Generally speaking, the people in charge of student discipline at school should be the Disciplinary Committee.
However, the Beautification Committee Chairperson, Sachiko Juraku, was the type who often neglected her duties, while Miharu Taki Sakura, as a Student Council member, was diligent. Therefore, she was often asked by Sachiko Juraku to manage school order.
Compared to Sachiko Juraku, ordinary students were more familiar with Miharu Taki Sakura.
Especially Kuroki Ya and his group, who had done a lot of cheating and swindling, and frequently dealt with her, having been reprimanded countless times. Their faces changed color as soon as they saw her.
They stood in a line like elementary school students, awkwardly smiling with feigned eagerness: "Miharu Taki-sama, why are you here? We won't bother you, we'll leave now…"
As they spoke, they tried to retreat.
"Wait a moment."
Miharu Taki Sakura stopped them, her gaze sweeping over the four of them before settling on Tanaka Yuzuna, and she said coldly: "You're the transfer student who just arrived this year, aren't you? Didn't I tell you that those guys are all scammers? Why are you still with them?"
Kuroki Ya and his group would often put on a friendly facade to lure new students into gambling with them, then use cheating methods to swindle money from them.
When Ayanokouji Kiyohira first came to school, Kuroki Ya also tried to trick Ayanokoji, but he ended up losing more than he gained and was taught a lesson by Ayanokoji instead.
Later, the few of them set their sights on Tanaka Yuzuna, a rich pushover, hoping to swindle money from him.
Miharu Taki Sakura had once caught them together and kindly warned Tanaka Yuzuna to stay away from those people and be careful not to be cheated, but she didn't expect them to still be associating.
Kuroki Ya and the other three lowered their heads, grinning sheepishly and having nothing to say, but Tanaka Yuzuna, who had always been timid, bravely said: "They didn't trick me! They are all my friends!"
He knew that besides them, no one else had accepted him at first. Although they often made him pay, it was his own choice. How could they be called scammers? That was too much!
Kuroki Ya and the other two exchanged glances, all seeing emotion in each other's eyes.
Tanaka Yuzuna was truly a good friend, daring to defend them like that in front of Miharu Taki Sakura… It seemed they should treat him better in the future and not always let him be the pushover.
"Tanaka-kun, I don't know how these guys tricked you, but…"
Miharu Taki Sakura thought Tanaka Yuzuna was the type who had been tricked but didn't realize it. Frowning, she was about to elaborate on their "dark history," but Ayanokouji Kiyohira suddenly spoke up, stopping her from continuing.
"Senpai, please don't get involved in matters of making friends. Let them handle it themselves," Ayanokouji Kiyohira looked at the four of them and said with a smile: "I can vouch for them, they really are friends."
"Since Kiyotaka, you say so… then I'll believe it for now," Miharu Taki Sakura frowned but still chose to believe Ayanokoji.
She wasn't someone who particularly liked to meddle; if she hadn't happened to stumble upon it today, she wouldn't have said those few words.
Kuroki Ya and the others' eyes widened.
What was going on? A single sentence from Ayanokouji Kiyohira actually made the meticulous Beautification Committee Chairperson, Miharu Taki Sakura, change her mind?
...Were their relations that good?
"Ayanokoji, since you have new guests, we'll retreat for now."
Without time to investigate their relations, Kuroki Ya gave Ayanokouji Kiyohira a look, and the four quickly withdrew.
"Senpai, you've come at just the right time. Would you like a cocktail?" Ayanokouji Kiyohira walked behind the bar, smiling and winking, "Were you satisfied with my 'special blend' last time? Would you like another?"
The "special blend" Ayanokouji Kiyohira referred to was the cocktail he specially mixed for her in the cherry blossom grove that night at Yomiuri Land.
He had "added ingredients" to the drink, allowing Miharu Taki Sakura to experience a dream-like, illusory sensation while fully conscious.
Even now, Miharu Taki Sakura often dreamed of that night when she dreamed at night, dreaming of the brilliant fireworks and the dazzling lights.
Sometimes her dreams would continue from that day, featuring scenes that made her blush and her heart pound, forcing her to wash her sheets and change her pajamas the next day.
Now, hearing Ayanokoji mention the special blend, she quickly lowered her head to prevent Ayanokoji from seeing the sudden blush on her face, then feigned a calm demeanor and refused, "No need to mix me a drink. I'll be patrolling the festival outside in a bit, so I need to stay sober."
"That's truly a shame… Then, how about a cup of coffee? Do you need sugar cubes and milk?" Ayanokouji Kiyohira said, turning his head to prepare coffee for her.
Coffee could keep her awake, so Miharu Taki Sakura did not refuse, "Just one sugar cube for me."
While she stood waiting at the bar, Meari walked over with her arms crossed, looking displeased, and sneered, "Isn't this Miharu Taki-sama? It's the Ryōran Festival right now. As a member of the Student Council, why aren't you managing order? How do you have time to come to our casino?"
Meari harbored great hostility towards Miharu Taki Sakura, always viewing her as an imaginary enemy.
This person was not only Mibuomi Aoi's fiancée but also someone Ayanokouji Kiyohira seemed to have a special fondness for; she had to be wary.
Miharu Taki Sakura was accustomed to Meari's hostility. She said calmly, "I came today to find Ayanokoji and gamble with him. After the gambling is over, I will naturally go to work."
"Gambling… You're not talking about the eighty million gambling, are you?"
"...Yes, precisely." Miharu Taki Sakura nodded.
When it came to this, Meari instantly lost her confidence.
The money was lost from her hands, and now Ayanokouji Kiyohira had to personally take action.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira smiled as he placed the coffee in front of her: "I thought you would wait a few days until you were less busy to find me, but I didn't expect you to come today."
"It's fine, I'm not that busy." Taking the coffee and looking at Ayanokoji in front of her, Miharu Taki Sakura's gaze softened.
"Most of the work I needed to do was completed last week with your help. Most of the personnel management during the Ryōran Festival is handled by the Disciplinary Committee members; I only need to assist them."
"So, you have a lot of free time?" Ayanokouji Kiyohira's eyes lit up.
"That's not entirely true. During the Ryōran Festival, unexpected situations are bound to arise, and I must prepare for them in advance." Miharu Taki Sakura also smiled, "At least, I still have time to gamble with you."
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