My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 265

Therefore, simply failing to be selected is not enough.

"Is it only at the stage of announcing the candidates that we're currently at?"

To get to the bottom of things, I asked the senior student on patrol a few questions.

"Huh? Yes, that's right."

"And then, the person to give the campaign speech for Isshiki hasn't been decided yet."

"Yes, that's right."

The senior student nodded at me, but she looked puzzled, wondering why I was asking these questions.

That's alright, this is enough for me. I've gathered all the necessary information.

"Then things will be easier."

"Hmm... what do you mean?"

As I summarized, I shared my thoughts.

"Our goal is to ensure that Isshiki can safely step down without being harmed, even if a vote of confidence really has to be held. Is that right? So, it's enough to let the students know that the reason Isshiki didn't pass the vote of confidence isn't her fault."

Is there really a way?

Yuihama, who had been listening quietly, finally asked a question, and I nodded to her.

"If the vote of confidence fails because of campaign speeches, people will not focus on Isshiki."

Simply shift the blame for failure, rejection, and being denied onto others.

If you use this method, it's not too late now.

Before going on to explain the specific steps, I'll stop here for now.

This is not done to organize thoughts, to adjust breathing, or to control the pace of the conversation.

It was because I sensed an eerie silence.

Yuihama's lips were tightly pressed together, her eyes filled with sorrow as she stared at me, then she lowered her head as if swallowing something bitter. Senpai noticed the unusual movement and looked back and forth between Yuihama and me with a puzzled expression. Isshiki also keenly sensed the change in atmosphere and shifted uncomfortably.

Then came a faint "click" sound.

I reflexively looked toward the source of the sound. Yukinoshita had her hands on the table. It was probably when she untied her crossed hands that the buttons on her coat sleeves tapped against the table.

In the silence, the voice was exceptionally loud.

Breaking the silence beneath the snow, she said coldly:

"I cannot agree with what you're doing."

My eyebrows twitched when I heard her condemning, accusatory tone.

"What's the reason?"

"……because……"

I didn't mean to question her, but my tone was still a bit sharp. Yukina briefly shifted her gaze, her long eyelashes fluttering silently as she blinked.

All of this happened in a split second. She quickly turned her gaze back to me, staring at me with an even stronger determination than before.

"...Your approach lacks reliability and cannot guarantee that the vote of confidence will not pass. Moreover, the campaign speeches that lead to a failed vote will also cause trouble for Isshiki-kun. Even if the votes of no confidence are in the end, do you think everyone would want to waste time and energy to elect again? Soubu High School has never had such a precedent. Also... also, students are generally indifferent to student council affairs, so even if the vote count is not made public and only the results are announced, no one will care... So, as long as you have this intention—"

Yukinoshita cast a sharp glance at him and began to speak eloquently, as if she wanted to list out every reason that came to mind.

Hiratsuka-sensei gently advised her.

"Under the Snow".

"...I'm sorry, I misspoke. I retract my previous statement."

Yukinoshita stopped abruptly and bowed her head to apologize to Senior Megure. Senior Megure smiled and shook her head to indicate that it was alright.

It is indeed very inappropriate to say something like, "As long as there is such an intention, the school and the election committee can control the election results to some extent," in front of the election management committee member, Ms. Xun.

*Squeak*—Someone's chair made a sound.

Yuihama turned her face to face me, but our eyes never met.

"I'm asking you... who should be in charge of the speech... that job sounds so awful..."

Her voice was faint, yet it lingered in my ears.

"Of course... it should be handed over to the right person."

Although I say that, I know perfectly well who is the most suitable person. It goes without saying who would be most efficient in taking charge of this task.

As the sun gradually set, it cast shadows inside the office, making the fluorescent lights appear even brighter.

Suddenly, she looked up from under the snow below.

"Senior Shiro, if Isshiki withdraws from the election, we will have to find a new candidate to fill the vacancy."

"Yes, indeed..."

After Senior Xun answered, Yukino sighed softly and said:

"It seems that the only option left is to support another candidate and let him win."

"If someone really wanted to run, would they have waited until now? And how do you plan to promote them? Are you going to ask each person one by one?"

"However, if we directly approach people who might be willing to run..."

Yuihama was thinking and expressing her thoughts at the same time.

"...Okay, let's assume someone agrees to run. What's next? Is it possible for him to beat this first-year student? As you probably know, high school student council elections are pretty much like popularity polls."

I glanced at Yise.

Her combat prowess was unexpectedly high.

Her first impression is that she's incredibly cute, easily fitting the typical standard of a beautiful girl. Coupled with her gentle, composed, and cheerful personality, she's undoubtedly one of the most popular girls among boys in school.

In high school student council elections, the real focus is not on political views or manifestos.

Everyone knows that even if a political platform for reforming the school system is proposed, the chances of it being realized are slim. Candidates may make promises about allowing students to wear civilian clothes to school, relaxing school rules, and opening up school rooftops, but no one has ever tried to deliver on those promises.

