Junto continued to gawk at me and after a while, my confidence began to dissolve.

"Need help getting up?" I asked, rising to my feet.

Before he could muster his voice, I took the initiative to grip him by the upper arm (which was flipping built by the way!) and assisted him to his feet. In almost a daze, he stared at me as I attempted patting down the wrinkles on my dress that might've surfaced. When finished, and I looked back up at Junto, he was still a mess.

But he'd come back to his senses. And with that book gripped in hand, he retreated at once, and began surging through the pages in panic.

"U-um, I came up with really good pick-up lines—"

"Allow me to do the honours." I grabbed his book to stop his jittery hands. And with a wink and toothy smile that most likely even glinted off the lights, I fired one, "If you were a vegetable, you'd definitely be a cute-cumber."

Though to just about anyone else, that'd make them cringe and shrink away, it instead managed to loosen Junto a bit. His lips curved up a bit, and he dropped his arms by his side.

"I'm starting to wonder if you're a camera, Yonamine. Every time I look at you, I always smile."

I breathed out an airy laugh, ducking my head the slightest. Oh, it was on.

"Were you in Boy Scouts?" I asked. "Because you sure have my heart tied in a knot."

Junto didn't back down. "I'm no organ donor but I'd be happy to give you my heart as compensation."

Inwardly, I was screaming. Undeniably.

"Is there an airport nearby or is that just my heart taking off?"

"You know, I always thought happiness started with an H. Why does mine start with U?"

"Wow," I said. "If I had a star for every time you brightened my day, I'd seriously have a galaxy in my hand."

Junto's grin expanded to the galaxy itself, so wide and full of unimaginable joy that was probably surging through my own jittery veins. But the silence that followed the smiling, complacent mess he was, droned on, and he eventually he hung his head with a good laugh. "You made me forget my next one."

"I think I'll take that as a compliment," I chuckled. "I mean, we were being needlessly cheesy."

"Yonamine," he said, out of nowhere. He beckoned to my outfit. "You really do look stunning tonight."

My cheeks blazing, I peeked down, smoothing out the tiny, nonexistent wrinkles that might've been present, again. "My friend Hikari shoved me into this," I confessed. "I only managed to salvage my sneakers."

I rose up my converses. Junto laughed. He'd always laughed at my jokes; my humour.

But he always sucked at taking the lead.

"Do you..." I started, gesturing out to the others on the dance floor.

Junto was still centimetres from me, but instead of a beet red face it was one contorted in awe.

"O-oh, um..." he spat, "I should be the one to ask you—"

"And since you didn't I'll gladly sweep her off her feet myself."

Without warning, I was whisked away and collided into a rather firm body. I tipped my head back in surprise, only to be staring into the charming countenance of that blond masochist himself.

"Ah, Vice Prez," I said, ignoring the unusual sensation of his hands at my waist. "Glad you could make it."

"Master," Shuuhei said, wonderment in his eyes as he raked me up and down. "You are extremely gorgeous."

I pretended to fan myself. "Tell me about it. Who said the uncontrollable misfit couldn't get a glow up?"

Amusement tinged Shuuhei, but that only increased his strain. "I put you through so much trouble. So, so much. And I know I have to make it up to you."

I hummed. "What are you suggesting?"

He lessened the proximity between us, a smirk upturning his lips. "I would settle for a little private reprimanding and name-calling, but seeing as how that ended last time I'll keep—"

"—those fantasies to yourself," I finished, bobbing my head. "Smart choice, idiot. I saved your asses once, and never again."

Shuuhei succumbed to his starry-eyed, inferior state at my dominance. "Ah," he cried, taking my hand in his, "you've become so radiant. I know it's imprudent of a lowly servant to ask but, please allow me to be your first dance."

My eyelids rose high, more so when he planted a kiss on the back of my hand.

"Sorry, Shuuhei." My lateral hand was scooped up by my very own prince. I went as still as a statue when the nuzzle of lips caressed my hair. "Yonamine's dance will be mine."

