33 The Student Council President Is a Worrywart
“Now, there’s a reason why I called you here.”
“Sigh…”
Alone with Kanaori-san in the student council room.
I had a pretty good idea of how this conversation would go…
I was hoping I was wrong, though.
“Amatsuki-san, if I recall correctly, you used to wear your hair in pigtails and glasses.”
“That’s correct, but…”
As expected of the student council president.
She has incredible observation and memory skills to remember such an unremarkable student.
“I believe you’ve had that style since your first year, so why have you recently started wearing your hair straight and contacts?”
“Well… it was just… a change of pace, I guess…”
Ah, I have a bad feeling about this.
“It wasn’t Hinase Riri’s influence, was it?”
“…What do you mean?”
“There’s nothing wrong with your current appearance according to the school rules. However, I’m concerned about the cause of this change.”
“Are you saying it has something to do with Riri-chan?”
“Can you deny it? I know you’ve recently become close with Hinase Riri. She attracts attention, for better or worse, so information naturally gathers around her. And you changed your appearance around the same time.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
Ah, this pattern.
It’s completely… the same as what she was supposed to do with Shindo Minato.
“I’m worried that you’re being negatively influenced by her.”
As expected. Of course. This is what happens.
In the original story, the flow was like this:
…The target of her reprimand has completely shifted to me.
But I never thought I, who’s supposed to be upholding school order, would be on the receiving end of Kanaori-san’s scrutiny.
How can I get Kanaori-san to focus on Shindo-kun instead of me?
“N-No, that’s not true. It was just… a change of pace…”
“People are influenced by others. And in your case, it’s clear that Hinase Riri is that influence.”
“…Why are you assuming that when I’m denying it?”
“People often have difficulty understanding themselves. And Hinase-san’s attire violates school rules and is frivolous. I don’t want you to be influenced by that any further.”
“…Thank you… for your concern.”
It’s more trouble than it’s worth.
“I don’t understand why a serious and exemplary student like you would associate with someone so unreasonable. But I think you should choose your friends wisely.”
“…”
I understand that Kanaori-san is saying this out of goodwill.
From her perspective, she’s just doing what she’s supposed to, and she’s not saying anything particularly unreasonable.
I also know that in the original story, this is how she interacts with Shindo-kun, gradually getting closer to him.
But I can’t help but feel uncomfortable hearing her unilaterally disparage Riri-chan.
“Hinase-san’s grades are far from commendable. If your grades were to drop at this time—”
“Kanaori-san.”
I couldn’t listen any longer and interrupted her.
“—Yes?”
“…Please… don’t badmouth Riri-chan.”
“But Hinase-san is hardly an exemplary student…”
“Riri-chan isn’t a bad person like you think she is.”
“I understand that you’re offended by my remarks about your friend. However…”
This is no good.
I don’t want to hear any more.
I don’t want to hear any more bad things about Riri-chan.
“Her clothes might be… sloppy, but Riri-chan is a good person. You don’t understand that, Kanaori-san.”
“No, people with sloppy attire also have sloppy lifestyles.”
“I think you’re a little too rigid, Kanaori-san.”
“M-Me?!”
“Yes, what’s wrong with a slightly shorter skirt?”
“That’s not all. Wearing makeup at school is also prohibited…”
“Other people do it too. It’s just a matter of how much they wear.”
“But rules are rules.”
“Kanaori-san, if you’re going to talk about this modern age of diversity, then freedom of dress should also be recognized!”
“W-Well…”
I used Kanaori-san’s own words against her.
It’s a bit of a sneaky tactic, and it might be unfair considering her position as student council president.
But I couldn’t just agree with her.
“Anyway, I haven’t done anything wrong, so there’s no need for us to continue this conversation, is there?”
Since it seemed like it would just become a pointless argument, I turned to leave.
“Wait! I’m worried about you…”
“Then your worry is unnecessary. I can live a virtuous life.”
“Says the person who kisses in public…!”
“I-I’ve reflected on that!”
I left the student council room, feeling Kanaori-san’s piercing gaze on my back.
◇◇◇
—Click
I closed the heavy door of the student council room.
That took longer than I expected.
But I’m relieved that it’s finally over… or is it?
I’m still being targeted by Kanaori-san, aren’t I?
…What should I do?
