𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓.

── .✦ 4

Y/n let out an exasperated sigh as she juggled a mop, a bucket, and a few cleaning supplies in her arms, stumbling awkwardly down the hallway. "Why is this my life?" she muttered under her breath. It seemed like every time she turned around, Aoi Ryugoku from the student council had some new task for her. Today, it was cleaning up another water spill.

Just thinking about their earlier conversation made her roll her eyes.

Aoi had cornered her in the hallway earlier. "Y/n! You still owe me for ditching the last task," Aoi had said, hands on her hips, eyes sharp.

Y/n opened her mouth to argue, "Wait, that wasn't my fault! You didn't—"

But Aoi cut her off with a stern glare. "You want me to report you to the president for misconduct?"

Y/n bit her lip, rolling her eyes inwardly. What the heck? Of course, she didn't want trouble with the council, so here she was, once again, sentenced to janitorial duties.

She reached the janitor's room, balancing the mop awkwardly against her shoulder as she fumbled for the doorknob. "Come on..." she mumbled, the bucket slipping from her grip. She tried to open the door with one hand while clutching the supplies in the other, but it was impossible. With a huff, she had no choice but to drop everything to the floor with a loud clatter.

"Of course," she grumbled. "The universe just loves me today."

As she bent down to gather the fallen supplies, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She paused, curious. Pulling it out, she unlocked the screen.

It was Ayato.

Ayato: "Where are you?"

Y/n blinked, her eyebrows knitting together. What was he texting her for? Ok, to be fair, Y/n asked for his phone number yesterday but she didn't expect for him to text her first. Still, she typed back a response:

Y/n: "In the janitor's room. Got stuck cleaning again."

His reply came faster than expected.

Ayato: "What?"

Ayato: "Isn't that what the janitor's for?"

Y/n couldn't help but grumble, shaking her head at her phone. Right? That's what I've been saying.

Y/n: "I don't know. Aoi Ryugoku practically threatened me with student council doom if I didn't do it."

There were three dots that moved before she felt another buzz.

Ayato: "Stay there. I'll come."

Y/n: "Okayy."

Within minutes, Ayato appeared at the doorway. He stared at the gray door before opening the knob and twisting it open. He entered the small room his expression was as flat as ever.

"Why is the student council even asking you to do this? You're not some janitor," Ayato said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Y/n shrugged. "Beats me. They're all power-trippy over there, I guess." She crossed her arms, then glanced down at the mess of cleaning supplies around her. "Anyway, help me carry some of this, would you?"

Ayato stared at her with distaste.

"Well? Why else did you come here for?" She asked.

Ayato deadpanned. "I went to look for you because I wanted an update about Taeko."