Chapter 35

With only one week remaining until the sports festival, the after-school hours of the second semester had become incredibly hectic for Class A.

Every day was filled with event practice on the athletic field, strategy meetings to investigate the movements of the other classes, and discussions meant to raise the morale of the entire class.

On top of that, I also had to deal with the crushing workload that came with being the student council vice president.

In the truest sense of the phrase, my days were dizzyingly busy.

---

One evening, in the student council room bathed in the light of the setting sun—

For once, neither Miyabi Nagumo nor Ikuto Kiriyama were present. Apparently they had class meetings related to the upcoming sports festival, making this rare absence possible.

As a result, the only people left in the room were:

Student council president Manabu Horikita.

Secretary Tachibana-senpai.

Our class’s absolute leader, Honami Ichinose, who had newly joined the student council in the second semester.

And me, the vice president.

---

“—Truth is always hidden on the reverse side of a stone tablet stained with mud. Do not be deceived by the words written upon the surface. From the sea of falsehood, dredge forth the genuine voice.”

(Translation: The numbers on page three of this club budget request don’t match the total amount, so please recalculate them.)

“Eh…? Stone tablet… covered in mud…?”

Ichinose froze completely while clutching the document I had handed her.

Apparently, even with her excellent intellect, she couldn’t decipher the “simple clerical instruction” hidden within my words.

“Haah…”

Watching this unfold, Tachibana-senpai let out a deep sigh before walking over to Ichinose.

“Aizen-kun, if you keep talking in such roundabout ways, of course someone who just joined the council is going to be confused.”

She gently took the papers from Ichinose.

“What Aizen-kun means is that the equipment expenses and travel expenses here don’t match the total amount below, so he wants you to double-check the calculations.”

“Ahhh! I see, that’s what you meant! Sorry, Tachibana-senpai! Thank you very much. I’ll fix it right away!”

Thanks to Tachibana-senpai’s accurate and sensible explanation, Ichinose’s face brightened instantly as she began tapping away at her calculator.

---

(…Tachibana-senpai, thank you so much. Every time I try teaching Ichinose student council work, everything that comes out of my mouth turns into abstract stylish nonsense, so I always end up dumping the actual explanations onto Tachibana-senpai. I feel bad…)

Internally apologizing profusely, I continued typing elegantly at my laptop.

The quiet clacking of keys echoed through the room.

---

Eventually, after all the paperwork scheduled for the day had been completed—

Manabu closed his laptop and spoke in a serious tone.

“...Once the sports festival ends, preparations for transferring authority to the next student council will begin immediately. Tachibana and I will formally retire from the council then.”

(WHAAAAT!?)

My hands stopped typing instantly as I screamed internally.

(The president and Tachibana-senpai are retiring!? I mean, they’re third-years, so obviously they’d retire eventually, but…! I seriously respect both of them. …Now that it’s actually happening, this feels unbelievably lonely…!)

Suppressing the feeling of loss swelling in my chest, I quietly stood and addressed them.

“—A great star does not fall. It merely entrusts its light to the next generation before returning to the eternal heavens.”

(Translation: Thank you for all your hard work. I’ll really miss you both, and I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me.)

“…Heh. Indeed. If the light we leave behind can illuminate even a small part of this school’s future, then I’ll have no regrets.”

Manabu narrowed his eyes in satisfaction.

“You caused me quite a bit of trouble in various ways, Aizen.”

“Aizen-kun really stayed the same until the very end…”

Tachibana-senpai smiled softly, half exasperated and half amused.

“But thanks to your support as vice president, we were truly helped. Thank you.”

“Even though it was only for a short time, President Horikita, Tachibana-senpai, thank you so much for everything! I’ll support both the sports festival and the transition process with everything I’ve got!”

Ichinose straightened herself and bowed energetically.

---

“After the transition is officially complete, we’re planning a farewell party with all the student council members. But since Nagumo and the others aren’t here today…”

For someone as strict as Manabu, his next words were surprisingly casual.

“Since work is finished, how about the four of us go somewhere for dinner as an early celebration?”

“Oh! In that case, why don’t we eat at Aizen-kun’s room?”

Ichinose’s face lit up as she suddenly began advertising my cooking skills.

“Aizen-kun is an amazing cook! Hiyori-chan and I get treated to his food all the time!”

(My room!? Wait, I don’t even have expensive ingredients fit for serving the student council president! What do I do!?)

“Oh… Aizen cooks?”

Manabu looked unexpectedly interested.

Meanwhile, Tachibana-senpai seemed to be imagining me in an apron and visibly short-circuited.

“If you don’t mind, you may invite Shiina as well. Let us make it a modest dinner for five.”

And so—

The top two members of the student council were invited to my room, Hiyori was hastily called over, and an impromptu dinner gathering for five was held.

---

Several Hours Later — My Room

“…I’m impressed. To think such authentic cuisine could come out of a student dormitory.”

“It’s delicious…! Did you really make all of this yourself, Aizen-kun!?”

