So… Now Decide

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[-Continuation-]

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[-Hachiman's POV-]

Ms. Hiratsuka shook her head, her expression grim. "Unfortunately, as I said, it is not that simple. Once a candidate has been nominated and accepted, there is a formal process for withdrawal. It requires a compelling reason - and 'I don't want to do it' doesn't quite cut it in the eyes of the school administration."

After watching Ms. Hiratsuka, Senior Meguri nodded in affirmation.

I leaned back in my chair, my mind already racing through potential solutions and their likely outcomes.

"Welp, that's a dead end." I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.

I could feel Yukinoshita's gaze boring into me, waiting to see what I would do next. She had been doing that a lot lately, whether she realized it or not. But I sure as hell did.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Ms. Hiratsuka's furrowed brow. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, looking like a noir detective trying to crack a case.

Why doesn't she just take a seat?

…and is she actually trying to come up with a solution? Good luck with that, teach.

Suddenly, I straightened up, my gaze zeroing in on the girl with honey-brown hair sitting across from me.

?!Isshiki Iroha felt a jolt of surprise at the sudden attention. Hmm, that's a good sign, I guess, as it meant she was paying attention.

"So... Isshiki Iroha, right?" I drawled, my voice carrying a hint of challenge.

Isshiki hesitated, then gave a tentative nod, as if agreeing to her own name might be a trap.

She could sense something big was coming, and it made her nervous.

I, noticing her unease but choosing to push forward.

"Why don't you become the President for real?" I proposed, my tone deceptively casual.

?!!The room exploded.

Not literally, of course, but it might as well have.

"Ahh…!" Yuigahama gasped, her eyes wide as saucers.

Yukinoshita, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes at me. Her lips pressed into a thin line, probably holding back a snarky comment.

Not this time, Ice Queen.

Overall, varied reactions erupted at once.

Especially from Senior Meguri, who from the beginning had been watching the proceedings with visible amusement, suddenly shifted in her seat. Her expression transformed from an entertained observer to a wary participant, a change that didn't escape my notice.

But I kept my focus on Isshiki, watching her reaction like a hawk eyeing its prey. She looked like she had just been told the earth was flat.

"Hikigaya, I think-!" Senior Meguri started, her voice tight with concern as she could see where this was heading and felt compelled to intervene.

However, I cut her off mid-sentence. "I apologise if I have overstepped Senior Meguri. But, do you think Isshiki Iroha is unfit for the role?"

I asked, my voice carrying a skeptical edge, challenging her to clarify her stance.

I was aware that I might be putting her in an uncomfortable position, but it was necessary for this plan.

"That's not what I meant." Senior Meguri backpedaled, her words careful as a tightrope walker.

Isshiki, watching this exchange, felt her unease grow. She shifted in her seat, her eyes ping-ponging between me and Senior Meguri, trying to understand the undercurrents of their conversation.

I almost smiled. Almost. This was going exactly how I wanted it to.

Now, here's the thing.

Getting Iroha to withdraw from the presidential race without damaging her reputation was never the primary issue.

At least not to me.

The real issue lay in the aftermath - who would step into the role of President next?

And that... that was a whole mess I didn't want to deal with.

It was the same in the plot. Just remembering the tiny bits about the happenings was tiring enough leaving though it was something I would like to avoid at any cost.

It was a painstakingly unbearable drama.

And I had a sneaking suspicion that Senior Meguri was angling for something similar.

Not the drama part, but she would probably love nothing more than to see one of us take up the Presidential mantle. Because if even one of us got involved in the race, the other two would inevitably be dragged into the fray.

I figured her little visit to our club was less about Isshiki and more about making sure one of us ended up with the role of President.

But what Senior Meguri is unaware of is the extent to which this would strip our life.

Like for real.

I don't even want to think about it.

Turning back to Senior Meguri, I explained, my voice calm but pointed. "It is not about what you meant, it is about what everyone is going to take it for."

Senior Meguri's response was a sheepish smile, as if to say, 'Oops, you caught me.'

