case, maybe I did help.

“Though I’ve always been sincere, having you in the student council is really great. It’s a bit shameless to say, but as a member, let me rely on you properly.”

“Ah, no…”

I regretted what I blurted out without thinking.

That wasn’t what I wanted to say.

“Hope to rely on me” felt like getting permission to stay here again.

How to put it, I felt like I could finally stand tall as a member of the student council.

Life is about choices, but at the same time, it’s about accumulation.

Who would believe all these developments started with a girl’s underwear?

Therefore, it’s crucial to base on accumulated experiences and remain unshaken.

Everything has its context.

You can’t know the full story just by looking at the surface, the so-called “hidden truth.”

Behind the happy youth everyone envies, there might be someone’s extraordinary effort hidden————