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HJ Bunko

Rich Girl Caretaker – Volume 9

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Table of Contents
Prologue .............................................................................. 8
Chapter 1: Factions ............................................................. 12
Chapter 2: The Future of Kiou Academy ............................... 51
Chapter 3: The Rift Between Siblings .................................. 145
Chapter 4: Because I Want to Compete Fair and Square ....... 202
Epilogue............................................................................ 253
Afterword ......................................................................... 256
E-book Exclusive Short Story: If Hinako Had Run for President
......................................................................................... 258

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Prologue
This morning, I noticed the autumn leaves.
In the garden of the Konohana family estate, various plants are
meticulously tended. Still, the leaves of a lone tree in a corner
were dyed a vivid crimson. It’s still a bit early for the peak of
autumn foliage, yet the end of fall and the start of winter are
undeniably drawing near.
The atmosphere at Kiou Academy was, much like the season,
amid change. The Management Game had ended, and the
period where students were drained from burnout had passed.
Now, we were gearing up for the next event, plunging into
hectic days.
“Tomonari-san!”
After school, Tennouji-san burst into the classroom, calling out
my name.
“Please review the posters and flyers I’ve prepared!”
“Got it.”
Tennouji-san spread the posters and flyers out on the desk.
“Hmm… they’re still a bit too flashy. It might be better to
reduce the number of colors.”
“I see. I’ll revise them right away!”
Tennouji-san grabbed the posters and flyers and hurried off
somewhere.
As if trading places, a female student with black hair tied back
in a single ponytail entered the room.
“Izuki! Could you take a look at these for me?”
Narika spread her own posters and flyers on the desk.

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“Let’s see… there are too many annotations. I think you should
cut some down. Skip the overly detailed text.”
“Got it! Give me a sec!”
Clutching the posters and flyers, Narika dashed out of the
classroom with her athletic legs, not sparing a glance to the
side.
I let out a small sigh.
I was starting to feel a bit tired, but I didn’t want to show it in
front of those two, who were working even harder than me.
The past few days, after-school hours have been like this.
Today alone, Tennouji-san and Narika had asked me to review
their posters six times. Twice during lunch break, and four
times since after school, including the ones just now. Judging by
their enthusiasm, they’d probably be back again.
“Izuki… is it going to take much longer?”
Hinako, having dropped her Ojou-samma mode, spoke to me in
her natural tone.
At some point, the classroom had emptied, leaving just me and
Hinako. Everyone else had gone home.
“Sorry. Looks like there’s at least one more round to go.”
“I’m fine. As long as you’re okay… that’s enough for me.”
Was she worried about me? I gave her a silent smile, subtly
letting her know I was alright.
The sky outside the window had turned to a sunset glow. The
breeze was starting to carry a chill, and the days were getting
shorter. This might be the first time I’d stayed at the academy
this late for something other than the Tea Party.
“It’s already tomorrow, huh…”

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“Yeah. It’s finally starting.”
No wonder Tennouji-san and Narika were so frantic.
Tomorrow. Starting tomorrow, an important period begins for
both of them.
No, it’s an important period for me too.
As I steeled myself, I noticed Hinako wearing a faint, shy smile.
“Hinako, you seem excited. I thought events like this weren’t
your thing…”
“Hehe… this time, I’m not involved.”
Hinako let out a completely carefree grin.
So, when it’s someone else’s problem, she can purely enjoy it,
huh?
“Plus, if one of those two becomes student council president… I
might be able to live a bit more freely.”
“…Well, yeah, the attention on you might get split a little.”
“Mmm… Papa might get mad, though.”
Would he?
Kagen-san has been changing lately, too…
“But once the spotlight’s off you, won’t you feel a bit lonely?”
“Not at all.”
An instant reply, huh?
“…But I don’t like the idea of you going off to someone else.”
Hinako’s gaze dropped, tinged with unease, and I gave her a
wry smile.
“It’s fine. I’m your caretaker, after all.”

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“Mmm…”
It’s not like I’m paying attention to Hinako just because
everyone else is.
So, even if the world stopped watching her, I’d still keep
looking out for her. Though honestly, I can’t imagine a future
where Hinako isn’t the center of attention.
“…Even if you weren’t my caretaker.”
“Huh?”
Hinako mumbled something in a tiny voice, so I asked her to
repeat it.
“I want you to keep looking at me… forev—”
“—The revisions are done!”
The classroom door flew open with a bang.
Tennouji-san strode up to us, then tilted her head, noticing the
expressions on my and Hinako’s faces.
“Oh? What’s the matter with you two?”
“Nothing…”
I glanced at Hinako.
“Nothing at all, is there?”
Switching back to Ojou-sama mode, Hinako smiled gently.
Late October.
Kiou Academy was about to welcome the student council
election.

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Chapter 1: Factions
The election period at Kiou Academy has begun.
As someone directly involved, I’ve studied the election rules
thoroughly.
First, the campaign lasts thirteen days, excluding weekends. It’s
quite long, spanning three weeks. Still, considering it’s to
decide the student council officers who will lead future
business tycoons and politicians, it feels reasonable. The
presidential candidates are free to campaign during these
thirteen days, vying for the votes of the entire student body.
On the first day, it’s customary for each presidential candidate
to display their self-made posters and announce their
platforms. Flyers are often used as well. The locations for
poster displays and flyer distribution are predetermined.
That day, as I arrived at the academy as usual, a large crowd of
students had gathered on the first floor of the school building.
Their target was immediately obvious: the posters put up by
the presidential candidates.
“Oh, Tomonari and Konohana-san!”
“Morning, you two~!”
Taishou and Asahi-san noticed us.
Hinako and I greeted them with “Good morning” and
approached.
“What a huge crowd, huh?”
“Well, with these candidates this year, it’s no surprise.”
Saying that, Taishou cast his gaze toward the posters.

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Three candidates are running for the position of student
council president.
Two of them are Tennouji Mirei and Miyakojima Narika.
Both are as famous as Hinako at Kiou Academy. Tennouji-san’s
family business is on par with the Konohana Group in scale,
while Narika’s family is an industry leader, and her recent
accomplishments at the academy have earned her quite a
reputation.
Since both had consulted me about their poster designs, there
wasn’t much need for me to examine them now, but seeing the
posters they worked so hard on drawing so much attention
stirred a deep sense of satisfaction.
(…They’ve both improved a ton compared to their initial drafts.)
I felt genuinely happy that their efforts had paid off.
Tennouji-san’s first poster draft was like a supermarket flyer
for a big sale—gaudy and over-the-top. …Thank goodness we
revised it.
Narika’s initial poster reflected her overly cautious nature, with
footnotes overwhelmingly outnumbering the main text.
…Revising that one was absolutely the right call too.
They both consulted me because of my experience with
consulting during the Management Game. Still, honestly, I’m no
expert in election campaigns. Still, I did my best to research and
offer objective advice… and, well, the results don’t seem half
bad.
As I stood at the back of the crowd, arms crossed and nodding
to myself—
“Tomonari-san!”
Tennouji-san called out to me in a loud voice as she
approached.
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“Thanks to you, I was able to create a truly splendid poster!”
“No, I didn’t do anything that special…”
“Don’t be so modest! This elegant poster perfectly captures my
individuality with its dazzling charm!”
With that, Tennouji-san gazed proudly at her poster.
Hinako is known as the quintessential Ojou-sama, but
Tennouji-san is every bit her equal in perfection. Except for one
thing—her become the ultimate Ojou-sama! drive has no
brakes. Her blonde hair and that particular way of speaking are
the result of that.
That’s why her initial poster draft was outrageously flashy, but
completely erasing her personality felt like a waste. So, I aimed
to give the poster a refined, classy vibe. During the first half of
the Management Game, I visited an upscale café with Tennouji-
san, and I designed a poster that would look at home in such an
establishment.
“Um, Tennouji-san! Do your best!”
“I’m voting for Tennouji-san!”
The students around her cheered her on.
“Thank you so much. I’ll be giving speeches starting tomorrow,
so please do come listen!”
After bowing politely, Tennouji-san left. Her golden, vertically
rolled curls glimmered in the morning sunlight, leaving the
students staring in silent awe.
“Izuki!”
Hearing my name called again, I turned around.
Narika was heading toward me.

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“Thanks for helping out late last night! Because of you, both the
posters and flyers are getting great feedback!”
“Really? That’s great to hear.”
“It’s just like during the Management Game—your ideas always
surprise me. I never thought my calligraphy skills would come
in handy like this.”
Narika looked at her poster with an impressed expression.
Since Tennouji-san’s poster leaned into her individuality, I
thought about how to highlight Narika’s as well. That’s when I
remembered Narika was a master calligrapher. Just to be safe, I
checked with our homeroom teacher, Fukushima-sensei, who
confirmed there were no rules against how posters could be
made. So, I suggested that Narika try writing hers with a brush.
The result was an incredibly eye-catching poster.
The students were captivated by the bold, skillfully written
platform.
“Miyakojima-san! I’m rooting for you!”
“Onee-sama! I’m definitely voting for you!”
The students cheered for Narika.
“Thank you. I… I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations!”
She stumbled over her words a little, but unlike before, Narika
didn’t shrink under the spotlight.
As Narika left, the atmosphere calmed slightly.
And then—all at once, every pair of eyes turned to me.
“Ugh.”
I knew what was coming.
Their unspoken question was clear through their stares.
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—Whose side are you on?
I still hadn’t found an answer to that.
Clutching my stomach as a slight pain hit, I headed to the
classroom.
◆
“Haaaaaah…”
“You’re really making it obvious how much you’re stressing,
Tomonari.”
As I let out a sigh in the classroom, Taishou and Asahi-san came
over.
“There are two candidates for vice president, including you,
right?”
“Yeah, seems like it. I don’t know much about the other one
since no info’s out yet.”
“There’s been some buzz about it, though. I heard it’s a first-
year?”
“Wait, really?”
That rumor hadn’t reached my ears.
A first-year running for vice president… That’s pretty
ambitious.
I can’t underestimate them just because they’re younger.
Unlike me, they likely gained admission to this academy
through legitimate means. Honestly, they’re likely more
capable than I am.
“Either way, with two candidates, you’ll need to win the
election, so picking a faction is a big deal, huh?”
“…Yeah.”

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That’s exactly what I’ve been agonizing over.
It’s not just the presidential candidates who have to campaign.
The student council consists of five roles—president, vice
president, treasurer, secretary, and general affairs—and if
there are multiple candidates for any role, they face an election.
Since there are two vice president candidates, including me, I
have to campaign to secure my spot. This election has me right
in the thick of it.
The primary role of a vice presidential candidate is to support a
presidential candidate. In other words, you choose who you
think should be president and assist them as a subordinate.
The reason for this setup ties into the election rules.
At Kiou Academy, every student has a vote, but the elected
president gets a special “presidential vote” equivalent to one-
third of the total student body’s votes.
This means the winning president has a significant influence
over the selection of the other council members.
And at Kiou Academy, it’s customary for the elected president
to cast their presidential vote for the vice president candidate
who supported them.
That’s why choosing a faction is so critical for vice president
candidates.
This year’s election at Kiou Academy has three factions:
Tennouji-san’s, Narika’s, and the mysterious third candidate’s.
In short, the vice president candidate’s campaign boils down to
picking the winning horse among these factions and serving as
their right hand.
You support them, and in return, you earn their presidential
vote.

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Of course, the presidential vote alone is only one-third of the
total, so if the remaining two-thirds go to the other candidate,
you lose. That’s why I need to show the student body my
contributions as a supporter and earn their trust as a vice
president.
“I’m rooting for you, man. I’m voting for you.”
“Thanks.”
With all this uncertainty, straightforward support like this
means a lot.
“You too, right, Asahi?”
Taishou glanced at Asahi-san beside him.
But Asahi-san had a complicated expression, lost in thought.
“Asahi?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah! I… I think Tomonari-kun’s the better choice.”
Seeing her awkward demeanor, I let out a quiet sigh.
“You don’t have to force yourself to support me, you know.”
“No, no! I’m seriously cheering for you! I’m voting for you too,
Tomonari-kun!”
Her attitude still seemed off, though…
For a moment, I worried she might not vote for me, and that
negativity showed how I’d unconsciously assumed everyone
I’m close to would support me. I need to reflect on that.
Friendship and blind loyalty aren’t the same thing.
The election period has just started. What matters is what
comes next.
But to move forward… I have to pick a faction.
Do I support Tennouji-san or Narika?
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Which one should I choose…?
“…I can’t think straight, so I’m gonna take a walk.”
There was still some time before class.
I left the classroom and wandered aimlessly down the hallway.
“Oh, Tomonari-san.”
“…Suminoe-san.”
While walking, I ran into Suminoe-san, who had just arrived at
school.
“The election period starts today, doesn’t it?”
“Y-Yeah, it does.”
Her perfectly poised, ladylike smile sent a shiver down my
spine.
Suminoe-san continued, still smiling.
“Which faction are you planning to join, Tomonari-san?”
“Well…”
I faltered.
Seeing my hesitation, Suminoe-san’s gaze sharpened.
“You’re not thinking of betraying Tennouji-sama, are you?”
The pressure was intense.
Staring me down until the very end, Suminoe-san entered the
classroom.
Clutching my stomach and exhaling deeply—
“Oh, Tomonari-kun.”
Kita approached, looking concerned.
“What’s wrong? You don’t look well.”
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“…No, I’m fine.”
“If you say so… You’re aiming for vice president, right? I’m
rooting for you.”
“Thanks.”
All my hard work so far must be paying off, since so many
people are cheering for me.
But Kita didn’t head back to the classroom. He paused, as if
debating whether to speak or stay quiet. After a moment of
hesitation, he opened his mouth.
“Which faction are you joining, Tomonari-kun?”
“…Uh.”
“I don’t want to pressure you, but I think Miyakojima-san is
someone who needs support.”
“…Yeah, I get that.”
I feel the same way.
I really do, but…
◆
Lunch break.
After eating lunch with Hinako as usual, she tapped my knee
lightly.
“Gonna sleep?”
“Mhm.”
I crossed my legs to make it easier for her to rest her head.
“Zzz…”
Placing her head on my lap, Hinako started snoring softly
almost immediately.

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The season was turning cooler as evenings grew chilly, but the
daytime temperature was perfectly comfortable. If I didn’t have
so much on my mind, I’d have napped with her.
(…Maybe I should talk to someone.)
I pulled out my smartphone and made a call.
I wasn’t sure if she’d pick up at this hour, but the call connected
right away.
“What’s up, Izuki? Calling me in the middle of the day?”
“Sorry, Yuri. Got a minute?”
“Yeah, but is it something serious?”
“…Yeah.”
“Hold on a sec. Let me move somewhere else.”
Along with Yuri’s voice, I could hear lively chatter in the
background. Her high school must be on lunch break right now
too.
The familiar atmosphere of my old high school brought a wave
of nostalgia.
“So? What’s the deal?”
Yuri’s voice came through again, the earlier noise now gone.
“I need some advice. The election campaign just started at my
academy, and…”
I explained my situation to Yuri.
How I became a vice president candidate. How I need to
support someone and shine in that role to win the election. But
to do that, I have to choose a faction…

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“Ugh, that’s way too luxurious of a problem.”
“Luxurious?”
“I mean, you could join either faction if you wanted, right?
Normally, just getting into one would be a struggle.”
When she put it that way, I suppose she had a point…
“Wait, you’re asking me for advice on this?”
“Yeah, I mean, I’ve already decided that when it comes to big
life stuff, I’m consulting you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Yuri giggled.
I really wanted to talk about this in person since it’s so
important, but time’s tight.
I know it’s my fault for stewing over it for so long…
(…If things go as usual, one of the presidential candidates will
end up isolated.)
With three presidential candidates and only two vice president
candidates, when both vice president candidates pick their
factions, one presidential candidate will be left without
support.
I don’t want either Tennouji-san or Narika to be left alone.
It’s not just out of concern that I don’t want to see them sad. I
genuinely believe neither of them should be left isolated.
Tennouji-san and Narika are both incredible people.
Since they’re both running in this election, I want them to
perform at their absolute best. The idea of their campaigns
being limited by a lack of support bugs me on a personal level.

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It’s possible the other vice president candidate is aiming to
support Tennouji-san or Narika, but since neither has
mentioned anything like that, it seems unlikely.
Maybe this is a selfish way of thinking…
“Just prioritize what you want to do.”
Yuri said it so casually.
“It’s about what makes sense to you. I’m always thinking about
myself, you know.”
“…Really?”
“Yup. For me, it’s usually about cooking.”
For Yuri, her dream is to turn her family’s restaurant into a
nationwide chain.
Maybe I need to stop focusing on just the election and think
about the bigger picture.
What I want to do with my life is to protect Hinako.
To be someone who can support Ojou-sama like Hinako,
Tennouji-san, and Narika. To become a successful consultant.
And someday, to be someone who can stand proudly beside
them without hiding my background.
Maybe that’s selfish too, but…
(…Come to think of it, everyone’s got their own reasons for
running in this election.)
Tennouji-san wants to surpass Hinako.
Narika wants to change herself.
“Selfless devotion is nice and all, but in your case, doesn’t that
just mean locking yourself up in a shell?”
Because that’s what I’ve been doing all along—
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Ever since I was a struggling student, I’ve lived without
thinking about what I want. Yuri pointed this out to me during
summer break too. I’m terrible at spending time on myself.
However, I know I can’t continue like this.
If I don’t actively pursue my goals with my own will, I’ll get left
behind.
The world I’ve chosen is a harsh one.
(…I forgot my original resolve.)
Just as Tennouji-san has her reasons, and Narika has hers, I
have my own reasons for running in this student council
election.
At the end of summer break, Takuma-san told me something. If
I want to become an executive at the Konohana Group in the
future, I should join the student council at Kiou Academy.
A lot has changed since then. Forging a path as a consultant
during the Management Game, proving my aptitude for it, was
probably a bit unexpected, even for Takuma-san.
The life plan I envisioned during summer break has shifted
slightly, but my core desire remains unchanged.
To stand by Hinako’s side—
That, and only that, is my unwavering dream.
“…Thank you. I think I see what I need to do now.”
“Good to hear.”
We both fell silent.
Then, I tilted my head with a curious “Oh?”
“You’re not gonna say your usual line? The one about being the
older sister…”

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“…I’m not saying it.”
Yuri answered with a sigh.
“I’m not gonna lose to you… or to the Konohanas!”
The call ended.
Has something changed within Yuri, too?
But now that she’s not saying “Because I’m your Onee-san!”
anymore… it feels kinda lonely. What a selfish emotion on my
part.
“…Hey!”
“Whoa!?”
A sudden poke to my side made me let out a weird yelp.
“H-Hinako, you’re awake?”
“Halfway through… I didn’t interrupt. Am I good?”
“…You’re good.”
“Hehe…”
She looked like she was fishing for praise, so I patted her head,
and Hinako smiled happily.
It’s like petting a cat or something.
“…Elections are different from business.”
Hinako said this while lying across my lap.
“In business, it’s important to grow multiple companies’
performances… but in an election, there’s only one winner.”
Coming from Hinako, who actually nurtured multiple
companies simultaneously in the Management Game, those
words carry incredible weight.

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Only one winner in an election. Normally, that’d make
balancing things tough, but—
“But… it depends on how you approach it, Izuki.”
Hinako’s eyes locked onto mine.
“What this upcoming event becomes… it’s all up to you.”
“…Yeah. You’re right, Hinako.”
Hinako nodded with a soft “Mm.”
“By the way, what’s the student council election to you,
Hinako?”
“Hmm… a carefree festival?”
Tilting her head, Hinako said it.
Hinako tends to shine as the star of any event. That’s probably
why she’s happy to take a more relaxed role in this election,
unlike usual.
“But I’m still cheering properly.”
She insisted she’s not just a bystander.
“I hope you, Tennouji-san, Miyakojima-san… everyone gets the
results they want.”
Hearing Hinako’s pure feelings, I couldn’t help but let a smile
slip.
Yeah… exactly. I feel the same way.
Unable to resist, I ruffled Hinako’s head on my lap.
“Mm? Mm, mmm… hehe…”
With every pat, Hinako’s smile grew sloppier.
◆

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On the way back to Class A with Hinako, I ran into two girls in
the hallway.
“Ah.”
“Ah.”
“Ah.”
As I made a sound, Tennouji-san and Narika did too.
Were the two of them together?
Tennouji-san and Narika exchanged a silent glance, nodded
quietly, and turned to me.
“Tomonari-san, may we have a moment of your time?”
“There’s something we’d like to talk about.”
Tennouji-san and Narika spoke with resolute expressions.
“Perfect timing. I also have something to discuss with you two.”
Their eyes widened.
Maybe we’re about to talk about the same thing.
“Then I’ll head back first.”
“Sure, see you later.”
Reading the room, Hinako returned to the classroom. …Well,
it’s not like I’m hiding anything from her, so I’ll share the
details when we’re back at the mansion.
With lunch break nearing its end, the hallway was mostly
empty. We faced each other on a quiet staircase landing.
“Shall we start with our matter?”
I nodded, and Narika continued.
“Izuki, about this student council election—you don’t need to
help us.”
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“Huh?”
My eyes widened at the unexpected statement.
No need to help. That means…
“Are you saying I’m getting kicked out from the team…?”
“N-n-n-no! That’s not what we mean!”
“Indeed! You’re far from expendable! To be honest, we’d love to
have you more than anything!”
Is that so…?
As I tilted my head, Tennouji-san cleared her throat with a
deliberate ahem, her face flushed.
“It’s about you, Tomonari-san. You’re probably struggling to
choose between the two of us, aren’t you?”
“Well…”
Looks like they saw right through me.
“Making posters or flyers is one thing, but managing both of us
moving forward would be incredibly demanding. So, Narika
and I discussed it earlier. To avoid overburdening you, we’ve
decided to run this election without your support.”
“If it’s you, Izuki, the third presidential candidate would
probably take a liking to you too. So, we’re saying don’t worry
about us—go into this election with more freedom.”
If I can’t choose between them, I should just work with the
third candidate instead. That’s what Tennouji-san and Narika
were suggesting.
But… that doesn’t feel quite right.
“Rest assured, we’ll manage somehow on our own—”
“—No way.”
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I cut them off firmly.
“Don’t say that. Let me help. I’ll support both of you, Tennouji-
san, Narika, with everything I’ve got.”
Did they really think I was only worried about the workload?
That’s not it. Sure, I was torn about who to support, but I never
once fretted over the weight of the responsibility.
That kind of thing? I’ve been ignoring it from the start.
My only concern was the student council election’s rules.
Traditionally, one vice-presidential candidate supports one
presidential candidate. I was anxious about breaking that mold,
but Yuri and Hinako gave me the push I needed to move past it.
In that case, I have no reason to compromise.
“You’ve got it wrong. It’s not that I can’t choose. I want to
support both of you.”
To the stunned, silent duo, I continued.
“My goal is to become a consultant. To get there, I need as much
experience as possible in that role. Overwhelmingly busy?
Bring it on. I’m not about to let this chance slip. Being swamped
is exactly what I want.”
Being insanely busy doesn’t scare me.
I’ve been dealing with that ever since Hinako pulled me into
this world.
“I’ve got my own stakes in this election. So, I’m supporting both
of you.”
I looked straight at them and said it.
For some reason, Tennouji-san and Narika froze, their faces
dazed.
“…How splendid.”
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“…So cool.”

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Noticing their faintly flushed cheeks, I tilted my head.
“Uh, you two?”
“—Oh!”
They snapped back to reality.
“Very well. If you’re that determined, Tomonari-san, please
support us.”
“I’ve always trusted you, Izuki. Honestly, I’d love to ask for your
help.”
Relieved that they both agreed, I let out a sigh.
Thank goodness. Not a team cut…
“However, there’s a concern about how you’ll be perceived.
Supporting two camps might make some see you as a bat
chasing presidential votes…”
“I’ve got some ideas about that. Let’s discuss them later.”
The warning bell rang, signaling the start of class soon.
I recalled the mindset I had during the Management Game as a
consultant. Complex discussions can wait—first, we share what
needs to be done.
“For now, the election tasks are flyer distribution and the
speeches starting tomorrow, right? Have you already drafted
your speeches?”
“Yes, a little bit…”
“I’ve started, but they’re not finished…”
As expected, both are as busy as I am, so progress isn’t great.
Since my indecision caused a delay, I need to make up for it.

Page | 35
“I’ll help with the speech drafts, so after school today, focus on
handing out flyers. You two distributing them personally will
help connect with the students.”
They nodded thoughtfully, and I continued laying out the plan.
“That said, doing it alone will be tough, so I’ll introduce people
to help with the flyers. Also, you probably know, but be
careful—there are limited spots where flyer distribution is
allowed.”
I’ll have Suminoe-san help Tennouji-san and Kita help Narika.
Those two are diligent, and they’ll likely get along well with
Tennouji-san and Narika.
As I explained, I noticed the two in front of me looked slightly
surprised.
“…You’re awfully well-informed.”
“Ugh.”
Narika’s innocent question made me a bit awkward.
“…Well, I was kinda all-in on helping, so… I did my research.”
I’ve memorized all the rules for the student council election.
Not just the vice-presidential candidate’s role—I’ve prepped
for the presidential candidates’ strategies too.
“Pfft.”
“Hehe.”
Tennouji-san and Narika burst out laughing at the same time.
“It seems our worries were for nothing.”
“Yeah. Maybe we should’ve relied on Izuki from the start.”
Having decided to support them, I’ll live up to that trust.

Page | 36
After we parted and I returned to the classroom, I recalled
something Yuri said a few days ago.
—You can’t choose what you can’t choose, right?
Faced with choosing between honing her skills at her family’s
restaurant or becoming exclusive to a top-tier restaurant, Yuri
casually decided to do both.
That greed… I’m gonna take a page from her book.
◆
After school.
Tennouji-san and Narika were, as I instructed, focusing on
handing out flyers.
“I’m Tennouji Mirei! Please cast your precious vote for me!”
“I’m Miyakojima Narika! I’m counting on your support!”
Outside the school building, the two distributed flyers from
separate spots.
From what I could see, every passing student took a flyer. Are
Kiou Academy students just that interested in the election… or
is it the influence of these two? I can’t rule out some deference
to their family names, but if they campaign earnestly for these
thirteen days, the outcome won’t hinge on something so trivial.
Flyers serve two purposes: spreading awareness of their
platforms, such as posters, and advertising upcoming speeches.
“Starting tomorrow, I’ll give speeches twice a day—during
lunch and after school! Please, everyone, come listen!”
“I’ll share details of my platform in the speeches starting
tomorrow! I have a lot to say, so please try to come!”

Page | 37
While handing out flyers, they announced the speech times and
locations. Without this, no one would show up, rendering the
speeches pointless.
(…I don’t see the third presidential candidate.)
Are they distributing flyers elsewhere?
Or maybe they’re scoping things out today. Candidates are free
to campaign as they wish, so that’s fine… but this quietness is a
bit concerning.
“Tennouji-sama is a noble figure befitting Kiou Academy.
Please support her!”
“Miyakojima-san isn’t afraid of change. Why not entrust the
academy’s future to her?”
Suminoe-san and Kita were also helping with the flyers. Kita
seemed unsure when I first asked, but now he’s handing them
out with gusto.
Sparks flew between Suminoe-san and Kita.
Suminoe-san opened her mouth wide—and shouted.
“Glory to Tennouji-sama!!”
Suminoe-san…
That sounds kinda cultish, so please stop…
“Izuki… got a bit more left?”
“…Nah, let’s head home.”
Part of me wants to watch this flyer-distribution skirmish—the
prelude to the speeches—till the end, but I’ve got my own
work. I trust they’ll handle it, and I need to stick to our roles.
One person’s going a bit rogue… oh, Tennouji-san’s scolding
Suminoe-san now.

Page | 38
Seeing Suminoe-san slump in defeat, confirming that the rogue
behavior was under control, I headed back to the Konohana
mansion.
“—Alright.”
During the election, I’m excused from servant duties outside
my role as Hinako’s caretaker, so back in my room, I
immediately pulled the speech drafts from my bag.
As always, I owe Shizune-san for supporting my ambitions. No
one could’ve predicted that a commoner like me, hired
temporarily as a caretaker, would aim for a student council
position.
I began reviewing the drafts immediately.
(…They’re both writing so earnestly.)
I felt a spark of what Takuma-san called my “talent for seeing
behind the data.” I could sense the strong passion for the
election in both drafts.
My job is to refine these feelings so that they resonate with the
audience as effectively as possible.
Presidential candidate speeches aren’t allowed anytime—
they’re restricted to lunch and after school. Lunch is time-
constrained, but after school offers more flexibility so that
those speeches can be more detailed. It might be smart to
prepare two versions.
(This part’s like business.)
As Hinako said at lunch, business and elections are totally
different. Still, my experience juggling multiple companies’
consulting in the Management Game is coming in handy.
It’s about leveraging each one’s strengths to help them grow.

Page | 39
In business and elections, the rule is the same: gain more trust,
and you win. In elections, companies become people, and
stocks become votes.
(…Just to be safe, I’ll have Hinako check.)
I glanced at Hinako, lounging on the bed behind me.
“Hinako, mind reading the drafts once?”
“Mm… leave it to me.”
“Sorry, I know you’re sleepy.”
“No prob… for you, it’s a piece of cake.”
With that, Hinako stood and shuffled over with tiny steps.
As she read the drafts spread on the desk, her amber hair
brushed my arm, tickling slightly.
“Here… too many numbers. Might be hard to follow.”
“…Got it.”
In a setting without charts or tables, rattling off numbers orally
won’t stick.
Speeches can use projectors, but these drafts are for lunch,
when time’s short. I’d rather not use a projector then. Tennouji-
san and Narika need at least some rest, and dealing with tech
issues would be a hassle.
“You’ve studied this kind of presentation stuff too, huh?”
“Mm… in case I have to speak at shareholder meetings
someday.”
That’s a massive scale.
…It feels so far away.
I’m nowhere near that level yet.

Page | 40
But the path forward was clear. There is no need to rush—just
grow steadily, step by step. That’s what I thought when my
smartphone buzzed, signaling an incoming call.
“…It’s Takuma-san.”
“Ughhh…”
Hinako made a face like she’d bitten into something sour and
dove under the covers.
Is it that bad…?
“Yo, Izuki-kun.”
“Hey. Something up?”
“The election period starts today, right? Thought I’d drop by
with some words of encouragement.”
“Encouragement… huh.”
Coming from this guy, it feels like there’s some ulterior motive.
Kinda scary…
“You’re aiming for vice president, right, Izuki-kun?”
“Yeah.”
“And two of the president candidates are your friends, if I
recall. Knowing you, you’re probably playing assistant to both
of them at the same time, aren’t you?”
“…Exactly.”
As expected, he’s got me all figured out.
I get why he’d know about me, but how does he know
Tennouji-san and Narika are running for president? This guy’s
information network is as mysterious as ever.
“Well, if you’re gonna be an executive at Konohana Group,
you’d better be able to handle at least that much.”
Page | 41
“…This is kinda late to ask, but becoming an executive at
Konohana Group and becoming a consultant—are those goals
really compatible?”
“Totally compatible. The world’s a meritocracy, when you get
down to it. If you become an outstanding consultant, Izuki-kun,
it’ll open doors not just with us but with any group.”
A meritocracy, huh.
Part of me agreed. I used to think luck—like your parents or
family background—played a huge role. But watching the
students at Kiou Academy, who never stop striving, I realized
those things are just a tiny fraction of what leads to success.
I won’t deny luck plays a part. However, it’s also true that skill
enables you to seize opportunities. The world’s pretty
generous to those with real ability.
If Takuma-san says it’s possible, then balancing both goals
shouldn’t be an issue.
Still, one concern lingered.
“But… I was thinking about this during the company tour. If
you join a group as an outsider executive, don’t you risk
resentment from the people already there?”
“Hahaha… Nice one. Your questions are getting sharper, aren’t
they?”
Thanks to you.
My mind flashed back to Taiyo Construction’s shareholder
meeting. The upper management there got outmaneuvered
when Suzuki Fund took a majority stake. The fallout from that
will probably reveal itself bit by bit, but I can’t forget the
anxious look on the president’s face that day.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle that kind of thing.”

