Chapter 49Late Rival
After finishing my business in the toilet and returning to class, I saw a strange group of three standing in front of the door.
Oh, it was that group of three from earlier.
Class 1-C's door was slightly open, and they crouched down to peek inside. On their uniforms, I could see the ties of first-year student. Maybe they weren't doing anything bad, but it was a group of people with that blonde girl, so it was very suspicious.
Of course, this might be different from the time in the corridor in front of the Student Council Office. There were usually ordinary people passing through here. It's just a coincidence that, this time, the corridor was empty, with just me and the three of them here.
Yuuki-senpai isn't here, you know? Even though you guys are acting like stalkers, flashing like that ─Wait, flashing?
...Wh-Whoa? Now that I look at them more closely, their current position seems to be quite stimulating... ...Gosh, my legs are silent. Why? Oh yeah, lately, I've been mentally exhausted, and I'm sure my instincts have been whispering to my body to focus on recovering.
What can I do... ...I'll use my secret technique─ ─Snail's speed...!!!
"So that girl is called 'Natsukawa Aika'..."
"What do you have to do with Natsukawa?"
"Hya!!?"
"Kya!!?"
"...!!?"
What did that girl just say? Natsukawa Aika? Since she has a grudge against Big Sis, I've put her on my watch list, and right now she's also peeping at Natsukawa? You want me to chain on the back of the bike, huh, and do a few laps on the sports field? Huh? You want me to turn that blonde hair back to black? Huh?
"Oh, ugh, um... ...COUGH!!.. Can you not suddenly call us like that!?"
"...Oh."
Asked that question, I realized. Why did I call them too...? I knew that this would only cause me more trouble... ...Why did I react like this just because I heard the name 'Natsukawa' from her mouth? Gosh, maybe I still really like Natsukawa...? Oh yeah, I think so.
Let's calm down a bit. Now that I've regained my senses, this is an attack opportunity to break through this situation. No, I probably shouldn't attack.
That's right, be normal. Let's react as normally as possible. I've met that blonde in front of the Student Council Office. Since she doesn't seem to like Big Sis, I should take off my nameplate from my uniform, and be calm, yeah, calm... ...Wait, was I jokingly using vaguely polite language earlier?
"Long time no see, Young Lady."
"E-Eh...? ...Gosh... ...Have we met before...?"
"We met once in front of the Student Council Office before. At that time, you were indeed a face of difficulty and peeking─"
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!"
"You peeked inside. That left a deep impression on me!!"
"Why are you still saying that!?"
Every stalker action is bad. Of course it is. I won't back down... ...the world must know about this evil deed...! And then, the shameful faces of beautiful girls like them will be revealed to the world!!! Fuhihihihi!
"Marika-san at that time... ...peeked into the Student Council Office? Wasn't she going to meet with Yuuki-senpai...?"
"I think so... ...it seems that they're engaged."
"Th-That's right! I, as his fiancée, must be by Hayato-sama's side at all times! Th-That time, I was going to spend my lunch break with him..."
"Even so, you must have something against the Student Council Vice President─"
"Whoa! Whoa!"
JUMP!! JUMP!!
The blonde jumped up and down in front of me, trying to silence me. Now that you're not that suspicious anymore... ...I've never imagined that you're quite an interesting person.
So, is her grudge against Big Sis like a secret? At a time like this, as his rival, wouldn't you announce it widely, blame her, and then attract the masses to support you? That's unexpected.
Come to think of it, Big Sis must have met K4 long before I even entered this school. Perhaps, it's too late for a rival to appear here. Not to mention that Big Sis is her senpai, let alone two years above her.
"G-Grr... ...As I expected from the 'East' Side. Unlike on the 'West' Side, you guys don't show a single consideration for a girl... ...That's why I hate people from backwoods families, who don't even know how to spell society!"
"Huh?"
Putting aside all the ramblings about the ghetto family... ...East Side? West Side? What is that? Do we have such distinctions in this high school? For sure this high school has a schoolyard in the middle, so it's kind of split into east and west sections, but... ...Are you not allowed to set foot on the other side?
As I was thinking about the blonde's words, the door where the three of them were peeking inside suddenly opened.
"Hya!?"
"─What are you guys doing...?"
"What happened, Sajocchi?"
"Eh? Natsukawa? And also, Ashida?"
"You're not that easy to understand~, Sajocchi. Huh?"
The three girls who were surprised, Natsukawa who was annoyed, Ashida who was annoyed while still smiling and sometimes me too.
