Rich Girl Caretaker Vol. 9 Chapter 3

The Gulf Between Sister and Brother

It was the fourth day of the election period.

"So sleepy..."

"Hinako, sorry, I have to go in early again today."

During the election period, Hinako was matching my early schedule. I was worried she'd fall asleep in class, but she was managing by going to bed earlier.

I said goodbye to Hinako in the classroom, immediately stuffed the flyers in my bag, and headed outside. I'll start with flyers today... Just as I was thinking that—

"Tomonari-kun, do you have a moment?"

Someone called from behind. I turned.

"Suminoe-san, what is it?"

Suminoe-san, who had just arrived, walked over with a serious expression.

"About Tennouji-sama's platform, regarding the seminars... Is it true you have to pay an expensive tuition fee to join?"

"...What?"

"It was going around after school yesterday, and I heard students talking about it in the hall just now."

We wanted the etiquette seminars in Tennouji-san's platform to be as accessible as possible. Still, we'd need to discuss the details with the school, so a plan couldn't be finalized until after the election.

"That's not true. Given Tennouji-san's platform, it would defeat the whole purpose if she picked and chose who could attend..."

"...You're right."

To build a campus where everyone can live with elegance and dignity—that was her ideal. If she restricted the seminars, that ideal would be shattered. Besides, if even Kiou students found it "expensive," it must be a ridiculous price. I don't see an etiquette seminar costing that much. What a bizarre rumor, I thought.

"Ah, Tomonari-kun."

This time, Kita was calling me. Kita walked over, looking at me and Suminoe-san.

"Sorry, are you busy?"

"No, it's fine. What's wrong?"

I asked. He looked a little awkward.

"Um, I wanted to ask about the 'salon' in Miyakojima-san's platform... I heard it's invitation-only, and only for people from big families..."

I silently exchanged a look with Suminoe-san. What? Now there's a weird rumor about Narika?

"...That's not true."

"R-Right, I thought so, too..."

Kita faltered.

"...But it seems to be spreading like wildfire."

◆

Lunch break. I didn't have time to eat. We were in a second-floor hallway, holding an emergency meeting.

"...I see. So, negative rumors about us have spread."

I'd given them the gist this morning, but now I was explaining the full situation. Tennouji-san, Narika, Kita, and Suminoe-san all understood the problem.

"Right. I'm revising the speeches. Please check this."

I handed them the revised drafts I'd scrambled to write during the break. It might not be in time for the lunch speech in thirty minutes, but I'd kept the changes minimal so they could at least use it for the after-school speech.

"Sorry to spring this on you."

"It can't be helped."

"Yeah, this isn't your fault, Itsuki."

I'd expected them to say that...

"...I think if we'd been more detailed from the start, these rumors wouldn't have spread. I may have focused too much on 'impact.'"

"You can't have your cake and eat it, too. If we'd been too detailed, everyone would have been bored."

Unlike me, neither of them was rattled.

Still, I should be the one feeling anxious. According to this morning's bulletin, Tennouji-san and Narika's support each dropped by 2%. Joutou's went up by 5%. Numerically, it's more likely Joutou's strategy is working than that ours is failing, but I can't deny a link to the rumors.

"We'll just clear it up in the next speech, right? Then it's not a problem."

If I get too worried, I'll just drag them down... But we were supposed to announce our revised platforms today. Thanks to these rumors, we're being forced to delay our plan.

"What are the rumors, exactly?"

Tennouji-san asked. Suminoe-san answered, looking frustrated.

"They're all so shallow."

I'd already mentioned the expensive tuition. Others included...

"For example, that the guest lecturers for the seminars are all from the Tennouji Group, and that you're just trying to feather your own nest..."

That was just absurd. Tennouji-san would never think like that.

"And, 'if you think about it, your blonde hair isn't even real'..."

"N-N-N-No way is that true!?"

That one, on the other hand, hit a nerve. ...And it has nothing to do with the election.

