There was only one week left before Rinji would leave Japan.
Though it was said he was going back home for a month, counting travel and rest time, he'd be away for more than thirty-five days.
It wasn't really a big deal. Shuchiin would function just fine without Rinji, and would even be safer.
The second-year class trip during his absence had nothing to do with him. The only thing even remotely connected was the situation between Ishigami and Tsubame.
Rinji could do very little about it, though he did have an estimate of their chances.
By Rinji's way of thinking, if something had a 90% chance of success, he'd work to make it 100%. If it was 50%, he'd still try to push it to 100%. If the chances were minuscule, he'd weigh the costs and benefits before deciding.
As for Ishigami and Tsubame becoming a couple, Rinji judged the odds to hover around 39%, and the problem wasn't with Ishigami.
If this were the old Rinji, he'd probably tell Ishigami to give up. But now, even knowing he might get hurt, he could only help him as much as possible.
After all, no one wants to regret not even trying.
Of course, Rinji wasn't the only one worried about Ishigami.
"I heard the day after tomorrow is your first-year class match?"
"Yeah. It's volleyball, though I'm not good at volleyball." Rinji frowned. "What, is Ishigami planning to attract Koyasu-senpai by playing volleyball?"
"That's what they say. After all, upperclassmen come to watch the first-year volleyball matches. Showing off on the court is one way to attract girls."
In the student council office, Rinji and Kaguya sat face-to-face at the table.
It was one of the rare times the two were alone together.
Kaguya had long noticed Ishigami's feelings for Tsubame and wanted to help in any way she could.
"Volleyball, huh… I really don't have much I can teach Ishigami. Should I just invite the national team coach to give him a few days of special training?"
"Don't make things so complicated," said Kaguya. "If it comes to it, I'll train him myself."
"You? That's even worse."
"Hah? My PE grades are always at the top of the school."
"As if my PE grades are bad."
"You rely on raw physical ability. You can't teach normal people like that," Kaguya countered. "What Ishigami needs is technique."
"And how do you know I have no technique?"
"Eh? Rinji, aren't you the kind of guy who'd serve a ball and make it explode?"
"Shit! Are you looking down on me?"
This was why the two rarely stayed together alone. Eight or nine times out of ten, some kind of argument would break out.
"Fine, let's play a match."
"Fine, you think I'd back down?"
The topic of helping Ishigami rizz Tsubame had turned into a one-on-one volleyball challenge.
But since it was volleyball, a solo duel wasn't realistic—they'd need teammates.
"We'll each find a teammate, and meet in the gym after school," Kaguya narrowed her eyes. "It's about time you learn that sports aren't all about brute strength."
"And I'll make the Shinomiya princess see just how weak she really is."
---
"President, that's how it is. After school, want to play volleyball with me?"
"…Kaguya, just how little do you value your own life to challenge Rinji in sports?"
Kaguya had chosen Shirogane as her teammate.
She had seen his performance in PE—his volleyball form looked just like a professional athlete's, graceful and impressive.
But she didn't know it was only thanks to Rinji correcting his posture with exoskeleton support over a long time. Originally, his volleyball form looked like an alpaca flopping on its back.
"I think the president is amazing. If we team up, we'll definitely win," Kaguya smiled.
Of course, that was only part of the reason.
The real reason was simply that Kaguya wanted to pair up with Shirogane.
Going to the court together as a couple, facing opponents, supporting each other with trust and encouragement, then winning as a team… it all sounded perfect.
"This…"
Shirogane didn't see it that way.
If it was a match, Rinji would be serious. Even if he claimed not to be good at volleyball, he'd definitely be much stronger than a normal player. With just his level alone, not even the two of them together could beat him.
This was clearly a match they'd lose. Losing while teamed up with his girlfriend could mean complaints or even a relationship crisis.
Of course, that was only his imagination. In reality, Kaguya only wanted to experience being in a match with him.
"Please, president."
"Well… alright then."
Shirogane could only reluctantly agree.
He'd just have to face it head-on.
---
Rinji left the student council office and walked toward Class 2-A, where Kaguya was.
At the classroom door, he happened to bump into Kaede.
"President? What are you doing here?"
"Don't call me president at school," Rinji shrugged. "I'm here to find someone."
"Find someone?"
"Eh? Isn't this Takamine-kun?"
As they spoke, a cute girl walked up with a smile.
"Oh, it's Hinokuchi-san."
Hinokuchi Mirin, one of the two friends who often accompanied Hayasaka, very close to her.
"Why would a first-year like Takamine-kun show up in the second-year building? What are you here for?" Hinokuchi grinned. "Let me guess, are you here to see Hayasaka?"
Inside the classroom, students also turned to look toward the door. Seeing Rinji appear there, Hayasaka herself was a little surprised.
"Yeah, I did come here to see Ai, I have something I want to talk to her about."
"Oh?"
"You really came here to see Hayasaka?"
"Don't tell me Hayasaka is already dating that 'Mona Lisa'?"
Hayasaka blushed slightly under the stares around her, while Rinji frowned at hearing that infuriating nickname.
"Uh… yeah," Rinji said. "I was just talking with Shinomiya about setting up a 2v2 volleyball match after school, so now I'm looking for a teammate."
In an instant, the entire classroom went silent.
Because it involved Kaguya, it immediately drew the attention of the whole class.
And very quickly, word spread throughout the entire school.