Page | 42
Takuma-san answered coolly.
I tilted my head. He praised my question for being specific, but
his response was frustratingly vague. Almost like he was
dodging it…
“This election’s gonna be a bigger workload battle than the
Management Game. I’d recommend leaning on Hinako when
you need to.”
“Hinako…?”
“You know how capable she is at handling tasks. You can learn
things from her that you won’t get from me—just take it slow
and soak it up.”
I don’t want to burden Hinako too much, but Takuma-san’s
right—her practical skills are top-notch. I’ve always been a
little jealous of that.
During the election period, Hinako doesn’t seem to draw as
much attention as usual, so I’ll try asking for her advice when
she doesn’t seem too worn out.
“By the way, Izuki-kun. In the Management Game, something
was left out. Any guesses what it was?”
Takuma-san suddenly threw out a question.
“…No idea.”
“You’ll probably see it in this election. Overcome it, and you’ll
grow even more.”
The call ended.
What was the answer to that last question? …Leaving me with
that puzzle, I set my smartphone on the desk.
“Izuki…”

Page | 43
Hinako, who’d been hiding under the covers, poked her face
out and called to me.
“Izuki… Are you aiming to become an executive at Konohana
Group?”
“Huh? Oh, I didn’t mention that?”
“…You didn’t.”
Wait, really…?
Now that I think about it, I don’t think I ever told Hinako.
I first mentioned it to Takuma-san, and Tennouji-san figured it
out during the first half of the Management Game, but I haven’t
told anyone else since.
Part of it was that saying it out loud felt kinda embarrassing. It
might come off like I’m doing it for Hinako, and I don’t want to
sound like I’m fishing for gratitude or anything.
I’m just working hard because I want to. That’s all…
“W-Well, that’s…”
Hinako fidgeted, her eyes locked on me.
“Does that mean… you’ll stay with me… forever…?”
She asked, peering up at me shyly.
Did she mean working as an executive at Konohana Group
forever? Becoming an executive is kind of my ultimate goal, so I
haven’t thought much about what comes after. But unless I get
fired or something, I might keep working there.
“…Well, I’d be happy if it worked out that way.”
At my answer, Hinako’s face turned bright red, and she bolted
for the door.
“Hinako?”
Page | 44
“…Gotta go back to my room.”
Hinako opened the door. A maid, who happened to be cleaning
the hallway, turned toward us. Looks like Hinako wouldn’t
need me to guide her back to her room.
I stared silently at the door as it clicked shut.
What was that about…?
◇
Back in her room, Hinako flopped face-first onto her bed.
Clutching her pillow tightly, she replayed her conversation
with Izuki.
“…Hehe.”
She had no idea Izuki was aiming to become an executive at
Konohana Group.
She knew he had big goals. He’d said he wanted to stand as her
equal… to stand by her side. But to think his specific goal was
to become an executive at Konohana Group…
Not Tennouji Group. Not Shimax, Narika’s family business.
Izuki’s goal was Konohana Group—where Hinako was.
And he said he’d stay with her forever.
This was…
(This is… practically a proposal…!!)
Hugging her pillow, she imagined a grand wedding, showered
with blessings.
She’d buy a wedding dress. The most stunning one out there.
The sooner they got married, the better. Maybe even a student
marriage—how about that?

Page | 45
In her fantasy wedding venue, familiar faces appeared:
Tennouji Mirei, Miyakojima Narika, and Hirano Yuri. Everyone
was clapping for their marriage.
(I won… I’m Izuki’s number one…! I knew I was the main
heroine…!)
Hinako was confidently wielding terms she’d recently picked
up from shoujo manga.
She squeezed her pillow with all her might.
She’d just sleep like this tonight. She was sure to have the
happiest dreams.
“Excuse me.”
The moment she closed her eyes, Shizune stepped into the
room.
Seeing Hinako about to drift off, Shizune spoke.
“Ojou-sama, it’s time for your studies…”
“…Not today.”
“Kagen-sama will be upset.”
“It’s fine. Papa’s at the main estate today.”
Hinako, ever sly, had already checked her father’s schedule.
Shizune let out a small sigh.
“If you slack off too much, Izuki-san might be disappointed in
you.”
Lately, Shizune had taken to using Izuki as leverage to motivate
Hinako. It was usually super effective, and normally Hinako
would’ve complied, but—
“Heh.”
“…What’s with that face?”
Page | 46
“Izuki… chose me. There’s no need to worry about that…”
Hinako flashed a smug grin, and Shizune gave her a puzzled
look.
“What did he say?”
“…That he’s aiming to be an executive at Konohana Group.”
Shizune had vaguely suspected as much.
Back when the Management Game started, Izuki had asked her
whether he should start a company from scratch and what he
should do if he wanted to be involved in management someday.
Later, Izuki chose the entrepreneurial path in the Management
Game, but his real goal wasn’t starting a company—it was
becoming a leader. The Management Game was just a learning
tool. After starting his consulting business, he prioritized
working with large companies, indicating that he aspired to
manage a major corporation in the future.
It made sense… He probably wanted to be involved in running
the Konohana family’s business.
That was a bold decision. Honestly, it was worthy of respect.
Maybe that’s why he was aiming for a student council position?
It was a heartfelt effort. During the election period, she should
offer him some support.
But right in front of the touched Shizune… Hinako was melting
into a goofy, lovesick expression.
“Izuki… said he’d stay with me forever…”
It was hard to stay moved in this situation.
As Hinako basked in her own little world of bliss, Shizune gave
a light cough to snap her back to reality.
“You can’t let your guard down.”
Page | 47
“…Huh?”
Shizune glared sternly at the completely relaxed Hinako.
“Even if that’s how Izuki-san feels, how others act is a different
matter. After the Management Game, Izuki-san’s caught a lot of
attention. Even if he becomes an executive at Konohana Group,
there’s a real chance someone else could poach him.”
“P-Poach…!?”
It was a very real possibility.
Hinako knew it too, and her earlier confidence was crumbling.
“Don’t you have any guesses, Ojou-sama? Someone else who
might have their eye on Izuki-san?”
“………………………………I do.”
Hinako answered in a tiny voice.
“……………………About four people.”
“…That’s a bit much.”
Shizune put a hand to her forehead.
That guy’s way more popular than expected.
“Out of curiosity, who are you thinking of?”
“…Hirano-san, Tennouji-san, Miyakojima-san… and Shizune.”
“Huh?”
An unexpected name had slipped in.
“Me?”
“Because, Shizune… you’ve been staring at Izuki a lot lately…”
Shizune realized what she meant.

Page | 48
Ever since Izuki found out about her cosplay hobby, Shizune
had been periodically checking to make sure he wasn’t spilling
her secret. Especially when she overheard talk about clothes or
hobbies, she’d shoot him a quick glare.
That’s what Hinako was referring to.
“Ojou-sama, that’s, um…”
“That’s…?”
“No, I mean…”
“Mean what?”
The tables had turned.
Under Hinako’s stare, Shizune looked away.
“L-Let’s get back on track.”
“…You’re dodging.”
“I’m not dodging.”
She was just preventing the conversation from derailing
further. Convincing herself of that, Shizune pressed on.
“You must understand now, Ojou-sama. Izuki-san is in high
demand.”
“Mgh, grr…!”
As Hinako clamped her mouth shut, Shizune continued.
“If others try to poach Izuki-san, do you think he’d stay loyal to
a lazy Ojou-sama like you are right now? No. You’d better
prepare to be abandoned.”
“…Ngh, nghhh…!”
Against her better judgment, Hinako began to imagine it.

Page | 49
After the wedding, they were supposed to live happily ever
after. But maybe that happiness had made her let her guard
down.
Izuki looked at her with cold eyes.
“Sorry, Hinako. I’m… gonna work under a better boss.”
“I-Izuki…!!”
Her whole body started trembling.
“Izuki… don’t go anywhere…!”
Seeing Hinako so shaken, Shizune let out a sigh.
Honestly, there was no way that guy would ever hurt Hinako
like that. She’d meant to give her a little push, but it worked too
well, and now she felt a bit guilty for scaring her so much.
Still, what needed to be done had to be done.
Hinako had once broken etiquette at an important dinner with
the “three-second rule.” Izuki took it hard, feeling responsible,
but Shizune regretted it just as much.
“Come on, Ojou-sama. Let’s get to work today.”
Izuki wasn’t the only one by Hinako’s side.
When he offered her candy, she’d take up the whip. Shizune
resolved herself to that role.

Page | 50
Chapter 2: The Future of Kiou Academy
The second day of the election period.
On the first day, the presidential candidates made their
presence known with posters and flyers. Still, starting from the
second day, speeches were permitted. The election campaign
truly kicked off today.
Arriving at school a bit earlier than usual, I headed to the first-
floor hallway of the school building.
The hallway bulletin board was still adorned with the same
posters of the presidential candidates as yesterday. However,
next to those posters, a new display had been put up today.
“Hey, Tomonari-kun.”
A voice called out from behind, and I turned around.
“President Minato.”
“I’m not the president anymore. Just call me senpai.”
The rule was that as soon as the election campaign for the new
school year began, the previous student council was disbanded.
A vote would decide the new student council members on the
final day of the election period. To ensure a smooth transition,
last year’s student council dissolved early, but hearing it
directly from President Minato made me feel a little wistful.
One glance at President Minato was enough to know she was
someone with the dignity befitting a student council president.
But surely, she must have faced countless struggles to reach
that point.
I murmured a quiet “Thank you for your service” in my heart.
But despite my sentimental musings, President Minato was
grinning cheerfully.

Page | 51
“What do you think of the new corner I put together?”
President Minato… no, Minato-senpai said proudly, puffing out
her chest.
Next to the posters, a large sheet summarized the profiles of
each candidate. It was titled “A Peek into the Daily Lives of the
Candidates.” …This was the corner Minato-senpai had said she
wanted to create for the next student council election. It
seemed she’d successfully brought her vision to life.
“It’s great. It’s engaging and makes you want to care about the
election.”
“Hearing that from someone involved makes it all worthwhile.”
It felt worthwhile for me too, having helped with the
interviews.
(…Looking at this, Tennouji-san and Narika really live
completely different lives, don’t they?)
The sheet gave a rough outline of how the two spent their days.
Apparently, Narika wakes up earlier in the morning. I wasn’t
surprised, knowing Narika trains at the dojo early in the
morning, but other students might find it unexpected. While
Narika’s academic performance at the academy might not
match Tennouji-san’s, it’s not as if Narika leads a careless life.
“Huh? This one-line comment at the end… was that always part
of it?”
“Oh, that? I saw your report and thought it’d be a shame not to
include it.”
At the bottom of each candidate’s profile was a section for a
one-line comment.
My profile had this comment: “His earnest attitude positively
influences those around him. Watching his efforts gives others
Page | 52
a chance to reflect on themselves.” …I don’t recall writing
anything like that in the report…
But it’s a heartwarming comment.
Coming to Kiou Academy, I’ve worked hard, influenced by so
many people. If my efforts have, in turn, inspired someone else,
that’s something to be proud of.
“Might as well hand these out too.”
Saying that, Minato-senpai handed me something resembling a
newspaper.
“What’s this?”
“It’s the election bulletin. Traditionally, once the next election
starts, the student council takes on a sort of newspaper club
role. Until the final day of the election period, we distribute
these, summarizing the academy’s public opinion polls.”
I quickly skimmed through it.
The election-related information was clearly and concisely
organized. It briefly touched on the candidates’ pledges and the
speeches that will start today.
“I thought handing it out on the first day might overwhelm
students with too much information. Maybe I was overthinking
it.”
“No, it’s helpful.”
The first day was filled with introductions to the candidates
and their pledges. Giving students some time to process it all
seemed like a good idea to me too. Releasing information
gradually felt right.
The election bulletin also included the approval ratings for the
three presidential candidates.

Page | 53
I see… reading this makes the trends in approval ratings crystal
clear.
(Right now, it’s a two-way race between Tennouji-san and
Narika, huh?)
Tennouji-san and Narika each held about forty percent, with
the third candidate at twenty percent.
However, this was based solely on the opinions of those who
participated in the poll. The response rate was just under half
of the student body, meaning that nearly half of the students
were still undecided about who to vote for.
With fifty percent of the votes still up for grabs, the current
approval ratings could shift dramatically depending on where
those votes landed.
“Oh, sorry, I need to get going.”
“Got some business to attend to?”
“I was planning to do a final check on my speech draft.”
That’s why I came to school early.
I also wanted to look into the other candidates, but there’s no
time right now.
“I’ve heard the rumors. You’re supporting both Tennouji-san
and Miyakojima-san at the same time, right?”
“…rumors spread that fast, huh?”
“That’s just how much attention you’re getting. The more
prominent someone is, the faster rumors about them spread.
Everyone’s dying to know your every move.”
It almost felt like she was deliberately piling on the pressure.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down my face. Suddenly, I became
hyper-aware of the gazes around me.
Page | 54
I get it… being in the spotlight and having expectations placed
on you means your failures stand out just as much. That’s a
kind of fear I’ve never experienced before.
“Feeling the pressure?”
Seeing my stiffened expression, Minato-senpai said knowingly.
“That fear always haunts those in power. If you can’t handle it,
you’d better step back.”
Until now, even if I made a mistake, it wouldn’t have drawn
much attention.
But now, if I fail, that failure will be known to everyone in no
time. In the worst case, it could even brand me as someone
unworthy of standing by Hinako’s side.
The more attention I get, the greater the risks become.
I think I’m starting to understand what Hinako, Tennouji-san,
and Narika carry with them every day. Hinako finds this
pressure bothersome, Tennouji-san has a past where she
became overly stoic trying to face it, and Narika was afraid of it.
What I’m feeling now is probably a fraction of what they deal
with.
That’s exactly why I can’t afford to freeze up here.
“No way. I don’t have the luxury of getting scared.”
“…Is that so?”
It was just bravado, but I knew I had to make those words real.
“Give it your all. The election campaign starts now.”
After watching Minato-senpai walk away, I slapped my cheeks
with both hands to psych myself up.
◆

Page | 55
Lunch break, at the usual rooftop of the old student council
building.
“…Thanks for the meal!!”
Having wolfed down my lunch, I quickly packed away my bento
box and stood up.
“Hinako, sorry! I’ve gotta go!”
“Mm… see you later.”
During the election period, I have to work as an aide for
Tennouji-san and the others during lunch breaks and after
school. For a while, that means spending less time with Hinako.
That said, I’m doing this to stand by Hinako’s side in the future,
so in the long run, it’ll mean more time together. Shizune-san
understands this too, which is why she’s allowing me, Hinako’s
caretaker, to act separately from her.
So, right now, I’m off to listen to Tennouji-san and the others’
speeches…
“…You okay? Can you wait here properly? I’ll come back after
hearing their speeches, so don’t move from here, alright?”
“Hmph… Izuki, you’re too suspicious. I’ll just nap here and wait,
so don’t worry.”
“But… what about the bathroom? If you really can’t hold it, you
could sneak over to that corner over there…”
“I-I wouldn’t do that…!!”
Is she really going to be okay?
When she’s in proper Ojou-sama mode, it’s one thing, but when
she’s relaxed and being her true self, Hinako still gets lost in
her own mansion. I’m worried she might not even make it back
to the classroom alone. Does she even know where the
bathrooms are?
Page | 56
I had plenty of concerns, but time was short, so I hurriedly
headed toward the sports field.
(First up, I’ll go hear Tennouji-san’s speech.)
Tennouji-san’s speech was being held in front of the sports
field, just outside the school building. It was a spot visible from
classroom windows, making it ideal for drawing attention.
When I arrived at the speech location, even though lunch break
was only halfway over, nearly fifty students had already
gathered. They must have finished eating early to hear
Tennouji-san’s speech.
Tennouji-san stood on a morning assembly platform we’d set
up in advance. The platform was an academy property, and I’d
gotten permission from Fukushima-sensei to use it the
previous day.
Our eyes met.
Her silent question—whether it was time to start—was met
with a nod from me. Fifty people was more than enough.
Waiting too long could make it seem disorganized, so it was
best to begin.
“Thank you all for gathering here!”
Tennouji-san declared in a loud voice.
She wasn’t using a microphone. We’d secured permission just
in case, but Tennouji-san had decided against it, saying her
natural voice would carry more impact.
“As it’s lunchtime and time is limited, I’ll keep this brief and
share my vision with you all!”
Everyone’s eyes were on Tennouji-san.
Under their gazes, she proclaimed confidently.

Page | 57
“I, Tennouji Mirei, am running for student council president!
My pledge, in a single phrase, is this—to make this academy a
place where everyone can live nobly!!”
An academy where everyone can live nobly. That was
Tennouji-san’s slogan.
Now came the specifics.
“At present, Kiou Academy has a school caste system based on
family background. This results in students from prominent
families carrying themselves confidently, while those from less
distinguished backgrounds seem to shrink back. This is an
issue I’ve personally felt since my first year, and I’ve been
working to address it.”
Several students nodded as they listened to Tennouji-san. I was
one of them.
When I first met Tennouji-san, she told me to straighten my
back and carry myself with more confidence. Those words gave
me the push to hold my head high.
“Of course, I understand the difficulty of everyone interacting
as equals. Many of our families run companies that support
countless livelihoods. If the classmate standing before you is
the heir or heiress of an important business partner, it’s only
natural that acting casually becomes challenging.”
Tennouji-san showed empathy for the students who felt
intimidated.
This was a problem unique to Kiou Academy. Everywhere you
looked, there were children of politicians and CEOs. In this
environment, only a select few could truly feel at ease.
“But that can be overcome with etiquette!”
Tennouji-san declared forcefully.
This was the heart of her argument.
Page | 58
“We shrink back because we fear making mistakes or causing
offense. If that’s the case, then we should hone the skills to
never make such mistakes—in other words, we should master
manners!”
Tennouji-san’s golden hair shimmered beautifully under the
dazzling midday sunlight.
“Nobility resides in confident conduct! And the mental strength
to carry oneself confidently can be supported by skills—by
manners! Therefore, if I become student council president, I
promise to establish formal etiquette classes at this academy!
Not only dining etiquette but also grooming and dance lessons
to ensure you can hold your own in any social setting without
shame!”
Establishing formal etiquette classes—that was Tennouji-san’s
concrete pledge.
For Kiou Academy students, this would likely be in high
demand. I myself had benefited greatly from Tennouji-san’s
etiquette lessons.
By the way, the classes Tennouji-san planned to implement
would be optional and held after school, so they wouldn’t
disrupt the academy’s regular curriculum. This format was
finalized after consultations with the teachers. She’d discuss
the details in her after-school speech.
“That concludes my pledges, but before I finish, allow me to
explain why I came up with this idea.”
Tennouji-san glanced at me.
…Huh?
This wasn’t in the speech draft.
What was she about to say?
“One day, I met a certain classmate.”
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Tennouji-san began her story.
“My first impression of this student was like that of a
frightened puppy. Hunched over, eyes darting nervously… they
were visibly intimidated. So, I advised them to straighten their
back.”
As Tennouji-san recounted the past, I had a faint sense of déjà
vu.
“By some strange twist of fate, I ended up spending a lot of time
with this student. Our relationship grew into one where we
inspired each other to improve… and before I knew it, this
student had grown into someone truly remarkable, someone
who left me in awe.”
Tennouji-san said this with genuine joy.
“Watching them, I thought to myself—if they could do it, then
others could too. That elegance isn’t something you’re born
with, but something you can achieve through effort.”
Sensing the heartfelt truth behind her words, I couldn’t help
but feel a lump in my throat.
If elegance were something only attainable by birth, then
Tennouji-san, as an adopted child, wouldn’t possess it.
Tennouji-san spoke as if I were the sole precedent, but that’s
not true. The first person to seize elegance through effort was
Tennouji-san herself.
I’m merely following in her footsteps.
“That’s why I made my decision! I will create a stage for
everyone to strive for greatness! I will transform this academy
into a place where everyone can live nobly!”
As Tennouji-san concluded her speech, thunderous applause
erupted.

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It was perfect. Tennouji-san’s charisma shone at its brightest.
(…Using her personality to its fullest was definitely the right
call.)
I’d worried that using the word “noble” might be too vague and
hard to convey, but considering Tennouji-san was the one
delivering it, it worked perfectly. After all, she was practically
the embodiment of nobility at this academy. If anyone
wondered what nobility or elegance meant, they only had to
look at Tennouji-san to understand.
In other words, Tennouji-san’s pledge was about fulfilling the
wishes of those who aspire to be like her.
That meant my job, as her supporter, was clear.
I had to make everyone admire Tennouji Mirei.
“Great job, Tennouji-san.”
After Tennouji-san finished greeting the gathered students, I
offered her words of praise.
“Tomonari-san! How was my speech!?”
Still buzzing from the speech, she was visibly excited.
She must have felt the positive response. …I felt the same way.
“It was flawless. I got a bit nervous when you went off-script at
the end, though…”
I was referring to the final part she added.
Unless I’m being overly self-conscious… that story was about
her and me, wasn’t it?
Tennouji-san blushed and looked away.
“Th-that was my true feelings.”
“I’m honored. I had no idea you thought of me like that.”
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“…Hmph, don’t play coy. You must have noticed how much
you’ve influenced me…”
Her shy admission made me feel bashful too.
It was more than an honor. To think I was the spark for her
pledge…
I was thrilled, but also a bit tickled by the sentiment.
The speech’s success made me want to linger and chat, but I
had to head to Narika’s speech next. Time to get to the point.
“The speech was a huge success. But the specific plans, like the
etiquette classes and dance lessons, didn’t fully come across
yet, so let’s stick to the plan and use the projector for the after-
school speech.”
“Understood. We’ll convey the lesson content through visuals,
yes?”
Exactly. We’d already prepared footage for each lesson. If the
etiquette classes became a reality, Tennouji-san planned to use
her connections to bring in external guest instructors. By
contacting those instructors, we’d secured video materials as
references.
“You’re heading to Miyakojima-san’s speech next, right?”
“Yes.”
At my nod, Tennouji-san gave a bold smile.
“Support her with everything you’ve got. It’ll make me fight
harder.”
“…Got it.”
Tennouji-san wanted a fair competition.
She really was a noble person. I couldn’t help but think so
again.
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◆
Narika’s speech was held in front of the gymnasium, on the
opposite side of the school from Tennouji-san’s location. While
the sports field was visible from classroom windows, the
gymnasium was perfectly positioned for students to watch
from the hallway windows.
Hurrying to the gymnasium, I found a large crowd already
gathered. Lunch break was nearly forty minutes in, and with
most students done eating, the crowd was bigger than at
Tennouji-san’s speech—around sixty people.
“I’m Miyakojima Narika from Class 2-B! Thank you all for
coming today!”
Narika began her speech.
Like Tennouji-san, she wasn’t using a microphone. She’d said
she didn’t need one, confident in her lung capacity, and her
voice carried impressively. Her martial arts training clearly
gave her an edge in public speaking.
“If I become student council president, I want to make this
academy a place where people can change themselves!”
Narika declared her pledge with passion.
“Like me, I think many students at Kiou Academy are living
lives on predetermined tracks. Inheriting the family business,
marriage, career choices… our futures are more or less decided.
That’s both a reassuring strength and, in some ways, a stifling
limitation.”
The students listening grew more serious. They must have
related to Narika’s words—whether it was about themselves or
someone close to them.

Page | 63
Kiou Academy students lived on rigid tracks. Ironically, the
more prestigious the family, the sturdier the track, making it
harder to break free.
“Have you ever given up on something because ‘that’s just how
my future is’? I think that’s such a waste. Wanting to change
deep down but giving up before even trying is a problem
unique to us, who can see our futures so clearly.”
Reading Narika’s speech draft, I’d thought she might be right.
Looking back… maybe I was able to push myself so hard
precisely because I didn’t have a set track. Losing my parents,
dropping out of school, and facing an uncertain future forced
me to change. When I wanted to transform myself, nothing was
holding me back.
I’m an extreme case, so I don’t think everyone should have such
a free environment. But I do know a little about the freedom
that exists off the tracks.
“There was a time when I had to change.”
Narika spoke of her own experiences.
“But I didn’t know how to change myself and struggled for a
long time. …So many people helped me through it. Supported
and trusted by others, I finally mustered the courage to change.
…And I want others to experience that too.”
Narika looked out at the gathered students.
Her resolute gaze pierced straight into the hearts of everyone
listening.
“If I become student council president, I’ll create a salon at this
academy!”
Narika laid out the details of her pledge.

Page | 64
“Connections change people! That’s my belief! Fortunately, this
academy is full of students skilled in all sorts of fields.
Interacting with them lets you reflect on your weaknesses and
learn how to address them! Overcoming your shortcomings or
trying new fields—that’s the kind of environment I want to
create!”
Kiou Academy is filled with the children of prominent industry
leaders—essentially, future experts in their fields. Some are
already performing at a professional level. The Management
Game was an event that showcased exactly that.
Everyone could imagine how valuable conversations with such
people would be. So, fostering even more of those interactions
held immense potential.
“Changing yourself doesn’t have to be some grand thing.
Wanting to improve your grades, get better at sports, or
expand your network—that’s all part of changing yourself. A
salon would be a place to find peers who share that desire to
grow.”
The students were utterly captivated by Narika’s passionate
speech.
“…I’ll be honest.”
Narika touched her cheeks, forcing a smile as she spoke.
“I’m not good at dealing with people. I’m not great at
conversation, and when I’m nervous, my face gets all stiff. …In
the past, that led to a lot of misunderstandings. You’ve
probably all heard the rumors. That Miyakojima Narika is a
delinquent or part of a biker gang.”
Many students looked awkward.

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Narika didn’t blame others for the old rumors, instead owning
them as a result of her own shortcomings. Seeing her now, no
one would still believe those rumors.
“But, as I mentioned earlier, I’ve been able to change bit by bit
thanks to the people and opportunities I’ve been blessed with.
Running for student council president is something last year’s
me could never have imagined.”
Who could have predicted Narika standing here just six months
ago?
Having been in the spotlight due to negative rumors, Narika
had unintentionally shown her transformation to many people.
Her words carried undeniable conviction.
“People can change. The proof of that is me. …To those who
haven’t yet taken their first step, let me say this: How about we
muster up some courage together?”
Finally, Narika spoke as if addressing everyone—.
“With that, I conclude my speech.”
A thunderous applause erupted for Narika, who had just
wrapped up her speech.
It was a great speech. Even without any bias, I genuinely
thought so.
Spotting Narika lightly greeting the audience, I approached her.
“Narika.”
“…Izuki.”
Noticing me, Narika, for some reason, wore a solemn
expression.
“Izuki, let’s move somewhere else.”
“Hm? Oh, sure.”
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Thinking it’d be better to talk in a calmer spot, I followed
Narika as we moved.
Behind the gymnasium… After reaching a shaded area out of
sight, Narika turned to face me.
“Narika, good work. I listened to your speech from the start,
and—”
“I-I-I-I was so scaaared~~~ !!”
Narika, half in tears, clung to me.
Oh… So that’s why she wanted to move.
People don’t change so easily. Just as Narika said in her speech,
she’s in the midst of changing right now.
But that’s exactly why Narika decided to create an environment
where people can change more easily.
To make the academy a place where people can transform
themselves. —A pledge only Narika, who knows both the
wonder and difficulty of change, could make.
“You were awesome.”
“R-Really…? I can’t even remember what I said…!!”
“You covered everything necessary, so don’t worry.”
No, if anything, her speech was even better than the script.
I don’t think she was consciously doing it, but Narika’s subtle
gestures meshed perfectly with her speech, making the content
easy to follow. Like when she talked about her own experiences
and lifted the corners of her mouth with both hands.
Tennouji-san, probably because she’s used to the stage, added
an impromptu line at the end that wasn’t in the script, but it’s
hard to take inspiration from that since it’s not a mere

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technique. Tennouji-san has her strengths, and Narika has hers,
so their speeches naturally reflect their unique personalities.
The two of them are competing to become student council
president, not to see who gives the better speech. But when
you hear a speech in person, its sheer quality can grab your
heart. There’s something about the charisma exuded through a
speech that appeals not to reason but to instinct.
Whether to vote based on reason or instinct—that choice is left
to each individual student. So, for the sake of those who follow
their instincts, a speech can’t be too polished.
I should probably study more about giving speeches myself…
We can’t just expect students to vote purely on reason.
“Izuki, I’m going to keep pushing harder!”
Narika brimmed with determination.
“I declared it in front of everyone. That we’d change ourselves
together. …I absolutely don’t want that declaration to be a lie!”
Seeing Narika’s eyes blaze with fighting spirit, I couldn’t help
but feel moved.
“…You’ve really come so far in changing yourself.”
For Narika, this is probably still a work in progress. But to me,
she’s already achieved an impressive transformation.
Pressing the spot between my eyebrows, I tried to hold back
tears.
Seeing me like that, Narika gave a wry smile.
“I’ve caused you a lot of trouble, haven’t I, Izuki?”
“Yeah… I’m remembering the days when you were disguised as
a gyaru.”
“F-Forget about that, please…!!”
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Apparently, that’s a dark chapter for Narika, as her face turned
bright red.
I actually thought it suited her pretty well… but I’ll keep that to
myself.
“Lunch break’s almost over, so I’ll quickly point out some areas
for improvement.”
Narika’s expression shifted to one of seriousness.
“You occasionally looked down, so try to keep your eyes
forward more. Also, I appreciate that you stuck to the time
limit, but depending on the audience’s mood, it might be good
to give them a moment to breathe. Like around the part where
you said, ‘I’m not good at dealing with people’—that could be a
good spot to pause.”
“Got it. …Thanks for watching so closely.”
“Yeah. I’m no expert on speeches myself, so my advice is kind of
trial-and-error.”
However, when it comes to pledges, there is some overlap with
the consulting skills I learned in the Management Game,
allowing me to offer more specific input in that area.
Explaining a pledge is, in essence, presenting a business plan.
And that’s something I’ve done multiple times in the
Management Game.
“For the salon you proposed as a concrete plan, you should
explain it more. Where it’ll be located, how big it’ll be, whether
food and drinks are allowed, what the operating hours will be…
Lay out those details in a way that excites the audience, in a
clear, logical order.”
“Got it. …To be honest, I delayed the start time a bit, hoping
more people would show up. That backfired, and I ended up
cutting some explanations.”
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“Can’t be helped. It’s a trade-off, I think. I went to hear
Tennouji-san’s speech first today, but tomorrow I’ll start with
yours, so we can think it through together.”
I wasn’t here from the beginning, so I don’t know if Narika’s
decision was right or not. In fact, delaying the start time
probably helped gather this many people.
“Izuki, after school…”
“As planned, I’ll go scout the third candidate. …The support for
both of you is handled like during the flyer distribution, so
others will cover it, no worries.”
Suminoe-san is helping Tennouji-san, and Kita is helping
Narika, taking my place.
The improvements I noticed from today’s speeches need to be
shared with Suminoe-san and Kita too. Since I want to start
scouting right after school, I’ll pass the info along during the
next break.
On the way to the classroom, I saw a poster in the hallway on
the first floor.
Behind Tennouji-san and Narika’s posters, there was another
one.
The third candidate for president—Joutou Ren.
This morning, in the election bulletin distributed by Minato-
senpai, there was info about him.
Joutou Ren is the son of a politician.
◆
After school, when I headed to the school gate, a large crowd
had already gathered.
(…This is the place.)