"We still need to eat, so let's break for now. We can talk more after school."

The emergency meeting was over. We'd already used ten minutes. Twenty minutes until the speech. I don't know how much they can memorize in that time.

As everyone dispersed, I was about to head back to class when I noticed Asahi-san watching me.

"Asahi-san? What's wrong?"

"Ah, uh... nothing. It's nothing."

She didn't look like it was "nothing." She immediately looked away and left the classroom. Was she worried because we all looked so serious?

(...I should go find Hinako.)

Hinako had gone ahead to the old student union building... but she's super hopeless with directions. I'd told her to just stop in place if she got lost.

I grabbed my bento and headed outside. I spotted Hinako right away. I checked that no one was around and switched to my normal voice.

"Hinako, sorry to keep you waiting."

"Mmm..."

Hinako turned, her expression even more drained than usual.

"...Are you exhausted?"

"...I'm fine."

Did something happen while she was waiting? Well, first, let's head to our usual spot—

"Are you two about to have lunch?"

A male student with messy hair spoke to us. I stopped mid-stride.

"Joutou-kun..."

"Tomonari-kun, hello."

He seemed to know who I was and greeted me in a friendly way. I'd only seen him from a distance during his speech... but up close, he's taller than I thought. He must play a sport. His messy hair gives him a gloomy vibe, but up close, his features are sharp.

"Could I talk to Konohana-san? We can chat while we eat. You're welcome to join, of course, Tomonari-kun."

Joutou-kun said, lifting his own bento box slightly. Kiou Academy has a student cafeteria with first-class chefs, but it seems he's in the bento-faction, like us.

I glanced at Hinako. She definitely looked tired... I also needed to collect my thoughts. I didn't feel like we could handle a long, busy conversation. Sorry, but I have to decline.

"Sorry, we were hoping to find a quiet place to rest during lunch."

"...I see. In that case, could I at least have three minutes?"

Three minutes... I thought, but it was up to Hinako. Hinako gave a silent nod. It would be unnatural to refuse, so we had no choice.

"I'm sure you've been asked this a lot... but why aren't you running for president?"

Hinako's expression stiffened. I suddenly realized why she was so tired. She's probably been asked this over and over. When I'm not around, students are hounding her about why she's not running. Of course she's exhausted... But in front of an outsider, she couldn't drop her "Perfect Ojou-sama" mask.

"I've told everyone the same thing. I'm busy with my family's business. There is no other reason."

Hinako gave her polite refusal, but Joutou-kun didn't back down.

"But I believe you, more than anyone, could lead this school in the right direction... Can't you reconsider? Running this late would be unheard of, but it's not against the rules. You'd get the support, even now."

Hey, hey... Is he asking her to run now...? From his expression, he seemed to be completely serious. Hinako, in Ojou-sama Mode, was clearly thrown. Maybe I should step in...

"You're the one who's running, so why don't you lead the school?"

"Well..."

And, of course, I want Tennouji-san or Narika to be the one... Joutou-kun looked awkward and his eyes darted away.

"...Because I'm not sure I can do as good a job as Konohana-san."

He said, staring at the ground. Hey, that's... That's... not something a presidential candidate should say. I wonder what his supporters would think if they heard that.

"Thank you for your high opinion of me. I'm honored."

Hinako gave a slight bow.

"However, I have other matters to attend to. I am not simply being lazy. I hope you can believe me."

"............I understand."

Seeing her resolve, Joutou-kun must have realized he couldn't convince her. He bit his lip and nodded. Then, he looked at me.

"Tomonari-kun, it must be hard supporting both of them. Keep up the good work."

"...Thank you."

"There are some strange rumors going around. If you need me to, I can clear them up during my speech."

"Clear them up... you?"

We're supposed to be fighting for the same, single seat. Even for a "gentleman's agreement," this is too nice. Joutou-kun seemed to read my mind and gave a weak smile.

