As time went by, the speeches of various recommenders and candidates also progressed in an orderly manner.
"The above is Nanami-senpai's support party - I made a mistake, it's a recommendation speech."
The girl slapped her head and stuck out her tongue. Her cute expression attracted a burst of knowing smiles and gentle applause from the audience.
Behind the scenes at the edge of the stage.
"…………"
The girl was staring at the manuscript in her hand without saying a word, her expression unusually focused.
Seeing this, Kato Yusuke on the side handed over a bottle of drink, "I bought coffee, do you want to drink it?"
"Well, thank you." Hui nodded slightly, but still didn't look away from the manuscript.
Even Yusuke doubted whether the other party heard what he said clearly, or whether he just responded instinctively.
Sighing slightly, he simply took action directly from the physical level.
First he took the manuscript out of the girl's hand, and then put the still slightly warm coffee into the other's hand.
"...?"
Facing the inquiring gaze he cast, Kato Yusuke said in a calm tone: "Anyway, let's have something to drink and relax first. There's no need to be so nervous."
The girl glanced at him and said nothing.
But Yusuke still clearly caught a little bit of dissatisfaction in the other person's eyes, and there was a hint of anger.
The corners of his mouth couldn't help but raise slightly.
Kato Yusuke pulled the tab of the coffee in his hand and lightly touched the other person's coffee.
"cheers."
Along with the crisp sound of metal collision, the young man's gentle voice entered his ears.
Then Hui's expression returned to normal, her beautiful black eyes looked at him quietly, and then she spoke.
"...I don't know what Kato-kun is thinking, but the speech that will be given later will affect the final result. Is it really okay to be so relaxed?"
Kato Yusuke replied: "Well, no problem. Rather, if it's Kato-san, I believe you."
The girl's eyes fluctuated slightly, then she opened the coffee in her hand with a "pop" sound, lowered her head and took a sip.
I don’t know if she really believed the other party’s words, but the girl did not insist on asking for the manuscript that was taken away from her.
Instead, while drinking warm coffee, he turned his gaze in the direction of the stage.
Seeing this, Kato Yusuke also looked over with her.
The person delivering the speech at the moment was Nanami, a senior from the track and field club. The voice coming out through the speakers was full of enthusiasm and vitality, and the jokes interspersed from time to time made the atmosphere very lively, and the gymnasium was enveloped in laughter.
"It's amazing." The girl breathed softly, and her white face slowly disappeared, revealing her slightly rosy cheeks.
"It's very interesting." The young man nodded slightly, and then changed his words: "But we just need to be ourselves."
"...I said it's not that easy anymore."
"It doesn't matter. After all, even if we fail, we won't lose anything, right?"
"It's not like that..."
Hui then let out a sigh.
Kato Yusuke smiled.
"That's it. I should say that this is obviously my business, but it has added a lot of work to you. I'm sorry."
The girl shook her head slightly.
"I was very happy before... participating in activities with Kato-kun and so on, it was even happier than I imagined."
"Kato-san?"
"I always feel that I am happier than when I played with ordinary friends before. I feel so happy..."
"…………"
"…………"
The two of them fell silent at the same time.
It's full of enthusiasm outside, but it's as quiet as snow here.
It seems that there is an invisible barrier dividing the world into two halves.
The atmosphere is a bit subtle.
After a long while, the girl suddenly asked.
"Hey... Kato-kun, let me ask you. Why do you trust me so much?"
The voice was soft and gentle, but also had a somewhat exploratory flavor, echoing in front of me along with the aroma of coffee.
Kato Yusuke paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Because you said we are companions, right? So isn't it natural to trust each other?"
The coffee in my hand is getting colder.
Hui nodded slowly, the bright sunshine reflected in his eyes dimming slightly.
At this moment……
"Then the next is a speech from the president's recommender, Kato, a first-year student. Please come on stage."
The voice of the election host came from outside.
"Then, I'll go up first, Kato-san."
With that said, the girl put down her coffee and walked towards the stage.
The slender ponytail hanging behind her swayed lightly with gravity, drawing a beautiful arc.
Her long, smooth and fair legs climbed up the stairs.
Just when Megumi was about to walk onto the stage, Kato Yusuke suddenly stopped her.
"Kato-san."
"...?
Facing the other party's confused gaze, Yusuke smiled and nodded: "If you feel nervous, remember to follow the method we discussed yesterday."
"Yesterday's method...?" The girl turned her head in confusion, but time did not allow her to stop any longer, so she continued walking forward.
After walking out from behind the curtain, the audience's attention gathered together.
My mind couldn't help but recall the boy's words yesterday.
——"If you feel nervous, just look at me when you give the speech tomorrow."
Megumi murmured in a voice that only she could hear: "...Even so, isn't it weird not to face the audience when giving a speech?"
Just when she was thinking this, she suddenly felt a figure in the peripheral vision above her field of vision.
Looking around, I could see that the young man had climbed up on the grandstand-like space on the second floor opposite the ceremonial stage.
Now he waved towards here and gave Yamaguchi a high-five beside him.
It's just that compared to the former's natural look, the latter looks sneaky and afraid of being discovered.
‘Ah, does this violate the school rules?’ Hui subconsciously thought while standing in front of the ceremony.
First he was slightly startled, and then...
Like cherry blossoms blooming, the corners of the girl's mouth slightly raised upward, revealing a beautiful arc.
Is there anything I can do for you...?
An inexplicable emotion gradually rose in my heart.
It made her feel happy and happy, and she seemed to have some unspeakable sense of pride and quiet high spirits.
The girl moved her palms to her chest, then took a small breath, and at a certain moment she seemed to finally make up her mind.
"……call."
With an inaudible breathing sound, she stretched her hands behind her head.
The attention of the venue was also attracted, and people subconsciously followed the action with their eyes.
Hook your slender fingers on the rubber band at the root of your hair, and then gently pull it outward.
Amidst the rustling sound, a waterfall of green silk like silk and satin appeared, and gently flowed with the wind.
The long black hair burst into everyone's eyes, swaying as if it were alive.
"…………!"
The gymnasium of Nuovo University suddenly became audible, and people held their breaths involuntarily, as if they were afraid of disturbing the scene in front of them.
"Well, good morning everyone."
In the silence created by the audience concentrating their thoughts on this moment, the girl's beautiful and lively voice penetrated deeply.
"Grade E of the first year, Megumi Kato. Thank you very much for having the opportunity to speak like this today."
With slow movements, bow your head slightly and salute.
The speech dedicated to one person began.
"About this student union..."
The soft sound rang out from the stage and slowly spread through the speakers, gently reaching everyone's ears.
In the stands on the second floor, Kato Yusuke was watching this scene silently.
The girl's figure was reflected in his eyes, and the girl's words echoed in his ears.
He was vague about what the girl on the podium said later, but the only thing that was deeply ingrained in his memory was the long black hair that seemed to be alive.