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"Natsuki-kun, good morning."
Fujiwara Chika waved happily.
"Morning."
Amamiya Natsuki walked into the Election Committee.
The Sheltered Ojou-sama, whose hair was tied with a red ribbon, looked up and said softly:
"Good morning."
Amamiya Natsuki said: "Kaguya-san, good morning."
"Eh?!"
The other two Student Council candidates couldn't help but widen their eyes when they saw this.
"She actually took the initiative to greet someone, is she really Kaguya-san?"
"I doubt it."
The two candidates whispered to each other.
Many people at Shuchiin had come up directly from junior high, and the two random candidates were like that.
They used to be classmates with Shinomiya Kaguya, but they had never seen Shinomiya Kaguya take the initiative to greet anyone before.
That was the girl secretly known as Ice Princess Kaguya, whose flawless, delicate face never showed the slightest emotion.
She was like a sculpture carved from ice and snow, and her eyes seemed to hold no one else's existence.
For three years in junior high, neither teachers nor classmates had ever seen her take the initiative to greet anyone.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, it would have been completely unbelievable.
"Speaking of which, Kaguya-san's hairstyle changed at some point, didn't it?"
"Her eyes aren't as cold as before either."
"It feels like she's gained some warmth…"
The two whispered to each other, their gaze falling on Amamiya Natsuki.
"Could it be because of Natsuki-kun?"
"Damn it! I didn't expect Kaguya-san to be a looks-obsessed person too!"
"Exactly, boys can't just look at faces!"
"…"
"Oh, Kaguya-chan was very popular in junior high, wasn't she?" Mrs. Shimizu said, her hands clasped behind her back and a joyful smile on her face, "I heard them say that no one in junior high didn't know you."
Shinomiya Kaguya heard this, turned to look at the two whispering boys, and felt no ripple in her heart.
Being discussed behind her back was something she had long grown accustomed to over the many years since childhood.
Mrs. Shimizu continued:
"They also said that after Kaguya-chan changed her hairstyle, she became even cuter than before."
"…"
Shinomiya Kaguya remained unmoved.
Other people's evaluations were like floating clouds to her; there was no need to care about them at all.
"Hairstyle, lipstick, nail polish…" Mrs. Shimizu held up a finger, her smile growing even more joyful, "There is only one truth!"
"Kaguya-chan has a boy she likes!"
Shinomiya Kaguya's body trembled slightly, finally unable to remain calm, "I'm not, I don't, your logical deduction is completely flawed, isn't it?!"
"However, it's not." Mrs. Shimizu smiled, "Only to attract the attention of a boy they like do girls deliberately dress up, you know."
Shinomiya Kaguya: "…"
It's not valid!
The inference is not valid!
She did put on lipstick and style her hair, but anyone would do that, it wasn't to attract Natsuki-kun's attention!
And he'd been in here for so long, he clearly hadn't even noticed she'd put on new lipstick.
"Eh, eh, eh?"
Fujiwara Chika had no idea when she had approached, and now she widened her eyes and shouted in shock, "Kaguya-chan actually has someone she likes?!"
As soon as these words came out, several people in the office looked over.
Amamiya Natsuki also turned his head to look at the Sheltered Ojou-sama.
"Who is it, who is it?" Fujiwara Chika's eyes sparkled, her pretty face full of curious gossip, "Who is the boy Kaguya-chan likes?"
Shinomiya Kaguya: "…"
You claim to be a love detective every day, but you're clearly a fake detective!
"You misheard." Shinomiya Kaguya turned her pretty face away, "I don't."
"Stare—"
Fujiwara Chika leaned forward, widening her eyes, and said confidently, "Kaguya-chan's ears are all red, she definitely does."
Shinomiya Kaguya bit her silver teeth: "My ears are red because you're making me angry."
"My intuition tells me it's definitely not." Fujiwara Chika turned her head to look at Amamiya Natsuki, "Natsuki-kun, do you know who Kaguya-chan likes?"
"…"
Amamiya Natsuki looked at Kaguya, and the Sheltered Ojou-sama's face already showed a smile like someone watching animals in a zoo.
"Don't ask me." Amamiya Natsuki said seriously, "I only know you're in danger."
"Eh?"
Fujiwara Chika turned her head.
"Hehehe…" Shinomiya Kaguya hugged her left arm across her chest, propped her chin with her right hand, tilted her head slightly to one side, and said in a sweet voice with a dangerous smile, "Fujiwara is very cute."
"Help, help, help!"
Fujiwara Chika quickly hid behind Amamiya Natsuki, "Kaguya-chan's eyes are super scary!"
Hey, hey, don't just hide anywhere, you're not the only one who's scared, everyone in the entire meeting room is terrified!
A moment later.