Oh, right, things are so noisy, huh.
Natsukawa somewhat looked into my eyes, somewhat not, yet somewhat disturbed, but also suspicious at the same time.
Those eyes, it's been a long time, huh... ...Thank you very much!
"What kind of situation is this?"
"The three of them said that they had business with you, Natsukawa. So, I interrogated them."
"Can you not talk like a gangster, can't you...?"
How rude. Oh, by any chance, did you think I was picking a fight with them? Even though I interrogated them because my instincts always tell me to protect you, Natsukawa... ...Though, I doubt that you really need protection from an innocent boy like me.
"Ugh... ...N-Natsukawa Aika-san! I have business with you, do you hear me?!"
"Um... ...what is it?"
"Just because you have good grades and in the second place in our school year, and are quite cute─... ...Actually, you're actually cute..."
"Eh? Th-Thank you..."
Well done!
It was a rather confusing development, but I still gave it a thumbs up. Perhaps, because I saw the teasing between Natsukawa and Ashida every day, I felt like a new flavor was starting to develop within me.
Being able to observe this from a close distance is an honor for me. I can't wait to see more motivated and motivated... ...huh.
"S-Since you're quite cute and have decent grades, I'll give you the right to support the first rank of the class, which is me─ —Shinonome-Claudine Marika!"
"E-Eh?"
"Why don't you guys encourage her?"
"Eh? Um... ...do your best!"
"No! That's not what I meant!!"
SLAP!!
"Ouch, sorry. I'm sorry!"
For some reason, I was the one who was attacked.
Yeah, I was the one who messed around a bit, after all. But, C-Claumaty? You're wrong about one thing! Natsukawa isn't just 'pretty cute', she's also 'super cute'!!! Super duper cute!
COUGH!!!
Claumaty cleared her throat, and faced Natsukawa again. After that, she pointed at her.
"I want you to support me! So that I can become the next Student Council President!"
"Eh, Student Council President...? Could you become Student Council President when you're still in the first?"
"─Let me explain!"
"Whoa!?"
Another girl from Claumaty's group, a girl with straight black hair, stepped forward. However, Claumaty's boss-like attitude of saying, "Tell him!", made me a bit annoyed. However, I also felt that without me doing anything, she would just destroy herself.
"All official Student Council positions can be recommended and applied for, no matter if you're in the first or second years. This high school also gives free rein to the Student Council President Election campaign. Anyway, the person with the most votes will be elected in the end."
"Okay, Mobile Student Handbook."
"Fufun."
"K-Kaoruko-san...? I don't think he's complimenting you, you know?"
Hearing my words that I happened to say, Kaoruko-san showed a satisfied expression. Yeah, I can understand her feelings, she must be happy to get such an honest response after delivering such a complicated explanation. I also had a similar experience.
"Even so, first-year students are generally at a disadvantage. After all, the ins and outs of high school are something you understand as you spend more time in this high school. Hence, most of the candidates are students from the second-year, well, it's a trend set by the students themselves. So, the first-year students have a hard time even becoming candidates."
"Trends, huh...?"
Basically, those who don't follow the trends will be ostracized, that's how the world works... ...I understand, but is there anyone else who would endure the pain of being the Student Council President? Oh, I can think of one person.
"Wait, isn't Kai-senpai going to be the one...?"
"He said that he doesn't intend to become the next Student Council President. If that's the case, then no one else among our popular and accomplished senpai would want to try out for Student Council President."
"I see."
So, Kai-senpai, doesn't want to be the next Student Council President, huh? If that's the case, then I don't know who will be the next Student Council President. In the first place, I don't know the senpai-s in the second-year either.
"Even so, there are still about 240 second-years students in this high school... ...so once the election period comes, there will definitely be other people applying for this position. That's why I need to gather as many followers as possible until then... ...so that I can become the next Student Council President."
I see, the plan makes sense too. Most students in high school usually don't take school seriously, so even if you make a very good speech and promise in the election, the majority of the votes won't suddenly show interest in voting for you. Even so, the easiest way to gather votes ─ that is by being known by others, I think? After all, you need to sell your name, and make students remember your name, after all, most students will vote for someone they know.
Hence, the person who is everyone's idol can win very easily. That's how normal high school elections work.
Author's Note: With a scandal or something.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
If you like our work, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi. 🙏
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Special Thanks to Our Current Monthly Supporter: Mr. Ads.
Follow Our Official WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRa6nHCsU9OAB0U370F
Read in other languages: