Kenkyo, Kenjitsu o Motto ni Ikite Orimasu

REIKA-SAMA 083

One day in June, Kasumi-sama pa.s.sed words to me that Tomoe-senpai was calling me to the Student Council room. Apparently it was some secret&h.e.l.lip;

I opened the door in trepidation to find Tomoe-senpai and Stalking Horse there.

Sorry for calling you out here, Kisshouin-san. Come sit down.

Tomoe-senpai beckoned me towards one of the couches. Right next to Stalking Horse. Who glanced at me for a moment before averting his eyes.

After sitting down on the sofa opposite ours, Tomoe-senpai looked at my face, and then Stalking Horses.

I actually called the two of you here because I wanted the two of you to serve in the Student Council next term.

Hah?

Eh?

Serve in the Student Council!?

In middle school the member of the Student Council served until the end of Term 2, but in high school its only until Term 1. Right after the Summer Break the Student Council President retires and an election is held. Once the new Student Council President and Vice President are elected they nominate the other members. The students they nominate are told in advance though.

And apparently I was one of them.

Arima, I know you were the Student Council President in the middle school section. Youre an obvious choice. Youll accept, of course?

Yeah, well, I dont really have a problem with it but&h.e.l.lip;

Stalking Horse looked confused as he glanced my way. Mn. I know what you mean. Why the h.e.l.l is a Pivoine girl like me here, right? Im basically asking the same thing.

True, Kisshouin-san is a member of the Pivoine, but since primary school shes served as Cla.s.s Rep a number of times. Not only that but shes honest and hard-working. This is something I know very well too. Not only that, but shes one of the Pivoine members who get along more amicably with the Student Council. Its really a new faction, you could say. Thats why I really hope that shell accept.

Uwahh~ Im happy that Tomoe-senpai trusts me so much, but defying the Pivoine like that is really too scary. Id completely ruin myself if I did.

I am terribly sorry, Tomoe-senpai. That is probably asking a little much. Iamstill a Pivoine member in the end.

You cant be both?

I would probably be seen as a spy by both sides&h.e.l.lip;

Scaryy. Im actually in the Pivoine so I know better than anyone else just how scary it would be to anger them. At worse I might be bullied until I drop out of school. Ah, but well, its the Student Councils job to help with bullying isnt it.

Anyway, the elitist Pivoine and egalitarian Student Council are like, conceptually opposed, so theres no way I could be a member of both. It wouldnt make sense.

Mmn, I guess you cant after all.

Tomoe-senpai stretched.

You know, I thought you might say that but since it was you I was just hoping that you might. Youd be like a bridge between us after all. But I guess the divide between the two groups is even more intense during high school, isnt it.

Yes. Its not just a divide, its like the Mariana Trench.

Then just you for Student Council then, Arima. But Kisshouin-san, youll help out in your role as Cla.s.s Rep?

Yes. Whatever I can.

Next to me, Stalking Horse was looking at me suspiciously. What the heck. Didnt we get along in middle school? I was Cla.s.s Rep then too. Aah, but then again I was the one who collected the handouts while it was Monk Boy who actually brought them to the Student Council Room.

Dont tell me that he thought I pushed all the work onto Monk-kun!? Thats offensive! I worked my b.u.t.t off!

And I thought we were stalking horse buddies too.

Why are you looking at me like that! Youre supposed to be the Vice Chief of the Forever Alone Village!

What.

Nah, nothing.

Tomoe-senpai smiled helplessly at the two of us.

Arima. Kisshouin-san is somebody you can rely on in a crisis. Dont be prejudiced just because shes a Pivoine. You need to have an open mind.

&h.e.l.lip;But then whats with that nickname of hers.

Nickname!?

I heard his mumble with my super hearing.

Mizusaki-kun. What nickname might you be referring to?

Uh&h.e.l.lip; Its nothing.

How can it be nothing! Are people calling me by some weird nickname behind my back!?

Could it be thats why the boys all avoid me!?

Mizusaki-kun.

I dont know anything!

You lie. When a person lies they look up and to the right. Just as you did a moment ago.

Why do you know stuff like that!

Oniisama taught me. Problem?

Anyway, I said I dont know, okay! Its Makkie or something, okay!

Makkie? Makkie because Ive got makigami(curled hair)!?

Im not sure if I should feel offended or not. I mean, at least its not Curls. Isnt it a bit cute? Makkie. Boys, you can call me Makkie if you want!

Stalking Horse was covering his eyes with his hands. Is he that afraid of me seeing through his lies? Bro, the moment you do that I can tell youre lying. Is there some other weird nickname?

Now, now, you two, said Tomoe-senpai as he came between us. Youre the two kouhai I trust the most. Thats why once I graduate and leave, I hope that youll support the Student Council together.

Since he stopped us Ill leave it for now. I can always investigate later.

More importantly&h.e.l.lip; Graduating, huh&h.e.l.lip; Even though Im finally in the same section as him again, hell be gone after just a year? Thats so lonely.

Oh? Is something wrong, Kisshouin-san?

No&h.e.l.lip;

Wow. Thats really so lonely.

Tomoe-senpai is really balanced so things arent too bad between the Student Council and Pivoine right now, too.

Actually, its really only him that doesnt mind the Pivoine. The next Student Council President wouldnt want me in it anyway.

I wonder whats going to happen after he leaves. I dont want things to get tense.

Anyway, thats all I had to say. Arima, well hammer out some of the details for next term, so please stay behind for a bit. Kisshouin-san, thats all I had to say. Thanks for coming.

I understand. Then Tomoe-senpai, Mizusaki-kun, gokigenyou.

Take care, and stay safe.

&h.e.l.lip;You too.

After that I headed straight for the car waiting for me.

Im feeling a bit down for some reason. I know! Tomorrow Ill eat some snacks! Its been a while! Maybe the Lucky Turn crackers Ive hidden in my closet.

The next day I caught hold of Satomi-kun and questioned him about my nicknames.

Your nicknames?

Yes. Yesterday Mizusaki-kun mentioned something to that effect. I heard about Makkie, but are there any other nicknames I should know about?

Makkie? Oh, because of your hair. Ahh, I dunno, not right now?

Right now? Then in the past I have had other nicknames? What were they?

Eh&h.e.l.lip; Ahhh, G.o.ddess&h.e.l.lip; I guess&h.e.l.lip;?

G.o.ddess?

Ahh! I really dont know much about it! But n.o.body uses it now, okay! It was just in middle school! Ill make sure it doesnt happen again, promise!

G.o.ddess&h.e.l.lip;? The first that comes to mind is Aphrodite, but thats already taken. That boy who got rather enthusiastic with his violin performance on our trip. His hair is a bit of an afro so everyone calls him Afrodite. Except thats a bit of a mouthful, so really its just Dite now.

As for other G.o.ddesses, theres like Venus or like Athena and stuff? Those are the famous ones after all. But there are so many Greek G.o.ddesses, arent there. Well whatever.

I suppose that will do, for now.

Satomi-kun let out a huge sigh of relief and ran back to his ring of friends.

&h.e.l.lip;G.o.ddess, huh. But gosh, what if its really Venus. Oh no!