friend chapter 11

“So, can I just write, ‘Give me a recommendation, and I’ll join the student council’?”

“That’s a bit…”

See? I told you being too honest wouldn’t work.

“Jade, what did you write?”

“Proud new student and salutatorian of the Department of Magic, Lumina Ashford, applying for…”

“…Did you really write that?”

“Yep!”

That’s a bit…

Seeing Jade’s application suddenly relieved me of all pressure. I felt like I could just write anything. If the third-rank student could write something like that, surely I, the salutatorian, didn’t need to put in much effort. I started scribbling away.

“What’s the first thing you want to do if you become a student council member?”

Having breezed through the motivation section, I hit my second hurdle. Jade muttered beside me, “I wrote ‘Executive Retreat.’”

When I asked why, she said she thought a two-night, three-day trip with me would be fun. Hmm. So, I just need to write something fun. I wrote down the two words: “Company Dinner.”

After successfully completing our applications, we lay down, chatting late into the night before falling asleep. As a result, I spent the next morning’s class dozing like a sick chicken. Whenever I managed to wake up, Jade would be next to me, diligently taking notes. We went to bed late together; why are you so fresh? Protagonist’s privilege? I felt a pang of resentment.

Perhaps because I slept through class, the day seemed to fly by. In the blink of an eye, it was after school. I left the classroom to submit my student council application. It was 5:30 p.m., and I had a little time to spare before the 6:00 p.m. deadline. The student council room was on the fourth floor of Element Hall 1, a bit of a distance from the classroom. I was worried I might run into Edward on the way. Just in case, I used a transformation spell to change my appearance, borrowing my classmate Mary’s face for a while. Sorry, Mary Jane. It had to be done.

“Oops.”

Walking slowly, I glanced at the clock tower and realized my mistake. I’d been too relaxed. I still had a long way to go, and ten minutes had already passed. I started running, feeling a bit rushed. Then, in front of Element Hall 1, I bumped into someone.

“Oh, I’m so sor…”

I couldn’t finish my sentence. I looked up to apologize and found myself facing an unexpected, handsome, silver-haired man. His fair skin and refined features blended seamlessly. He was a breathtakingly beautiful man.

“Be careful.”

The man I’d bumped into uttered those brief words and tried to pass me. I knew him well. Cloud Avery. He was the older brother of Lawrence, my childhood first love. And currently the student council vice president.

“Wait a moment, please.”

Cloud turned around when I called out. His indifferent blue eyes met mine. I held out my application to him.

“You’re the vice president, right? I’m here to submit my student council application. Can you take it?”

“Submissions are accepted in the student council room in Element Hall 1.” Cloud spoke without looking at my application.

“Excuse me?”

“That’s what the announcement said. We don’t accept them in the middle of the hallway. Submit it directly to the student council room.”

His voice was utterly dry. Cold, but not malicious, so I couldn’t really argue. Well… he has a point. I’d tried to hand it to him here because it felt awkward to walk together to the student council room after this chance encounter. If he insisted on following protocol, I had no choice. I quickly agreed and was about to take my application back.

“…Wait. Let me see that.”

Cloud glanced at my application and narrowed his eyes. His change in demeanor surprised me. How should I put it? It felt like a slight crack had appeared in his composure. Why?

“Lumina Ashford?” He took the application from me and murmured my name in a trembling voice, then stared intently at my face.

“Your face is different.”

His gaze was persistent, scrutinizing every detail. Uncomfortable, I looked away.

“I’m disguised for personal reasons. It’s really me, Lumina.”

“….”

Cloud shifted his gaze, slightly unnaturally. Looking up at the sky, he held out his hand. Confused, I remained still. He bit his lip.