The afternoon sun streamed through the window,
shining diagonally into the Class 2-A classroom.
But it could not dispel the gloom in Nagumo Miyabi's heart in the slightest.
He was distracted during the afternoon classes.
His gaze occasionally swept towards the classroom door, as if he was on guard against something.
Although during lunch break,
Asahina-san successfully "sent away" that ubiquitous ghost-like Sakamoto-kun,
and a brief calm did indeed descend.
But the strong sense of unease in Nagumo-kun's heart had never truly dissipated.
He knew Sakamoto-kun's style.
He was definitely not someone who would be easily "sent away."
His promise to "completely obey his command"
was more like an absolute command that could not be violated,
and would be executed by him to an outrageous degree.
The lavishly absurd "candlelight luncheon" at noon and the subsequent cleaning performance
were the best proof.
That was not service at all,
it was a meticulously planned social execution targeting him, Nagumo Miyabi.
"This guy… definitely has a backup plan."
Nagumo-kun mused inwardly.
"He caused such a huge commotion at lunch, what about dinner? What more outrageous way will he use to 'serve' me tonight?"
Just thinking about this possibility,
Nagumo-kun felt a tingling sensation on his scalp.
Who was he, Nagumo Miyabi?
A leader who had united the entire second year, known for his cynicism and control!
What he needed was reverence, obedience, and the thrill of strategizing,
not this suffocating, ridiculous "meticulous care"!
This uncomfortably close "service"
was not enjoyment for him,
it was torture,
it was a naked provocation to his dignity and sense of control.
After this half-day of "baptism,"
Nagumo-kun had completely come to terms with a cruel truth—
in directly dealing with Sakamoto-kun's unconventional "extreme service,"
he had no chance of winning.
Any attempt to counter or stop him with conventional methods
could be twisted by him into an even more exaggerated performance of "fulfilling duties,"
thereby plunging himself into deeper embarrassment.
Direct confrontation, this path was blocked.
He had to find another way.
Deal with him secretly?
Nagumo-kun's mind instantly flashed to the chess piece he had set earlier—
the midterm exam paper distributed under Sakamoto-kun's false name.
But from his observations, the First Year did not seem to have stirred up the expected waves and chaos because of it,
which surprised him a little and temporarily prevented him from causing any substantial impact on Sakamoto-kun with it.
In reality, those papers were half true and half false,
this was his meticulous design; once it erupted, it would be enough to cause a stir,
and then perhaps he could divert Sakamoto-kun's attention, or even… This thought allowed him to regain a little confidence.
However,
the most urgent matter at hand was how to immediately and instantly get rid of
Sakamoto-kun, this "close-quarters master"!
Tear off the facade directly?
"The interview period is fake! I lied to you! Get lost!"
—Nagumo-kun would absolutely never say such words.
Too demeaning, too shameless,
it would only give others something to criticize,
and if Sakamoto-kun really went to Horikita Manabu to complain, he would be even more passive.
Announce in advance that he "interviewed excellently and was exceptionally hired"?
—That wouldn't work either.
The final hiring authority for the Student Council was in Horikita Manabu's hands,
he, the Vice President, had no right to decide alone.
Besides, he didn't want Sakamoto-kun to join the Student Council at all.
Deny his "service"?
"You did too poorly! I'm not satisfied!"
—This would probably be the stupidest choice.
Given Sakamoto-kun's style, hearing this would only make him redouble his efforts,
using even more extreme and terrifying service to "make up for his mistakes,"
until he was "satisfied."
That scene was too beautiful; Nagumo dared not imagine it.
After much thought, it seemed there was no solution!
Nagumo felt a wave of irritation and frustration.
The fun he started on a whim,
The pit he casually dug,
had buried him so deeply, so completely.
Just then,
the bell for the end of class finally rang.
Nagumo breathed a sigh of relief, temporarily pushing his troubles to the back of his mind.
A more urgent physiological need occupied his brain—the overly generous lunch,
After an afternoon of digestion, it finally produced a strong after-effect.
He needed to go to the restroom.
