[Vol 2] The Cheeky Junior Gal Becomes Too Cute When She Gets Attached to Me Chapter 8

Chapter 8 - Former Student Council President Kuzuhara Yamato

 

After school. Only the student council officers were gathered in the student council room.

Monaka wasn’t here. As expected, we had her go home for today.

“Ugh, the atmosphere’s so heavy… Ah, I guess it’s my fault.”

The student council vice president, Kataseyama Rui, let out a dry laugh.

Kawana was staring down, looking troubled, and Hayato kept shifting his gaze between me and Kataseyama.

I sat across from Kataseyama at the long table, arms folded.

“So… you’re planning to run for student council president, Kataseyama?”

“Yep. At this weekend’s emergency general assembly.”

Kataseyama said it casually.

The no-confidence motion was a legitimate right written in the student council regulations.

Any student could submit it, and once submitted, it had to be accepted.

The target could be a single officer, or the entire executive board.

If it was a single officer, that person resigned. If it was the whole board, the board dissolved.

After that, a re-election would be held to fill the vacant positions—at least, that was the usual pattern.

…Though in reality, it was a hollow rule that had never been used.

“So since there’d be a re-election anyway, you made it into a vote between the two of us.”

“That’s easier for the students to understand, right?”

“…And what happens to the one who loses?”

“It sounds hypocritical saying this after causing all this trouble, but… I want Masachika to stay as vice president.”

She answered calmly, with her usual composed expression.

“I don’t plan on losing, but if I do, of course I’ll step down quietly. I wouldn’t disgrace myself by clinging on after submitting a no-confidence motion.”

She seemed to have taken action with a certain resolve.

“I’m surprised. Never thought you’d be the type to stir up something this chaotic… Did Senpai Kuzuhara put you up to it?”

Kataseyama was the type to maintain harmony even if she had to hide her true feelings.

Respecting everyone’s opinions, connecting with all sides, smoothing things over even if conflicts arose—she played the role of a well-mannered honor student who got along with everyone.

Of course, being human, she sometimes felt differently on the inside. I’d noticed that.

But she wasn’t the kind to go out of her way to create conflict.

“Yeah. It’s true that Kuzuhara-senpai suggested it.”

The notice on the bulletin board listed not only the name Kataseyama Rui, but also the former student council president, Kuzuhara Yamato.

It meant the two of them jointly submitted the no-confidence motion.

Shake up Kataseyama and pull me down… yeah, that sounded like something Kuzuhara-senpai would think of.

“But… the decision was my own.”

“I see. Then that’s fine.”

If she were only being manipulated by Kuzuhara-senpai, I would’ve blamed her.

She wasn’t weak enough to simply obey someone else’s words.

But if she herself wished to become student council president, and chose the legitimate method of a no-confidence vote, then I had the obligation to face her head-on.

“I accept your challenge.”

“Fufu, I knew you’d say that, Masachika.”

The emergency student assembly would be a one-on-one showdown between me and Kataseyama.

The winner becomes student council president, the loser steps down. A simple match.

Well, even if I won, I didn’t intend to make Kataseyama quit.

“W-wait, please hold on.”

Kawana, who had been silently listening, suddenly spoke up in a panic.

“This is all wrong… If that’s how you felt, you could’ve just run for president from the start. Why use a no-confidence vote…?”

Tears were welling up in her eyes.

“Sorry for dragging you into this, Matsuri-chan. Back during the election, I thought it didn’t matter, so I let Masachika have it. It’s selfish, but… I started feeling regret only now.”

“Do you… have some sort of dissatisfaction with the president?”

“Nope, not at all. I honestly think Masachika is perfect as student council president.”

“Then why…!? We were all getting along so well as the four officers…”

At last, tears streamed down Kawana’s cheeks.

“I like things the way they are. I love this student council… I don’t want it to break…!”

“…I’m sorry.”

Kataseyama looked upon Kawana with tender eyes as she covered her face with her handkerchief.

The fact that Kawana—who once hated being here—now saw this place as precious made me quietly happy.

“I do have a reason within myself. But saying it would only sound like an excuse, so I won’t. I know I’m causing trouble and hurting everyone, so I won’t justify myself.”

