CH 188

*Clap* *Clap*

The roars echoed as they raised their hands together in the air.

As a result, Koizumi was selected as the new student council president and Shiraishi was as the new vice president.

The two student council leaders had now been decided, and now was the time to decide on the people who would assist them.

This might be a relief for the President. She might also have jumped of joy when the decision came in favor of Koizumi.

That is how much she looked after Koizumi as her younger brother.

Currently, there are no reports of candidacy for the positions of Treasurer, which Miura is currently serving, and General Affairs, which Hino-kun is handling now.

If things continue as they are, and if the two of them are willing to continue, they will unconditionally continue and be on the next student council as well.

The problem is that Yuuto and I are running for the same position.

The position is assistant to the president, which I currently hold.

The position of secretary is vacant, and if there are no candidates, recommendations will be made with the approval of the other student council members, led by Koizumi.

The recommendation is only a proposal from the student council to the students to join, not the presidential quota that Akane Hiiragi had.

Students who receive a recommendation will have to go through a process of interviews with the student council members and other teachers in charge before joining.

The workforce problem can be filled in through recommendation, in the worst-case scenario.

So, I only need to concentrate solely on the election.

After parting with Shiraishi and learning from Shizuku and Kirasaka about the reactions to the president’s decision within the school, I was on my way home.

“It looks like they’re officially announcing Minato-kun’s and Ogiwara-kun’s candidacy tomorrow at noon.”

Shizuku told me, holding a form with the recruitment guidelines for the council election in her hand from somewhere.

Arere~, that’s funny~

The voice of a famous boy detective ran through my mind…

Why does she have it and I don’t…?

Facing the biggest mystery of the day, I switched my thoughts and started thinking.

“We don’t even have time for the sports festival. …And since the president and vice president are elected, the general framework and direction of the organization is determined, and now it’s only a matter of choosing people who fit.”

“Is it only me or are the two applicants doesn’t seem to fit in at all?”

From the other side from where Shizuku was, Kirasaka spoke calmly.

Really, I would appreciate it if you would stop poking at the exact areas that people are concerned about.

I would have talked to the president if it was possible, but that person seems to be busy today.

However, she is busy discussing the future of the incoming student body president and vice president with the teachers.

So here we are, the three of us, walking home together along a road, with little more than houses and fields, and the atmosphere not as awkward as it used to be.

Since everyone’s focus was on the elections, we were able to talk about it without unnecessary additions.

“That’s the problem, isn’t it… because, aside from Ogiwara-kun, Minato-kun is completely out of the ‘ideal’ idea…”

“Don’t look at me like you’re sorry.”

Both Koizumi and Shiraishi, although they had different approaches, thought of cooperation as the foundation.

That’s why I am a completely different species from the ‘ideal’, as I would be far from cooperative.

Kirasaka gives me a similarly sorry look.

Stop! Don’t …look at me with those eyes!

If I turn to the left or to the right, my gaze will eventually cross with theirs, so I I just turned back in the opposite direction.

After walking a few steps ahead of me, when I heard them giggling and laughing, I then turned around with a sigh.

“The students would naturally think so, but it’s too risky to let a student with more influence than the student body president into the organization in the first place…”

Because he’s that soft-hearted, friendly, smile-making machine.

‘Make the school better for everyone!’ He’s absolutely the guy who could say that…

I wonder if there is anyone in the student council who could stop him when he clashes with his own ideas head-on with the president and the organization along with him…

The truth is that it will be difficult for the next student council without Akane Hiiragi.

Koizumi, Shiraishi and Miura are all excellent.

Hino-kun is well… Hino-kun…

Regardless, Ogiwara Yuuto, with a person to serve as a suppressor for his actions, this possibility is close to a gamble.

I guess that risk is not something I could deny. But I do also have a chance of winning.

If I think about the faculty votes, it certainly is the most effective way go at it.

Besides, tomorrow is the big day, and today is just a strategy meeting.

If I start thinking in the dark now, there is no way I could successfully carry out the battle that follows.

“Well, well, …what shall we do?”

“Are? I here thought that Shinra-kun already had a plan with a high winning possibility.”

“It’s not that it’s a way to win, it’s a way to be able to seize that low possibility which is already present. …I can’t exactly call it a plan if there’s an extremely low chance of success, so I’m going to need you both to help me out.”

I walked about with a thinking look on my face as I told them about my future plans, which I had not been able to explain properly in the student council room.

The two never spoke any words and just looked forward without making eye contact.

“…Yuuto will definitely take the straightforward route in his campaign, because even if he gathers information from his sources and devises a strategy, in the end, the best way for him to win is to go for it head-on.”

