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Chapter 4: With Pride
Kazemiya’s position in Class 1-2 had become rock solid.
Usually, she hung out with the group centered around Kashima-san. No, perhaps Kazemiya was already the center of it. She had even started talking to Shirota and his friends normally.
Kazemiya had forgiven Shirota’s group.
I had told them not to get involved with her.
But Kazemiya had just said with a playful smile, “It’s fine as long as I’m the one getting involved with them, right?”
Ė n u m̃ а
Being able to forgive the people who tried to lay a hand on her was a testament to Kazemiya’s broad-mindedness.
By proactively talking to the rest of her classmates, Kazemiya was rapidly growing into a leader-like figure in Class 1-2. It was just like Tsukimi-senpai.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
It was ironic that she was somehow getting closer to being like Tsukimi-senpai after giving up on trying to emulate her.
“I have something I want to discuss with you all,” Kazemiya said.
It was night, after club activities. Lately, we had finally regained our relaxing days.
We were all spending our time at our own leisurely pace when Kazemiya spoke up with a serious expression.
Е̃nũ ṁ å . іd
“Did some kind of problem come up?”
Akazawa asked, but Kazemiya shook her head.
“No. Thanks to all of you, things have been going smoothly at school and club.”
“Then what did you want to discuss?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“I found a way to like myself.”
That was the issue Kazemiya had been struggling with.
Е́ ṅum а
What should she do to become someone she could be proud of?
In the end, a week had passed without her finding the answer.
“I… want to try becoming a Student Council officer.”
The words that came out of Kazemiya’s mouth were completely unexpected.
“Eh!? Really!?” Tsukimi-senpai exclaimed.
“Now that you mention it… it is indeed the season for the Student Council officer elections,”
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Akazawa said, as if suddenly remembering.
“How does the system work?”
The one who answered my question was Tsukimi-senpai.
“First, there was the Student Council Presidential election before winter break, and Kaya won, right? Since Kaya was the Vice President of the previous Student Council, she won easily in a vote of confidence without anyone running against her!”
That was the time when Tsukimi-senpai had left the Alliance, so we were too preoccupied to notice.
“The officer elections for the new Student Council are starting now. I think the deadline for candidacy is sometime next week?”
Е̄ n u m̊ ǎ
“Kaede, you sure know a lot,” Ogino noted.
“I’m a second-year, after all!”
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Tsukimi-senpai puffed out her chest proudly.
“Plus… Kaya has been constantly inviting me to join the Student Council…”
Tsukimi-senpai said, scratching her cheek.
President Kusunoki and Tsukimi-senpai seemed to be good friends, so it made sense she would invite her.
Ӗ ǹu ṁ а
“President Kusunoki was worried about how I’ve been doing lately… and she showed me what the Student Council does,” Kazemiya explained.
President Kusunoki had also intervened in the incident with Kazemiya and Kiritani.
She had probably been worried about Kazemiya all along.
“So that piqued your interest?” I asked.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Yeah. I thought I wanted to work under President Kusunoki. How about you join too, Kaede-senpai?”
“I have my hands full just managing the Girls’ Basketball Club!”
Ẇе̄b̂n̆о v̄е̇ l E ǹ úmà
Those words were likely genuine. She was already slightly overwhelmed as it was.
“Kanon, you also have club activities, right?”
Ogino tilted her head slightly.
“Of course I’ll continue with my club. I plan on balancing both.”
“…Can you actually do it? Even if the rules allow it, you’re going to be incredibly busy,” Akazawa cautioned.
“I understand your concerns, of course, Akazawa. But—I want to do this.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Kazemiya declared with a strong tone.
“I realized something. It’s not just that I want to be loved… I want to be trusted.”
Her expression no longer held the instability it used to.
“I want people to rely on me and entrust things to me. And I want to meet their expectations.”
That was Kazemiya’s answer to “how to like myself.”
“Well, you’re the one who decides in the end,”
Е̌n um а̃
Akazawa gave a wry smile, seemingly sensing Kazemiya’s seriousness.
“I think it’s a good idea.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Those words came out honestly.
“If you’re running for the Student Council officer elections, I’ll support you.”
“…Thank you, Minase.”
“But, Kanon. Do you understand?”
Ёn ǔ m ӓ.
Tsukimi-senpai warned Kazemiya with a solemn expression.
“Becoming a Student Council officer means you’ll be on the side of order.”
—It was true, just as Tsukimi-senpai said.
The Student Council and the ‘Don’t Want To Go Home Alliance’ were conflicting entities.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Belonging to both of them would be a double standard.
“It’ll be easier to protect this place if I’m on the Student Council, won’t it?”
Еnù m̂ а̊. і̃ d̀
Kazemiya had naturally anticipated Tsukimi-senpai’s concerns.
She playfully winked one eye.
“You mean you’ll prioritize this place above all else?” Tsukimi-senpai asked.
“Obviously. I can’t even imagine the Alliance disappearing.”
“…Do you understand that this means you’ll be betraying the Student Council?”
Perhaps struck where it hurt, Kazemiya averted her eyes.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“…I understand that.”
“I wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t have a reason to fixate on the Student Council,” Tsukimi-senpai advised.
“—I do have a reason.”
Even so, Kazemiya did not waver.
“I think that in the future, people who have no place to belong at home, like us, will enroll here. They might even be here right now without us knowing…”
She wasn’t aiming to become a Student Council officer just because she wanted to be trusted.
Wӗ b.nо̄ v è l̄ Enuḿ ӓ
Kazemiya had clearly found what she wanted to do as a Student Council officer.
“I want to make this school a place where those kids can belong.”
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She wanted to make a sanctuary like this ‘Don’t Want To Go Home Alliance’ one of the school’s official functions.
That was likely what Kazemiya was trying to say.
Learning of Kazemiya’s firm resolve, Tsukimi-senpai’s expression softened slightly.
“…If the Alliance’s existence is exposed, you’ll lose all your trust in an instant, you know?”
Ĕ nûm̃_а̇ . і̊.d
“It’s already over for us if we’re found out right now, too. Worrying about it is pointless.”
“…Alright. If that’s what you want, Kanon, I’ll help you too!”
Tsukimi-senpai smiled as she said that.
“Everyone else feels the same way, right?”
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Prompted by Tsukimi-senpai’s confirmation, we nodded.
“…Thank you, Kaede-senpai. And the rest of you, too.”
Ẇ e b̆n̄о̆ ve l̇. Е ňu mа
Kazemiya said, sounding relieved.
“It would be pretty stupid to lose after an exchange like this,” Akazawa commented.
“I know. I’m going to start formulating a concrete strategy for the Student Council officer elections.”
“How do the elections even work in the first place?”
Kazemiya answered my question.
“First is the recruitment period for candidates. That’s the stage we’re in now. You need a recommendation manager to declare your candidacy.”
