The four met in a narrow path. Miharu Taki Sakura and Yumemi Yumemite, who had been chatting and laughing, were stunned when they saw Ayanokouji Kiyohira, and Hanatemari Tsuzura was also a little bewildered.
Hanatemari Tsuzura quietly hid behind Ayanokouji Kiyohira, looking at the two with a flushed face; Miharu Taki Sakura instinctively looked at Ayanokoji, her expression a little unnatural; Yumemi looked at Miharu Taki beside her, then at Ayanokoji, her eyes flickering, her expression tense...
Hanatemari Tsuzura was originally alone with Ayanokoji, and the atmosphere was ambiguous, but then they were suddenly caught. Her heart couldn't help but panic, so she hid behind Ayanokoji.
Miharu Taki Sakura was nervous because Ayanokouji Kiyohira had just confessed to her yesterday. Although she had tacitly acknowledged their relationship, she wasn't prepared for how to handle it. Now, suddenly seeing Ayanokoji, her heart also became tense.
As for Yumemi, she was aware of the special relationship between Ayanokouji Kiyohira and Miharu Taki Sakura. Seeing them meet, she couldn't help but recall her peeping incident, and her heart was filled with guilt.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira also hadn't expected this combination of Yumemi and Miharu Taki Sakura, and he was momentarily stunned.
"..."
For a moment, everyone fell silent, looking at each other, and no one spoke first.
The atmosphere instantly became awkward.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira could guess about eighty to ninety percent of their thoughts. Finally, he was the one who spoke first, breaking the awkward atmosphere.
"Miharu Taki Senior, I didn't expect you to be here too." Ayanokouji Kiyohira said with a nonchalant smile, "I thought you would still be at the Beautification Committee today."
Miharu Taki Sakura, who had been a little nervous, saw Ayanokouji Kiyohira's usual expression, and the tension in her heart dissipated. She smiled slightly.
"I've finished all the work for the Beautification Committee. Today, Yumemi happened to give me a concert ticket, so I came to watch and relax a bit."
The Beautification Committee's work for this Ryōran Festival was to prepare beforehand and review the stalls. In reality, Miharu Taki Sakura had already completed all her required work before the Ryōran Festival began, so even if she slacked off, no one would say anything to her.
Her 'patrol' yesterday was actually just an excuse for a date, driven by her sense of responsibility.
In fact, most people in the entire Student Council also slacked off, only completing their tasks to the minimum extent, procrastinating whenever a task was assigned to them. Only Miharu Taki Sakura and the Student Council Accountant, Igarashi Sayaka, were diligent, spending most of their time at school on work.
Miharu Taki Sakura being able to leave work to watch a concert showed that her mindset had undergone some changes.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira was also quite happy to see this change in her.
He smiled and said, "You really should relax. You've been too tired this week, and constantly being tense isn't good for your nerves."
As he spoke, he even secretly winked at Miharu Taki in plain sight.
Hanatemari was standing to one side behind Ayanokoji, and she didn't see Ayanokoji's glance, but Yumemi did catch it.
They really are involved! Yumemi exclaimed inwardly.
She didn't feel excited or thrilled by confirming this information; on the contrary, she was incredibly flustered.
When she first learned this news, it even became an opportunity for her advancement, making her secretly pleased for several days, despite her guilt towards Ayanokoji.
But after meeting Mibuomi Aoi, the 'victim,' she already began to regret knowing this information.
She was constantly worried that she might accidentally blurt something out, or that her actions might reveal something, causing Mibuomi Aoi to suspect her and then start looking for trouble with her.
At first, she was only worried about Mibuomi Aoi's side. Although she was very afraid of being exposed, she thought she wouldn't blurt anything out as long as she kept her distance from Mibuomi Aoi.
But a week ago, after learning about Ayanokouji Kiyohira's 'background,' she suddenly panicked.
Mibuomi Aoi didn't know the inside story, so even if he noticed something unusual about her, he wouldn't think in that direction.
But Ayanokoji was different; he knew from the beginning that she was the one who 'betrayed' him!
If her private affair with Miharu Taki Sakura were ever leaked, even if she didn't do it, he would definitely come after her first!
On one side was the Student Council Accountant, Mibuomi Aoi, a scion of a prominent family, and on the other was Ayanokouji Kiyohira, the son of a former prime minister candidate.
When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer. She was just a small idol and had no ambition to resolve hatred with her singing. She certainly didn't want to be caught in the emotional entanglements of these 'upper-class' people!
She just wanted to hold a concert; she didn't want anyone to remember her.
She really had nothing to do with anything; please don't come looking for trouble with her!
She often thought, if only there was a "memory eraser" like the Men in Black had, she wouldn't have to be so anxious and could concentrate on preparing for her concert.
Unfortunately, there was no such convenient thing, and when she told Ririka about Ayanokoji and Miharu Taki's relationship, she was destined to bear this torment.
If she told Ayanokoji what she was thinking, perhaps Ayanokoji would kindly tell her that he and Mibuomi Aoi had already reached a consensus, and she didn't need to worry at all.
But there was nothing she could do; she had promised Ririka to keep this matter a secret, so she could only keep these words bottled up inside...
Yumemi was very flustered, but her expression control was excellent; her thoughts were not shown on her face.
With an idol-like sweet smile, she said, "Ayanokoji, thank you and Hanatemari for coming to support me. I'm really touched that you would take the time to come to my concert!"
Touched? Ayanokouji Kiyohira didn't see it.
However, he didn't comment on such pleasantries, only asking, "Speaking of which, Yumemi, why are you out now? The concert is about to start soon, aren't you going back to rehearse? What if you make a fool of yourself on stage?"
Ayanokouji Kiyohira's attitude towards Yumemi was very casual, and Yumemi had long been accustomed to Ayanokoji's attitude, so she didn't mind, just snorted coldly: "I've been rehearsing for a week for this performance. Is it not allowed for me to come out and see how many audience members there are?"
"Here, take a look, these are your audience."
Ayanokouji Kiyohira and the others were in the staff passage, so no one came or noticed them.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira moved aside, allowing Yumemi to quietly open the door halfway and look into the hall through the crack.
Although there were many more people than before, the number of people in the hall was still too small, only about one hundred and fifty.
There were less than five minutes left until the ticket check, and guests who hadn't arrived by then were very likely not to come at all.
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