Chapter Text
Sayaka Igarashi cared little for attention.
But some appreciation here and there would be nice. For god’s sake, she was the backbone of the student council一well, janitor most of the time. If cleaning also had grades, she would have beaten everyone in no time.
As neglected as she felt almost every day, if it meant pleasing the President, then that was enough. But she was human; humans have emotional needs. And lord knew Sayaka needed that good stuff. But that can wait. Her paperwork called for her, and the faster she could finish them, the better.
Her fingers ached and were about to fall off if she didn't stop. She could only sigh when she gave up, letting her limbs have a breather. There was still a stack of papers to sign, and it looked like Sayaka had to pull another all-nighter like she always did. That was fine. She had already tossed her health to the side multiple times. Hell, if her crush asked her to jump from a tower, she would.
Sayaka groaned. Her neck throbbed as she looked up to see an empty meeting room. The orange glow of the sun poured in, creating a warm atmosphere despite the loneliness. She leaned into the chair, arms crossed against her chest. An invisible weight rested on her eyes and shoulders. Her breathing slowed as her vision darkened with each passing second. And before she knew it, she fell asleep.
Her heart skyrocketed to space when she woke up to child-like giggles. The chair screeched as her body abruptly stood up. And she fidgeted under the soft gaze of blue eyes while apologies fell from her mouth.
"Oh, my, Sayaka. Please do calm down," she laughs.
"President! Forgive me! I didn't mean to fall asleep一" Sayaka shuts up when a pale finger touches her face.
The President towered Sayaka, and she rubbed her cheek with a small smile.
"It is alright," she says, "I was merely observing your cute face."
"P一President!" Sayaka stiffens as her cheeks redden.
"Don't faint, dear. The nurses left early today. And I do not trust anyone else to take care of you."
"... Don't worry, I won't."
"Good. Now, shall we head home?"
"Um, I think I'll stay behind. There's still paperwork to finish." Sayaka points at the taunting piles of paper. "You can go on without me, President. I'll be fine."
"Oh, that would be no problem." She crosses her arms. "I will simply extend the deadlines for you."
"No, no, it's fine! Really, it is, President!" She frantically waves her hands at her.
"Shush. Come now, Sayaka. You deserve a break, don't you think?"
"... But President, the paperwork, it's一" Sayaka pauses at the sudden glow of the President's eyes. And she slowly nods with warmth on her cheeks. "一It can wait, I suppose."
"Excellent, I cannot wait to go home!" She clasps her palms. "Oh, and, Sayaka?"
"Yes, President?"
"We can always do it at my home if you want."
"WHAT?" Sayaka takes a step back with a hand on her chest. Her face is redder than her blazer as steam comes out of her head.
"The paperwork." She tilts her head with a smirk. "What else could I have been saying?"
Sayaka shook her head with shame. Maybe she should stop hanging out with Midari.
"Nothing, President."
The President laughed again. Her eyes held the same warmth as the sun as she beckoned her secretary to follow her.
Sayaka's heart swelled at the rare times the President openly displayed happiness, the kind with no sadism behind it. If anyone saw Sayaka, she would look like a dog excited to see her owner. She smiled until her cheeks hurt while her eyes shined as bright as the sun.
As the President turned her back from Sayaka, she missed the star-struck smile on her face. And Sayaka held a wish一a wish that the President would always look at her and praise her. Maybe one day, it would come true, but for now, she could settle for this.