"...As long as this school moves in a better direction, I don't really care who becomes president."

His voice had no power. His attitude was timid. He seemed to think that, for the greater good, it didn't have to be him in charge. This detached attitude felt wrong, but... I'd heard this before.

"Rintaro said something similar."

"...You've spoken to Rintaro? His thinking is similar to mine."

Joutou-kun sighed deeply.

"Sorry to take up your time."

He turned and walked back toward the school building. Hinako and I watched him go.

"...They tried to recruit me."

"Eh? Seriously...?"

Hinako looked surprised. I nodded.

"But... for someone trying to recruit me, his attitude was..."

"...Yeah. Strange."

Hinako agreed. They were trying to recruit people, but they didn't seem to be campaigning very hard. In fact, at this point, it's not even about "hard"...

"...Does Joutou even want to be president?"

◆

It was the morning of the fifth day of the election period.

I got to school early again and checked the election bulletin for any changes in the approval ratings.

(...Almost the same as yesterday.)

There was no major shift. The ratings were Tennouji-san at 39%, Narika at 35%, and Joutou at 26%. The bulletin's numbers reflect the previous day's polls. Our activities, and Joutou's hadn't changed much, so the drop we saw must have been because of those negative rumors.

However, the campus rumors should have died down after yesterday. I'd listened to both Tennouji-san's and Narika's speeches at lunch and after school, and they had both specifically and thoroughly debunked the rumors. The support we lost from the rumors should recover now that it's been cleared up as a misunderstanding. Maybe we'll be back to our original 40% tomorrow.

(What I'm concerned about... is Joutou.)

I'd thought about it a lot after returning to the mansion last night. Joutou might have already given up. Tennouji-san and Narika are campus celebrities; it would be difficult to overturn their lead. The gap did shrink, but that was because of the negative rumors; it's hard to say it was due to his own strength. If Joutou truly had the ambition to become president no matter what, he would have seen these rumors as a huge opportunity and campaigned aggressively. Instead, he just looked sympathetic when he heard about our situation.

"Tomonari-kun!"

"...Kita-kun?"

I was standing in the courtyard handing out flyers when Kita ran out from the building. He was holding a stack of flyers, too, probably on his way to hand them out.

"What's wrong?"

"The rumors haven't died down at all! In fact, there are more!"

My mind went blank. More rumors? Why...?

"...What kind?"

"That Miyakojima-san is going to tear down the school cafe to build her salon, and... that you wrote her entire platform."

What the...? I was baffled. Kita went on to list more negative rumors, all of which were new.

"Tomonari-kun."

Suminoe-san walked over, her face grim. I knew from her expression.

"...The rumors haven't stopped, have they?"

"No. And it's a new batch. Different from the ones we debunked yesterday."

"Can you tell me what they are?"

The rumors she listed were completely different from before and all over the place. Just like with Narika, new negative rumors about Tennouji-san were spreading.

The spread was unnatural. They weren't just evolving; they were entirely new versions. There was no logic to them. If this was just the student body's opinion, it was too incoherent. Besides, how could new rumors spread so fast right after we'd debunked the old ones? We'd been thorough. We weren't naive enough to expect them to vanish overnight, but why were there so many new ones?

"This is..."

I finally understood. This felt like a controlled, slow release of information, designed to keep us busy with damage control so we couldn't move forward or improve our speeches. Someone was forcing us to tread water.

"...This is a negative campaign."

A negative campaign. Deliberately spreading dirt on rivals to make yourself look better... a standard election tactic. I suddenly remembered what Takuma-san had said.

—By the way, Itsuki-kun, the Management Tournament was missing something. Do you know what it was?

I see... Now I get it. Only now did I finally realize. The answer was—scheming. Tactics designed to frame and harm others.

The Management Tournament was a game of numbers, bound by the system's strict rules. When Suminoe-san tried to buy my company, that was just a sound, winnable strategy from a manager's perspective, not a malicious scheme. But this... this was just a dirty, malicious trick.

