『』『』『』『』『』
『Good morning, my childhood friend, Kikyou-chan! 』
"...Good morning, Kumagawa-kun."
The moment Kushida opened her dorm room door, she was greeted by Kumagawa's face only a couple of breaths away from her own, as if he had been waiting for her to appear at this exact moment.
『Hm? Oh, you don't have to be so polite. Starting the morning with proper manners... You really are premium quality, aren't you? 』
"Whatever... Anyway, have your wounds fully healed yet?"
Kushida looked over her partner's current condition. He wasn't covered in bandages anymore, but the injuries he had suffered, whether self-inflicted or not, from the Uninhabited Island Special Exam to the recent Sports Festival had been severe in their own way.
『Yeah... If anything, the morning sun is the toughest part for me now, but it's not as bad as I thought. As for my wounds, they're mostly healed by now. The nurse in the main building really has amazing hands. 』
"Is that so...?"
...That sounded strangely lewd.
『Mhm. 』
"So, Kumagawa-kun. What exactly are you doing in front of my door this early in the morning?"
『Aw, acting like you have no idea. Are you setting the scene for me? Aren't we partners? You're supposed to be my manager once we move up a grade. Of course I'd be standing in front of your door at a time like this. I know your schedule. Even your bedtime and when you wake up. 』
"..."
His cheerful laughter did nothing to dispel Kushida's bewilderment.
"And is there something you need?" Kushida asked him.
『Yes. I received a call from Nagumo-senpai this morning. He told me to stop by the student council room after school. Oh, let me carry your bag. 』 Almost as soon as he said that, Kumagawa took Kushida's bag and held it in his left hand. He looked at her with a bright, innocent smile that somehow felt hollow.
"...And why are you telling me that?"
Kushida had already gotten a bad feeling the moment she saw that empty smile. His wording was ominous enough to make her feel that something was wrong.
As they entered the elevator together, Kumagawa turned to her with a strange look.
『What are you talking about? He told me to bring you too. 』
"Me?"
『Yup. 』
"...Why?"
『Because you're my future personal secretary, obviously. 』
"That's not what I'm asking!" Kushida dropped her usual composure. "I mean, why do I have to come? I haven't even joined the student council to begin with. I helped the previous student council here and there, but technically I'm not even a member. If anything, I'm only a helper."
Due to her association with Kumagawa, Kushida often found herself treated as part of the student council despite never officially joining. Under the previous student council, she had gradually become Kumagawa's unofficial "personal manager," despite her role having little to do with the council itself. Much like Tachibana had become Manabu's personal manager, Kushida had somehow ended up in the same position.
Her fate had already been sealed.
That was why Kushida couldn't understand why she had been called as well.
As far as she was concerned, she had no real connection to the current student council. If it had been the student council led by Manabu, that would have been one thing. But aside from exchanging polite greetings, Kushida had barely interacted with the new student council president.
『Ahaha, don't worry so much about it. 』
"....."
『Just because Nagumo-senpai asked for you doesn't really mean anything. He's probably just curious because you're close to me, and you worked with the previous student council. Besides, I wouldn't let you join the student council right now anyway. 』
"What do you mean?" Kushida tilted her head slightly.
The elevator doors opened, and the two stepped out before making their way toward the classroom.
『Hmm... It's more that I don't want you joining the student council yet. That's a personal problem on my end. It'd make things troublesome later. 』
"....."
『Though whether you join or not doesn't really matter. Nagumo-senpai's already interested in you. Being associated with me is just one of the reasons. Even if you had nothing to do with me, I think he'd still keep an eye on you. 』
"Tch."
No wonder.
Kushida was slightly surprised to be called in this early. Still, knowing what she did about Nagumo, it wasn't entirely unexpected.
To begin with, Kushida had never been interested in the conflict between Manabu and Nagumo. She had simply been dragged into it against her will. That was why she had tried to keep her distance from the student council after the handover. Even if she knew she would eventually be pulled back in, she wanted at least a little breathing room before that day came.
That wasn't to say she viewed both administrations equally.
If she had to choose, she found Manabu's approach far more reassuring than Nagumo's, whose methods seemed far riskier for the students. Even so, that didn't mean she wanted any part in their conflict. She had simply been unfortunate enough to find herself caught in the middle because of her association with Kumagawa.
After quietly organizing her thoughts, Kushida let out a small sigh.
"I guess I don't really have much of a choice, do I? I suppose this is just the road my life has ended up taking. There's no point stopping halfway."
『Hm. A road... That's not how I see it, Kikyou-chan. 』
That was his response. As always, he looked directly at her whenever he spoke.
『Whether you stop halfway or not, I don't really think of it as a road. It's closer to a track. 』
A track?
Sure, that's what people called the lanes used in track and field. But for someone like Kushida, whose everyday life had nothing to do with running, the comparison felt oddly vague.
How can she put this?
"Doesn't "track" strongly suggest an absolute, fixed route from which you can't deviate?"
『What? I'm surprised, Kikyou-chan. Even a road is fixed. You can't just wander into another lane whenever you feel like it. You'll cause an accident. Changing lanes is never as simple as people make it sound, no matter what road you're on. 』
"...True."
Whether he called it a road or a track, the difference was little more than semantics.
In the end, whether people walked or ran, whether it was a road or a track, everyone still moved forward along a predetermined path. People often talked about having their "roadmap" laid out before them, but perhaps everyone was already traveling down one from the very beginning.
Following rules.
Obeying traffic laws.
