"What's wrong, kaichou? You looked dazed."

His sentence made me come back to reality.

"N-nothing."

I looked at Yukimura and saw that he was looking at me with a glint in his eye.

As if he knew what I was thinking.

No way.

I need to be calm. Quick. You can do this, Misaki.

Okay. I'm calm.

"Yukimura, have you finished sorting through the papers?..."

Awkward silence.

All I can hear is the excited chattering of the people outside. The chirping of the birds. The rustling of the wind. The tree leaves dancing in the air. Basking in the scarlet colored sunset.

And finally, our breathing in the room.

It made me painfully aware that we were the only people left in this floor.

Let alone in this room.

The atmosphere is quickly turning intense.

I feel cramped in here despite the spaciousness of the room.

I can feel small beads of sweat forming at the back of my neck.

I can't breathe.

Someone break this suffocating and deafening silence.

"Kaichou…"

Yukimura finally broke it.

"Y-Yes?... ?!"

Maybe it would have been better if Yukimura didn't break the silence.

Maybe it would have been better if he didn't look at me with those hazelnut eyes of his.

Maybe it would have been better if we just ignored each other and continued peacefully with our work.

But, no…

He had to look at me with those eyes of his.

And I knew…

Something is going to happen.

He abruptly stood up and walked over to my desk. He put his arms on top on either side of me and leaned in close.

Too close.

His face just a breath's away.

It's as if he wants to deliberately display his dominance over me.

Before I think too deep about it, Yukimura smiled.

"Kaichou, I've finished everything."

"That's good. You can go home now. Good work."

He's not moving.

He's just standing there. I could see his fists gripping the sides of the desk. Clenching and unclenching as if he's restless.

My gaze returned at his face and I could see that he wants to say something. His brow furrowed in deep contemplation.

"Kaichou… I'm already graduating…"

"… Yes, you are…"

"Will I still see you?"

That was unexpected.

He was thinking about whether we'll see each other again.

But no matter what happens, I shouldn't let us be alone again.

I'm not sure if I can take this tension between us.

I'm not sure what I'll do the next time it's only the two of us in the room.

"Of course you will. You're always welcome to come back here when you have the time."

Just as long as we're not alone.

"Can we still hang out together?"

Just as long as we're not alone.

"Yeah. We'll bring the rest of the student council members, too."

Just as long as we're not alone.

"….…"

"….…"

"Kaichou… Do you not want to spend time with me… with just the two of us?"

Just as long as we're not alone…

Is what I said.

But, I can't bring myself to say it...

I looked directly in his eyes.

"No. I want to hang out with you, too, Yukimura."

He suddenly let out a shaky breath and laughed. Being the 'Cute Yukimura' once more.

"I seriously thought you do not want to spend time with me anymore."

He laughed some more.

"… How could I think of that?"

I did think of that.

I can't handle you all by myself. Something weird is happening to me whenever we're alone.

Like right now.

But, how could I refuse you?

I could never refuse you.

After all, you're the most important person in my life.

"Then, now that's settled. Let me help you with other stuff, kaichou!"

"No, it's okay. I'll be finished in a minute anyway. You still need to prepare for graduation."

"Nope. The other things have been taken care of. I just need to show up at the day itself. How about you, kaichou? Wouldn't you be giving a speech as the student council president?"

"Yes. I'll be there."

"That's great. You'll see me graduate."

"… Yeah."

That kinda makes me sad.

Yukimura will be graduating. Of course he is. After all, he is a third year already. I'll even see him leave this school two days from now.

He won't be a student here anymore. He won't be the vice president anymore. He won't be talking to me anymore. He won't see me anymore.

I won't see him anymore.

This makes me feel nostalgic.

No. Stay strong, Misaki. He's not your knight in shining anymore. He'll be going to university soon. I'm sure he'll meet a lot more people. He will be attending a co-ed university anyway. He'll meet a lot more girls. And, someday, he'll fall in love with one of them.

That hurt more than I realized.

I cannot confess to him. I'll just bring him more trouble. Especially with his preparations to go to college. I cannot trouble him anymore.

"Kaichou, is something bothering you?"

"What?... Ah, no…"

His expression grew dim. He had a stern look on his face. And, he looked a little… hurt?

"Kaichou… Why won't you rely on me more?"

What?

"Why won't you rely on me more?! You're always hiding what you're really feeling. You've always kept your problems to yourself. I could see you when you're suffering and you still won't say a word about it… Am I really that unreliable?..."

"Y-Yuki-"

"I've already changed. I've tried so hard to change. I didn't only want to change for myself. I wanted to change for you, too. I wanted to be someone you can rely on."

He's not showing it but his hands were slightly trembling. His hazel eyes were pure honesty. Proudly showing his vulnerability. He was silently but strongly facing me. Telling me to believe in him. In his words. In his feelings.

"You are already a big help to me, Yukimura. Not just with the work of the student council, but to me personally, as well. You don't know how much you've supported me. I may not be saying all my problems to you. But, you were always like my own ray of sunshine. All those times I've spent with you, you were working so hard to reach your goal. You don't know how much you've cheered me up just by never giving up. You gave me hope."

"Then… why won't you rely on me more?"

"You've always known that I'm not that type of person, Yukimura."

"… I'm sorry. I know. I just selfishly blurt out my feelings. There won't be a time anymore when I can say this after all."

My chest... is hurting.

"…Come on. Don't be sad, Yukimura. We're close friends, aren't we?"

"But maybe not close enough…"

Huh?

"Then, kaichou, just tell me one last thing. What was that expression you made when I said I'll be graduating?"

"!"

Have I been found out?

No. Stay cool, Misaki.

"Of course, I'll be sad. The rest of the student council will be. You were doing a good job as the vice president of the school."

"No, there was something more with your expression. That's not how a fellow council member or a fellow friend feels."

"We're close friends, right? That must be why?"

No... stop.

"That's not it!"

He suddenly smashed the table with his hands. That surprised me. He surprised himself, too.

"... I'm sorry but... You can't fool me, kaichou... We've been together for the past year. I know you more than anyone. I know when you're lying to me… Don't lie to me ever again."

"…..….."

Yukimura can't know my feelings. The last thing I want is to cause a riff in our relationship. And, it's even right before he leaves this school! I don't want our relationship to be awkward. It doesn't matter what he just said. Lie, Misaki. Lie!

"I- I don't know what you're talking about."

"…..….."

"You lied."

"…..….."

"It looks like you're not gonna say it 'til the end, huh?"

"…..….."

"Fine."

He suddenly put his hands on either side of my face and raised my face.

Making sure that I was staring right into his eyes. Then…

"I love you, kaichou."