On August 7th, on the eve of the first-year exams, the school finally began intervening in the recent controversy surrounding Nagumo.
"If you are dissatisfied with the current student council president, you may decide for yourselves through free voting to elect the student you deem most suitable for the position of president."
These were the exact words of the acting principal.
Each homeroom teacher faithfully conveyed the new leader's instructions, which were also posted on the school forum and bulletin boards, taking everyone by surprise.
They hadn't expected their casual complaints to actually persuade the school. Although student council elections were customary, the school's approach didn't break any traditions.
The student council was responsible for supervising this vote.
They would collect all ballots and ensure complete fairness and transparency throughout the process.
The school wouldn't participate, granting significant freedom.
Thus, the student council had their hands full this time.
Considering that some might face retaliatory actions, student council vice president Kaoru Mitoma specifically set up ballot boxes on the first floor of the school building.
Students could vote at any time without worrying about being watched.
For this election, students could write up to three names and had to include their own signature.
Unsigned ballots would be considered invalid.
Of course, third-year students only had voting rights and were not eligible to run for election.
When the election was announced, Nagumo was reportedly livid and almost no one in his class dared approach him.
Meanwhile, Kaoru learned about Iijima Ryota accidentally revealing his identity.
Thanks to this, Nagumo was again trying to uncover more spies in Class 2-A, exhausting everyone.
Even Asahina Nazuna couldn't take it anymore, unusually complaining to Kaoru over the phone about what this childhood friend of hers was doing.
"I'll vote for you!"
Hearing this, Kaoru hesitated slightly.
Logically speaking, Katsuragi was more suitable for the student council president position—he himself didn't have that much time.
Therefore, Kaoru evaded the topic vaguely.
...
"Ugh, seriously! Why did they have to bring this up on a day off? They're not considering our feelings at all!"
In the student council office, Ichinose Honami finally finished all her work and lay motionless on the sofa like an exhausted panda.
If she knew the truth, she'd probably beat him to death, so Kaoru kept silent.
However, he was indeed responsible—he had forgotten to ask Tsukishiro for a few days' delay.
Tsukishiro would naturally handle matters with the highest efficiency.
If they didn't hurry, the third-years would graduate soon.
"So far, we've received twenty-seven ballots, mostly from second-year students."
Katsuragi had already tallied today's votes and handed the form to Kaoru.
"When should we start campaigning?"
The student council currently had only one decision-maker.
Even Kiriyama and Tonokawa were now looking at Kaoru.
As the student council president, Nagumo should have been giving orders here, but he considered this place a den of thieves.
This morning, he even attempted to announce the dismissal of everyone's positions.
However, Kaoru countered him with the school's official announcement, which required the student council to supervise this election.
If the student council were dissolved, who would be responsible for overseeing the election?
Frustrated and angry, Nagumo returned to his grade.
He planned to canvass for votes among the second-years—or rather, it was less about gaining new support and more about securing his existing voter base.
"This timing is somewhat delicate. All grades are preparing for exams, so it's not advisable to act rashly," Kaoru set the forms aside.
"Let's call it a day for now. Everyone, you can head back."
Katsuragi Kohei nodded. Since it had been stated that way, he had no objections.
"It feels like a dream. I never thought I'd actually see the day Nagumo-kun steps down," Tonokawa looked at Kaoru with a complicated expression.
Turning back was no longer an option for him, as Nagumo intended to expel both him and Mizowaki.
The only way to avoid expulsion was to take down Nagumo.
"Heh, this is the power of the younger generation," Kiriyama chuckled, a glint of shrewdness hidden in his eyes, feeling a stir of ambition.
If it was an election, he wasn't without a chance himself.
After all this time, Kiriyama gradually realized that the previous agreement was just Kaoru's excuse to drag him onto this pirate ship.
Once aboard, could he still escape?
Kiriyama had also considered sending Kiryuin Fuka over as a package deal, but since he couldn't defeat her in a fight, he had to abandon that idea.
If Kaoru didn't help, Kiriyama planned to rely on his own strength.
Unconsciously, a slight crack formed within the faction that had gathered around Kaoru.
After they all left the student council office, only Kaoru and Ichinose Honami remained.
"Are you hesitant about running for election?" Ichinose Honami looked up at Kaoru, a posture that accentuated the girl's ample chest.
"During the days Nagumo was absent, I thought about him every day. If he were still here, I wouldn't have to rush to the student council office every day," he said.
Hearing his words, the girl burst into a soft laugh.
"So, you're thinking you should spend more time with them instead?"
"I feel like I'm being torn apart," Kaoru sighed.
Back at the agency, he was a producer, which naturally gave him various reasons to interact with the idols—even to inspect their rooms.
"To be honest, I find it incredible that you all get along so harmoniously, without any arguments or fights."
How to maintain harmony in a harem is a problem even emperors struggled with.
Yet, Kaoru found that he didn't need to put in much effort—they had already done the internal work themselves.
"Although I'm happy you praise us like that, I think it's best not to hold such idealistic views. Actually, we have our own subtle thoughts too. It's inevitable for girls to engage in some rivalry, but we just keep it hidden from you," Ichinose Honami sat up, smoothing her skirt as she revealed a faint smile.
"This is me being honest too. I'll help Kaoru-kun work hard to maintain good relationships among everyone, and Kaoru-kun must also put in effort. Girls have fragile hearts—they need Kaoru-kun's full attention, or they could easily break."
"That doesn't sound like my responsibility."
"Do you want to treat girls roughly, Kaoru? Do you want to bully girls harshly?"
"I've already changed my impossibilities for you."
Kaoru saw the girl walk toward him, gently embrace his head against her soft chest and tenderly stroke his hair.
"Even before that, I had already fallen for you."
Despite having experienced many things, Kaoru was still shaken.
This was the most direct attack he had never heard from idols.
In that instant, Kaoru wanted to confess his past.
"Oh no, I almost forgot! Kei is waiting for us!"
Ichinose Honami frantically pulled out her phone, relieved to see the time, then noticed Kaoru sighing.
"What's wrong with you?"
"I just feel like teasing you a bit." Kaoru patted her perky bottom.
"You really are a pervert."
A blush spread across Ichinose Honami's face.
She clearly also knew what content Kaoru had written in the notebook for Horikita Suzune.
Kaoru didn't argue with her, rising from the chair intending to leave the office.
Seeing this, Ichinose Honami's lips curved slightly upward before she quickly followed him.
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