#137

 

 

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Momiji Shiraishi.

A first-year student at Sakuranaoka Academy.

 

She is a member of the yearbook committee, and is a serious person with a good personality.
She has a few weaknesses in her athletic performance, but she excels in academics.

This makes her an excellent candidate for the student council.

 

The student council is required to have a new member as a prerequisite.

It is normal for an organization like this to think ahead and recruit people not just for the upcoming year, but for years to come.

 

We need to make sure that we have enough students capable of taking over the student council after Koizumi and the others graduate.
That’s why everyone thought that if she ran for the position, the problems of the student council would be solved at once.

 

That’s what the president said.

 

However, the problem begins here.
Akane Hiiragi’s candidacy was not for a regular position, but for the student council president’s seat, the head of the student body.

 

This was the seat that Akane Hiiragi sat in, and the seat that Koizumi was said to be taking over.
This was a situation that not only the members but even the president had not expected.

 

That’s why you can see president’s expression darkening, as if she was in a bit of trouble.

 

“We don’t have any specific requirements for running for student council at our school. Honestly the truth is that any student from our school is welcome to run.”

 

“So the first-year student, Shiraishi, has no problem running for president?”

 

“Yes… There are no specific requirements for being the president, just the school rules, which are not concrete enough to be a good example.”

 

So, this candidacy doesn’t violate anything.
If there was a requirement that the candidate must have been a member of the student council for one year, the problem would have been easily solved.

 

But it’s not that easy.
If so, then it’s certainly very troublesome, but there are still a few things that don’t add up.

 

 

I need to digest them before I can proceed with this story.

 

“That student named Shiraishi is serious and good-natured you say…?”

 

“What are you trying to imply?”

 

President looked at me and asked.
Even though I think that president was somewhat aware.

 

That’s why she wanted to check if she’s getting the same answer as me.
I don’t think Shiraishi is that kind of student.

 

“I’m sure she’s …hiding something, otherwise I wouldn’t be very convinced.”

 

“Fumu… Do you think so too?”

 

“Yes. …Just to be clear, I’m just guessing.”

 

 

There are two things that I feel are strange and don’t add up.

The first is that, as I mentioned earlier, she is a serious and good-natured person.

 

The second is that she is not running for any other position, but for president.

 

In this school, where there is already a vice president named Koizumi and a student who is said to be the next student body president, would a new, unknown student suddenly be running for president?

 

If you’re serious and good-natured, it’s not like she’s trying to impress her seniors, but shouldn’t it be easier for her to first gain experience in other positions before stepping up to the presidency.

 

Did the people around her encourage her to take such a bold and reckless decision, or did she really have something in mind when she made her decision?
It’s useless to think about it now.

 

It is something you can only consider when you actually meet that person.

 

Even so, based on the little information we have, I don’t think she’s a student with a reputation for doing something specific.
I wonder if she has a backstory, or if she has some kind of bigger goal in mind.

 

However, both Shizuku and Kirasaka nodded their heads in agreement, as if they felt the same way I did.

 

“I’ve heard of the student named Shiraishi, was on the yearly committee and was serious and kind to everyone, and didn’t go out of her character …it seems too sudden for such a student to suddenly be running for president.”

 

“I’m sure I know someone similar from my class …Kanazaki was it?”

 

“I’ve also heard that a student named Kirasaka is also quite vicious”

 

“…Oioi, why are you guys starting a fight right now?”

 

Why do you always have to go from talking about a first year to your regular fights?
Do you realize that since I’m in between you, if you guys start a fight, it’s gonna be difficult for me.

 

President just smiled at this.
While the two of them were complaining to each other, I thought…

 

I searched my memory for as much information as possible, Koizumi’s sunken face, and President’s position.
Then one unpleasant thought comes to mind.

 

 

I should have realized it when we were talking about this in the first place, since the president had started the conversation in a rather grim way.

 

” Does that mean you think Koizumi might lose the election?”

 

“…”

 

 

President did not respond to my question like her usual quick answers.
She thought for a moment and then opened her mouth.

 

“Yes… according to my predictions it may turn out to be tough.”

 

With this remark, the atmosphere in the student council room became grim.
Both Koizumi and Miura looked darker than usual.

 

Shizuku and Kirasaka were also watching the situation quietly, as they couldn’t be said to be a stranger to this situation now.

 

 

 

When this story was revealed, I honestly only thought that it would not be an easy election with students opposing Koizumi.

It would require a certain amount of effort.

 

But I never thought of Koizumi as a student who could lose.

 

“Due to my position, I can’t be part of either side, sorry.”

 

“You can’t help it President! We’ll do our best!”

 

“We’ll do our best!” Koizumi quickly replied to president.

 

President just looked apologetic when he said those words as if to console her.

 

 

 

It can’t be helped.
If a person in the position of the president is supporting a single student, there will be criticism.

 

That’s not the kind of student who should be a role model for all students.
It would be better to assume that the president would not be able to help us this time.

 

 

 

First and foremost, we need to take a look at the other party.
Then, we can discuss the countermeasures.

 

As I was thinking about this, president resumed.

 

“The reason I’m telling you this today is because the candidates for the position of president are supposed to come to school this morning for a preliminary briefing, so we’ve arranged the camp to coincide with that.”

 

“Does that mean this Shiraishi student is coming today?”

 

“Oh …it’s about time.”

 

As the president was checking the time on the watch on her wrist, there were several knocks on the door of the student council room.
Then, just as I thought I heard a slight voice from outside, the door opened with a heavy thud.

 

A female student wearing a school uniform came into the room.
She was small in stature, but her gray white hair shone in the light.

 

The girl closed the door and adjusted her appearance, then turned around and smiled at us.

 

“I’m Shiraishi Momiji, a freshman.”

Just like that, the sudden and unexpected meeting became reality.

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