I thought the students at Kiou Academy were honorable... Was I just being naive?

(...Is Joutou the one spreading them?)

He's the obvious suspect, but... I just can't see his presence behind this. I don't think it's him. He'd offered to debunk the rumors for us. He's either not serious about winning or just a genuinely good person. He couldn't be the mastermind.

"Tomonari-kun, what's wrong?"

I looked up. Asahi-san was staring at us, looking puzzled. She was holding her bag, having just arrived. She must have seen our grim huddle on her way to the building and came to check.

"Asahi-san, actually..."

Maybe she, with her wide social circle, would have an idea how to stop this. I quickly explained the situation: that a new wave of rumors had started, and that it was almost certainly a negative campaign by the Joutou faction.

After my brief explanation...

"..."

Asahi-san's face went completely pale. Her reaction shocked us. It was as if she knew exactly who it was.

"...Sorry! I have something to do!"

She dropped her bag and ran toward the school building.

"Asahi-san!?"

‘Something to do’... It had to be related to the negative campaign. I picked up her bag.

"Sorry! Can you handle the flyers!?"

I shoved my flyers at Kita and ran after her.

She sprinted into the building, not even stopping to change her shoes. I ran in right after her, still in my outdoor shoes.

(The first-year building...?)

The first-year classrooms were in a separate building. Asahi-san ran across the connecting walkway, up the stairs, and straight into a classroom.

"—Rintaro!"

She roared.

Rintaro, who was inside, looked up, his eyes wide with shock at his sister's sudden appearance.

"Sis? What's wrong?"

"I told you not to do this!?"

She yelled, absolutely furious. I had never seen Asahi-san like this. She was always the cheerful, perceptive life of our class. Now, she was ignoring the stares of the other students, just screaming.

"Please calm down. I don't know what you're talking about—"

"—The negative campaign!"

Rintaro's expression froze. His eyes flickered to me, standing behind his sister. The look he gave me was ice-cold, but it vanished in an instant.

"...What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb! I know! Because it's the same trick you always use!"

Asahi-san's voice was shaking with anger, but she also sounded like she was on the verge of tears. Same trick? More importantly... she thinks Rintaro did this?

"Rintaro... stop this. I... I get how you feel, but..."

Asahi-san bit her lip, her expression full of pain.

The classroom was dead silent. Rintaro let out a sigh.

"Shut up."

He glared at his sister. His eyes were burning with a rage that matched hers... a bottomless anger.

"A traitor has no right to lecture me."

"—!"

Asahi-san was speechless.

His gaze left his sister and turned to me. He bowed his head.

"Tomonari-senpai, sorry for dragging you into this mess."

"No, I..."

"Please don't worry about it. This has nothing to do with the election. It's just a family fight."

He said this, then bowed to his classmates as well. The confused first-years slowly went back to their normal chatter.

Asahi-san said nothing. I could hear her grinding her teeth as she walked out.

◆

We left the building. Asahi-san, seeming to have calmed down slightly, finally took off the outdoor shoes she'd been wearing and walked in her socks. I did the same, following a step behind her. I thought she was heading for the shoe lockers, but instead, she put her shoes back on after crossing the covered walkway and headed for the courtyard.

I put my shoes back on and followed.

"...Class has started."

She said without turning around.

"I can't just leave you alone right now."

"...You're so kind, Tomonari-kun."

Her voice was trembling.

"I wish I were that kind..."

She gave a self-deprecating laugh, walked to a bench in the garden, and sat down. She gestured for me to sit.

I sat down... So much for first period.

"Asahi-san, I don't think Rintaro is necessarily the one. You might be mis—"

"—It's him."

She said it with absolute certainty.

"Rintaro did the same thing at our company... so I know."

She began to explain.

"Our family's company... there's a lot of infighting. Business is good, but the employees are divided."

She meant J. Co., Ltd. I'd looked them up; they were a solid company with rising profits...