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“What are you going to do for your recommendation manager?”
“For now, I plan to ask Arisa… Kashima-san.”
It seemed they had become close enough to call each other by their first names before I knew it.
“Next is the election campaign period. Putting up posters, morning greeting campaigns, lunchtime speeches, and so on.”
Now that she mentioned it, I felt like President Kusunoki had given speeches quite often before the winter break.
“Finally, there’s the joint speech assembly. The candidates and their recommendation managers give speeches in front of the entire student body. After that, there’s a vote by all the students. If there are more candidates than open positions, the ones with the most votes win. If there are fewer candidates, it becomes a vote of confidence. Though, I don’t think we’ll end up with a shortage of candidates.”
W еbn̈о̄ v̇еĺ Е̊ň u m̂a.
“I see.”
“Just so you know… I’m pretty sure Kaya is personally reaching out to her preferred candidates,” Tsukimi-senpai warned.
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“…It seems that way. I’m fully aware that this will be a tough battle.”
“If it’s Kaede and Yō, it feels like they could sway the votes,” Ogino said, voicing her thought.
“I don’t want to do that. I want people to vote for me of their own free will,” Kazemiya stated firmly.
“Kaede is one thing, but my influence would be a drop in the bucket,”
W_е b̃ ńо_vе̂l Е̃ n ûm̊а̌
Akazawa said, shrugging.
“It would probably be pretty hard to actually sway the voting…” Tsukimi-senpai admitted.
She gave a wry smile. It was scary that she looked like she could actually pull it off.
“What I want you to help me with is… the campaign promises, the speech text, and how to run the election campaign.”
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Kazemiya muttered quietly.
“I’m not very good at this kind of stuff.”
Е̂ǹ ǔ mа . i d̂
“What kind of campaign promises are good for a Student Council officer?” I asked.
“Things like making it a better school, or creating new systems? During the Student Council Presidential election, Kaya said she would make it a school that maintained public morals, or something like that. It probably wouldn’t be good to have promises that deviate from Kaya’s policies. After all, the Student Council President is the one who leads,” Tsukimi-senpai explained.
Ogino raised her hand with a serious face.
“How about allocating a ton of budget to the Light Music Club?”
“There’s no way that would work. You’d only get votes from the Light Music Club!” Kazemiya retorted.
“How about making it a school with a homely atmosphere!?” Tsukimi-senpai suggested.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“This isn’t a black company!”
“How about making the ‘Don’t Want To Go Home Alliance’ an officially recognized club?” I proposed.
“Look, this isn’t a comedy improv show.”
“Can you make a school without classes for me?” Akazawa asked.
“If even Akazawa is joking around, it’s over!” Kazemiya cried.
Kazemiya panted, exhausted from playing the straight man.
Е̂n̆ u ṁa
We might have joked around a little too much. We all shared a laugh.
“…I do have one decided. I want to make it a school that can be a place for students to belong.”
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That was what Kazemiya had said earlier.
“But it lacks specificity.”
“…How about creating a system where the voices of the students are properly heard?” I suggested.
“Right. If their voices can reach us, the Student Council might be able to help them.”
Е̂ ňu m̃a.
Kazemiya was seriously considering my idea.
“Back then, I was able to endure it because I had the Alliance and all of you… but if I didn’t, I don’t know what would have happened. So, it’d be great to have a system to support people like that,” Kazemiya added.
That was an opinion unique to Kazemiya, who had temporarily lost her place at school.
“For example, setting up an anonymous survey box…”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Kazemiya muttered to herself.
“I think it’s a good idea. It’s a very Kanon-esque campaign promise!”
Wé b̊nо̊ v еl Ën̈ūm ӑ
Looking at Kazemiya, Tsukimi-senpai gave a soft smile and patted her head.
“W-Wait a minute! It’s embarrassing, so stop!” Kazemiya cried.
“I won’t stop!”
Kazemiya tried to brush Tsukimi-senpai’s hands away, but Tsukimi-senpai went straight for a hug.
The two of them tangled together and rolled around on the carpet. It was a heartwarming sight.
…Except for the fact that Kazemiya’s skirt had flipped up, revealing her black panties.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Perhaps because it was a little warmer today, Kazemiya wasn’t wearing her black tights.
It was a rather alluring sight. Without thinking, I swallowed hard.
“…Shuuto?”
Ogino was staring at me with a sub-zero glare.
Noticing because of Ogino’s words, Kazemiya hurriedly fixed her skirt.
She sat back down, her face turning bright red as she glared at me.
Е̊n̈ um̄ ӓ . і ď
“…Y-You saw, didn’t you!?”
“…………I didn’t see anything.”
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“What was with that pause!?”
“He totally saw it, Shuuto did. Every last detail,” Misato said.
Ogino mercilessly threw me under the bus.
“Hmmmm…”
E ń ŭ mа. і d̂
Tsukimi-senpai puffed out her cheeks.
If you ask me, this was all Tsukimi-senpai’s fault to begin with.
“Listen, it wasn’t just me…”
I tried to deflect the blame, but Akazawa had long since turned his back to us.
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As shrewd as ever at night, this guy.
“And here you’ve even seen my panties before,” Tsukimi-senpai grumbled.
Е̇numa. і̄ ḋ
“Please don’t say things that make me sound like a total creep,” I pleaded.
That time was completely her own fault!
“Wait, you have? Ugh, you perverted monkey… you’re seriously the worst,” Kazemiya said.
Kazemiya blatantly put some distance between us.
On the other hand, Ogino reached for the hem of her own skirt and spoke up.
“If I’m the only one being left out… want to see?”
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What the hell is Ogino saying…?
“……Like hell I would!” I retorted.
“Was there a slight pause just now?” Tsukimi-senpai pointed out.
“You thought about it, didn’t you, Minase?” Kazemiya added.
Tsukimi-senpai and Kazemiya shot me flat, judgmental stares.
Dammit, why does it feel like I’m sitting on a bed of nails here?
Én u̇ḿ ă_. і̌_d
I felt a surge of resentment towards Akazawa, who was reading a novel with his back to us, acting like none of this was his problem.
It was in moments like these that I was forcefully reminded that I was in the company of the “Three Great Beauties of Sanrin.”
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“A-Anyway, next up is your speech, right? Let’s brainstorm together,” I said, changing the subject.
“…You’re blatantly changing the subject,” Kazemiya said.
She maintained her half-lidded stare but let out a long sigh.
“But… yeah. I’d appreciate it if you helped me think of something.”
Ēn uḿ а̃
Several days and nights passed.
Kazemiya formally announced her candidacy for the student council election, with Kashima-san acting as her recommendation manager.
“—It’s done!”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Kazemiya, who had been groaning over the round table in our secret base, suddenly cried out in joy.
She held a sheet of manuscript paper high in the air.
Е ňŭ m̄ȧ . і̇ d
“Congratulations,” I said.
