"Whew!"
"Kaede didn't even come after us..."
Rurikawa Tsubaki and Usui Makoto, along with Maid Shion, stood in front of the tightly shut student council office door. While patting their puffed-up school uniforms to calm their rapidly beating hearts, they looked at the wooden door that blocked out all sounds from inside the room, each with a subtle expression.
Though they weren't that close, they were all good friends of Kaede's, and naturally understood her. Given Kaede's personality, if she didn't chase after them or explain, it was probably because Hikigaya held her back and she couldn't get away.
Rurikawa Tsubaki recalled the scene of Hachiman grabbing Kaede's hand before the door closed. Her just-calmed heartbeat started pounding again, and her snow-white skin turned an enticing shade of red.
Even though she didn't see what happened next with her own eyes, she could easily imagine the vivid scenes and actions in her head.
Because back then, a certain dark-skinned little dragon girl had been grabbed like that by Hikigaya at the Poiman household. Every time she tried to sneak to the door while blocking Hikigaya's firepower, she would be dragged back by him, never able to escape the room.
"Gulp... U-Usui-san, Shion, let's not disturb Kaede and the others. Let's leave quickly," The moment Rurikawa Tsubaki remembered that terrible memory, her cheeks burned, and she swallowed nervously, hurriedly urging Usui Makoto and her Maid Shion.
She knew very well how strong Hikigaya was. That fountain-like energy was something neither Kaede nor Suzu could ever withstand.
Staying here too long, she was really worried Hikigaya might suddenly open the student council office door. If that happened, the scene would be completely out of control.
Although she believed Hikigaya wouldn't act recklessly in front of Kaede, and Urlsula wasn't there to forcibly control her body, so it should be fine now, she still instinctively wanted to get away.
However, Rurikawa Tsubaki's proposal was flatly rejected by Usui Makoto, "No way. They didn't lock the door from inside. What if a student looking for the student council sees them?"
The student council office was at the end of the hallway, so usually no students would pass by. But now it was lunch break, and there was no guarantee someone wouldn't come looking for the council.
While giving Hachiman and Kaede, along with Suzu, some time to enjoy their three-person world, Usui Makoto had already considered this.
Now there was no way she could leave. If Kaede and Suzu were found inside the student council office doing impure male-female interactions and others learned of it, she'd be the sinner.
After all, Sobu High had strict disciplinary standards. If the student council president Kaede couldn't set an example, she definitely couldn't continue in her position.
"Uh... Shion, did you bring the office key for me?"
Rurikawa Tsubaki looked at Usui Makoto, who had long hair over her shoulders and a pure face now showing a firm expression. She was just about to say they could lock the door from the outside, but after checking her pocket, she realized she hadn't brought the office key and quickly looked at Maid Shion.
Usually, after leaving school, the student council office had to be locked. Both she and Kaede had their own keys. But since she didn't sleep well last night because of a dream, she was flustered when Maid Shion woke her up this morning and forgot to bring it.
"...I'm sorry, milady," Maid Shion, who had been silent beside them, blinked and shook her head slowly at her mistress Rurikawa Tsubaki.
"T-Then I guess we'll just stay and guard for a while and then leave," Seeing that Maid Shion didn't bring the key either, Rurikawa Tsubaki gave up on her idea of locking the door and letting Kaede unlock it later. She nodded hesitantly, agreeing to Usui Makoto's proposal to stay.
What Usui Makoto said was right. They really couldn't just run off like this, or they'd be harming Kaede.
"Then let's sneak a peek. Once lunch break's almost over, we'll leave," Seeing that Rurikawa Tsubaki agreed, Usui Makoto reached out, intending to crack the door slightly to check inside.
"Hmm?", Rurikawa Tsubaki's heart tightened. She quickly grabbed Usui Makoto's hand, which was about to open the door, and whispered, "Why are you trying to open the door?"
"Don't you want to see what Kaede and Hikigaya-kun are doing? Vice president, you've never been in a relationship either, right?"
Usui Makoto blushed slightly and turned her head, whispering while looking at Rurikawa Tsubaki's shocked face.
She only had Kaede as a friend and would probably never date anyone. Now might be a good chance to see what it's like when Kaede and Hikigaya-kun are in a relationship.
