Chapter 234: The Path to the Future
The atmosphere of the new student council was even worse than what Shirogane Miyuki had imagined.
Kouhai-kun and Kouhai-chan couldn't stand the sight of each other, Sakurai Saki and Shinomiya Kaguya didn't like each other either, and only Shirogane was stuck in the middle, caught in a dilemma.
As for Secretary Fujiwara, being the embodiment of chaos, there was hardly a need to even bring her up.
"Speaking of which, next week is the three-party meeting, isn't it?" Shirogane Miyuki brought up the topic, causing the frozen air around them to stir once again.
"Umu, we're about to enter our third year, it's about time to start thinking about our future paths." Sakurai Saki spoke while playing a game with Ishigami Yuu.
They were using a console in the student council room, connected to the TV screen as an external display.
"Myuu-senpai, I've been troubled recently." Ishigami Yuu said with a listless tone: "I don't know whether I should continue studying, or just be a useless bum, it's really tough."
Ishigami: "( – ⌓ – )
Hearing that, Shirogane Miyuki opened his mouth, but couldn't come up with anything to say.
"So Ishigami-kun's dream is to become a NEET, huh?" Fujiwara Chika covered her mouth, mocking: "Of course, I'm not saying that dream is bad, it's just… pfft pfft."
Chika: ꉂ (≧ヮ≦)
Ishigami Yuu turned and glared at her.
Ishigami: ( ◺˰◿ )
"Fujiwara-senpai, do you have a problem with my dream?! Huh! Being a NEET won't trouble anyone! I can live alone with pride, that's a hero! A HERO! Don't you get it?!"
"You even said the word 'hero,' Ishigami-kun, you really are such a chuunibyou."
"No restraints means no weakness. What must be protected, in other words, is a weakness. Because you have weakness, you fail. That's why someone with no weakness, nothing to protect, no ties to anyone, is the strongest." Ishigami Yuu said every word with dead seriousness.
Hearing that, Sakurai Saki glanced at him.
Hmm? Isn't that Hachiman's line?
Ishigami-kun, you've memorized it well.
As expected of someone who could empathize with Hikigaya Hachiman.
Their pasts felt quite similar, both had been hurt by girls. Luckily, Ishigami-kun had never confessed and gotten rejected, nor did he like the self-destructive approach.
"…Ishigami-kun, aren't you just reciting lines from a light novel?" The one who spoke was none other than Iino Miko.
She was working on checking the books as an auditor, which meant double-checking the data for Ishigami Yuu.
"You know that?" Ishigami Yuu had thought she was the serious bookworm type, the diligent study-loving girl.
After all, Iino Miko was a top student, and back in middle school she had never shown any sign of interest in the 2D world.
He never expected she read Oregairu?
"Could you not look at me with those eyes like 'Oh, you're fellow daoist,' it's disgusting." Miko glared at him.
Today, Iino Miko was brimming with a sharp-tongued aura.
The main reason was that she was disappointed in the student council.
What had Iino Miko seen in the few days since joining?
First: Fujiwara Chika hugging Sakurai Saki.
Second: Shinomiya Kaguya and Sakurai Saki constantly mocking each other.
Third: Sakurai Saki and Ishigami Yuu playing games together!
And this was supposed to be the sacred student council? Iino Miko resolved to straighten out this chaos!
"And another thing, Ishigami, why did you drag Sakurai-senpai into playing games with you?"
"Sakurai-senpai likes playing too!" Ishigami Yuu turned back, only to realize that while he was talking, Sakurai Saki had secretly thrown several punches at his in-game character.
No martial virtue! Sakurai-senpai actually dared to sneak attack! Deceiving! Cheating a youth like him!
"It's only because you invited him that Sakurai-senpai reluctantly agreed! Ishigami, you should have some self-awareness, okay?" In Iino Miko's heart, her trust in Sakurai Saki was absolute.
"This is blatant discrimination! Sakurai-senpai! Stop sneak attacking!" At this moment, Ishigami Yuu was being attacked both inside and outside.