Manabu and Tachibana-senpai stared wide-eyed as they sampled the dishes I had swiftly prepared:

Special Beef Stew

and

Fresh Fish Carpaccio with Special Sauce

The ingredients had simply been whatever was available, but by fully utilizing my “Aizen Specs,” I had crafted them with absolute perfection—from heat control to seasoning.

“Aizen-kun’s cooking really tastes like something from a restaurant!”

Ichinose puffed out her chest proudly for some reason.

“Yes. Sousuke-kun’s cooking is the most delicious in the world. I could eat it every day.”

Hiyori nodded repeatedly with an adorable smug expression completely different from her usual translation mode.

“—Even the finest nectar is no more than muddy water if there is no one to savor it. …I am grateful for your praise.”

(Translation: They were just simple ingredients, but I’m glad everyone likes it. Food tastes better when shared together.)

“‘No matter how wonderful the food may be, it only truly shines when shared with precious people. Thank you very much for your compliments’… is what Sousuke-kun said.”

Hiyori immediately supplied a perfect translation, and the dining table became wrapped in warm, peaceful atmosphere.

Even Manabu, who rarely softened his stern expression, seemed to genuinely enjoy the meal today.

---

Eventually, once the meal ended, Hiyori expertly prepared tea for everyone.

The rich fragrance of Darjeeling filled the room.

After taking a sip, Manabu casually spoke up.

“By the way, regarding next week’s sports festival…”

“You Class A students will be fighting on the same red team as Class D. How is your coordination progressing?”

(Ah, of course! As expected of a siscon big brother, he’s worried about the situation in his little sister’s class!)

But the next instant—

All the blood drained from my face.

(WAIT!!! Coordination!? Forget coordination—during that strategy meeting with Class D the other day, I completely provoked Horikita-san nonstop!!! This is bad!!! If he finds out, I’m dead!!!)

Flashbacks of everything I had done to Suzune Horikita flooded my mind:

The severe penalties and class point deductions I imposed during the first semester’s violence incident hearing.

The “loser crawling through the mud” poem on the deserted island exam.

Joining forces with Ryuen during the VIP exam and utterly crushing Class D.

And finally, the relentless verbal abuse during the previous meeting…

(Looking at it calmly, the things I’ve done to Horikita are literally those of an utterly evil villain…! If he finds out, this loving big brother president is going to physically destroy me…!)

Sitting beside me, Ichinose also seemed to remember the battlefield-like atmosphere from that meeting and awkwardly forced a smile.

(Please, mouth! Just say something harmless like “We’re cooperating well with Class D”!)

I put on the calm expression of a dependable vice president and spoke.

“—To teach a struggling fledgling how to fly, one must sometimes possess the cruelty to kick it from the nest. Only after being stained by mud and learning its own helplessness can true wings finally unfold.”

(NOOOOOOOOO!!! Why did it turn into THAT!? It sounds like I’m saying ‘She’s immature, so I’m thoroughly crushing her to educate her’! I’m dead! I’ve touched the president’s reverse scale!)

Manabu’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

Then, the great angel immediately smiled and began translating.

“‘Horikita-san still has many immature aspects and struggles with cooperation. However, rather than guiding her gently step by step, I deliberately stand before her as a harsh wall and force her to experience frustration so she can grow on her own. For that purpose, I will not hesitate to use severe methods’… is what he said.”

(Hiyoriiiiiii!! Thanks for the perfect translation!! But that’s basically a confession that I’ve been bullying his little sister!! It’s over… my school life ends here at the hands of the student council president…)

Internally drafting my will, I lowered my gaze.

Ichinose and Tachibana-senpai also wore expressions saying “Ah… so you’re really saying that…” while nervously watching Manabu’s reaction.

Holding his teacup, Manabu quietly closed his eyes.

After several seconds of silence—

He slowly opened them and nodded deeply.

“…No. Suzune would never recognize her own faults or grow unless she faced trials of that caliber.”

“Aizen… knowing you, you must have recognized her shortcomings and deliberately taken on the role of the hated villain by standing before her as a harsh wall.”

“…Thank you.”

(SAFE!!! Somehow he interpreted it in the most convenient way possible, so I survived!!! Thank god Manabu-onii-chan is such a good person!!!)

Internally pumping my fist in victory, I merely responded with an arrogant smile that seemed to say “Hmph… think nothing of it.”

---

Then, after quietly placing his teacup onto the saucer, Manabu sharpened his gaze and looked directly at me.

“…Aizen. Regarding the next student council president…”

“…I intend to nominate Miyabi Nagumo.”

“—!”

Tachibana-senpai and Ichinose both inhaled sharply.

“The ‘true meritocracy’ he advocates will mercilessly discard the weak. A system where individuals with ability can even destroy the class structure itself and freely transfer between classes…”

“If Nagumo becomes president, there will undoubtedly be a flood of expulsions.”

