164 Chapter three, 2016, school festival, madness and glory: 3 (1/2)

”I don't know where he is,” Noriko lied to the council president.

By her side Nao grinned knowingly, and she gripped his hand harder. The council president looked at what had to be Himekaizen's most mismatched couple and smirked.

”Think he's still here?”

”Maybe. Somewhere with Kyoko,” Noriko said and added some emphasis to 'Kyoko'. 'Can't you just accept he already has a girlfriend?' One of her best friends at that. She wasn't going to assist the third year girl in any way.

”It's been a long day. Maybe they went on a date,” Nao suggested.

'Thank you.' Noriko squeezed his hand again to show how much she appreciated his help. More than his good looks, his quick wits and ever present consideration attracted her. She grew fonder of him every day since they started dating.

”Quite a catch you got there,” the president said with just a tinge of envy in her voice.

'What's with you and other girls' boyfriends?'

”I know. I'm happy I got her before anyone else did,” Nao said as if the comment had been directed at him.

Noriko squeezed hard a third time. 'I could fall even more in love with you for that. Thank you!' She felt her cheeks heat up but she didn't care. The council president could watch her flare red for all she cared.

A chair scraped against the floor and Urufu's face popped into existence from their office area. ”President, could I have your attention for a while?”

”Yes?”

Just before the council president turned to face him Noriko saw him wink at her. Then Urufu's face blanked. ”I managed to borrow another six com units, so I'm thinking of making hot links between the three rooms we use.”

”Huh?” the council president said.

”You see, if we pair three sets of walkie talkies on dedicated channels we could...” Urufu grabbed her hands and led her around the bookcase to the desks in the office area.

Noriko listened to his fading voice and turned her attention to her surroundings.

Jirou-sempai and Sango-chan were busy loading the fridge with bottled drinks. Tomorrow they'd start the day with enough to drink for the entire crew.

Sho-kun and Hiroyuki-kun dropped two cases with drinks on the floor and left the club room for more. They met Kichirou-kun in the door when he arrived with a third case.

”Put it on top of those,” Noriko instructed. ”Nao, could you call Aika-chan and Fumiko-chan?”

”For you I'll call anyone,” he teased.

Noriko stuck her tongue out at him.

Nao grinned back before he waved her to silence when his call got through.