Chapter 186: That Straight-Laced Guy Was Actually a Traitor!
Suzune's task didn't go nearly as smoothly.
Other than Yuto, she had almost no friends in the class, so something requiring influence and coordination was naturally difficult for her.
Fortunately, all she had to do was contact Kei, Kikyo, and Hirata. All three readily agreed to help her collect written complaints.
As a result, students from first-year Classes A, B, and C each wrote and signed statements describing Class D's harassment.
They collected a total of sixty-three written complaints.
That alone showed just how many students Class D had bothered over the past several days.
...
Night fell. Kikyo's delicate body trembled, then she went limp in Yuto's arms, contentedly breathing in his scent and feeling the warmth of his embrace.
"Yuto, don't move. Let me rest for a bit. I'm exhausted..." Kikyo's voice was lazy and weak. Yuto chuckled softly and brushed aside her hair, damp with fragrant sweat.
After five or six minutes, Kikyo caught her breath and kissed Yuto's neck. Her eyes were full of seductive charm as she asked, "Yuto, Horikita Suzune asked me to help collect written complaints about Class D. That was your idea, wasn't it?"
"Yeah. We can't let Class D keep running wild, so I decided it was time to stop them."
Kikyo lightly poked his chest. "Yuto... if I wanted Horikita Suzune expelled, would you help me?"
Because Suzune had attended the same middle school as Kikyo, Kikyo believed she might know about her unpleasant past.
That was why Kikyo disliked her so much. As long as Suzune remained at this school, Kikyo feared that someday she might expose the person Kikyo used to be.
"Uh... I probably would help you," Yuto replied helplessly.
"That reluctant tone..." Kikyo narrowed her eyes. "Don't tell me you're interested in Horikita too!"
"I genuinely am not!" Yuto answered without hesitation. "I just don't really want to target her because of her brother. Horikita Manabu has helped me several times and even made me vice president almost immediately after I joined the student council."
Kikyo rubbed against him, giving him a soft and pleasant sensation. She lowered her voice. "Would forcing Horikita Suzune out make things difficult for you?"
"A little. She's extremely capable. She isn't some worthless failing student like Ike."
Yuto gently stroked Kikyo's cheek, which still bore traces of fragrant perspiration, and said softly, "And whether Horikita knows about your past or not, you don't need to worry that she'll expose it."
"I know she's cold and probably isn't the type to gossip, but I still hate the idea of someone knowing about my past!"
"I know about it."
"You're different from Horikita." Kikyo pouted. Yuto smiled and pinched her cheek, which still carried a faint blush. "Then stop worrying. Even if Horikita ever does reveal your past someday, I'll still protect you."
"Mm..."
Reassured, Kikyo lay contentedly in Yuto's arms with a sweet smile, enjoying the warmth and sense of security he gave her.
...
By lunch break the next day, Katsuragi and Ichinose arrived at the Class C classroom and handed Yuto the written complaints collected from their classmates.
Ichinose looked troubled.
"Shimizu, students in our class were still being harassed by Class D this morning. When are you planning to stop them?"
Yuto flipped through the complaints and smiled.
"Don't worry, Ichinose. We'll act this afternoon. For now, take these complaints to the faculty office and find Class D's homeroom teacher, Sakagami Kazuma."
"Why are we going to Class D's homeroom teacher?" Katsuragi asked.
"Obviously, I want him to read these complaints. Then ask him to tell every Class D student to remain in their classroom after school today."
Yuto lightly shook the stack of papers.
"They're going to listen to the complaints that Classes A, B, and C have against them."
After giving the documents to Katsuragi and Ichinose, Yuto stayed behind to eat lunch with Kei.
On their way to the faculty office, Katsuragi looked toward Ichinose, who was carrying the stack of complaints.
"Ichinose, do you think it's really okay for us to keep following Shimizu's orders like this?"
"Hm? What do you mean, Katsuragi-san?" Ichinose asked in surprise.
"From the beginning of the school year, Shimizu Yuto openly stated that he intends to lead his class to Class A. That means he's an enemy of both my Class A and your Class B."
Katsuragi continued calmly, "In fact, some students in my class are already unhappy that I keep working according to Shimizu's instructions."
"But our position in the student council is general affairs staff, isn't it? Isn't it perfectly normal for general affairs staff to follow the vice president's assignments?" Ichinose asked.
"It is. But we have another option."
"What option?"
"We can align ourselves with someone else in the student council. Then we wouldn't have to continue working directly under Shimizu."
The "someone else" Katsuragi referred to was most likely Secretary Kiriyama Ikuto.
Ever since Katsuragi started working under Yuto, members of the Sakayanagi faction had been spreading rumors that "Katsuragi Kohei has become Shimizu Yuto's subordinate."
Those rumors could damage Katsuragi's reputation and influence within Class A.
That was why he no longer wanted to remain directly under Yuto as general affairs staff.
"But Katsuragi-san, Shimizu is the one who brought both of us into the student council. Wouldn't switching sides immediately afterward be a little... inappropriate?" Ichinose asked awkwardly.
"It would be, but maintaining my position within the class requires me to make that choice. So, Ichinose, why don't you leave Shimizu's side with me?"
"I think I'll stay," Ichinose politely refused. "Nobody in my class is unhappy that I work under Shimizu."
Class B was completely different from Class A, which was divided between the Sakayanagi and Katsuragi factions.
The students of Class B sincerely regarded Ichinose as their leader.