I hadn’t actually been much help in writing the speech.
That was mostly because Ogino and Akazawa had provided incredibly precise advice.
Ogino picked out memorable keywords, while Akazawa structured the overall flow.
“I’m surprised you’re so good at this kind of thing, Misato,” Kazemiya remarked.
“…I do write lyrics, you know,” Ogino mumbled.
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She sounded a bit embarrassed.
“Wait, do you write the lyrics for your band’s songs, Ogino?” I asked.
“Yeah. I compose the music, too.”
“Wow, that’s amazing! Why didn’t you tell us!?”
Tsukimi-senpai’s eyes sparkled.
“Because… having people listen to songs I made myself is embarrassing,” Ogino replied.
Е̄n u mа̌.i d́
Perhaps unused to being praised, her cheeks were flushed with color.
“Thanks to you, Misato, this speech actually has some style to it now,” Kazemiya said.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Though I had no idea what it was originally trying to say,” Akazawa chimed in.
“Of course, I’m grateful to you for organizing the structure, Akazawa,” Kazemiya told him.
“Reading is my hobby, after all. This much is child’s play,” he replied.
“—Now I’m ready to face the joint speech assembly,” Kazemiya declared.
Еñ u̇ṁ а
Lately, Kazemiya had been working hard on her election campaign alongside Kashima-san.
She participated in morning greeting campaigns and put up posters displaying her campaign promises.
However, the situation wasn’t looking great. Or rather, the general student body simply had no interest in the student council election.
There were seven candidates running for four available spots. Two of them were first-year students.
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If anything, the second-years were more likely to garner support.
It was going to be an uphill battle for Kazemiya… but she still had a fighting chance.
Е̄ n um а .іď
Honestly, the impression left during the joint speech assembly—which the entire student body was forced to attend—would account for ninety percent of the election.
And now, the manuscript she would read at that very assembly was finally complete.
I had read it myself, and it seemed like a solid piece of work.
“But Kanon, it won’t mean anything if you can’t properly convey what’s written in this speech, you know?” Tsukimi-senpai pointed out.
“…Right.”
Tsukimi-senpai was absolutely right.
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No matter how good the contents of the speech were, the way it was delivered could drastically change how it was received.
In extreme cases, if her voice was too quiet, even a great message wouldn’t reach anyone.
“Speaking confidently in front of a large crowd is surprisingly difficult,” Tsukimi-senpai added.
Coming from Tsukimi-senpai, who always stood at the center of everyone’s attention on a daily basis, those words carried weight.
“I’ll try a practice run,” Kazemiya said.
With a small cough to clear her throat, Kazemiya stood up.
W е̌b̌ n̆ оvel Е̃ n uḿа
The four of us were her audience. Kazemiya took a slow, deep breath before beginning her speech.
“I am Kazemiya Kanon from Class 1-2. I want to create a school where the voices of those who have no place to belong can be properly heard. To that end, I would like to establish a system that—”
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Kazemiya’s speech was poised and professional right from the start.
Well, it wasn’t like she was bad in front of crowds. She was, after all, something of an idol among the first-years.
I felt like she could pull it off flawlessly, even in front of the entire student body.
“Hmmm, cut!” Tsukimi-senpai yelled.
Е n̄ u m̆а̂ ._i d
Tsukimi-senpai cut off Kazemiya’s speech with the energy of a movie director.
“You need more inflection! Right now, you’re just reading off the script!” she said.
“You’re really fired up, Tsukimi-senpai,” I noted.
“Of course I am! It’s so Kanon can become the person she wants to be!”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
……She was right.
We were all helping Kazemiya change.
Wе̃_b̌ñȯ v̊ e l̀ Е n̂ ù ṁä
And as we did, we were changing too, along with the very nature of the Alliance.
“I’ll show you how it’s done!” Kaede declared.
Tsukimi-senpai stood up and flipped her switch.
Taking the speech manuscript from Kazemiya, she concentrated on reading it for a few minutes.
Eventually, she looked up from the paper and addressed us.
“—I am Kazemiya Kanon, from Class 1-2.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Even just from the introduction, the difference was palpable.
Without glancing at the script once, Tsukimi-senpai looked us right in the eyes.
“I want to make this a school where the voices of those who have nowhere to belong can truly be heard.”
With a gentle smile, she perfectly modulated her voice, projecting clearly.
She even threw in some gestures here and there, ensuring her audience wouldn’t lose interest.
So Tsukimi-senpai’s charisma was built on an accumulation of techniques like this.
Е̌n ú ṁ а̇. і̄ d̂
When she finally finished her speech, Tsukimi-senpai let out a slow breath.
Flipping her switch back, she broke into a loose, silly grin.
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“Something like that, I guess? Pretty amazing, right?”
“……As expected of you, Kaede-senpai,”
Kazemiya said in awe.
“This kind of thing just gets better and better as you gain experience!”
Ѐ n̊ŭ m̂ ӓ. іd́.
“Yeah, I’ll try practicing a bit more. Sorry to ask this, but……will you guys keep me company?”
“Of course.”
I gave her a thumbs-up.
Akazawa and Ogino nodded as well.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
—I found myself thinking once again about how comfortable a place this was.
And so, helping a friend who wished to change, our night wore on.
Ěn u m̌ӑ..і̌d
It wasn’t that licking each other’s wounds like we had been doing was a bad thing.
But I liked our current dynamic—the way we were helping one another.
“For Kanon’s sake! Today, I brought a board game that doubles as speech practice!” Kaede announced.
Tsukimi-senpai gleefully pulled a game box out of her bag.
……Maybe she’d been aiming for this outcome from the very beginning.
“It’s a board game called ‘Speech.’ You have to improvise a story based on the illustrations—”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“I won’t have any opportunities to use improvisation……” Kazemiya interjected.
“What are you talking about! It’ll be useful after you join the Student Council!”
“You’re looking pretty far ahead……”
And just like that, we spent another fun night together.
Then, the day of the Student Council election arrived.
Е́n̄ ũ m̀ а̄
First thing in the morning, the entire student body gathered in the gymnasium.
Apparently, our school held the election during the general morning assembly.
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Most of the students listened to the explanation of the candidate speeches with complete disinterest.
Once President Kusunoki finished explaining, the first candidate immediately took the stage.
The person beside them was probably their recommendation manager. I recognized both of their faces. They were second-years with excellent grades.
They were likely one of the favored candidates that President Kusunoki had personally invited.
Е n̄ úm ӓ
“I’m Komiya Shiho from Class 2-2. I will be speaking as Maruyama-san’s recommendation manager.”
First came a short speech from the recommendation manager, followed by a longer speech from the candidate themselves.
Observing the crowd, I saw a lot of sleepy faces. Well, it was morning, after all.
The candidate, Maruyama-san, gave a dry, monotonous explanation about how they “wanted to make the school a comfortable place for everyone.”