It wasn't so easy to simply step off the course or leave the road behind.
You could change lanes, certainly. But if you weren't careful, you might drive straight off a cliff. Or crash head-on into someone coming the other way.
In the end, all you could do was keep moving forward.
Or, in Kushida's case...
Even if she changed lanes, she had a feeling she'd end up driving straight toward the cliff anyway.
Pushing that depressing thought aside, Kushida and Kumagawa arrived at Class D.
As usual, Kushida stepped into the classroom with a bright smile, greeting all of her "friends" one by one. Meanwhile, Kumagawa headed straight for his desk and settled into his usual morning routine.
After finishing her greetings, Kushida made her way toward someone special to her.
"Good morning, Horikita-san!" She greeted her with the same warm smile she always wore.
Horikita looked up from the book in her hands.
"...Good morning, Kushida-san."
Although Horikita tried not to show it, the slight discomfort on her face didn't escape Kushida's notice. Spending so much time around Kumagawa had sharpened her eye for the smallest changes in people's expressions.
Still, Horikita had no choice but to return the greeting.
"Hmm? What's wrong? You don't look so well. Did you lose a bet or something?"
"....."
"Hahaha, don't look at me like that. Even if you did lose some kind of bet, you shouldn't be such a sore loser. It's not very admirable, objectively or morally. What happened to your conscience? Do you even have any left?"
What an unbelievable thing to hear from Kushida.
She continued without waiting for a response. "Though if that's really the case, who did you lose to? And when? Wait, were you actually involved in some kind of bet? Who could've possibly beaten you?"
"Don't you get tired of mocking me, Kushida-san?" Horikita asked, clearly holding back the irritation threatening to spill into her voice. "You already won, and I already lost. Even if it was a loss pathetic enough to disgust even myself, what more do you want from me?"
"Ahaha, what are you talking about, Horikita-san?" Kushida simply tilted her head with the same cheerful smile. "When did we ever make a bet? I don't remember agreeing to anything like that. So I'm sure whatever you're thinking isn't true."
Horikita knew full well that Kushida was pretending.
But there was no point arguing.
More than anyone else, Horikita wanted to keep what had happened between them from becoming public. The defeat had shaken her confidence enough already. The last thing she wanted was for everyone else to know about it as well.
"Fortunately for you, I'm a very considerate person."
Horikita looked at her in silence.
"So whatever embarrassing misunderstanding you're carrying around, you can relax. I'm not interested in exposing it."
Letting out a sigh, Horikita finally spoke, "Kushida-san, Listen."
"I already am. I never miss a single word that comes from the wise lips of the great orator Horikita Suzune. My only fear is that I'll become so overcome with emotion at what I hear that I'll faint."
"...Can you stop making fun of me for five seconds?"
"I can. I just don't see any reason to."
"...I've already accepted the result. I lost. That's a fact, and I have no intention of denying it. Regretting it won't change anything, so I'd rather focus on what comes next. You can keep bringing it up if you want, but it won't change the outcome. That's all there is to it."
Choosing, for the moment, to ignore Kushida's tiresome habit of putting her on a pedestal only to provoke her, Horikita stated it as a simple fact. It wasn't an excuse or an attempt to save face. She had already reached her own conclusion.
The smile on Kushida's face gradually faded.
For a brief moment, she looked at Horikita with an expressionless gaze, her eyes so calm that they seemed almost devoid of emotion. The silence lasted only a couple of seconds before her usual smile returned as if nothing had happened.
"Hahaha... How boring." She let out a light laugh. "I thought I'd be able to tease you over it for a while longer. I didn't expect you to come to terms with it this quickly."
Knowing Horikita's personality, Kushida had never expected her to wallow in despair forever. Even so, she knew the defeat had dealt a heavy blow to Horikita's confidence. She had expected Horikita to remain trapped in that frustration for at least another week.
Apparently, she had recovered much sooner than Kushida had anticipated.
If she had to guess the reason, only one person came to mind.
And as if on cue, that very person walked into the classroom through the rear entrance.
"Ah, looks like Ayanokouji-kun is here." Still smiling at Horikita, Kushida continued, "Well, I suppose it's been fun tormenting... I mean, talking with you, Horikita-san. Though I have to admit, the ending was a little disappointing. Still, I guess that's good for you."
Horikita remained silent—or rather, silence was her only response
"Bye-bye, Horikita-san. Let's chat again sometime."
With that, Kushida turned and rejoined another one of her circles of "friends."
Even so, she couldn't help glancing toward Ayanokouji, who had just entered the classroom and quietly made his way to his seat.
Considering everything that had happened recently, and the amount of attention he was currently receiving from a certain person, getting too close to him would only invite unnecessary trouble. Frankly, she wanted no part of it.
That said, she was still curious to see how everything would turn out.
Especially if the outcome happened to be in her favor.
"What was that all about...?"
Ayanokouji, meanwhile, had noticed Kushida glancing at him.
He didn't have a good feeling about it.
The moment he entered the classroom, he was met with the same sight as yesterday. Kushida and Horikita had been talking again, and judging by Horikita's expression, Kushida had probably spent the entire conversation teasing her with another round of sarcasm.
That was the most likely explanation.
Still, Ayanokouji had neither the courage, the motivation, nor the interest to ask Horikita what had happened.
Instead, he quietly took his seat.
Hopefully, today would be another peaceful day without any new problems.
There were already more than enough of those as it was.