The ability to gather information, connections, and capacity to win through a wide network of students through those of the lower ranks.

If he goes out with a similar strategy against me, the winner is obvious.

And, since I don’t have that kind of network or recognition, this won’t even be a competition anymore.

“You said you didn’t want to put us in the forefront, but was it because you are still in opposition to Shiraishi-san’s idea after all?”

“…”

Shizuku asked me.

From her point of view, they may want me to rely on them without worrying about what I said to Shiraishi.

Kirasaka must have wondered the same thing since she remained silent without interrupting.

“That’s part of it.. also, because having the two of you on the top of being the one to get the faculty votes would raise a lot of questions.”

“Likewise… does that mean that Shinra-kun, with the two of us behind him, might end up having a strong influence within the organization?”

“Well, something like that.”

That’s what president said.

The reason she made me join the student council was because I am a person who isn’t influenced by the opinions of either the students or the council.

Since I was one of the few students who judged things from a third-party’s perspective, I fulfilled president’s requirements.

I don’t know if she was right or wrong in pointing this out.

However, even assuming I end up joining the next student council, what I could do is similar.

The student council, which is supposed to be in the link between the school and the students, should always be a third party so that it does not lean toward one side or the other.

Koizumi is adored by the students, and Miura supports him.

Shiraishi is a calculating person who is liked by both students and faculty, and the current organization is just barely on the student side.

If Yuuto joins, it will definitely be transformed into an organization for students.

I am not saying that it is wrong.

However, I wonder if it is correct.

“I don’t have any firm commitments or convictions to say. …I just want to be a neutral figure in the organization and act as a counterweight to prevent any biased opinions.”

So, I continued, addressing the two of them.

“So …I want you two to support me, and if the faculty members think even a little that even you both are recommending me, Shinra Minato, my words might reach them as well.”

The same goes for the president.

In order to make sure that my words don’t end up with the students snickering at me, I’ll make sure that my words are heard by showing that I have a connection with the president to both the students as well the faculties.

From there, my election to the student council will really take off.

“With that, I present my request to both of you.”

I announced again, taking a few steps ahead of them and turning around.

Shizuku clasped her hands together behind her body and Kirasaka crossed her arms as if urging me to continue.

What should I do…? I know what I want to say, but the words will inevitably sound strange to them.

But I cannot not say it.

“That’s why from now on I want you to stay by my side, not Yuuto’s…”

“Is this a proposal?”

“Are you proposing?”

“No.”

Why is it that only at times like these they are so in sync?

Nevertheless, I’m short on words.

I’ll try to supplement it and explain my intentions clearly.

“During elections, we set up a simple base with desks behind the speaker, right? I’d like you to sit there…”

What we do at that desk is put up our manifestos.

Koizumi and Shiraishi’s bases had a staff member who would distribute them to students who asked for support.

I want the two of them to be sitting there.

Although it would be a little far away, I wanted to create a silent perception among the students that the two people helping me are my supporters.

However, I would only ask the two of them to respond to questions from the students that they are assisting me.

It makes no sense to make it clear that they are fully supporting me, which would only bring in their popularity votes.

I would not be able to proudly say that I had won over Yuuto.

It is only to make sure that the students cannot ignore my words.

After that, I would have to make the second and third moves to make up the handicap little by little to win the game.

When I told the girls that I wanted them to stay by my side with this intention, they nodded in agreement.

“I understand… and I’ll do anything I can to help you together by your side, Minato-kun!”

“Thanks to you …I’m saved.”

“I don’t mind either, and would you like me to stand by your side 24/7 with our arms linked together?”

“Ah, no, that’s fine.”

Kirasaka said with a wicked smile on her face, and I immediately refused.

However, since that was the extent of her teasing, she smiled after a giggle.

It is crucial that I can officially entrust the two of them to help me in this way.

Now I can effectively direct the president as my second arrow and Shiraishi as my third.

“…Then, I’ll buy you something at the shopping district.”

“Really?”

“I’ve never had a skewer before. …I’ll get one at Oyasan’s.”

Both of their eyes lit up when I said I’d treat them.

…Gluttons

After giving a wry smile with a hint of amazement, I followed their backs as they walked enthusiastically to the shopping district, where the day came to an end.

<TL> : I’m saying this again, but by no way I consider my( machine obv. ) translations to be accurate. Like for example, I’ve translated 現金な子だ (‘Cash Child‘, Google-sama gave this ) as ‘Gluttons‘ here. I’m just trying to make it not look wonky and fit in the context properly.

Also, it may sound lame as an excuse for not posting yesterday but dad borrowed my laptop yesterday, really!! Anyway, I’ll also try to compensate this one too.