Shuuhei shot his childhood friend a glare. "Junto, you're nothing more than a sorry mutt in Master Kasumi's eyes. You have less of a right than me."

"Says the guy that only had his fake glory restored because he was incapable of doing anything himself."

I inwardly commended Junto for the diss. I was probably rubbing off on that kind-hearted hottie.

The idea was soon thwarted when I heard Shuuhei's response.

"That's because I am nothing without my master. I deserve to kneel by Master Kasumi's side and serve her meticulously as a slave should."

"Then I'll be her boy..." Junto blushed till the tips of his ears. "Her boy partner."

"Master Kasumi needs no one other than—"

"—me," Junto finished.

I breathed out slowly. Considering they were the characters themselves, of course they could pull it off.

"Dumbasses," I said, slipping away from them and standing a safe distance away.

Both boys whipped their heads towards me.

"I read the shit," I elaborated. "I know this is coming straight from your damn manga." Humoured, I snorted. "And listen, as President of the Student Council, I guess we'll need to establish a new pet. If you two want to receive the honour of being by my side all day—"

I stopped my joke the moment Shuuhei and Junto went and got all ecstatic like little puppies. Their imaginary tails were wagging and everything.

"I was kidding," I sighed, shaking my head. "Never again, remember? You guys are the definition of impossible."

"Master," Shuuhei spoke up, taking a step closer and holding a hand to his chest. "Pick now who you want by your side: Junto, or me?"

Junto, not wanting to be inferior, surpassed Shuuhei and, though stiff with a reddened complexion, extended his hand. "Me or Shuuhei?"

I stared at the two of them in disbelief.

"As Student Council officers, we have things to get done by the end of today, Shuuhei," I said instead, brushing it aside. "This dance isn't running itself."

Shuuhei bobbed his head in submission."I already talked to Kakeru and Wateru. They should be heading to the sanctuary now to complete it."

"Then you have to join them," I said, "and do my work for me. I want to spend the rest of this dance partying with Hikari."

"Um, but..." Junto drawled.

"The answer..." Shuuhei continued.

I sighed. "Idiots."

Once in my vicinity, I tugged their ties downwards. Then, I stood tall and softly pressed my lips against each of their cheeks. Shuuhei's eyes were wider than saucers when I retreated, his hand flying to the spot. Junto's attention was on me, blinking rapidly in confusion. Both were stiffer than boards as they stood, spellbound. They'd both even turned redder than a fire truck, Junto more so as he gawped at me.

Without even a second to waste, I pivoted on my foot. My heart was performing leaps in my chest, and my face was red, but I shrugged nonetheless.

"We can leave the trivial details or questions for later. Right now, I need to focus on the Student Council. Follow me."

"Yes! We'll follow you for life, Master Kasumi!" they wailed in unison.

Pressing my lips together, I glanced over my shoulder only to see them fumble after me out of the gymnasium. I didn't see Juuna or Koga, which wasn't much of a surprise. Like Hikaru said, proceeding their talk with Mr. Jael about the suspension of the News Department, they were most likely being punished even at this moment.

Kakeru and Wateru weren't around either—but as Shuuhei said, it was because they'd already made a detour back to the SC sanctuary.

That sanctuary.

As memories flooded past my eyes, I pressed them back with as much force as I could. 'Sanctuary', my butt. That place—and the members—were nothing like the ideals the students and staff of this high school believed.

Both imperfection and forgiveness; sadism and masochism...

I'd probably never get used to them.

Since the beginning, and even until the end of this entire fiasco, Rokura High School was strung in a web of lies and secrets that now I was apart of.

I'd say for the better, but most likely, it was for the worst. When it came to me, it always ended up on that side of the spectrum.

But it wasn't as if there was no more turning back from here.

I could turn back and start fresh.

I could.

And doing so as the Student Council President now, was the only way.