There was no hesitation in Kataseyama.

Even if she hurt Kawana—even if she had to fight me—she had something she wanted strongly enough to do this.

I had no intention of denying that feeling.

“If I win and become president… and if Matsuri-chan or Hayato don’t want to follow me, that’s fine. You can quit being officers or even submit another no-confidence motion. I’ll accept whatever you choose.”

“…Doing something that turns people against you like that… That’s not like a vice president at all.”

“I know. I think so too.”

It seemed Kawana couldn’t accept it. She was a kind girl—she probably didn’t want to see her senpai fight.

I also wished things hadn’t turned out like this.

If she had properly talked to me sooner, maybe we could’ve found a compromise.

But that wasn’t what Kataseyama wanted.

It only held meaning if the decision was made publicly—at the emergency student assembly.

“But honestly, from everyone’s perspective, this is super entertaining, right?”

Hayato muttered with a cynical smirk.

“Even the guys in class were laughing. Like, ‘this actually happens?’ It’s got that out-of-the-ordinary vibe. A kind of entertainment. And it’s a showdown between two well-known people.”

“Kataseyama being well-known I get, but am I famous?”

“You’re the student council president. Even aside from that, you stand out a lot, Masachika-kun.”

Really? I didn’t feel it.

“But honestly, Masachika-kun has no chance of winning.”

“…You say that so bluntly.”

“You’re popular, sure, but Rui-senpai is on a whole other level.”

Kataseyama was beautiful, and her personality was good. Anyone who interacted with her likely formed a positive impression.

On top of that, she was the vocalist of a band. She performed at the culture festival, and I heard she uploaded videos online too.

In short, she had star power.

Meanwhile, I had none of that kind of popularity.

“A one-on-one match is basically a popularity contest. No one’s listening to policies or speeches. They’ll just vote for whoever they like more.”

“Yeah, probably.”

“And this time Rui-senpai is the challenger… Entertainment-wise, it’s way more fun if she wins.”

Hayato’s prediction was completely objective.

I agreed with him.

If it became a popularity vote, I didn’t stand a chance.

“…Is that really okay with you, Hayato-kun? Talking about who’ll win or what’s more fun… That’s terrible.”

“I’m just stating the facts.”

“It’s weird that even the president accepts this so easily. Why aren’t you opposing this?”

Kawana stood up, eyes red, looking at all of us. She roughly grabbed her backpack and coat.

“I guess I was the only one who loved this place… this group…”

With that, Kawana ran out of the student council room.

“Kawana!”

I chased after her.

I had followed quickly. Her bags were heavy, so it didn’t take long to catch up.

She gave up on running and crouched down on the landing of the stairs.

She leaned her back against the wall, hugging her knees tightly, hiding her face from me.

I crouched in front of her and spoke.

“Kawana, I’m sorry. This is all our fault.”

“Why are you so calm, President? You’re the one who has the most right to be angry…!”

“I don’t have any right to be angry. I have the obligation to face this properly. That’s what the regulations say.”

“That’s stupid. Are those rules more important than our relationship?”

“…Honestly, I’m grateful you got angry. I haven’t sorted out my own feelings yet.”

I had never seen Kawana so emotional.

She was crying so hard she couldn’t hold her feelings back—she truly found the student council room comfortable.

“I really love the student council as it is now. I’m still not that close with everyone yet, but… all of you have been so kind to someone like me. I only ever studied, I barely knew how to talk to people, but you all welcomed someone like me warmly…”

She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, speaking through trembling breaths.

“I was so happy thinking I’d finally found my place. I wanted to get closer to everyone… I thought about so many things. Like not acting too prickly toward the president. And talking more with the vice president even though she scares me. And becoming friends with Hayato-kun…”

“…We all already really like you, Kawana.”

“Today is Valentine’s Day, so I made chocolates for everyone. I’ve never given them to friends before. I didn’t know how to make them, and I messed up so many times. I worried about the wrapping, and how to give them… I kept thinking about it…”

She unzipped her backpack and pulled out a small bag with cute wrapping.

Knowing how serious she was about studying, she probably remade them several times without compromise.

Seeing her trembling while hugging the little bag made my chest ache.