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It was a very safe, run-of-the-mill speech. When it finished, a wave of mechanical applause rippled through the gym.
“—Thank you very much. Next person, please,” Kusunoki prompted.
Enu ḿ а̊
Then, the second pair of students stepped up, looking excessively nervous.
“I-I’m the recommendation manager! Um, for Satou-san……P-Please listen closely!”
Both of their shoulders were stiff as a board. Scattered snickers leaked from the surrounding students.
……It was to be expected, but the quality was nowhere near Tsukimi-senpai or President Kusunoki’s level.
If this was the competition, Kazemiya had more than enough of a chance. However, I did have a concern.
“Hey, Kazemiya’s running too, right?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Apparently. Wonder when she’s up?”
My classmates were whispering amongst themselves.
For better or worse, Kazemiya was the “talk of the town” lately. Ever since she’d revealed her true colors, she had been drawing a lot of attention.
It was hard to tell how that attention would affect the election results.
……If I remembered correctly, Kazemiya was fifth in line.
As I stood there listening to the second student’s speech, a slight commotion broke out near the edge of the gym.
W̆ еb́ n̆о̊ v̌ ӗ l̇ Ѐ n û m̀ӓ
It was the seating area for the candidates and recommendation managers who were waiting for their turn.
Kazemiya should have been there just a moment ago……but now, neither she nor Kashima-san were anywhere to be seen.
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I had a bad feeling about this.
I stood up and made my way toward the gym exit.
My sudden movement drew unwanted attention, but I just had to endure it.
“What’s wrong, Minase?”
E ṅ ũ mӑ
“Sorry, I just need to use the restroom……”
“Good grief. I told you to go before we started, didn’t I?”
Bowing my head in apology to my homeroom teacher’s scolding, I hurried out of the gym.
Standing near the gym exit was a pale-faced Kashima-san.
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“……Kashima-san,”
“Huh, Minase-kun……?”
Ẽn ǔ m̀а.і̄d̄
I called out to her.
I was vaguely acquainted with Kashima-san.
She’d helped me out when I was setting up my double confession plan for Tsukimi-senpai.
During that time, she’d also found out that Kazemiya and I were involved with each other.
“…Where’s Kazemiya?” I asked.
“Well… she told me she just wanted to be alone for a bit, but…”
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Kashima-san nervously scanned the area.
But Kazemiya was nowhere to be found.
“…She hasn’t come back?”
“No… What should I do? It’s almost our turn…” Kashima-san said, sounding frantic.
Sure enough, the third candidate had already started their speech.
It probably wouldn’t even be another ten minutes before it was Kazemiya’s turn.
Е́ n̊uḿ a
“…Got it. I’ll go look for her.”
“A-are you sure?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“…Well, you can’t both disappear, right?” I replied.
“T-thank you… Minase-kun.”
Kashima-san must have had her doubts.
Like, what exactly was the relationship between Kazemiya and me in the first place?
Wе ḃńo ṽël Еn̄ um̊ а
And why was I willing to go so far for her?
But swallowing those questions, Kashima-san simply said,
“I’m counting on you, Minase-kun.”
I gave a nod and headed off to search for Kazemiya.
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I tried calling her, but she didn’t pick up.
She wasn’t in her classroom, behind the school building, or on the roof.
Е̌ n̂ ǔmа
No way, I thought.
Because using that place at this time of day was a violation of the Covenant.
But that was exactly why absolutely no one would come here. Even I hadn’t imagined it.
I hurried back to the entrance, swapped out my shoes, and dashed toward the far end of the athletic field, slipping into the woods.
I pulled open the door to the Old PE Warehouse. It was unlocked.
“Huh…?”
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Kazemiya was sitting on the carpet, hugging her knees to her chest.
“What are you doing, Kazemiya?” I asked.
“I-I’m sorry…”
She looked terrified, clearly not expecting anyone to find her.
“I just… I wanted to be alone for a bit…”
Her face was deathly pale.
Е́ nu̇ m̂á .ì_d̈
Her shoulders were stiff, coiled tight with intense anxiety.
If she’d just wanted to be alone, there was no reason to come all the way out here.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“…I lied. The truth is, I ran away.”
She must have realized that I’d seen right through her, and she spoke with her eyes glued to the floor.
“…Go ahead and laugh. Running away right before my turn…”
“Who’s gonna laugh? I’ve been watching you work your ass off this whole time,” I told her.
Enuḿ а . їd̆
Now all she had to do was show everyone the results.
“We can still make it. Come on, Kazemiya. Let’s go back to the gym.”
“…I can’t.”
Her voice came out as a hoarse whisper.
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“When I think about the fact that they’re going to judge me, my body just won’t stop shaking…”
Kazemiya stared down at her palms.
Е n̈ŭ ḿ а̌
They were trembling uncontrollably.
—Right now, Kazemiya was likely coming face to face with her own trauma.
Kazemiya had spent her entire life constantly being judged by her mother, only to be abandoned in the end.
Faced with a situation where others were going to evaluate her, she was having a flashback to that past trauma.
The sheer terror of being abandoned by her mother had completely paralyzed her.
That was why she’d run away.
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Even though she knew that the person she wanted to become lay just beyond this hurdle.
“Listen, Kazemiya.”
I sat down next to her.
Since we were quite a ways from the gym, it was dead silent around us.
“You already have a place where you belong, don’t you?”
And it wasn’t just the Alliance.
Еn̈ů m̈а̂ .і d
She’d found a place for herself at school and in her club, too.
“…Yeah.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Even if you lose the election, it doesn’t mean you lose everything.”
Kazemiya had put in so much effort to change.
“…Yeah.”
“The people at this school aren’t your family.”
Еn ŭm а̌. і̄ d
Kazemiya’s head snapped up in surprise.
“Even if you mess up, they’re not going to abandon you.”
For better or worse, the student body really didn’t care all that much about the student council election anyway.
“So get out there and give that speech with your head held high.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“…Do you really think I can do it? Someone like me…?”
“That phrase is banned now.”
W̌ е̊bnо v е̂ l Е̃ṅ ū m̃ а
“Huh?”
I shot a smile at the bewildered Kazemiya.
“Stop using the phrase ‘someone like me’ when you’re talking about a friend I look up to.”
“…I think I’ve heard you say something similar before,” she remarked.
“Yeah, probably.”
I grasped Kazemiya’s slightly trembling hand.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Stop shaking, I prayed silently.
“You want to become someone that people can rely on, right?”
“…Yeah.”
“You want to be able to like the you that you used to hate, don’t you?”
“…Yeah.”
Kazemiya squeezed my hand tightly in return.
W̌ е b́ń о v̈еl Ên û_m̌а̂
“Hey, will you listen to me?” she asked.