『』『』『』『』『』
—Just as Ayanokouji had hoped, the rest of the day passed without any problems. It was an ordinary day without a single incident... until an unexpected person approached him after class.
Her skirt fluttered lightly as she stopped in front of Ayanokouji, who was putting his things into his bag.
"Do you need something, Satou?"
"H-hey, Ayanokouji-kun. Are you free today? If you are, would you like to grab some tea or something before heading back to the dorms?" She twirled a strand of hair around her finger as though winding pasta around a fork. It was a bold invitation, and her intentions couldn't have been much clearer.
Horikita, who sat beside him, didn't seem to care in the slightest. After gathering her things, she quietly left the classroom, while Kumagawa, sitting in front of Ayanokouji, only spared them a brief glance before returning to his manga. Ayanokouji could also feel the eyes of the other members of the Ayanokouji Group watching from a distance. Hasebe, in particular, seemed unusually invested.
"Well..."
Ayanokouji didn't really have any plans after school. Meeting up with the group wasn't mandatory, so they probably wouldn't mind. Still, the way everyone was watching made him hesitate.
"Is this a bad time?" Satou asked, sounding slightly uneasy.
"Sorry, Satou. Today isn't a good day for me," Ayanokouji replied.
Just then—
『Talk about rude. 』
Kumagawa, who had only glanced over a moment ago, unexpectedly joined the conversation.
『You've gone to the same school as such a cute girl for almost a decade, and you'd still choose books over her? Come on. Someone would have to be a complete creep to ignore a situation like that. 』
"What are you even talking about?" Even Ayanokouji couldn't hide the exasperation in his voice.
Almost a decade?
『Oh, and just so we're clear, when I said "a creep," I wasn't talking about you, okay? 』
"Why would you be?"
It was practically a breach of etiquette to throw out a remark like that and then refuse to explain it.
『C'mon, Ayanokouji-kun. I know you can't wait to get back to that dirty book of yours, but choosing it over a girl's invitation? That's just cruel. 』
"Now hold on a minute."
Even Ayanokouji couldn't let a remark like that slide.
Being called a creep was one thing, but this was on a completely different level. Kumagawa wasn't just making fun of him anymore. He was practically dragging his name through the mud. In a public setting like this, a misunderstanding like that could destroy his social image in an instant.
Even Satou, who had just invited him out, was now looking at him with a puzzled, uncertain expression.
Just how determined was Kumagawa to ruin his reputation?
At this point, Ayanokouji couldn't help wondering what kinds of things Kumagawa had been saying to Hiyori behind his back. If this was how he acted in front of him, it wasn't hard to imagine the damage he had already done elsewhere.
He had to clear this up before—
『Ahaha, relax, Ayanokouji-kun. I'm only joking. 』
"..."
Ayanokouji simply stared at Kumagawa.
He couldn't get a read on the other boy's true intentions.
By contrast, Kumagawa didn't seem to harbor any ill will whatsoever and was grinning the same as usual—though his grin, his smile never slipped even as he mocked, slandered, and dragged down the people around him, so that part didn't make Ayanokouji feel any better.
"Excuse me~! Are Kumagawa Misogi and Kushida Kikyou in this class?"
Just then, a girl's voice called out from outside Class D, drawing the attention of the students who were still in the classroom.
Standing at the entrance was a rough-looking girl peering inside. The students exchanged puzzled looks, unsure who she was. Judging by her unfamiliar face, she was most likely an upperclassman rather than a first-year.
Other than that, the only thing that stood out about her was the sunflower-shaped pin clipped to her hair.
For a brief moment, the classroom fell silent as everyone turned to look at the two people whose names she had just called.
Kushida, who had been chatting with one of her groups of "friends," turned toward the doorway before raising a hand with her usual smile.
"Yes? That's me," she said as she walked over.
"Ah, there you are." The girl immediately brightened and waved back. "And where's Kumagawa-kun?"
Kumagawa rose from his seat and made his way over.
『You called? 』
"Good, you're both here." She smiled cheerfully. "Miyabi-kun asked me to bring you two to the student council room."
"...."
While it wasn't entirely unexpected, Kushida hadn't imagined they'd be personally picked up by an upperclassman the moment classes ended. She hadn't expected Nagumo to be this insistent about the whole thing.
"Umm... Kushida-chan, right?"
Kushida nodded, but, 'chan...?'
"You look a little confused. Didn't Kumagawa-kun tell you about it?" the upperclassman asked.
"He did, but... I just didn't expect someone to come pick us up."
"Ah, that? Miyabi-kun told me to make sure the two of you actually showed up. He has something he wants Kumagawa-kun to do, after all."
Kushida slowy found herself looking at Kumagawa.
『Hmm? What's wrong? 』
She could already see what her senior was implying.
Kushida didn't know exactly what kind of rumors were circulating among the second-years about Kumagawa. But she did know they weren't good ones. If anything, they were probably malicious, especially after everything that had happened recently.
Nagumo, the person who practically held the reins of the entire second-year, had likely come to the same sentiment. Knowing Kumagawa's personality, he genuinely believed there was a chance the boy would simply decide not to show up.
That was why he had gone as far as sending someone to personally escort the two of them to the student council room.
"Now then, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
The upperclassman clapped her hands together enthusiastically.
From that alone, Kushida could tell she was an easy-going person. Probably the type who got along with almost anyone.
Soon enough, Kushida and Kumagawa disappeared from the classroom, leaving the remaining students to speculate about why the new student council president had called for both of them. Kumagawa was one thing, considering he was already a member of the student council. But Kushida's involvement came as a surprise to almost everyone.
