I smiled and looked at the dejected kids.
I couldn't be upset that they wanted to throw a party for me as a way of saying thanks for my hard work.
"Thank you, everyone. What have I done to deserve all this?"
"No, Rudy, you've done so much for us."
"Rudy's efforts are well known to us!"
"…Yeah, I did everything."
Luna and Kuhn shook their heads as they spoke, but Rie had a sulky look on her face.
I smiled at Rie.
"Right, Rie, I really appreciate it."
"…Hem hem!"
As I spoke to Rie, she coughed and blushed.
Just as we were creating a warm atmosphere,
"Seniors, if you're done talking, could you please help me?"
An uninvited guest who couldn't join our conversation.
There was Yuni.
Yuni was wrapped in colorful paper due to the fireworks that others had set off.
She was flailing her arms, struggling to get it off.
"Sorry Yuni…. I'll help you."
Luna began to carelessly cut the paper with scissors.
I chuckled at that sight and looked outside.
"It really does feel like it's all over now."
"That's right. The student council is truly done now."
The place that was always piled with paperwork was now completely empty.
Only personal belongings remained, leaving it bare.
I picked up the nameplate in front of my desk.
"I guess I should take this too."
As I looked at the nameplate, something came to mind.
I opened the drawer of my desk.
Inside was another nameplate.
Astina's nameplate.
I had planned to return it to Astina but completely forgot about it.
I wiped the nameplate with my sleeve.
"I should return this."
Holding the nameplate, memories of becoming the student council president came flooding back.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"It's a bittersweet feeling."
"You're right. It was kind of fun, wasn't it?"
Emily said.
Rie gasped in horror.
"I would refuse if asked to do it again. It's a miracle I managed to handle this much paperwork while studying…."
"Wasn't it somewhat fun, though?"
At Kuhn's question, Rie's eyes sharpened.
"…What was fun about it?"
"…Staying up all night with the seniors to handle paperwork?"
"Ahaha…."
Luna scratched her cheek and let out an awkward laugh.
Rie glared at Kuhn and Emily with spiteful eyes.
"Then you two go out as the student council president and vice president. Then it'll be fun with the juniors."
"That's a bit…."
"…Absolutely not."
The fact that the positions of student council president and vice president were several times more strenuous than other student council roles was something even Kuhn and Emily knew.
Even though the two of them said it was fun, they clearly didn't want to do it again.
"So, are you two not planning to join the student council again?"
"It doesn't seem like there's any reason to. I never planned to be part of the student council in the first place."
That's right, Kuhn only joined because I persuaded him with various benefits.
He wouldn't do it alone without a good reason.
I turned my head and looked beside me.
"What about you, Yuni?"
Yuni tilted her head at my question.
"Me? What about me?"
I stared at Yuni for a moment before speaking.
"…Never mind."
It was clear that Yuni wouldn't want to be the student council president.
She had always been uninterested in such matters, not to mention the Emperor's position or anything similar.
"Then who will be in the next student council?"
"Diark might do it, don't you think?"
Kuhn responded to my question.
"Diark, huh…"
He had always been interested in the student council.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})He ran in the last election but couldn't participate due to various circumstances, so he might take part this time.
He was a diligent guy, so he would probably make a good student council.
I smiled at Kuhn and Emily.
"When the next council comes in, make sure to hand over everything properly."
"Me? If Rudy does it…"
"I'm planning to go to the capital."
Kuhn's eyes widened.
"Are you going there to study to be a successor?"
"More precisely, to compete for the position."
"Congratulations on making it…!"
Everyone knew it was difficult for me to secure a successor position.
But the fact that I could at least compete brought congratulations from Kuhn.
Emily looked at Kuhn and then glanced around.
"So, does that mean we're the only ones left to hand over to?"
Everyone's gaze shifted to Luna.
It was known that Locke and Rie were going away for special training.
But no one had heard anything about Luna.