This wasn’t only Kataseyama’s fault. I shared responsibility for not facing her properly.

I had noticed that Kataseyama was bottling up some emotions, but I foolishly assumed she’d be fine because she was capable.

And this was the result.

I couldn’t even understand someone who’d been with me since last year, made a junior cry, and I dared call myself a student council president.

“I shouldn’t have made something like this…”

To make her feel regretful hurt even more.

“Something like this…”

She lifted the small chocolate bag with an unfamiliar motion.

Before she could throw it, I grabbed her hand.

“Kawana, don’t.”

“L-let go…! What, are you going to lecture me? Tell me not to waste food?”

“No.”

I held her hand, bag and all, and brought it down.

“If you throw this, you’ll be throwing away your own feelings too.”

I gently opened her fingers one by one.

Her strength faded, and I took the small bag from her hand. Her arms fell limply to the floor.

“It’s fine. If everyone feels that way, I’ll throw away these feelings too. I’ll quit being an officer and go back to my old life. I should just study anyway.”

Even as she said that, her tears wouldn’t stop.

“You probably don’t even care about the student council… Eh—”

She wiped her eyes hard and finally looked at me.

“Why are you making such a sad face…?”

“I’m sorry, Kawana. I really am.”

From the bottom of my heart, I regretted it.

I shouldn’t have accepted the no-confidence motion so easily. I should have bowed my head to Kataseyama and Kuzuhara-senpai and begged them to withdraw it.

No matter how pathetic it made me look—at least Kawana wouldn’t have been hurt.

But I didn’t do that. Because of my pride.

Compared to Kawana’s feelings, my pride didn’t matter at all.

“You know… when I saw the no-confidence proposal, I honestly thought it might be fine to step back. Kataseyama’s ability is undeniable, and she’d probably make a far better president than someone like me. A future where Kataseyama becomes the president and I serve as vice president… I thought that might not be so bad either. It’s not like I have some special attachment to the title of president.”

I only became student council president because it looks good on my record for university recommendations.

It gives me something easy to talk about in interviews, and people think highly of it. My grades are currently at the top, and if I add “student council president” on top of that, I can pretty much choose whatever university I want.

But even if I became vice president instead, would that really keep me from getting accepted? Sure, the impression might drop a little, but the difference wouldn’t be that big.

If losing the presidency truly made admission unlikely, then I’d just pick up some volunteer work or certifications and take another route.

That’s why, honestly… I was close to giving up.

“But… I can’t afford to lose anymore.”

“Eh…?”

“Kawana cares this much about me. So how could I not respond to that? I want to protect the student council that Kawana loves.”

Even if Kataseyama and I switched positions, it wouldn’t cause any serious issues with the actual work.

However, the atmosphere would definitely change.

…And that’s something that would happen even if I won. Kataseyama would definitely take responsibility and resign as vice president.

But I won’t allow that either.

“I’ll win, and Kataseyama will stay as vice president. And on top of that, I’ll make sure not a single trace of resentment is left behind.”

“Is something like that even possible?”

“I’m going to do it.”

The road ahead won’t be easy.

Winning itself is already hard. My opponent isn’t just Kataseyama—she even has the charismatic former president backing her. There’s no way they’ll let me win easily.

But I have no choice but to do it.

“Because I still want you to call me ‘President,’ Kawana.”

I reached out and gently patted Kawana’s head.

Once again, large tears spilled from her eyes.

“…If you lose, I won’t forgive you.”

“Yeah.”

“If you lose, I’ll print a newspaper full of really nasty insults about you and spread it everywhere.”

“That’s… quite a specific threat…”

“If you lose… I’ll hate you, President.”

“Yeah, that would be a problem.”

Being hated by such a cute kouhai would hit harder than resigning as student council president.

Kawana kept crying, yet managed an awkward little smile.

“Alright, then can I eat this chocolate?”

“Eh, no. You squeezed it too hard and ruined the shape. I’ll make a new one.”

“Then it’ll be tomorrow.”

“That’s fine, isn’t it?”

“Nope, not fine. I’ve been looking forward to getting Valentine’s chocolate from you.”

“Then all the more reason to give you a properly made one!”

Kawana tried to take the chocolate back from my hand.

