"Huh?"
Mahiro was dumbfounded.
He never expected Sayaka to ask him such a question.
Even more baffling was why she would ask it in the first place!
And Sayaka's response was even more absurd.
Apparently, someone had recently spotted Mayumi-senpai chatting and laughing with him in a café, even blushing at one point.
No one had ever seen the student council president act so bashful before.
Thus, rumors spread that the two were in a romantic relationship.
However.
The reason she had asked was because she wanted to recruit Mahiro into the kendo club to help create a fair and just environment together.
She even formally extended the invitation.
But honestly, joining the kendo club held no appeal for him after witnessing the martial arts demonstration.
Rather than joining a club, he'd much prefer simply admiring Mibu-senpai's swordsmanship.
He really liked her swordplay.
Of course, Mahiro declined with that exact reasoning.
But Mibu-senpai seemed to only register the first half of his response, leaving her flushed with embarrassment.
After that, Mibu-senpai approached him a few more times to discuss the unfair treatment faced by Second Course students.
But the problem was—
Where in the world was there ever true fairness?
Even if you divided a cake perfectly into eight equal slices for eight people, those eight would still find the distribution unfair.
The root of the issue?
People simply complained because the special treatment didn't land in their own laps.
After that, perhaps realizing their ideals didn't align, Mibu-senpai stopped bringing the matter up with him.
However, a strange rumor began circulating.
That he had flirted with second-year Mibu Sayaka in a café—some even claimed the two were dating.
It almost felt like someone was deliberately spreading it.
"So, Yotsuba-kun, is it true that you really flirted with an upperclassman?"
About a week after all the orientation activities had concluded, Mahiro found himself cornered in the classroom by his seatmates—Kitayama Shizuku and Mitsui Honoka—who bombarded him with questions.
Even Miyuki had joined in, listening with keen interest.
"Seriously, Kitayama-san, you're the heiress of the Kitayama conglomerate. Are you really okay saying things like 'flirted' so casually?"
"It's fine. My father wouldn't mind."
Shizuku replied with her usual deadpan expression. "Also, Yotsuba-kun, don't change the subject. Please answer the question directly."
"Of course not! I just admire Mibu-senpai's swordsmanship—does that count as flirting?"
"Besides, Miyuki's right here. Let's not talk about flirting or whatever—if she gets corrupted, Tatsuya's going to come after me."
At his words, Miyuki's brow twitched slightly.
"...May I ask, Mahiro-nii-san, do you perhaps misunderstand my age...?"
Though she didn't seem particularly bothered, Miyuki still offered a polite, soft-spoken protest.
How could he misunderstand? Miyuki was a year younger than him.
But before he could say anything, the school broadcast suddenly crackled to life.
"Attention, all students!"
The speakers blared at an almost ear-splitting volume before the broadcaster seemed to realize their mistake and quickly adjusted it.
"—Apologies for that. Attention, all students!"
"We are the League of the Motivated, aiming to abolish discriminatory treatment within the school."
"We demand equal negotiations with the Student Council and the Club Alliance!"
"Wow."
Hearing the voice from the loudspeakers and watching Miyuki leave after receiving a communication from the Student Council, Mahiro couldn't help but grin.
They were more capable than he'd expected.
To achieve their goals, they'd actually dared to illegally occupy the broadcasting room.
But things were bound to get messy from here—forcibly taking over school facilities was a serious violation of school rules.
The Student Council, Disciplinary Committee, and Club Alliance had already sprung into action.
Yet after a while.
A captivating figure suddenly appeared at the classroom door.
"Mahiro-kun!"
Mayumi arrived at Class A looking somewhat flustered, with several others trailing behind her.
"Senpais, what brings you here?"
"Mahiro-kun, we heard you're Mibu-san's boyfriend. Is that true?"
It was Mari who spoke, her demeanor noticeably impatient.
Mahiro shook his head. "No, that's just a rumor. I was actually just explaining this to Kitayama-san and the others."
Shizuku and Honoka nodded in agreement, backing him up.
"Alright then, do you have Mibu-san's contact information?"
"Yes, I do."
"Then the Student Council would like you to contact Mibu Sayaka right now."
This time, it was Ichihara Suzune who spoke—the tall senpai whom Mayumi affectionately called "Suzu-chan."
Unlike the somewhat agitated Mari, she appeared perfectly composed.
In contrast to Shizuku's emotionless demeanor, this Ichihara Suzune resembled more of an intelligent ice queen, exuding an aura of intellect.
According to these senpais.
Neither the Student Council, the Disciplinary Committee, nor the Club Alliance wanted to handle this situation with force, but they needed to communicate with those occupying the broadcasting room and agree to the so-called negotiations.
Hence, they'd come to him.
"Sure, no problem."
Standing before the broadcasting room's locked door, Mahiro dialed the number.
"Hello, Mibu-senpai? It's Yotsuba."
[Yotsuba-kun? Why are you calling now?]
"Nothing much. I just wanted to ask where you are right now."
[...The broadcasting room.]
The voice on the other end clearly hesitated, but Mahiro chuckled. "I didn't expect you senpais to be so bold, actually occupying the broadcasting room."
[Yotsuba-kun, are you mocking me? Looking down on me?!]
The voice grew agitated.
"Not at all. That's genuine praise. Precisely because of your actions, the Student Council and Disciplinary Committee asked me to call you as an intermediary."
[...Why would they have you call me? To persuade us? If that's the case...]
"Of course not." Mahiro cut in. "The purpose of this call is to respond to your demand for negotiations. The school has agreed to your terms."
[Really?!]
"It's true, Mibu-senpai. I have no reason to lie. Since you've achieved your goal, please open the door now."
[...What about our safety? How will that be guaranteed?]
"Sorry, that can't be guaranteed."
"None of us are children anymore. You seniors should have anticipated this outcome when you decided to occupy the broadcasting room."
"While disrupting school order isn't an extremely serious offense, this time even I can't speak in your defense."
[...I know we shouldn't have troubled you, Yotsuba-san, with our willfulness this time, but—]
"Let me finish first, Mibu-senpai."
"To be honest, I genuinely admire you senpai."
"After all, reform inevitably requires bloodshed and sacrifice. The fact that Mibu-senpai and the others could selflessly dedicate themselves as pioneers fighting for Course Two Students' rights truly commands respect."
"So even if you fail, all Course Two Students will remember and thank you."
"After all, there aren't many willing to stand up and speak for Course Two Students."
[Hmm...]
Whether it was his words that had an impact or the other party had come to terms with things, after a brief silence, the call was disconnected.
Soon after, the broadcasting room door opened.
The five occupiers emerged looking somewhat grim but composed. They offered no resistance when apprehended by the disciplinary committee, nor did they voice any complaints—almost as if being arrested was a badge of honor.
It wasn't until Mayumi intervened that the disciplinary committee released them. For negotiations to proceed, opponents were necessary, and this time the three factions were determined to thoroughly convince them.
However, the looks others gave him grew increasingly peculiar—even Miyuki from the student council and Tatsuya from the disciplinary committee. Watanabe Mari even approached him, slinging an arm over his shoulder to say:
"I must say, Mahiro-kun, I never realized you were so eloquent. You've got real potential as a disciplinary committee member. Why not reconsider joining us?"
Mahiro's mouth twitched as he replied wearily, "Please spare me, Watanabe-senpai."
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