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The neon light spots in the private room swirled across Karuizawa's face. She'd just put down her phone when Sato Maya leaned over, playfully bumping her shoulder.
"Yo~ Shimizu-kun's call again?" Maya blinked. "Don't tell me he's checking up on you? When did you two start?"
A hint of unnaturalness flashed across Karuizawa's face. "Don't talk nonsense... it's just about the boxing club."
Matsushita, sitting beside her, turned her head and wisely smoothed things over. "Shimizu-kun is also one of the boxing club members, and Kei recently joined the boxing club as a manager, so it must be about club matters."
"Exactly!" Karuizawa quickly interjected, while rapidly unlocking her phone. "Oh, I need to send a message to the club president to ask for a leave first..."
Sato Maya sighed dramatically, sinking into the sofa. "You run to the boxing club every day. It was so hard to drag you out to play today. Seriously, did you join for Shimizu-kun? I don't think he even notices you, why don't you just quit the club!"
Mori's off-key singing suddenly hit a high note, drowning out Karuizawa's almost inaudible sigh.
She lowered her head, editing the message.
{Hello, Club President Sato, I am Karuizawa Kei. I am very sorry that I could not attend club activities today...}
Karuizawa stared at her phone screen, her fingertip unconsciously tracing the name "Shimizu Akira" in the call history.
'After all... hasn't he himself only been there a few times? Although it's a special privilege the club president gave him, I still feel it's a bit unfair.'
She muttered quietly to herself.
Joining the boxing club was not a whim—even as a manager, the workload was no less demanding than that of a regular member.
Arriving half an hour early every day to check equipment, meticulously wiping down every piece of gear after training, and constantly ensuring water supplies were replenished.
Not to mention, when members were absent, she also had to call each one to confirm their situation.
Just these trivia alone took up nearly an hour and a half every day.
She'd originally planned to go to club activities as usual today, but Sato Maya suddenly pestered her, insisting they go out to play.
After being persistently coaxed by her best friend for an entire class, she reluctantly followed them to karaoke.
Perhaps, deep down, there was also a bit of resentment towards Shimizu's infrequent appearances.
When she saw the caller ID, she thought it was something important! But after answering, he asked about club activities.
Karuizawa's fingertip rested above the phone screen, lost in brief thought.
'After all... I didn't join voluntarily in the first place.'
She gently bit her lower lip.
Joining the boxing club was entirely Shimizu's arrangement—that so-called "proper identity" was merely a front he used to protect himself.
'Isn't just having a name enough? Do I need to go every day?'
If it were an unpopular club, being a ghost member would be understandable.
But the boxing club, as one of the school's ace clubs, was managed as strictly as a small company, where taking more than three days off could lead to expulsion.
However...
'With Shimizu-kun and the club president's relationship, it should be fine, right?'
Thinking this, the corners of her mouth curved slightly upwards.
After all, she and Shimizu had an unbreakable contractual relationship, and this sense of security allowed her to edit the message with impunity:
{Club President Sato, due to feeling unwell, I am requesting a one-week leave...}
The moment the send button was pressed, Mori happened to hit a sour note, making Sato Maya collapse onto the sofa in laughter.
Karuizawa tossed her phone into her bag, thinking that this willfulness was probably one of the privileges her contract afforded her.
Her hand, reaching for a drink, suddenly paused—because Matsushita was looking at her with an indescribable gaze, a look that seemed to mix worry and unspoken words.
"Chiaki? Why are you looking at me like that?" She subconsciously touched her cheek, forcing out a standard gyaru smile.
This wasn't the first time. Whenever exam results were announced, or when she deliberately spoke in an exaggerated tone, Matsushita would always cast such a thoughtful gaze.
That look seemed to penetrate her carefully maintained facade, as if seeing through her thoughts.
'Did she see through something...?'
This thought had barely surfaced before she pushed it back down.
After all, Matsushita's grades were mediocre, and she was always quiet and low-key in class.
It's probably just me being too sensitive—Karuizawa convinced herself, casually tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"It's nothing." Matsushita gently shook her head, handing her a glass of orange juice. "I just feel like... you seem very tired lately."
Condensation on the glass dripped onto Karuizawa's hand, making her shiver slightly from the cold.
She swirled the orange juice in her hand, the ice cubes clinking against the glass with a crisp sound.
"Ah~ It might be because being a manager at the boxing club has been so draining lately." She stirred the ice in her cup with a straw. "So, I'm getting some good rest now, aren't I!"
Matsushita gently pressed her hand. "Just relax and enjoy yourself today. We've already discussed the points we borrowed last month, so you don't need to rush to pay them back. Today's expenses will be split evenly among the three of us."
"Eh? How can I let you do that..." Karuizawa's fingertips curled slightly.
The sudden switch to the chorus in the private room caused a momentary pause in their conversation.
Under the dim yellow lights, Matsushita looked at her, her tone carrying a hint of helplessness. "Because... the three of us noticed you were borrowing points all over the class. Anyway, we've already had forty-five thousand points deducted this month, and we really can't spare any more to help you. This treat today is probably our last luxury."
The straw was unconsciously bitten with tooth marks by Karuizawa.
Sato Maya and Mori were fighting for the microphone in front of the screen, their joyful laughter sounding particularly grating at this moment.
"Though I'm not sure why your points are running out so fast..." Matsushita's voice became even softer. "But I suggest you don't take too long of a leave. The boxing club is one of the school's popular clubs, and having that identity makes many things much easier. If you encounter any trouble... the upperclassmen in the boxing club will help you. You've seen the special aspects of this school. Having a reliable club as a backing can save you a lot of worries."
"...I know! Chiaki, sometimes you're really like a nagging older sister!" Karuizawa paused, then said with a smile.
As she spoke, she picked up her phone and tapped open the chat history—the message she'd sent earlier had completely turned to 'read' status.
The club president's reply of "Understood" lay quietly in the chat box.
Even though the other party had clearly sent a reply of agreement, an inexplicable panic rose in her heart.
Especially when her peripheral vision caught sight of her private points, which were only twelve thousand, that panic intensified.