Yeah, I did. Deal with it.

But behind that smile, I could practically hear the gears in her head grinding, trying to figure out how to wrestle back control of this runaway train.

Not giving her the chance, I then shifted my attention back to Isshiki, my gaze intensified for a second.

Time to lay all the cards on the table.

"If it were me, I wouldn't give two hoots about what others might think, but is it the same for you?"

"...." I paused, letting my words marinate in the air before continuing. "I don't think so, because if that was true, you wouldn't be here twiddling your thumbs to begin with."

That was it.

It is the conclusion I was aiming for at the start.

I don't know at that moment that Isshiki felt exposed under my perceptive gaze.

She thought I had seen through her, understanding her motivations and fears better than she had expected.

Unaware of this, sensing I had reached the conclusion I was aiming for, I pressed on. My voice took on a more authoritative tone as I laid out the situation for Isshiki.

"We are in the dark about why you got nominated. Could be good intentions, like Yuigahama said, or might also not be the case."

Isshiki listened intently, her fingers nervously intertwining in her lap as she absorbed my words.

"If it's the first, no biggie. But if it's the latter, they might be cackling behind your back the second you lose, even by as close a margin as it will be."

I leaned forward, my elbows resting on the arms of the chair, creating a posture of authority.

My voice carried the weight of a judge's gavel as I laid out Isshiki's options.

"You have got two choices. Either you become president..." I paused for dramatic effect, letting the gravity of that option sink in.

"Or if you want to chicken out, I will personally compete against you, and trust me when I say, I will make sure to win by whatever means necessary. So don't sweat it."

"...." The room fell silent as everyone processed my ultimatum.

Isshiki felt the weight of the decision pressing down on her, her mind whirling with the implications of each choice.

Having said my piece, I wrapped it up with the finality of a closing argument.

"So... now decide."

I clapped his hands together, the sound sharp in the tense silence of the room.

But when I glanced at Isshiki, her reaction caught me off guard, completely unlike what I had expected in a moment like this.

Hey, hey, hold up...

Why is this junior chick giving me that weirdly sparkling look of meeting some idol?

Did I grow a second head, or something?

I should probably just ignore it.

Yeah, it's best to stay silent unless it is necessary.

Yuigahama, meanwhile, couldn't contain herself. "Hikki, what are you doing?" She whispered, her voice a mix of awe and concern.

She must have been talking about my suggestion about 'me' becoming president.

She actually thought I was serious, huh?

"Um-hum…" Senior Meguri nodded, looking at Yuigahama with a supportive nod.

But Isshiki? She looked at me, tapped her lips, and smiled. "Ah, Senior Hikigaya, do you think I will be a good fit for the role or something~?"

I shrugged, deflecting her question with ease. "My opinion doesn't really matter here."

Inwardly, though, I knew the truth.

She wasn't the ideal fit, not by a long shot.

But then again, most people weren't either.

Yet, in a world where the so-called 'ideal' candidates didn't step up when it counted, her willingness to 'give a shot' spoke volumes.

Sometimes, the act of diving headfirst into the unknown was all it took to become the right person for the job.

Isshiki leaned in slightly, a teasing lilt to her voice.

"It's funny, you know? People say things like that all the time. Like, 'Oh, Iroha looks so clueless' or 'She is totally airheaded' or something like that~."

Her voice took on a sing-song quality, but there was an undercurrent of something sharper, almost self-aware, beneath the surface, almost like she was acknowledging the labels without letting them define her.

Hmm… I am not sure about the rest.

But - Clueless?

Hardly. She is definitely not the clueless type.

She was one of those who tried to hide their goofy, airheaded nature and got too comfortable with people for whatever reason.

I suggested. "If you are bothered by those opinions, why not use this opportunity to prove them wrong? It might be more fun that way."

Isshiki's eyes widened momentarily as she considered the idea. "Prove them wrong, huh?"

She echoed, her voice trailing off as she mulled over the idea.

….

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[To be continued…]

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