Nagumo quickly got up, no longer caring about any potential "surveillance,"
He hurried out of the classroom and straight to the men's restroom at the end of the corridor.
He pushed open the cubicle door,
locked it, and sat on the toilet.
After a satisfying release,
Nagumo let out a long breath, feeling much lighter.
However, the next second, his sense of ease instantly solidified.
He habitually reached for the toilet paper holder on the wall—
It was empty.
His heart sank.
And he himself, having rushed out, hadn't brought any tissues.
It's over!
Nagumo's mind went blank instantly.
How could such an utterly embarrassing situation
happen to him?
Just as he was frozen in place, contemplating whether to call for help with his phone or try other unspeakable solutions... something even more horrifying and mind-boggling happened.
Without any warning.
No footsteps.
No sound of a door opening.
Not even a slight change in airflow.
It was as if he had just blinked, or space-time had subtly twisted.
A black, tall figure,
as if condensed from nothingness,
silently, yet incredibly real, knelt on one knee before his cubicle door!
His kneeling posture was standard, his back straight,
his demeanor impeccably respectful.
Who else could it be but Sakamoto?!
In one of his hands,
he was holding up a brand new roll of pure white, soft toilet paper.
His movements were steady, his gaze calm,
as if he were in some solemn hall presenting an offering,
and not handing toilet paper outside a restroom cubicle.
"Vice President Nagumo,"
Sakamoto's voice was utterly devoid of emotion,
sounding exceptionally clear in the quiet restroom,
"The item you require is here. Please use it."
Nagumo Miyabi:
"..."
His pupils suddenly constricted to pinpricks.
He was completely petrified on the toilet, as if struck by an invisible lightning bolt.
Blood seemed to rush to his head instantly,
then recede sharply, making his face alternate between red and white.
He... How did he get in?!
The restroom door was clearly closed!
He hadn't heard any movement either!
He... How did he know I didn't have paper?!
Was he listening in the cubicle next door the whole time?!
Or did he have x-ray vision?!
He... He wouldn't even let go of me at a time like this?!
Even going to the restroom requires "service"?!
This is no longer service!
This is perverted!
This is a ghost!
This is a nightmare!
Nagumo's thread of sanity,
at this moment, accompanied by this surreal scene before him,
completely snapped.
His last shred of hope, his last hesitation, his last deliberation,
were all shattered by this roll of toilet paper handed before his eyes.
To hell with the probationary period!
To hell with the rules!
To hell with his pride!
Nagumo was a smart man,
He understood the chain reaction after this incident.
If he didn't stop all this now,
he suspected Sakamoto might suddenly appear to scrub his back when he was showering next time!
Or stand by his bed and sing lullabies when he was sleeping!
He couldn't live another day like this!
It must end!
Immediately! Now!
Nagumo almost trembled, squeezing out a hoarse voice from between his teeth:
"Pa... Passed!"
Sakamoto slightly raised his head, seemingly a bit puzzled:
"Vice President?"
"Your probationary period! Passed!"
Nagumo's voice carried an uncontrollable breakdown,
"From now on! You are officially hired by the Student Council! So! Immediately! Stop all your 'services'! Now! Disappear from my sight! Never let me see you appear like this again! Do you understand?!"
He stared intently at Sakamoto, his chest heaving violently.
Sakamoto quietly listened to Nagumo's almost frantic command,
and was silent for a moment.
Then, he nodded slightly.
"As you command."
His voice remained steady.
The next moment,
he gently placed the roll of toilet paper on the floor within Nagumo's reach.
Immediately after, just as abrupt as his appearance—
His figure, under Nagumo's gaze,
blurred instantly as if merging with the air,
and then completely vanished.
Outside the cubicle,
there was no longer any sound.
As if no one had ever been there.
Only Nagumo Miyabi remained, sitting stiffly on the toilet,
gasping for air, facing the blindingly white roll of toilet paper on the floor,
his face filled with the exhaustion of someone who had narrowly escaped death,
and an indescribable weariness.
He knew,
that he would probably have a psychological shadow over the word "service" for the rest of his life.
And that First Year student named Sakamoto... he probably wouldn't want to provoke him for a very long time.