Competition

"You what?" His ears were deceiving him, right? Surely Ichiri didn't just say she wanted to run against Misei in the student council elections.

"You heard me, I'd like to nominate myself to run as student council president. And for Yurime to run alongside me as vice president." That wasn't technically how that worked, but most people would assume that given Misei's and Misao's relationship.

"Is Yurime really fine with that?" Arata asked, since it seemed a bit rude to enter someone else in this. Especially since it wasn't a stretch to assume she didn't ask the girl permission.

"Of course she is, she's right… Huh?" The girl pointed behind her, but no one was there. "Hey, stop hiding and get over here!" With that command, Yurime slowly inched her way out from hiding behind the corner away from where they were talking.

"H-hello." She gingerly greeted all of them. From the way she was talking, it was clear that this wasn't her idea at all. "I'd like to nominate myself for vice president, like she said."

"Right, and the two of us will be amazing for the school." Ichiri hugged her friend in a celebratory manner.

"Hmm, so there really will be those running opposed to us." Misei commented. "I was too lax in my position that I didn't hadn't considered the notion." Neither did he. From the way people seemed to act about her when she wasn't around. It appeared that the school generally favored her leadership and would've been fine with reelecting her. They probably also would've been more than fine if she ran oppose to save them all the time.

"For what it's worth." He responded. "I think that you got it in the bag."

"Ohohoh." Ichiri overheard them. "I wouldn't count my chickens just yet. Surely there might be a good amount that's looking for some fresh blood to spring this school towards what it needs." From the way she talked, Arata pondered if this was just another way for her to get an ego trip. It was possible she wasn't looking to lead the school, but just wanted to have something to say that some people thought she was better than Misei. A girl that was practically one of the idols here.

But if it was for that, why drag Yurime into this? That girl didn't seem to want to become vice president. Didn't she already have other responsiblities with both the library and news club? Actually, now that he thought about it, what about Hifumi? Would that girl just be alone again, if those two somehow found a way to win?

"I suppose it's only fair for us to have competition." Misao commented while the two girls signed their names on the forms. "Hopefully the best of us will win this."

"Right." It seemed that those running for vice president were a lot more respectful than the presidential race. Still, he could sense some rivalry coming from Misao. Most likely considering her devotion to the current student president.

"That certainly was a surprise." Arata spoke once the two girls left. "Would've preferred if they took my job, but I guess this will make things interesting."

"Seeing as that girl looks at fame with glamour, I guess those roles were considered beneath her." Misao's harsh tone betrayed how unhappy she was to hear her dear friend's position was at risk.

"Still, I'm quite certain that the two of us will remain in the council." Misei was rather confident in garnering the votes needed. After all, this would be a test on how well she did this year as student president. In her eyes, that was a test she passed with flying colors.

"So this is where you got the signups." Yogi arrived, with Yuki right behind him. The way she walked showed how tense she was. It was odd of him to see that from her, since that would indicate that she was about to do something uncomfortable.

"That's correct." Misei replied. "And it looks like someone will be running against this year as well."

"I guess that you'll have another then." He said, which sent chills down all their spines.

"You want to run?" Arata asked in disbelief. The boy's shaking head only added to the bewilderment.

"She told me to make sure that no matter what happens. That she gets signed up, even if I have to force it. So Yuki's also running for student council president." That left them all speechless. Yuki as in, his cousin, right? The same girl that can barely speak to strangers? Who can barely speak to most of her friend group?

"This is a joke, right?" Misao was most skeptical of this announcement.

"N-no, it's not." Yuki quietly brought attention to herself. The last thing she wanted to have was them being mad at her. But to her, this was the way to go about her plan. "I'd like t-to r-run for the position…" Her voice trailed out towards the end.

"Are you sure about that?" Arata whispered over to her. "I know that I wanted to help you gain some confidence. But isn't this a bit much?"

