Chapter 66

Mankah-san's attitude has been getting more and more arrogant day by day.

It seems she thinks I am no longer a threat.

To attract Kagemaki's attention, she and her friends make a lot of noise, which is unbearably loud. No matter what she does, Kagemaki won't be interested in Mankah-san.

The dissatisfaction of Nigika-chan and the others is growing.

In my absence, the strong-willed Nigika-chan and Kikuno-chan have clashed with Mankah-san and her group several times.

At one point, they were mocked as "scary serious girls," which made them furious.

"I can't take it anymore! Making such a racket without considering Kagemaki-sama's feelings! Rika-sama, please say something!"

"Yes! Mankah-san, even you should listen to Rika-sama!"

No, no, I don't have that kind of power. Mankah-san completely underestimates me.

After the last school trip, where I struggled to climb the mountain, she seemed to have confirmed that I was no match for her.

It was indeed a disaster. While I was still climbing the mountain, Mankah-san and her group had already reached the top and were making a lot of noise around Kagemaki and Enjo.

Kagemaki apparently got angry and told them to be quiet. During that time, I was completely useless and was starting to be seen as a disappointment.

This is bad...

Is there any way to resolve this peacefully?

While I was thinking about this, a few days later, someone stormed into the classroom during a break.

It was the new student council president.

"Hey, Mankah! You and your group stop hanging around in other classes! The students in this class are being bothered!"

"What? Who do you think you are, acting so high and mighty? Who are you, an outsider?"

"I don't want to hear it from you, who are empty-headed. Now go back. And by the way, I can see your piercings even when you try to hide them with your hair. That's a violation of school rules. Take them off."

"What?!"

Even when glared at by the group of girls, the student council president was completely unfazed.

"Don't make me repeat myself. Take off your piercings and leave this class. We're getting a lot of complaints to the student council."

Overwhelmed by the student council president, who was a head taller than them, Mankah-san and her group huffed and left the classroom.

A relieved atmosphere filled the classroom.

The classmates looked at the student council president with admiration.

Yeah, you're impressive, silver-haired student council president.

As I clapped in my heart, the silver-haired student council president looked at me.

"Also, make sure to properly reprimand the class representatives."

I was scolded.

Umm, I'm sorry.

After saying what he needed to say, the silver-haired student council president returned to his classroom.

"Maybe the new student council president is kind of cool."

"Yeah, he's the wild type. But, he shouldn't be allowed to speak rudely to Rika-sama, right?"

"No, I don't mind at all."

The girls who had been blushing at the silver-haired student council president quickly tried to defend me.

I really don't mind. In fact, I was grateful for his help. That's right, you are a person of justice, silver-haired student council president.

However, I'm impressed that he noticed such small and hidden piercings. Did someone snitch on them?

"Didn't the student council president also fight against the emperor until the end in last year's horseback battle?"

"Actually, I thought he was cool then too..."

"Really? I did too..."

Oh, it seems the silver-haired student council president already has a few fans. He's more approachable than the high-and-mighty Kagemaki and Enjo.

"What's the student council president's name again?"

"Mizusaki. Mizusaki Arima."

I clearly answered his name.

Everyone looked surprised, but of course I knew.

I have always felt a one-sided sympathy for him!

Because he is the one who competes with the protagonist for the emperor and ultimately loses, making him my fellow underdog!

Arima for underdog. Hehe, it's a bit funny.

However, even though we are both underdogs, there is a decisive difference between me, Kikuno Rika, and him. He always competes with the emperor in a straightforward manner and never resorts to dirty tricks like I do, maintaining his integrity and building a friendship with the emperor.

After pouring out all his feelings, he is ultimately taken away by the hero, making him the true underdog! If I am the evil underdog, then you are the good underdog. We are fellow underdogs!

In the manga's color illustrations, he had silver hair, so it feels a bit strange, but black hair is also beautiful, fellow underdog.

I've never heard of a regular Japanese person, let alone an Earthling, having natural silver hair. I think he would look good with dyed hair, but he probably won't do it.

The cover with the protagonist sandwiched between the black-haired emperor and the silver-haired student council president was cool.

But I'm on your side, fellow underdog. I'll be watching from here, so please keep running down the underdog path!

"Rika-sama? What's wrong?"

"No, nothing."

Everyone was looking at me with strange faces. I shouldn't do that.

I smiled and tried to cover it up.

Despite the warning from the fellow underdog, Mankah-san and her group continued to come to admire Kagemaki.

Their hostile attitude towards us was also becoming more and more overt.

The other day, Mankah-san deliberately bumped into me.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Kikuno-san. Are you okay?"

"...Yes."

"Kikuno-san, you should be more careful. Your motor skills aren't very good."

Clang.

Mankah-san and a few others were giggling, but the other students were exchanging worried glances.

"Hey, you girls! What do you think you're doing to Rika-sama!"

"It was an accident. You're so noisy."

"What?!"

This is bad, it's going to turn into a fight. I quickly tried to stop everyone.

It seems Nigika-chan and the others are also reaching their limits.

It's probably getting too much for them...

Today, I came to my regular hair salon.

Phew, I can relax. I just need a trim and treatment as usual, by my mother's order.

I was elegantly sipping the herbal tea that was served.

"Oh, this is..."

The hairdresser who was working on my hair opened her eyes wide.

Hmm? What's wrong?

"Rika-sama, you have white hair at the back of your head."

Eeeeeeek!!

"White hair?!"

"Yes. It's not very noticeable because it's in the middle of your hair. Look."

I was shocked to the point where my heart almost stopped.

When I was shown the back of my head in a mirror, I could see a cluster of white hair.

Lately, I've been feeling something strange at the back of my head, and I thought it might be a carbuncle, but it turned out to be white hair.

Stress. It must be from stress. Even Marie Antoinette had white hair!

A 15-year-old girl with white hair...

"Don't worry, Rika-sama. It can be fixed quickly. Pulling them out is bad for your scalp, so we'll cut them at the roots. We'll also do a head spa. A hard scalp is not good either."

"...Thank you."

I wobbled over to the shampoo station.

This is no good. If this continues, my hair will turn completely white.

Instead of the silver-haired student council president, I'll become the queen of white hair...

I decided to steel myself.