Ayanokouji watched them leave for another moment before returning his attention to the situation in front of him. Satou was still standing there, looking at him expectantly.
"Anyway, Satou," Ayanokouji began, "as I said earlier, today isn't a good day for me. I already have something else to take care of. And it's not because I have a dirty magazine waiting for me at my dorm, so let's clear that misunderstanding up first. Sorry."
He felt the need to emphasize that last part.
It wasn't an easy decision, but he turned her down. The real reason was the source of his discomfort throughout the entire day. His shoulders had been tense ever since that person started watching him. Even now, as he spoke with Satou, he could still feel her gaze fixed on him.
Chabashira-sensei was still in the classroom. She appeared to be busy with paperwork, but Ayanokouji knew better. It was only a pretense, she was waiting for a chance to speak with him.
"I-I see..." Satou replied, looking slightly disappointed. "Well, see you later, Ayanokouji-kun."
Ayanokouji felt bad for disappointing her, but the timing couldn't have been worse. He walked out of the classroom alongside Satou, and the moment they stepped into the hallway, Chabashira-sensei quietly followed after him.
So his suspicion had been correct.
She really did have business with him.
Rather than heading toward the main hallway, Ayanokouji made his way to the stairwell. Once they were out of sight of the other students, Chabashira-sensei finally called out to him.
"Ayanokouji."
"Do you need something?" Ayanokouji asked, turning around.
"Yes. Come with me. We need to talk."
"That's going to be difficult. I promised Horikita I'd meet up with her," he replied, coming up with a reasonably convincing lie.
"Are you sure it's not because of some dirty magazine? I wouldn't blame you. You're at that age, after all. But if you're going to lie, at least come up with something more believable."
"..."
From the sound of her voice, Chabashira-sensei seemed far more willing to believe the excuse about the dirty magazine than the one involving Horikita.
"But regardless of the circumstances, this can't wait. So don't take it lightly."
Normally, Chabashira-sensei was composed to the point of seeming almost inhuman. Yet the expression she wore now was unusually grave.
"I have a bad feeling about this."
"Unfortunately, refusing isn't an option. This is extremely urgent."
"...Fine. Lead the way, Sensei."
It seemed resisting would only waste both of their time.
Having little choice, Ayanokouji followed after her. The peaceful day he had been hoping for had, in the end, turned out to be anything but peaceful.
『』『』『』『』『』
"Heeh~ So you're the infamous Kumagawa-kun, huh?"
『Infamous? Am I really that famous, uhh... 』
"It's Asahina Nazuna. Second-Year Class A."
『Right. Am I really that famous, Asahina-senpai? 』
The three students, Kumagawa, Kushida, and Asahina, walked through the hallway toward the student council room.
Kushida remained quiet as they walked. She wasn't in the mood for conversation, especially knowing she was about to be pulled even deeper into the problems surrounding Kumagawa. More and more, it felt as though her own school life was becoming intertwined with his.
"Is that sarcasm? Or are you really just that insensitive?" Asahina asked, tilting her head as she looked at Kumagawa.
『Huh? Did I do something wrong? 』
Kumagawa answered without the slightest hesitation, as though he genuinely didn't understand why she would ask that.
Asahina stared at him for a few seconds before letting out a small sigh.
"I honestly can't tell if you're serious or not. No wonder the second-years hate you so much. Miyabi-kun included."
Hearing that, Kushida decided to join the conversation despite her mood. "Is Kumagawa-kun really hated that much by the second-years?"
She had only asked to keep the conversation going, but she was genuinely curious about just how much resentment and hostility the second-years held toward him. After everything he had done, it would have been stranger if they didn't hate him.
"Hated is putting it mildly," Asahina replied. "Especially Classes B, C, and D. If they could, they'd probably gang up on him as payback. At the very least, they'd bully him every chance they got. But their hands are pretty much tied, so all they can do is let that resentment build up."
"I think I understand...."
In a way, Kushida could even sympathize with the second-years.
But the reality was that there wasn't much they could do.
The school was extremely strict when it came to violence, so physical retaliation was out of the question. Ruining his reputation wasn't an option either. Kumagawa's reputation had already sunk past rock bottom, leaving almost nothing left to destroy. On top of that, he was a member of the student council, and the sheer number of private points he possessed was enough to guarantee his safety in the school.
Those four facts alone made it feel as though he had some kind of immunity protecting his position within the school.
Looking at it objectively, the second-years were in such a powerless position that it almost seemed pitiful.
"But why especially Classes B, C, and D?" Kushida asked.
"Well, unlike Class A, we didn't really have to worry about points. The other classes were different. They had to hand half of theirs over to this person right here." Asahina answered without the slightest attempt to hide it.
Kushida was a little surprised by how openly she spoke. From what she understood, the second-years had been trying to keep the whole incident from spreading beyond their year. Then again, Nagumo had personally sent Asahina to bring the two of them here, so he had probably already told her about Kushida's involvement.
While Kushida herself hadn't been directly involved, she had still witnessed the incident and attended the hearing.
Judging from Asahina's tone, there also seemed to be a considerable gap in class points between Class A and the remaining three classes.
"In that case, Nagumo-senpai is really impressive, huh."
After all, someone who could keep such a firm grip on an entire year was impressive in his own right.
"Hmph. I do admit he's impressive."