"Uh, well... I haven't dated, but that's not the point...", Hearing Usui Makoto's words and seeing her red face still trying to pull her into peeking, Rurikawa Tsubaki couldn't help swallowing hard and spoke awkwardly.
Wasn't Usui Makoto infamous among students for being overly strict and serious, maintaining class discipline ruthlessly, dragging teachers after class to explain tough problems, taking care of class tasks without letting others slack off, just like Kotegawa Yui? How could she be dragging her along to peek at Kaede and Hikigaya's affair?
Was it because she cared about Kaede? But wasn't this a bit too much?
Rurikawa Tsubaki wanted to resist Usui Makoto's temptation. They were peeking at their good friend and childhood sweetheart being affectionate. No matter how they justified it, if caught, it would be seriously awkward.
But since they couldn't just walk away and had to stand guard for Hikigaya and Kaede, she was also worried Kaede and Suzu wouldn't be able to handle Hikigaya and might drag her into the office too. If that happened, she really wouldn't be able to explain.
Now if they just peeked a little, and waited for Kaede and Suzu's student council scene to end, they could bolt immediately, before the still unsatisfied Hikigaya caught them.
Back when Usui Makoto mentioned signing up for fuzoku events, she was already worried that Kaede might drag Usui Makoto into trouble when trying to satisfy Hikigaya. Now it was even more concerning. Usui Makoto was bold and unafraid of Hikigaya acting out, but she was.
But Usui Makoto had taken such a risk to help Kaede. If she ran away with Maid Shion, leaving Usui Makoto behind, it wouldn't be right.
After much inner struggle, Rurikawa Tsubaki gritted her teeth and nodded slowly to Usui Makoto, who was staring at her, waiting for a response, "Then let's sneak a peek."
If even the Disciplinary Committee member wasn't afraid, then why was she so flustered? Hikigaya had a good character. Back then, it was Ursula manipulating her into hurting Kaede. Hikigaya had never touched her or forced her to do anything.
"Mm," Seeing Rurikawa Tsubaki finally decide, Usui Makoto resumed her earlier action, quietly opening a crack in the student council office door and pressing her eye to it to spy on the love she longed for but had never experienced.
But at that moment, Usui Makoto's eyes went wide with shock.
'What are Kaede and Hikigaya-kun doing?'
'Is that handcuffs? They're even using props...'
'How could they... even Suzu too...', After a moment, she snapped back to reality and hurriedly tried to shut the door.
"Huh? What's wrong?", Rurikawa Tsubaki hadn't expected that after just a peek, Usui Makoto would rush to close the tiny crack in the door. She looked at her with surprise, noting her red face and stammering voice.
Though it was only a quick glance before Usui Makoto shut it, she clearly saw Hikigaya with Kaede and Suzu in a hug. At least on the surface, there wasn't anything too indecent.
It was a little embarrassing, sure, but pretty normal, right? Kaede and Suzu were dating Hikigaya, after all. Why was Usui Makoto, who insisted on peeking, having such a huge reaction?
'This is the student council office. And lunch break is almost over. How could they be so bold in the student council office...', Seeing how nonchalant Rurikawa Tsubaki was, Usui Makoto couldn't help wondering if the problem was her, or Rurikawa Tsubaki.
Her original intention was just to give Kaede and the others space for their three-person time. Kaede was always shy, and if they were around, Kaede wouldn't be able to get close to Hikigaya, who cared too much about appearances.
But she never imagined Kaede and Suzu would be this bold, and Hikigaya would just grab the twins and hug them both.
What she thought would be affectionate words of love had been completely replaced by direct action.
"...", Seeing Usui Makoto shocked and flustered, Rurikawa Tsubaki stayed silent.
She had thought the scene inside the student council office wasn't that intense. But thinking again, maybe Usui Makoto was right. Even if it wasn't outrageous, it wasn't exactly mild either.
What's more, based on her past self, this level of intimacy would have made her heart pound for a long time.
When did she become like this?
Even though she and Hikigaya had only had that one night, and never had another intimate moment afterward.
"...", Usui Makoto and Rurikawa Tsubaki met eyes and simultaneously fell silent, awkwardness spreading between them.