Can I still get Kanaori-san to focus on Shindo-kun from here?
“Wait, I can’t. I’m keeping Riri-chan waiting.”
I hurried towards the entrance.
◇◇◇
“Ah, Riri-chan, I’m sorry. I kept you waiting, didn’t I?”
When I arrived at the entrance, Riri-chan was leaning against the wall in the hallway.
Hearing my voice, she pushed herself off the wall and turned around.
“I wasn’t waiting that long. But if you’re that sorry, you can make up for it with a kiss.”
And she said something ridiculous again.
Didn’t we just talk about not kissing anymore, especially after what Kanaori-san said?
“I told you, I’m not doing that anymore.”
“Stingy.”
“I’m not stingy.”
I’m going to live a virtuous life.
So Kanaori-san won’t reprimand me again.
And so she’ll reprimand Shindo-kun instead.
“Then how about holding hands?”
“That’s embarrassing, it’s weird.”
“It’s fine if no one’s around, right?”
…Holding hands… is that okay?
Yeah, that’s definitely not indecent.
And it’s not embarrassing if no one’s around.
“…Well, if no one’s around…”
“Ehehe. Yay!”
Riri-chan smiled happily, even at something like this.
◇◇◇
We left the school and walked through a quiet residential area.
“Here, Suzuna.”
Riri-chan reached out her hand.
“…Okay.”
I hesitated slightly, but then I took her hand.
Riri-chan’s hand was a little bigger than mine.
But her fingers were slender and soft, enveloping mine.
“Your hands are always warm, Suzuna.”
“Your hands are still a little cold, Riri-chan.”
Apparently, I have a higher body temperature.
34 Seeking What’s Missing
“Hey, Riri-chan.”
During our morning commute to school, which had become a routine, I decided to ask a question that had suddenly come to mind.
“What is it, Suzuna?”
“Have you always been like that with Kanaori-san?”
“…What about Kanaori?”
Riri-chan’s expression immediately soured at the mention of her name.
“Well, I was just wondering if you’ve always been on such bad terms…”
“Pretty much. I seem to be a thorn in her side. I might be breaking the rules, but there are other students who do the same, you know?”
Riri-chan said, flicking her skirt.
I worried that it would flip up.
“I think other people probably fix their uniforms or try not to stand out when Kanaori-san is around.”
“Maybe. Kaede is always like that.”
She knows, but the fact that she doesn’t do it herself shows she’s a big shot…
Or maybe it’s pride.
“So why are you asking?”
Riri-chan leaned closer.
“Well, it just seemed like you two didn’t get along…”
And I was thinking about how to get Kanaori-san to reprimand Shindo Minato.
Currently, there’s zero sign of a harem forming around Shindo-kun. (It’s my fault, but still.)
So it’s difficult to approach it from that angle.
Judging from Riri-chan’s story, maybe getting him reprimanded for his attire would be effective.
“…Is that really all?”
“That’s all…”
The distance between me and Riri-chan didn’t shrink, and she gave me a skeptical look.
“I don’t think you’ve ever asked me about another girl before…”
“S-So?”
“Well, Kanaori is pretty, at least on the surface. You’re not… admiring her or anything, are you?”
“No way, definitely not.”
Kanaori-san does have an elegant, ladylike beauty, but being such a strict student council president seems tough.
I admire her, but I could never do it. It seems too restrictive.
“Hmm. Okay, if you say so.”
I finally escaped Riri-chan’s suspicious gaze.
“…But, well. You think Kanaori-san is beautiful too, Riri-chan.”
It showed Riri-chan’s good nature that she could admit that, even though they seem to be at odds.
“H-Hey! That’s not true! I don’t care about someone like her!”
“…Eh, wait, really?”
She just admitted it, and now she’s suddenly backtracking.
She seems a little flustered, too. What’s going on?
“Suzuna is way cuter than her!”
“N-No… we weren’t talking about me. And I can’t compare to Kanaori-san…”
The topic suddenly shifted from Kanaori-san to me.
“That’s not true! I think Suzuna is better!”
She said that with a serious look in her eyes.
…I don’t want to have this conversation in the morning.
I didn’t know how to react.
“O-Okay…”
Riri-chan is troublesome.
◇◇◇
“Yo, Suzuna.”
“…Morning.”
When I sat down at my desk, Shindo-kun greeted me languidly.
