"Huh…?"
Mahiro blinked, caught completely off guard.
He hadn't expected that kind of question from Mibu-senpai. Not at all.
Nor could he understand why Mibu-senpai would even bring it up in the first place!
And yet, Sayaka's explanation made it even more outrageous.
Apparently, not long ago, someone had seen him together with President Saegusa Mayumi—chatting and laughing at a café. Not only that, but Mayumi-senpai had been blushing. Blushing!
For someone as flawless and dignified as the Student Council President, to appear shy in front of a boy… it was an unprecedented sight.
Naturally, the rumor spread like wildfire. People immediately assumed the two of them were a couple.
But that wasn't the real reason Mibu-senpai had come to him.
No, she had asked because she wanted Mahiro to join the Kendo Club—her Kendo Club. She wanted him to stand with her, to help build what she called a "fair and just environment."
She even bowed slightly, giving him a formal invitation.
But truthfully, Mahiro wasn't interested.
After seeing the Kendo demonstration earlier, his curiosity had already fizzled out. Joining a club? That kind of commitment wasn't his style.
Instead, what fascinated him was something else entirely.
Not the club, but Mibu-senpai's sword.
Her technique, her aura, the way her blade cut through the air—it was captivating. Mahiro couldn't deny it: he really admired her swordsmanship.
So of course, he declined.
Unfortunately, Mibu-senpai seemed to only hear the first part of his words—"I really like your sword."
Her cheeks flushed instantly, her composure faltering.
After that, she continued to seek him out a few more times, speaking with passion about the discrimination Course 2 students faced and the need for change.
But Mahiro just sighed.
Fairness? Where in the world did such a thing truly exist?
Even if you cut a cake into eight equal slices and gave one to each person, there would still be complaints. Someone would say their slice was too small. Another would say their neighbor's slice had more cream.
Fairness was never real—it was just another word people used when special treatment didn't fall on their own heads.
Eventually, perhaps realizing their outlooks were too different, Mibu-senpai stopped approaching him on that matter.
But as if to replace her earnest visits, new rumors began to circulate.
This time, they said Yotsuba Mahiro had been "flirting" with Mibu Sayaka in that same café. Some even whispered they were secretly dating.
The way the rumors spread, it was as though someone had deliberately fueled them.
.....
"So, Mahiro-kun… is it true that you were actually flirting with a second-year senpai?"
About a week after the enrollment activities had ended, Mahiro found himself cornered in his classroom.
Kitayama Shizuku leaned over her desk with her trademark emotionless expression, while Mitsui Honoka turned in her seat, eyes full of curiosity.
Even Miyuki-chan leaned closer from the side, her expression soft but clearly interested.
"Oi, Kitayama-san," Mahiro groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're the daughter of the Kitayama Zaibatsu. Is it really okay for a refined ojō-sama like you to throw around words like 'flirting' so casually?"
"No problem," Shizuku replied flatly. "My father wouldn't care about such trivial things. Also—stop trying to dodge the question. Please answer directly, Mahiro-kun."
Mahiro raised both hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. Of course not. I only said I admired Mibu-senpai's sword. How is that considered flirting?"
He shot a look toward Miyuki and added quickly: "Besides, don't say things like that when Miyuki-chan is around. If she gets corrupted, Tatsuya will probably come after me, and I don't need that kind of trouble."
Miyuki's delicate brows twitched, her lips pressing into a faint pout.
"…Mahiro-oniisama," she said softly, "you aren't mistaking my age, are you? I may be a year younger, but I'm hardly a child."
Mahiro opened his mouth to retort—but before he could, the school broadcast suddenly blared to life.
"To all students of First High!"
The voice was loud, shrill—so loud it nearly pierced their ears. Someone in the broadcast room quickly realized their mistake, adjusted the settings, and repeated more clearly:
"My apologies just now. Once again—attention, students of First High!"
"We are the Volunteer Alliance! We stand against the discrimination within this school!"
"We demand negotiations on equal footing with the Student Council and the Club Alliance!"
"Whoa."
Mahiro chuckled, leaning back in his chair as the others exchanged tense looks.
For them to go this far… it was impressive, he had to admit. To get their message across, they had even gone as far as illegally occupying the broadcast room.
Of course, such an act was a serious violation of school rules. This wouldn't end cleanly. The Student Council, the Public Morals Committee, and the Club Alliance would all mobilize.
Sure enough, just a little while later, a familiar figure appeared at the classroom door.
"Mahiro-kun!"
President Saegusa Mayumi, elegant as ever, hurried in with a few Student Council members behind her.
"Eh, Mayumi-senpai?" Mahiro asked, tilting his head.
The one who stepped forward, however, was Mari, her voice tight with agitation.
