"Oh?" Kei raised an eyebrow as he observed Yukinoshita Yukino's current expression, a spark of interest in his gaze. "And how exactly do you plan to get all of them?"
"By reintegrating the String Club, Wind Club, and Choir Club," Yukino stated firmly, "and reestablishing the Classical Music Club."
Earlier that afternoon, she had proposed this solution to resolve the ownership question of the 300,000 yen. She, along with Fujiwara Chika and Touma Yoko, had spent hours on the idea, even forgetting to eat in the process.
Now, she brought it up again—but this time, it wasn't about figuring out which of the three clubs the 300,000 yen belonged to. This was the real, hidden assignment that Mio-sensei truly wanted completed:
To see the Classical Music Club reformed.
Was this a lucky stroke of coincidence or a carefully measured move?
"If the goal were just to get votes, it wouldn't need to be that complicated," Kei said knowingly. "You already have the String Club's vote, and of the remaining two, at least one will definitely side with you. You just need to secure the last one. With the advisor on our side, I don't see this as a difficult task."
"Much easier than recombining three clubs that have been split for two years," Yukino added, her tone measured.
"Exactly. If it were purely about votes," Kei nodded, "then your method is overkill."
"Exactly because it's not just about votes," Yukino emphasized, locking her gaze onto Kei's deep, impossibly dark eyes, as if challenging them to peer straight into her resolve. She felt exposed, every thought and intention laid bare under his scrutiny.
But that was precisely the point.
Seeing wasn't enough—I needed him to hear me, too!
Her aura didn't falter; it strengthened. "However, if we want to fulfill Mio-sensei's assignment, then we must bring the Classical Music Club back into the light."
"I already said there's no real assignment," Kei replied, stopping his motions and stepping out from behind the bar counter. He sat directly across from her—a gesture of respect.
At this moment, Yukino deserved that respect.
"No, Kei. Your reasoning isn't wrong. Mio-sensei's action this time is indeed a 'thank-you,'" Yukino said clearly. "But as you've already said, this isn't the first time she's done this."
"Correct. And I'm confident in this reasoning," Kei answered. "Because 300,000 yen is simply too small."
Even though the Classical Music Club had been split into three, its historical prestige made it an honor magnet and a money sink. The Student Council's budget for it must have been generous. Based on Kei's estimation, at least 200 to 300 million yen from the Student Council's three-billion-yen annual budget would flow into these three clubs.
Venue rentals accounted for a significant portion of their expenses. Over the past two years, the amount Mio-sensei could accumulate through this method would be staggering—likely reaching the millions.
"Wait—are you saying Mio-sensei embezzled some of it?"
Impossible. The Student Council wasn't lenient with finances. Even if the clubs' accounts were messy, the council maintained complete, detailed records. Any misappropriation would have been caught long ago, and Mio-sensei would have been expelled.
"Then why repeatedly use such a convoluted method just to return the money to the clubs?" Yukino asked sharply. "If she truly wanted the funds redistributed, she could have directly discussed it with the three club presidents. She's the advisor; the source of the funds is legitimate. She could have handled it internally without dragging anyone else in."
"Unless…" Yukino paused, carefully considering her words.
"Unless what?"
"Unless her original assignment wasn't this. It was something she couldn't accomplish on her own—something she had to rely on others to complete. She had tried delegating it multiple times, but failed. In the end, although she had lost all hope, she still performed this strange assignment out of habit, even considering it a kind of 'tradition.'"
"Like… reforming the Classical Music Club?" Kei asked.
"Yes. Reestablishing the Classical Music Club," Yukino confirmed.
Silence fell. Only the clock on the wall ticked steadily.
Yukino swallowed to moisten her dry throat. She clenched her hands, only to find her palms damp with sweat. The salty moisture touched the already treated scratches on her hands, making them sting anew.
Yet she didn't show it—not now.
This was the pivotal moment.
Finally…
"I understand," Kei nodded. "What do you need me to do?"
Yes!
Inside her, a part of Yukino—completely at odds with her usual composed demeanor—pumped her tiny fists in excitement.
"But," Kei added softly as she tried to calm herself, "I need to warn you about one thing. This is fine this time, but don't do something like this again."
"Something like… what?" Yukino asked, tilting her head in surprise, uncertain what he meant.
"Punishing yourself in advance. Climbing trees at night to knock on someone's window… honestly, how did you even think of this?" Kei shook his head, a mix of exasperation and amusement on his face. "It's not shameful to want to use others to help. But punishing yourself for having that thought? Completely unnecessary."
Yukino fell silent. She instinctively ran her fingers across her palms, feeling the faint lines of her scratches and the residual sting embedded in them.