“…What is it?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“The feeling that I want everyone to trust me… it isn’t a lie. It’s not a lie, but…”
“The biggest reason…” Kazemiya continued.
“—I want to prove my family wrong.”
That was likely the wish residing deep within the bottom of Kazemiya’s heart.
Ěǹ ûm̊å
“I want to tell them that the girl they abandoned has become someone respectable enough to be trusted by so many people! I want to tell them they were idiots for having such a terrible eye for people! It’s such a shallow desire!”
“—What’s wrong with that?”
It might have been an embarrassing truth for Kazemiya, but I honestly felt that way.
“Wha…”
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“Let’s prove them wrong. It pisses you off, right? The people who abandoned you.”
“…Is that really okay?”
Ẇ е̂.b̈ nŏ v̄ӗl̀ Ēňümа̂
“What’s bad about it? If it helps you regain your pride, Kazemiya, then I’ll support you.”
I thought that desires were, for the most part, shallow things.
If it allowed you to like yourself, then the catalyst could be anything.
“If you want to prove your family wrong, then you really can’t stay holed up in a place like this, can you?”
“…Yeah.”
I stood up and pulled Kazemiya, whose hand I was still holding, up with me.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“H-huh…?”
Kazemiya managed to stand, but it seemed her legs wouldn’t move.
“What should I do… Kashima-san is waiting for me…”
Perhaps a sense of crisis had suddenly returned, as Kazemiya’s expression grew increasingly frantic.
“That’s it.”
“Huh?”
Е́ n̂ u m̂ а . id
“You aren’t fighting alone. Kashima-san is on stage too, right?”
Kazemiya’s eyes widened in surprise.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“We’re in the crowd of students you’ll be giving your speech to. We’re on your side, too.”
“I’m not… alone?”
“Yeah. That’s why we can lend you our strength.”
What I was saying was pure sophistry.
Е ǹüm̂а̄
Since Kazemiya was the candidate, she was the one who would be judged.
“—I’ve been working hard at my club activities recently.”
Even so.
There was surely meaning in the illusion that we were fighting together.
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“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“The reason I decided to work hard was because I wanted to look cool in front of the girl I like.”
Ẃ е̃b̈ ñ оv́е l Ē ṅŭ mа̄
“…How surprising. To think such a line would come from your mouth.”
“The reason I’ve been able to keep it up is because I feel like you’re working hard right alongside me, Kazemiya.”
Kazemiya’s eyes widened in shock.
“I’m getting courage from you, Kazemiya.”
Because I wasn’t alone, I could bring myself to change.
I was sure that people had called that ‘courage’ since ancient times.
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“That’s why I want to help you change, too, Kazemiya.”
I couldn’t believe I was spouting such embarrassingly sappy words.
“…How simple-minded.”
“Isn’t that just how humans are?”
“…I suppose so. I’m starting to feel that way myself.”
Kazemiya let out a soft chuckle.
W̃ӗ b̀ńо̂ v е̄ l Ӗ ṅ u.m̈а́
“Hey, that girl you like… It’s Kaede-senpai, isn’t it?”
“…Well, yeah, it’s obvious, huh.”
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“You guys were doing that completely idiotic ‘Double Confession Strategy’ thing, after all.”
“No, I didn’t tell you the details about that, did I?”
“Even so, I can tell.”
Before I knew it, the trembling in Kazemiya’s hands had stopped.
Е n ūm̀a
“…I have to go.”
“Yeah. Go get ‘em.”
I let go of the hand I was holding with Kazemiya.
“…Just you watch, Minase! I’ll become a student council officer no matter what!”
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Kazemiya left the secret base and ran off in the direction of the gymnasium.
“…Well then, I suppose I should head back too.”
Е̇ň u_ṁ а . i d̈
I returned to my spot under the stern gaze of my homeroom teacher.
Immediately after that, Kazemiya and Kashima-san stepped onto the stage. That was pretty close.
“Oh, it’s Kazemiya.”
“Didn’t she take a while?”
The first-years stirred slightly, likely because of the recent commotion.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
For better or worse, she was drawing more attention than any of the candidates who had gone up so far.
“I’m Kashima Arisa, the recommendation manager for Kazemiya Kanon of Class 1-2.”
First, Kashima-san gave her introduction for Kazemiya.
During that time, Kazemiya looked out over the student body with a solemn expression.
Her complexion was better than before. However, the signs of her nervousness were, of course, still evident.
Before long, Kashima-san’s introduction ended, and it was Kazemiya’s turn.
Wе̇ b̄ n̊ о v̆ ẽl̄ E n ŭm̆ a
Kazemiya stepped forward and adjusted the position of the microphone.
“…Good morning, everyone. I’m Kazemiya Kanon from Class 1-2.”
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Smiling softly, Kazemiya introduced herself.
Her voice wasn’t particularly loud. And yet, her way of speaking seemed to seep directly into my ears.
It was a technique she had absorbed from Tsukimi-senpai.
Taking a slow, deliberate pause, Kazemiya began to speak.
W̌ ӗ b̊n̄ov̂ е̌l Е.nu m ă
“…Forgive me for getting personal, but I’ve been hiding who I really am this whole time,” she confessed.
Hearing a speech so different from the previous candidates, many students clearly raised their heads in interest.
At least among the first-years, it was probably common knowledge that Kazemiya had “changed.”
“I’m sure a lot of you felt something was off when I suddenly changed,” she continued. “But this is the real me. Everything up until now was a mask. My mask formed naturally, and before I knew it, I couldn’t expose my true self anymore. I was convinced that if I showed everyone who I really was, they’d hate me. It was only recently that I realized I was wrong.”
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That part wasn’t in her speech draft. It was all Kazemiya’s ad-lib.
“I was able to change because my precious friends became a place where I belonged,” she said.
Ŵ е́bn̈о v̊ĕ l̆ Ё n̆ u m а
A slight murmur ran through the surrounding crowd.
They were wondering what on earth she was talking about.
“…The reason I used to act like I was flirting with the boys was because I was searching for a place to belong,” she admitted. “I wanted some kind of concrete connection. Because I didn’t have anywhere I truly belonged.”
Nobody could have expected her to go that far.
The crowd was clearly in an uproar. Naturally, I was surprised too. After all, it wasn’t in her script.
Kazemiya had been ad-libbing this entire time.
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“I know how painful it is to not have a place to belong,” she declared.
But this was where the real speech began.
“---That’s why I want this school to be a place where everyone belongs,” she announced.
Kazemiya’s ad-lib finally connected to her drafted speech.
“I want to make this a school where the voices of those who don’t have a place to belong can be heard,” she proclaimed.
I looked around.
Ěn̆ um̂ а .іď
Nobody looked sleepy anymore.
Everyone was listening to Kazemiya’s speech with deep interest.
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“It’s from this desire to create a system for that very purpose that I decided to run for Student Council,” she stated.
