The morning light streamed through the tall classroom windows as the homeroom teacher, Ms. Nakamura, tapped her desk to get the students' attention. "Settle down, everyone," she said with a warm but firm tone. "Today, we'll be electing our class representatives."
The announcement immediately sent a ripple of whispers through the room. Some students looked excited, while others sank into their chairs, hoping to avoid attention. Haruto glanced at Aiko, who was calmly doodling flowers in the corner of her notebook.
"Do you think they'll make us volunteer?" Haruto asked in a hushed voice.
Aiko chuckled softly. "Why? Afraid you'll have to step up?"
"Not afraid," he replied, though his uneasy fidgeting said otherwise. "I just don't want to spend all my free time organizing events."
Aiko shrugged. "You'd be good at it. You're responsible and calm. People trust you."
"Yeah, right," Haruto muttered, hiding his reddening cheeks.
Ms. Nakamura explained the responsibilities of the class representative: mediating between students and teachers, helping organize events, and ensuring classroom harmony. "It's a big responsibility," she said, scanning the room. "But it's also a great opportunity to develop leadership skills."
She looked down at her attendance sheet. "We'll start with volunteers. Anyone who's interested, please raise your hand."
For a moment, there was silence. The class collectively avoided eye contact with the teacher, hoping someone else would step forward. Finally, a tall boy named Kenta raised his hand.
"I'll do it," Kenta said confidently, flashing his trademark grin.
"Thank you, Kenta," Ms. Nakamura said, jotting down his name. "Anyone else?"
Aiko's hand shot up before Haruto could process what was happening.
"Aiko Hoshino," the teacher said with a smile. "Wonderful. We'll have two candidates."
Haruto stared at Aiko in shock. "What are you doing?" he whispered.
"Making things interesting," she whispered back with a mischievous grin.
The class would now vote between the two volunteers. Ms. Nakamura distributed slips of paper, and the students scribbled down their choice. Haruto watched as his classmates whispered among themselves, many clearly debating between Kenta's easy charm and Aiko's reputation for being kind and dependable.
When the votes were collected and tallied, Ms. Nakamura announced the results.
"With twenty-three votes to seventeen, your class representative is... Aiko Hoshino!"
The room broke into light applause as Aiko stood, bowing politely to acknowledge her classmates.
"Congratulations, Aiko," Ms. Nakamura said. "And Kenta, thank you for volunteering. You'll be our vice representative."
During the lunch break, Haruto found Aiko sitting under their favorite cherry blossom tree, already jotting notes in a fresh notebook labeled "Class Rep."
"You're really taking this seriously, huh?" Haruto said, sitting down beside her.
"Of course," Aiko replied without looking up. "If I'm going to do this, I want to do it well."
Haruto watched her scribble plans for classroom events and jot down ideas for addressing potential issues. Her focus was impressive, and he couldn't help but admire her determination.
"Why did you volunteer, anyway?" he asked after a moment.
Aiko paused, tapping her pen against her chin. "Because it's important. Our class is like a small community. If I can help make it better, why not?"
Haruto nodded slowly. "That's... a pretty good reason."
Aiko glanced at him, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "See? I told you you'd be good at this. You think the same way."
"Yeah, but I didn't volunteer," Haruto pointed out.
"Yet," Aiko replied with a wink.
As the days passed, Aiko quickly settled into her role. She was a natural at mediating disputes, organizing study groups, and even arranging a classroom cleaning schedule that made the dreaded chore almost fun. Kenta proved to be a capable vice representative, helping her rally the class during group activities.
One afternoon, Haruto walked into the classroom to find Aiko sitting at the teacher's desk, surrounded by a group of students. They were discussing ideas for an upcoming cultural festival.
"What about a haunted house?" one student suggested.
Aiko nodded, jotting it down. "Good idea. Any other suggestions?"
"How about a café?" another chimed in.
"That's great, too," Aiko said. "We'll take a vote later to decide."
Haruto lingered near the back of the room, watching Aiko's enthusiasm light up the group. It was clear that her leadership had brought a new energy to the class.
After the meeting, Aiko approached Haruto with a tired but satisfied smile. "What do you think?" she asked.
"You're doing great," he admitted. "I don't think anyone else could keep the class this organized."
Aiko laughed. "Thanks. But I couldn't do it without everyone's support. It's a team effort."
Haruto hesitated for a moment before saying, "If you ever need help, just let me know."
Aiko's eyes softened, and she gave him a grateful smile. "I'll hold you to that."
As they walked home together, Haruto couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. Aiko had stepped up when no one else would, and she was thriving. Her confidence and determination were contagious, inspiring everyone around her—including him.
For the first time, Haruto began to wonder if maybe, just maybe, he could follow her lead someday.