After a full day of commotion on Tuesday, and a day of discussion, the students' enthusiasm gradually shifted away from the incident and back to the upcoming Ryōran Festival.
This was an annual grand event, so it naturally required careful preparation.
As for the impact of the Prime Minister's death, their desire to discuss it had been satisfied yesterday; the rest could be left for the adults to ponder.
On Wednesday afternoon, still few people came to the casino to gamble.
While the girls were cooped up in the Cooking Room, bored and playing cards or Mahjong, Ayanokouji Kiyohira quietly went to the Beautification Committee office to help out.
If one were to say who in the school was most affected by the Prime Minister's shooting, the Student Council was the first, with the Beautification Committee being particularly so.
After the Prime Minister was attacked, that very night, a hundred more guards appeared in the school.
The school originally had two hundred guards, and now the number of guards was even greater, enough for a whole company; even if they were pulled for a drill, it would be more than enough.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira had long guessed that after this incident, Japan would adopt stricter gun control policies, especially targeting gun owners, and stricter management of Japanese police and Self-Defense Force members.
In addition, the Japanese government should strengthen the security of important politicians to prevent similar assassination incidents from happening again.
But what he didn't expect was that the first place to receive positive feedback after the Prime Minister's death was this school... Ayanokouji Kiyohira truly realized that this school was a cradle of politics.
The Beautification Committee, as the liaison point, needed to enter and upload the names of these security personnel one by one into the archives.
This kind of task could originally be done by any member of the Beautification Committee, but now, Ayanokouji Kiyohira was doing this kind of chore.
Miharu Taki Sakura was also busy nearby; seeing Ayanokoji helping, a sense of guilt and gratitude welled up in her, and she couldn't help but say, "Ayanokoji, you're really working hard. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I'd have to drag these tasks out very late to finish..."
Ayanokoji took a break from his work, looked up, and showed a bright smile: "It's no trouble at all. It's my honor to be able to help Miharu Taki Senior!"
Hearing Ayanokoji say that, she felt even more guilty, and her gaze towards Ayanokoji became increasingly affectionate as she sighed, "I should have kicked out those members long ago. They're useless at critical moments and can't be contacted at all."
"What about the other members of the Beautification Committee?" Ayanokoji asked deliberately.
"Oh, them? They're all members of the Zenshoukai. Compared to their actual duties, they prefer to help Mibuomi Aoi," Miharu Taki Sakura said while signing documents.
She openly revealed the internal situation of the Beautification Committee; all the members here were placed by Mibuomi Aoi, and she had no trusted aides.
Normally, Mibuomi Aoi would often let these members abuse the Beautification Committee's power for personal gain, carrying out his private tasks, but in the past, at least a few people would be left to help.
But today was truly too much; he didn't leave a single person.
Fortunately, Ayanokouji Kiyohira came to help her today; otherwise, she would really have a headache to death, not knowing how long it would take to finish these chores.
A girl quickly raised her hand and said, "Miharu Taki-sama, don't forget me! Am I not here too!?"
In the large office, there were only Ayanokoji, Miharu Taki Sakura, and this girl.
She was Yagyu Ine, the only committee member who stayed to help Miharu Taki Sakura.
"Yes, Yagyu Ine, you're here too..." Miharu Taki Sakura's eyes softened a bit when she looked at her.
Although she was also a Zenshoukai employee, she seemed to trust her greatly, valuing her orders more than Mibuomi Aoi's.
While others were just occupying their positions, she was the only one helping her. If she were alone, she didn't know how long her work would take.
However, Yagyu Ine was usually too careless and could only do auxiliary tasks; her speed in handling affairs was less than one-fifth of her own.
But as long as Yagyu Ine was there, it meant she wasn't alone, and the power of this companionship still brought her some comfort.
Yagyu Ine... Ayanokouji Kiyohira looked at this rather delicate-looking girl, his eyes slightly narrowed.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira remembered Meari saying that when she and Miharu Taki Sakura were gambling, this girl cheated by secretly taking a black piece, causing her to "lose a good hand."
Ayanokouji Kiyohira didn't think Miharu Taki Sakura instructed her; she didn't seem like someone with strong opinions. So... who instructed her to do this?
Ayanokouji Kiyohira quietly activated the lie-detector function of his Pinocchio Bracelet.
He feigned concern and asked, "Yagyu Ine, you're also part of the Zenshoukai, right? Mibuomi Aoi must have given you a task. Is it really okay for you not to complete it? Will he punish you?"
Yagyu Ine smiled cheerfully, "I'm just a nobody in the Zenshoukai. Mibuomi-sama hasn't even noticed me and hasn't given me any tasks. I really admire Miharu Taki, so of course I want to stay here and help!"
Miharu Taki Sakura was moved by her words, showing a touched expression. At the same time, the bracelet on Ayanokoji's wrist heated up and vibrated.
This indicated that the girl in front of him was lying.
As expected... The reason Yagyu Ine didn't leave like the other members but stayed here was because Mibuomi Aoi had assigned her a special task—to specifically monitor Miharu Taki Sakura.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira revealed a look of understanding.
No wonder Mibuomi Aoi was willing to let him be alone with his fiancée; it turned out he had left a monitoring "mole."
Ayanokouji Kiyohira's sudden arrival to help the Beautification Committee today wasn't a whim; he had received a call from Mibuomi Aoi.
Mibuomi Aoi told him that today was the best time for him to spend with Miharu Taki Sakura, and if he wanted to increase his favorability with Miharu Taki, he should go to her office.
At first, Ayanokoji was a bit confused, but when he arrived at the office and saw the empty room, he immediately understood Mibuomi Aoi's "good intentions"—he wanted him and his fiancée to "exchange feelings" privately.
This was his hint... no, his explicit statement that he had given up on his fiancée Miharu Taki Sakura and was willing to exchange her with Ayanokoji.
Now he was letting Ayanokoji "taste the sweetness," wanting him to agree to his deal.
Originally, Ayanokouji Kiyohira had wondered if Mibuomi Aoi was being too generous, not afraid that if the two of them exchanged feelings, it would lead to them getting into bed, putting a cuckold's hat on him?
It turned out he had already left a third wheel to monitor them, capable of keeping track of their every move at any time. If Ayanokouji Kiyohira tried to make any inappropriate moves, she would likely stop him.
However... did Mibuomi Aoi really think this little girl could stop him from "exchanging feelings"?
Was he underestimating him too much?
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