“SATSUKI, is Mr. Shindo coming to pick you up?” asked classmate and fellow Student Council member Alice Misakimori as they were checking the flower arrangements in the Student Council Room for the exhibition.
Not too long ago, the room was bustling with the Student Council and its advisor. But the crowd gradually dispersed until it was down to the Student Council President, Satsuki, and the Activities Assistant, Alice.
“Yes, he should be here any minute now,” Satsuki answered. Checking over the flower arrangements with binder in hand, Satsuki held the pen to her lips as she fell into a moment of contemplation. She spun on her heel to face Alice so sharply that her skirt flared scandalously.
“Hmmm? By any chance, are you staying late because of Shindo?” she asked in a slightly teasing tone.
Rather than dodge the question or act guilty, Alice boldly came clean! “Yes, I sure am. My feet are glued to this spot till the man shows up,” she proclaimed jokingly with a grin.
Alice was a good-humored girl with a likeable personality. She was such a kindhearted girl, she treated Satsuki just like anyone else while most students found her unapproachable because of her loftiness and social status as a member of the most powerful family in the school.
A fellow third year, Alice’s family owned a nationwide restaurant chain. Her chauffeur was none other than Matsunaga, whom Shindo enjoyed shooting the breeze with whenever he visited the Guardian’s Lounge.
“Well, Shindo certainly is lucky to have someone as adorable as you waiting for him,” Satsuki replied and giggled happily with her mouth hidden behind her hand.
Alice over-exaggeratedly swished her hands across her face as she cried, “Lucky? Over me? Please! We’re talking about the man who always gets to be with you. I bet you have to be super attractive to catch his eye... If only I were as pretty as you! Then I’d have the courage to tell him how I feel.”
With the smile still on her face, Satsuki turned her attention back to the flowers lined against the wall. Drawing the charm of the flowers to their full potential, these arrangements were supposed to go on display in the school’s flower arrangement exhibition. The plan was to carry them to the classroom where they would be displayed the following day.
A fair number of heiresses studied the art of ikebana or flower arranging. So while they were put together by students, each piece was truly a work of art. Satsuki was personally making one as the President of the Student Council, but it was supposed to go outside the exhibition entrance rather than inside with the other arrangements.
“A bunch of girls admire Mr. Shindo—not that I’m surprised. He really is wonderful. You two were made for each other. I’m so jealous,” Alice continued.
“I’ll be sure to pass on the compliment. But in all honesty, I’m happy to hear you speak so well of my attendant,” Satsuki returned the pleasantry.
“He looks just like a prince when he escorts you. No, I guess he’d be a knight since he’s protecting you.”
Simply pulling forth the memory of Shindo serving Satsuki on a daily basis evoked a dreamy sigh from Alice. The young woman harbored feelings of admiration for the older man... Her heart treaded a razor-thin tight rope; one slip and those feelings of “admiration” would turn to “love”...
Alice’s feelings flowed into Satsuki’s mind... A pang of pain stabbed her chest. The moment those emotions filled her heart—
The vase on top of the accent table next to Alice suddenly toppled, breaking with a loud crash by her feet!
“Eiiyaa!!” Alice squeaked as she jumped back! “...That nearly gave me a heart attack... How in the world did that fall?”
“Are you okay, Alice?” Satsuki asked.
If Alice failed to jump back, her feet would’ve been covered in glass. The spray of shards could have led to some nasty cuts.
On the other hand, there was a rug spread across the floor in the Student Council Room. It should have offered sufficient cushion to prevent the vase from shattering, but Alice was too rattled over the scare to notice.
“What a mess! I’ll let the Cleaning Club know about it,” Alice offered. Most students were prohibited from touching anything dangerous that could potentially hurt them.
Just as she was about to call the Cleaning Club on the internal phone system, Satsuki stopped her. “Don’t worry about it. Won’t your chauffeur be waiting in the car for you by now? I can handle the rest.”
“But...”
“It’s fine! It’s just one, quick call. You, on the other hand, should get ready to go already. You’re going to keep your chauffeur waiting,” Satsuki insisted.