His mouth was being lectured by Iino Miko, while in the game he was being tortured by Sakurai Saki.
"So annoying, shut up, I don't want to hear your nonsense." Iino Miko replied coldly.
Hearing that, Ishigami Yuu immediately showed a face as if he wanted to die:
"Wouldn't it be better if I just died already?"
"Don't, finish this match first." Sakurai Saki controlled his character, landing the final kick.
Ishigami Yuu, heavily injured, collapsed and couldn't get up.
Round 2!
"Is this Sakurai-san's character?" Shinomiya Kaguya stepped forward.
"Umu, a sword-wielding character, named Tachibana Ukyo." Sakurai Saki replied.
"A sword against someone who uses fists, isn't this game unfair?" Shinomiya Kaguya rested her chin on her hand, thinking.
"The range and strength in a game are different from real life, longer reach usually has more openings." Ishigami Yuu explained: "It's just a game, Shinomiya-senpai."
Sakurai Saki handed the controller to Kaguya, "Want to try?"
"Umu." Kaguya nodded.
Seeing Kaguya lose the first round, Sakurai Saki patted Ishigami Yuu's shoulder, signaling him to go easy.
Otherwise, Ishigami Yuu's life might be no different from a candle before the wind, probably not lasting through tonight.
At this moment, Ishigami Yuu suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, and for some reason the controller in his hands wasn't listening to him.
This is… The voice in the heart!
["Ishigami, do you want to be a hero for a moment, or a coward for life!?"]
["It's just Shinomiya-senpai! Are you planning to throw the match?"]
["No, be a hero! Fight against the injustice of capitalism, Ishigami Yuu!!!"]
ᕙ( ᗒᗣᗕ )ᕗ
...
..
.
"… Shinomiya-senpai, you're really good!" Ishigami Yuu watched his character get defeated, showing a bright smile.
Ishigami: ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ )
"Of course. I'm from the Shinomiya family, these trivial fighting games." Shinomiya Kaguya completely failed to realize that Ishigami Yuu was going easy… no, it should be said, completely going easy.
Right now, he and she were no different from playing shogi while missing seven or eight pieces. Why not five pieces? Because with only five missing, Ishigami Yuu could never lose to a beginner.
Looking at Kaguya's smile and Ishigami Yuu's forced smile, Sakurai Saki's lips also curved up slightly. He loved seeing this scene the most.
It could only be said that, in the past half year, although Sakurai's personality had become more gentle, his nature of seeking amusement hadn't lessened in the slightest.
...
"Shirogane, have you thought about your future path?" Sakurai Saki asked.
"I haven't really decided yet." Shirogane Miyuki put down the pen in his hand and began to think.
In fact, with a recommendation letter from Shuchiin, he could easily get into Todai (University of Tokyo).
"What about you?"
"Todai or Kyoto University." Sakurai Saki thought.
Todai went without saying, as for Kyoto, it was because it was closer to home.
"And what about Secretary Fujiwara?"
"Become Prime Minister!!" Chika said seriously.
The student council room immediately fell into silence.
"Are you joking?"
"Doesn't feel like it, Secretary Fujiwara could totally do it."
"A female Prime Minister, that's not a bad dream either."
"Hmph, such a possibility doesn't exist in this world." Ishigami Yuu muttered mockingly.
"Fujiwara-senpai, I support you!" Miko, whose dream was to become a judge in the future, spoke up.
Fujiwara Chika looked left and right, "Eh?"
Why does everyone think it's real?
"Chika, if you really want it, I'll do my best to help you." Sakurai Saki looked straight into her face.
The earliest would be tomorrow, the latest three years later.
There would be no such thing as "after three years, then another three years," the promise of an Esper was very real.
"I was just joking." Chika felt a little scared.
Not because she was afraid she couldn't become Prime Minister, but because she feared she might drown in power and lose herself! … Chika had always carried an inexplicable confidence.