But once I stood up, it was over. She was too short to reach my hand held up high.

“Matsuri-chan, you have chocolate!?”

Hayato suddenly jumped out, probably having listened from behind.

“Even Hayato-kun…?”

“Then can I get two? Have mercy on me, I still have zero!”

“No. Because the other one is…”

kawana trailed off and lowered her gaze.

“I know.”

Hayato smiled softly and took the two small bags from Kawana.

He’d deliver them to Kataseyama. She probably couldn’t bring herself to come here.

“By the way, I’m also betting on Masachika-kun winning.”

“Why? Aren’t you on Kataseyama’s side?”

“We’re not some faction fighting a turf war, okay? Besides, you’re one of my goals too. I don’t wanna see you lose miserably and fall from grace.”

“Miserably? Fall from grace? That’s harsh…”

“Makes you even less able to lose, right?”

“Seriously.”

Ah… I really have good kouhai.

Then, as their senpai, I have to show them something cool.

“Senpai.”

“Monaka… I thought you went home?”

“I can’t go home without exchanging chocolates with Matsurin!”

I didn’t know if she overheard us or not, but Monaka came walking down the hallway.

She stood in front of me and held out her fist.

“If it’s for Senpai, I’ll do anything.”

With a resolute expression, she declared that.

“Didn’t I tell you not to say ‘I’ll do anything’. so carelessly?”

“If it’s not careless, then it’s fine, right?”

“…Yeah. Then I’m counting on you.”

I bumped my fist firmly against hers.

 

The next day.

The emergency student general assembly regarding the no-confidence motion would be held this Friday.

It was Tuesday morning now. Hardly any time left.

If I did nothing and simply waited for the day… just like Hayato said, the chance of losing was high.

People who were originally fans of Kataseyama. People who would vote simply based on appearance. People who found the idea of a rare no-confidence vote amusing.

No matter how I pictured it, more students would vote for Kataseyama.

I might even lose by a large margin.

How many votes can I shift in these three days? Everything depended on that.

“What if we hand out coupons that let people boss Senpai around for a day if they vote for you? I’ll vote like a hundred times!”

That’s what Monaka said as we walked to school in the morning.

“There are like two violations in that sentence, you know?”

“Ah—no good. Then someone else might take Senpai!”

“That’s not the issue.”

Swaying them with gifts, and voting more than once—both obviously illegal.

“Then should we spread bad rumors about Rui-senpai?”

“Of course not. Instead of dragging the opponent down, we win by surpassing them head-on.”

“Hehe, I knew you’d say that.”

She wasn’t serious anyway, and she smiled brightly at my answer.

Besides, smearing her wouldn’t even work. Kataseyama’s popularity was high—doing that would only backfire on us.

We couldn’t win through popularity or likeability.

Then we had to win through the legitimate way.

As student council president, which of us was better? That was my battlefield.

And that was where I excelled.

“More importantly, Monaka, you don’t have to help.”

“What are you talking about? Of course I’m helping.”

“…To be honest, the chances of losing are higher. If you take my side, you might only get dragged down.”

It wasn’t self-deprecation.

It was accurate self-assessment.

If Monaka ended up disadvantaged because of me… I’d regret it.

I already regretted asking for her help yesterday.

I didn’t want her to go through anything painful because of me.

“Even so, Senpai helped me, didn’t you?”

“Hm?”

“Helping me didn’t benefit you. It only caused trouble for you. No—Senpai actually did get in trouble because of me. Even then, you helped me without hesitation.”

“…I told you, I did it for myself.”

“I know you insist that, but the fact is, I was saved.”

The incident with Shirahata. I simply couldn’t look away.

I didn’t do it specifically for Monaka.

“So if Senpai’s in trouble, this time I’ll help you. Not for Senpai. For me.”

Monaka stopped walking and faced me directly.

“It’s a chance to make Senpai fall for me.”

She joked as she said it.

“…Quit taking advantage of my weakness.”

“Ah, but if Senpai becomes jobless and has free time, you’ll dote on me more, right?”

“You’re trying to profit no matter what!?”

“It’s okay, even if Senpai becomes unemployed, I’ll support you!”