One didn't realize Kaede and Hachiman had already reached a breakthrough, shocked by how intense it was. The other, having experienced something even more shocking, thought this was nothing. The two deeply misunderstood each other.
"Milady, I'll go keep watch outside. If someone comes, I'll let you know," Maid Shion, seeing both her dignified mistress and this disciplinary committee member stuck in awkward silence, broke the heavy air and turned to leave.
Since Tsubaki was trying to avoid Kaede's situation being discovered, she had to keep watch. If someone saw her mistress and the committee member peeking at the student council office, the rumors would be terrible.
"Uh... do we still watch?", Seeing her Maid Shion speak up, Rurikawa Tsubaki had no choice but to play along and continue the topic naturally.
Inside, Kaede and Suzu's clothes were still intact. That meant Hikigaya wasn't going wild or out of control. She could breathe a little easier, at least not needing to constantly worry he'd show up suddenly.
"Watch!", Usui Makoto, seeing Rurikawa Tsubaki unfazed, as if she was used to these scenes, bit her lip and nodded hard.
She only had Kaede as a friend. To be precise, she only had Kaede.
She knew Kaede's cheerful and warm nature meant she likely had more than one friend, but Rurikawa Tsubaki seemed to be far closer to Kaede than she was.
Rurikawa Tsubaki and Usui Makoto reached an agreement. Together, they sneakily opened the student council office door again, revealing a narrow slit.
Through that tiny crack, both girls blushed as they watched the increasingly intense situation inside.
Kaede and Suzu were held together by Hikigaya, Kaede sitting, Suzu leaning, Hikigaya lying down, or both girls looking up at Hachiman.
If either of them were alone, they probably wouldn't have been able to keep watching and would've run off.
But doing this together, spying on their friend and her childhood sweetheart being affectionate, actually helped them endure the shame. Neither wanted to seem weaker in front of the other.
"Whew...",nNo one knew how much time passed. Only when Kaede collapsed to rest did Rurikawa Tsubaki, who had been staring fixedly, finally exhale and release her grip on the door.
It was finally over. Kaede was really stubborn, insisting on competing with Hikigaya. Clearly, she and Suzu could've taken turns resting.
Now Kaede was totally worn out, lying there helpless. What a mess...
"Hehe, Miss Rurikawa, are you going to come clean and join Kaede~?", At that moment, a soft chuckle beside Rurikawa Tsubaki startled her. She quickly looked around, but only saw Usui Makoto with her.
'That voice is clearly the elf princess Iris's.'
'How could Princess Iris, a proper royal, be peeking just like ua?'
'And she even used invisibility magic! That's cheating!'
While complaining internally about Iris, Rurikawa Tsubaki quickly got up to flee.
It was time to leave. Even though Ursula's manipulation had been the main reason for what happened before, Iris's bystander attitude and laughter hadn't helped either.
She always trusted Hikigaya's character, but she didn't dare believe the elegant, pure, noble Iris. She was afraid of getting dragged into trouble again.
"Vice President, why do you have the same bracelet as Kaede?", Usui Makoto looked at Rurikawa Tsubaki, who suddenly seemed eager to leave, puzzled, specifically looking at the silver bracelet with exquisite and mysterious patterns on Tsubaki's wrist.
She had just seen this bracelet on Kaede and Kanade's hands, but Tsubaki hadn't worn this before, right?
When did she suddenly start wearing it?
"Hmm?", Tsubaki froze. Before she could figure out what kind of game the elf princess Iris was trying to play by suddenly putting the bracelet on her, a strong and stimulating sensation surged from inside her body and spread throughout.
'This feeling... hot and full... a strange feeling that would make someone act weird...'
'Hikigaya-kun?'
"Hmm? Vice President, what's wrong?", Usui Makoto, who was next to her, looked at Tsubaki, who had just stood up but suddenly crouched down again. She was puzzled as she saw Tsubaki trembling slightly, almost sitting on the ground like a duck, and hurriedly showed concern.
"I-I'm fine... it's just that my legs got a bit weak and numb from squatting too long... I-I'll rest a bit more...", Tsubaki kept her head down, both hands pressing on the ground to support herself, and her repressed voice was trembling slightly.
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