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According to the flyer, Joutou Ren’s speech is scheduled to take
place here.
The crowd is huge. Unlike lunch break, students have more
time after school, so it’s natural. Still, there are even more
people than at Tennouji-san or Narika’s lunchtime speeches.
Plus, as expected, the school gate is the perfect spot for an
after-school speech.
It’s in the line of sight of every student leaving school.
The speech locations are decided by the candidates and their
aides, who apply to the teachers each time. However, if a
conflict arises, it’s resolved on a first-come, first-served basis.
We were slow to act, and the school gate for today was already
taken.
Today, when the speeches kick off, is when students’ interest in
them is at its peak. Ideally, we’d have secured a prominent spot
like this. If I hadn’t been torn over whether to support
Tennouji-san or Narika, could we have nabbed this spot…? I
can’t help but feel a sense of regret.
Taking a deep breath, I switched gears. There’s no point
dwelling on what’s done. My job is to make up for it elsewhere.
I blended into the crowd to listen to the speech.
The third candidate for president—Joutou Ren. I mentally
reviewed what I knew from the election bulletin.
He’s in Class 2-E. The eldest son of a prominent political family.
His grandfather, the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry,
even attended the Management Game’s opening ceremony, and
his father has also entered politics.
Judging by his background alone, he exudes the vibe of a sharp,
capable individual.

Page | 71
But, surprisingly, I hadn’t heard much about him among my
peers.
Wanting to get a sense of who Joutou Ren is, I pushed toward
the front of the crowd.
Then, I spotted the back of a petite girl.
“Oh, Asahi-san?”
“Eh, Tomonari-kun?”
Turning around, Asahi-san’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You’re here.”
“Y-Yeah… Why are you here, Tomonari-kun? Tennouji-san and
Miyakojima-san’s speeches are probably starting around now,
aren’t they?”
“I left those to others and came to scout.”
“O-Oh, I see…”
Something about Asahi-san seemed off.
She’s usually much more lively when she talks, but now she’s
acting kind of fidgety.
Am I imagining it…?
“There’s a lot of people. But I don’t see many familiar faces…”
“…No wonder. Most of the people here are probably first-
years.”
Asahi-san said, scanning the crowd.
That makes sense. But if that’s the case, it’s odd that the
audience is so skewed toward first-years.
I checked Joutou’s pledges in the election bulletin, and they
didn’t seem particularly appealing to first-years.

Page | 72
If anything, Joutou’s pledges are—unorthodox for any grade.
“I went to Tennouji-san’s speech during lunch, and it was
amazing. You wrote the script for that, right, Tomonari-kun? It
was really clear and well done.”
“Thanks. If you were there, you could’ve said hi.”
“Nah, I didn’t want to get in the way. By the way, Taishou-kun
went to Miyakojima-san’s speech, but he had the same
impression as me.”
“That’s great to hear.”
I thought she was acting strange, but as we talked, Asahi-san
seemed to return to her usual self.
Still, it seems both she and Taishou were at the speeches but
didn’t approach out of consideration. Their kindness is
appreciated, but next time, I hope they’ll just say hi. I’m sure
Tennouji-san and Narika would be happy about it too.
“Tomonari-kun, is being a vice-president candidate pretty
tough?”
“Yeah. Even supporting just one person would’ve been a lot.”
“…Got it. Yeah, makes sense.”
Asahi-san fell silent.
Yeah, she’s definitely acting a bit off.
I don’t know what’s causing it, but…
“Thank you all for coming.”
A voice rang out, and we turned forward.
It was amplified through a microphone. I couldn’t see clearly
through the crowd, but there must be a speaker up front.
“I am Joutou Ren, running for student council president.”
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On the platform stood a male student with slightly long, tousled
hair.
He was Tennouji-san and Narika’s rival—Joutou Ren.
“The pledge I’m putting forward is—”
Gripping the microphone, Joutou addressed the crowd firmly.
“—the democratization of Kiou Academy.”
◆
After Joutou Ren’s speech ended.
“…Phew.”
I let out a sigh without thinking.
The other students seemed the same. Whether that sigh came
from awe, exhaustion, confusion, or even disgust… one thing
was certain: every single person in the audience was struck by
Joutou’s speech.
Joutou’s claims were the kind that could be seen as a bombshell
to Kiou Academy’s students.
“…That was intense.”
“…Yeah.”
Asahi-san was clearly shaken too, and both of us stood there,
dazed, even after the crowd began to disperse.
“…Mind helping me sort through some info?”
“Sure, if I can help.”
To organize my thoughts, I decided to lay out the details one by
one.
“First, Joutou-kun’s pledge is the democratization of Kiou
Academy.”

Page | 74
Asahi-san nodded.
“The issue he’s addressing… is that the students here are out of
touch with the real world.”
Asahi-san nodded again.
“It was like a punch to the face. …His point was that we don’t fit
in with the outside world.”
Joutou didn’t exactly say we’re entirely out of place.
To be precise, he put it like this: Kiou Academy students are so
sheltered that when they enter society, they sometimes drag
ordinary people down.
That alone would be hard for the students here to swallow.
“He also mentioned real incidents. Like a Kiou Academy
graduate treating their subordinates like servants, getting
labeled as a power harasser, and being fired…”
“I was shocked when I heard that. I’d never heard anything like
that before. …But if it was in the newspaper, it must be true,
right?”
While explaining, Joutou held up a newspaper for us to see. It’s
still on the platform where he stood. He said anyone curious
could check it out.
Forgery seems unlikely. Kiou Academy students are sharp.
Probably more than half of those who heard Joutou’s speech
today will look into the incident mentioned in that paper. I’m
planning to do the same when I get back to the mansion.
Joutou claimed the root of that harassment was Kiou
Academy’s education.
Whether that’s a stretch is debatable… but what matters is how
convincing it sounds.

Page | 75
Joutou’s speech was persuasive, backed by specific, clear
pledges.
“To fix our sheltered nature, he wants Kiou Academy students
to get used to commoner culture. That’s his goal. His concrete
plans include introducing club activities, workplace
experiences, and…”
“…removing family background as a criterion for admission.”
I nodded.
In short, Joutou’s pledge to democratize Kiou Academy means:
To understand commoners, do what they do! That’s his
argument.
(…This is bad.)
As Tennouji-san and Narika’s aide, I shouldn’t be thinking this.
I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it.
Joutou Ren’s pledge—has some merit.
Deep down, a part of me thinks his pledge is entirely
reasonable.
That’s probably because I’m a commoner myself.
Growing up in a commoner’s world, the shocks I felt when I
came to this academy are still vivid. The sense of money, the
assumption that everyone has servants… I’m used to it now,
but at first, it was all bewildering.
Joutou’s claims hit me right in the gut.
They probably resonated with me more than anyone else in
this academy.
But—.
“…Asahi-san, have you heard anything about Joutou-kun?”

Page | 76
“Like what?”
“Like, rumors about him standing out in some way, like
Konohana-san, Tennouji-san, or Narika…”
“Hmm, I haven’t heard anything like that about Joutou-kun.”
Asahi-san is bright and friendly, with lots of friends. If she
hasn’t heard anything, it’s likely no one else has either.
Setting aside the content of his speech for now, I thought about
Joutou Ren, the man running for president.
His claims were indeed shocking. But—and this is just my
personal impression—his presence after the speech felt…
(…kind of underwhelming, honestly.)
His voice wasn’t particularly commanding, and his expressions
didn’t feel especially intense.
Joutou spoke calmly, almost matter-of-factly. …To be honest, I
didn’t get the sense of conviction from his speech that I felt
from Tennouji-san or Narika.
“In terms of charisma, he might fall short of Tennouji-san and
the others.”
Asahi-san seemed to share my impression.
“Still, with such a bombshell pledge, he’s not lagging behind
Tennouji-san or Narika in terms of buzz.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
Asahi-san agreed.
“Honestly, I think Joutou-kun’s pledge has some merit too—”
“—Are you acting like this doesn’t concern you?”
Cutting off Asahi-san’s words, an unfamiliar male student
spoke up.
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Who’s this?
I tilted my head at the boy who’d appeared nearby. His neatly
parted hair and silver-rimmed glasses gave off an intellectual
vibe. He was slim, a bit shorter than me.
The boy was glaring at Asahi-san.
“This might be our first time talking at the academy.”
“…Yeah.”
“You’re as cowardly as ever. Are you really going to keep
pretending you’re not involved?”
“That’s not what I…”
Asahi-san lowered her gaze, and the silver-rimmed boy sighed.
Then, he turned to me.
“You’re Tomonari Izuki-senpai, right? I’ve heard about you.”
“Uh…”
What rumors?
“Nice to meet you. I’m Asahi Rintarou, Joutou-senpai’s aide.”
With that, the boy extended his hand for a handshake.
“As fellow vice-president candidates, I look forward to working
with you.”
I shook his hand, and he gave a quiet smile.
Watching him turn and walk away, I recalled what I knew
about the second vice-president candidate.
Taishou had mentioned it. According to rumors, the other vice-
presidential candidate is a first-year student. Since he called us
‘senpai,’ that rumor seems accurate.
But right now, what’s on my mind is…

Page | 78
“…Asahi-san, is he, by any chance…”
With a slightly awkward expression, Asahi-san nodded.
“Asahi Rintarou. …He’s my younger brother.”

Page | 79
Page | 80
Page | 81
◆
The following day, Saturday.
In the Konohana family’s parlor, the usual members had
gathered.
“And so!”
Seeing that tea had been served for everyone at the table,
Tennouji-san beamed with delight.
“Today, we’re holding a tea party at Konohana Hinako’s
mansion!!”
“Th-thank you for having us!”
“Yay!!”
“Heck yeah!!”
Narika, Asahi-san, and Taishou each flashed bright, enthusiastic
smiles.
“Everyone, please make yourselves at home.”
Hinako smiled gently.
Taishou and Asahi-san were captivated by her graceful
demeanor. I thought Tennouji-san might get jealous, but today,
she remained in high spirits, unfazed.
“We owe our thanks to Konohana Hinako for providing the
venue for this tea party. And… to Tomonari-san, who planned
it, my heartfelt gratitude once again.”
As Tennouji-san spoke, everyone clapped.
“No, really… you’re exaggerating.”
It was indeed an exaggeration, but I felt planning this was
worth it.

Page | 82
Why were we holding a tea party at the Konohana mansion? To
avoid negatively impacting our election campaign.
Including me, everyone here was part of the somewhat
embarrassing group known academy-wide as the “Tea Party
Alliance.” The name originated from our regular tea gatherings,
but holding them during the election period raised concerns.
Tennouji-san and Narika, who were supposed to be rivals in
the election, acting chummy at a tea party could spark
suspicions of collusion.
Rumors that the two were secretly collaborating would
undoubtedly harm their approval ratings. So initially, we’d
planned to refrain from tea parties until the election was over.
But honestly, election campaigning was tough. Keeping
distance from friends while pushing through could strain our
hearts, potentially harming our campaign efforts. Avoiding tea
parties for the sake of the election would be counterproductive.
During the election, I wanted Tennouji-san and Narika to be in
top form. Plus, Asahi-san, Taishou, and Hinako had looked
lonely when we discussed pausing the tea parties.
So, I figured a secret tea party like this would be forgivable.
The issue was only about being perceived as suspicious by
others. There wasn’t the slightest chance Tennouji-san and
Narika would actually collude. Both were upright individuals
who would never stoop to underhanded tactics, such as
teaming up to sabotage Joutou.
They had more than enough sense for that—more cautious and
careful than most.
“I’m not sure if this decision is entirely right… but during the
Management Game, Tennouji-san scolded me for overworking.
We need a break too. Let’s allow ourselves this much.”

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“Hehe… scolding you was worth it.”
Tennouji-san sipped her tea with a smug grin.
Being involved in the same election as our close friends
brought struggles we were only now fully realizing.
Despite everything, we found comfort in these tea parties. To
survive the turbulent thirteen days, we wanted to preserve this
space.
(Asahi-san… she seems her usual self.)
For now, Asahi-san wore her typical bright expression.
In the end, I hadn’t asked her anything about her brother. It
worried me, but the air around her felt like I shouldn’t pry
carelessly.
“But this election… honestly, Tomonari’s got the trickiest
position.”
Taishou looked at me as he spoke.
“Supporting two candidates at once—anything you’re being
careful about? Like, sharing info with one but keeping it secret
from the other?”
“No, nothing like that.”
I shook my head at Asahi-san’s question.
“I checked with our homeroom teacher just to be sure, but the
whole ‘one vice president candidate supports one president
candidate’ thing is just a tradition, not a strict rule. There’s no
clear regulation, and we’re free to do as we please. So, I’m
focusing solely on maximizing both their performances. That
means I might share know-how gained from one with the
other.”

Page | 84
“When you think about it calmly, what’s wrong with that? It’s
like in a corporate group—each company keeps its confidential
secrets, but shares useful info with the others, right?”
“Exactly.”
Taishou bringing up corporate metaphors showed he was a
Kiou Academy student through and through. Then again, I often
use consultant analogies, so I’m becoming just as much a Kiou
student.
“Only one person can become president, so there’s no way for
collusion.”
If it were a battle for multiple equal positions, maybe, but
Tennouji-san and Narika were vying for the single president’s
seat. In the end, it’d come down to a fight.
That’s all I meant to say, but… I felt a sudden tension crackle
between Tennouji-san and Narika.
Shoot. Did I create an awkward vibe?
“Hehe.”
Tennouji-san let out an amused chuckle.
“No need to feel uneasy. Being irreplaceable friends and rivals
we don’t want to lose to can coexist.”
“Tennouji-san’s right. To fight fair and square, maintaining our
usual bond is important.”
The two of them were unfazed, brushing off my worries with
confidence.
Only one would win. They’d clearly already faced that reality.
Seeing their composure, we all let out sighs of relief.
“Miyakojima-san, you’ve changed.”

Page | 85
“Thanks… Hearing that from you, Tennouji-san, gives me
confidence.”
“Oh my, did I just give aid to the enemy?”
Even the tea party members acknowledged Narika’s growth.
In the past, Narika would’ve hesitantly asked, “R-Really?” after
that exchange. Her accumulating successes were steadily
building her confidence.
Sipping her tea, Tennouji-san glanced at Hinako.
“Konohana Hinako! I may be your rival, but for now, I’m
focusing on Miyakojima-san! It might feel lonely, but please
forgive me!!”
“Oh, I forgive you completely.”
Hinako replied with a serene smile.
Her expression practically screamed, Please keep doing that
forever.
“…By the way, does anyone know about Joutou-kun’s
platform?”
“That’s something I wanted to discuss too.”
Tennouji-san responded to my question.
“I think everyone’s thinking the same thing deep down… but I
believe there’s merit to his views.”
Everyone nodded.
“Especially you three—Miyakojima-san, Asahi-san, and
Taishou-san—don’t you feel that way?”
“…Yeah. Our families are B-to-C, after all.”
Narika nodded solemnly.

Page | 86
B-to-C, or Business-to-Consumer, refers to businesses selling
directly to individual consumers. Asahi-san’s family runs J’s
Holdings, which sells electronics to consumers, and Taishou’s
family runs Taishou Movers, offering moving services to
individuals, both B-to-C. Narika’s family’s Shimax sells sports
equipment to consumers, also B-to-C.
In contrast, parts of the Konohana Group, such as trading
companies or heavy industry manufacturers, operate Business-
to-Business, or B-to-B, selling to other companies. Horizon Inc.,
which I visited during the Management Game, develops
software for businesses, so it’s B-to-B too.
Generally, B-to-B transactions involve larger sums, as
corporate budgets often dwarf those of individual consumers.
Companies might buy rockets, but individuals rarely do.
However, B-to-C is undeniably closer to consumers. They
design and sell with consumers in mind, a business model that
hinges on understanding the consumer perspective.
That’s what Tennouji-san was getting at.
Those from B-to-C families, even among Kiou Academy
students, are relatively familiar with commoner culture. That’s
why Joutou’s views likely resonate with them.
“Honestly, I’ve felt a gap with the outside world plenty of times.
My family sells sports equipment to Kiou Academy, but the
prices are clearly higher than for other schools. For better or
worse, Kiou Academy is special.”
“During summer break, I joined a company trip, and… everyone
was overly gentle with me at first. I thought they were just stiff
because I’m the president’s son, but now I wonder if they were
worried I was out of touch with the world.”
Narika and Taishou shared their experiences.

Page | 87
But—they didn’t know.
As someone who had lived in a true commoner society, I felt an
even greater gap, even with Narika and Taishou.
I still remember the transfer student welcome party where a
day trip abroad was suggested.
The gap was larger than they had realised.
Having confirmed everyone’s thoughts on Kiou Academy’s
“commonerization,” I brought up another concern.
“Does anyone know about Joutou-kun himself?”
“We were in the same class last year.”
Tennouji-san met my gaze.
Finally, I’d learn about this Joutou character.
“Joutou-san… he was an enigmatic person.”
Recalling a year ago, Tennouji-san began.
“He was originally an exceptional student. Until the second
term of our first year, he was on par with me and Konohana
Hinako. …Isn’t that right?”
Hinako nodded as Tennouji-san looked at her.
“Yes. I never spoke to him directly, but I remember our grades
were close. He excelled particularly in political science, and my
father often told me to take after him.”
That impressive, huh?
Narika, Asahi-san, and Taishou were shocked by this
revelation.
For Kagen-san to tell Hinako to emulate him, Joutou must’ve
achieved remarkable results. The only other person I know
Kagen-san told Hinako to follow was Narika.
Page | 88
Political science seemed to be Joutou’s forte, much like sports
was Narika’s.
Even Hinako, the picture-perfect Ojou-sama on the surface,
couldn’t match something he possessed.
“But that was only until the second term.”
Tennouji-san nodded at Hinako’s words.
“From the third term of our first year, Joutou-san’s grades
plummeted. His classroom demeanor shifted from vibrant to
subdued, as if he’d burned out.”
From what I heard, it was a drastic change.
Did he hit a wall maintaining such high grades? I struggle to
raise my grades, but matching Hinako’s level would require
immense effort.
“So when I heard he was running in the election, I was
surprised. I wondered if a change of heart had reignited his
drive, especially with such a bold platform… Considering his
family background, I thought it took extraordinary courage.”
“Family background…?”
Was there something about Joutou’s family?
“His family values tradition above all. His father, a steadfast
politician, is renowned for avoiding controversy at all costs.”
Politicians already need to avoid scandals, but to emphasize it
so much suggests his father was exceptionally cautious, even
among politicians.
“For someone from such a conservative, tradition-bound family
to propose such a flashy slogan… I sensed a certain resolve in
Joutou-san.”
Tennouji-san looked at me.

Page | 89
Having heard his speech, what was my impression of Joutou in
light of this?
“…Honestly, he didn’t give off that vibe. He seemed rather…
detached.”
Glancing at Asahi-san, she nodded slightly in agreement.
She’d felt the same.
Was Joutou carrying his own burdens into this election…?
“Speaking of which, Izuki, I heard a rumor that the other vice
president candidate is a first-year. I heard he’s supporting
Joutou-kun—have you met him?”
Narika looked at me as she asked.
“Yeah. The second vice president candidate is Asahi-san’s
younger brother.”
“What!? R-Really!?”
Not just Narika, everyone was stunned.
“You have a younger brother?”
“Haha… yeah.”
Asahi-san gave a wry smile and sipped her tea.
“What’s he like? Bright and cheery like you?”
Taishou asked with curiosity, and Asahi-san thought for a
moment before answering.
“He’s my opposite in a lot of ways. Not cheerful, but smart,
calm, and capable. A talented younger brother. And… maybe a
bit ambitious.”
“Hmm… ambition’s a good trait. A worthy opponent.”
Tennouji-san’s competitive spirit flared.

Page | 90
For Tennouji-san, Narika and Joutou were her rivals, but since
Asahi-san’s brother supported Joutou, he was someone to
compete with too.
Just then, the parlor door was knocked.
“Cookies are done, so I brought them.”
Yuri, alongside Shizune-san, wheeled in freshly baked treats.
A European-style, elegant café cart held cookies and financiers,
their buttery aroma nearly making me drool.
“Hirano-san, would you like to join us?”
“Eh? But won’t I be intruding?”
At Tennouji-san’s invitation, Yuri glanced at me hesitantly.
Wanting my opinion, her gaze prompted me to think for a
moment.
“…Actually, it might be perfect timing. We’re discussing Kiou
Academy’s commonerization.”
“Commonerization…?”
Since we’re at it, let’s hear the perspective of another
commoner besides me.
With Yuri sitting down, looking puzzled, we continued
discussing Joutou’s platform.
◆

Page | 91
Page | 92
Page | 93
“Man, that was fun!”
“So many delicious treats—I might’ve overeaten!”
Six in the evening. The tea party was over, and we’d reached
the mansion’s entrance. Taishou laughed heartily while Asahi-
san rubbed her stomach lightly, passing through the garden to
the gate.
“Huh, Tomonari, you’re not heading back yet?”
“Well, my ride’s running a bit late…”
Several cars were lined up at the gate, but Taishou tilted his
head curiously, noticing I wasn’t getting into any.
Nodding at my response, Taishou got into a car, followed by the
others.
“Konohana Hinako! Next time, we’ll have a tea party at my
place, if that’s alright!”
“Yes, I’ll consider it.”
The next tea party might be at Tennouji-san’s house.
“Izuki, pass on my thanks to Hirano-san again.”
“Got it.”
Narika expressed gratitude for Yuri, who wasn’t here.
Probably for the treats… and her various opinions.
As expected, Yuri’s participation made our discussion more
meaningful.
Like me, Yuri felt that even Kiou Academy students from B-to-C
families weren’t entirely in tune with commoner sensibilities.
When Tennouji-san resisted, saying, “Are we that out of touch?”
Yuri bent her index and middle fingers, saying, “Not many
people hold a peeler like this, right?” and that settled it. I

Page | 94
recalled the summer beach barbecue, where Yuri and I vividly
remembered the Ojou-sama’s utter lack of cooking knowledge.
I waved as Narika, Tennouji-san, and Asahi-san drove off.
Then, Taishou got out of his car and came back.
“Taishou-kun, forget something?”
“Pretended to forget something to come back.”
“Pretended?”
I’d checked for forgotten items when leaving the parlour, so I
was puzzled—even more so hearing it was a pretense.
“Tomonari, you talked to Asahi’s brother, right?”
“Yeah.”
Nodding, Taishou chose his words carefully before continuing.
“…Keep an eye on Asahi for me.”
His face serious, he went on.
“Those siblings… they don’t seem to get along too well.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I don’t know the details. …Asahi and I live pretty close, so we
sometimes head home together. I’ve heard bits about her
brother by chance.”
Come to think of it, Taishou was the first to ask about her
brother’s personality at the tea party.
He must’ve been subtly fishing for information.
“I don’t know what happened, but it feels like they’re in a
pretty serious sibling fight. I think you’ll handle it fine,
Tomonari, but be sensitive about it.”
“…Understood.”

Page | 95
That seemed to be all, as Taishou returned to his car.
As a rival for vice president, I’d hoped to hear more about
Rintarou from Asahi-san, but given this, I’d better be cautious.
(A sibling fight… Is that why Asahi-san’s been acting off
sometimes?)
Come to think of it, Asahi-san seemed a bit awkward whenever
family came up.
Early in the Management Game, I’d felt something off about her
too. It was when we were announcing our starting positions.
When I said I’d start a business from scratch, Asahi-san was
shocked, saying, “Even if you think about it, it’s not something
you just do!”
Her phrasing made me wonder if she’d thought about it too, so
I asked directly.
—Maybe you’ve thought about something similar, Asahi-san?
—…Well, let’s put me aside for now!
I still remember how she blatantly dodged the question.
That conversation had touched on not just the Management
Game but her family’s policies.
Thinking back, it feels like Asahi-san’s been subtly hiding
something, building a faint wall.
“Izuki… what were you talking about?”
“…Just small talk.”
Hinako, standing a bit away, was curious about my talk with
Taishou, but recalling his serious expression, I decided to keep
it to myself for now.
With Taishou gone, Hinako let out a relaxed “Fwaa” yawn.

Page | 96
“Thanks for hanging out today. It’s the weekend—you probably
wanted to chill, right?”
“No… I enjoy tea parties with everyone too.”
Around these familiar faces, Hinako could act more at ease than
with others. She couldn’t drop her act entirely, but this was
likely a place where she could relax in her own way.
“But… I’m getting kinda sleepy.”
It seems she couldn’t win against the Sandman.
Normally, Hinako would laze around all weekend, so today was
pretty active for her.
“I’ll walk you to your room.”
As usual, Hinako nods with a soft “Mm,” and I take her to her
room.
After that, I head back to the lounge we used for the tea party.
“Oh, Izuki. We’re starting to clean up.”
“Yeah, sorry. I’ll help out.”
I join Yuri, who’s already tidying up from the tea party, and
lend a hand.
“Narika was super grateful, y’know. Probably for the snacks
and your input.”
“The snacks, sure, but my opinions weren’t exactly profound
enough to earn thanks.”
“For Kiou Academy students, just interacting with commoners
like us is a rare treat.”
I stack cups and saucers onto a cart.

Page | 97
During the election period, I’m technically exempt from these
chores, but I can’t settle down unless I clean up what I used, so
I pitch in voluntarily.
Plus, it feels wrong to let Yuri do it all alone. Not that she’d ever
complain.
“You’ve got it rough, huh? Just finished the Management Game,
and now it’s the student council election?”
“Yup. And after the election, we’ve got the cultural festival.”
“Talk about a packed schedule… Can I even go to Kiou
Academy’s cultural festival?”
“It’s by invitation only, I think, but if I vouch for you, you can
come.”
“Then vouch for me. I kinda wanna see what you’re like at the
Academy.”
Hearing that makes me weirdly nervous…
I fold the tablecloth, and Yuri spreads a fresh one in its place.
“By the way, didn’t you get scouted at that Konohana Group
social event? Whatever happened with that?”
“Oh, that. We negotiated a bit, but it’s on hold for now.”
“Really? …Hearing that, it feels a little like a missed
opportunity.”
“They suggested things like working and living at their Japan
branch, and there were other proposals too. But when I saw the
actual workplace… honestly, the Konohana household was on a
whole other level. Maybe it’d be different at their overseas HQ,
though.”
“Yeah…”
I kinda figured it’d be something like that.
Page | 98
The food at this mansion is seriously delicious…
Putting it on hold means she’s keeping the connection alive.
Thinking about it, that might be the best choice for Yuri right
now. If she ever decides to expand her family’s business
nationwide, that connection could come in handy in all sorts of
ways. Having learned about management, I can see that clearly
now.
“…Hey. Tell me more about what you’re doing.”
Having finished swapping the tablecloth, Yuri says this a bit
hesitantly.
“What’s that? You’re awfully curious today.”
“It’s not like that… I just thought I want to move forward too.”
“Forward?”
I tilt my head, and Yuri’s cheeks flush as she locks eyes with
me.
“I thought I want to know more about the world you’re living
in.”
I wasn’t expecting her to show such direct interest, and I froze
up a little.
Seeing Yuri act so unlike her usual self makes my heart waver.
“A-Alright. Well, for starters…”
Pretending to stay calm, I begin explaining the work I’ve been
doing as a vice president candidate to Yuri.
Watching her listen with such enthusiasm, I find myself having
fun too, and by the time we finish cleaning the lounge, we
haven’t run out of things to talk about.
◆
Monday morning at Kiou Academy.
Page | 99
I pick up the election newsletter being handed out, and my face
twitches as I scan its contents.
(Ugh… they’re really hyping this up.)
—Conservatives VS Reformists.
The front page kicks off with that headline.
As the presidential candidates’ speeches begin, the battle for
support is intensifying. The election newsletter, supposedly
compiled by former student council members, presents this
struggle as a clear divide, categorising the three presidential
candidates as conservatives and reformists to highlight the
conflict.
Tennouji-san and Narika, whom I’m supporting, are portrayed
as conservatives, aiming to preserve Kiou Academy’s traditions
while carving out new paths.
Meanwhile, Joutou and his group are reformists, planning to
scrap and rebuild the current Kiou Academy with a fresh set of
values.
Tennouji-san and Narika aren’t that conservative. If their
policies come to fruition, they’d bring new events and facilities
to the Academy that don’t exist now. But compared to Joutou’s
bold agenda, they’re labeled conservative, and there’s no
helping that. It’s less about us being conservative and more
about their ideas being too radical.
Of course, that boldness comes with its downsides.
The approval ratings have remained relatively unchanged since
last time, with Tennouji-san and Narika each backed by
approximately 40% of the students. Joutou’s policies seem too
extreme for many students to get behind just yet.
After skimming the newsletter, I knock on the staff room door.
“Excuse me. Is Fukushima-sensei here?”
Page | 100
“Oh, Tomonari-kun. What’s up?”
Fukushima-sensei, who was sorting through paperwork, turns
at the sound of my voice.
I approach her desk and state my business.
“I’m here to request microphones for the speeches. Two,
please.”
“You didn’t end up using them last time, but you’re using them
today?”
“We haven’t decided for sure, but I thought we should be
prepared. I used to think speaking in our own voices would
make a better impression, but I realized we need to focus just
as much on being heard clearly.”
“I see. True, with a big crowd, it’s hard for voices to carry.”
Exactly.
No matter how much you try to make a good impression, it’s
pointless if your words don’t reach the audience. Depending on
the size of the crowd, using a mic might be the way to go from
now on.
“Application received. Good luck!”
“Thank you.”
I bow and leave the staff room.
This should mean we can use mics during lunch break.
“Tomonari-senpai.”
Someone calls out from behind.
I turn to see a junior with silver-rimmed glasses staring at me.
“Asahi-san’s…”

Page | 101
“Just call me Rintarou. It’s less confusing. And you can drop the
formalities.”
It’s a hassle to be called “Asahi-san’s brother” every time, so I
appreciate him saying that.
As for the formalities, though… I’m not sure.
Originally, I adopted this polite tone as Hinako’s caretaker to
avoid seeming out of place, but lately, I feel like we’re past that
stage. I want to stay by Hinako’s side, not just for show but
because of what I’ve accomplished. And honestly, my tone
slipped the moment I ran into Narika.
“…Got it.”
Maybe it’s fine to use my normal tone with underclassmen.
It’s been a while since I enrolled at Kiou Academy. It might be
time to rethink the caretaker rules. I’ll have to talk to Shizune-
san about it someday.
“You’re using mics now, huh? Did you decide that after seeing
our speeches?”
“…Yeah.”
He’s spot on. Last Friday after school, I saw Joutou giving a
speech with a mic, and it made me reconsider. The amplified
voice reached not just the audience but also people passing by.
Depending on the volume, a speech could draw in random
passersby who weren’t originally planning to listen. I even
noticed a few students who were clearly about to head home
stop to check out Joutou’s speech.
“Impressive. That kind of thinking proves you’re exactly the
person I thought you were.”
Rintarou flashes a smile, praising me.

Page | 102
I don’t think it’s that praiseworthy, but he seems genuinely
impressed by my actions. It’s a small thing, and you’d think
he’d be annoyed that I copied their tactic, but…
“If you’re using mics, you should watch the speaker placement
too. The Academy’s speakers have short cables, so your options
for positioning are limited. You should do a rehearsal.”
“…Thanks. You know a lot about equipment, huh?”
“My family runs an electronics retailer, so.”
Sure, that probably helps, but the fact that he had everything
checked and ready by the first day of speeches shows he
anticipated potential issues with speaker placement. He’s
preventing problems before they even arise.
Running for vice-president as a first-year means he’s got
serious confidence, and his skills back it up. He’s not someone
to underestimate… but at the same time, he throws me off
balance.
We’re supposed to be rivals, so why’s he giving me such
straightforward advice? …Maybe my mind’s just too cynical.
“We’ve still got time before classes start. …Tomonari-senpai,
could you spare a moment to talk?”
The sudden suggestion makes me pause.
I’ve been coming to school early during the election period, so
there’s still about thirty minutes before classes. I was planning
to hand out flyers at the field, but passing up a chance to learn
more about Joutou’s camp feels like a waste. …I feel a bit bad,
but I’ll ask Kita or Suminoe-san to handle the flyers. Those two
would probably jump at the chance to help.
“Alright.”
I take him up on the offer, and Rintarou gives me a bright smile.

