I laid both of my hands on the door handles to my bedroom. I felt a slight drop of embarrassment run down my spine, this is the first time I’m bringing anyone to my room after all. But it has to be here, I determinedly thought to myself. I pushed the doors open. Nearly instantaneously I noticed Tamaki’s breathing pattern change—as if he gasped in quietude.

“Your room… I didn’t expect you to be this girly,” he said in a straightforward manner.

Wouldn’t this hurt a girl’s feelings? I thought before answering him.

“I suppose I am. Thwarted by your expectations?”

“Err– Well, no… It’s a rather pleasant surprise I’d say,” he’s getting more on the offence with his words by the second.

He might be getting in the mood, given the occasion, but he better not get anything funny in his mind.

“So, prez… Why did you bring me here?” he asked.

“I have a few things I want to ask you, in private,” I rolled the chair from my desk next to my bed, patted twice on it, to suggest he’d sit there and then I sat down on my bed across the chair, “Firstly, what did you talk about with Hirawa before you left school this morning?”

“Vice-prez?” he hesitated to speak, he brought his hand to his chin, he’s about to tell a fabricated truth, “She showed me the news article, after seeing that I was in total shock… so I ran out of the school.”

“Nothing else occurred before you left?”

His lips trembled right before he answered, “No, I pretty much hid until Soichiro left school,” he’s lying.

“Hmm… Second question; How are you planning to disprove the video from the news article? The little ‘trust circle’ you made might not believe a word you say and assume you’re the one who stole the egg from the lab.”

“I know that they’ll believe my word over the media’s.”

“Even Hirawa?”

“Well, that doesn’t really matter does it? She already said that she didn’t want anything to do with this situation,” he replied, way too quickly. He’s clearly hiding something, but what could it be… and why would he hide it from me, the person he first put his trust in…

“I suppose you’re right. Lastly, can you give me a quick rundown of what you’ve discussed with Soichiro, please?”

“Of course,” he said as he explained what he and Soichiro had discussed.

“Hmm… I see, so we’re leaving for Hokkaido in two weeks during our school break.”

“Yes, that way you and the others won’t get in trouble for skipping school.”

It’s very admirable of him to put us in front of himself, but he’s putting his own safety on the line like this.

“It’s humble of you to make that decision. However, when push comes to shove, we’ll make our way to Hokkaido… regardless of further consequences.”

He smiled and said, “Thank you, prez. I’ll go tell Soichiro.” He left the room.

Not even once did he look me in the eyes, I guess he’s still cautious of me…

***

The next morning I woke up at six o’clock. I always start every odd-day of the week with a light jog around my neighbourhood.

Upon leaving the house I saw someone walking a bit further down the street. It’s still rather dark outside, that’s why I’m failing to identify who it is. Whomever it may be, it’s unusual to see anyone out this early. Shaking the shady feeling I was getting, I ran closer to them. Quite quickly it got clear who the person was, no one other than Tamaki.

“Gou Tamaki-kun, what are you–”

“Waaah! Prez?!”

“What are you doing out so early?” I finished my question.

He took a deep breath before answering. I really spooked him, didn’t I…

“I woke up a little early and couldn’t fall asleep again,” he said.

“Because of Soichiro’s snoring?”

“Exactly! One Soichiro snore equals ten regular ones.”

“Fufu~ ten regular ones wouldn’t be close to enough.”

He laughed, “You’re right, make that a hundred regular ones!”

After a little laugh I said, “Well, I’ll continue my jog now. Want to tag along?”

“I would, but I’m not exactly appropriately dressed for the occasion…”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s just a light jog. You can take a bath and wash your clothes right away when we’re home.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Alright, if you insist.”

***

About twenty minutes later we arrived home.

“Phew, I underestimated your stamina, prez.”

I indeed don’t look particularly athletic. I managed to surprise him once again.

“Is that an insult to my physique or a compliment on my athleticism?” I asked, to provoke a reaction out of him.

“The latter of course,” he said, a little embarrassed, “Shouldn’t we be getting inside?”

“Of course, follow me.”

We entered via the front door, walked through the main hall and then up the stairs. Near the end of the stairway his every step started slowing down.

“Is something the matter, Gou Tamaki-kun?”

“Well, uh… isn’t this just the way to your room?”

“Yes, it is.”

A little taken aback he replied, “Weren’t you showing me the way to the bathroom?”

“Yes, I am. There’s no shared bathroom in our house. Every room has its own.”

“Really? It’s like a hotel here,” I was astonished by his remark.

“This building used to be one of my grandfather’s luxury hotels. Father took over his business and opened many more across Japan. This one was the first one my grandfather built, also the one that my father holds closest to heart. That’s why he decided to live in it.”

“Woah, that’s amazing! Are you planning on taking over your father’s business in the future?”

“I don’t know what kind of career I want to pursue, if any. But the way things stand, Soichiro doesn’t seem fit for the job at all… so I might not have a choice.”

He laughed the moment I poked fun at his friend.