Under the organization of the election committee members, Amamiya Natsuki and the others lined up in order to draw lots, deciding the order of their election speeches.
Amamiya Natsuki drew the first number card, so the election speech would start with him.
Stepping out of the meeting room, Amamiya Natsuki glanced and saw a Blonde Hot Girl with a side ponytail leaning on the railing in the hallway not far away, biting a lollipop and looking this way, causing his steps to involuntarily pause.
"Natsuki-kun, we can go to the auditorium to prepare." A member of the election committee comforted him, "Don't be nervous."
Amamiya Natsuki shook his head: "I'm not nervous."
The speaking girl clearly didn't believe him: "Appropriate nervousness is a good thing, deliberately suppressing yourself will only backfire."
He saw all sorts of messy evil spirits every day, walking on the edge of life and death, so in comparison, it was just an election speech, who would be nervous!
If it were Komi, she would be shaking with nervousness two hundred percent.
"Alright, I am a little nervous." Amamiya Natsuki said, "There's still some time before the election starts, should I go relax first?"
"No problem." The girl nodded, "But please arrive at the auditorium before the speech begins."
"Please rest assured."
"…"
After speaking, Amamiya Natsuki strode towards the campus hot girl, Hayasaka Ai.
"Hayasaka, good morning."
Amamiya Natsuki arrived in front of Hayasaka Ai.
"Morning."
Hayasaka Ai, with the lollipop in her mouth and her hands in her pockets, greeted him indifferently and turned to leave.
"Wait a moment." Amamiya Natsuki reached out to stop her, "I'm sorry about what happened that day."
"That matter is already in the past." Hayasaka Ai's tone was cold, "Also, don't say anything about taking responsibility in the future… It was just an accident, it's not like it was my first kiss anyway."
This was a lie.
As Kaguya's personal Spy Maid, Hayasaka Ai's daily work was actually super busy.
Although she dressed like a hot girl, she rarely went shopping or sang karaoke with friends after school, claiming she worked hard to buy clothes and accessories and had no time to play with friends.
In reality, let alone male experience, she didn't even have any dating experience, only super rich theoretical knowledge.
That accidental touch during their date at the dessert shop after school that afternoon was definitely her first kiss, but she would never admit it.
She was already a high school student, and her first kiss was still intact, which was super embarrassing, wasn't it?
Besides, it was necessary to speak harshly to make this guy keep his distance from her, to avoid being discovered by the Miss.
"I see." Amamiya Natsuki's expression suddenly became serious, and he took half a step forward, saying, "Then, Hayasaka-san, you have to take responsibility."
"Huh?"
"That was my first kiss."
Hayasaka Ai: "…"
Liar!
Big liar!
Hayasaka Ai secretly clenched her small fists, so angry she wanted to kick him.
When they were in Haunted Town, she saw him doing that with Marin, so his first kiss must have been gone long ago!
"I'm not joking anymore." Amamiya Natsuki suddenly said, "No matter what Hayasaka-san was like before, or whether she's dated anyone, I fell in love at first sight with the current Hayasaka, and if I were to deny the current you because of things that happened in the past, that would be underestimating me too much."
"…"
Hearing this, Hayasaka Ai's eyelashes suddenly trembled, and she quieted down.
A moment later.
The girl's low voice sounded.
"Humans are the kind of creatures who cannot receive love unless they wear a mask."
After a pause, Hayasaka Ai lowered her gaze and continued:
"The real me is the kind of person who won't be loved by anyone."
"…"
Amamiya Natsuki suddenly had a premonition that the Hayasaka Ai at this moment was not putting on an act, but was a rare display of genuine emotion.
The true girl hidden beneath layers of identities seemed not happy, but rather full of fatigue.
Amamiya Natsuki was silent for a few seconds and then said:
"No one in the world can make everyone like them, even Fukuzawa Yukichi, there are still people who view money as dirt."
"So, why do you think you won't be loved if you wear a mask?"
Amamiya Natsuki held Hayasaka's right hand, and the Spy Maid did not struggle, only looked up at him.
"If Hayasaka-san is wearing a mask now, then please don't take it off." Amamiya Natsuki said gently, "I like it very much."
"You, what are you saying." Hayasaka Ai's eyelashes trembled, and she couldn't help but say, "That's just a fake liking, isn't it?"
"A fake liking is also liking."
"It's not."
"…"
Thump.
The sound of a rolling drink falling to the ground was heard.
Amamiya Natsuki and Hayasaka Ai both turned their heads to look.
Around the corner of the staircase.
A short-haired girl in black was staring wide-eyed, dumbfounded, at them.
"Kashiwagi?"
Amamiya Natsuki raised an eyebrow slightly, "You saw, didn't you?"
"I didn't."
Kashiwagi quickly shook her head.