Page | 103
◆
We move to the café and sit across from each other.
“So, what’s this about?”
Rintarou doesn’t even glance at the cup delivered to the table,
keeping his eyes on me.
“You seem more natural without the formalities, Tomonari-
senpai. It’s like the real you.”
“…Should I say thanks for that?”
“I meant it as a compliment, more or less.”
Well, this is my natural self…
“Right now, you feel like the kind of regular student we’re
aiming for.”
He says this, looking straight at me.
“Tomonari-senpai. —Why not join our side?”
“…Huh?”
“To put it bluntly, I’m scouting you. Let’s support Joutou-senpai
together.”
I stare silently at Rintarou as he takes a sip of his coffee.
A sudden scout like this raises a ton of questions, but the first
one is…
“…Why me? Even if you need more hands, I’m your rival, and
I’m on a different side from Joutou-kun.”
“There are a few reasons.”
Rintarou sets his cup back on the saucer.
“First, I simply believe in your abilities, Tomonari-senpai.
Supporting both Tennouji-senpai and Miyakojima-senpai at the

Page | 104
same time can’t be easy. It’s not just your work skills but also
your character that earns their trust.”
“…The election’s only been going for three days.”
“I’m looking at everything you’ve built up so far. …You really
shone in the Management Game, didn’t you?”
Seems like even the underclassmen heard about the
Management Game results.
So he’s evaluating me based on all my past achievements.
That’s an honor in itself.
“But the Management Game and the election are different,
right? For me to join your side, I’d first need to agree with
Joutou-kun’s ideals—”
“Exactly! That’s precisely why I chose you, Tomonari-senpai!”
Rintarou leans forward, excited.
“Tomonari-senpai. Don’t you think Kiou Academy is… warped?”
He points at the cup in front of him.
“This teacup and saucer cost a hundred thousand yen. Pretty
much all the tea sets used in this café are around that price.
…Don’t you think that’s expensive?”
“Well…”
“You do think it’s expensive, right? As a transfer student like
you, Tomonari-senpai.”
His words help me piece together his reasoning.
So that’s it… The biggest reason Rintarou is scouting me is that,
as a transfer student, he thinks I feel out of place in Kiou
Academy’s environment.
“When you first transferred here, weren’t you shocked by this
place?”
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“…Honestly, yeah, I was pretty stunned.”
“Right? That means we share the same concerns.”
Maybe because things are going as he hoped, Rintarou starts
talking more eagerly.
“We’re aiming for the version of you who just transferred to
this Academy. …Back then, you must’ve felt something was off
about this place, but now you’ve had to adapt. But what does
that adaptation lead to? Don’t you start thinking it’s normal to
spend a hundred thousand yen on tea sets? Is it okay to send
people with such skewed values out into the world?”
Rintarou stands up in his excitement.
“When you first arrived, you must’ve thought, This is crazy! It’s
wrong! This Academy’s out of its mind!”
“…I won’t deny it.”
“Exactly! I knew you’d get it!”
It’s true—when I first came to this Academy, I thought I was
losing my mind.
But something’s bothering me. …There’s a hint of
condescension toward Kiou Academy in Rintarou’s words.
“There’s another reason I reached out to you, Tomonari-
senpai.”
Rintarou sits back down and continues.
“In a good way, you don’t act like a typical Kiou Academy
student.”
My heart skips a beat.
As someone hiding their true identity—my background—at
this Academy, that comment makes me break out in a cold
sweat.
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He says it’s in a good way, so I know he’s not suspecting my
background, but…
“For example, you learn by observing others. …Students here
have so much pride they rarely think to copy anyone else. Deep
down, they all believe they’re the ones worth imitating. But
you, Tomonari-senpai, don’t hesitate to learn from others, like
it’s second nature. …We think that kind of scrappy spirit is
what the world needs.”
“…Thanks, I guess.”
Having gone through the insane hardship of my parents’
disappearing act, I can’t help but agree when my scrappy spirit
is praised—it’s more convincing than flattering.
I thought he was overhyping me just for using a mic, but it
seems Rintarou was actually praising my willingness to learn
from others’ actions.
“On top of that—or maybe because of it—your humility is
impressive too. You’re probably already making waves in this
election, but you don’t act like it. You carry yourself like all the
credit belongs to the presidential candidates.”
“That’s because it’s true.”
“You have to say that since your job is to help the presidents
win, right? But with you, Tomonari-senpai, those words come
from the heart. That’s what makes you so compelling.”
What’s going on here?
Why’s Rintarou hyping me up so much?
“Are you involved in the policy proposals too?”
“A bit. The core policies are decided by the candidates
themselves, but I’ve suggested a few ideas.”
“Oh? Like what?”
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Is he trying to stroke my ego to get me to spill information?
Unfortunately for him, a little flattery won’t loosen my lips.
Besides, after spending time at this Academy surrounded by
incredible people, there’s no way I’d get cocky, not now or ever.
That said, there’s no harm in answering this question.
“I was planning to mention this in the next speech, but for
example, I suggested to Tennouji-san that we could hold a
dress code workshop as part of her policy. Dress codes change
subtly depending on the level of the social event, so I thought
there’d be demand for it.”
“That’s a great idea. Especially for students like us, it’s hard to
know what’s appropriate to wear.”
Rintarou seems genuinely impressed.
Guess I was overthinking his intentions.
“Let me ask you a few things too.”
“Of course. I’ll answer anything.”
With Rintarou opening up completely, I start my questions.
“First, why do you think Kiou Academy is warped? Your
family’s pretty well-off by normal standards, right? Unlike me,
a transfer student who knows other schools, you should’ve
been used to this Academy’s environment from the start.”
“As you know, my family runs a B-to-C business, so I interact
with regular people a lot. That’s how I started noticing the
disconnect. …Though I don’t know what my sister thinks.”
…Let’s not touch that last comment about Asahi-san for now.
It’s intriguing, but…

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“Second question, kinda related to the first. With Joutou-kun’s
policy of making Kiou Academy more ‘normal,’ is there
something specific you want to achieve?”
“Something I want to achieve?”
“I don’t know, it’s just… to me, you seem almost desperate. Like
there’s this burning determination that you have to do this.”
Rintarou’s eyes widen in surprise.
“…You’re really good at reading people, Tomonari-senpai.”
Don’t talk about me like I’m Takuma or something.
“You’re right—I do have something I want to achieve. …I want
to start my own business someday.”
“Start a business? So you’re not taking over your family’s J’s
Holdings?”
“Nope. My sister’s probably going to handle that.”
Seems like Rintarou’s in a similar boat to Suminoe-san.
Suminoe-san’s older brother is set to inherit their family’s SIS,
and she’s planning to join the Tennouji Group in the future. But
Rintarou’s choosing to start his own company instead of joining
one.
“Eventually, I want to launch my own B-to-C business, separate
from my family’s. To do that, I need to study how normal
society works while I’m still a student. That’s why I’m working
with Joutou-senpai to reform Kiou Academy. …I’m sure there
are plenty of others here who, like me, want to learn more
about normal society.”
He’s got his own goals and believes there are others who feel
the same, which is why he’s so invested in this election. I
respect that he’s choosing a path that brings happiness to

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himself and others, not just pushing for reform out of selfish
motives.
“You started a business in the Management Game too, right,
Tomonari-senpai? That’s another reason we feel a connection
with you. You really don’t act like a typical Kiou Academy
student.”
That phrasing makes my heart race in a bad way…
I know Rintarou means it as a compliment, but still.
“What about the specifics of your policies? The club activities,
workplace experiences, and reforming the admissions
criteria—do you have evidence those will actually help reform
the Academy?”
“Absolutely. Since this Academy lacks opportunities for group
activities, club activities will teach teamwork. Workplace
experiences will help students learn about how society works.
…And to make these reforms take root quickly, we’ll remove
family background from the admissions criteria and invite
more commoners.”
Rintarou dives into the core of their policies with enthusiasm,
clearly serious about wanting me on their side.
It’s true that Kiou Academy students tend to operate solo
rather than in groups. Events like the Management Game are
exceptions, but generally, everyone’s too busy with family
matters to spend much time with others at the Academy.
Indeed, the absence of club activities means there is less chance
for teamwork, and workplace experiences could help bridge
the gap in understanding real-world dynamics. Reforming
admissions to prioritize merit over lineage would shake things
up, aligning with their vision of a less elitist Academy.

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Rintarou’s openness is disarming, but it also makes me wary.
He’s sharing so much—too much, maybe—for someone trying
to recruit a rival. His sincerity feels genuine, yet I can’t shake
the sense that he’s strategically laying out his cards to pull me
in.
Still, his points resonate. I did feel like an alien when I first
arrived here, surrounded by wealth and customs that seemed
absurd. But over time, I’ve adapted, just like he said. The
question is whether that adaptation has dulled my edge or if it
has made me stronger in navigating this world.
That’s precisely why the term “noble tea party” came to be. At
Kiou Academy, the concept of groups is inherently faint, which
is probably why our gatherings stood out so much.
I thought the lack of groups was, in a way, a strength. For
instance, it makes it harder for a school caste system to form,
so bullying is less likely to happen. Additionally, since everyone
hones their abilities individually, there is no atmosphere of
cliquey familiarity. It creates an environment where people can
strive for excellence with a high level of awareness.
Still, I could understand Rintarou’s perspective.
My thoughts couldn’t overturn his words: “That’s not normal.”
“…If the goal is to learn about society, wouldn’t getting a part-
time job be better? Manual labor at a construction site might be
tough, but something like a tutor or hotel staff seems well-
suited for students at this Academy.”
“…Haha. As expected, Senpai, you really should join our side.”
Crap, I accidentally gave him advice.
“W-Well, that was just a random thought…”
“No, I’ll jot it down. The idea of a part-time job hadn’t even
crossed my mind.”
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Rintarou swiftly pulled a notebook from his bag and scribbled
with his pen.
After finishing his note, Rintarou looked at me.
“Since we’re at it, I’ll be blunt. If you join our side, I’m willing to
hand over the vice president’s seat.”
“…What?”
“Even though I want to fix the distortions in this Academy, I’m
not particularly attached to the vice president position. …So,
what do you say? Will you join us?”
This was probably the biggest card Rintarou could play.
Since he’d made such a bold decision, I owed it to him to
seriously consider it with sincerity.
The undeniable truth was… the surest way to achieve my goal
of becoming vice president was to take the hand extended to
me right now.
The vice president’s seat was something Rintarou and I were
competing for. If he promised to step aside, I could claim the
position without even waiting for the election to be held.
Joining Kiou Academy’s student council would allow me to
reach for my next goal.
Takuma-san told me: If I want to become an executive at
Konohana Group, it’s best to join the student council at Kiou
Academy.
Kagen-san said, “If I’m going to get deeply involved in the
problems facing the Konohana family, being in the student
council would be something to consider.”
If I could just become a student council officer, the view before
me would change entirely.

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After thinking it through to this point—I decided to stick to my
original resolve.
“…Sorry.”
I rejected the outstretched hand.
“I think Joutou-kun’s platform has some merit. Everyone
acknowledges that.”
“Then why…?”
“You’re misunderstanding one thing, Rintarou.”
I explained to the bewildered Rintarou.
“Sure, when I came to this Academy, I felt a gap in values. But I
didn’t adapt out of necessity. I worked hard to adapt because I
thought this world was incredible.”
Even now, I’m still in the middle of trying to fit in.
But I don’t see that struggle as unfair.
I’ve always thought it was something to be proud of.
“I know more about the so-called ‘normal society’ than you do,
Rintarou. That’s why I can say with certainty: this Academy is
full of people who could never exist in a normal society.
Tennouji-san is one, Narika is one, and so is Konohana-san. I
can’t imagine them emerging from an ordinary world. It’s
exactly because of this overly refined institution that people
like them are born.”
At first, I thought Kiou Academy’s environment was extreme.
But lately, I’ve started to think that this level of intensity might
be just right for refining the qualities needed to stand out from
others.
There is a belief that exposure to authenticity breeds
exceptional individuals. In fact, being surrounded by the
Konohana family’s mansion and Kiou Academy’s environment
Page | 113
has helped me maintain a high level of awareness. Wearing
clothes so expensive they make my head spin has sparked a
desire to become someone worthy of them.
The term noblesse oblige feels fitting. Whether fortunate or
unfortunate, those born as the chosen ones must live to fulfill
their responsibilities.
Normal society doesn’t teach the weight of that responsibility
or how to handle it.
That’s why a place like Kiou Academy exists.
This is a sanctuary where the chosen ones can share the unique
struggles that come with being chosen.
“This might sound a bit harsh, but normal society isn’t
something to glorify. There are plenty of lazy people, hotheads,
and the like. But as far as I know, there’s not a single person
like that at this Academy. I think that’s an unbelievable
miracle.”
I continued speaking to Rintarou, who wore a stern
expression.
I believed my words would reach him.
“The bias in values might be an issue. But coming to this
Academy, learning things I could only learn here, and seeing
the noble people living within that knowledge… it made me
genuinely want to live like them from the bottom of my heart.”
It wasn’t adaptation out of necessity—it was adaptation
because I truly wanted to become like them.
I’m not a victim.
“So, sorry. I can’t support Joutou-kun alongside you, Rintarou.”
I gave a slight bow before looking Rintarou straight in the eye.
“I love the Kiou Academy we have now.”
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I love Kiou Academy… Those words slipped out so naturally
that even I was surprised. Realizing it was my true feelings
made me happy.
I want to tell the version of myself from when I first transferred
here, confused and overwhelmed:
I’ve truly come to love this Academy—
“…So, negotiations have broken down.”
Rintarou said, gazing at the cup in his hand.
“No helping it. I was genuinely prepared to hand everything
over to you, Tomonari-senpai… but now we’ve both stepped
onto a thorny path.”
“I’m already used to thorny paths.”
My life has been a fairly thorny path.
Rintarou looked stunned for a moment before letting out a
deep sigh.
“I’m truly disappointed… I’ll be hoping you change your mind.”
◆
After school.
After checking Tennouji-san’s speech, I went to listen to
Narika’s.
That day, Narika’s speech was held in front of the school gate,
the same spot Joutou used previously. The location for
speeches is generally available on a first-come, first-served
basis, but using the same spot twice in a row is only possible if
no other presidential candidates request it. This time, since we
requested the gate, Joutou had to speak elsewhere.
Narika’s speech, delivered through a microphone, carried far
via the speakers.
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Her voice was clear and easy to hear. Since the Management
Game, Narika had gained experience presenting in front of
others. Compared to Tennouji-san, she still fell short, but her
speeches were gradually becoming more polished.
I approached Narika after her speech ended.
“Good work, Narika. How did it feel using a mic for the first
time?”
“It worked like a charm! The location helped, too—lots of
people stopped to listen! Today’s speech was rewarding and
fun!”
Narika said, wiping sweat with a handkerchief.
She must still feel some fear about standing in front of others,
but the positive response seemed to keep her heart from
shrinking.
Things are going well. If she continues to accumulate successful
experiences like this, Narika can grow even further.
“Izuki, you got time right now? There’s something I’d like you
to join me for…”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“A tea party.”
Her response made me tilt my head in confusion.
“Didn’t we agree to hold off on tea parties at the academy for a
while…?”
“No, not that kind.”
Narika shook her head.
“It’s a different tea party, one I’m hosting.”
◆

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After Narika’s speech, we headed to the Academy’s café, where
three unfamiliar students were seated around a table, sipping
tea or coffee.
As Narika approached, the three students gave a polite nod.
It was hard to believe, but these three were apparently
gathered by Narika herself.
The same Narika who once cried to me about not being able to
make friends had now taken the initiative to bring people
together and plan an event. …When I get back to the mansion,
I’m gonna cry. Tonight calls for a celebratory potato chip party.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting.”
Narika took a seat, and I sat next to her.
The three students looked at Narika. She met their gazes and
took a quiet, deep breath.
Seeing Narika take that breath, I was reminded of Hinako for a
fleeting moment.
Konohana Hinako’s mask—the perfect Ojou-sama she plays to
hide her lazy true nature. Her Ojou-sama mode. Something
similar was starting to form in Narika.
A mask to overcome her timid self and act with confidence.
Unlike Hinako, though, Narika was willingly donning this
mask—
“—I’m Miyakojima Narika, a candidate for president. Thank
you all for gathering here today.”
Narika’s dignified demeanor seemed to tighten the air around
us.
“I’ve already told each of you, but let me say it again. This tea
party has nothing to do with the election. It’s something I
started out of personal interest.”
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Interest? The members tilted their heads, and Narika continued
her explanation.
“I believe interaction changes people. That’s why I announced
my platform to create a salon. So, I thought I should be the first
to take the lead in connecting with others. That’s why I
gathered people I’d like to talk to right now.”
“…And that’s us?”
“Yes. You’re Abeno-san, aiming for treasurer, right?”
A petite female student gave a small nod.
Narika then turned her gaze to the other two, a boy and a girl.
“Yodogawa-kun, aiming for secretary, and Nishi-san, aiming for
general affairs, thank you for coming. …As you probably know,
this is Tomonari Izuki, my assistant. He’s running for vice
president.”
Narika introduced me, so I gave a slight bow.
I was shocked when I first heard about the members of this tea
party.
—They’re all aiming for the student council.
Narika had apparently looked up their classes and personally
invited each one.

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Page | 119
Page | 120
“So, let’s start the tea party for student council candidates. I’m
hoping to learn more about all of you today. Like, what you
want to do if you join the student council… We’ve got plenty of
common ground, so I’m sure it’ll be lively.”
“…Is that really your only goal?”
“Of course.”
Narika nodded confidently at Abeno-san’s question.
“Think about it—it’s kind of weird, isn’t it? The student council
isn’t just about the president. But heading into the election
without knowing anything about the other officer candidates?
That didn’t sit right with me.”
Her attitude was that of someone with nothing to hide.
Combined with that refreshing demeanor, Narika’s words
carried an incredible persuasiveness. Now that she mentioned
it, I couldn’t help but agree.
“…Got it. Well, Miyakojima-san doesn’t seem like the type to
have ulterior motives.”
“Yeah. I’m not clever enough to scheme like that.”
I could understand Abeno-san’s wariness. A presidential
candidate going out of their way to gather other candidates?
It’s natural to worry about some shady deal being proposed.
That said, the truth is there’s practically no room for deals
here.
For example, even if Narika said something like, “If I become
president, I’ll make sure you all get officer positions, so help me
gather votes,” it wouldn’t work with this group. Why? Because
the treasurer, secretary, and general affairs positions each have
only one candidate, meaning their spots on the student council
are already guaranteed.

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In other words, they’re already set. They could sip tea elegantly
here, and by the last day of the election period, they’d
automatically be student council members. They have no
reason to make a deal.
That’s exactly why Narika gathered them—because they could
talk freely.
“I’m aiming for treasurer because I want to study finance.”
Abeno-san began explaining her reason for running.
“My grandfather is the president of Aoba Bank.”
“What!?”
I couldn’t help but let out a surprised yelp.
As I clamped my mouth shut, Abeno-san let out a small sigh and
continued.
“…My grandfather is the president of a major city bank, and my
father is following in his footsteps. Growing up watching them,
I naturally wanted to work in finance, too. So, I want to study
money-related matters while I’m still a student, which is why
I’m aiming for treasurer.”
Sorry to say, but only about half of Abeno-san’s explanation
sank in.
Hold on, hold on, hold on—
Aoba Bank is a megabank everyone knows.
I thought I’d gotten used to dealing with all sorts of wealthy
heirs at this Academy, but this one made my face twitch in
shock after a long time.
“My reason for aiming for secretary is dead simple—I messed
up in the Management Game!”
Yodogawa seemed like a lively and refreshing guy.
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He probably doesn’t have a scheming bone in his body either.
His straightforward nature came through immediately.
“A business I thought would succeed flopped, and I was
crushed. …But! I figured if I became a student council officer, I
could make a comeback!”
“Is there a specific reason you chose secretary?”
“I was confident in my handwriting!”
Yodogawa puffed out his chest proudly but quickly drooped his
head in dejection.
“Was confident, that is… until I saw Miyakojima-san’s poster,
and my confidence shattered.”
“Oh, no, that was, uh… just something I happened to be good
at…!”
Seeing Yodogawa’s gloom, Narika hurriedly tried to cheer him
up.
But that humility… isn’t it a bit questionable for a presidential
candidate?
Everyone gathered here has the initiative to aim for the student
council, which means they likely have strong influence at the
Academy.
If they doubt Narika’s abilities, their friends might start to
doubt her, too.
Narika said this tea party wasn’t about the election, but as her
assistant, I have a duty to do everything I can to help her
become president.
I gave a light cough and chimed in.
“Narika’s been training in martial arts and traditional arts since
she was young. It’s not just calligraphy—she’s top-notch in tea
ceremony and flower arrangement, too. And of course, as she
Page | 123
showed in the athletic tournament, her martial arts skills are
unmatched in the Academy.”
“I-Izuki? You don’t have to praise me that much…”
“It’s the truth, isn’t it? When you showed me your tea ceremony
before, it was stunningly beautiful.”
“B-Beautiful!?”
Narika’s cheeks flushed as she shot to her feet.
“Your movements, I mean.”
“Oh… right, that’s what you meant.”
Narika sat back down. I might’ve worded that in a way that
could cause a misunderstanding.
Finally, we turned our attention to the girl aiming for general
affairs.
“Last but not least, Nishi-san. You’re a first-year, right?”
“Yes. Though, I don’t think I’m particularly ambitious, so I’m a
bit embarrassed…”
Nishi-san said hesitantly.
“My reason for aiming for general affairs is similar to
Miyakojima-san’s—it’s because I can interact with people.”
Narika’s eyes widened slightly.
“My older sister was the general affairs officer at Kiou
Academy, so I know a bit about it. The general affairs role here
involves all sorts of tasks. For example, as an external liaison,
you get to interact with people outside the Academy…”
“Ohh… so that’s the kind of work it involves!”
Narika, clearly intrigued, listened as Nishi-san continued
explaining the role.
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I was surprised, too—I hadn’t known the general affairs
position covered such a wide range of responsibilities.
The tea party continued smoothly, and despite being near-
strangers, the five of us—Narika, me, and the three others—
chatted lively and cheerfully, just as Narika had predicted.
◆
After the tea party ended, Narika and I parted ways with the
three students, whose student council positions were already
secured, and took a moment to catch our breath.
“Good work. That was a great tea party.”
“Yeah. I think I learned a lot about everyone.”
Narika happily watched the three students walk toward the
school gate.
“Still, if you’re gonna host a tea party like this, you could let me
help out, you know? I’m your assistant, and gathering people
on your own must be tough.”
“No, I mean, I was planning to rely on you at first, Izuki… but I
thought, at the very least, I should handle the part about
connecting with people myself.”
“To stick to your platform?”
“Exactly. My platform… or rather, my desire to change myself.”
In that case, me stepping in would be tactless.
Staying in the background and supporting her is part of being
an assistant. I can’t let my desire to help Narika end up taking
away her responsibilities.
“You’re getting better at talking with people you’ve just met.”
“Yeah… but I was still shocked when you suddenly called me
beautiful.”
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“Sorry, yeah, that was poor wording on my part.”
I apologized cleanly to Narika, who puffed out her cheeks, and
she fell into thought for a moment.
“…Just my movements?”
“Huh?”
Narika grabbed both my shoulders firmly.
“Was it really just my movements that were beautiful?”
Close, close, close, too close—
With her gripping my shoulders, I couldn’t even escape.
I averted my eyes from Narika’s face, which was inches away.
“Y-You, I told you to stop doing stuff like this…!”
“I have to do this, or you’ll just run away!”
She’s not wrong, but still!
“Come on, answer me! Was it really just my movements!?”
No matter how I looked at it, her actions screamed she already
knew the answer.
I gave up and opened my mouth.
“…You were beautiful too, Narika.”
“…Heh, hahaha! I see, that’s great!”
Satisfied, Narika releases her hands from my shoulders.
“Maybe I’ll show up to the next weekend tea party in a
kimono.”
“…Please don’t.”
I press a hand to my chest.

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My heartbeat was racing at an unbelievable pace. Realizing that
the acceleration wasn’t just from surprise, I couldn’t look at
Narika for a while.
“Forcing your way in is off-limits. If Narika starts using her
body, I wouldn’t stand a chance, would I?”
As a martial arts master, if Narika used her athletic prowess, I’d
be completely helpless. …That’s the excuse, but honestly, if she
kept this up, my heart wouldn’t hold out in more ways than
one.
Hearing my words, Narika started thinking with an oddly
serious expression.
“…I see. If I got serious, Izuki wouldn’t be able to resist, huh?”
“Hey.”
Hey. …Hey?
No way, right? Even for her, that’s… Why is she making such a
serious face?
“…A last resort, then.”
Hold on a second.
I think I just heard an outrageous mutter.
“Just kidding. I don’t want even Izuki to be scared of me.”
“…I’m not scared of you, Narika, but if someone saw us, it might
cause misunderstandings, so just stop.”
“Got it. I should pick my moments, huh?”
It’s not something you do even if you pick the right moment.
Well, if I resisted, Narika would probably stop right away, and I
want to believe she’s got a sense of restraint. …I can believe
that, right?

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“Seriously… not a trace of your old timidity left.”
“No, I’m still timid. Because I’m timid, I’m scared of other girls
stealing Izuki, so I’m attacking like this.”
“Other girls… you’re overthinking it.”
“…As long as you can say that, I can still feel at ease.”
Narika lets out an exasperated sigh.
At that moment, my smartphone vibrates in my pocket,
signaling an incoming call, so I take it out.
“…It’s from Tennouji-san.”
“See? Right after I mention it, another girl.”
“Stop calling it ‘another girl.’”
I’m Tennouji-san’s aide, too, so it’s only natural I’d get a lot of
calls from her.
I answer the call immediately.
“What’s up?”
My apologies for the sudden call. I urgently need you to look into
something.
Research, huh? That’s an easy enough task.
Avoiding Narika’s pouting lips, I shift my focus.
But when I heard what she wanted me to investigate… I was so
shocked I was at a loss for words.
◆
That night.
At 11 p.m., when Hinako is long asleep, I’m sitting in front of
my laptop, calling Tennouji-san.
I’ve been waiting for you, Izuki-san.
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Tennouji-san’s voice comes through the smartphone in speaker
mode.
Since we’re both in a casual setting, I relax my shoulders just a
bit.
“I’ve got what you asked for ready.”
…That was remarkably fast. I didn’t expect results by today.
“The management game helped me make a lot of connections.
With Suminoe-san’s help, I got opinions from all sorts of
people. …I’m sending the data now.”
I sent the materials I was asked to prepare after school.
It’s arrived.
“Check it over. …But man, I was floored when you asked me to
look into this.”
I imagine so. It was a decision that required courage on my part
as well.
No doubt it took extraordinary courage.
What Tennouji-san wanted to investigate was—
In truth, I wanted to know what the people who hoped Konohana
Hinako would become president were seeking. As a candidate
myself, I must face that reality.
The most famous person at Kiou Academy is, of course, Hinako.
There are plenty of people who wanted her to be president.
But Hinako didn’t run. As a result, those supporters are left
wandering in the whirlwind of this election.
“In reality, that’s the biggest block of floating votes, isn’t it?”
Indeed. Right now, those who wished for a future with Konohana
Hinako as president are reluctantly watching the rest of us
candidates, having abandoned their hopes. But I’m not satisfied
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with half-hearted support. To earn their genuine cheers, I
wanted to hear their true feelings.
What she’s saying is absolutely correct.
And yet, the reason I was so shocked was…
“…I never thought I’d hear that from you, Tennouji-san.”
I could almost sense Tennouji-san smiling quietly.
I believe I understand Konohana Hinako’s capabilities better
than anyone.
Because she understands Hinako’s abilities so well, Tennouji-
san resolved to investigate this.
Her feelings must be complex. There’s likely pride as a friend,
but right now, she’s probably also feeling frustration. After all,
the amount of data I sent was massive.
Right after Tennouji-san made this request, I created a simple
survey and passed it to trustworthy people, asking them to
spread it. In just half a day after school, nearly a hundred
students responded.
That number is a testament to Hinako’s influence.
We’re both feeling the overwhelming charisma of Hinako right
now.
“Did the data I send seem useful? I only skimmed it since I
wanted to get it to you today…”
It’s extremely useful.
A brief silence follows.
She’s probably reviewing the data seriously. Swallowing her
complex emotions and switching gears immediately—this
mental strength is so Tennouji-san.

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As expected, Konohana Hinako is anticipated to deliver solid
organizational management. There are detailed requests, such
as improving the quality of textbooks, managing equipment, and
maintaining the school grounds.
“Textbooks don’t seem like something the student council can
directly handle, though.”
They likely want a forum to discuss with the faculty. In fact, I
often feel I’d like an education beyond what we currently have.
Beyond what we currently have…?
Are we talking about space or something…? I nearly shut down
from how little sense that made, but even I, at least in
economics, want tougher classes. Now that I’ve decided to
become a consultant, my motivation to study economics is
particularly high.
Overall, they aim to maintain the current state of Kiou Academy
while refining each area further. On the other hand, some
expect reform. For example, developing an in-school credit
card or having a resident orchestra… A resident orchestra is
quite appealing. I can imagine an elegant academy life.
Their demands are way too elite.
Still, if we could always hear a professional orchestra at the
Academy, it’d definitely lift the mood.
Another interesting point… there’s also a call to abolish the
emphasis on family status.
“Family status… So some people wanted Hinako to push for
something like Joutou-kun’s platform?”
That’s right.
That students were expecting that from Hinako is a bit
surprising.

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“What’s the plan? Add these to your platform?”
Of course, we’d need to consider whether to adopt them as-is.
What do you think, Izuki-san?
“I think you should only include things that align with your
vision, Tennouji-san. Taking on everything would make your
direction too scattered. A company that dabbles in everything
is hard to invest in because its future is unclear.”
…You’re right.
Tennouji-san falls into thought.
But after waiting a while, no further words came, which struck
me as odd.
“Tennouji-san?”
…I’m a little scared.
Tennouji-san says in a small voice.
By taking on what’s expected of Konohana Hinako and trying to
fulfill it… will I end up becoming a mere imitation of her?
That’s a valid concern.
If Tennouji-san shoulders the expectations placed on Hinako,
she might meet many students’ hopes. Still, then it’s just Hinako
they want.
The one running for president is Tennouji-san.
Of course, she’d be troubled if people demanded she be
Hinako’s substitute, but…
“You’ll be fine. I’ve got your back.”
I declare firmly.
That’s what an aide is for in times like this.

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“I’ll make sure Tennouji-san’s branding stays intact. I won’t let
you become a copy of Hinako.”
If Tennouji-san’s behavior ever starts to resemble Hinako’s, I’ll
pull her back each time.
I plan to act carefully to prevent that. …In short, she just needs
to fulfill the expectations placed on Hinako in her own unique
way. As long as she doesn’t compromise there, it should be fine.
…You’ve become quite reliable.
“Thanks to you.”
Since the day you straightened my posture, I’ve been
desperately keeping my back straight.
Then I’ll trust you and incorporate a few of these.
That’s a relief. Let’s finalize the approach by tomorrow.
But that means fewer things are aligning with my vision than I
thought.
“Yeah. Including too many small things might not get the
message across clearly…”
A resident orchestra aligns with Tennouji-san’s image, but it
deviates slightly from her platform of instilling manners. You
could stretch it to say “music appreciation involves manners,”
but fulfilling it that way would require too much budget for a
forced connection.
(…Narika could probably make use of some of these.)
Narika’s platform of creating a new salon facility could
incorporate things like a trial run of an in-school credit card.
Since she’s building a completely new environment, anything
goes. It’s a platform you can pack with all sorts of dreams.
But saying this in front of Tennouji-san feels awkward.

