Naoki picked up the mop and began pretending to clean well, not pretending exactly. She *was* supposed to be cleaning, after all.
The footsteps stopped outside the door. Naoki lifted her head as if by accident and locked eyes with the woman standing there.
She had long, jet-black hair tied into a ponytail that draped over her right shoulder, delicate features, and an aura of quiet elegance. Her demeanor was calm but not dull, clearly intelligent and well-mannered. Just one look and you could tell this girl was the studious, dependable type.
The system flashed a prompt identifying the newcomer:
**Student Council Secretary Sayaka Igarashi**
One of the capture targets.
Compared to Miharutaki Sakura, Sayaka gave off a more restrained, composed energy, very fitting for someone in charge of paperwork and order.
She stopped outside the door without coming in.
"Just a few more minutes," Naoki said. "The meeting's at three, right?"
Right. It wasn't even two yet. You're *really* early, aren't you?
Sayaka, holding a stack of documents, stepped inside without replying. She went straight to the bookshelf and began organizing papers.
Was this what it felt like to be completely ignored?
Naoki started to seriously question whether the charm potion she'd used earlier had any effect at all. These women had nerves of steel.
Still, cleaning the Student Council building *was* a great gig. Most regular students never got this kind of access to high-ranking council members.
Even a brief chat might help leave an impression. Anything to bump her rank a little.
The room was almost done. But Sayaka still seemed uninterested in talking. Naoki couldn't just let this opportunity slip.
Desperate times.
"Use: Charm Card."
In an instant, Naoki transformed metaphorically into a feline seductress radiating pheromones.
She grabbed a cloth and sashayed over to the bookshelf.
"Sayaka-sama, I haven't wiped the shelves yet," she purred softly.
Then she started wiping, movements as graceful as a dance.
Yes, she was being *very* deliberate.
She wanted to test how effective the Charm Card really was on a capture target.
Ordinary girls didn't stand a chance. But would it work here?
Sayaka closed the folder she was holding and slid it back onto the shelf. Her composed expression twitched.
She'd never seen anything like this.
It felt like a cat was dancing next to her, doing everything it could to get her attention. It was... bizarre.
"What's your name?" she finally asked.
Naoki lit up. "Naoki Utsugi."
Sayaka's tone turned cool. "Naoki Utsugi, is it? Don't come back tomorrow."
Naoki blinked. "...What?"
"You're fired."
And with that, Sayaka turned and walked away.
!!!
"Why?!" Naoki blurted.
"We need cleaners, not dancers."
Naoki: ...
"System! Get out here! Your Charm Card is totally useless it backfired!"
The system popped up. "You really don't get it, do you? You went in *way* too strong. That's like meeting a girl for the first time and immediately saying, 'Let's get a room.' Perverts might love it. Normal people? Not so much."
Naoki had no comeback.
So the Charm Card wasn't a silver bullet. Timing mattered.
This was bad. She'd paid a heavy price just to test it out.
Losing this job wasn't an option.
Just then, heavier footsteps echoed from the hallway. Naoki caught a glimpse of a familiar face and instantly switched gears.
"Sayaka-sama, please! Forgive me! I really can't afford to lose this job!" she cried, voice trembling and eyes filling with tears.
Sayaka paused, puzzled by the sudden transformation. She turned around just in time to see Miharutaki Sakura walking in.
"You?"
The scene of a pitiful girl clutching a rag, tears glimmering, immediately drew Sakura's attention.
She recognized her instantly. It had only been a few days since she'd dealt with that whole incident.
And she'd heard the rumors Naoki had gotten into trouble with some students and was now facing becoming livestock due to a gambling loss.
Seeing her here now only confirmed those whispers.
If she was cleaning for money, things really *were* bad.
While none of this was directly Sakura's fault, the girls who were punished had clearly taken out their frustration on Naoki. In that sense, she *was* partially responsible.
Sympathy welled up inside her.
**System: Miharutaki Sakura's affection +3 due to your pitiful display.**
"Sayaka, what's going on?"
Before Sayaka could answer, Naoki took the blame: "I was clumsy while cleaning. Sayaka-sama got upset. That's why she told me to leave."
"But... I really can't lose this job. Please give me another chance."
Sakura, moved by her pleading, spoke up. "Sayaka, if it was just a small mistake, let it go. She can clean it properly this time."
Sayaka: ...
Now she looked like the unreasonable one.
She gave Naoki a long look but didn't mention her earlier bizarre behavior.
Avoiding a confrontation, Sayaka responded with a polite smile. She didn't agree, but she didn't object either.
That silence meant a quiet compromise. It was just janitorial work, after all.
Sakura gave Naoki an encouraging smile. "Alright, keep cleaning. It's fine now."
Naoki nodded gratefully.
**System: Sayaka Igarashi's affection -2 due to your white lotus act.**
Oh well. A small dip was worth it. She could make up for it later.
The main target right now was still Miharutaki Sakura.
She was even kinder than Naoki had imagined. Charming her would be far more pleasant than the others.