I can’t believe she’s even worrying about someone else’s chauffeur. Satsuki really is a sweetheart, Alice thought to herself as she grabbed her briefcase and threw Satsuki a warm smile.
“Well, I guess I’ll be heading out then, Satsuki. Please be sure to tell Mr. Shindo ‘Hello’ for me.”
“Yes, of course,” Satsuki replied, returning the smile. But on the inside, she felt like she was going to scream.
...No... I don’t want to tell Shindo how another girl feels, Satsuki thought once she was alone in the Student Council Room.
Rooted in place, she shifted her eyes to the broken shards that once formed a vase. The moment Alice’s budding romantic feelings flowed into Satsuki, a great wave crashed in her heart.
Stop it... Don’t look at Shindo like that, she thought. The wave of emotions was painful and sad, but also resembled hatred. Such was the nature of jealousy.
Her heart ached. The wrenching sorrow was unbearable. Placing the binder upon the desk assigned to her as the Student Council President, she pressed her hands against her chest with her head dropped between her shoulders.
“...Shindo...” she said, whispering his name. Satsuki could tell the beating of her heart jumped an octave.
When did this first start...? She wondered when these wicked emotions began to swirl within. When did she develop the emotion known as “jealousy”? It was such a painful, sad...and embarrassing emotion.
Satsuki was confident that Shindo belonged to her. Yet whenever she sensed someone else looking at him, this hideous emotion beyond her control would rear its ugly head. It was the green-eyed monster.
It never surfaced within Satsuki during her childhood. Back then, it genuinely made her happy to simply be with Shindo.
How about now? Am I happy simply being with him? No. Somewhere along the way, she started to yearn for something more.
She wanted him to touch her. To touch her shoulders, her hands, and her hair. She grew to yearn for his touch. And when he did touch her, it was coupled with a strange sense of exaltation as her chest grew tight.
“I...am so selfish...” Satsuki whispered beratingly. “Shindo,” she started, but continued in her mind, I...have always...
As Satsuki lost herself in thought, a knock came at the door. Considering the time, it was most likely Shindo. Jumping to the conclusion it was the man she longed to see, Satsuki grew antsy waiting for the door to open and called out, “Come in!” A few seconds later, her expectations were dashed to the ground.
“Excuse me,” came the voice of none other than...
“Mr. Kurihara?” she asked in surprise. It was Satsuki Narusawa’s attendant, Tadayuki Kurihara.
He offered her a bow before shutting the door behind him. “Thank goodness! I’m so glad you’re still here, Miss Tsujikawa,” he exclaimed with a carefree smile as he stealthily locked the door behind his back without Satsuki’s knowledge. “To be honest, I wanted to offer you my gratitude.”
“Offer me your gratitude?”
“That’s right. It made me so happy when you personally extended an invitation to a nobody like me... You have my deepest gratitude,” Kurihara emphasized and lowered his head in a deep bow.
The sight of such humble chivalry brought a genuinely tender smile to Satsuki’s lips. “No, this is hardly necessary. It’s true that you looked out for me, after all. That made me happy,” Satsuki responded.
Kurihara raised his head and began walking toward her. “Thank you, Miss Satsuki. I’m truly overjoyed to hear you say that... My heart has pined for you from the moment I first laid eyes on you.”
“Huh...?” Satsuki croaked, taken aback by what sounded like a love confession.
Kurihara grasped both of her hands, holding them tight before his chest as he continued, “I simply must repay you, apple of my eye... I want you to know how I yearn for you.”
“Mr. Kurihara?” Something about him wasn’t quite right. The moment she tried to break away, Kurihara pulled her into an embrace! “M-Mr. Kurihara...!”
“Miss Satsuki...” She was frozen with shock in his embrace. She could feel his steamy breath when he whispered so close to her ear. “Allow me to show my gratitude...” he breathed.
“...Show your...?” Satsuki tried to repeat, but was too stunned to properly form the words. Kurihara grinned evilly with her pressed against his chest.
“I’m going to show you such a good time...”