After Hiratsuka Shizuka left, the atmosphere in the clubroom grew strangely tense.
Yukinoshita Yukino had quietly settled into a corner, pulling out a book with a plain cover and beginning to read. She didn't seem to have any intention of interacting with the Light Music Club members.
With her cool, aloof aura, she looked every bit the classic literature girl. Her soft black hair framed her pale cheeks as her eyes, partially hidden behind her fringe, focused intently on the book in her hands.
Just as she had said herself, she wouldn't interfere with the daily activities of the Light Music Club.
That was Yukinoshita's promise.
But the girl's very presence was like a snow lotus blooming on a mountaintop, impossible to ignore. Even though she tried to make herself less noticeable, it was impossible not to be aware of her.
The Light Music Club members gathered around the table, sneaking glances at her. Their voices, however, had dropped to a near-whisper.
"Hey! Nohara, did you hear that?"
Ritsu, seated next to Sato, nudged him with her elbow.
"What's up?"
Sato had been looking at his homework, mentally breaking down the steps after reading the problem.
"Hiratsuka-sensei said you're not allowed to make any moves on us, remember?"
Ritsu gave a mischievous grin, flashing her pearly teeth.
Sato: "…"
He set down his book, looked at her seriously, and said, "Rest assured, President. You hold no appeal for me whatsoever."
"Eh?! That's just mean!"
Ritsu pouted at him, but then her eyes suddenly widened as if she realized something.
"Wait! You only said I have no appeal… That means…"
"You're trying to steal my dear Mio away from me, aren't you?!"
"Give it up! That's never happening! Mio will always be mine alone, right, Mio?!"
Without hesitation, Ritsu leapt over two desks and tackled Mio Akiyama, her eyes glistening with tears.
Mio, clearly used to Ritsu's outrageous antics, looked both flustered and annoyed as she tried to peel the clinging girl off of her.
"Get off, Ritsu!"
"And why the heck would I belong to you?!"
"Eh?!"
Ritsu's voice shot up an octave.
She stumbled backward, bumping into a chair as she took several exaggerated steps away, staring at Mio in disbelief.
"N-Nani?! Are you saying… you're rejecting me?!"
Sato took a calm sip of his tea as he watched the scene unfold. Over-the-top as it was, Ritsu's performance was impressively expressive.
"Nohara!"
Ritsu suddenly spun around, locking eyes with Sato.
He gave her a casual glance.
"When?! When did it happen?! When did you steal my beloved Mio away from me?!"
Her voice was filled with heartbreak, her expression one of utter devastation.
Her acting was good enough for the silver screen, far beyond the clumsy dramatics of Isshiki Iroha. Ritsu's theatrical talents were on another level.
Sato even noticed the girl in the corner, like a snow lotus herself, glancing over more frequently.
Was that… curiosity in her cold eyes? And perhaps a touch of... envy?
"Tsumu-tsumu!"
"Yes?"
The gentle heiress smiled with squinted eyes and raised a hand, her voice as soft as marshmallows.
"You're all I have left now!"
"We'll always be together, right?!"
Ritsu threw herself at Tsumugi and clung to her with teary eyes.
"Hey! That's too much! Are you actually crying?!"
"President, men shouldn't cry so easily!"
Sato was a little stunned to see actual tears forming. He couldn't help but comment.
In the middle of this emotional rollercoaster, Ritsu turned and flashed him a grin. "Hehe, sorry but I'm not a man."
And just like that, she was back to crying into Tsumugi's arms. "Right, Tsumu-tsumu? We'll never be apart, right?!"
Now this was emotional control on a master level.
Sato looked on in shock, and even Mio was left dumbfounded by the performance.
Tsumugi, ever gentle, tilted her head slightly and smiled sweetly. "Sorry, but I'm going to get married one day too!"
"If you want to stay with me forever, you could become my handmaid."
"Eh? A handmaid? What's that?"
Sato offered an explanation: "Basically, a personal attendant. In the old days, noble ladies would bring their handmaids with them as part of their dowry when they married."
"N-Nani?!"
Ritsu blinked blankly. "Nohara, are you trying to catch everyone in one net?!"
Sato's face went dark. He refused to engage further with the performance-possessed president.
Still, Ritsu was fully in the zone now, unable to stop.
She looked around, searching for her next scene partner.
But the only one left in the room was Yukinoshita Yukino.
Facing the ice-cold beauty, Ritsu gave a dry laugh… and brought her act to a close.
"Phew! That was exhausting!"
She dropped into a chair and chugged her tea like a parched animal, exhaling a long sigh.
You actually know what tired feels like?!
"Would you like a refill, Ritsu-san?"
Tsumugi stood and asked with a beaming smile.
"Arigato!"
Ritsu cheerfully pushed her empty cup forward without hesitation.
Tsumugi's expressive eyebrows lifted, and her eyes sparkled with joy. She truly seemed to enjoy doing things for others.
Not long ago she had joked about making Ritsu her maid, but now it looked more like she was the maid.
Or maybe, having been served her whole life, she actually enjoyed doing the serving.
After refilling Ritsu's tea, Tsumugi looked toward the cool girl sitting by the window.
"Yukinoshita-san, would you like some tea too?"
Not far away, Yukino looked up in surprise.