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The data I’m looking at now is something Tennouji-san
endured humiliation to gather. I can’t casually ask if it’s okay to
share with Narika…
Shall we share it with Miyakojima-san?
My eyes widen in front of the monitor.
“…Is that okay?”
Okay or not, you’ve already realized it, haven’t you, Izuki-san?
This information is also valuable for Miyakojima-san.
She’s seen right through me.
I’m Narika’s aide as well. Naturally, if I get information useful to
Narika, I’d want to share it.
Tell her without hesitation. This isn’t charity—it’s my duty as
someone who relies on you alongside her. Even if this gives
Miyakojima-san an advantage, I won’t regret my decision to rely
on you.
For both Tennouji-san and Narika, having their hard-earned
ideas shared with another candidate should be a risk.
But thinking about it, they both chose me as their aide,
knowing that risk from the start. Because—
“…Narika said the exact same thing.”
The same thing?
“Yeah. Actually, this afternoon, I had a tea party with Narika…”
I was going to mention it later, but since the timing’s good, I’ll
explain now.
I describe the tea party I had with Narika today. How the other
members were officer candidates. How Narika didn’t plan it
that way, but the discussion ended up being highly valuable for
her presidential campaign.
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And how Narika suggested sharing the results with Tennouji-
san.
…I see. The information sharing is much appreciated.
“Thank Narika for that.”
She’d probably do that anyway, but…
I let out a sigh of admiration at the magnanimity of both of
them when a ping! sounds from my computer.
“Hm? …A message from Narika.”
My, speak of the devil.
What could it be at this hour?
I check the message immediately—
“Pfft!?”
I can’t help but burst out laughing.
Narika: This is the look Izuki called beautiful. Feel free to stare as
much as you want.
A provocative photo of Narika in a kimono fills the screen.
That girl—!!
She declared she’d start seducing me, but to go this route too?
Her face is slightly flushed, suggesting she’s not quite used to
this seduction thing yet… but that expression only makes it
worse for my heart.
The slightly open neckline—is that her strategy?
Stop it…
It’s working way too well…
Izuki-san? What’s wrong?

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“N-no, just a photo got sent to me…”
…A photo?
I answered reflexively but instantly regretted it.
Crap. Did I just say something unnecessary…?
What kind of photo was sent?
“It’s…”
Izuki-san? What kind of photo was sent?
I’ve stumbled into a situation where she’ll keep asking unless I
say something.
Tennouji-san and I have a promise not to lie to each other. …I
hurt her once by hiding my identity, after all.
So—
“…I’ll plead the fifth.”
Instead of lying, we decided to honestly say when we don’t
want to talk about something.
This silence is proof of our promise. …Tennouji-san will surely
remember that moment and won’t press further.
Then I’ll ask Miyakojima-san.
“Wait!”
She completely ignored my red light.
My brain races at full speed. …Knowing Narika right now, she’d
probably answer honestly if asked.
I can’t let her see the photo or the message, but just saying
what was sent might be fine. Wanting to share a nicely dressed-
up look with a friend is pretty normal.

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If Tennouji-san asks Narika directly, it could lead to trouble, so
it’s better if I explain.
“…Narika sent a photo of herself in a kimono. She probably
wanted to show off how well she pulled it off.”
…You seemed awfully shocked for just that.
“Well, uh… it came out of nowhere, so…”
Hmm… I see.
The call with Tennouji-san ends.
Things got awkward at the very end…
I’m sleepy, but I need to send the revised platform proposals to
Tennouji-san and Narika. Guess I’ll cut into my sleep time a
bit… As I’m thinking that, there’s a knock at the door.
Shizune-san steps in through the opened door.
“Shizune-san? What’s up?”
“A little something for you. You’re working late tonight, it
seems.”
Shizune-san places a cup on my desk.
I take a sip right away. It’s warm herbal tea. The citrusy aroma
must be from orange peel. It’s refreshing and easy to drink.
“Thank you. It’s delicious.”
“I’m glad to hear that. There’s no caffeine or sleep-promoting
herbs, so you can drink it without worry.”
Regular tea would keep me awake with caffeine, and some
herbal teas, like chamomile, promote sleep, which isn’t ideal
since I’m still working. Shizune-san naturally blended
something that avoids both.
I recall the fridge in Shizune-san’s room.
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A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. …Her
diligent studying day in and day out must be why she’s
equipped with knowledge for any situation.
“What are you working on now, Izuki-san?”
“I’m making minor tweaks to Tennouji-san’s platform at her
suggestion.”
“That sounds like delicate work. What kind of platform is it
now?”
“Well…”
There are poster data on my computer, so showing that would
be the quickest.
As I move to open the file—ping! A notification pop-up for a
new message appears, and I accidentally click it.
“Ah!”
The received message displays.
The sender is Tennouji-san.
The content consisted of a short message and Tennouji-san’s
selfie.
Mirei: This is my last time wearing summer clothes. …What do
you think?
It was an absolutely not-her-usual-style mini-skirt, the kind
you’d bet she’d never wear normally.
As expected, she seemed uneasy about her lower half, her
cheeks flushed red as she pressed down on the hem of her
skirt.
But right now, what I needed to focus on wasn’t Tennouji-san’s
skirt—it was my own survival.
“…Well, well. So this is your campaign promise, is it?”
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“No, wait, that’s not it! This was just, uh, a coincidence, like, the
flow of the conversation…”
“So, late at night, you were having a conversation with a
classmate that led to requesting provocative photos?”
“That’s not true! I didn’t request anything!”
It was Tennouji-san! She sent it to me out of nowhere!
I pleaded my innocence, but Shizune-san’s eyes remained ice-
cold.
“Why don’t you reply to her?”
“Huh?”
“She’s asking for your thoughts. …Come on, hurry up and
respond. You mustn’t keep Tennouji-sama waiting.”
Shizune-san said this while staring intently at the monitor.
Is she planning to scrutinize my response with those eyes…?
My fingers, resting on the keyboard, were trembling so much I
could barely type. There’s no way I could write a reply in this
state.
But right now—I had a counterattack up my sleeve!
“…Alright, then I’ll reply that it’s an outfit as elaborate as
Shizune-san’s cosplay.”
“Wha—!? Grr…! Y-You coward…!”
It was a level of panic unimaginable from the usually composed
Shizune-san.
I didn’t want to exploit someone’s weakness, but… this was an
emergency, so I had no choice.
“Like I told you before, it’s not just a cosplay hobby—I actually
put it to good use in my work! I don’t appreciate being talked
about like that!”
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“Oh, come on, you’re joking. You just work here because you
love wearing maid outfits.”
“I’m not joking. The uniforms for the Konohana family’s staff,
the clothes you wear to high society events, and even the dress
Hirano-san wore at the recent Konohana Group gala—they
were all chosen by me.”
“I’m so, so sorry.”

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Page | 142
I practically prostrated myself on the chair.
She’s been doing work so impressive it overshadows her
cosplay hobby…
“I don’t make it public to avoid my hobby being exposed, but… I
also select nearly all of Kagen-sama and Ojou-sama’s outfits.”
“I’ll disembowel myself.”
I should grab a knife. There’s one in the kitchen, I’m sure.
“…No need for seppuku. For now, why don’t you just reply? I
won’t look at the contents.”
“…Okay.”
So it was Shizune-san who’d been picking out our clothes all
along. She’d kept quiet about it to minimize any connection to
her cosplay hobby.
Shizune-san turned her back to me, making a point of not
looking at the computer screen.
I really wish she’d done that from the start.
“Uh, um…”
Still facing away, Shizune-san spoke in a small voice.
“…If possible, could you ask Tennouji-sama about the brand of
that outfit?”
“…Got it.”
I was agonizing over what to say anyway, so this was perfect
timing.
I sent a reply to Tennouji-san, keeping it as safe as possible.
Izuki: That’s a lovely outfit. What brand is it?
Mirei: …Is that all you have to say about it?

Page | 143
Looks like I’d better brace myself for a long night.
I stretched my neck, preparing for what was to come.

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Chapter 3: The Rift Between Siblings
Election period, day four.
“So sleepy…”
“Sorry, Hinako. It’s another early morning today.”
During the election period, Hinako has been coming to school
early to match my schedule. I’m worried she might fall asleep
in class, but it seems she’s managing by going to bed earlier
than usual.
After parting with Hinako in the classroom, I grabbed the stack
of flyers from my bag and headed outside the school building.
I was all fired up to start handing out flyers again today… or so
I thought.
“Tomonari-san, can I have a moment?”
A voice called out from behind, and I turned around.
“Suminoe-san, what’s up?”
Suminoe-san, who had just arrived at school, approached me
with a serious expression.
“Regarding the various courses Tennouji-sama promised to
implement… is it true that they require expensive tuition fees?”
“…Huh?”
“Since yesterday after school, there’s been some talk. Just now,
I overheard students in the hallway discussing it.”
The etiquette courses Tennouji-san pledged to offer are
something we want to implement without burdening the
students. That said, many details depend on negotiations with
the academy’s management, and we can’t finalize anything
until after the election.

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“There’s no truth to that. Offering courses that exclude people
would go against the very spirit of Tennouji-san’s promises…”
“…Right.”
An academy where everyone can live nobly—that’s the ideal
Tennouji-san champions.
Limiting access to those courses would shatter that vision.
Besides, when students at Kiou Academy talk about
“expensive,” they mean a serious amount of money. I can’t
imagine etiquette courses costing that much.
Strange rumors are floating around. I was mulling it over
when—
“Oh, Tomonari-kun.”
This time, it was Kita who called out to me.
Kita approached, glancing between me and Suminoe-san.
“Sorry, am I interrupting?”
“No, it’s fine. What’s wrong?”
When I asked what he needed, Kita’s face took on an awkward
expression.
“So, about the salon in Miyakojima-san’s promises… there’s a
rumor going around that it’s invite-only and only for students
from elite families…”
I exchanged a silent look with Suminoe-san.
What’s going on? Are weird rumors circulating about Narika
too?
“…There’s no truth to that.”
“Y-yeah, that’s what I thought too, but…”
Kita mumbled, his lips twitching nervously.
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“…These rumors seem to be spreading quite a bit.”
◆
Lunch break.
Without even time to eat, an emergency meeting kicked off in
the second-floor hallway.
“…I see. So our reputations are being tarnished.”
I’d given them the bare minimum this morning, but I explained
the situation to everyone again. Tennouji-san, Narika, Kita, and
Suminoe-san all grasped the gravity of the issue.
“Yes. So, I’ve revised the speech drafts. Please take a look.”
I handed the updated speech drafts, which I’d been working on
bit by bit during breaks, to the two of them.
We might not make it in time for the lunch break speech
scheduled thirty minutes from now, but I wanted them to be
ready for the after-school one. I kept the revisions minimal.
“Sorry for putting you both through this sudden change.”
“It can’t be helped.”
“Exactly. This isn’t your fault, Izuki.”
I’d half-expected them to say that, but…
“…If we’d explained everything in detail from the start, these
rumors might not have spread. Maybe we focused too much on
making an impact.”
“You can’t please everyone. If we’d bogged down the speeches
with fine print, I’m sure everyone would’ve been bored to
tears.”
Unlike me, the two of them weren’t wavering.

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But to me, this was a moment to panic. According to this
morning’s election bulletin, Tennouji-san and Narika each lost
2% in support, while Joutou gained about 5%. On paper, it
looks less like a problem with Tennouji-san or Narika’s
campaigns and more like Joutou’s efforts paid off, but I can’t
rule out a connection to the rumors.
“We’ll clear up the rumors in the next speech, right? Then I
think we’re fine.”
If I dwell on this too much, I might dampen the enthusiasm of
the two who are finally looking forward. That wouldn’t be
good…
However, the truth is that today’s speeches were intended to
focus on the revised promises.
Being forced to address baseless rumors has thrown us off our
game, and we’re struggling to regain our momentum.
“Specifically, what kind of rumors are going around?”
“They’re all utterly thoughtless.”
Suminoe-san answered Tennouji-san’s question with a
frustrated tone.
I’d already explained the rumor about the expensive etiquette
course fees. Others included…
“For example, there’s talk that the special lecturers we’d invite
are just people tied to the Tennouji Group, and it’s all a scheme
to line their pockets…”
That was beyond thoughtless.
Tennouji-san would never think like that.
“Also, if you think about it calmly, there’s a rumor that your
blonde hair isn’t natural…”
“T-t-t-that’s absolutely not true!?”
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That one was actually a fairly accurate rumor.
Wait, that’s got nothing to do with the election…
“We need to eat lunch, so let’s wrap this up for now. We’ll
continue after school.”
I ended the emergency meeting there. We’d already burned
through enough time. Twenty minutes until the speech. How
much of the revised draft could they memorize by then?
As everyone dispersed, I was heading back to the classroom
when I noticed Asahi-san watching me.
“Asahi-san? Is something wrong?”
“Oh, uh… no, it’s nothing.”
It didn’t look like nothing, but Asahi-san averted her gaze and
left the classroom.
Maybe she was worried because we looked so serious during
our discussion?
(…Guess I’ll go meet up with Hinako.)
Hinako should’ve headed to the old student council building
first… but since she has an absurdly bad sense of direction, I
told her to stop in place if she even thinks she’s lost.
I spotted Hinako as I left the school building, lunchbox in hand.
Making sure no one was around, I called out to her in my usual
tone.
“Sorry, Hinako. Kept you waiting.”
“Mmm…”
When she turned, Hinako’s expression was more drained than
usual.
“…You look kinda… wilted?”
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“…I’m fine.”
Did something happen while she was waiting for me?
For now, we started walking toward our usual spot when—
“Heading to lunch?”
A boy with messy hair spoke to us, and I stopped mid-step.
“Joutou-kun…”
“Nice to meet you, Tomonari-kun.”
It seemed he already knew my face. Joutou greeted me with a
friendly smile.
I hadn’t noticed during his speeches because of the distance,
but up close, he’s taller than I expected. Does he play sports?
His messy hair gives him a gloomy vibe, but his jawline is
sharp, and his features have a certain intensity.
“Mind if I talk to Konohana-san for a bit? Maybe over lunch.
You’re welcome to join, Tomonari-kun.”
Joutou lightly raised the lunchbox in his hand as he spoke.
Kiou Academy has a cafeteria with top-tier chefs, but it seems
Joutou, like us, is a lunchbox guy.
I glanced at Hinako, and she looked exhausted. I need to clear
my head too, and we’re too busy for a long chat. Sorry, but I’ll
have to pass.
“Sorry. We’d rather rest somewhere quiet during lunch.”
“…Got it. Then, can I at least have three minutes to talk here?”
Three minutes? Well… I suppose that’s fine, but it’s up to
Hinako.
Hinako gave a small nod. Refusing too stubbornly might seem
odd, so I guess we’ll hear him out.
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“I’m sure you’re sick of hearing this, but… why didn’t you run
for president?”
Hinako’s expression stiffened slightly. That’s when I realized
why she looked so tired.
She must’ve been bombarded with this question. While I wasn’t
around, all sorts of students were probably asking her why she
didn’t run for president.
No wonder she’s all wilted…
But in public, she can’t let her perfect Ojou-sama facade slip.
“I’ve answered others the same way: my family is busy. There’s
no other reason.”
Hinako replied gently, but Joutou didn’t back down.
“But, Konohana-san, you could lead this academy in the right
direction better than anyone. Can’t you reconsider, even now?
It’d be unprecedented to join the race this late, but there’s no
rule against it. With your influence, you could still gather
votes.”
Hold up…
Is he seriously telling Hinako to run for president now?
From the look on Joutou’s face, he seemed dead serious.
Even Ojou-sama-mode Hinako was visibly flustered by this.
Guess I’d better throw her a lifeline…
“You’re the one running for president, Joutou-kun. Why not
take on the role of leading the academy yourself?”
“Well…”
Of course, I’d rather see Tennouji-san or Narika take that role,
but…

Page | 151
Joutou’s gaze wandered uncomfortably.
“…I’m not guaranteed to do it as well as Konohana-san.”
Staring at the floor, Joutou admitted it.
Wait, hold on.
That line… that’s not something a candidate for president
should say.
What would his supporters think if they heard that?
“I’m deeply honored by your faith in me.”
Hinako gave a small bow.
“But I have my own responsibilities to fulfill. I’m not idling
away my time, so please believe that much.”
“…Got it.”
Realizing persuasion was futile, Joutou bit his lip and nodded.
Then he turned to me.
“Tomonari-kun, supporting two people at once must be tough,
but keep it up.”
“…Thanks.”
“There are some weird rumors going around, huh? If you need,
I can clear them up in my speech.”
“Clear them up… you would?”
We’re all competing for the same president’s seat.
Even if he’s aiming for a fair fight, isn’t that a bit too kind?
As if reading my doubts, Joutou gave a weak smile.
“…As long as the academy moves in a better direction, I don’t
care who becomes president.”

Page | 152
His voice lacked conviction, and his demeanor felt oddly fragile
as he spoke.
Is he saying he doesn’t need to be president because he’s
looking at the bigger picture? His detached attitude felt off, but
his words rang familiar.
“Rintarou said something similar.”
“…You talked to Rintarou? Well, he’s got a similar mindset to
me.”
Joutou let out a deep sigh.
“Sorry for taking your time.”
Joutou headed back toward the school building.
Hinako and I watched his retreating figure.
“…I got scouted to their side once.”
“Huh, really…?”
I nodded at Hinako’s surprised reaction.
“But for all that…”
“…Yeah. Something’s weird.”
Hinako felt it too.
For someone who tried to recruit me, he doesn’t seem all that
invested in the election.
Or rather, at this point, it’s not even about enthusiasm…
“…Does Joutou even want to be president?”
◆
Election period, day five, morning.
Arriving at school early again, I checked the election bulletin
for changes in support rates.
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(…Pretty much the same as yesterday.)
No major shifts. Tennouji-san at 39%, Narika at 35%, and
Joutou at 26%.
The support rates in the bulletin reflect the tallies from the
previous day. Since there weren’t significant changes in our or
Joutou’s campaign activities yesterday or the day before, the
drop in support from the last bulletin likely stems from those
bad rumors.
However, the negative gossip circulating around the school
should have been addressed in yesterday’s speeches. I listened
to both Tennouji-san and Narika during lunch and after school,
and they clearly explained why the rumors were false. Once the
misconceptions are cleared, the lost support should bounce
back. By tomorrow, we might recover to the original 40% split.
(What’s bugging me… is Joutou.)
I kept thinking about it even after returning to the mansion last
night.
Maybe Joutou’s already given up on winning. Tennouji-san and
Narika are both big names at the academy. Overtaking their
support rates would be tough.
The gap’s narrowed due to the rumors, but that’s hardly
Joutou’s doing.
Suppose Joutou had a burning ambition to become president.
In that case, he’d see these rumors as a golden opportunity to
aggressively gather support. But yesterday, Joutou looked
almost sympathetic when he heard about our bad press.
“Tomonari-kun!”
“…Kita-kun?”

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While handing out flyers in the courtyard, Kita came running
from the school building. He must’ve been about to start
distributing flyers too, judging by the stack in his hand.
“What’s wrong?”
“The rumors aren’t stopping at all! They’re actually getting
worse!”
My mind went blank.
The rumors haven’t stopped? How…?
“…What kind of rumors are out there?”
“Like, they’re gonna tear down the academy’s café to build the
salon. And… there’s talk that all of Miyakojima-san’s promises
were actually written by you.”
What the heck…?
As I stood there baffled, Kita went on, listing more bad rumors
he’d heard. They were all completely new, nothing like what
was floating around yesterday.
“Tomonari-san.”
Suminoe-san approached with a grave expression.
Her face told me everything.
“…The rumors haven’t stopped, have they?”
“No. The ones we addressed yesterday have been replaced by
entirely new whispers.”
“Can you tell me what they’re saying?”
The rumors Suminoe-san described were totally different from
before, and there were all sorts of them. Just like with Narika,
new bad rumors about Tennouji-san were spreading too.

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The way these rumors are spreading feels unnatural. They’re
not just old doubts ballooning into something bigger; it’s like a
bunch of brand-new rumors popped up out of nowhere.
They’re so random, so unfocused—if these were the students’
collective opinion, they’d be way too scattered.
Besides, how could new rumors suddenly spread like wildfire
right after we addressed the old ones?
Yesterday, we scoured the academy for every rumor and
debunked them one by one. I’m not naive enough to think
that’d wipe out all the gossip overnight. But why, at this exact
moment, are a ton of rumors that didn’t exist yesterday
suddenly everywhere?
“This is…”
Finally, I understood the situation.
The feeling that the rumors are being drip-fed. The stagnation
that keeps us stuck, debunking gossip, unable to improve our
speeches.
This situation, where we’re forced to tread water, was
orchestrated.
“…It’s a smear campaign.”
smear campaigning.
Deliberately spreading bad images about your opponents to
make yourself look better by comparison. A classic election
tactic.
Suddenly, I remembered something Takuma-san said.
—By the way, Izuki-kun. In the management game, something
was left out. Do you know what it was?
Oh… now I get it.
I finally realized.
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The answer is—scheming.
Tactics meant to tear others down.
The management game was a numbers battle. The system
dictated what you could and couldn’t do, enforced by strict
rules.
Even when Suminoe-san tried to buy out my company, from a
CEO’s perspective, it was a calculated strategy with a clear
chance of success. It was a move to grow her company, not a
scheme.
However, what I’m facing now is nothing short of malicious and
underhanded tactics.
I thought all the students at Kiou Academy were upright and
proper… was I just naive?
(…Did Joutou spread them?)
Now that I realized it was a smear campaign, the mastermind
behind it had to be from Joutou’s camp. However, no matter
how I looked at the various rumors (data) spreading around, I
just couldn’t see Joutou’s face behind them.
It doesn’t feel like Joutou.
He’s the one who suggested using my speech to dispel the
rumors about us. Whether it’s because he lacks enthusiasm for
the election or he’s just a good-natured person, either way, I
can’t imagine someone like him being the mastermind of a
smear campaign.
“Tomonari-kun, what’s wrong?”
When I looked up at the sound of my name, Asahi-san was
staring at me with a puzzled expression.
Asahi-san was holding her bag. She must have just arrived at
school. While heading toward the school building, she probably
Page | 157
noticed us in a corner of the courtyard, which exuded a heavy
atmosphere, and became concerned.
“Asahi-san, actually…”
With her extensive network, Asahi-san may have some
valuable ideas for addressing the smear campaign. With that
thought, I explained the situation to her.
New negative rumors had started spreading today.
That, judging from the situation, we were likely being targeted
by a smear campaign from Joutou’s camp.
I explained these things concisely…
“…!”
Asahi-san’s face turned pale with shock.
Her reaction surprised us in turn.
It was almost as if she knew something—
“…Sorry! I just remembered something I have to do!”
Asahi-san threw her bag aside and sprinted toward the school
building.
“Asahi-san!?”
Something to do… There’s no way running off at a time like this
isn’t related to the smear campaign.
I picked up Asahi-san’s bag.
“Sorry! I’m leaving the flyers to you!”
I handed the flyers to Kita and chased after Asahi-san.
Asahi-san entered the school building and ran straight down
the hallway without changing her shoes. To keep up, I had no
choice but to enter the building in my outdoor shoes too.

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(The first-year building…?)
At Kiou Academy, the first-year building is separate from the
main school building. Asahi-san crossed the connecting
corridor, climbed the stairs, and entered the first-year building,
storming straight into a classroom.
“—Rintarou!”
Asahi-san’s shout echoed through the room.
Rintarou, who was inside the classroom, widened his eyes at
his sister’s sudden visit.
“Ane-san, what’s wrong?”
“I told you this kind of tactic is no good!”
With a look of utter fury, Asahi-san yelled.
I’d never seen Asahi-san like this. She’s always bright, lively,
and cheerful, and come to think of it, she’s also skilled at
reading the room. That’s why she’s the mood-maker of Class A.
But now, she was ignoring all the stares around her, shouting at
the top of her lungs.
“Calm down. I don’t even know what you’re talking about—”
“—The smear campaign!”
Rintarou’s face stiffened.
For a brief moment, Rintarou’s eyes flicked toward me,
standing behind Asahi-san.
Those eyes felt chillingly cold, but in the next instant, they were
back to normal.
“…What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb! I know it’s you! The tactics are exactly the
same!”
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Asahi-san’s voice was filled with anger, but it also sounded like
she was on the verge of tears.
What did she mean by saying the tactics were the same?
No, more importantly, did Asahi-san think Rintarou was behind
the smear campaign?
“Rintarou… please, stop doing this. I understand how you feel,
but…”
Asahi-san bit her lip, her face full of sadness.
In the silent classroom, Rintarou let out a sigh.
“You’re so loud.”
Rintarou glared at Asahi-san.
His eyes burned with a bottomless anger, no less intense than
Asahi-san’s earlier.
“What’s a traitor like you preaching to me from above?”
“—!”
Asahi-san faltered, at a loss for words.
Then Rintarou shifted his gaze from the silent Asahi-san to me
and bowed his head.
“Tomonari-senpai, I’m sorry for dragging you into something
weird.”
“No, I…”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s just a sibling spat, unrelated to the
election.”
With that, Rintarou bowed to his classmates as well.
The confused first-year students gradually returned to their
usual lively and peaceful atmosphere.

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Asahi-san didn’t say a word. Instead, she gritted her teeth so
hard I could hear it and stormed out of the first-year building.
◆
After leaving the first-year building, Asahi-san seemed to calm
down a bit. She took off her outdoor shoes, which she’d kept
on, and started walking in her socks. I did the same, taking off
my shoes and following her step behind.
I thought she might head to the shoe lockers to get her indoor
shoes, but instead, Asahi-san put her outdoor shoes back on
midway through the connecting corridor and headed toward
the garden.
I put my shoes back on too and followed her.
“…Classes are about to start, you know?”
Without turning to look at me, Asahi-san stopped and spoke.
“I can’t leave you alone right now, Asahi-san.”
“…You’re so kind, Tomonari-kun.”
Asahi-san’s voice trembled faintly.
“I wish I could’ve been that kind too…”
With a self-deprecating laugh, Asahi-san walked toward a table
in the depths of the garden and sat down in an empty chair.
She gestured with both hands, urging me to sit across from her.
I sat down in front of Asahi-san. …I’d have to skip first period.
“Asahi-san, I don’t think it’s certain yet that Rintarou is the
mastermind behind the smear campaign. You might just be
misunderstanding—”
“—It’s Rintarou.”
Asahi-san declared firmly.
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“Rintarou’s doing the same thing at home… I know it’s him.”
Asahi-san began to explain.
“Our company’s actually kind of a mess, you know. Business is
going well, but there’s a lot of friction between the
employees…”
J’s Holdings, huh?
I’d looked into the company’s details during the Management
Game. It was supposed to be a solid, profitable business for
years…
“Papa, our president, is a Kiou Academy graduate. But his
values were kind of skewed, and the employees didn’t follow
him. His sense of money and the subtle arrogance in his words
apparently eroded their trust. …He spent too much on dinners
with clients, I heard. For Papa, it was just him being
considerate to important clients.”
Asahi-san gave an empty smile.
I don’t even know what’s right anymore… I could almost hear
her inner voice.
“Since the business side was fine, I think his professional
instincts were solid. But where he miscalculated was human
relationships. The academy doesn’t teach you that, right?
…Most of our employees are really ordinary people, so
someone like Papa stood out in a bad way.”
Asahi-san said sadly.
“Rintarou and I watched Papa struggle like that ever since we
were kids. …Because we saw it, we swore we wouldn’t end up
like that.”
It sounds like Asahi-san’s had a tough time since she was
young.

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It can’t feel good. Her own father was ostracized at the
company. I can’t even imagine how Asahi-san felt watching her
father’s back.
“So, when we were kids, Rintarou and I made a promise. We’d
build a company together, one that truly stood on the side of
regular people.”
Hearing Asahi-san’s past, the pieces started connecting in my
mind.
Rintarou had said he’d start his own company in the future.
And… Rintarou had called Asahi-san a traitor.
“…You two promised to start a company together, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. But I broke that promise.”
Asahi-san nodded quietly, digging her nails into the back of her
hand on the table.
It was like an act of atonement. As if talking about this required
her to bear pain, her overwhelming guilt came through loud
and clear.
“I decided to take over the family company instead. …And
Rintarou, betrayed, stopped caring about the means to achieve
his goal of starting his own company.”
I recalled the chillingly cold look Rintarou had given for just a
moment.
“Rintarou started using his position as the president’s son to
get involved in the company. Not long after, the friction
between employees got even worse.”
Why did the friction worsen?
Asahi-san answered with a heavy expression.

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“Rintarou was spreading bad rumors about Papa. At the same
time, he announced his plans to start his own company and
began poaching talented employees. …Rintarou created
factions. He mocked those who sided with Papa as the
‘bourgeois faction’ and built an atmosphere where he and his
group were the ‘commoner faction.’ I think Rintarou’s plan is to
unite the commoner faction and eventually take them all with
him.”
Because Rintarou had done something like that before, Asahi-
san must have concluded he was behind this smear campaign
too. The situations do seem similar.
“By the time I noticed what Rintarou was doing, it was already
too late. …Back then, a middle school kid was casually walking
into the company, more admired than Papa. Rintarou had that
kind of talent. Strategy… no, a talent for scheming to achieve
his goals.”
Asahi-san said weakly.
The anguish in her voice was palpable as she witnessed her
brother’s unconventional talent.
“But it all started… because I left Rintarou alone.”
Asahi-san lamented that she was the one who pushed his talent
in that direction.
“I’m the one who cornered Rintarou. …So of course, him
listening to me when I tell him to stop is out of the question,
right?”
Lowering her gaze, Asahi-san said.
From Rintarou’s perspective, I could understand why he was
angry. They’d sworn to start a company together, but his sister
betrayed him and chose to inherit the family business. Forced
to fight alone, it’s understandable that Rintarou, driven by

Page | 164
desperation, stopped caring about the means. There’s room for
sympathy there.
“…I’m so sorry! You’re busy with the election, and my little
brother’s causing you trouble!”
Asahi-san suddenly lifted her face, speaking in her usual bright
tone.
“Really, really sorry! I totally killed the mood, and I’m the worst
right now! Oh, and first period’s already started! Let’s hurry to
class! Tomonari-kun, this is an important time, so you don’t
want the teachers noticing you, right!?”
Clasping her hands together, Asahi-san bowed in apology.
She wasn’t down anymore. She was fine. She’d completely
bounced back, so don’t worry.
Asahi-san’s whole body screamed that as she put on her act,
but I looked straight at her.
“You don’t have to force yourself.”
Asahi-san’s smile froze.
“The one hurting the most right now is you, Asahi-san. Don’t
worry about me.”
I knew she was pretending to be cheerful to spare my feelings.
But… that hurt me too.
Asahi-san’s expression turned serious, and tears began to spill
from her eyes. It was the first time I’d seen her like this, but it
felt like I was finally seeing the real Asahi-san.
Always bright, always the mood-maker for everyone.
But Asahi-san is just a person too, carrying her own burdens.
Like anyone else, she gets angry, and she cries.

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“I’m sorry… just for a bit, just a little…”
Her tears grew larger, and Asahi-san began sobbing as if a dam
had burst.
“I’ll… be back to normal soon…”
“…Okay.”
Even in this much pain, she still worried about the person in
front of her—that’s just who Asahi-san is. I wanted to tell her
she didn’t have to go back to normal, but for Asahi-san,
“normal” is probably her armor. It’s how she protects her heart.