『What? Why do you sound so unhappy, senpai? 』 Kumagawa asked. 『Shouldn't you be a little happier? Your boyfriend's so amazing that the gap between his class and everyone else is like heaven and earth. 』
Asahina pointed at herself. "Boyfriend? Me?"
She burst into laughter.
"There's no way I'd fall for someone like him."
『Huh? But aren't you close enough that he'd trust you with something like this? 』
"Close? More like he treats me as his errand girl..." Asahina frowned slightly. "Well, I guess we are fairly close, but not anywhere near that kind of relationship. If anything, I'd love to see him fail at everything he tries to do in this school. Unfortunately, no one in our year is capable of beating him. That's exactly why he's sitting where he is now."
『Even Kiryuuin-senpai? 』
"Well... she's the type who only cares about herself and whatever catches her interest. Though if things ever came down to it—and they probably never will—I think she could give Miyabi-kun a run for his money. Even so, after everything I've seen him do, I still can't picture him losing."
『Hmmm... 』
"Anyway, we're here."
Asahina came to a stop.
The three of them had arrived in front of the student council room.
"Miyabi-kun should be waiting for you inside."
"Huh? Aren't you coming in too, Asahina-senpai?" Kushida asked as she noticed Asahina already turning away.
"Geh, no way. I'm meeting up with my friends after this." She casually waved a hand over her shoulder. "You two can go in by yourselves. Good luck. Bye-bye!"
Without waiting for a reply, Asahina briskly walked away, humming to herself as she disappeared around the corner.
"....."
Kushida stared at the closed door in front of her before letting out a quiet sigh.
She had finally reached the point of no return.
Up until now, she had still been able to keep some distance. She had never been directly involved, only acting more as Kumagawa's helper.
It wasn't as though Kumagawa had openly opposed Nagumo Miyabi either. Even so, his position naturally placed him on the opposite side of the current student council president. In that regard, his situation was unlikely to change.
For Kushida, however, things were different.
Now that she was standing in front of the student council room after being personally summoned by the new president, the reality of it all finally sank in.
There was no turning back anymore.
『What's wrong, Kikyou-chan? 』
"It's nothing..."
『Are you scared? If you are, I can always leave you behind. 』
"I'm not scared."
Perhaps this was simply what acceptance felt like.
『Hahaha. 』
He laughed.
Kushida merely shot him a sour look before deciding not to respond. Arguing with him now would only lead to another round of his endless harassment.
Instead, she stepped toward the door and gave it a light knock.
"Come in."
Nagumo's voice came from the other side almost immediately.
Kushida slid the door open.
"Excuse us..."
As soon as the two of them stepped inside, they found Nagumo Miyabi sitting comfortably on the sofa outside the student council president's office. Beside him stood another student holding a stack of documents, who turned toward them the moment they entered.
"Kiriyama, why don't you head home for today? You've been working long enough," Nagumo said, glancing at the boy beside him.
"But—"
"I want to have a little talk with our cute juniors," Nagumo interrupted. "Besides, you've done enough for today. I'd rather not have our precious first-year vice president think I'm the kind of person who keeps his subordinates working overtime. Why don't you head home?"
He smiled.
"Right now."
"....."
Nagumo's smile never faltered.
Abusing my authority, he says...
The irony wasn't lost on Kushida.
From the way he spoke, it was obvious he was openly exercising that very authority. Whether he intended it as a threat or simply expected obedience because of his position hardly mattered. Either way, the authority behind those words was unquestionable.
Without saying another word, Kiriyama simply nodded.
He placed the documents on the desk before walking toward the exit. As he passed by Kumagawa and Kushida, Kushida noticed him glance at Kumagawa rather strangely. It wasn't just her imagination, either. Kumagawa, of all people, should have noticed it as well. After all, he was no stranger to receiving looks filled with resentment or hostility. Yet judging from his body language, he didn't seem to care in the slightest.
The door quietly closed behind Kiriyama.
With his departure, only Nagumo, Kumagawa, and Kushida remained inside the student council room.
"Have a seat."
There wasn't much emotion in his voice. If there was one thing that stood out, however, it was the faint arrogance behind his smile. It was the kind of expression that made it feel as though he was naturally looking down on whoever stood before him.
『Hmm. Then I will. 』
Kumagawa didn't seem bothered by it in the slightest. Perhaps it was because he was already used to being looked down upon. He casually took a seat on the sofa opposite Nagumo, making himself comfortable as though he were visiting a friend's room rather than the student council president's office.
Kushida quietly followed and sat beside him.
"So," Nagumo began, resting his chin on one hand. "I suppose this is our first proper meeting. Kumagawa Misogi. Kushida Kikyou."
『Proper? 』 Kumagawa tilted his head. 『Didn't we already meet before? 』
"Well, that was under rather unusual circumstances, wasn't it? I'd consider this our first proper conversation. Besides..." Nagumo smiled. "For the sake of this school's future, it's better if we leave what happened in the past where it belongs."
『Ahaha, but didn't you hate me? Asahina-senpai told me you did. You're smiling now, though... Does becoming student council president mean you have to smile even at people you can't stand? Ahaha. You're talking like a real swindler. 』
"K-Kumagawa-kun!?"
Kushida immediately turned toward him in shock.
Why did he suddenly become so aggressive?
The atmosphere had been relatively peaceful until just a moment ago. The sudden shift caught Kushida completely off guard.
"You're even more straightforward than I'd heard," Nagumo said with an amused smile. "Most people would have the sense to keep thoughts like that to themselves."