"Ah… I…"
Luna hesitated before speaking.
"I'm thinking of going towards becoming a Royal wizard."
"Royal wizard?"
"Yes, I thought it would be better to have people I know around…"
Luna didn't have any relatives in the capital.
Being from a noble family in a remote area, it would take a lot of searching to find even one blood relative.
So her mention of knowing people probably referred to me and Rie.
It wasn't a bad choice.
Rie and I could offer considerable support to Luna.
And with the frequent visits of professors to the capital, she wouldn't feel lonely.
"It seems like a good choice."
Luna beamed at my words.
"Right? Professor Mcguire recommended it."
"So everyone is really leaving…"
Kuhn and Emily looked at us with a hint of sadness.
"But it's not like we're graduating. We'll be back after a semester. And if there's time, we might drop by."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})I smiled and stood up.
"Then let's say our goodbyes for now. You all worked really hard this past year."
"…You too, Rudy."
"Everyone really did a great job."
It was a year that was long in some ways and short in others.
There were many fun moments, and tough ones too, but it was a year worth its while.
A year of meeting and getting close to many people, of learning many things.
With that, we exchanged our last greetings at the student council with bright smiles.
After exchanging goodbyes with everyone, Rudy and Kuhn were walking towards the dormitory.
"Kuhn, thanks for your help."
"It's nothing. I'm happy to help."
Rudy had been too busy to pack his things, leaving a lot of his belongings at the student council office.
So, Kuhn was helping him move his stuff.
As they quietly transferred the items, Kuhn broke the silence.
"It's going to feel empty without the seniors."
"Empty? You have Emily, don't you?"
"Emily and the seniors... they're different."
Rudy chuckled.
"Don't worry. Good juniors will come in. It'll be fine."
Rudy himself had felt a sense of loss when Astina left.
But good juniors came in, offering help and making his days fun.
Kuhn, smiling, cautiously broached a subject.
"Senior, I have a question, if you don't mind..."
"What's on your mind?"
"It might be a bit rude, but... Can I ask you one thing?"
Kuhn's face was serious as he spoke.
"Senior... Who is your favorite senior?"
Rudy broke into a cold sweat and turned his head away at the question.
Realizing he might have crossed a line, Kuhn quickly apologized.
"…Sorry. I shouldn't have asked that."
"No, it's okay. These things happen."
Rudy couldn't bring himself to answer the question.
Instead, he posed a different one.
"Kuhn... I have a slightly sensitive question too. Is that okay?"
"Sure. You can ask me anything."
Rudy hesitated before speaking.
"You're dating Emily, right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Then... how did you confess? If you don't mind me asking?"
Rudy blushed as he asked.
"A confession?"
Kuhn was surprised.
He had thought Rudy, of all people, would have some experience in romance, but his current expression suggested otherwise.
"…Hmm. My case is a bit unique, so I might not be the best to answer."
"Unique how?"
"Emily and I grew up together, so there wasn't a formal confession."
"What?"
Rudy was taken aback.
"So, you're not officially dating?"
"It's not that. A confession isn't always necessary to start dating."
"You didn't confess... but you're dating?"
Rudy found the concept baffling.
"It's just that we both knew we liked each other, so there was no need for a formal confession. A confession is just a way to confirm each other's feelings."
"I see."
Rudy replied, still a bit flustered.
"If it bothers you, perhaps gifting something she likes while confessing might work."
"Hmm…"
Rudy wore a slightly uncomfortable expression.
Kuhn watched Rudy with a wistful smile.
'If it were Luna or Rie, they would be overjoyed even with a simple word of confession.'
A grand confession wasn't really necessary.
Kuhn didn't know much about Astina, but he knew well about those two.
'But... to which senior is he planning to confess...?'
Kuhn gazed at Rudy, lost in thought.
It was impossible to tell what Rudy was thinking.
'I hope we can all see each other again when we return to the academy...'
With that thought, Kuhn continued moving the luggage.
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