There was nobody constantly stirring up factional conflict behind her.
Besides...
Ichinose didn't want to leave Yuto's side.
She genuinely enjoyed working with him, so she saw no reason to move elsewhere.
Unable to persuade her, Katsuragi sighed.
He eventually made an excuse and separated from Ichinose, leaving her to deliver the written complaints to the faculty office alone.
After Katsuragi left, Ichinose hesitated briefly before pulling out her phone and sending Yuto a Line message.
She explained that Katsuragi intended to stop working under him and align himself with someone else, along with the reason behind his decision.
Yuto raised an eyebrow when he read it.
In truth, Katsuragi's "betrayal" wasn't entirely unexpected.
He had been getting increasingly close to Secretary Kiriyama.
[Yuto: By the way, Ichinose, how did you find out that Katsuragi planned to switch sides?]
[Ichinose: Katsuragi-san just tried to convince me to leave your side with him.]
Only after sending it did Ichinose realize that her wording sounded rather strange.
"Leave your side" made it sound almost as though she and Yuto were together romantically.
[Yuto: So you rejected Katsuragi and chose to tell me instead?]
Seeing Yuto's reply, Ichinose realized he apparently hadn't noticed the ambiguity.
She felt relieved.
And, strangely, just a little disappointed.
Her feelings became somewhat complicated.
[Ichinose: Mm.]
[Yuto: Why?]
[Ichinose: Because I didn't join the student council to side with anyone. I only wanted to improve myself by working there.]
Yuto sighed after reading her answer.
"Ah, Katsuragi's motives really aren't as pure as Ichinose's."
"What are you talking about, Yuto?" Kei asked curiously.
"Here. Take a look."
Yuto handed her his phone and let her read the conversation with Ichinose.
Once she finished, Kei's eyebrows shot upward.
"Katsuragi Kohei actually decided to side with someone else after you were the one who got him into the student council?"
"That thick-browed, honest-looking guy actually turned out to be the type who burns the bridge after crossing it!"
Yuto gave her a strange look.
Thick-browed...? Katsuragi actually suffered from alopecia, so he didn't even have eyebrows.
"Kei, you really can't understand why Katsuragi wants to align with someone else?"
"I can understand it. He's obviously worried about his reputation in Class A." Kei pouted. "I understand his reason, but that doesn't mean I accept it!"
Understanding something was one matter.
Accepting it was another.
"Yuto, why don't you find a way to kick Katsuragi out of the student council?"
If Katsuragi intended to "betray" Yuto anyway, why keep him around?
"There's no need."
Yuto waved dismissively.
"Katsuragi is very capable. He can do the work of three ordinary general affairs members by himself."
If Yuto kicked Katsuragi out, wouldn't the student council lose an extremely useful worker?
"Besides, Katsuragi is only general affairs staff. His position is basically there to work. He doesn't hold meaningful authority, so there's no reason to remove him."
If Yuto ever expelled Katsuragi from the student council, it would be after Yuto himself became president.
By then, Yuto planned to bring Kei and the others into the council.
Once he had enough capable people of his own doing the work, Katsuragi could leave.
...
Ichinose arrived at the faculty office carrying the stack of written complaints and knocked lightly on the already open door.
Hoshinomiya Chie looked toward her in surprise.
"Honami-chan? What brings you here?"
Chabashira glanced over as well. She knew the girl named Ichinose—despite being only a high school student, her chest was more impressive than that of most adult women...
That wasn't the point!
The point was that Ichinose appeared to be a student highly valued by Hoshinomiya, her irresponsible best friend. She possessed extraordinary social skills and had firmly united Class B around herself.
Ichinose entered the faculty office with a cheerful smile.
"Chie-sensei, I'm here representing the student council and the vice president. I need to deliver some documents to Class D's homeroom teacher and pass along a message."
Hoshinomiya immediately turned toward Chabashira and complained, "Sae-chan, one of your students is using my adorable Honami-chan as an errand girl. Isn't that awful?"
"That has nothing to do with me. Don't complain to me," Chabashira replied, rolling her eyes.
"Chie-sensei, my student council position is general affairs staff. Running errands is literally part of my job, so it isn't unfair at all," Ichinose explained brightly.
"Uwah, Sae-chan, look at how sweet and understanding my little angel is! Compared with her, that Shimizu from your class is terrible!"
"..."
Unable to tolerate Hoshinomiya any longer, Chabashira turned toward Ichinose.
"What documents are you delivering to Sakagami-sensei? He stepped out earlier, and I don't know when he'll be back."
"Oh, I see. Then I'll wait here for Sakagami-sensei."
"No need, Honami-chan. Give me the documents and tell me the message. I'll pass everything to Sakagami when he gets back," Hoshinomiya offered helpfully.
"No, I couldn't trouble you with that!"
"Oh, Honami-chan, you're so adorable. It's hardly any trouble at all. Go ahead and rely on me."
"N-No... I think I'll wait."
Ichinose's eyes drifted awkwardly away.
She didn't exactly consider her homeroom teacher reliable.
After all, Hoshinomiya sometimes kept drinking right up until she had to teach class.
She was not exactly the most dependable adult.
So Ichinose would rather not entrust these documents and Yuto's message to her.
Fortunately, Sakagami Kazuma had only gone to the restroom and returned to the faculty office shortly afterward.
Ichinose immediately excused herself from Hoshinomiya and approached him.
"Hello, Sakagami-sensei."
…
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