Page | 166
Page | 167
Page | 168
Since the election period began, Asahi-san had occasionally
looked awkward.
She must have been thinking about how to face Rintarou, all
alone.
Watching Asahi-san cry quietly, I added one more thing to my
list of things to do.
During lunch break today—I’d talk to Rintarou.
◆
Lunch break.
Heading to the first-year building, I spotted Rintarou walking
through the connecting corridor and called out to him.
“Rintarou, I need to talk.”
“Sure.”
Rintarou was supposed to help with Joutou’s speech next, but
he immediately accepted my invitation.
We moved to the garden’s table seats. Sensing that this wasn’t a
conversation for others to hear, Rintarou deliberately walked
to a secluded spot.
Ironically, the seat Rintarou chose was the one stained with
Asahi-san’s regret.
“What’s this about? Are you joining our side?”
“No.”
“That’s a shame. I was hoping that’s what this was…”
As soon as he sat down, Rintarou looked at me with expectant
eyes, but I shook my head.

Page | 169
He’d probably made time to talk with me, even ditching his
speech duties, because of that expectation. I felt bad for letting
him down.
“It’s about Asahi-san.”
When I stated it plainly, Rintarou let out a small sigh.
“I’ll say it again, that was just a sibling fight. You don’t need to
worry about it, Tomonari-senpai. …Besides, Ane-san seems to
think I’m the one behind the smear campaign against you guys,
but there’s no proof of that—”
“—It’s you, isn’t it?”
Rintarou fell silent, and I repeated myself.
“You’re the one behind the smear campaign.”
“…Why are you so sure?”
To Rintarou, who was playing dumb, I explained my reasoning.
The evidence that Asahi-san’s hunch was correct.
“Right now, there are some bad rumors circulating about
Tennouji-san. Do you know what they are?”
“…Well, I’m part of the election too, so I’ve heard things.”
That makes this easier.
The smear campaign didn’t just target Narika; Tennouji-san
was also targeted. I brought up a rumor I’d heard from
Suminoe-san this morning.
“The dress code seminar will be divided based on the level of
the social circles students usually participate in, so it’ll
highlight differences in family status. …That’s the rumor going
around.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that one.”

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Rintarou looked at me as if to say, So what?
“Tennouji-san never said a word about holding a dress code
seminar.”
Rintarou’s eyes widened.
“…But didn’t you tell me, Tomonari-senpai? You said your next
speech would explain the dress code seminar.”
“We scrapped it. We realized that talking about it in the speech
might cause exactly the kind of misunderstanding the rumor’s
suggesting.”
After discussing it with Tennouji-san at the last minute, we
decided not to mention the dress code seminar.
To make Kiou Academy a place where everyone can live nobly,
we judged that any policy that even slightly hinted at family
status should be avoided.
Yet somehow, the rumor claimed Tennouji-san was holding a
dress code seminar, and a smear campaign was built around it.
Someone had leaked our plans.
“The only one who knew we were planning a dress code
seminar… was you, Rintarou.”
Rintarou pursed his lips and fell silent.
The smear campaign circulating in the academy benefited
Joutou’s camp. That alone made me suspicious of Joutou and
Rintarou. But there was another reason I specifically suspected
Rintarou: the speed at which the rumors spread.
Anyone who knew Tennouji-san and Narika well would
immediately realise that those rumors were false.
Their refined way of life was etched in the eyes of many
students, which is why they were as famous as Hinako-chan at

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the academy. Anyone who knew them would dismiss the
rumors with a laugh and refrain from spreading them further.
Yet the rumors spread.
That meant people who didn’t know Tennouji-san and Narika
well were spreading them. Realising this, I concluded that the
source of the rumors wasn’t our peers. Third-years or first-
years… Third-years had seen Tennouji-san and the others since
they were first-years, so I suspected that the current first-years
had seen them as well.
The spark of the rumors was spreading like wildfire among the
first-year students.
That was Rintarou’s domain, a place we couldn’t easily reach.
By the time the rumors reached our ears, they’d already spread
so much that we were forced to play catch-up.
Rintarou sighed in resignation and bowed his head.
“I give up. As you suspected, senpai, I’m the one leading the
smear campaign.”
“…You’re admitting it that easily?”
“With that much circumstantial evidence, I can’t deny it. …They
say a schemer drowns in their own schemes, huh? I was so
focused on spreading the rumors that I didn’t listen carefully to
Tennouji-san’s speech.”
Rintarou expressed his regret.
Indeed, if he’d paid attention to Tennouji-san’s speech, he’d
have noticed we’d dropped the dress code seminar.
“Honestly, I was planning to tell you about the smear campaign
at some point, so it’s just a matter of sooner or later.”
…He was going to tell me?
Why would he think it was okay for me to know?
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“…Are you mocking me?”
When I let my irritation show, Rintarou looked at me in shock.
“…You get emotional too, huh, Tomonari-senpai? I thought you
were more rational.”
“I’m not particularly rational. It’s just that at Kiou Academy,
emotions alone don’t get you far.”
So yeah, I get angry too.
I thought back to Asahi-san from this morning. I pictured her
feelings as she broke from her usual carefree attitude and shed
tears, as vividly as I could.
I never want to see Asahi-san make that face again.
Never again.
“I heard the details from Asahi-san. With Asahi-san deciding to
take over the family, Rintarou was left alone, cornered, and
stopped caring about the means he used.”
“…I won’t deny it.”
Rintarou confirmed it.
“Honestly, I feel for you… But even so, this kind of approach
isn’t right.”
Being isolated must have deeply wounded Rintarou.
Starting a business in the real world requires overcoming
obstacles far more challenging than those in a management
game. And Rintarou’s likely aiming for a business of
considerable scale. Doing it all alone would be incredibly
difficult.
It’s not hard to imagine the desperation and pressure weighing
on Rintarou, pushing him to the edge.
Even so—.
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“Please. Stop spreading these rumors. Asahi-san is suffering,
feeling responsible.”
I bowed my head to Rintarou.
Tennouji-san and Narika must also be hurting inside from
these baseless slanders.
This isn’t strategy. It’s scheming. It might be a rational tactic for
Rintarou’s side to win the election, but it’s hurting people in the
process.
There are those quietly shedding tears because of it.
“…Please raise your head.”
Slowly lifting my gaze, I saw Rintarou looking at me calmly.
“You’re right…”
After a moment of thought, Rintarou spoke.
“Then, if you, senpai, join our side, I’ll stop.”
“You…!”
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not mocking you, senpai.”
Thinking he was joking, I stood up, but Rintarou spoke with a
serious expression.
Those were earnest eyes. I couldn’t fathom what Rintarou was
thinking, but one look at those intense, sincere eyes pierced
me, leaving my anger with nowhere to go.
“You’re trying to absorb Konohana Hinako-senpai’s supporters,
aren’t you?”
“How do you…?”
“You sent out a survey, didn’t you? One asking what people
would’ve wanted if Konohana-senpai had become president. I
got a copy of it, too.”
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It was Tennouji-san’s idea to investigate the desires of those
who wanted to support Hinako. That survey reached even
Rintarou, it seems.
They must’ve gathered a ton of responses. It was surprising to
think that the survey spread to the underclassmen in just half a
day.
“The idea itself is impressive, but what shocked me most was
that Tennouji-senpai, who was so competitive with Konohana-
senpai, accepted it. …That’s surely your influence, Tomonari-
senpai. Your strength, so unlike Kiou Academy’s usual, is
inspiring those around you.”
Rintarou bowed his head.
“Tomonari-senpai, please join us. We need you.”
The tables had turned.
But I didn’t understand.
I had no clue what Rintarou was trying to achieve.
Rintarou’s respect for me didn’t feel fake. It didn’t seem like he
was just putting on a front for this moment.
Even so… whatever Rintarou’s intentions, my resolve wouldn’t
waver.
“The people I want to see as president are elsewhere.”
Rintarou didn’t lift his bowed head.
I couldn’t tell what Rintarou was feeling as he hung his head.
◆
That afternoon, back at the Konohana estate, I found myself
explaining the situation to Hinako.
“…I see. So Asahi-san’s brother was the one spreading the
rumors.”
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I only told her that Rintarou was trying to sabotage us.
It’s probably best not to mention Asahi-san’s family matters.
I’m hesitant to share her private life without permission.
“…Will he stop the rumors?”
“…I don’t know. Probably not, I think.”
Rintarou said he’d stop if I joined Joutou’s camp. Since I refused
the deal, it’s unlikely he’ll halt the smear campaign.
“From what I’ve heard, that Rintarou kid probably won’t stop.
It’s proving effective in the election, after all.”
Takuma-san, appearing on the laptop screen, said this
nonchalantly.
Hinako shot the laptop a displeased look.
“…Izuki. Can I just cut the call with this guy already?”
“No way. You’re the one who butted into my conversation with
Izuki-kun, Hinako.”
“Muu…”
Faced with undeniable logic, Hinako puffed out her cheeks.
I’d been reporting the election’s progress to Takuma-san via
video call when Hinako walked into the room. Originally,
Takuma-san’s words were what sparked my run for the
student council, so I’d been updating him regularly on the
election.
“Takuma-san, I figured out what you meant by the thing
omitted from the management game. …It’s scheming, isn’t it?”
“Correct. But realizing it only after becoming a victim is a bit
late, Izuki-kun. You need to be more suspicious of people.”
I’m aware my guard was down.

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My focus was solely on supporting Tennouji-san and Narika’s
activities. I occasionally kept an eye on Joutou’s camp, but only
to differentiate our platforms or adopt their speech techniques.
It was more about learning from them than staying wary.
That said, I thought I was at least minimally cautious. I made
sure our speech venues weren’t taken or that our election
supplies weren’t used up first. …The smear campaign, however,
was an attack that far exceeded my expectations.
“…I never imagined Kiou Academy students would resort to
such tactics.”
“If you’re by Hinako’s side, it’s no wonder you’d think that.”
What does that mean?
“That academy is full of ambitious people, so naturally, there
are quite a few who’d use dirty tricks. …But no one would dare
in front of Hinako. No matter how clever their schemes, no one
can outmatch her.”
Even if she’s a slacker at heart, Hinako’s abilities are top-tier.
Indeed, schemes likely wouldn’t work on someone like her.
Being by Hinako’s side might have shielded me from such
things until now.
From raw, unbridled ambition that could hurt others.
“There are roughly two types of people at Kiou Academy: the
CEO-type, children of business leaders, and the politician-type,
children of political figures. …The politician-types often resort
to such tactics. They’ve been raised in a world of power plays
and intrigue from a young age. …Come to think of it, Izuki-kun,
you’ve mostly been around CEO-types, so you might not have
noticed the distinction.”
Now that he mentions it, most of my acquaintances are
overwhelmingly the former. Hinako’s the prime example, and
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since my public persona aligns with that, I probably gravitated
toward similar people.
Just as politician-types have their tendencies, CEO-types seem
to have theirs, too. They always prioritize tangible results. Case
in point: the academy’s top performers are mostly CEO-types.
“Rintarou-kun seems to have been born on this side, but
something in his past must’ve twisted him. That’s probably
why he clicks so well with the presidential candidate he’s
supporting.”
Not every child of a CEO follows the typical path, I suppose.
Rintarou’s split with Asahi-san might’ve shifted his mindset
closer to a politician-type, aligning him with Joutou, a natural-
born politician-type.
But if we’re going there—.
“…What about you, Takuma-san?”
I’d sensed a similar… recklessness in Takuma-san, like a
politician-type who doesn’t care about the means.
Takuma-san fell briefly silent before speaking.
“Maybe something happened in my past, too.”
He brushed it off with a superficial smile.
Was it just a joke? Or… is there something he can’t tell me yet?
“Anyway, for some people, schemes are the only way to achieve
what they want.”
“Haa…”
“So, Izuki-kun, it’s time you learned some scheming. Actually,
that’s where your talents would shine most. If you tried, you
could mimic me in no time—”

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Hinako operated the laptop, cutting off the call with Takuma-
san.
“Izuki doesn’t need that kind of thing.”
“…Thanks.”
Her trust in me genuinely warmed my heart.
Of course, I don’t want to stoop to trapping others, even for a
goal.
“But that’s surprising…”
Hinako said, looking puzzled.
“I don’t know much about Joutou-kun, but I didn’t think he’d be
the type to tolerate smear campaigning, even to win. …How did
Rintarou convince him?”
“…Well, by Takuma-san’s logic, Joutou’s the quintessential
politician-type.”
As the head of their camp, Joutou should be fully aware of
Rintarou’s actions. I, for one, reported every detail of Tennouji-
san and Narika’s activities to them.
Why is Joutou allowing Rintarou’s smear campaign?
Or perhaps, to begin with—.
“…Takuma-san said that, but…”
I shared my thoughts with Hinako.
“I don’t think Rintarou’s that kind of person.”
“…That kind of person?”
“Like, not the type to rely on schemes…”
“Hmm…? But he’s actually doing bad things…”
Bad things, huh…

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Hinako’s comment was objective, carefree yet merciless, and
hit the mark.
Rintarou’s actions—spreading baseless rumors to tarnish rival
candidates—could objectively be called bad. If we had some
shady secrets and Rintarou was exposing them out of justice,
his side might have some moral ground.
“Are you sympathizing with Rintarou because you’re too kind,
Izuki?”
“Well, I think there’s room for sympathy, but…”
Can we really label Rintarou as evil when he was cornered and
resorted to desperate measures?
It feels like I’m preaching some naive belief in human goodness.
But…
(…That’s not quite it, either.)
I decided to dig deeper into Rintarou.
To turn my hunch into certainty.
“…Alright.”
Even after the call with Takuma-san ended, I didn’t close the
laptop.
There was still work to do late into the night.
Hinako peeked over my shoulder as I began typing on the
keyboard.
“Election work…?”
“Yeah. There’s something I want to do for Asahi-san’s sake.”
I sensed Hinako tilting her head behind me.
“I want to correct all the harmful rumors that have spread.
Asahi-san feels responsible.”
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I opened a spreadsheet.
With help from Kita and Suminoe-san, I’d compiled the rumors
circulating in the academy into the file before me. Now, I just
needed to prepare responses for each and spread the word.
However, this second wave of smear campaigning was more
complex and varied, with rumors that were trickier to counter
than before. Suppose I left any gaps in the responses. In that
case, they’d be exploited further, and crafting precise answers
for everything would take time.
(What I really wanted was to do more than just correct them…)
But I had no confidence I’d manage in time.
Today marked the fifth day of the election period, with
Saturdays and Sundays in between. Rintarou, having studied
Tennouji-san and Narika’s platforms, likely spent time carefully
crafting this smear campaign. Meanwhile, I had to deal with it
yesterday and today, and unsurprisingly, the workload was
crushing me.
“Want me to help?”
“…No, it’s better if you don’t.”
I paused my work to look at Hinako.
“This is election-related, so if people knew you helped, it’d
probably sway a lot of votes on its own. That’s not what
Tennouji-san or Narika want, so I’ll just take your offer in
spirit.”
“…Got it.”
Hinako nodded, looking a bit sad.
Having her review a finished speech draft would be fine, but
her direct contribution to our success wouldn’t be ideal.

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Kiou Academy is full of students who wanted Hinako as
president. If she openly supported a specific candidate, those
students would likely follow suit.
Of course, the academy’s students aren’t fools. They’ll
eventually realize they can’t keep chasing Hinako, who didn’t
run for president. That’s why borrowing her influence
carelessly now might interfere with their awakening.
Everyone’s probably noticed we haven’t held tea parties at the
academy since the election started. …We have no intention of
using Hinako politically. Please vote with clear heads, keeping
Hinako separate. Our intentions should be getting through.
“Sorry, Hinako.”
“No, it’s fine. …It’s just because I’m too popular.”
Well, yeah, but…
Saying that with such a dejected expression? That’s a new
one…
(…Gotta focus.)
I turned back to the laptop, filling out the rumor response list.
But each answer took minutes to craft. Despite my
determination, the work wasn’t progressing as hoped, and
frustration was piling up.
“Mm…”
Hinako let out a small sound, watching me analyze the types of
rumors.
I kept working, trying to ignore it, but…
“Mmmmmm…”
Hinako was staring at my work with a stern expression.
She really looked like she had something to say…
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There was probably something wrong with my approach. But
since I’d told her I didn’t need advice, she was quietly watching,
holding back.
(At this rate, I’ll never finish in time.)
To make Tennouji-san and Narika win, and for Asahi-san’s
sake, I wanted to debunk all the rumors by morning. But with
my abilities, even pulling an all-nighter wouldn’t cut it.
(…Come to think of it, Takuma-san said something.)
He’d recommended relying on Hinako.
Hinako, a genius in practical skills, even acknowledged by
Kagen-san. At this critical moment, am I being foolish, not just
honest, by refusing to lean on her?
“…I can’t have you help directly, but…”
After some thought, I came up with a compromise.
“Is there, like, a trick to handling massive amounts of data like
this?”
“There is!”
Thrilled to be relied on, Hinako answered energetically.
“But… in exchange for teaching you, I want a reward.”
“A reward?”
A reward for Hinako would mean…
I pulled a bag of snacks from the desk drawer.
“Here, potato chips.”
“N-no, not that kind…!”
“Not potato chips!?”
No way!?

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Is it going to snow tomorrow!?
Is this a sign of some cosmic upheaval!?
“…Don’t act that shocked.”
Come on, that’s impossible.
Based on her past behavior, I was sure “reward” meant potato
chips, but Hinako puffed out her cheeks, looking a bit miffed.
She stepped closer to my bed and,
“…Work here.”
Hinako patted the mattress.
“Fine by me, but that’s the reward?”
“…Mm.”
I didn’t quite get it, but I went along.
Since it’s a laptop, I could work on the bed.
As I sat on the bed,
“And… like this.”
Hinako slipped in between me and the laptop.
She nestled perfectly between my outstretched legs.
“Uh, Hinako, this is a bit…”
“…I-it’s easier to teach this way.”
I can barely see the screen…
Our bodies were practically glued together. Each breath
brought her sweet scent.
(Calm down, calm down… She’s just being clingy…)
The skill I’d honed most as her caretaker might be how quickly
I could clear my mind.
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To stay composed, I leaned back slightly to put some distance
between us.
“…Izuki?”
“W-what?”
As I tried to pull away, Hinako grabbed my arms and pulled me
closer.
“…Hold me properly.”
Calling this a familial distance was way too much of a stretch.
My heart was pounding. My head felt like it was spinning.
(This is… too much!)
Sweat poured from every inch of me in my panic.
I forced my blanked-out mind to function.
What were we even doing? …Oh, right. Hinako was about to
teach me work tips.
“Hi-Hinako! What kind of trick are you gonna teach me!?”
I couldn’t quite get the words out smoothly, but Hinako wasn’t
exactly calm either. She let out a weird little “Nnh…” sound
from her mouth as she glanced at the screen.
Just what was the trick Hinako used to handle massive
amounts of data in practice?
After thinking it over, Hinako opened her mouth again.
“When it comes to tons of data… it’s like, you make it all fluffy
and then tidy it up…”
“Fluffy…”
Nope, I had no idea what she meant.

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In the back of my mind, an image of clouds lazily drifting
through the sky popped up.
“Nmm… hold on, let me put it into words…”
“If it’s too hard, you don’t have to, you know.”
“No way… I want to help Izuki…”
Hinako showed a serious expression, as if she were really
thinking it through.
Deep down, I believed that given enough time, Hinako could
probably articulate it.
Hinako always switched between her natural, super-lazy state
and her perfect Ojou-sama mode as needed. However, that
switch only altered her outward personality—her actual
abilities remained the same. In her natural state, like now, she
had zero motivation, so her complete lack of life skills came to
the forefront. But on the flip side, if she just had the drive, she
could act with the same poise as she did in Ojou-sama mode.

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Page | 187
Page | 188
When Hinako was in her perfect Ojou-sama mode, she often
taught classmates how to study. In other words, Hinako
naturally had the ability to teach others.
And not just any teaching—she was relied on by the elite
students of Kiou Academy, no less…
“…Izuki, you’re good at seeing what’s behind the data, but
you’re not looking at the big picture.”
Having finished organising her thoughts, Hinako spoke up once
more.
“All data… you start by abstracting it and sorting it by its
essence. For example, this rumor and that rumor—both are
essentially about suspecting Tennouji-san’s selfish motives,
so…”
“…Got it. If you analyze it that far, you can deal with them in
one go, right?”
Hinako gave a small nod.
“It’s just my gut feeling, but… having a nose for sniffing out the
essence is key. If you only look at surface-level problems, you’ll
end up going in circles… and it’s a hassle, too, since it takes so
much effort.”
I could tell that last “hassle” bit was her true feelings.
But a nose for sniffing out the essence… that was a good phrase
to learn.
Up until now, I’d been good at seeing the people behind the
data, but there was an essence to the data itself, too.
I could probably figure out the essence of the data on my own.
A perfect example was when I negotiated with Ikuno in that
management game. I was able to see what Ikuno really
wanted—her essence—and move the negotiation forward from

Page | 189
there. Observing the people behind the data was a surefire way
to get to its essence.
But honestly, that was inefficient. It was a solid method for
processing one piece of data thoroughly, but for handling
massive amounts, it took way too long. Observing the people
behind every single piece of data would take an absurd amount
of time.
So, I needed to learn how to sniff out the essence from the
surface of the data, too.
The ability to process huge amounts of data—that’s what I
needed right now.
If I became student council vice president, I’d probably have to
deal with this kind of work more often. …Good thing I realized
what I’m lacking at this moment.
…I’m happy.
Knowing there’s still room to grow in myself—it’s honestly
exciting.
“Thanks, Hinako. …I’ll give it a shot.”
Forgetting how close I was sitting to Hinako, I dove into the
work I needed to do.
I reviewed the types of rumors circulating around the academy
again. Instead of tackling them one by one like a stubborn mule,
I skimmed through the whole thing with a lighter touch. Then, I
grouped together rumors with similar themes and considered
solutions for each group.
As Kagen-san and Takuma-san acknowledged, Hinako’s
practical skills were honestly genius-level.
But she wasn’t just relying on some vague thing called talent.

Page | 190
There was actual logic to it. She knew the exact framework to
follow, thinking systematically and valuing the fundamentals—
a grounded, practical strategy.
This… I could imitate this.
After about an hour of work, my brain started getting used to
this systematic way of thinking. The pile of rumors that had
seemed impossible to tackle now had a clear starting point, and
my motivation was surging.
(If I can do this… I might be able to go one step further.)
I could do more than just the corrections I originally wanted. A
smile naturally spread across my face.
After finishing the work, I carried a sleeping Hinako—who’d
dozed off at some point—back to her room. I snuck a bag of
potato chips into her desk drawer before leaving.
◇
Asahi Rintarou didn’t exchange words with anyone but his
mother when he got home.
Ignoring the servants’ greetings, Rintarou headed straight to
his room. After school, he only left his room for dinner or a
bath.
With his mother away on a business trip, he wasn’t talking to
family at all. His relationship with his sister was the worst, and
he kept his father at a distance one-sidedly.
His father, worthy of contempt, was more annoying than a
stranger. Every word and action grated on Rintarou’s nerves.
He used to have some dignity, but now, unable to build trust
within the company, he looked like a washed-up nobody.
As a child, Rintarou had ruthlessly cut his father out of his life.

Page | 191
By treating his father as a common enemy, Rintarou had
earned the trust of the company’s employees, surpassing his
father. There were plenty of talented people at J’s Holdings
eagerly awaiting Rintarou’s startup. The preparations for
poaching them were already in place.
He had no regrets about abandoning his father.
But the fact that his father never once blamed him for it was
something he couldn’t understand.
(…Whatever.)
His arrogant father, sitting smugly atop a warped sense of
values. His traitor of a sister, who, despite their promise to
walk a different path, suddenly decided to inherit the company
for her own self-preservation.
To Rintarou, this house was a den of fools.
This wasn’t it.
This wasn’t where he belonged.
“Ah.”
On his way to his room, he ran into his sister, Karen.
Since they were siblings, their rooms were right next to each
other. Even as their emotional distance grew, their rooms
stayed close.
In moments like this, Karen always had a guilty look on her
face.
But today, after that usual flash of guilt, Karen quickly pulled
herself together and met Rintarou’s eyes.
Caught off guard by her unusual behavior, Rintarou
instinctively looked away.

Page | 192
Hurrying into his room, Rintarou recalled the exchange and felt
irritated.
“…Tch.”
Had she gotten over it? The nerve of a traitor.
No, he needed to stop thinking about pointless things. Rintarou
pulled out the election bulletin he’d gotten that morning from
his bag and checked the approval ratings for each camp.
(Approval trends are looking good. We’ll keep up the smear
campaign, but it’s about time for Joutou-senpai to give a speech
about part-time jobs.)
It was time to put the advice Tomonari Izuki had given him to
use. Originally, he’d only planned to discuss workplace
experience, but in the next speech, they’d announce that they
were considering allowing part-time jobs as well.
(But… Tomonari-senpai was weirdly knowledgeable about part-
time jobs, wasn’t he?)
It wasn’t just that he suggested part-time jobs—Rintarou was
surprised that Izuki had casually rattled off specific examples
like construction sites, tutoring, or hotel staff.
Rintarou didn’t know which high school Tomonari Izuki had
attended before transferring, but since he was at Kiou
Academy, he must have come from a refined private school.
…Or so Rintarou had thought, but now he felt an odd sense of
unease.
By learning from his father’s mistakes and reaching out to the
world, Rintarou had noticed the skewed values of the students
at Kiou Academy.
He’d thought Tomonari Izuki was similar to them… but maybe
he was wrong.

Page | 193
That strength of his, so unlike a typical Kiou Academy
student—could it be…?
(…No way.)
Arriving at a certain possibility, Rintarou grabbed his
smartphone with a grim expression.
Using the connections he’d built on his own since his sister’s
betrayal—Asahi family associates and elite employees he
planned to poach—Rintarou began investigating the possibility
he’d stumbled upon.
◆
Election day six.
Arriving at school even earlier than usual, I printed out the
documents I’d prepared at the mansion using the academy’s
printer for flyers.
Carrying the stack of papers out to the courtyard, I ran into a
female classmate.
“Oh, Asahi-san?”
“Ah… Tomonari-kun.”
Asahi-san looked a little awkward.
“Tomonari-kun, have you been coming this early every day
during the election?”
“Yes. Why are you here, Asahi-san…?”
“Um… I wanted to apologize to you, Tomonari-kun.”
Asahi-san pressed her lips together tightly and spoke with a
regretful tone.
“I’m sorry for crying yesterday… I caused you a lot of trouble
because of me.”

Page | 194
Asahi-san bowed deeply.
If I stayed quiet, it felt like Asahi-san would keep apologizing
forever.
I really wanted her to go back to her usual bright self.
With that thought in my heart, I decided to show Asahi-san
what I’d worked so hard on last night.
“Actually, I came to school even earlier than usual today.”
To a confused Asahi-san, I showed the stack of papers in my
hands.
“I wanted to distribute these around the academy as soon as
possible.”
The flyers I usually handed out in the courtyard were for
announcing speech locations, but the ones I was distributing
today were different.
I handed one to Asahi-san.
Taking it, Asahi-san glanced at it and made a troubled face.
The flyer was packed with text, like a newspaper. The font size
was readable, but compared to the usual flyers, it was
definitely harder to get through.
But for this flyer, the sheer amount of information was the
point.
“Is this… could it be…?”
Catching on to the flyer’s contents, Asahi-san looked at me, and
I nodded.
“All the negative rumors about us circulating in the academy—
a complete list of responses—”
While explaining, I showed Asahi-san the back of the flyer.

Page | 195
“—and a preemptive list of responses to negative rumors that
might come up in the future.”
Before Hinako taught me her trick, I thought I could only
prepare responses to rumors already out there. But thanks to
her, I had enough time to create what I really wanted.
Something to keep Asahi-san from getting hurt anymore—
“I predicted every possible smear campaign that might come
up and prepared responses for them. I crammed as much as I
could on the back, but there wasn’t enough space, so the rest
can be checked on the website.”
The website’s address was printed on the back of the flyer.
The smear campaigns Rintarou spread were, in a word,
speculation. They were deliberately twisted takes on parts of
Tennouji-san and Narika’s speeches that lacked explanation.
So, if we explained everything perfectly from the start, there’d
be no room for smear campaigns.
But explaining everything in a speech would take an unrealistic
amount of time. So, I chose to explain it through documents
instead.
“There’s a lot of information, so not everyone will read it all.
But this is Kiou Academy. In a place full of diligent people,
someone will definitely read it through. And those people will
debunk the rumors for us.”
Those who read will read.
Those who investigate will investigate.
And those who realize the rumors are false will surely take it
upon themselves to deny them.
I believed Kiou Academy was an environment where I could
hold onto that hope.
Page | 196
Even if, as Takuma-san said, there were plenty of people here
who’d do anything for ambition, they were still diligent at their
core.
I believed in the earnest way the students of this academy lived
their lives.
“I think we’ve dealt with the smear campaigns now.”
To a surprised Asahi-san, I continued.
“Asahi-san, you don’t need to apologize. —We won’t lose to
something like this.”
We would win.
I thought stating that clearly was the best way to ease Asahi-
san’s guilt.
Asahi-san’s eyes widened, and she bit her lip hard.
“…Give me half the flyers.”
Asahi-san reached out her hand.
“It’s kinda late, but I’ll help out. …Honestly, I wanted to help
from the start, but I was worried that if I got involved, Rintarou
might do something, so I couldn’t bring myself to act.”
So that’s how it was…
For Asahi-san, who knew Rintarou hated her, it was a natural
concern.
But she seemed to believe in our victory now. That’s probably
why she decided to help without any hesitation.
“Good morning!”
Taking the flyers, Asahi-san approached students arriving at
school and handed them out.

Page | 197
“The rumors going around the academy are all nonsense! You’ll
see if you read this! Please take one!”
As if making up for all the time she couldn’t help, Asahi-san
moved with purpose.
…I couldn’t let her outdo me.
I steeled myself and began handing out flyers as well.
“Yo, you two.”
After distributing about fifty flyers, Asahi-san and I were called
out to by Taishou.
“Asahi’s helping out today, huh?”
“Yup! I’m gonna help until the last day!”
Asahi-san said with a smile as bright as the sun.
Seeing her back to her usual energetic self from before the
election, Taishou grinned happily.
“Then I’ll help out, too.”
Saying that, Taishou approached me to take some flyers.
I thanked him and was about to hand them over when he
whispered in my ear.
“…Sorry, Tomonari. Since Asahi wasn’t helping, I didn’t either
until now.”
“…It’s fine, but you could’ve helped even if it was just you,
Taishou-kun.”
“…Idiot. Asahi not helping you guys? That’s unthinkable under
normal circumstances, right? I knew something had to be up.
…If I helped, Asahi would’ve been left alone, wouldn’t she?”
Taishou glanced at Asahi-san, who was cheerfully handing out
flyers.
Page | 198
It seemed Taishou had deliberately kept his distance from our
campaign to avoid leaving Asahi-san feeling isolated.
“…Taishou-kun, you’re surprisingly kind, huh?”
“Am I?”
Taishou gave a puzzled look.
Both Taishou and Asahi-san really paid attention to the people
around them. —That’s probably why they were the first friends
I made at this academy.
Without them, I don’t know where I’d be right now.
Looking back, I was able to fit in at Kiou Academy because of
them… and meeting them now felt like it was meant to be.
It wasn’t me who found them.
Taishou and Asahi-san found me.
—I want to become vice president.
That thought hit me stronger than ever.
I wanted to make the day they called out to me the right choice.
I wanted to make being friends with me something they could
be proud of. That was the greatest way I could repay them.
Saying something cheesy like thanks for being my friends was
too embarrassing.
So, I’d show the gratitude in my heart through results.
“Good morning!”
“Please take one if you’d like!”
Taishou and Asahi-san’s voices echoed across the courtyard.
Many students noticed their voices and took the flyers. I was
reminded, a bit late, of how much influence these two had with
their wide circle of friends.
Page | 199
(With this… we can finally move forward.)
Rintarou’s schemes would end here. If the flyers we distributed
today were effective, there would be no more openings for him
to exploit on Tennouji-san and Narika’s platforms.
From here on, I thought everything would go smoothly—
◆
Lunch break. After eating with Hinako and watching Tennouji-
san and Narika’s speeches, I headed back to the classroom
since classes were about to start.
But the moment I stepped inside, Kita noticed me and
approached.
“Tomonari-kun. There’s one weird rumor going around…”
Kita said with a troubled expression.
A rumor… I’d been casually listening to the chatter around me
during lunch, and as planned, the students who read our
materials were already debunking Rintarou’s rumors on their
own.
So, I thought we didn’t need to be as sensitive about rumors
anymore…
“A weird rumor?”
“Yeah. It’s a bit different from the others…”
The other rumors were pretty weird, too, if you ask me…
Kita seemed unsure how seriously to take it and explained the
contents of the rumor.
“…There’s a rumor that you’re hiding your true identity,
Tomonari-kun.”
My mind went blank.