"My dad is the chairman, and he's also a graduate from here, but his values are a bit skewed, making it difficult for him to gain respect. His views on money and his words reveal a lack of common sense, damaging the employees' trust in him... He seems to spend too much money when dining with clients. But for him, it's just because they are important clients, so he goes to extra trouble."

Asahi-san gave an empty smile. I felt like I could hear her inner thoughts... I didn't know what to do.

"Our business is fine, so I think his judgments at work are correct. But his interpersonal skills are terrible. They don't teach you that here... Most of our employees are commoners. Someone like my dad sticks out."

She said, mournfully.

"Rintaro and I watched our dad struggle with that ever since we were kids... Seeing it firsthand, we both decided we couldn't be like him."

She must have had it rough. Watching your father be an outcast in his own company... I couldn't imagine what it was like growing up with that.

"So, when we were little, Rintaro and I made a promise. We'd build a company that truly cared about common people."

Hearing this connected all the dots. Rintaro wanting to start his own business. Him calling her a "traitor."

"...You two promised to start a business together."

"Yeah. But I backed out."

She nodded silently, digging her nails into the back of her hand. It was like a penance, an unconscious display of her guilt—a sign that this topic had to be accompanied by pain.

"I decided to inherit the family business after all... Rintaro felt betrayed, and was forced to go it alone."

I thought back to that ice-cold look.

"He used his position as the chairman's son to get involved in the company. Soon, the employees were even more divided."

Why?

Asahi-san gave the painful answer.

"Rintaro spread negative rumors about Dad. At the same time, he started talking about his own future company and began poaching good employees... He created factions in the company, creating an atmosphere where he mocked Dad's supporters as the 'bourgeoisie faction' and called his own people the 'populist faction.' He gathered the 'populist' people, planning to take them all with him one day."

Because he'd done it before, she was sure he was doing it again. The situations were indeed similar.

"By the time I realized what he was doing, it was too late... A middle school kid, in and out of the office, and he was more respected by the employees than my dad. Rintaro has that kind of talent, that cunning... no, he has a talent for strategy and achieving his goals..."

She said weakly, her voice full of the agony of recognizing her brother's dark talent.

"But, in the end... it's all my fault. I left him alone."

She sighed.

"I'm the one who fostered his talent. I'm the one who cornered him... Even if I tell him to stop, he won't listen to me..."

She looked down.

From Rintaro's side, I could understand his anger. They'd made a pact, she betrayed him, and he was forced to go it alone. He got desperate and stopped caring about the means. He's pitiable.

"...I'm so sorry! You're so busy with the election, and now my brother is causing you trouble!"

Asahi-san suddenly looked up, her voice back to its usual cheerfulness.

"Really—I'm sorry! I'm the worst, bringing the mood down! Anyway, class started! We should go! Tomonari-kun, this is a critical time for you, you don't want to get in trouble!?"

She clasped her hands and bowed. She was trying to say: I'm fine now, see? Don't worry.

I just looked at her.

"You don't have to force yourself."

Her smile froze.

"You're the one who's hurting the most right now. So please, don't worry about me."

I knew she was forcing her cheerfulness for my sake. But... that just made me feel worse.

Asahi-san's expression went blank. Tears began to stream down her face. I'd never seen her like this, but because of that, it felt like I was finally seeing the real her.

She was always the cheerful one.

But she was human, too.

She got angry, and she cried.

"I'm sorry... just... just for a minute..."

The tears came faster, like a dam had broken.

"I'll... I'll be back to normal... in a second..."

"...Okay."

Even now, she was worried about me. That's just her nature. I wanted to tell her she didn't have to go back to normal, but for her, "normal" was probably her armor to protect her own heart.

She'd been acting awkward ever since the election started.

She must have been agonizing over this alone.

Watching Asahi-san cry, I made a new resolution.

This lunch break... I'm going to talk to Rintaro.

