After a week of preparation by all the students, the highly anticipated Ryōran Festival was finally here.
Only a week had passed since the Prime Minister's death; his seven-day mourning period hadn't even passed yet, and everyone had already forgotten the Prime Minister.
Abe? What's that? A unit of physics?
There was different news every day, and time would not stop because of his death.
On Monday morning, all the students gathered in the school auditorium.
Yumemi Yumemite, a new member of the Student Council, stood on the podium as the host, holding a speech manuscript. Without fear, she delivered a long opening speech in front of so many people, then took a slight breath, threw away the manuscript in her hand, and shouted with a brilliant smile.
"The 227th Ryōran Festival of Private Hyakkaou Academy is now open! Everyone... please enjoy yourselves!"
Along with her words, the spherical object placed above the auditorium suddenly burst open automatically, and colorful streamers burst out from it, slowly floating downwards, enveloping the entire auditorium in a colorful rain, announcing the opening of the Ryōran Festival.
At this point, they could be dismissed.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira gently brushed off the confetti that had landed on his shoulder and looked up to see Sachiko Juraku, with her white hair, walking towards him with a smile.
Following closely by her side, never leaving her, was her little secretary, Sado Mikura.
The reason she was inseparable was because Sachiko Juraku held an iron chain in her hand, the other end of which was attached to a collar around Mikura's neck, preventing her from straying too far.
This was an extremely excessive act, treating Mikura like a pet, but everyone who witnessed the scene acted as if they hadn't seen it, showing no surprise.
Even Mikura, who was on the leash, looked at Sachiko Juraku with respectful and adoring eyes, showing not the slightest bit of dissatisfaction.
This was the way this 'master and servant' pair interacted, and Ayanokouji Kiyohira had long grown accustomed to it.
Ayanokoji smiled and waved at Mikura: "Mikura, long time no see!"
"Ayanokoji... long time no see." Mikura also smiled when she saw Ayanokoji.
She hadn't been at school for a week, instead following Sachiko Juraku around outside as her secretary, explaining the school's sudden policies to invited guests and delivering temporary passes.
Mikura probably hadn't had much rest this week, Ayanokouji Kiyohira noticed the fatigue on her face and quietly conjured a box of chewing gum from his pocket.
After putting the first piece into his own mouth, he placed the second piece in her hand, saying with concern: "Mikura, you've really worked hard this week, have a piece of gum."
This was an R-card item; in addition to freshening breath, it could also refresh the mind, instantly invigorating even someone who had stayed up all night.
Even though Ayanokouji Kiyohira had consumed the majority of the item's effect, the remaining effect was still extremely potent for Mikura, and she felt much more energetic after putting the gum in her mouth.
"...Thank you," she said softly.
"There's no need for thanks between us," Ayanokoji said with a smile and a wink.
His relationship with Mikura was only a step away from being official, and he had already obtained the consent of Mikura's 'master', Sachiko Juraku, allowing him to openly show his concern for her without reservation.
"Ayanokoji, what? Did you not see me? Why didn't you greet me?" A cold voice sounded beside Ayanokoji; it was Sachiko Juraku speaking.
"After a few days, it seems you've forgotten about me."
Ayanokouji Kiyohira looked up and began to flatter her with a smile: "How could I forget Senior Juraku? Senior Juraku has always been someone I respect. It's just that Senior Juraku's speech earlier was so brilliant, I'm still savoring it now."
Although it was a major event like the opening of the Ryōran Festival, Student Council President Kirari Momobami did not appear, instead having Sachiko Juraku speak on her behalf.
Sachiko Juraku's lips curved into a smile: "Oh, you listened carefully? How was it brilliant?"
"Senior Juraku's tone and manner of speaking were very authoritative; those who didn't know might even think you were the Student Council President!"
Ayanokouji Kiyohira's praise was merely polite, but Mikura, standing by, listened with great satisfaction, as if she were being praised herself, and revealed a happy smile.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira thought to himself, "Plan successful."
Rather than praising Mikura and saying she worked hard, praising her 'master', Sachiko Juraku, would be more effective.
Although she hadn't seen Ayanokoji for a week, her good feelings for Ayanokoji instantly returned to how they were before.
"There's no need to say such flattering words to me. I'm already in my third year and will graduate this semester. I have no interest in the position of Student Council President."
Sachiko Juraku showed a playful smile: "As for you... you've been quite active lately. You were just kidnapped, and you're still not resting, instead you've formed an alliance with Mibuomi Aoi.
When I first met you, you seemed uninterested in everything, but in the blink of an eye, you've set your sights on the Student Council President's position. I'm really curious about your mental journey..."
Ayanokouji Kiyohira's experience was a rare treat for Sachiko Juraku, who loved a good show. If it weren't for the major incident of the prime minister's assassination causing delays, she would have returned to school much earlier.
Although Ayanokouji Kiyohira's face still held a smile, his heart suddenly sank.
Sachiko Juraku knew too much; not only did she know that he was the one who was kidnapped, but she also knew that he was going to form an alliance with Mibuomi Aoi...
She and Ririka were very good friends, so it wasn't strange that she knew the first piece of information, but the second piece of information about the alliance... did Mibuomi Aoi leak it?
"Kidnapped?" Mikura exclaimed, she had been very busy these past few days and this was the first she'd heard of this news.
She looked at Ayanokoji with concern: "When were you kidnapped? Were you injured?"
"I wasn't kidnapped, Senior Juraku made a mistake. The one who was kidnapped was my older brother." Ayanokouji Kiyohira rubbed Mikura's head, smiling and shaking his head.
Mikura was a bit short, and her head was very easy to pat. With the collar around her neck, patting her felt strangely like patting one's own dog...
Oh, no, this wasn't his own dog; it still belonged to someone else.
"Did Lady Juraku make a mistake?" she repeated, confused, then stated firmly: "Lady Juraku cannot be wrong, you must have been kidnapped!"
Although this was indeed the 'truth', Ayanokoji did not want Mikura to know about his kidnapping yet.
"...Senior Juraku, could you please explain?" Ayanokouji Kiyohira looked helplessly at Sachiko Juraku.
There was nothing he could do; his words were ineffective; she only believed Sachiko Juraku's words.
However, Ayanokoji believed that Sachiko Juraku would help him keep it a secret.
And indeed, Sachiko Juraku watched Ayanokoji for a moment, then said lightly: "Perhaps I did make a mistake. I heard this from a friend, so if the person himself says no, then it should be no."
"That's good..." Mikura breathed a sigh of relief.
Sachiko Juraku stepped forward, coming within half a meter of Ayanokouji Kiyohira, and whispered in his ear: "I'll help you keep it a secret this time. Although I'm very curious about what you did during the kidnapping, I'm more looking forward to your actions with Mibuomi Aoi now... I've been waiting for a long time, so please don't disappoint me."
Sachiko Juraku didn't care who would ultimately win, nor did she care who would become the Student Council President; she only cared whether the people on stage could bring her enough entertainment.
"...Senior Juraku, this show should not disappoint you."
Ayanokouji Kiyohira also smiled.
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