Page | 200
That…
That, of all things…
That was the one rumor that absolutely couldn’t be allowed to
spread.

Page | 201
Chapter 4: Because I Want to Compete
Fair and Square
After school. As winter approached and the days grew shorter,
the sky was dyed a faint orange hue.
The malicious rumors Rintarou had spread were steadily dying
down. Tennouji-san and Narika, during their lunchtime
speeches, sensed the crowd’s atmosphere and felt reassured.
As expected, Kiou Academy’s self-purifying nature was strong.
This academy, filled with earnest individuals, had many who
would call out falsehoods for what they were. Few blindly
believed rumors they overheard, preferring to verify the truth
with their own eyes.
I believe smear campaigns exploit human shortsightedness. But
in an environment like Kiou Academy, where most people think
deeply, such tactics simply don’t stick.
I’m not trying to gloat, but I had something I wanted to say the
next time I faced Rintarou. To Rintarou, who seemed
disillusioned with this academy, I wanted to proudly declare,
“See? This academy isn’t so bad, is it?”
If possible, I hoped Rintarou could come to like this place, even
just a little—but…
—the situation had changed.
In the classroom, where students were starting to thin out,
Taishou approached my desk.
“Tomonari, you seemed kinda out of it since afternoon classes.
You okay?”
“…I’m fine.”
Forcing a cheerful front, I gave a wry smile.
Page | 202
Taishou nodded briefly with a “Got it,” but I got the sense he
picked up on the vibe that prying further wouldn’t be welcome
and stayed quiet.
“Still, weird rumors going around, huh? Like your status being
fake or something.”
“…Yeah.”
“Ain’t no way anyone’s buying that kinda rumor, right?”
For Taishou, who completely believed in my innocence, the
idea that I’d be troubled by such gossip didn’t even cross his
mind.
The rest of our classmates were the same. Not a single one
doubted me.
That’s exactly why… it hurt.
Needles of guilt quietly pierced the inside of my heart.
Someday, I want to stand beside everyone with my true
identity. …But for now, I still can’t reveal who I really am.
“Tomonari-kun…”
Asahi-san approached, her face apologetic.
“I’m sorry. Maybe because I helped you guys, Rintarou got mad
and…”
“Ain’t your fault, Asahi.”
I nodded in agreement with Taishou’s words.
“Taishou-kun’s right. There’s no need for you to feel
responsible, Asahi-san. …I’d be happy if you kept helping us
out.”
“…Okay.”
Asahi-san gave a small nod.
Page | 203
“That Rintarou, resorting to spreading rumors about someone’s
status just ’cause his smear campaign’s losing steam? Sounds
like he’s getting desperate, huh?”
“…Maybe so.”
So far, I haven’t heard anything concrete backing this rumor. As
Taishou suggested, it was likely just something Rintarou threw
out in a panic.
But—my position doesn’t allow for complacency.
(If Rintarou had something solid to back up this rumor…)
The mere existence of that risk made me feel like Rintarou had
a grip on my heart.
The rumor was true. I had falsified my status to transfer into
Kiou Academy. For someone like me, being suspected of such a
thing was the worst possible scenario.
Even if the rumor lacked evidence and no one believed it, what
would Kagen-san think if he saw this situation?
If my true identity were exposed, my role as a caretaker might
also come to light.
Right now, I’m a ticking bomb that could shatter Hinako’s
perfect Ojou-sama facade—
“Tomonari-san.”
“Izuki.”
A voice called from outside the classroom.
Tennouji-san and Narika were watching me. I stood from my
seat and headed toward them.
“Sorry, it’s almost time for the speech, right?”
“This isn’t the time to be talking about that.”

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Tennouji-san spoke cautiously, while Narika looked at me with
an anxious expression.
“Izuki… you okay?”
“…I don’t know.”
Since both of them knew my true identity, they understood
why this rumor couldn’t be ignored. They probably saw right
through the desperate unease swirling in my chest.
(Hinako…)
When I glanced back at the classroom, my eyes met Hinako’s.
Seeing the worry in her gaze, I steeled my resolve.
“I’ll talk to Rintarou.”
I told Tennouji-san and Narika.
“You two focus on the speech. Joutou-kun’s approval rating is
climbing, so we can’t afford to fall behind now. …I’ll handle the
rumor myself.”
As planned, today’s speech would incorporate some of the
demands from Hinako’s supporters.
Perhaps sensing my determination, both of them gave a deep
nod.
After seeing them off to prepare for the speech, I headed
toward the first-year building, pulling out my smartphone.
The call connected almost instantly.
“Shizune-san, sorry to bother you. There’s something urgent I
need to discuss—”
I explained the rumor about me circulating in the academy.

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Since we’d already shared that we were facing a smear
campaign, Shizune-san quickly grasped that this rumor might
be part of it.
“I’ve determined there’s no risk of Izuki-san’s true identity
leaking externally.”
Shizune-san offered her assessment promptly.
“Since the incident with Tennouji-sama, we’ve taken extra
precautions to ensure such a blunder never happens again.
While someone might pick up on your mannerisms or speech,
there’s no way definitive evidence would leak.”
“…Understood. I’ll double-check on my end as well.”
“Yes. Please be careful.”
Though she stated confidently that no leaks were possible,
Shizune-san’s tone carried a hint of tension, more than usual.
She, too, recognized the gravity of the situation.
I slipped the smartphone into my pocket and started climbing
the stairs to the first-year building.
Standing before me was Rintarou.
“I’ve been waiting. You wanted to talk to me, right?”
“…Yeah.”
I met Rintarou’s bold smirk with a steady glare.
◆
“You got me good.”
Sitting across from me in the academy’s café, Rintarou opened
with that line.
He pulled out a flyer and showed it to me. It was the one I’d
made last night and printed this morning to counter the
rumors.
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“This flyer’s impressive. I checked the website too—insane
amount of info. I never expected you’d tackle the smear
campaign with such a brute-force approach. As someone who
relied on underhanded tactics, I’m honestly frustrated. It takes
real guts to stick to straightforward methods in a situation like
this.”
“…Guess I’m just not good with sneaky tactics.”
“That’s for the best. Nothing beats operating fair and square.”
Says the guy pulling all the dirty tricks.
I let out a sigh to vent the irritation bubbling up inside.
“…What I want to talk about is the new rumor you spread. The
one about my status.”
Neither of us touched the cups on the table.
Feeling the tension in the air, I pressed him.
“What’s your basis for spreading a rumor like that?”
“There’s no basis.”
Rintarou said it without a hint of shame.
“That’s how smear campaigns work. Whoever says it first
wins.”
Rintarou tilted his cup, taking a sip of coffee.
“Of course, finding evidence would make it more effective, so I
did consider investigating. But if Tomonari-senpai really were
faking his status… the Konohana Group would have to be
backing you, right?”
My public identity is that of the heir to a mid-tier IT company
within the Konohana Group.
If that were a lie, it’d mean the Konohana Group was complicit.

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“No investigation agency out there can take on the Konohana
Group. I tried digging a bit through my connections, but… well,
it was pointless. I gave up on finding hard evidence pretty
quickly.”
For Rintarou, this topic didn’t seem worth getting tense over.
After setting his cup down, he stared at the saucer for a
moment. Perhaps he was considering the cost of the tableware.
I let out a quiet breath.
No basis for the rumor. In other words, the gossip Rintarou
spread was complete nonsense.
He hadn’t uncovered my true identity.
(Thank goodness… but I can’t let it show.)
If I visibly relaxed here, Rintarou would only grow more
suspicious of my status.
So I kept my composure, acting as if his suspicions were
meaningless.
“Still, I don’t think the possibility’s zero.”
Shifting his gaze from his hands to me, Rintarou continued.
“If Tomonari-senpai’s true identity were some commoner who
wouldn’t normally get into Kiou Academy… it would explain all
your un-Kiou-like behavior.”
From Rintarou’s perspective, I can see why he’d think that.
“Give me a chance, just a small one.”
“A chance?”
“Yeah. Starting now, I’ll assume there’s a chance you’re a
commoner and share my thoughts.”
I tilted my head, not quite following, as Rintarou stood up.

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If, at this moment, my true identity as a commoner had been
exposed—Rintarou opened his mouth wide.
“—Why are you hiding who you are!?”
Rintarou’s shout pierced my ears.
“You’re in an incredible position!! A commoner background, yet
you’re the center of attention at this academy!? You’re proof
that even a commoner can shine this brightly if they work
hard!!”
Rintarou bellowed from the depths of his heart.
“Tomonari-senpai, you could be the ultimate flag-bearer for us!
If you joined our side, we’d win for sure! The world you belong
in is ours!”
His voice carried a desperate edge.
A bead of sweat rolled down Rintarou’s cheek. Sacrificing his
usual composure, he poured out the fiery passion he’d kept
bottled up.
It seemed he was throwing those words at the hypothetical
version of me, who was a commoner.
But my answer was already set.
“…Sorry, but you’ve got it wrong.”
Hearing my response, the color drained from Rintarou’s face,
which had been brimming with fervor.
“I see… Haha, that’s reality for you. Even if you were a
commoner, if those words didn’t reach you, they’re
meaningless.”
With a hollow laugh, Rintarou slumped back into his chair.
…He really had high hopes, didn’t he?

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That my true identity was just a commoner who could become
the flag-bearer for Joutou’s camp. …Considering Joutou’s
platform, I’d fit like the final piece of a puzzle.
Looking at Rintarou, his head bowed, I could see regret seeping
from his deflated shoulders.
Regardless of his methods, Rintarou had been serious from the
start.
To me, Rintarou was no longer a stranger. He was Asahi-san’s
younger brother, someone I’d had fairly intense conversations
with during this election.
So, I’ll say it.
I’ve earned the right to say this now.
“Rintarou, isn’t it time you stopped letting your emotions get
the better of you?”
Rintarou looked up.
As I’d told him before, I try to stay as rational as possible to
survive in this academy. Even so, there are times when I reach
my limit and let my emotions get the better of me.
But it seemed Rintarou was the same.
“All you’re doing is trying to get back at Asahi-san. That’s the
only reason you’re keeping up this smear campaign.”
Ever since Takuma-san explained the “politician types” at Kiou
Academy, I’d felt something was off. …Rintarou didn’t fit that
mold.
Rintarou wasn’t someone who’d use any means necessary.
He wasn’t a politician type… just a kid acting out emotionally.
“…Getting back at her? I’m not that childish.”
Rintarou said, clearly confused.
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He didn’t seem to understand why I’d say something like that.
“I’m using rational strategies to make Joutou-senpai
president—”
“Top of your class since enrollment.”
I cut off Rintarou’s excuse.
“You aced the entrance exam, too, didn’t you? Your attitude in
class is outstanding… always speaking up, earning high praise
from teachers.”
Of course, I’d done my homework on Rintarou. At first, I was
torn between supporting Tennouji-san or Narika and ran out of
time, but now it’s different. Every spare moment, I was digging
into Rintarou.
And… I was astonished.
As someone aiming for vice president, Rintarou was
undeniably a formidable rival.
“Spreading rumors this far means you’ve got a lot of influence.
You wouldn’t be able to push such baseless gossip unless your
classmates trusted you deeply.”
Even among first-year students, many know about Tennouji-
san and Narika. Yet many believed Rintarou’s rumors. That’s
how much weight his words carry.
Isn’t it strange that I’m even able to go toe-to-toe with someone
like Rintarou?
Unless… Rintarou was being driven by personal grudges,
throwing him off his game—
“You’re not quite on Hinako-san’s level, but among first-years,
you’re as close to her position as it gets. There are students
with better family backgrounds, yet you’ve overcome that gap

Page | 211
to stand at the top. …Someone like that wouldn’t be limited to
smear campaigns.”
“That’s… just speculation.”
“Then why do you look so pained?”
Rintarou fell silent.
“I don’t think it’s 100% about revenge. On day one, Tennouji-
san and Narika were neck-and-neck in support. It’s true you
probably thought underhanded tactics were your only shot.
…But even so, someone like you could’ve found other ways.”
Rintarou’s hands, resting on the table, clenched into fists.
“Imagine this. If you and Asahi-san hadn’t had that falling-out…
would you really have chosen this way to make Joutou-kun
win?”
“…!”
“You’re aiming to start your own company, right? You’ve
already been honing the skills for it, haven’t you? With that
level of ambition, why stick to such a petty approach?”
I said to Rintarou, whose face had hardened.
“I’m not underestimating you.”
I spoke to Rintarou, whose eyes were wandering.
“You could’ve taken a different path, but you chose a hurtful
one, hoping it’d double as payback against Asahi-san.”
Just a tantrum. A childish outburst.
Rintarou’s smear campaign was nothing more than lashing out
at others for not doing what he wanted.
I’d been misunderstanding this whole time.

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This wasn’t business or politics. It wasn’t some cunning
strategic game.
What Rintarou was grappling with was an emotional issue
anyone could have.
And probably… the only one who’d noticed that from the start
was Asahi-san.
“Rintarou… Just because you got hurt doesn’t give you the right
to hurt others.”
With that final statement, I waited for Rintarou’s response.
Rintarou bit his lip, his body trembling faintly. His head stayed
bowed, like a child scolded by a parent.
(…He didn’t even realize.)
I’d had a hunch.
His efforts to make Joutou president and his resentment
toward Asahi-san had somehow gotten tangled up. But now,
hearing my words, he finally realized. All he’d been doing was
trying to get revenge…
“…Suppose,” Rintarou said in a frail voice.
“Suppose I was just trying to get revenge… so what?”
Rintarou’s choice—was to double down.
“My answer doesn’t change. …If you want me to stop, join our
side.”
That was the one thing I still couldn’t wrap my head around.
Rintarou had been trying to recruit me this whole time. Even
before he suspected I might be a commoner, he’d consistently
kept up that stance.
I don’t know why, but… no matter what, I can’t agree to his
demands. The person I want to support is someone else.
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“…I know one way to stop you.”
This is probably the simplest method.
“The smear campaign… you didn’t get Joutou-kun’s permission,
did you?”
Rintarou’s eyes widened, his reaction confirming I’d hit the
mark.
“I know because I talked to Joutou-kun. He’s not the kind of guy
who’d approve of this, is he? And I’m guessing recruiting me
was your call alone, too, right?”
When I spoke with Joutou alongside Hinako, I thought
something felt off.
For someone supposedly trying to recruit me, he was oddly
formal. I wondered if I was being self-conscious, so I asked
Hinako for her take, and she felt the same unease.
The recruitment, the smear campaign—Joutou had nothing to
do with any of it.
“…Are you planning to report my actions to Joutou-senpai?”
“…That depends on what you do next.”
Rintarou gave me a puzzled look, as if wondering why I hadn’t
reported him from the start if I’d known.
Because before I could, a big question popped up.
Why—did Rintarou have to do all of this on his own?
Why—did Rintarou, a vice-presidential candidate, have to go
this far?
Why—did Rintarou, a vice-presidential candidate, have to go to
such lengths?
Why—did Rintarou have to bear this burden alone?

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I think the smear campaign is mostly about getting back at
Asahi-san. But if that’s the case, what about the scouting aimed
at me?
Why did it have to be Rintarou instead of Joutou?
“Joutou-kun’s family seems to value tradition highly.”
“…You’ve looked into it that deeply?”
I heard it from Tennouji-san.
In any circle, reform can bring pain. That pain could become a
vulnerability in the political world where Joutou’s parents
operate, a weak spot they’d rather not have exposed.
To survive in politics, Joutou’s parents likely don’t want their
son stirring up trouble. Politicians are always under scrutiny,
and a son’s misstep could tighten the noose around their necks.
In such an environment, is Joutou truly serious about pushing
for reform at this academy?
To me… it didn’t seem that way.
“Rintarou, maybe Joutou-kun doesn’t even intend to win—”
“—That’s irrelevant.”
Rintarou recoiled, as if turning away from the harsh reality
thrust before him.
“Joutou-senpai’s ideals are genuine. He’s the one who should
stand at the top of this academy.”
Rintarou stood and left the café.
I picked up the untouched cup and downed the coffee in one
gulp.
The cold bitterness helped me shift gears mentally.
“…Alright.”
Page | 215
I’ve made up my mind.
I’m diving headfirst into this sibling squabble.
◆
As I walked through the covered corridor, I heard Tennouji-
san’s speech. Her speech that day was held in front of the
gymnasium, and as I approached, I saw a crowd gathered
around her.
I approached a girl watching the crowd from a slight distance.
“Tomonari-kun?”
“Asahi-san… I have something to talk about regarding
Rintarou.”
Perhaps sensing the seriousness in my expression, Asahi-san
gave a small nod and followed me away from the gymnasium.
On the way, I glanced back and locked eyes with Tennouji-san
mid-speech. Seeing me with Asahi-san, she likely guessed it
was about Rintarou. For a fleeting moment, she smiled, as if to
say, Leave this to me, before resuming her speech with renewed
vigor.
Grateful for Tennouji-san’s reliability, I led Asahi-san around to
the back of the gymnasium.
After confirming no one else was around, I shared the details of
my conversation with Rintarou.
“…I see. So it was all Rintarou’s doing, and Joutou-kun knew
nothing about it.”
Asahi-san clutched her head after hearing the story.
“What do I do… During lunch break today, I kinda glared at
Joutou-kun…”

Page | 216
“It’s understandable. Even I figured Rintarou was the
mastermind, but I didn’t expect he’d keep it a secret from
Joutou-kun.”
Still, I hadn’t anticipated he’d admit it so readily.
I still don’t quite understand why Rintarou is so loose-lipped
with me alone. He even said he’d always planned to tell me he
was behind the smear campaign…
“So, if we get Joutou-kun to stop Rintarou, everything’s solved,
right?”
Exactly.
Exactly, but… I shook my head.
“No, let’s not do that.”
“Huh, why…?”
“That approach leaves Rintarou’s issues unresolved.”
If we snitch to Joutou, Rintarou might quiet down temporarily.
But once the election’s over and he’s free from Joutou’s leash,
he’ll probably pull the same stunt somewhere else.
Like, say, at Asahi-san’s family business…
“But that’s… that’s our sibling stuff. Tomonari-kun, you don’t
need to worry about it…”
“No, let me worry about it.”
To Asahi-san, who spoke apologetically, I made it clear I was
ready to wade deep into their sibling feud.
The biggest reason I couldn’t leave it alone was seeing Asahi-
san hurt, but saying that would only make her feel more guilty
and shut down.
So I explained the selfish part instead.

Page | 217
I had my own reasons for wanting to end this sibling spat.
“The Management Game was tough but fun for me. It taught me
the value of competing earnestly with others, something I
learned firsthand. …I’m hoping for that in this election, too.”
This was pure ego, my honest truth.
I’d hoped this election would bring another valuable
experience. The Management Game taught me that if everyone
involved can walk away feeling fulfilled, even if things are tense
or awkward during the event, once it’s over, you can become
decently close neighbors. Ikuno and Suminoe-san are perfect
examples for me. I met them through the Management Game,
and now we can talk casually.
I’m satisfied with that outcome.
And I want the same this time.
“Sorry for being self-righteous. I want this election to feel clean.
Win or lose, I want us all to laugh together in the end. When
this election’s over… I want to get along with Rintarou, too.”
I want to get along with Rintarou.
When I said that, Asahi-san’s eyes widened.
If Rintarou were coldly, rationally trying to sabotage us, I
wouldn’t have made this suggestion. As harsh as it sounds for
Asahi-san, I’d probably have ratted him out to Joutou to stop
him.
But I believe Rintarou wouldn’t have resorted to these tactics if
it weren’t for his feud with Asahi-san.
If that’s the case, the root of the problem isn’t Rintarou himself.
If we can just mediate this sibling fight… everything could come
together neatly.

Page | 218
“So, please let me help settle your sibling feud. …I want us all—
me, Asahi-san, Rintarou—to fight this battle cleanly.”
Rintarou’s dragging his sibling feud into the election.
Maybe… we could ignore it if we wanted to.
But even if I became vice president that way—I’d lose
something.
If I stepped on the hurting Asahi-san and the struggling
Rintarou to claim the vice president’s seat, I wouldn’t be able to
hold my head high in that role.
“…Thank you.”
Asahi-san whispered her gratitude.
“For thinking so seriously about me… no, about us.”
Her eyes were misty.
I’d tried to emphasize that this was for my own sake, but
maybe that was an unnecessary consideration for Asahi-san.
She’d probably wanted to end this sibling feud for a long time,
too.
Wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, Asahi-san looked at
me.
“Tomonari-kun… can I rely on you?”
Feeling her determination to move forward, I nodded without
hesitation.
“Yes. You’ve always helped me, Asahi-san, so let me return the
favor at least this much.”
“Haha… Tomonari-kun, you’ve really become dependable,
haven’t you?”
Was she remembering the first time we met?
Page | 219
Over the past six months, I’ve done my best to live earnestly. If
those daily efforts have made me someone reliable, then I
absolutely should help Asahi-san now.
If the path I’ve walked so far is the right one, I want to continue
being there for someone, just as I was before.
“Ugh, no wonder so many people like you~”
Asahi-san said with a laugh.
“Am I that well-liked?”
“Yup. In all sorts of ways.”
In all sorts of ways?
I tilted my head at the added remark. Asahi-san just smiled at
my confusion.
“Anyway, I’d like to start planning how to reconcile the two of
them… but first, there’s one thing I want to ask you, Asahi-san.”
As Asahi-san shifted to a serious expression, I asked,
“Why did you betray Rintarou in the first place?”
Asahi-san’s face stiffened.
“I heard you gave up on starting your own business and
decided to take over the family company… but it’s not just for
future stability or something simple like that, right? I don’t
think you’d betray Rintarou for such a straightforward reason,
Asahi-san, even if others might.”
Deciding to take over the family business for future stability
seems like a pretty normal choice. That’s why I never
questioned it before. However, given that guilt has been
weighing on Asahi-san lately, I began to wonder if there was
something more specific behind it.

Page | 220
Asahi-san isn’t the type to betray someone just for self-
preservation.
There must be some special circumstance that caused this rift
with her brother.
“The reason I betrayed Rintarou… it does exist.”
Asahi-san said in a frail voice.
“But even if I told Rintarou now… it wouldn’t be convincing.”
“So, you had a goal, but it’s not quite on track yet?”
“Yeah…”
Got it.
Then it’s simple.
“In other words, it’s time for a consultant to step in.”
All I need to do is help Asahi-san achieve her goal.
Asahi-san’s mouth dropped open, utterly stunned.
◇
Returning home, Rintarou headed straight to his room without
a glance elsewhere and flopped onto his bed, still in his
uniform.
After talking with Izuki at the café, Rintarou went about his
usual task of supporting Joutou Ren’s speech. He meticulously
checked the audience’s reactions and the reach of Ren’s voice,
gesturing immediately if adjustments were needed to improve
in real-time—that was Rintarou’s method.
For instance, that day, he raised the microphone’s volume
higher than planned. It was the sixth day of the election period,
and the audience was starting to lose focus. Their chatter was
louder than usual, so he increased the volume to cut through
the noise.
Page | 221
Joutou Ren’s approval ratings were climbing.
The exhaustion in his entire body was a testament to his
fulfilment.
If only Joutou Ren had the will to win—.
“…Damn it.”
Even as the numbers rose, he felt no real sense of nearing his
goal. Sometimes, he wondered if he was just wearing himself
out for nothing.
Rintarou thought of Tomonari Izuki.
That guy was the final piece they’d been missing. If Izuki joined
their side, Ren could win even in his current state.
But negotiations had been rocky from start to finish.
Worse, now it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Izuki had dirt
on him.
(If he snitches to Joutou-senpai… it’s all over.)
As Izuki had read him, Rintarou had carried out the smear
campaign behind Joutou Ren’s back. If that got out, he’d be
completely cornered.
There was a mountain of tasks to do for the election, but right
now, he couldn’t muster the energy to get out of bed.
Staring at the ceiling, he heard a noise from the next room.
It seemed his sister, Karen, was back. It was 7 p.m.—a pretty
late hour. Since the election started, Rintarou had been staying
late to discuss campaign strategies with Ren, getting home
around 6 p.m. That was already longer than most students
lingered at the academy, but Karen had apparently stayed even
later today.

Page | 222
She wasn’t running for student council, so what was she doing
at the academy this late in the election season?
As suspicion crept in, he heard the door to the next room open
and close hurriedly, followed by loud footsteps echoing down
the hall.
…So noisy.
His sister’s unusual behavior irritated him.
Checking the clock made him notice his hunger. Getting off the
bed, Rintarou headed to the dining room.
He didn’t want to face his family, but holing up in his room to
eat felt like something a rebellious kid would do, and he hated
that.
Just before entering the dining room, he heard his sister
Karen’s voice… and his father’s.
“Karen, that plan needs the other party’s agreement—”
“Yeah, but Tomonari-kun will handle that—”
Opening the dining room door, they both stopped talking and
looked at him.
Were they discussing something they didn’t want overheard?
He wanted to say he didn’t care, but the mention of Tomonari
Izuki’s name nagged at him.
If Izuki had shared everything with Karen… she’d probably run
straight to Joutou and spill Rintarou’s reckless actions.
Was that what they were talking about?
Glaring at them with suspicion—
“Rintarou.”
His sister called out to him.

Page | 223
Ignoring her, he sat in a chair far from them.
“Rintarou!”
Karen’s loud voice echoed through the dining room.
He reflexively turned around.
“…What is it?”
“Tomorrow after school, give me some of your time.”
Karen’s expression brimmed with firm resolve.
“There’s something I absolutely need you to hear.”
Her powerful tone was unlike the sister he’d known.
It wasn’t just defiance. Sensing her determination, Rintarou
couldn’t brush her off as usual.
“…If it’s something trivial, I won’t let it slide.”
Rintarou shot her a sharp glare.
But she glared back with equal intensity.
His irritation flared.
Now…
What could she possibly do now…?
◆
After school on the seventh day of the election period.
Having finished our respective speeches, we gathered at the
café.
Seven of us crowded around a single table, which might’ve
drawn some attention, so we were guided to a seat in the back.
The group was the usual noble tea party crew—me, Hinako,
Tennouji-san, Narika, Asahi-san, and Taishou—plus our sole
underclassman, Rintarou.
Page | 224
“I see.”
As everyone’s drinks arrived, Rintarou was the first to take a
sip of his coffee.
“Ganging up on the lone underclassman, huh?”
“That’s not it.”
Asahi-san shook her head.
“I invited everyone because I wanted them to hear what we’re
about to discuss. …But it’s just me and Tomonari-kun talking
with you, Rintarou.”
Exactly. We had no intention of intimidating Rintarou. It might
look that way, and it’s no surprise he’d feel cornered, but if he
could still toss out quips like that, he’d be fine.
Besides, he’d brought this situation on himself.
“Everyone here is involved in what we’re about to discuss. Like,
say, the smear campaign.”
It goes without saying that Tennouji-san and Narika are
directly affected by the smear campaign.
Taishou’s reason for being here will come up shortly.
And Hinako’s reason—well, she’s probably involved in this
matter, too.
“First, there’s something I need to share with everyone.”
I started by filling Tennouji-san, Narika, and the others in on
the background.
“All the smear campaigning so far has been Rintarou’s doing,
without Joutou-kun’s knowledge.”
Tennouji-san and the others showed varying degrees of
surprise.

Page | 225
They seemed to have questions, but they held back for now.
They likely sensed that this discussion was meant for me,
Asahi-san, and Rintarou. If everyone chimed in freely, it’d spiral
out of control.
“I think Rintarou had several reasons for going that far, but one
of them, I believe, is his sibling feud with Asahi-san.”
Saying this, I looked at Rintarou.
At first, Rintarou had denied this possibility. He’d said he
wasn’t that immature, that he wasn’t thinking of getting back at
his sister.
But now, with a solemn expression, he spoke.
“I’ve had time to think since then. …I’ll admit it. My actions did
include some personal resentment toward Ane-san.”
“!”
Glaring at Rintarou, Asahi-san’s face twisted in sadness.
But she endured. Pressing her lips together, she didn’t look
away from him.
“Rintarou, I’m going to put an end to your sibling feud from
here on out.”
“…Huh?”
Rintarou looked stunned.
He’d probably thought this meeting was about persuading him
to stop the smear campaign.
That’s not it. We brought him here today to put a period on
their sibling feud.
“Rintarou, do you know why Asahi-san decided to take over the
family business?”

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“…Obviously, it’s for her own sake. We saw our father’s
disgrace and learned what we needed to do for each other. To
throw that away… it’s unbelievable.”
Rintarou glared at Asahi-san.
But I knew better. Asahi-san hadn’t done anything to deserve
such resentment.
“Even if it was to protect you?”
Rintarou’s eyes widened.
“Protect… me?”
He looked at Asahi-san.
From here, I’d let Asahi-san explain.
“You probably know this, Rintarou, but… right now, Papa’s
pretty isolated at the company, right?”
Rintarou said nothing, so Asahi-san continued.
“If neither of us took over… our company would probably end
up in the hands of someone who hates our family.”
Asahi-san had mentioned before.
At J’s Holdings, there’s talk of an anti-Asahi faction rising, one
that shuns Asahi-san’s father. Later, Rintarou would fan the
flames of their momentum, but the faction’s emergence
predates Asahi-san’s betrayal of Rintarou.
“The company Rintarou’s trying to start—it’s that electronics
retail chain we dreamed up together back then, right?”
“…That’s right. My issue was always with the internal structure,
not the products themselves. I planned to leverage our family’s
expertise and focus on electronics.”
“So, the company Rintarou’s launching and the one Papa’s
running now—they’ll be in the same industry, won’t they?”
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Rintarou shot Asahi-san a suspicious glance, as if to say, What’s
your point?
But… this is the crucial part.
“If neither Rintarou nor I take over J’s Holdings… that company
could become a massive enemy, you know.”
Enemy. That single word elicited a faint reaction from
Rintarou.
“It’s one of the top five electronics retailers in the country by
revenue, even if just barely. Its history and capital are on a
whole different level. Do you really think a startup could
compete? It’s far too big to make an enemy of.”
“…Just because we’re in the same industry doesn’t mean we’ll
automatically be rivals. Besides, I plan to win over and poach
the employees who dislike Father.”
“You can’t possibly poach everyone, right? Our company’s full
of people who despise our entire family. Those are the ones
who’ll end up taking over. If Rintarou starts a company, they’ll
definitely try to sabotage you.”
Rintarou is exceptional. His grades at Kiou Academy prove it.
But his very brilliance makes him a target. There will always be
people eager to crush a promising rival before they can reach
their full potential.
I’d heard Rintarou was working to win over J’s Holdings
employees, but it seems his efforts weren’t foolproof. J’s
Holdings, including its subsidiaries, employs over five thousand
people. With representatives at each company, there are plenty
of candidates for the next president.
Asahi-san’s father is said to have no issues with his business
acumen, so regular employees don’t dislike him. Those who do

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are the higher-ups who know his personality. In other words,
the anti-Asahi faction is concentrated at the top of J’s Holdings.
Those at the top are thoughtful and cautious. No matter how
much Rintarou tries to use his father as a stepping stone to
curry favor, winning over all of them is a near-impossible feat.
If Asahi-san and Rintarou both walk away from J’s Holdings,
one of the anti-Asahi faction at the top will likely take over. The
future Asahi-san foresaw is highly plausible.
“Besides, Rintarou, you know starting a business isn’t that
simple. The odds of failure are much higher.”
I thought the same during the Management Game. In a game,
you can grow a company automatically after starting it, but in
reality, you’d hit countless walls along the way. Even securing
funding isn’t easy.
Even for students at Kiou Academy, there is no guarantee that a
startup will succeed.
“If Rintarou fails… it’d be painful not to have a place to return
to. That’s why I wanted to preserve that place for you.”
Reflecting on her resolve back then, Asahi-san spoke.
“I… chose to take over the family business to protect our
family.”
Rintarou’s eyes widened.
This was the reason Asahi-san betrayed Rintarou.
If neither sibling took over, J’s Holdings would fall into a third
party’s hands. If the startup succeeded, that might be fine. But if
it failed? There’d be nowhere to return to. With J’s Holdings in
the hands of the anti-Asahi faction, there’d be no way to
reclaim it, and their old life would be gone.