◆

Lunch break.

I headed toward the first-year building and spotted Rintaro crossing the covered walkway. I called out to him.

"Rintaro, I need to talk to you."

"Alright."

He looked like he was on his way to help with Joutou's speech, but he accepted my request immediately.

We moved to the courtyard benches. Rintaro, sensing this was a conversation that shouldn't be overheard, deliberately led the way to the rear of the courtyard to accommodate me.

Coincidentally, he sat in the very same seat where Asahi-san had sat in her regret.

"So, what can I do for you? Have you decided to join our side?"

"No."

"That's a shame. I was really hoping that was it..."

Rintaro looked at me with expectation as soon as he sat down, but I shook my head. He must have made time for me, skipping the speech, precisely because he was hopeful. I felt bad for getting his hopes up.

"I want to talk about Asahi-san."

When I told him plainly, Rintaro let out a short sigh.

"I'll say it again: that was just a family fight. You don't need to worry about it... My sister thinks I'm the one spreading rumors about your side, Tomonari-senpai, but she has zero proof—"

"—It was you."

Rintaro said nothing. I repeated myself.

"You're the one spreading them."

"...What makes you so sure?"

Rintaro tried to feign ignorance, so I laid out my evidence. The proof that Asahi-san's intuition was correct.

"There are several negative rumors going around about Tennouji-san. Are you aware of them?"

"...I'm part of this election, too. Of course I am."

That makes this simple. It wasn't just Narika; Tennouji-san was targeted, too. I repeated one of the rumors Suminoe-san had told me this morning.

"There's a rumor that the 'dress code seminar' will be 'stratified' based on the level of social functions students normally attend, which will only highlight the differences in family status."

"I've heard that one."

Rintaro looked at me with a "So what?" expression.

"Tennouji-san never once said she was holding a dress code seminar."

He was clearly stunned.

"...But you told me that. You said you were going to explain the dress code seminar in your next speech."

"We dropped it. We decided that talking about it would cause the exact kind of misunderstanding that this rumor is based on."

I discussed it with Tennouji-san before the speech, and we pulled it. Our goal is to 'build a campus where everyone can live with elegance and dignity.' We decided we had to drop any policy that would emphasize family status.

So why is there a rumor, and an entire negative campaign based on that rumor, about a seminar we never announced?

Someone leaked our plan.

"The only person who knew we were ever planning that seminar... besides us... was you."

Rintaro pressed his lips together, silent.

The rumors circulating are all beneficial to Joutou's side, which already made me suspect them. But there's another reason I suspect you: the speed of the rumors. Anyone who actually knows Tennouji-san and Narika would realize this is all nonsense. They have their reputations for a reason. Anyone who knew them would just laugh it off. The fact that the rumors are spreading means they're being spread by people who don't know them. That points away from our classmates. Third-years would know them from last year. That leaves the first-years. The rumors started and spread among the first-years—your home turf. It's a place we can't easily reach, so by the time the rumors get to us, the damage is done.

Rintaro let out a resigned sigh and bowed his head.

"I concede. You're right, Senpai. I was the one behind the negative campaign."

"...You admitted that fast."

"It was all circumstantial, but you laid it out perfectly. There's no denying it. I guess I outsmarted myself. I was so focused on spreading the rumor that I didn't pay close enough attention to Tennouji-senpai's actual speech."

He confessed, full of regret. If he had listened, he would have realized we'd dropped that part.

"Well, to be honest, I was planning to talk to you about it myself, so you would have found out eventually."

...He was going to tell me? Why would he think I'd be okay with it?

"...Are you underestimating me?"

When I let my irritation show, Rintaro looked at me in surprise.

"...So you do have a temper. I thought you were more logical than that."

"I'm not. I've just learned that at this school, getting emotional doesn't solve most problems."

So yes, I get angry. I thought back to what Asahi-san said this morning, picturing her shedding her usual cheerfulness, and her pained, crying face.

