Author's note:
I knew some of you were asking about the MC's appearance. To be honest, I didn't realize I hadn't described it yet. Also, I based the MC's appearance on an anime I watched before. And the problem is... I forgot who it was until yesterday.
That's why I'm only able to tell you about Mc's appearance today. It was based on Shinei Nouzen from the series Eighty Six.
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Extra in the Student Council
21. Take your time
"Wait!!" Ai and Shuu turned around because of Chizuru's call.
On the other hand, Chizuru was quite skeptical of the situation she had created. She called them on impulse, and now they have put their attention on her. She was startled.
It took a few seconds for her to construct her words and say them out loud; luckily, Shuu and Ai had enough patience to wait for her.
"Can we talk?" She said it in a low voice, more like a plea.
Shuu, who didn't think they had more to say to her or that she had something to say to them, was a bit confused by her request. At the same time, he also didn't have a reason to refuse her, so Shuu turned to Ai, asking for her opinion. to which Ai agreed.
"Then why don't we look for a place where we can talk peacefully?" Shuu replied while hinting at where they are right now.
"Alright, I know a good place," Chizuru said.
***
Shuu waited for Chizuru to pick the place because he thought it would be more comfortable for her to talk in a place she knew and trusted.
But this…. Shuu looked around, and almost all the customers other than him were girls, from teenagers to adult working women. The only men inside were those who were accompanied by girls just like him.
It was a pastry cafe, and the cafe's name is Cafe Stella.
(Well, if she's fine with a crowded place like this, then I don't really mind.) Shuu thought, then he let out a warm smile as he looked at Ai, who was carefully choosing parfait from the menu. (Besides, I like sweets quite a bit.)
After they ordered, they were not waiting for too long before a pretty young woman with long, beautiful black hair and amber eyes appeared. wearing a pink with white lines modern maid outfit came toward them, serving their order.
Then, even after the sweets were served, Chizuru still showed no sign of opening the conversation. So Shuu made the first move.
"So, what do you want to say? We only met a few times for work. Actually, I don't understand why you even requested this situation."
Being told that Chizuru cowered a bit but bounced back quickly after all her experience wasn't for nothing She didn't talk before because she didn't know how to start a conversation with someone like Shuu, especially if she's the one in need and not the other way around. If it's those heartbroken or quite disgusting men, Chizuru could play them as easily as flipping her hand. but now the conversation has started. Chizuru was able to catch the baton and return it.
"What do you think about my relationship with the guy from before?" Chizuru asked.
Shuu was perplexed about how to respond to her questions. It's not like he could just easily spew out what he wasn't supposed to know.
"The simple fact is, we won't be able to say anything if you tell us nothing." Chizuru turned to the one who said that. If she didn't say anything Chizuru had almost forgotten she existed. She was a beautiful girl, one that wouldn't lose to her, but (what is this feeling?) Chizuru thought there was always a familiar feeling about her, but she just wasn't able to figure it out. and for some reason, the way she acted and the way she dressed herself made others have difficulty remembering her.
"Well, she already said what I wanted to say," Shuu added, waiting for Chizuru to explain. "It will be up to Ichinose-san with how much you want to tell us, and we can only answer from that. but also don't forget we don't have infinite time."
Chizuru stared at Shuu and Ai. One was her superior in her work, which she didn't really know that much about, and the other was a complete stranger; she only met her twice today, the first time they spoke to each other. Yet maybe exactly because of this, she was able to say something that she was unable to tell her only living family member, her grandmother.
Chizuru also doesn't have proof, but somehow she felt like she could trust them. It was also because of this feeling that she asked them to talk in the first place.
Chizuru started to understand why there are people who want to talk about their worries to a completely unaffiliated stranger.
Then Chizuru started to tell them about her part-time work before she was offered a contract from Shuu, and once she explained it all,
***
"It's going to be a problem," Shuu said to her.
"Problem?" Chizuru started to wonder whether Kazuya would really become a problem for her or not.
"Yes, your part-time work will become a problem in the future."
"??" Chizuru was confused; she didn't expect it to be her part-time job, the one Shuu meant.
Shuu observed Chizuru once again. "Well, it's going to be one of the hurdles in your future job as an actress, but it won't stop you altogether. As long as you're able to overcome it, then it won't become a big problem."
"Thank you?" Chizuru herself was unsure of what she said.
"Anyway, back to the guy you call Kazuya," Shuu continued. "I already told you before, but I'll tell you again. If you yourself don't want to let go, then no matter what kind of external help you get, it won't do much," he advised.
"But what about her grandmother?" Chizuru refuted that she acted as his girlfriend only for Kazuya's grandmother's sake.
"Tell her the truth," Shuu told her the simplest answer.
"But—"
Shuu cut her words short, "Unless you want to stay with him forever, then don't do anything."
"If you didn't want to lend your hand till the end, then don't help at all. It's also a kindness to not help." Even after Shuu said all that, Chizuru still wasn't able to accept it.
"A day of lying and a year of lying—think the difference between those."
"Also, not everything is reversible."
"Once you get to some point, you will realize that you won't be able to turn back anymore. and once you get to that point, it's already too late. There's nothing you can do to turn it back to how it was before; the most you can do is mend it. but it won't be the same as before."
Even Chizuru was unable to say anything more after hearing that. She herself knew very well what irreversible things were, just like her grandfather.
Shuu and Ai watched Chizuru contemplate her decision and her choice of life for a while before they ignored her altogether, and when they finished their dessert, Shuu and Ai were ready to go.
"Well, just take your time. There's no need to be in a hurry. And the most important thing is to not regret it." Shuu added. He didn't know if Chizuru would listen or register his words or not. but he still said it anyway.
Then Shuu and Ai stood from their table, giving Chizuru the time she needed. Shuu called the beautiful maid from before and paid for their and Chizuru's share, it was the least that Shuu could do. Then, when they were about to leave the cafe.
"You're not going to pat her head?" Shuu froze on the spot in an instant at Ai's question. He slowly turned to her with a wry smile. "Just what kind of person do you think I am?"
"Hmm." Ai put her finger on her chin and looked upward as if she were thinking something. However, her teasing gaze exposed her intention.
"A patting monster?" She tilted her head slightly to make her appear even cuter than usual.
"Hoo~" Shuu let out a carnivorous smile toward her. "Then, I'll show you what a real pat is."
In response to that, Ai squealed, "Kyaa~"
Shuu and Ai were in their own world, which they didn't realize and didn't bother to care about the outsider feeling looking at them. Luckily, they were talking in a small voice, so unless someone was very close to them, they wouldn't hear their conversation.
So, Ai and Shuu left with most of the customers looking at them in jealousy, and some even pitied Chizuru, who was left behind. Fortunately, Chizuru was too deep in thought to realize it.