(What!? What is that!? Destroying the class system!? Tons of expulsions!? Nagumo had ideals that dangerous!? I had no idea! That’s terrifying!)

I trembled internally at the horrifying ambitions Manabu revealed.

“…Originally, I wanted to nominate you as the next student council president.”

“!?”

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.

“With your caliber and overwhelming ability, you could guide this school properly.”

“However, if I were to nominate a first-year like you through exceptional means and steal the presidency from Nagumo, the second-years led by him would never remain silent. The entire school would be dragged into a fierce faction war.”

Manabu’s sharp gaze moved from me to Ichinose and Hiyori seated nearby.

“You yourself could repel any underhanded trap Nagumo prepared without suffering a scratch.”

“…But in his desperation to reclaim the throne, Nagumo would almost certainly target those around you—Ichinose, Shiina, or even your classmates—and place them in danger of expulsion. That is what concerned me.”

(M-Manabu-onii-chan…! He’s really thinking about all of us! He’s right—if I became president and started a massive faction war, Nagumo would absolutely target everyone in my class! Thank god I wasn’t nominated!)

Internally, I prostrated myself in gratitude toward his consideration.

“That is why, Aizen… I have a request.”

Manabu looked at me with profound trust.

“I want you to remain in the next student council… as vice president.”

“…………”

(Wait. Doesn’t that still mean working under Nagumo!? That sounds like a hellish death march filled with nonstop harassment!! …But Manabu-senpai is sincerely trusting and asking me. I really respect him too, so it’s hard to refuse outright…)

“When Nagumo begins abusing his authority and losing control…”

“The only one capable of restraining him from within and protecting the students who need protecting is you.”

His words carried undeniable conviction.

“Nagumo has no equal among his peers. He is bored.”

“Simply having someone as exceptional as you at his side as vice president will naturally draw all of his focus and hostility onto you alone.”

“…………”

“No matter how viciously Nagumo attacks, someone like you would remain unaffected.”

“Simply by standing there as an overwhelming existence, you could ultimately protect countless students from unreasonable expulsion.”

Manabu looked at me with deep trust.

“You once told me you would ‘stand in the heavens.’”

“As the absolute breakwater against Nagumo’s dictatorship… protect this school’s order.”

“You can do it.”

(No no no! Basically you’re asking me to become the ultimate punching bag that absorbs all of Nagumo’s hatred!? Even assuming I can survive it unharmed, I still don’t want that!! Also, that ‘standing in the heavens’ thing was just another accidental stylish poem explosion! I’m not some superhero! I just want to live peacefully!!)

(…Haah. But if it’s Manabu-senpai asking, I guess I have no choice. I’ll just accept in a normal way like, ‘Sure, I’ll keep an eye on Nagumo and handle some of his hostility.’ Calm down, me…!)

I slowly lifted my teacup with an arrogant smile and spoke.

“—If the one seated upon the throne should succumb to madness… then I shall shatter the heavens themselves along with that throne.”

(NOOOOOOO!!! That’s not what I meant!!! Why did ‘I’ll keep an eye on things’ turn into ‘If Nagumo steps out of line, I’ll utterly crush him as vice president’!?)

“—If it is the burden of the strong to shield fragile insects from the raging storm… then very well. I shall bear it all and become this academy’s new law.”

(The chain of poems won’t stop!! I just wanted to show respect to Manabu-senpai, but now it sounds like I’m declaring myself the ultimate shield protecting everyone!! If Nagumo hears this, it’ll instantly become total war!!)

My overwhelmingly stylish and oppressive words echoed through the room.

After a brief silence—

The great angel clasped her hands before her chest and smiled kindly.

“‘If Nagumo-senpai abuses his authority and tries to force students into unfair expulsions, then I will stop him as vice president. Since this is the request of the president I deeply respect, and if becoming a shield protecting everyone is the role I must fulfill, then I will gladly accept that responsibility’… is what Sousuke-kun said.”

Hiyori had perfectly transformed my aggressively warlike poetry into an ideal heroic declaration filled with self-sacrifice and respect.

“Aizen-kun…!”

Ichinose looked at me with tearful admiration.

“Thank you…! I’ll stay in the student council too! If you’re going to fight to protect everyone, then I’ll support you with everything I have!”

“…Heh. I knew you would say that, Aizen.”

A faint but genuine smile of relief appeared on Manabu’s face.

“With the two of you there, Nagumo won’t be able to do whatever he wants so easily.”

“…I’m counting on you.”

(I only agreed because Manabu-senpai asked me to!! Why am I suddenly locked into the role of some savior preparing for all-out war with Nagumo!? Sure, maybe it’s better than directly fighting him in an election, but now my future as Nagumo’s personal hate sponge is completely guaranteed!! The atmosphere in the student council room is absolutely going to become hell starting next semester!!)

While crying tears of despair internally, I maintained my flawless arrogant smile on the outside, silently sipping my tea—

The only thing I could do as I prepared for the coming secret war within the student council against Miyabi Nagumo.