I don't want to see her... make that face ever again.

"I heard from Asahi-san. She told me she's inheriting the family business, which forced you to fight alone and resort to any means necessary."

"...I don't deny it."

Rintaro confirmed.

"Honestly, I sympathize with you... but that doesn't justify this."

Rintaro, fighting all by himself, must be in a lot of pain. In the real world, starting a business has hurdles far tougher than the Management Tournament. And Rintaro's ambition is probably massive; he can't achieve it alone. I can easily imagine the weight he's under, and the desperation.

And yet—

"Please. Stop this. Asahi-san feels responsible, and she's in agony over this."

I bowed my head to Rintaro. Tennouji-san and Narika are also being hurt by these baseless slanders. This isn't strategy; it's a plot. It might be a "rational" tactic for his side to win, but it's hurting people. People are crying over this.

"...Please raise your head."

I slowly raised my head. Rintaro was watching me calmly.

"I see..."

He thought for a moment, then spoke.

"Alright. If you join our side, I'll stop the rumors."

"You..."

"Please don't misunderstand. I'm not underestimating you."

I thought he was bluffing and stood up, but he spoke with a completely serious expression. His gaze was intense. I have no idea what he's thinking, but staring into those earnest, sincere eyes, my anger evaporated.

"You're trying to absorb Hinako Konohana-senpai's supporters right now, aren't you?"

"How did you know..."

"You're passing out a questionnaire, right? 'What would you want Hinako-senpai to do if she were president.' I got one."

Tennouji-san had proposed it... our survey of Hinako's supporters. And it had reached Rintaro. No wonder the dataset was so large; it had spread to the first-years in half a day.

"The idea was brilliant. But what surprised me more was that Tennouji-senpai, who sees Hinako-senpai as a rival, was able to accept it. That must be your influence. You have a strength that's different from the other students here. You can change people."

Rintaro bowed his head, pleading.

"Tomonari-senpai, please join us. We need you."

The roles were reversed.

But I didn't get it. I had no idea what his goal was. His respect for me didn't seem fake. He wasn't just trying to placate me.

But still... whatever his goal was, my answer wouldn't change.

"I already have people I'm supporting for president."

He didn't look up.

I had no idea what he was feeling, still bowing to me.

◆

After school that day, I returned to the Konohana residence. Naturally, I explained the situation to Hinako.

"...I see. So it was Asahi-san's little brother who spread the rumors."

Rintaro was trying to frame us. I only explained that part. It was better not to mention what was happening with Asahi-san's family. I didn't want to carelessly leak her private affairs.

"...Will he stop?"

"...I don't know. Probably not."

Rintaro said he would stop if I joined Joutou's side. Since I refused, it's unlikely he'll stop the smear campaign.

'From what you've said, that boy Rintaro probably won't give up. And in reality, it has been effective.'

Takuma-san said leisurely from the laptop screen.

Hinako looked at the laptop, displeased, and said:

"...Itsuki, can I hang up on him?"

'No, you can't. Besides, Hinako, you're the one who interrupted my conversation with Itsuki-kun, aren't you?'

"Mmph..."

Hearing Takuma-san's reasonable point, Hinako puffed up her cheeks.

Hinako had walked into my room while I was giving him an election update via video call. The whole reason I wanted to join the student council came from something he said, so I've been giving him regular progress reports.

"I know what you meant about the part missing from the Management Tournament... It was scheming, wasn't it?"

'Correct. But it's too late if you only notice after you've already become a victim. You need to be more suspicious of people.'

I knew I wasn't cautious enough.

I was only focused on supporting Tennouji-san and Narika's campaigns. I'd occasionally check on the Joutou camp, but only to see the differences in our platforms and to pick up on their speech techniques. That was less about caution and more about trying to learn from them. Still, I thought I maintained some vigilance, like making sure our speech locations weren't stolen, or that they didn't beat us to using certain campaign items... But a smear campaign was an attack far beyond my expectations.