"Mahiro-kun, is it true you're Mibu-senpai's boyfriend?"
Mahiro sighed, shaking his head. "No. It's just a rumor. I was explaining it to Shizuku-san and Honoka-chan just a moment ago."
The two girls nodded, confirming his words.
"I see," Mari exhaled in relief, though her cheeks were still flushed.
Then Ichihara Suzune—calm, composed, and strikingly intelligent—spoke up. Her tone was cool but polite, befitting her aura of an ice-cold beauty.
"Then, Yotsuba-kun, do you have Mibu-san's contact information?"
"I do."
"In that case," Suzune continued smoothly, her voice neither cold nor overly warm, "the Student Council would appreciate it if you could contact Mibu Sayaka right now."
Her words carried authority but not hostility, unlike Mari-senpai's earlier agitation. Suzune-senpai had the presence of a wise and unshakable ice queen, her aura intellectual, yet quietly commanding.
The situation was clear enough. Neither the Student Council, the Public Morals Committee, nor the Club Alliance wanted to resolve this through brute force. But negotiations required a neutral intermediary—someone who could earn the trust of the opposing side. That person, unexpectedly, was Mahiro.
"Alright," he said without hesitation, "I'll handle it."
Arriving at the tightly locked door of the broadcast room, Mahiro drew out his device and dialed the number.
"Hello, Mibu-senpai? It's Yotsuba."
"Mahiro? Why are you calling me at a time like this?" Her voice was guarded, tinged with unease.
Mahiro chuckled softly, though his tone was respectful. "I just wanted to confirm something. Where might you be right now, Mibu-senpai?"
A pause. Then, almost reluctantly, she admitted, "...In the broadcast room."
"So it really is you. I didn't expect you senpai-tachi to go this far, actually taking over the broadcast room."
"Mahiro—are you mocking us?! Are you looking down on me?!" Sayaka's voice suddenly flared with emotion, sharp and defensive.
"Not at all," Mahiro replied quickly, his tone steady and earnest. "This is praise, not mockery. Because of your bold action, the Student Council and the Public Morals Committee have sought me out, asking me to serve as a bridge to speak with you directly."
"Then... are you here to persuade me? If that's the case—"
"Of course not," Mahiro cut in firmly. "This isn't about persuasion. It's about communication. What you've been demanding—negotiations—has been granted. The school has agreed to hear you out, Mibu-senpai."
"...Really?!" Her voice trembled with both hope and disbelief.
"It's true. I have no reason to lie to you, do I? Since your demands have been met, please, open the door."
"...And how do you guarantee our safety?"
Mahiro's voice softened slightly, though it remained steady. "Gomen, that's something I cannot promise. You should have expected this risk the moment you decided to occupy the broadcast room. None of you are children anymore—you knew what you were getting into."
"Though... honestly speaking, disrupting school order isn't the gravest of crimes. Still, this time, even I can't shield you from the consequences, senpai."
"...I see. We truly shouldn't have dragged you into this mess because of our selfishness, Mahiro. But still—"
"Please, allow me to finish, Mibu-senpai." His tone grew firmer, carrying the weight of sincerity. "Truthfully, I admire you. Reform always demands sacrifice. For you and the others to stand as pioneers, risking yourselves for the sake of Course 2 students... it's something worthy of respect."
His words hung in the air, solemn and heartfelt.
"Even if you fail here, all the Course 2 students will surely remember what you tried to do. They'll be grateful, because there aren't many who would have the courage to stand up and speak out for them."
"..."
Silence. On the other end, Sayaka's breath trembled. His words had clearly struck her heart.
The line disconnected.
A moment later, the heavy door to the broadcast room creaked open.
Five figures emerged. Their faces were drawn and grim, but they stood quietly, offering no resistance. Even when the Public Morals Committee stepped forward to apprehend them, none of them struggled. They bore the weight of their actions like a badge of honor.
But then, Mayumi-senpai herself appeared, raising her hand to halt the arrests. "Release them. They came for negotiations—let us treat them as such."
The three governing factions were determined to convince them properly. Force would only deepen the rift.
Still, Mahiro felt the subtle shift in the gazes around him. The way people looked at him had changed—curious, calculating, and in some cases, even admiring.
Even Miyuki-chan and Shiba Tatsuya-kun regarded him differently now.
Then, with her usual boldness, Watanabe-senpai strode up, slinging an arm around Mahiro's shoulder with a grin. "Oi, Mahiro! Didn't know you had such a silver tongue. You'd be perfect on the Public Morals Committee! What do you say, hmm? Want to reconsider and join us?"
Mahiro's mouth twitched, his tone weary yet polite. "Yare yare... please spare me, Watanabe-senpai."