"I want you to help me protect it"

Her words echoed endlessly in my mind. Normally, I wouldn't accept or even think about accepting such a request. However, her intentions managed to convince me. She reminded me of how attached and fond I was with the service club. She held the student council dearly, the same could be said for me with the service club. So, we're similar in a sense. Both of us, have something we want to protect. The difference is that she needed my help. That's why I want to help her.

But, there's something that felt amiss about her intentions to protect the student council. That couldn't be all the reason.

And then, my alarm immediately buzzed. I lazily stopped the alarm and dragged my body downstairs. When I reached downstairs, I was greeted coldly by my sister.

"Morning." She greeted me with a tone of annoyance and hostility.

"Morning" I greeted her casually.

I probably should have said sorry to her. However, I have a lot of stuff going on right now. And so, I'll apologize to her later instead.

I said goodbye to her and went to school by riding my bicycle. On the way, however, I met a certain former student council president with her bike, cycling towards the school.

"Hikigaya-kun!"

I was planning on ignoring her and making my way to school. However, she called out to me first by waving at me, which surprised me to a point, that I almost fell off my bicycle.

"W-what is it Shiromeguri-san?" I immediately asked while trying to maintain my balance.

"Sorry, Hikigaya-kun. I didn't mean to surprise you. I simply wanted to say good morning." She told me while looking sad with her puppy eyes out.

Tch, she is just too cute. How could someone ever gets mad at her?

"Hikigaya-kun. You're not paying attention again aren't you?" She asked me while pouting and stopped me from monologuing in my head.

"Ah yes, what is it?"

"You shouldn't doze off when someone is talking to you." She scolded me with her motherly tone.

"Ah yes, sorry, I'll keep that in mind."

I did it again, didn't I?

I always seem to be very passive when talking to her. Whatever, it's not that severe anyway. Atleast not yet. Thinking about it, maybe I should ask her about that. It's not the best time to ask but a chance to meet her is very rare.

"Shiromeguri-san. Can I ask you a question?" I asked her with a questioning look in my eyes.

"Sure, what do you want to know Hikigaya-kun?" She asked me gently, in return.

"Are you telling me all the reasons that you have for your request? It's not like the student council would be closed forever, right?" I asked her carefully while still trying to be polite.

Her expression turned grim. She looked away into the distance for a while. She didn't say anything at all. The atmosphere became very quiet.

After a while, she turned to me and said, "You're very perceptive to notice that Hikigaya-kun. Yes, you're correct. That's not all the reasons, I have. I don't normally tell this to other people but since you'll be a part of the student council, I suppose it's fine. Firstly, what's your first impression of the student council's members?" She asked me with a sad and lonesome smile on her face.

"They seem pretty normal...I guess?" I answered awkwardly.

"Normal? Hahaha...I suppose they do look pretty normal huh?" She said that while letting out a dry chuckle. Something, I never saw her doing before.

"Are you saying that the student council members are...unique to say the least?"

"I suppose you could call them unique, yeah. Those guys aren't exactly what they appear to be. They're just maintaining a façade in front of most people. Well, I wouldn't blame them though. They had a pretty rough time themselves because of their unique and peculiar traits. So basically, the student council is like a sanctuary for them. A place where they can socialize with each other freely without others judging them." She said to me with a forlorn smile on her face.

"I see..."

"Well, now that you've understood, I need to go ahead to take care of some things. Good bye!" She told me with her usual cheerful voice and went ahead of me while still waving at me.

That was unexpected. I couldn't imagine those people being weirdos. Well, I'll see their supposed "weirdness" with my own eyes, later I suppose.

By the time I finished my monologue, she had already disappeared from my view. I decided to speed up my pace to prevent myself from getting late.

When I arrived at my school, I parked my bicycle and went inside. As I was walking down the hallway toward my classroom, I noticed that everyone was looking at me. Actually, staring at me would be a better description.

Those stares weren't one's of admiration or encouragement. They were one's of resentment and pity. I was going to activate my stealth ability, but unfortunately, it wouldn't work, since they were already fixing their attention on me.

I could even hear some of them badmouthing me. Two of them were first-years. They are pretty close, so I could hear what they were saying.

"Hey, isn't that the guy who wants to be the student council president? It's ridiculous how someone so disgusting and unpopular wants to be the president."

"I know right. The president should be someone popular and handsome like Hayama."

"I totally agree, I would have voted for him without a doubt."

"I feel pity for that guy though. He is definitely going to fail as one of the worst presidents of all time."

"I know right, there's no way he could succeed."

They're right to some degree.

I might fail as the president. But I don't think it would be that bad since I'll have Shiromeguri on my side. She should be able to teach me the basics. I don't think I will accomplish anything amazing or legendary, though.

And so, I'll just relax and do my work properly without putting too much effort into it. That way, I could take it easy and nobody could complain about it.

It's a fool-proof plan.

After ignoring their malicious stares and making my way to my classroom, I immediately sat down. Just like in the hallway, stares and whispers directed at me filled the classroom. I planned to ignore them and wait for the lessons to start. After the lessons started, however, I slept through the entire class as usual.

Lunch went as usual. I went to my sacred eating place near the parking lot and started eating my food in peace. Fortunately for me, there were no signs of Sagami and her pawns. That bitch's voice would have certainly ruined my peace.