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Asahi-san was thinking about what would happen if Rintarou
failed.
She acted to avoid the worst-case scenario, where their entire
family might end up on the streets.
“In short, Asahi-san wanted to keep a place for Rintarou to
come back to, even if he failed.”
And that meant charging alone into a battlefield raging with the
headwinds of the anti-Asahi faction—a testament to her
resolve.
Asahi-san’s determination to protect her family was in no way
inferior to Rintarou’s resolve to start his own company.
Rintarou clenched his fists and glared at his sister.
“Why… didn’t you tell me this until now…?”
There were two reasons.
The first was Asahi-san’s kindness. As an older sister, she
couldn’t bring herself to say something as self-aggrandizing as,
I’m protecting the family so you can fail. She also didn’t want to
throw cold water on Rintarou’s enthusiasm for his startup.
However, there was a second, more significant reason.
“It’s because I wasn’t capable enough.”
Asahi-san said apologetically.
“I thought if I was going to bring this up, I needed to prove I
wouldn’t end up like Papa. I decided I’d talk to you once I found
a breakthrough… but I’m sorry. I kept thinking, but I couldn’t
find one. I tried my best, but unlike you, my grades never
improved that much.”
Asahi-san laughed self-deprecatingly.

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Rintarou’s grades are undeniably outstanding. But Asahi-san’s
are far above average in the intense environment of Kiou
Academy. During the study session, when I first transferred
here, she was one of the ones teaching.
She believed she shouldn’t try to persuade her brother unless
she had substantial ability.
That self-imposed rule had trapped Asahi-san in her own binds.
“But I finally feel like I can move forward, so I decided to talk to
you today.”
I caught Asahi-san’s glance.
“Rintarou, read this.”
I pulled some documents from my bag and handed them to
Rintarou.
“This is…”
“You know how Asahi-san ran a mobile electronics sales
business in the Management Game, right?”
Rintarou nodded slightly.
“This is—the business plan for it.”
While passing the same documents to Hinako and the others, I
answered Rintarou’s question.
Asahi-san wanted to protect her family, but she couldn’t figure
out how to do so.
So I prepared this plan for her.
“Asahi-san will take the lead in making this business a reality.”
This is her first step toward protecting her family.
“After the election, I plan to submit this to the company’s
internal review. Tomonari-kun and I worked together on
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everything from market analysis to revenue models. Papa
reviewed the plan’s quality, and if things go smoothly, my
Management Game track record should help it get serious
consideration.”
“…Do you really think it’ll pass? Even if the plan’s solid, that
company’s full of people who hate Father—”
“—That’s why I’ll push it through under my name!”
Asahi-san stood, raising her voice in response.
“I’ll do it, and I’ll prove I’m worthy of being the next president!”
For Rintarou’s sake, Asahi-san made that decision.
Legally, it’s tough for Asahi-san to directly manage employees,
so her name might not be front and center. But what matters is
the substance. If her father, the president, approves, she can
freely engage with the company and join meetings.
She might face accusations of overstepping. But she’s ready for
that level of resistance.
The goal is to show the anti-Asahi faction what she’s capable of.
Using this business, Asahi-san will demonstrate her resolve
and work ethic to the company.
Asahi Karen is worthy of being president—that’s the
impression she needs to make.
“I’ve cut off my retreat and made up my mind. Being a student
doesn’t matter. I’ll throw myself into the company to protect
our family. To ensure I don’t lose people’s trust like Papa did
when I take over, I’ll build my track record now.”
With her resolve firm, Asahi-san faced Rintarou confidently.
“…This business shouldn’t belong solely to our company.”
Flipping through the plan, Rintarou spoke in a strained voice.
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Page | 234
“If you can make this business plan succeed, you’ll earn the
company’s trust. But what about Taishou’s moving company,
which should be involved? Looking at this plan, it feels like
they’ve handed all the rights to J’s Holdings…”
Doubting that could be true, Rintarou looked at Taishou.
But Taishou nodded seriously.
“Yeah, we handed it over.”
I’d called Taishou here to discuss this.
Taishou explained as if it were the most natural thing.
“I bowed my head to my old man and gave the business’s
branding to J’s Holdings.”
“Why would you do that…?”
“I said it was for a friend, and he agreed right away. Our
company values loyalty. Long-standing B-to-C businesses tend
to be like that, big or small. Isn’t that the kind of company you
want to build, too?”
“…!”
Taishou’s father was a president who valued relationships.
From his father’s example, Rintarou must have learned the
importance of not just profit and loss but standing in
employees’ shoes—considering people’s feelings.
Taishou was simply acting on that principle. Ironically, the
Taishou standing in Rintarou’s way now embodied Rintarou’s
ideal.
The unsung MVP this time is undoubtedly Taishou. I managed
to put this business plan together overnight because Taishou
didn’t hesitate for a second to plead with his father.

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Taishou’s definitely going to be an amazing president
someday…
“My old man laughed and said J’s Holdings will be a key client
from now on, so it’s fine to rack up favors. …Rintarou, looks like
your sister’s got high expectations from a lot of grown-ups.”
Rintarou looked at Asahi-san with a stern expression.
Asahi-san straightened her back, her serious face showing no
trace of shame.
“Joutou-kun’s running as a reformist challenging Kiou
Academy’s traditions, right?”
Asahi-san asked as she sat back down, and Rintarou nodded
silently.
“Are you the same, Rintarou? Do you think traditions are bad?”
“…I do. If outdated customs are holding us back, it’s better to
aim for something new and take flight. Even our company’s like
that. Why bother inheriting a crumbling facade of a castle? I
don’t get it…”
Rintarou answered in a frail voice.
Almost as if he felt guilty somehow.
“But we’ve been protected by those traditions.”
Asahi-san said calmly.
“Our family has always been safeguarded by the company. Our
entire life has been sustained by tradition. That’s why I want to
fight to protect it.”
Asahi-san declared her battlefield and her reason for fighting.
“I think Papa failed. He deeply regrets it himself. That’s why I’m
taking over—not to discard his failures but to make use of
them.”
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Making use of failure. Maybe that’s what tradition really is.
Listening to Asahi-san made me think so.
“I’ll protect our family’s place. So, Rintarou, you’re free to live
as you want. But from now on, don’t use underhanded tactics
like this. Stop dragging Papa’s name through the mud.”
With that, Asahi-san bowed her head.
“Rintarou… please.”
Rintarou’s face looked like he might cry, desperately grappling
with something in his mind.
There are real people protected by tradition. Calling it vested
interests sounds harsh, but Asahi-san’s family has been
sustained by it.
As children, they witnessed the collapse of their foundation.
Rintarou, who thinks they should soar, and Asahi-san, who
thinks they should rebuild—both deserve respect. Rintarou, as
he is now, must understand that.
There’s nothing wrong with Rintarou starting a company or
supporting Joutou as a reformist. But now that his resentment
toward his sister is gone, what does he think of his past
actions?
With those clear eyes, free of clouds, what does he feel when he
reflects on himself?
“…I understand.”
Rintarou said in a trembling voice.
Asahi-san lifted her face.
“Either way, I knew relying on dirty tricks would eventually hit
a wall. This time, if Joutou-senpai had ratted me out, I wouldn’t
have been able to resist…”

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Rintarou let out a deep, deep breath.
“That’s enough… I’m tired.”
With those final words, Rintarou lowered his head and went
still.
I exchanged glances with Tennouji-san, Narika, and the others.
The looks flying around seemed to ask, Does this mean we
succeeded in convincing him?
…I think we can consider it a success.
I felt Rintarou’s true feelings were packed into his last words:
I’m tired. And no wonder. Climbing the ladder by spreading
malicious gossip, racking your brain to come up with
accusations to tear others down…
Rintarou is smart. Smart enough to vaguely realize his actions
were wrong.
His slumped shoulders looked lighter somehow, despite facing
downward. Perhaps Rintarou had long wanted to shed the
burden he’d been carrying—the unbearable weight of guilt
pressing on both shoulders.
Maybe Rintarou had been waiting for this day… or is that too
convenient a thought?
No, it’s not.
Because Rintarou had always…
“…Hey, Rintarou.”
When I called out, Rintarou looked up.
Staring into his face, I voiced something that had been nagging
at me.
“The reason you kept trying to recruit me—”
“—What’s this?”
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A voice from behind startled me so much I nearly jumped.
I whipped around. Standing there was—
“What’s going on here…?”
“…Joutou-kun.”
Joutou’s eyes locked onto Rintarou.
Seeing Rintarou’s deeply dejected state, Joutou’s face flickered
with a hint of anger.
“Rintarou, what happened?”
“Joutou-senpai…”
Rintarou curled in on himself right there.
“…I’m sorry. I have something I need to apologize to you for.”
Was he about to confess to acting on his own?
Asahi-san and I exchanged a glance. Truth be told, we’d decided
beforehand that if we could resolve their sibling feud, we’d let
all of Rintarou’s actions slide.
We believed that if Rintarou reconciled with Asahi-san, they
could compete openly and honestly.
So, it was fine now…
Rintarou had been carrying so much, pushed to the brink. I
thought it was okay for him to find relief now, but—
“Is it about the rumors circulating around the academy?”
“—!”
Rintarou was speechless with shock.
But we were just as stunned.
“You… knew?”

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“Vaguely.”
Joutou gazed at Rintarou with gentle eyes.
“You don’t need to apologize, Rintarou.”
With an apologetic expression, Joutou approached Rintarou
and lightly patted his head.
“Driving you to that point… it’s because of my weakness, isn’t
it?”
Tears spilled from Rintarou’s eyes.
Joutou, the candidate for president, and Rintarou, his aide. I’d
sensed they were more than just friends, but the deep trust
before me hinted at something greater.
What is this bond…?
Come to think of it, where did they even meet?
◇
Joutou Ren and Asahi Rintarou met two years ago at a high-
society event.
It was a party hosted by a political organization where Ren’s
father was a member. Ren attended as the organizer’s son,
while Rintarou was there as a potential heir invited through his
father.
Back then, Rintarou had already given up on his father and had
no intention of becoming his successor, but he saw the event as
a rare opportunity and joined. Betrayed by his sister and
cornered, Rintarou was seeking connections outside the family.
Meanwhile, Ren was expected by those around him to follow in
his father’s footsteps, and he’d been told to network with
politicians and tycoons he might one day rely on.

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But once the party began, both their fathers got busy, leaving
Ren and Rintarou with nothing to do.
In a room with few kids their age, it was perhaps inevitable
that their wandering gazes would eventually meet.
Ren and Rintarou hit it off instantly.
Because they were kindred spirits.
Rintarou had witnessed his father’s incompetence as president
firsthand and harboured doubts about the educational
philosophy of Kiou Academy, where he’d soon enroll.
Ren, on the other hand, felt unease with the narrow-minded
views of his politician father and grandfather. He understood
they were shaped by the need to survive in a political world full
of cunning old foxes. Still, their insistence on instilling risk-
averse stability in him often made him sick. To avoid family
scandals, Ren had been told since childhood to “not make
waves.” His father’s advice—better phrased as “don’t have your
own ideas”—imposed a suffocatingly restrictive life. He even
resented Kiou Academy for producing such a father and
grandfather.
Ren and Rintarou were fed up with the rigid ideologies of
adults.
And they wondered if they could change the root of it all: Kiou
Academy.
“What if you became student council president?”
As their conversation deepened, they’d moved to a new spot.
Slipping away from the venue, they leaned on the railing of an
open atrium, continuing their discussion.
At Rintarou’s suggestion, Ren’s eyes widened, but he soon
shook his head.
“That’s not possible.”
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“Why not?”
“Becoming president would be fine. But if I tried to change Kiou
Academy’s traditions, my father would stop me. He’s terrified
of me standing out in a bad way.”
Reforming Kiou Academy’s system was a tall order for
someone in Ren’s position.
“But if that’s the case, people like us will keep showing up
forever.”
Ren pondered Rintarou’s earnest plea.
He wanted to at least offer an alternative. After thinking, he
arrived at an idea.
“…In my year, there’s a prodigy named Konohana Hinako.”
Ren recalled a girl he’d met a few times in high society.
“She’s supposed to enroll at Kiou Academy next year, too. I
think she’d understand our perspective. Why not entrust it to
her?”
“Entrust? What do you mean?”
“I can’t become president, but I’ll run in the election.”
Ren explained his clever plan.
“On the surface, I’ll aim for president. But my real goal is to
bring our concerns to the entire student body. If I can do that,
Konohana Hinako will become president and take the issues
we’ve raised seriously.”
That way, Ren wouldn’t need to be president.
He could personally raise the issues with Konohana Hinako as
president, but that lacked certainty. If the whole student body
shared the concerns, President Konohana Hinako would have
no choice but to act. So they’d create that situation themselves.
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But Rintarou frowned.
“…I’m against it. I want you to become president, Joutou-
senpai.”
“Don’t ask the impossible. Even without my family’s
constraints, beating Konohana-san is out of the question. She’s
that perfect.”
“It’s not impossible!”
Rintarou declared firmly.
“Promise me. If you’re chosen as president, you’ll fight
alongside me with conviction. Promise you’ll change this world
with me!”
Sensing Rintarou’s resolve, Ren lets out a deep breath.
“…Alright, I promise. But I’m not aiming to become president,
got it? I’ll join the election, but I’m only doing what’s necessary
to raise the issues.”
“As long as you keep that promise, that’s more than enough.”
It was clear that Ren thought becoming president was an
unattainable dream.
Yet, that promise ignited an unparalleled fire in Rintarou.
“I’ll make absolutely sure you become president, Senpai. …No
matter what it takes.”
Ren caught the eerie glint in Rintarou’s eyes.
He saw it… but chose to ignore it.
Tradition. Customs. Status. Environment. Ren knew that
destroying them was no easy feat, requiring the kind of
extraordinary obsession Rintarou had just shown.
So, after enrolling at Kiou Academy, Ren devoted himself to
improving his grades for a while.
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It was a test of his own resolve. He wanted to build the
confidence that he had the ability to challenge the academy. He
refused to become someone who only complained without
substance.
Bound by his father’s curse, he couldn’t lead the reforms
himself. But even just raising the signal for change carried
responsibility. He wanted to become someone capable of
bearing that weight.
One day, after the results of a regular exam came out, Ren
checked on Hinako in another class.
A classmate was pleading with Hinako to help with studies.
“Konohana-san, could you teach me about political science?”
Hinako thought for a moment before answering.
“I don’t mind, but for political science, Joutou-kun in the next
class is much more knowledgeable.”
He was recognized—.
Konohana Hinako remembered his name—.
At that moment, Ren felt he’d gained the confidence he sought
and the right to speak to Konohana Hinako when the time
came. It wasn’t that he slacked off, but since he couldn’t
become president, he decided further effort was unnecessary
and let his focus on studies fade.
From then on, Ren quietly faded into the background… to avoid
his father seeing through his schemes.
One year later.
The student council election period began, and Rintarou
teamed up with Ren.
As promised, Rintarou supported Ren with all his might. But
Ren, true to his word, tackled the campaign seriously only up to
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raising issues, refusing to put in effort to actually become
president.
After school, Rintarou, alone in the classroom, clutched his
head.
(With Joutou-senpai lacking motivation, beating those two with
straightforward tactics might be tough.)
Looking at the first day’s election polls, he despaired at the gap
in support.
Rintarou glanced at the notebook spread on his desk. He’d
jotted down every idea for winning the election, from practical
to absurd. Now, hitting a wall, he looked at his notes with the
desperation of grasping at straws.
Among them was one idea he could act on immediately.
(A smear campaign… If I spread rumors among the first-years,
it’s not impossible…)
He’d actively built connections with classmates for moments
like this.
It was a sure bet. After all, Rintarou had a track record of using
this tactic to win over company executives.
It was a dirty move. Ren might not approve.
As he hesitated, for some reason, his sister’s face flashed
through his mind. The irritation in his chest reached his brain,
and Rintarou decided to go through with the plan.
(But if it gets exposed, it could ruin Joutou-senpai’s image.)
Considering the risk of getting caught, he couldn’t involve Ren
in this strategy. If he did it, it had to be on his own. He had to
avoid any scenario where Ren faced blame.
(Even if it doesn’t get exposed… would that create a healthy
student council?)
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To Rintarou, Joutou Ren was an incredible senior. On the day
they first met at a social event, they had a heated debate, but
Ren’s insights surpassed Rintarou’s. Unlike Rintarou, who was
merely fed up with the elite environment centered on Kiou
Academy, Ren had already been thinking about the kind of
platform he presented in this election back then.
That’s why Rintarou wondered if someone like him deserved to
stand beside Ren as president. He didn’t mind tarnishing
himself, but he didn’t want to drag Ren’s life through the mud.
Sweat poured from his forehead as he thought.
He might become a weakness for Ren someday.
If that were the case…
(…I just need to prepare a replacement vice president.)
After getting his hands dirty, he could step down and pass the
vice president role to someone else. That would keep Ren’s
circle clean and create an unshakeable student council.
He didn’t feel sad. From the start, Rintarou’s reason for joining
the election was to reform Kiou Academy’s system. As long as
that was achieved, he didn’t need to be in the student council.
He had no attachment to the vice president position.
That’s why his intentions were pure.
Rintarou left the classroom and headed to the first-floor
hallway.
(As a vice president candidate besides me… Tomonari Izuki-
senpai, maybe.)
Rintarou stopped in front of the ‘A Peek into the Daily Lives of
the Candidates!!’ corner set up by the previous student council,
deep in thought.

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He’d already thoroughly researched Tomonari Izuki, a rival for
the vice president position. Despite being a transfer student,
Izuki steadily improved his grades. In the management game,
he fended off acquisitions by major companies and proposed
innovative new businesses, ultimately winning the Consultant
Award.
The posted report conveyed his earnestness.
A schedule starting with morning cleaning, diligently balancing
studies and exercise.
He didn’t seem like the type to leave personal tasks to
servants—unlike Rintarou’s father, who rested on his status.
At the end of the report, there was a comment from a third
party.
“His sincere attitude positively influences those around him.
Seeing his effort gives others a chance to reflect on
themselves.”
Rintarou thought it was a glowing review.
If it was him, he could properly support Ren in place of a sullied
Rintarou.
(I’ll entrust it to him.)
In the end, he’d hand the vice president position to Tomonari
Izuki. With his achievements, skills, and character, he was more
than capable.
So—it was fine for Rintarou to dirty his hands now.
He hesitated on how to pass the role but decided to tell Izuki
everything honestly. If Izuki knew Rintarou was behind the
smear campaign, his sense of justice would likely compel him
to accept the vice president role, believing Rintarou unfit for it.

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Having decided his course, Rintarou began spreading the
rumors immediately.
The third day of the election period.
After the after-school speeches, Ren parted ways with Rintarou
and headed home by car, recalling the day’s events.
(…Strange rumors were going around.)
It happened when he went to the first-year building to meet
Rintarou. He overheard first-years arguing about negative
gossip concerning Tennouji Mirei and Miyakojima Narika.
As their classmate, Ren instantly knew the rumors were blatant
lies, but some first-years might believe them.
Still, for such rumors to spread at this timing… it felt like
someone’s deliberate handiwork.
(…Rintarou?)
He recalled the look in Rintarou’s eyes from two years ago.
He didn’t want to suspect him lightly, but he had an odd
certainty—Rintarou was capable of it.
Even so, it didn’t shake him.
Ren’s emotions were complex, and he had to stay strong to
keep from breaking. He’d entered the election but couldn’t
become president, sticking only to raising issues. It was a
mentally grueling fight. Honestly, he had to hold back.
He wasn’t the son of a politician for nothing. He could give
better speeches. He could project more charisma. During
speeches, he felt the audience’s reactions and sometimes
wanted to go all out. Suppressing that took everything.
On the way home, he checked his smartphone and saw emails
from a few acquaintances.

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Apparently, a survey was circulating among the students of
Kiou Academy.
It asked people who supported Konohana Hinako what they
expected from her.
(…An interesting survey. Indeed, her supporters are the biggest
floating vote.)
It was a sharp move.
Who created it? Since it wasn’t from their camp, it had to be
Tennouji Mirei, Miyakojima Narika… or perhaps their
supporter, Tomonari Izuki.
It was a likable strategy. Instead of pretending Konohana
Hinako’s absence from the race didn’t matter, it faced it head-
on to move forward.
With respect, Ren decided to participate in the survey.
What he expected from Konohana Hinako had always been
clear in his mind.
Rigid ideologies come from rigid environments.
To change a rigid environment, the organisation needs to
improve its airflow.
They needed to broaden the range of students accepted. More
freedom, more diversity…
Ren filled out the survey with what was necessary for that.
—The abolition of elitism based on family status.
In the end, Ren believed that achieving this would democratize
Kiou Academy.
(Konohana Hinako… why didn’t you…)
Ren put a hand to his forehead.

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This election had a major miscalculation.
Konohana Hinako didn’t run for president.
He’d trusted she could handle everything, but the situation
changed.
Instead, Tennouji Mirei and Miyakojima Narika stepped up.
Both were exceptional, but compared to Konohana Hinako,
they left him slightly uneasy.
Rintarou’s schemes might serve as a litmus test.
Ren, doubting the capabilities of Tennouji Mirei and
Miyakojima Narika, thought so.
If they succumbed to such schemes… they couldn’t be
entrusted with the academy.
◆
“First, let me apologize.”
In front of us, seated around the table, Joutou bowed his head.
“Our carelessness caused offensive rumors to spread. …Please
don’t blame Rintarou. It’s all because I was pathetic. I’ll take
responsibility and put out the rumors immediately.”
The sudden shift in atmosphere left us struggling to keep up.
Joutou was protecting Rintarou. But it felt less like universal
kindness and more like a powerful trust between just the two
of them.
“But even so—I still think this academy is too pristine.”
Joutou glared at Tennouji-san and Narika.
“People who are overwhelmed by this level of scheming are
poised to rule Kiou Academy. I feel a sense of crisis about that.”
What’s this…?
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The aura Joutou was giving off was slowly changing.
Was he always this formidable?
Was he always this commanding?
“Rintarou… I’m sorry for putting you through this. My weak
heart made you fight in my place.”
Joutou cast a gentle gaze at Rintarou, who bit his lip in
frustration.
“Thanks to you, I’ve woken up.”
Joutou swept his disheveled hair back with both hands, slicking
it into an all-back style. His sharp eyes and well-shaped brows
were revealed, giving him a bold, commanding presence. It felt
perfectly natural. It was obvious this was his true self.
The pathetic air I’d sensed from Joutou until now was gone
without a trace.
With a fierce glint in his eyes, Joutou glared at us.
“From here on out—I’ll take the lead.”
A shiver ran through my entire body.
I understood. This was where the real battle began.
A political-type student I’d never encountered before—Joutou
Ren.
He had resolved to get serious.

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Page | 252
Page | 253
Epilogue
Stepping out of the office building, Konohana Takuma slipped
into the waiting car and loosened his tie.
The restructuring plan for the foreign company he’d been
working on for years had finally gained traction. The
meticulously crafted proposal had successfully secured the
agreement of the major creditors.
“Phew.”
From here on, he could probably leave the rest to others. As he
caught his breath with some free time, several new projects
floated into his mind. …Work was piling up. No time to rest.
For now, results were what mattered most.
To wield undeniable power when the critical moment came—.
His smartphone buzzed in his pocket. Seeing the caller’s name
on the screen, Takuma furrowed his brow but answered the
call.
“I told you not to contact me.”
“Sorry. But I thought I’d at least declare war.”
Minato Maki spoke calmly.
“I’m going to stand against your disciple.”
At Kiou Academy, the election for the next student council
officers was currently underway.
Minato Maki had just signalled her intent to interfere in it. For
what purpose? Takuma considered it for a moment.
“Jealousy?”

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“Hahaha… I’ve learned something new about you. You don’t
even bother choosing your words for someone you’ve lost
interest in, do you?”
Obviously, it’s a waste of time.
“You’re right. I just have to know why he was the one you
chose. …Otherwise, I might lose my mind.”
“That’s quite the predicament. …Do as you please.”
“You’re okay with that?”
“Every time he overcomes a wall, he grows.”
At that, Minato Maki fell silent and abruptly ended the call.
Was she frustrated at being treated like a stepping stone?
…Well, it didn’t matter.
“Izuki-kun… you’ve probably started to realize it, haven’t you?
That your talent lies in that direction.”
Picturing his disciple’s honest, unpolished face, Takuma
murmured.
“If possible, I’d like you to show your true potential in this
election. …A coin with only one side is useless, after all.”

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Afterword
Me: “I want to write about a rival who awakens!” Editor: “That
sounds like something straight out of a battle manga.”
That conversation happened, and now Volume 9 of Rich Girl
Caretaker has safely hit the shelves! It’s been a while, hasn’t it?
I’m Yuusaku Sakaishi. How’s everyone holding up? As for me, I
got slammed by COVID during the Obon holidays and was
completely knocked out. Even now, I still feel some lingering
discomfort in my bronchial tubes from the aftereffects.
● About the Publication Schedule Around the time I was
writing the Management Game arc, there was just so much
research I had to do that I threw in the towel and said,
“Publishing every five months is impossible!” So, I got it
switched to a six-month cycle. And it looks like this election arc
is heading in the same direction, so we’re sticking with a six-
month—or possibly longer—publication pace. I’ve noticed
some anxious murmurs on social media like, “When’s the next
volume…?” and I’m really sorry about that. I’m taking extra
time to make the content as rich as possible. Rest assured, it’s
not because my motivation to write Rich Girl Caretaker has
dropped in the slightest, so please don’t worry about that.
● A Huge Thank You to All the Readers Who Share Their
Thoughts on Social Media I occasionally check out reader
reactions on X (formerly Twitter—how long do I have to keep
adding this note?). It’s incredibly heartwarming to see people
cheering me on. I tend to retweet pretty casually, but there’s
actually a reason behind it: I want my timeline to feel like a
bulletin board for all you readers. So, if you check out my
timeline, you can see what others are saying too. Please make
use of it!
[Acknowledgments] I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to
everyone involved in making this book possible. To my editor,
Page | 256
thank you for your keen insights on delicate points, like Izuki’s
positioning. To Sakura Miwabe-sensei, thank you for bringing
the world of the story to life so vividly with the cover’s autumn
leaves and the double-page poster. And finally, to all the
readers who picked up this book, my deepest, most heartfelt
thanks.

Page | 257
E-book Exclusive Short Story: If Hinako
Had Run for President
The fourth night of the election period.
While I was thinking about election strategies in my room, I
heard a rustling sound from the bed behind me.
“Hmmm…”
I thought she was asleep since it had been quiet for a while, but
Hinako was awake. She’d asked to borrow my laptop earlier,
and I’d lent it to her without much thought. Apparently, she’d
been fiddling with it on the bed the whole time.
“Hinako, what’re you doing?”
“Looking at the survey results… So this is what people think of
me.”
The survey she mentioned was the one Tennouji-san had asked
me to compile. It was about what everyone would expect if
Hinako had run for president.
Naturally, I’d gotten Hinako’s permission before compiling
those results. It seemed she was now reviewing the data.
“Come to think of it, you didn’t run for president, but do you
have any image of what kind of president you’d be if you did?”
“…None. I don’t even want to imagine it.”
“But if you became president, you could change Kiou Academy
however you wanted.”
Of course, within reason.
Changing the academy at will. Perhaps intrigued by that
possibility, Hinako paused to think.
“Well… first, I’d make classes three days a week.”
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Three days of classes instead of more holidays…?
Oh no. I asked out of curiosity, but I can already see where this
is going.
“I’d make lunch break two hours and mandate naptime.”
“Mandate is a bit…”
“If someone’s working hard, it makes it harder for others to
sleep, don’t you think?”
She’s subtly considerate in the weirdest way. So clever.
I wish she wouldn’t show off her genius in such odd places.
“And… I’d make it so you can buy potato chips at the school
store.”
Honestly, I’d want that too.
However, it feels somewhat out of place for Kiou Academy. If
you want chips, you can just buy them at a convenience store. If
Joutou’s campaign promises come true, maybe one day the
school store will stock potato chips…
“…In reality, if I became president, the academy would
probably stay the same as always.”
Hinako said in a small voice.
“What everyone expects from me is steady, predictable
results.”
“…I see.”
Hinako has always lived up to everyone’s expectations.
Meeting expectations means being realistic. When you fulfill
someone’s demands, the outcome stays within their
assumptions.

Page | 259
Tennouji-san and Narika’s campaign promises were like a
breath of fresh air for everyone at Kiou Academy. Joutou’s
promises, in particular, must feel especially bold and
innovative. But Hinako’s wouldn’t be a new breeze. Her
promises would largely follow the same path as before.
“But it’s not like you can’t change Kiou Academy, right? You
were doing things like M&As in the management game.”
“Mm… I don’t think it’s technically impossible.”
In the management game, Hinako had reformed the Konohana
Group as needed. Steady management was her biggest
strength, but that didn’t mean she was incapable of driving
change. Surely, Takuma-san stirred up that last recall scandal
to confirm exactly that.
“But I’m better at delivering solid results than sparking
reform… and I think everyone kinda senses that.”
Saying that, Hinako lowered her gaze.
“It’s… a little frustrating.”
Hinako muttered under her breath.
“What’s frustrating?”
“I think I could bring about change if I really wanted to… but no
one sees me that way. This survey… if it was about Tennouji-
san or Miyakojima-san, the results would’ve been completely
different.”
Indeed, if this survey had been about Tennouji-san or Narika,
the responses would’ve been filled with calls for reform, unlike
Hinako’s. That fact seemed to weigh on her.
(…So Hinako’s conscious of those two, huh.)
I’d been so focused on the election that I hadn’t thought much
about Tennouji-san and Narika lately, but throughout our long
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academy life, Hinako has always stood shoulder-to-shoulder
with them.
The three of them are already in a relationship of friendly
rivalry. That’s why Tennouji-san ran for president, and Narika’s
surely been influenced by it to some degree.
That line from Hinako just now… Tennouji-san would be
thrilled to hear it.
Ahh, Tennouji-san.
You’re definitely seen as a rival by Hinako…
“…Who were you just thinking about?”
“Huh? N-No, I wasn’t thinking about anyone!”
She’s sharp all of a sudden.
Right now, Hinako’s burning with rivalry toward Tennouji-san
and the others. If I admitted I was thinking about them, she’d
probably pout, so I reflexively dodged the question.
“I don’t plan on becoming president, but…”
Hinako’s cheeks flushed faintly as she spoke.
“If you thought about me a bit more, Izuki… I might’ve hesitated
a little longer.”
With that, Hinako buried her face in the blankets.
I’m honored she feels that way, but unfortunately, her worry is
unfounded.
Because I’m always, always thinking about Hinako.

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