“…You really have a talent for falling for terrible guys.”

“I only fall for you, Senpai.”

Her playful attitude helped. I needed that right now.

I was probably more depressed than I realized.

I thought I was getting along well with Kataseyama.

Not as friends, but as partners. We worked side by side for the student council.

I never imagined she’d submit a no-confidence motion.

Losing the presidency wasn’t as scary as having to fight her.

But I couldn’t lose.

Monaka, Kawana, Hayato… my precious kouhais were all wishing for my victory.

“Well, well, you two.”

“…Kuzuhara-senpai?”

He appeared at the front gate, as if waiting for us.

The former student council president—the source of all this mess—Kuzuhara Yamato.

He stood there with the same shady smile as always.

“…So that’s Kuzuhara-senpai.”

Monaka gripped my sleeve, breath catching.

Come to think of it, they’d never met.

“Walking to school with a girl, huh? You’re pretty relaxed.”

“Says the guy flirting with underclassmen when he should be preparing for exams. You must have a lot of free time.”

“That’s harsh. I just want to make this school better for the students.”

“Great. If you’ve retired, then watch quietly from afar. Former presidents who only talk cause trouble.”

“Hahaha. Whether it was unnecessary or not, we’ll see at the assembly.”

I couldn’t imagine Kataseyama willingly doing something as extreme as filing a no-confidence motion.

Just like the announcement said—Kuzuhara-senpai was involved.

He must’ve suggested it. Simply because he wanted to drag me down.

He was the same as always. Putting his own desires and amusement over the good of the whole.

Sometimes his initiative helped the council.

But right now, he was nothing but trouble.

“…So, what do you want? We can settle this at the assembly.”

“Nothing much. I just came to see your face, Tsujidou.”

“That’s a creepy hobby.”

“Oh, come on. Watching someone who thinks they’re so talented lose everything… now that’s entertainment. And seeing you take on a fight you can’t win is fun too.”

“Unfortunately, I’m not planning to lose.”

“Do you actually think you can win?”

He kept his calm expression.

As if he were the protagonist of the world.

“Rui and I—two popular people on stage. You know which side they’ll choose, right?”

“You’re really calling yourself popular?”

“It’s true, isn’t it?”

He wasn’t wrong. Both of them looked good and were respected by students and teachers.

“Well, anyway. Make sure to entertain me. It’ll be a nice memory for the end of my high school life.”

“…Don’t drag Kataseyama into your nonsense.”

“She acted on her own will. I just gave advice.”

If he hadn’t said anything, Kataseyama wouldn’t have acted.

I couldn’t help resenting that.

But she also chose it herself. That part was true.

“And you—Monaka-chan, right?”

“Yes!”

Kuzuhara-senpai’s eyes shifted to Monaka.

I instinctively moved to shield her behind me.

“Don’t be so wary. I’ve heard about you from Rui. I was one of your examiners.”

Oh right—her exam wasn’t finished.

The remaining examiners were me and Kuzuhara-senpai… I was fine, but without his approval, she wouldn’t become student council clerk.

“At the assembly, if Tsujidou wins, I’ll give you a passing grade.”

“Really!?”

“So do your best and gather votes.”

“Of course!”

Despite his provocation, Monaka answered cheerfully.

“That means I’m basically already accepted! Is that okay? Such an easy exam?”

“…Huh?”

“Because Senpai’s already going to win.”

For the first time, Kuzuhara-senpai’s expression cracked.

His brows furrowed in irritation as he glared at her.

“…You’re not seeing reality, but I’ll enjoy the look on your face afterward.”

“Make sure you think up some excuses for when you lose.”

“Still such an insolent kouhai.”

He muttered that to me and walked away.

Monaka and I exchanged looks—and burst out laughing.

“Are you sure? Saying the win is guaranteed?”

“Well, you’re gonna win, right?”

“Of course.”

“It was already settled, and now I even get my acceptance as a bonus. I’m thrilled.”

“…Then I’ll throw in my acceptance too.”

“Yay! Then Friday is the day I become one of the council members!”

Yeah… now I had another reason to win.

I would defeat Kataseyama.

And with the four core members plus officer Monaka, we’d run the student council together again.

Time to take action—starting today.