Chapter 86

In the hallway, I met the class president, grabbed his arm, and pulled him to the side.

"What? What's the matter, Kyouka-san?"

"President, you haven't been writing original love songs, have you, in addition to poetry?"

"Wh-What? How did you know?!"

So, you really did write one! The president's obsession is still progressing, and it's accelerating. What a disappointing revelation.

"Well, if that's the president's hobby, I can't really say anything. But, you must never think of confessing by making the other person listen to it. Oh! Given your character, are you planning to perform it at the school festival?!"

"No, no, I know that would be a bad idea."

Oh! You've grown, President.

"By the way, what kind of song is it?"

"...It's a secret."

The president blushed. Such a maiden.

"...Girls, you know, would probably be confused if they were suddenly given a song written just for them, right?"

"That's true. Not all girls, but they might be more surprised than happy."

"Is that so..."

The president looked a bit dejected. He wants to show it to someone.

I might need to check on this again before the school festival. There's a chance he might start singing impulsively.

"But, rather than giving a strange original love song, playing an existing song for her would probably be better received by girls."

"Really?"

"Yes. The other day, someone played a love song on the piano so beautifully that the girls were entranced. I even felt a bit excited, despite myself. The unexpectedness was quite charming. President, you have a gap moe, a gap moe."

"Gap moe... You know that term, Kyouka-san? But, is it a gap? I wonder if playing an instrument would be a gap for me."

"Playing a passionate love song with your serious demeanor is definitely a gap. But, choose the song carefully."

"What kind of song, for example? I think a song about the sea would be good, and I think the piano would be nice."

"Piano, that would be nice."

"The problem is finding a chance to play it for her..."

"President, what's wrong? Are you okay?!"

While we were whispering at the end of the hallway, a slightly hurried-looking classmate, Mizusaki, appeared.

"Ah, Mizusaki-kun. Do you need something from me?"

"No. I was just wondering if something happened to you. Why were you called here?"

Called? This is a hallway where people pass by.

"Called? We were just talking."

"But..."

Mizusaki looked worried about the president, subtly inserting himself between us.

Hey, how dangerous do you think I am?

"...Well, I don't really understand, but I don't think Kyouka-san is the kind of person you're thinking of. She wouldn't do anything to me. Besides, she's my love mentor."

"Love mentor?"

"Yes, since elementary school. I always get advice from her."

The president fidgeted with his hair, blushing. Such a maiden.

"Love mentor, huh. I've never heard any romantic stories about you, though."

Hey, Mizusaki, are you trying to start a fight? You're the vice mayor, you know.

...No, I know you're popular with the girls. But I'm also called a goddess, you know?

"Anyway, President, do you have a crush?"

"Wh-What! No, Mizusaki-kun, please keep it a secret?"

Such a maiden, blushing.

The shock of the bomb poem the maiden released in her second year of junior high seems to have faded from people's minds. That's good. But I'll never forget it.

"Then, can I help you too?"

"Really?"

Seeing the president about to agree with Mizusaki's suggestion, I quickly pulled his arm.

"No, President!"

"Why not?"

Leaving Mizusaki aside, we whispered again.

"Isn't it common for the person you're helping to end up liking the helper instead? Especially since Mizusaki-kun is popular. It's dangerous."

"True."

"Imagine if she came to you for advice about liking Mizusaki-kun..."

"Wow, that would be the worst. But it could happen."

"Right?"

End of the whispering.

"Thanks, Mizusaki-kun, but I'll keep consulting Kyouka-san as usual."

The president stopped and declined, while Mizusaki looked at me suspiciously again.

"Is it really about love? President, are you being threatened or something?"

"No, no, I'm not!"

Why do I have such a bad image with Mizusaki?

"I always get good advice from Kyouka-san. She even told me about a shrine for successful love."

"...That's not much of an advice."

"It is. It worked."

What, it worked?!

"Hey, President, what do you mean it worked?"

I grabbed his arm again, whispering.

"On the school trip, we got to go around the park together. It wasn't just the two of us, but it was fun."

Ah, that was when I almost turned into a merlion. I remember that. Nice, you had a good time on the school trip. I didn't have any good memories.

"Anyway, I'm not having any problems with Kyouka-san, so you don't need to worry, Mizusaki-kun."

"...Okay."

Why do I have to be doubted so much? We need to talk about this.

"Mizusaki-kun, I need to talk to you."

"What is it?"

I asked the president to give us a moment, and he looked worried about me, which confused Mizusaki. Look, to the president, you seem more dangerous than me!

The president left, still worried, and I started the conversation.

"Hey, Mizusaki-kun. Why do you have such a bad impression of me? I don't remember doing anything to you."

"To me?"

To you?

"In third year, you threatened Manaka. You said you'd crush anyone who defied you. I saw that by chance."

That was when I was waving the fan around!!

At that time, it was after school, and the hallway wasn't completely empty, so it's not surprising that someone saw it. One of those people was Mizusaki.

Indeed, that was a very bad image...

"Manaka had it coming to some extent. But I can't forgive someone who uses power to threaten others, even if it's the way the Pivoine, who control the school, operate. So, I'll protect the other students from you."

Oh, I'm being labeled as a terrible villain.

But, if he saw that, it might be inevitable... There's no room for defense.

"...Well, there were circumstances, but I understand your reason."

"Is that all? I'll be going then."

"Okay."

Heaven knows, earth knows, I know, and you know. The proverb about advising a fox has come back to haunt me. This is a fox boomerang.

It seems difficult to change this bad impression. And the fan waving is a part of my embarrassing past, so I want you to forget it as soon as possible...