『Come on, Nagumo-senpai. I was genuinely surprised when you called me this morning. I was planning to go straight home after school, but instead I had to drag my childhood friend all the way into this gloomy cage you call the student council. The least you could do is show me a little gratitude. 』
What a thoroughly annoying personality...
That was the only thought running through Kushida's mind.
"...You really don't bother filtering yourself, do you?" Nagumo replied, his eyes never leaving Kumagawa. "As for hating you? Not at all. If I hated every troublesome student in this school, I'd never get anything done."
『Ahaha, you really do have what it takes to be a great swindler. 』
"....."
Kushida cautiously looked between the two of them. A strange atmosphere had settled over the room. More than Kumagawa, however, her attention was drawn to Nagumo. The smile he had been wearing gradually faded, replaced by a faint trace of annoyance.
There was nothing to be said about Kumagawa's side of the exchange. He looked exactly the same as always.
『Well, putting that interruption aside, shall we continue our meeting? From this point on, it's an executives' meeting! 』
"I suppose we should..." Nagumo replied, his voice trailing off slightly.
『So, Mr. Student Council President, what did you call your beloved junior and vice president here for? You must have something to tell us, or maybe something to hand over, right? So stop acting all important and just get to the point already! 』
Nagumo simply ignored the provocation.
"So, Kumagawa. You served as vice president under Manabu-senpai, didn't you? Only for the last few months, but still. Having a first-year as vice president was certainly unusual. Of course, if Manabu-senpai wanted it, no one was in a position to object."
『That's right! 』
Nagumo let the earlier exchange pass without pursuing it any further. His demeanor gradually shifted into a more professional one. The arrogance that seemed almost innate to him hadn't disappeared. Whatever his personality might be, he clearly took his responsibilities as student council president seriously.
"In other words, you only served as vice president for a couple of months before the previous administration stepped down"
『Is that a problem? 』 Kumagawa tilted his head. 『Isn't the student council supposed to judge people based on their ability and merit, not by how long they've been sitting in a chair? If seniority alone decided everything, that'd be a pretty boring organization. 』
Nagumo gave a small nod.
"That would be one thing if ability were the only issue. Unfortunately, your reputation comes with its own set of problems. Not to mention you're the vice president."
『Hmm? 』
Nagumo rested his elbow on the armrest.
"Ever since the new administration took over, I've been hearing all sorts of complaints. Most of them come from the second-years. And almost every single one has your name in it" He looked straight at Kumagawa. "I don't think I need to explain why"
『Complaints? Which complaints? I'm not interested in going down in history, but even if I were, I'm pretty sure none of them are my fault. 』
What an unbelievable thing to say.
Yet Nagumo couldn't completely deny it, either.
The incident had ultimately started because of Kumagawa, but the second-years had been the ones to act first. In that sense, while Kumagawa had certainly been the cause of the conflict, placing all the blame on him wouldn't be entirely accurate. Nagumo understood that much as well.
"Is that so? Whether you're to blame isn't particularly important. What matters is your position within the student council."
『My position? 』
Nagumo nodded.
"Right now, you're my only vice president. Like it or not, that makes you the one people associate with this council after me. If you prefer simpler terms, think of yourself as my successor."
『Eh? Is that a thing? 』
"Don't worry too much about the details. It gets rather technical." Nagumo waved a hand dismissively. "What's important is this. As my vice president, your reputation reflects on the student council. Right now, nearly the entire second year dislikes you. That's not something I can simply overlook. Naturally, I intend to do something about it. You can consider that part of your duties as vice president."
『Part of my student council duties? 』 Kumagawa repeated, tilting his head.
Nagumo had originally intended to say that it reflected poorly on the student council if its vice president was disliked by practically an entire year. However, after meeting Kumagawa Misogi in person, he realized he would probably have to be much more direct than that in the future.
"Manabu-senpai never gave you any real responsibilities. I can't really blame him. By the time you joined, the council was already entering its transition period, and graduation wasn't far off. In any case, that works out well for me. It means I can give you your first proper assignment."
As he finished speaking, Nagumo pulled a document from the table and placed it in front of Kumagawa, gesturing for him to take a look.
"As you can see, this is a list of the clubs participating in the upcoming Winter Tournament. Normally, this wouldn't concern the student council. However, since students here aren't permitted to freely interact with the outside world during their three years at this school, members of the student council are occasionally assigned to accompany clubs and their faculty advisors whenever they compete off campus."
"Ahh... so that's how it works..." Kushida muttered to herself.
She had wondered about this for quite some time, especially after Kumagawa had gathered all of the second-year club vice presidents for that meeting. It had only crossed her mind briefly back then, but she had always been curious how the clubs were able to compete outside the school when one of the school's fundamental rules was restricting contact with the outside world.
After all, there would be little point in having so many clubs if they never competed beyond the campus. Most club achievements came from participating in regional or even national tournaments. That was especially true for athletic clubs such as soccer, volleyball, and many others.
『But is this really the kind of task a vice president usually gets? No matter how I look at it, shouldn't this sort of work normally be handled by the secretary or one of the general affairs officers? 』
"Correct," Nagumo answered without hesitation. "Under normal circumstances, it would. But I think this assignment suits you quite well. Consider it your first official duty as vice president. Besides, most of the clubs participating this time are made up of second- and third-year students. It'll also give you a chance to improve your image, even if it's only a little."
『Hmm....』
Kumagawa quietly skimmed through the document, turning a page with little interest before looking back at Nagumo.