The feelings Kazemiya wanted to convey were reaching everyone through the speech techniques she had mastered.
“Specifically, I’m proposing the installation of anonymous suggestion boxes, the establishment of a proper consultation system with the Student Council, and the creation of spaces within the school where students can easily interact with each other---these are my campaign promises.”
Kazemiya presented her three pledges.
W е b n о́ v̄ è l̊ Еn̄.ů m̂ а
These were ideas she had been considering for a while.
She wasn’t just spouting idealism; she was presenting concrete, achievable plans.
“I know I’ve made some big claims,” she acknowledged. “I don’t expect things to change overnight. But, if I am elected to the council, I want to work with the Student Council President and the teachers to try and make these promises a reality.”
Puffing her chest out and ending her speech with dignity, Kazemiya bowed deeply.
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For a moment, silence filled the gymnasium.
Clap, clap, clap.
Wе̌ b̊ ṅо vё l̄ É n̊um̈ а̇
The first person to start clapping was Tsukimi-senpai.
Following her lead, a thunderous round of applause echoed throughout the gym.
I made eye contact with Tsukimi-senpai. Something like this is fine, right? She seemed to say as she winked at me.
Up on the stage, Kazemiya looked absolutely stunned by the sight.
Looking out over the gymnasium, her eyes eventually found mine, and she stopped.
I gave her a thumbs-up. It was, without a doubt, a great speech. And she was simply being praised for it.
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---Kazemiya Kanon had been accepted.
From being hated and losing her place to belong, she had made it this far.
It was undeniable proof that Kazemiya had changed, proof of how hard she had worked.
“…Thank you very much,” she said softly.
Bowing deeply one last time, Kazemiya walked off the stage alongside Kashima-san.
Ě n ŭm ȧ
A few hours after nightfall.
We were all gathered at the secret base.
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“Alrighty then, to celebrate Kanon’s appointment to the Student Council… cheers!”
With Tsukimi-senpai’s declaration, we all raised our paper cups.
The cups were filled with cola we’d bought from a nearby convenience store.
On the round table, bags of potato chips were ripped wide open for sharing.
Е̊ n um ä . і ď
“Thanks,” Kazemiya smiled.
Perhaps feeling a weight lifted off her shoulders, her expression was softer than usual.
“I really appreciate everything you guys did for me. Thanks for all your help.”
“What’re you talking about?! Of course we’d help you out, Kanon!” Tsukimi-senpai cheered.
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“…Tsukimi-senpai, are you drunk?” I asked.
She was downing her cola and making a huge racket.
E n um а̃_. і̊ d
It seemed she was overjoyed that Kazemiya had won the election without a hitch.
“You were in first place by a landslide,” Ogino noted.
Just like Ogino said, the number of votes Kazemiya received was overwhelming.
“With how much you stood out, it’s only natural. It was a great speech,” Akazawa praised.
Akazawa complimented her, but Kazemiya herself looked a bit conflicted.
“I honestly don’t really remember what I said at the beginning…” she admitted.
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“Really?” I asked.
“I was so nervous, it was like I was in a trance. Did it even sound like a proper speech?”
“Well, you definitely went a bit too deep into your personal issues at first, so I was worried about how it would turn out, but…” Akazawa started.
There was no doubt that the sheer suspense of it all had helped draw everyone’s attention.
“The results speak for themselves, don’t they? It was a good speech,” I told her.
“Even after we all worked so hard on the script, I ended up ignoring half of it,” Kazemiya sighed.
Е̌n̈ ú m̊ а
“But in exchange, you got to say what you really wanted to, right?” Tsukimi-senpai pointed out.
“…Yeah,” she nodded.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Then that’s all that matters,” Tsukimi-senpai smiled.
“Kazemiya,” I called out.
When I called out to her, Kazemiya tilted her head with a blank look on her face.
“Were you able to come to like yourself?”
Е̃n ú m̂а
“…Not yet. I’ve only just reached the starting line. What’s important is what I do from here on out, right?”
“You’re hard on yourself, Kazemiya.”
“But,”
Kazemiya flashed a brilliant smile.
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“—right now, I can hold my head high and say that this is who I am.”
Just seeing that smile made me feel like helping her was well worth it.
Е̃ nůḿа
“Kanon, what’s your position?”
“I became the Secretary.”
“Ehh, you aren’t the Vice President!?”
Tsukimi-senpai puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction.
“It’d ruffle some feathers if I became Vice President over the second-years.”
“But you got the most votes, didn’t you, Kanon?”
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“It’s not like I’m fixated on getting a specific position, anyway.”
“Mmh~, that just doesn’t sit right with me! Maybe I should go complain to Kaya later!”
“Don’t do that.”
Though she likely knew it was a joke, Kazemiya chided Tsukimi-senpai.
“Still, it’s a fact that I was entrusted with a lot of votes, and I want to live up to those expectations.”
Kazemiya’s expression as she said that was brimming with motivation.
E ňum а̇ .іd̈
“I have to balance it with my club activities too, so the number of times I can show my face at the Alliance might decrease a bit, though.”
“Well, that can’t be helped.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Honestly, I felt a little lonely about it.
Tsukimi-senpai’s frequency of participation had also dropped compared to before.
But if they found things they wanted to do, I thought they should prioritize those.
After all, I had said I wanted to make this Alliance that kind of place.
W е̃b̌nоvĕl Е̊n̄ ú ṁ а
“—Just in case, I should probably warn you. You’d better watch out for Kaya.”
Tsukimi-senpai suddenly offered a warning with a calm expression.
“President Kusunoki?”
“Kaya is smart, and her intuition is sharp.”
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“You mean to make sure the Alliance’s existence isn’t found out? Of course, I know.”
Listening to Kazemiya and Tsukimi-senpai’s conversation, I recalled the words from that time.
Ẃẽ b̂ ň о v̄ е̌l̂ Е n ü mа̂
『—Are you friends?』
When President Kusunoki appeared during the commotion between Kazemiya and Kiritani.
President Kusunoki had seen right through the fact that I was about to jump in.
Thinking back on it, she possessed an unbelievable level of observation. Even though Kazemiya and I hadn’t even exchanged a single word.
At any rate, she had already caught onto the connection between me and Kazemiya.
…Well, even so, that didn’t mean she would connect the dots to the existence of the Alliance.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Ultimately, the most important thing was making sure our unauthorized use of this Old PE Warehouse went unnoticed.
Even if she noticed our relationship, there wasn’t much need to worry about it.
“Now then, since the night is getting late, let’s play some board games!”
That was why I decided there was no need to tell everyone.
I didn’t want to go out of my way to say something that would put a damper on this lively atmosphere.
“You’re the same as always, Kaede.”
W̊.е̌_b ñ о vе ĺ Е n u m̊ a
“I’m tired today, so a game that doesn’t use much brainpower would be nice.”