I looked at Shindo-kun’s attire.
His shirt was buttoned all the way up, and his tie was neatly tied.
There was nothing wrong with his blazer or slacks either.
…Kanaori-san wouldn’t reprimand him for this.
“? Why are you staring at me?”
“Ah, well… it’s about your clothes—”
I shuddered.
I felt a familiar cold gaze and quickly looked away.
“(What are you talking about?)”
Riri-chan was looking at us, mouthing the words with a smile.
…This is no good.
Casual conversation is one thing, but if I say,
“Why don’t you loosen up your clothes a bit?”
I’ll definitely be scolded later.
She’ll definitely say, “What do you mean, worrying about Shindo’s clothes?”
“What about my clothes?”
“…Nothing.”
I ended the conversation with Shindo-kun.
But now I have to find another way to change Shindo-kun’s appearance.
I only knew one person who could do that.
◇◇◇
During break time.
I went down to the first floor and visited the area near the first-year classrooms.
I came looking for Shindo Kokona-chan.
The atmosphere among the underclassmen was more energetic and youthful than the second-years.
I felt so out of place. I wanted to go home.
…But I have to do this.
“What class is Kokona-chan in…?”
A critical mistake.
I didn’t know Kokona-chan’s class.
And I don’t have the courage to enter each classroom, nor the courage to ask a stranger, even if they are underclassmen.
…I’m stuck.
Standing in the hallway with unfamiliar students passing by, my spirit broke.
“—Amatsuki Suzuna?”
A familiar voice called out from behind me.
I turned around, and there was Kokona-chan, her twintails swaying.
“Ah, Kokona-chan! Thank goodness, I was looking for you!”
“Eh… you were looking for Kokona?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t know where you were, so I was in trouble.”
Speak of the devil, as they say.
“Wh-What? Did you hit your head or something? Why would you come looking for Kokona?”
That’s harsh…
Well, it is unusual for me to do this.
“No, I have a favor to ask.”
“That’s also unusual. What is it?”
“It’s about Shindo-kun.”
“Onii-chan?”
“I want you to… unbutton his shirt.”
“…Huh?”
…Right?
I’m saying something strange, aren’t I?
“N-No, that’s not it. He needs to do that.”
“…I think you’ve lost your mind, Amatsuki Suzuna.”
“N-No, I haven’t! Look, Shindo-kun doesn’t have a girlfriend yet, right? Aren’t you worried, as his little sister?”
“…Well, I don’t see Onii-chan getting a girlfriend anytime soon.”
“So what do you think he’s lacking?”
Kokona-chan put a finger to her chin, thinking.
“…Intelligence?”
That was harsh.
Well, I can’t say she’s wrong.
“D-Don’t you think he also needs… sex appeal?”
“…Well, I don’t see that in Onii-chan. Or rather, it would be scary if I, his little sister, did.”
She’s supposed to be obsessed with her brother, but she’s changed so much.
It’s frightening.
“So, how about… unbuttoning his shirt a bit, or loosening his tie? What do you think?”
“…Well, some boys do dress like that. But you want Onii-chan to do that? It seems like he’d be trying too hard.”
“It’s okay, he’ll definitely find someone nice if he does that.”
That’s how Kanaori-san will notice him, reprimand him, and start their destined encounter.
“I still don’t understand. Why can’t you just ask Onii-chan yourself?”
Kokona-chan seemed annoyed and uncooperative.
I wish I could do it myself, but it wouldn’t be a problem if I could.
“I can’t. You’re the only one I can ask… please.”
I clasped my hands together and pleaded with Kokona-chan.
“…F-Fine. I guess I have no choice.”
Oh, really?
I thought she’d refuse, but she readily agreed.
“Really…?”
“You’ve never asked Kokona for a favor before. It’s fine.”
“Really? Thank goodness, thank you!”
“I-It’s fine. You don’t have to thank me for something like this.”
“No, I would have been in trouble without your help, Kokona-chan. Thank you.”
I was truly grateful.
I sighed in relief.
“W-Well, I’m glad I could help…”
Kokona-chan mumbled something.
“Hmm? What?”
“N-Nothing!”
Kokona-chan raised her voice and looked away.
She rejected the idea at first, then immediately accepted it, and now she’s sulking.
Was she always this complicated?
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