『So in other words, you're sending me out on a public relations campaign? 』
"That's one way to put it."
『I don't think it'll work, though. After all, people don't suddenly start liking someone just because they travel together for a day or two. If anything, spending more time with me usually makes them dislike me even more. 』
"Because of your personality?" Nagumo raised an eyebrow.
『Not that, not that. 』 Kumagawa waved a hand dismissively. 『Though it's true people don't like my personality all that much. 』
That was quite the understatement...
At least, that was what Kushida thought as she looked at him skeptically.
『It's more that people misunderstand me. Well... they're usually right to, so I can't really complain. But Nagumo-senpai, you don't actually believe my reputation will improve just because I spend a day or two with them, do you? If you do, that's honestly more embarrassing for me than it is for them. 』
"...."
Nagumo couldn't smile at such blatant sarcasm—he looked at Kumagawa with his eyebrows furrowed.
However, it only lasted a moment.
"...It's closer to a week," Nagumo corrected. "But that only gives you more reason to try."
He folded his hands together.
"If the second-years continue seeing you as nothing more than a troublemaker, it'll only create unnecessary friction whenever the council has to work with them. I have no intention of letting that continue."
『You're making it sound like this is for my sake. 』
"It isn't."
Nagumo smiled.
"It's for mine."
"....."
Kushida quietly watched the exchange.
She didn't consider herself particularly perceptive, but even someone with only a little context could tell there was a strange atmosphere between them, despite neither of them openly attacking the other.
『.... 』
If that was the reasoning behind it, there wasn't much the student council vice president could say in response. As authoritarian as it sounded, it was still an official assignment.
『Understood. I expect nothing less from a student council president who could come up with such a foolproof plan for someone like me! 』
He accepted.
Well, whether he truly meant it or not was another matter. Even though he had insisted only moments ago that improving his reputation was a pointless endeavor, Kumagawa was the sort of person who could go back on his own words in an instant.
Still, Kushida couldn't help feeling that Nagumo had made a losing move.
Since this was their first real meeting, it was only natural for Nagumo to assume Kumagawa was simply an easy-going fool with an irritating personality. But Kushida knew better than most just how troublesome he could be once he decided to act. In that sense, Nagumo was unknowingly raising a rather dangerous flag for himself by trying to keep someone like Kumagawa under his control.
After giving the document one last glance, Kumagawa seemed to lose interest almost immediately and casually passed it to Kushida like a baton in a relay race.
Kushida lowered her eyes to the document.
Several clubs were listed there. Since Kumagawa obviously couldn't split himself in two, he would only need to choose one club to accompany. Fortunately, every tournament on the list was being held in Tokyo, so it wasn't as though he'd be leaving on some long trip.
"Now then, Kushida."
The moment her name was called, Kushida instinctively straightened her back.
It would have been stranger if she weren't nervous. Once this meeting was over, there would be no turning back. With that in mind, she remained on edge, waiting for what would come next.
"Let's cut straight to the chase," Nagumo said, looking directly at her. "Are you joining the student council or not?"
He really wasn't wasting any time.
He didn't even try to sugarcoat it.
Now...
"What do you mean, President?" Kushida asked cautiously.
"It's simple. You're not officially a member of the student council, yet Manabu-senpai involved you in quite a few of its activities anyway. From what I've seen, he treated you as a prospective member. And honestly, I can understand why."
So that was it...
Was that the reason Manabu had involved her in so many student council matters despite never officially making her a member?
Looking back, she had helped with council work several times and even assisted with tasks that had little to do with someone outside the organization At the time, she had simply assumed she was helping because of Kumagawa and her unofficial role bestowed upon her, but now that things come to this, it should be definitly be easier to enter student council later.
"But are you sure that's okay?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"I mean, wouldn't people see it as a bad look for the student council?" Kushida continued. "Everyone knows I'm close to Kumagawa-kun. If I suddenly join now, won't people think I only got in because of that? And if something happens later, wouldn't they just assume you or Kumagawa-kun abused your authority to bring me in?"
It wasn't an entirely unreasonable concern.
Kushida was confident she could get along with almost anyone in the first or second year, but there would always be people who disliked her. That was especially true when it came to girls.
After all, Nagumo was popular.
If she joined the student council under the current administration, there would undoubtedly be rumors that she had used her connection with Kumagawa to get close to Nagumo instead. While she could admit that Nagumo was handsome, he lacked the kind of charm that made her see him as someone she'd ever be interested in romantically.
That was exactly why she wanted to avoid rumors claiming she had used Kumagawa as a stepping stone to get close to Nagumo.
"Hahaha."
For some reason, Nagumo laughed.
"I understand your concern," he said. "But my student council will always accept capable people. Anyone with ability is welcome to join, and you, Kushida, definitely have that ability. So you don't need to worry about what others might say. No one is going to question my decision."
Without losing the smile on his face, he asked once more.
"So, what's your answer? Are you going to join my student council or not?"
"....."
How should she answer...?
Thinking about it objectively, if someone asked whether she wanted to join the student council, Kushida would probably say yes. After all, the student council at this school held far more influence than ordinary students. Not only that, becoming an official member would also improve both her social standing and her public image.
Personally, though...
It sounded like a lot of trouble.
She had already experienced what it was like working alongside the student council. While the benefits were certainly attractive, the amount of time and energy it demanded was enough to drain even someone as sociable as her.
At the same time, officially joining would give her more freedom to work alongside Kumagawa. But that same freedom also came with more responsibility. And there was still Kumagawa's previous remark that it would be troublesome if she joined now.