“Say, Gou Tamaki-kun, what do your parents do for a living?”

“Argue,” he said, as he burst into laughter. That must have been an inside joke, followed by a rather cute reaction, “I’m joking, of course. My father is a mortgage consultant at a bank and my mother... she is a housewife now.”

“Hmm~ And what do you want to do later in life?”

“Maybe become a chef? Or something closer to my father’s profession,” his sentence ended the moment we arrived at the door, “On second thought, I’ll go take a bath in Soichiro’s room.”

I thought that idea would come sooner to his mind.

“Don’t worry, we’re already here and he’s probably sleeping anyway.”

“Well… I guess you’re right. Will you be getting in the bath first?”

“It’s quite spacious, we can both go at the same time.”

“W-what?!”

“Fufu~ I’m joking… Disappointed?” He got even more embarrassed and didn’t reply, “Well, I’ll be going first then,” I said.

The bathtub was filled for about four-fifths with lukewarm water. I slowly slide my right foot into the tub. Around this time of the year, when it slowly starts getting colder, the lukewarm water feels as if it’s boiling. My right leg, up to my calves, in the water. My left leg slowly follows. Ever so carefully I rest my weight on my arms as I let my body drown in the bath-sized paradise. I like taking baths this way, letting my skin pleasantly scald. The fragrance of heliotrope soap only adds to the relaxation of my body. This is the most at ease my body has felt all week, my mind on the other hand… not so. I can’t get my mind over the fact that Tamaki is currently nothing but a door-opening away from seeing me like this. My guard completely broken down, my face filled with an expression of delight. But somehow… I don’t resent the idea of him seeing me like this. If it’s him…

***

The first student council meeting was only moments away. This year there’ll only be one familiar face, Hirawa, my vice-president. All others are class reps from year two, who are automatically student council members. The third years however have the choice of not participating. The most common reason for that is to put their focus on their entrance exams. The first years don’t have student council duties, but they are more than welcome here. Last year there was only a single class rep from the first years here, this year, too only one.

“Pardon my intrusion,” speaking of the devil, Moeru was the first one to arrive.

“Welcome.”

Not much later the others entered one by one. Each one of them was visibly nervous from head to toe. Hirawa’s legs were shaking. Moeru was staring at me but turned her head the other way every two seconds.

No one could sit still whilst we were waiting for the last person to arrive. I looked at the list on my desk with everyone’s name and picture on it. Without scanning the room it was clear who I hadn’t seen yet, a second year named Gou Tamaki. I brought my fist up to my mouth to hold back a giggle. This was the funniest attendance picture I had ever seen, he sneezed the moment the picture got taken.

Shortly after, at long last, someone knocked on the door. It was the celebrity who had everyone waiting, Gou Tamaki. Weirdly enough… he didn’t seem nervous, not one bit.

“Sorry to keep all of you waiting,” he said as he entered the room, without stepping inside.

“Took you long enough! What colossal catastrophe kept you from hurrying up?”

Without saying another word he sat down in the only empty seat, next to Moeru who had just scolded him for being late.

Later in the meeting while everyone was still somewhat nervous, he still wasn’t. He even fell asleep somewhere along the way.

***

To think that my mind could get enraptured by someone who left a first impression like that. The ties of fate truly are a mysterious thing.

Leaving my thoughts on that note I got out of the bath, grabbed my towels and wrapped the big one around my body. For a brief moment my body froze, and my heart was throbbing all the way up in my throat.

This is unfair, Gou Tamaki-kun… I held my hand on my chest as I boldly opened the door. It’s unfair if it’s just me who feels this way.

Without thinking twice, or even once, I walked out the door, “I’m done.”

He was still sitting in the chair facing the bed, with his back to the bathroom.

“I guess It’s my turn then,” he said right before turning around. Unaware that I’m wearing nothing but a towel.

“Prez?!” he turned around and faced the other way, "You’re not done at all!”

“Follow me, I’ll show you how the bath works,” I can’t falter now.

“A-alright…” he half-heartily agreed.

I sat down on my knees, so did he. I pointed at the various things my bath can do, “And with this button you’ll get bubbles. This way your soap will be foaming."

“Prez… I think a monkey could be trained on how to use this.”

“What do you think I’m doing,” I jokingly replied.

“You got me there,” he laughed.

“Lastly, I recommend using this soap,” I said as I reached for one of the more luxury soaps. When I stretched my arm out, I accidentally loosened the tightness of the towel. It was wrapped on my right side, and I used my left hand to reach for the soap. I was too late and couldn’t save the towel from falling off my body. I closed my eyes as I accepted my fate, but suddenly the towel stopped falling. Tamaki reached for it in time and held on to it. My mind was so focused on the towel that it took me a second to realise his hand was pressed against my–

“Please, take it over from here,” he said as looked away, holding onto the towel.

“Thank you…” I said as I tied it back together.

I showed him the soap and let him enjoy his bath. Right before I left he said, “Thank you, prez.”

“My pleasure.”