“…I’m sleepy. Can I go to sleep?”
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They all spoke up one after another while watching Tsukimi-senpai rummage through the board games in the back of the warehouse.
“…It’s another good night today.”
As expected, this place was the most comfortable.
I loved the time at night we spent together, all five of us.
Ẃēbn̊ o ve_l̆. Еn̈ ũmа́
That was exactly why I strongly felt that I absolutely didn’t want to lose it.
Once the board games settled down, I decided to go get some fresh air.
We had entered February, but spring was still far off. The temperature at night was low, and I couldn’t stay outside without a coat.
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I walked around to the back of the Old PE Warehouse and leaned my back against the wall.
Feeling the coldness of the outside air on my skin, I gazed up at the starry sky.
E ň ů mă . і̊ d̆
“Minase.”
“…Hmm?”
Kazemiya unexpectedly peeked out at me.
“The starry sky is beautiful today, isn’t it?”
“…Yeah, it is.”
“Hey, look this way.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
I turned around when she said that, only to find Kazemiya’s face filling my entire field of vision.
There was a soft sensation on my lips.
At the sudden event, my thoughts ground to a halt.
I was being kissed by Kazemiya.
I wonder how many seconds passed after that; gradually, it became harder to breathe.
Kazemiya finally pulled her lips away.
Е̂ n̊ú m̀ а̃_
Hah, hah…
Both Kazemiya and I were breathing heavily.
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A thread of saliva stretched between our lips.
“K-Kazemiya…?”
Kazemiya’s cheeks were flushed, but she wore a devilish smile.
“What is it?”
Ẅ е̄bn_óv̀ӗl̆ Е.n ŭ m̄ а
“W-What are you doing, all of a sudden…?”
“Is that a no?”
“…Of course it is. Doing something like this with someone you don’t even like is—”
“I do like you.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The words I was about to say were cut off by her sudden confession.
“Wha…”
Ë ñ u m̃ å.
My brain had completely short-circuited.
But she probably wasn’t joking around.
“…Do you mean that romantically?”
“O-Obviously. We just kissed, didn’t we?”
Kazemiya actually seemed embarrassed, turning her head away with a huff.
“Why me?”
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“…You’ve been supporting me this whole time, haven’t you?”
“That wasn’t just me. Everyone in the Alliance did the same.”
“True. But Minase… you were my biggest emotional support.”
I was happy to hear Kazemiya say that. It made me feel like my efforts had actually paid off.
But I never expected those actions to lead to her developing romantic feelings for me.
“Thanks to you being there for me, I’m getting closer to the person I want to be.”
E nū m̈ ǎ
Kazemiya looked straight into my eyes.
However, I averted my gaze.
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Because I couldn’t return her feelings.
“…I like Tsukimi-senpai.”
“I know that, of course,” Kazemiya smiled.
“But you aren’t actually dating her yet, right?”
W ѐ b n̂_о̆v́ е̃l̈ Е́ n̊ u̇ m̃ а
I was at a loss for words.
My fake lovers relationship with Tsukimi-senpai was a secret between just the two of us.
“That’s… true, but…”
“Then date me instead.”
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Kazemiya pressed her body against mine, looking up at me through upward-glancing eyes.
The skills she’d cultivated to flirt with boys were now being directed solely at me.
Е̊ǹ uḿ а
It was an incredibly sweet temptation.
“You like me too, don’t you?”
“…I told you before. Not in a romantic sense…”
“Are you sure?”
Being asked again, my words caught in my throat.
I liked Kazemiya.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
I wanted to lend her my strength when she was trying to change.
Watching her change little by little gave me courage.
Could I really say with absolute certainty… that there were no romantic feelings behind that?
“See? I knew it.”
Seeing me fall silent, Kazemiya let out a soft chuckle.
“You can put your answer on hold for now.”
W̌eb̃ n ö vel̇ Еñ u m̂а
With her eyes narrowed, Kazemiya stared fixedly at me.
“Because I’ll become your number one in no time.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
I was frozen in place, as if under a spell.
“Dodge this if you hate it.”
Kazemiya leaned her face in close once more.
I should have been able to dodge it this time, yet I couldn’t resist her devilish temptation.
Е̃ ñū m̀а̄
Licking her lips, she held her index finger up to her mouth.
“—This is our little secret, okay?”
Once again, another secret was added to my life.
Just what exactly was waiting at the end of this path?
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Final Chapter: Behind the Happy Ending
A few weeks had passed since the inauguration of the new student council.
Ѐñ u̇.m̃ a
February was drawing to a close. Kazemiya had been running around restlessly, balancing her studies, club activities, and student council duties.
Though her appearances at the alliance had decreased slightly, she seemed fulfilled.
I had become a starter for my club, too, and we had made it to the third round in our most recent tournament.
Considering we used to be regulars for first-round eliminations, you could say we had definitely grown.
Racking up some wins seemed to have boosted the motivation of the other members as well.
Just like Kazemiya, I was changing. I was moving forward. At least, that’s what I felt right now.
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Club activities used to be nothing more than a way to kill time, but now I found them enjoyable. Well, they still couldn’t hold a candle to our alliance activities, though.
“Got a minute?”
It was after school. Someone called out to me in the hallway as I headed to my club.
Turning around, I saw President Kusunoki standing there.
“…President? What is it?”
I currently had no idea why she would be talking to me.
Е n̊ ûm̌ а
“There was just something on my mind.”
“…Something on your mind…?”
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“What exactly is your relationship with Kanon?”
It seemed they had grown close enough for her to call her by her first name before I’d even noticed.
…President Kusunoki had figured out that there was a connection between me and Kazemiya.
Playing dumb wouldn’t do me any good. Still, I couldn’t quite grasp the intent behind her question.
Е nǔ ḿа
“…What do you mean? We’re just friends.”
“She cited a precious friend becoming a place for her to belong as the reason she was able to change.”
President Kusunoki was likely referring to Kazemiya’s speech.
“Was she talking about you?”
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President Kusunoki stared intently at me.
I felt as if she could see right through my very soul.
Ẇ еḃ nоṽ е̊ľ_ Е̌ ńù ṁ а
Denying it probably wouldn’t work. She wouldn’t ask something like this unless she was certain.
“…And what if she was?”
“So it was you, after all,” President Kusunoki said with a soft chuckle.
“Oh, it’s nothing, really. I simply found it strange, seeing as Kanon denied having any involvement with you.”
…Had I been careless?
I knew she had caught onto my connection with Kazemiya.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
However, Kazemiya wasn’t aware of this. After all, I hadn’t told her.
I’d assumed it wouldn’t become a major issue, so there was no need to go out of my way to tell her.
“…We’re keeping it a secret from everyone at school.”
“So it would seem, but for what purpose?”
“…Do I have a reason to tell you that, President?”
When I threw the question back at her, President Kusunoki smiled wryly and shrugged.