After school, I'll have to explain some things to Yukinoshita and Yuigahama. This was probably not going to end well. It's almost a given that they won't take it well.

And then the bell signaling the end of lunch break rang. I returned to my class and went on with class as usual.

After school, when I was about to leave from my class, Yuigahama approached me. She pulled my hand and dragged me outside.

"Hikki...Are the rumors true?" She asked with a sad expression on her face.

"I'll explain everything in the club room. You'll have to wait till then." I said to her with a serious look on my face.

"Okay." She responded bashfully.

After that, both of us immediately departed for the club room. We didn't say anything to each other on the way. It was total silence.

After we arrived, I opened the door and took my seat. Yuigahama also sat down as well. After the two of us had taken our respective seats, Yukinoshita, who was still reading a book, closed her book and greeted us.

"Hello, Hikigaya-kun and Yuigahama-san." She greeted us with her usual formal tone. However, there was something unusual about her tone. Her tone suggests that she's troubled about something.

"Yahallo Yukinon!" Yuigahama greeted her back while trying to be as cheerful as she could be. However, her attempts was futile, since Yukinoshita isn't that dense.

"Yo." I greeted her casually, trying to keep the mood, not to be too gloomy.

"Hikigaya-kun...There's something we need to discuss." Yukinoshita turned to me and spoke.

"Yes, I presume this is about the rumors of me being the student council president? If so, then yes. The rumor is true." I declared to her with a serious expression and tone.

Yukinoshita was rendered speechless and Yuigahama was left trembling. After a minute, Yukinoshita spoke up.

"Why did you run for presidency? That's very unlike you, Hikigaya-kun. Will you tell me the whole story?" She asked me while trying to keep herself calm.

"It was because of a request from the former president. Originally, someone nominated me for the position without my consent. It seems that the same thing also happened with the other candidate as well. After I explained to her about the situation and that we don't necessarily have to concern ourselves with matters like this, she immediately left to cancel her nomination. The position is something that I didn't desire or want, and because of that, I was also going to resign. However, Shiromeguri managed to convince me into accepting her request. Are you aware of what will happen if there's no student council president?" I explained and questioned her carefully while trying to keep my calm.

"Yes. If I am not mistaken, if all nominated candidates for the student council president have resigned or deemed unable to take the position, then the student council will become inactive until the next election. I assume that Shiromeguri-san would like you to prevent this from happening?"

"Yes, that's correct." I answered with a clear tone. I wasn't surprised that she knew about this. As expected of Yukinoshita Yukino.

"And why is the student council so important to her? Do you know about that Hikigaya-kun?" She asked me with newfound curiosity in her voice.

"It's because she holds the student council dearly. She is very much attached to it. There is one other important reason. However, I am sorry to say this but I can't tell you guys about it."

"It's okay. We understand Hikki. But...you joining the student council would mean that you wouldn't be in this club any longer, right? Don't you think the service club is more important?" Yuigahama interrupted while looking desperate.

"That's right Hikigaya-kun. Don't you think our club is more important than her request?" Yukinoshita scolded me as well, reinforcing Yuigahama's statement.

"Yes, I am well aware of that. Therefore, I plan to not put any additional effort to the student council than needed. Basically, take things easy. The service club is more important after all." I reassured them while letting out a small smile.

Their serious and sad looking faces immediately turned to relief.

And then, Yuigahama hold out her little finger.

"Promise me! That you'll treasure our bond more than anything else ." She said while looking at me straight in the eye.

It seems that she wanted to do a totally harmless pact with me which was a pinky swear. What are you, a kid? Despite my reluctance, I still did the pinky swear with her.

Let's hope that I can keep this one.

"I promise."

"Good bye Hikki!"

"Farewell, Hikigaya-kun."

Both of them waved at me while walking further into the distance. Eventually, their figures disappeared from my sight.

And now, it's time to go home.

Or at least that's what I was planning on doing. Until a certain conceited demoness appeared, to drag me into the depths of hell and satisfy her everlasting boredom.

"Hello, Hikigaya-kun." Her beautiful voice is like a chant of curses to my ears.

This is definitely not going to end well.

Author's note:

Hello! It's been a while isn't it?

I am sorry for the late update. Things have been extremely hectic these few weeks.

With Independence day coming up, I have a lot of things to prepare for the festival.

And of course, People on my class didn't helped at all. I'll have to take responsibility as the class representative again. And the amount of work school gave us also didn't helped at all.

Since I am done whining on the internet, let's reply to some of the reviews.

Calvados: I totally meant to do that. And also, looks like you're right.

hikigaya: No, he accepted it because he could also relate to her. And also, he already has a plan on how to work out the request and still maintain his relationships with Yuigahama and Yukinoshita. So, he is still thinking clearly to a degree.

I am sorry if changing the story's name inconvenience you in any way. I simply found a better name for it. I promise I won't change it again.

And for the others, I would like to say thank you for the supportive and encouraging words. And also, thank you for the people that followed and favorited this story. Those meant a lot for me.

I'll uncover the "unique" traits, the student council members would have on the next chapter. So I hope you guys look forward to it!

Daiva.

Signing out.