Once political views and manifestos are set aside, the real contest becomes obvious – it's purely about the candidate's popularity and the mobilization power of their friends and family.

Since the student council election is essentially a popularity vote, the most likely candidates I can think of are Hayama and Miura. However, Hayama already has the important task of being the president of the soccer club, and as for Miura, if she maintains that personality, it would be difficult for her to be competent as the student council president.

Therefore, we have no choice but to seek a less desirable candidate. However, this will also reduce our chances of winning.

Moreover, we're not simply finding someone and asking them for a favor.

Even more challenging problems await.

"We need to find a candidate, complete negotiations, and then launch the election campaign before election day. Is it really possible to accomplish all of this? Besides, we absolutely have to get the other person elected student council president. Of course, it would be a different story if we had already found a suitable candidate, but the problem is that we simply can't find one right now."

I clearly told Yukino that her method was not feasible. Although I didn't mean to blame her, I kept reminding myself to stay calm, and my voice grew lower and lower, and my tone became sharper.

"H-Hikigaya-san?"

The senior student was surprised by my reaction. Even those around me could clearly see my anxiety, but I only noticed it now.

"..."

Yukinoshita and Yuihama remained silent.

Actually, they probably already know this even without me saying anything. Anyone familiar with how the school operates, or who thinks about it for a moment, will understand this principle.

Even so, we still cannot get a clear answer, and the silence continues to clamor.

The oppressive atmosphere made it hard to breathe.

In one corner of the view, Yise sighed wearily, revealing his predicament of "why do I have to stay here?"

Seeing others exhausted makes me feel exhausted too. Without realizing it, I sighed.

"It seems unlikely that a conclusion can be reached in the short term."

Hiratsuka-sensei, who had been leaning against the wall, broke the silence with a "heave-ho!" and stood up straight. Everyone present followed suit, shifting their positions and stretching their muscles.

Yukino sat up straight and said to Senior Student Xun:

"...Senior Cheng Hui, could you please give us a little more time?"

"Huh? Ah, um... of course."

After a moment of confusion, Senior Xun answered, and Teacher Hiratsuka gently nudged her back.

"Then let's come another day. Cheng Hui, Yi Se, let's go."

"Hiratsuka-sensei, may I borrow a moment of your time?"

Just as the teacher was about to lead them away, Yukinoshita spoke again. Her expression was colder than usual, and she looked quite sorrowful.

"Ah, well then, please excuse us."

The senior student noticed this as well and led Isshiki away from the clubroom first. After watching the two leave, Hiratsuka-sensei turned back to look at us.

"Speak, what do you want to ask?"

The teacher pulled out a chair, sat down, and crossed her long legs.

× × ×

The light inside the office was even dimmer. In contrast, the sky outside the window was dyed a fiery red.

As the winter solstice approaches, night falls earlier each day.

Hiratsuka-sensei waited quietly for Yukinoshita's question.

The black tea on the table had gone cold, but the prepared snacks had not decreased at all.

The only sounds in the office were the ticking of the clock and the occasional sigh from someone. After a long while, Yukino finally spoke.

"I remembered something."

"Huh? What is it?"

She didn't answer me, but instead looked at Ms. Hiratsuka.

"What is the current situation of the match?"

"Contest?"

Everyone, including the teacher, blinked and looked puzzled when they heard the unexpected words.

I searched through my memories for a while before I remembered this.

The "competition" that Yukinoshita mentioned refers to the competition of the Service Club.

The competition is to see who can solve the most people's problems and serve the most people. The winner can make any demands of the loser.

This was a competition proposed by Hiratsuka-sensei when I joined the Service Club.

"Competition...what competition?"

Yuhihama observed our reactions.

Then I remembered that the rules of this competition were changed midway through.

"A competition to see who can solve the most problems and serve the most people. Cooperation is allowed in the process. The winner can make any demands on the loser."

After I finished explaining briefly, Yuihama made a sound that was half surprised and half puzzled.

"So there's such a competition..."

It seems that Hiratsuka-sensei didn't explain it to her. However, I can guess why the teacher didn't tell her.

The culprit behind it all—Mr. Hiratsuka was somewhat uneasy.

"Well, this..."

She crossed her arms and tilted her head to think.

"How's the battle going? Hmm... There are quite a few problems that need to be solved by multiple people together. So, you all did a pretty good job. Yes, that's right."

"..."

Yukinoshita listened, but maintained her cold expression and continued to stare at Hiratsuka-sensei.

"well……"

Ms. Hiratsuka sighed helplessly. She had probably intended to bluff her way out, but under Yukinoshita's intense gaze, she had no choice but to surrender. But to be honest, lately there have indeed been quite a few requests where it's difficult to predict the outcome. We mostly work as a whole club, rarely splitting up to do our own thing.

That being said, Yukinoshita did not accept such a gray area. She continued to exert silent pressure on Hiratsuka-sensei, and the teacher finally looked at her properly.