Student Council President

The number of students in that school wasn't too large, so after the campaign speeches, the voting and vote counting processes could be completed in about one class.

They returned to their math class, eagerly awaiting the monitor to thank Fumino and Itsuki. The two led the way, turned, and left the class, enthusiastically heading towards the bulletin board.

Many students in other classes were curious about the election results. Just ten minutes after the class ended, chaos and arguments spread rapidly. People in front of the bulletin board, small corridors filled with students.

After Shinichi, the quintuplets, Rizu, and the others met, they all stood outside the crowd, tiptoed, and looked at the bulletin board.

Original result prediction posters, support survey forms, and candidate interviews were all removed. A large white paper was placed in the center, with rows of calligraphy written on it.

[Election Results for Student Council President]

[Asada Shinichi: 307 votes]

[☆☆☆☆: 107 votes]

[○○○○: 86 votes]

[※The person replacing the president must go to the principal's office after school to hand over their duties]

Everyone looked at these results and fell silent.

"Hey, this is outrageous..."

Nino didn't say anything. It was something that should be joyful, but now, because the gap was so large, for some reason, she felt like she was defeating a beginner. There was no sense of achievement at all.

After the silence was broken, others also put on complicated expressions and discussed their feelings.

"Shinichi, this is truly oppression..."

"Even though I tried my best to settle it, the result is so good that people can't believe it..."

"Very normal results! Moreover, Yotsuba and Asada-kun are very strong. Especially Asada-kun, the ten-minute speech was classic. Fortunately, I recorded it!"

"Hey, others are also talking about Asada-kun... Hmm, it seems like many neutral people chose Asada-kun because of his last speech."

"Itsuki-san, please give me a copy of the video."

Shinichi looked around at the girls, his mood calmer than expected, and he wasn't very surprised.

This was the result of almost a month of preparation for him and them. Just as after careful review, they got a perfect score as expected. Only the satisfaction of getting what they wanted filled their hearts, and happiness was in second place.

"Thank you all for your hard work."

Bowing his head slightly to the girls, Shinichi looked at them seriously and spoke word by word.

"Thank you so much for your help all this time!"

If he were alone, even with the help of the former student council, he wasn't sure if he could be elected with a high vote.

Moreover, Shinichi wouldn't have wanted to become the student council president if they weren't there.

Because of them, his name was displayed on the announcement board and caught the public's attention.

After his sincere words fell, eyes filled with different emotions were immediately directed towards him, reflected in Shinichi's eyes.

"This is hard work; I didn't do anything to help... Well, even though I can't believe you'd lose to a guy like that."

Nino couldn't hold back her smile.

"Good if you win."

"I think so too. Although Shinichi always asks me to gather information about others..." Miku's lips curled slightly, and she said with a chuckle, "But I know you were just finding something for me to do so I wouldn't be excluded. Actually, you've already gathered all the information, right, Shinichi?"

"...Hard to say."

Shinichi touched his neck, turned his face away, and didn't answer directly.

"Really..." Fumino sighed helplessly.

"Based on our 'relationship,' there's no need to thank sincerely. Asada-san tends to worry about trivial things."

"That's right!" Itsuki nodded repeatedly, causing Fumino to give her a subtle look.

No one else reacted yet, but Itsuki, of all people, was the first to strongly agree? Did she want to show that she had a close relationship with him?

(Asada-san, could it be that before I realized it, she had successfully established a connection with Itsuki?)

And it turns out Fumino only sees others through colored glasses.

Because Itsuki immediately raised her head, puffed her chest, looked around at everyone with a proud and confident smile.

"This is a victory we won together, and there's only one person I want to thank, and that's me!"

"Everyone here, Ichika, former student council, Kirisu Sensei... Everyone was very needed if we could achieve this goal now!"

"Come on, let's applaud and celebrate that our hard work has finally paid off!"

Itsuki clapped happily, but everyone just looked at each other in silence.

Yotsuba raised her hand and clapped a few times. When she found that no one else was moving, her palms slowly slowed down. Finally, she lowered her hands with a guilty feeling and smiled apologetically at Itsuki.

The awkward atmosphere spread, and the relaxation and joy from earlier completely disappeared.

Itsuki slowly stopped clapping, her shoulders drooping, and her hands swinging helplessly in front of her.

"Lately, I always feel like people are oppressing me more and more..."

Shinichi patted her shoulder and said sympathetically:

"Be more confident and eliminate the phrase 'I always feel'."

△

The time came after school.

Shinichi left the principal's office, followed by the former student council president, Shirogane Miyuki.

"In that case, the student council will be handed over to you."

Shirogane looked at the pure gold ribbon just hung on Shinichi's collar.

"Don't disappoint everyone's expectations, President Shinichi."

"Shirogane Senpai, I always feel like you're arrogant..."

Shinichi touched the somewhat heavy belt and glared at Shirogane with anger.

"Don't worry; I'll do my best in everything I want to do. That campaign speech was not just an ordinary speech."

"I know."

Shirogane patted his shoulder arrogantly, with a hopeful tone.

"Ask me if you have any questions! On the other hand, I'll ask you to help me if I need assistance. Please give me more advice."

"Okay, let's offer a sacrificial heart, shall we?"

"Hmph..."

Shirogane smiled mysteriously and stared at Shinichi, neither acknowledging nor denying.

A few seconds later, Shinichi shrugged, pretending not to be bothered.

An unspoken understanding flowed between them, and both knew the hidden meaning in each other's words.

After all, there were still more than two months until the Shuchi'in Academy Cultural Festival.

This time was enough for them to prepare slowly.

After parting with Shirogane, Shinichi didn't go home immediately but walked towards the familiar yet unfamiliar student council room.

The teaching building after school and the bustling field were like two different worlds.

A deeper smile appeared on Shinichi's face, and unconsciously, he quickened his pace. Shortly after, he saw a group of girls in front of the student council room gate.

Originally, they were supposed to gather in the study room, but today is the first day of the newly formed student council, so how could they not be in the student council room?

So, Shinichi temporarily changed their location and signaled that they would take all their personal belongings from the study room. Perhaps they wouldn't need that study room in the future.

"Sorry for being late."

After chatting for a bit, Shinichi stood among the seven girls and pulled out the key to the student council room.

Inserting it into the keyhole, turning it, and pushing the somewhat heavy wooden door open.

The warmth of the afternoon sunlight shining through the window gaps made the dark student council room seem filled with a thin light.

He took a step forward, then turned around and smiled at them.

"Alright, welcome to the student council."