The more she thought about it, the more hesitant she became.
After carefully weighing her options, Kushida finally reached a decision.
"I'm sorry, President. Would it be alright if I held onto your offer for a little longer?"
Rather than rejecting it outright, she chose to postpone her answer.
"Oh?" Nagumo leaned back slightly. "Then give me a reason."
She couldn't see even the slightest hint of displeasure on his face. If anything, he looked genuinely interested in hearing what she had to say.
So she answered honestly.
"I do intend to join the student council eventually. But I think it'd be better if I joined next year, after becoming a second-year."
"And why is that?"
"The current student council has only just changed administrations. I think it'd be better if everyone settled into their new positions first. Bringing in another member right away might only create unnecessary confusion. Besides..." Kushida paused for a moment. "I'd also like to keep my current position for the time being."
"Your current position?" Nagumo repeated.
"Well... Horikita-senpai involved me in quite a few student council matters even though I wasn't an official member. But my role was mostly to observe Kumagawa-kun. Since I'm close to him, Horikita-senpai often had me keep an eye on him. In return, he told me I'd be welcome to join the student council later."
Nagumo remained silent for a few moments, as if organizing his thoughts.
"I see... So you want to stay in that gray area a little longer."
"I suppose you could put it that way."
"Hahaha. I can't say I dislike that answer."
That response caught Kushida slightly off guard.
"I was wondering if you'd reject the offer altogether, but it seems that's not the case." Nagumo smiled. "But if that's how you feel, then unlike Manabu-senpai, I won't involve you in student council matters. You can still keep an eye on Kumagawa if you want, but anything related to the council's internal affairs or confidential information will be off-limits until you officially become a member. Are you okay with that?"
Kushida nodded.
She had already expected that much. Rather, that was probably how things should have been from the very beginning. Manabu had involved her in far too many student council matters despite her not being an official member. Looking back on it now, it almost felt as though he had intentionally left her with nowhere else to go but the student council.
"As long as your answer isn't a rejection, I can wait."
Nagumo smiled.
"After all, you'll end up joining eventually anyway... won't you?"
Kushida's shoulders stiffened ever so slightly as Nagumo's gaze slowly shifted toward the boy sitting beside her. Just from that glance alone, she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. Even so, she kept her usual smile and didn't let it show.
"Well then," Nagumo said as he stood up. "That settles both matters."
Just as she was about to stand, however, Nagumo took another sheet of paper from the table and slid it over to Kumagawa.
"One more thing."
『Hnm? 』
"This is the approval form you'll need before accompanying any club off campus."
Kumagawa took the document and gave it a quick glance.
"Because of the school's regulations, students aren't allowed to leave campus or have unrestricted contact with the outside world during their three years here. Student council duties are one of the few exceptions, but even then, the paperwork still has to go through the proper channels."
Nagumo pointed at the bottom of the page.
"Get the principal's signature on it before the day of departure. After that, submit a copy to the security office at the front gate. It'll make the administrative process much smoother when you leave the campus later."
『Ahh... so even the student council has to go through all this paperwork. 』
"Of course." Nagumo shrugged. "You can usually find the principal in his office, so get it signed as soon as you can. If he's unavailable on the day you need it, the approval process becomes much more troublesome."
Nagumo glanced between the two first-years one last time before speaking.
"If there's nothing else, you're dismissed."
The brief exchange ended there.
Kushida rose from her seat first.
"Thank you for your time, President."
『Cool. Thanks.』
The two of them turned toward the door.
Just before stepping outside, Kushida glanced back for a brief moment.
Nagumo had already picked up the stack of documents Kiriyama had left behind and was quietly reading through them. Despite his haughty personality, at moments like this, he looked every bit the student council president.
Kushida quietly closed the door behind them.
The moment they stepped into the hallway, the atmosphere immediately felt lighter. Especially for Kushida, who felt as though the weight that had been pressing on her shoulders had finally eased.
With this, there really was no turning back.
The new student council president had already set his sights on her, and she had willingly chosen to remain on Kumagawa's side. Perhaps it was because she had spent so long trying to avoid getting dragged in, but now that she had finally made up her mind, the burden strangely felt much lighter.
『By the way, Kikyou-chan. Do you want to come with me to the principal's office?』
"Eh? You're going now? Wouldn't tomorrow be better?"
It was already the end of the school day. Kushida wasn't even sure the principal was still in his office.
『If I keep slacking off like this, I might end up getting kicked out of the student council. Didn't you see it? Nagumo-senpai's hatred was practically oozing out of him. He really is an excellent swindler. 』
"..."
There he goes again.
『Well, if you don't want to come, you don't have to. I don't expect there'll be even the slightest bit of fun anyway.』
"Then there's your answer. Good luck with your endeavor, Kumagawa Misogi-kun."
『.... 』
The moment she finished speaking, Kushida immediately turned and walked in the opposite direction without another glance.
There was no reason for her to follow him. If anything, doing so would only increase the chances of getting caught up in yet another troublesome situation. Besides, what exactly was there to do at the principal's office? She had no interest in any of it.
Before long, she disappeared around the corner, leaving Kumagawa standing alone in the hallway.
『Hahaha.』
Kumagawa simply laughed to himself.
Then, holding the approval form in one hand, he headed in the opposite direction toward the principal's office.
『END』
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Here you go peasants, another chapter.
Anyway, that's it for today's chapter.
Hope you enjoyed it.
[Thanks for reading!]