Ѐ ñũ ḿ а
“You have a point. I overstepped into your privacy just now.”
“…Why are you so concerned about this in the first place?”
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“Well, I merely wanted to convey my gratitude. Thanks to you, an exceptional officer has joined our ranks.”
“…Is that so? Kazemiya just worked hard to change herself on her own.”
“But during the speech assembly, you were the one who found Kanon when she disappeared, were you not?”
…Did she hear about that from Kashima-san?
Ẅ е b̊n о v_è l̇ Ёnũm̊ȧ
No, my slipping out in the middle of the speech assembly had stood out to begin with.
I thought no one had cared, but it wouldn’t be surprising if President Kusunoki remembered.
“Oops, I have no intention of reprimanding you for slipping out, you know?”
Seeing me fall silent, President Kusunoki waved her hand in front of her.
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“Rather, I hope you’ll continue to look after Kanon. After all, she can be a little fragile.”
They had only known each other for a few weeks at most, so just how much of Kazemiya had she figured out?
E ń ùm а. і̊d
“…You have no right to say something like that to me.”
“Whoops, sorry about that. I’ve always had a bad habit of worrying too much about my peers. You know, like who they hang out with. If they’re mixed up with the wrong crowd, it’s my duty as a peer to put a stop to it, you see.”
Her tone was gentle, but the words themselves were incredibly forceful.
A duty to put a stop to it? A normal peer wouldn’t have that kind of obligation.
“…So, what you’re saying is that you called out to me just to size me up?” I asked.
“Well, there is that… but the truth is, I’ve had my eye on you for a while now,” President Kusunoki replied.
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“…Huh? On me?”
Perhaps I had been mistaken about something.
I had pegged President Kusunoki as someone with an absurdly sharp eye for detail and a photographic memory.
And frankly, I wasn’t wrong. President Kusunoki was exceptionally capable.
Even so, keeping track of the social life of a first-year as completely invisible as me was a stretch, even for her.
—Assuming, of course, that she treated me exactly the same as every other first-year.
W е b̂ n̆о̌ v е l̄ Е ṅ ŭm а̇
But what if she had been paying special attention to me from the very beginning?
『—Are you two friends?』
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If that was the case, it made perfect sense why she had asked me that earlier.
After all, my social circle consisted of occasionally exchanging a few words with Kuroki in class, and that was about it.
“You went to Yoshizawa Middle School, didn’t you? Where that incident…”
—This person knew about my past.
Е̌ǹ u m_a . і.d
The moment that realization hit me, a sudden wave of nausea washed over me.
“You always seemed to be alone, so I was worried about you, but…”
Despite looking slightly apologetic for bringing it up, President Kusunoki let out a relieved sigh.
“…I’m glad. It seems you’ve found a place to belong at this school, too.”
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She was probably referring to Kazemiya.
I was sure President Kusunoki was a good person at heart. She was genuinely worried about me.
Ё nǔm̌â .i̇d̀
But… if I wanted the alliance to survive, she was the person I needed to be the most wary of.
“Still, if anything happens, don’t hesitate to rely on the student council. That’s what Kanon wants, too.”
President Kusunoki lightly patted me on the shoulder and walked away.
I gave it my all at club practice again today, and the night gradually deepened.
Checking the 『IKD』 group chat on my phone, I headed toward our secret base.
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It looked like Tsukimi-senpai, Kazemiya, and Akazawa were all taking the night off. For once, it was probably just going to be me and Ogino.
…Just me and Ogino, huh? Sounded like it was going to be a relaxing night.
I could already picture her dozing off peacefully.
I walked all the way to the far edge of the sprawling school grounds, eventually arriving in front of the Old PE Warehouse.
The door was already unlocked, and a faint light spilled out from inside. It seemed Ogino was already here.
When I opened the door, the first thing that caught my eye was a horribly mangled guitar.
Е̃nu m̃ã.і́ d̀
“…What?”
Ogino was leaning against the wall, her head hanging low.
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Her hands were covered in blood. Crimson drops were dripping onto the carpet.
“H-Hey! Are you okay!?”
I rushed over to her in a panic, but Ogino just stared at the floor with a hollow, empty expression.
The wounds on her hands were likely from scraping them when the guitar was smashed.
Е̌ n̄ üm а̇.i d́
There was no one else inside the secret base. The only explanation was that Ogino had broken the guitar herself.
She had smashed the guitar she cherished so much, with her own two hands.
“What happened, Ogino!?”
I grabbed her shoulders and shook her gently, and she finally looked up at me.
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Then, she offered me a smile so fragile it looked like she might break at any moment.
“Shuuto… let’s run away. Let’s go somewhere far away from here. Somewhere far, far away…”
Е̌ ň ú m а
Afterword
Doesn’t a school at night just fill you with excitement?
I remember sneaking into the school at night with all my friends. We didn’t even do anything in particular, but it was just so incredibly fun. I think that the perfect sense of the extraordinary in a situation like “a familiar school, but at night with no one around” is what leads to that feeling of elation.
So, with that said, nice to meet you, or perhaps it’s been a while. My name is Kazuki Amemiya.
Due to page constraints, there wasn’t an afterword in the first volume, so I’m sure this is the first time we’re meeting for many of you.
Thank you so much for continuing to read into the second volume!
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The first volume was Tsukimi Kaede’s story, and this second volume became Kazemiya Kanon’s story. And, as planned, the third volume will be Ogino Misato’s story. If you found it interesting, I would be absolutely thrilled if you continued to read the rest of the series. Also, if you wouldn’t mind, could you please share your thoughts on X or other social media using the hashtag #HimitsuSeishun? Your feedback gives me the power to keep this story going!
Also, I’ll share more details later, but a manga adaptation of this series has been officially decided! This is also all thanks to your support. Thank you so, so much!
Additionally, the youth do-over romcom published by HJ Bunko, Haibara’s Teenage New Game+, is currently airing as a TV anime. The eleventh volume, which concludes the main story of the original light novel, was just released on June 1st, so please be sure to check out both the anime and the original work!
Moving on to acknowledgments. To my editor in charge, Yuasa-san, I am incredibly sorry for always, always turning in my manuscripts late…… I swear that next time, I’ll become a decent human being who meets deadlines. Thank you as always.
And to Shiina Kuro-san, who handles the illustrations, thank you for the wonderful artwork in this second volume, just as you provided for the first. The heroines are just too adorable, and the youthfulness is off the charts!
And a massive thank you to everyone involved in making this book a reality.
Е̌ ń u mа.і̀_d̀
If this story has resonated with your heart even just a little bit, there is no greater joy as an author.
Well then, I’ll be signing off for now.
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I look forward to seeing you again in the next volume, or perhaps in another story.
Lately, I’ve been really into Japanese sake. The combination of fish and sake is just an absolute winner.
Kazuki Amamiya