"It's a little more than that." She said, keeping her hands close to her chest in nervousness. "But, I think I can do it."

"I'm also nominating myself for VP." Yogi continued on. "Please, I hope you two don't get to mad at me." It was already one thing to have Ichiri running. At least she wasn't close to the two incumbents. This was a whole other thing now that they had such a close friend in Yogi here.

"It's fine." Misei said, while they wrote their names down. "Anyone is allowed to run, and you should be supporting your family." If she still had feelings for him, Arata wondered how she might've taken this news. Would it be better, or worse?

"Hopefully, it'll be a lot of fun." He said. "And I'm sure the school knows best on who should be running."

"I'm sure they will." With more competitors, Arata worried about Misei's chances. Yogi's a pretty well liked boy, and perhaps that popularity might translate towards Yuki as well.

At the same time, Yuki's a good friend of his. And well… Speaking isn't her strong suit, let alone doing it publicly. This seemed that it could be a recipe for disaster on her end. One that could humiliate her all the way back to the scared little girl he met in class when she moved here.

"I hope you both know what you're doing." Arata said. "After all, you'll have to make your pitches in front of the entire school." This was directed as a warning for Yuki. It still wasn't too late for her to back out, even if her name was on the form.

"Don't worry, I'll support her all the way." The fact that it was Yogi who answered, didn't fill him with much confidence.

"This is turning out to be one interesting day." Misao didn't care that neither of them left. "But I suppose we shouldn't have expected no competition." They may have been too arrogant in that thought. All this time, everyone had been lulled into a sense of security because no one ever challenged Misei before. In fact, the only time she was ever challenged during the official capacity of student council president was when Arata stood up for Matsu back during funding. And of course, he had no intentions of returning to work with the student council during his third year.

"No hard feelings, right?" Yogi asked with worry, which was obvious now knowing what was the truth within his heart.

"Of course not." She put a hand on his arm to show that she had no ill will towards them. Normally, Arata never took much attention on a gesture like that. However, this time he did, and this time he noticed the boy's ears getting red at the tips. Was he always like that with Misao? If that was his tell, then no wonder no one had noticed.

He felt bad for the girl. All this time spent trying to get that boy to like Misei, only for him to fall for her instead. Actually, when did that happen? Was it a recent thing, or had those feelings been there for a lot longer?

"Thanks." He replied. Given the way he said it, there wasn't anything that Arata could detect was out of the ordinary. So, even if that boy really was dumb, he certainly knew how to play it cool. No wonder Ichiri cast him in a leading role for the play.

"I hope that the next people who show up will want to be the secretary or treasurer." Arata spoke with hope. Though he should've learned by that his dreams will be crushed considering the life he was living. In fact, he got a little excited when a young girl came up to them, all alone.

She wasn't anyone that they had met before. The girl's eyes glared a stern look through her round glasses. Her presentation of the school uniform certainly displayed function over form.

"Hello." Arata put the form up to her. "You look like you'd make for a wonderful secretary."

"I'm not here for that." She responded. At first, he was a little worried, but perhaps there was still hope.

"Then, you wish to be the treasurer?" It's a bit cliche to be saying she looked smart because of the glasses, but he was desperate for someone to take his job.

"No."

"Vice president?" Even that would be better than what he feared she was about to say.

"If you remove the word, 'vice'. Then yes, I'm here to nominate myself as student council president." Of course she would say that. Now at this point in his life, random strangers were wreaking his plans. With no choice, he gave her the correct sheet to sign her name up.

"Excuse me." Misei said to her when she was done writing. "But, who are you exactly?"

"I'm a first-year student." She replied, turning the paper towards them to reveal her name. The signature showed that this girl was Syari Gun. "And I believe I can do a much better job at the position than you. And I'm sure the rest of the students will see that after I make my case." With that, she walked away.

That was pretty ominous. After all was said and done, Arata could confidently say that this was the worst outcome that could've possibly happened to them today.