"Since you saw, then don't leave…"
"Tsk." Hayasaka Ai instantly put on her mask, gently pushed Amamiya Natsuki's waist with her hand, pulled the lollipop out of her mouth, "Don't scare Kashiwagi, you can leave."
"…"
After watching Amamiya Natsuki walk away, Kashiwagi came out from the corner and hesitantly whispered:
"Um… Ai-chan, what's your relationship with Natsuki-kun?"
"Nothing."
Hayasaka Ai shook her head, temporarily having no interest in fooling him.
"You said it was nothing, but you just held hands!"
Kashiwagi grew anxious, "Let me tell you, Natsuki-kun, he…"
"He what?"
Kashiwagi stammered, and finally said:
"He often goes out with different girls; he's not a good person!"
He intimately hugged Kaguya-san in the classroom, which she witnessed two or three times; he held Chika-chan's hand while shopping at the supermarket outside school; and now he's even holding Hayasaka's hand.
Isn't he afraid that one day his misdeeds will be exposed and he'll be beaten to death!
Hayasaka Ai: "…"
You don't need to tell me; I've known for a long time that he's not a good person.
Yesterday, he even asked me to help him conquer other girls; he has already lost the right to be a human being.
"Don't worry, I just want to work and earn money now," Hayasaka Ai said casually, "I definitely won't like him."
"But…" Kashiwagi pursed her pink lips and whispered a reminder, "But Ai-chan, your face is so red."
"Huh?"
Hayasaka Ai paused at her words, raised her right hand, and gently touched her cheek with her slender, jade-like fingertips, feeling a wave of heat emanating from them.
Strange.
Why is my face red?
A moment later.
School Auditorium.
"Natsuki-kun, you're here." Tsubame Koyasu greeted him, clenching her right fist and saying, "I heard you're the first to speak, good luck!"
Amamiya Natsuki nodded: "I'll leave the support speech to Senpai."
"Leave it to me." Tsubame Koyasu tilted her pretty face, revealing a long, snow-white neck, and smiled brightly, "I've practiced several times; I guarantee there won't be any problems."
Amamiya Natsuki truly wasn't worried about her.
This Tsubame-senpai is a typical social butterfly, with no social anxiety whatsoever.
"Natsuki-kun, let's go over the speech again." Tsubame Koyasu was quite proactive.
"Mm."
"…"
The students who came to watch gradually entered the auditorium, quietly filling it without anyone noticing.
As the time for the speech approached, someone quickly reminded Amamiya Natsuki to go up and speak.
Amamiya Natsuki stood behind the curtain, stepped onto the stage, and suddenly remembered that there was still a prop that seemed to come in handy.
The bow tie prop, obtained from a trade in the Hospital instance, increases the persuasiveness of speeches and explanations when worn.
It's the same prop used by a certain elementary school student, usually not needed, and has been gathering dust, but now it finally has a use.
Since he's running for election, his goal is, of course, to win the election.
As for cheating… can a prop obtained through his own hard work be considered cheating?
Of course not.
During a certain country's general election, when the voter machine automatically locked onto one person, that's what you call shameless cheating.
After putting on the bow tie, Amamiya Natsuki walked onto the stage, looked at all the students in the auditorium, and began his speech.
It's impossible to get all the votes, just as it's impossible to make everyone like you.
So-called vote-gathering is merely identifying the target audience, and like Trump and India's Old Immortal Mo, it's about securing the support of a specific group.
The method is simple: identify the core interests of a particular group and offer promises that interest them.
As for whether the promises can ultimately be fulfilled…
Don't be silly.
As a mature politician, it's perfectly normal to say things you can't do.
Of course, Amamiya Natsuki is not yet a shameless politician; if he wins the election, he will naturally not be stingy with the promises he made.
The same goes for the support speech.
Using Tsubame-senpai's influence to attract people who were initially indifferent to Amamiya Natsuki to vote for him.
As for the work after becoming Student Council President, it's actually not difficult.
The Student Council has been established for decades, and its daily work and activities have long become customary.
There's no need for bold innovation or aggressive progress; most of the work is actually routine, simply following the traditions of predecessors.
"…Thank you, everyone."
Amamiya Natsuki took half a step back and bowed slightly.
Thunderous applause immediately erupted.
Next, it was the turn of the Sheltered Ojou-sama and Chika to give their speeches.
The Sheltered Ojou-sama had enough presence, but her cold personality left too deep an impression, and the auditorium quieted down considerably.
Fujiwara Chika, on the other hand, was very popular and had many friends, appearing on stage much like a prime minister.
Unfortunately, her unreliable image was deeply ingrained in people's hearts.
All in all, after the last candidate finished their speech, the final voting results quickly appeared on the big screen.
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence: 9 Reader for hundreds of additional chapters and over a dozen stories