"...It's just, I didn't think students at Kiou Academy would do something like that."

'Well, you're always by Hinako's side, so it can't be helped that you'd think that.'

What did he mean by that?

'That school is full of ambitious people. Many of them would normally resort to such dirty tricks... but no one does it in front of Hinako. After all, no matter what little schemes they try, they can't beat Hinako.'

Even if Hinako is a total slob in private, her abilities are the real deal. It's true; those kinds of plots and schemes would be useless against her. Because I've been by her side, I've probably been protected all this time. Protected from being harmed by that kind of ambition.

'The people at Kiou Academy are broadly divided into two types: the "manager type," who are the children of chairpersons, and the "politician type," who are the children of politicians... The latter group often resorts to those kinds of tactics. They've lived in a world of deceit since they were young... Come to think of it, you've only been around the manager types, so you probably can't tell the difference.'

Now that he mentioned it, my acquaintances are almost all the former. Hinako is the prime example, and my own public persona is the same. It's probably a case of 'birds of a feather,' leading to an unbalanced circle of friends. Just as the politician types have their tendencies, the manager types have a vague tendency, too. They prioritize objective results above all. The proof is that most of the top-ranking students at the academy are the manager type.

'Rintaro was originally a manager type, but because of his past, he's become twisted. That's why he gets along so well with the presidential candidate he's backing.'

Even though they're children of chairpersons, not all of them follow the typical path. Rintaro's split with Asahi-san caused his thinking to skew toward the politician type, so perhaps he found common ground with Joutou, who is a natural-born politician type.

But, if we're going to say that—

"...Then what about you?"

I felt that Takuma-san also gave off that politician-type... that dangerous, "by-any-means-necessary" aura.

Takuma-san was silent for a moment, then spoke.

'Maybe something happened to me in the past, too.'

He brushed it off with a superficial smile. Was he just joking? Or... was there something he couldn't tell me yet.

'In any case, sometimes you can't achieve your goals without a bit of scheming.'

"Is that so..."

'Alright, you need to learn to play some tricks, too. In fact, this is the area where your talents could shine the most. You could probably become just like me in no time—'

Hinako operated the laptop and hung up the call with Takuma-san.

"You don't need any of that."

"...Thank you."

I was happy that Hinako was willing to trust me. Of course, even if I want to achieve my goals, I won't frame others to do it.

"Still, this is surprising..."

Hinako said, confused.

"Joutou-kun... I only know a little about him, but no matter how badly he wants to win, I don't think he's the type to just ignore his staff starting rumors... How did Rintaro convince him?"

"...But according to Takuma-san, he's the natural-born politician type."

As the leader, he should be aware of all his subordinate's, Rintaro's, actions. In fact, I report all my activities to Tennouji-san and Narika. Why would Joutou give his tacit approval to Rintaro's smear campaign?

Or perhaps—

"...I know what Takuma-san said."

I told Hinako my own thoughts.

"But I don't think Rintaro is that kind of person."

"...'That kind of person,' meaning?"

"How do I put it... someone who relies on plots and schemes..."

"Hm...? But he is doing a bad thing..."

A bad thing...

Hinako's remark was objective, and because she's not directly involved, it was sharp. Rintaro was spreading baseless rumors to damage the other candidates. That can be defined as a bad thing. If we had actually done something wrong, and he exposed it out of a sense of justice, then he would be the just one.

"Because you're kind... so you sympathize with him?"

"Yes, I think he deserves sympathy..."

Can I really see Rintaro—who was backed into a corner and resorted to any means—as a villain? I feel like I'm advocating for the 'humans are innately good' theory.

But...

(...That's not quite it, either.)

I'll have to investigate Rintaro further. To turn my intuition into certainty.

"...Alright."

Even though the call with Takuma-san was over, I didn't close my laptop. I had a task today that would keep me working late into the night.

I tapped at the keyboard while Hinako peeked over from behind me.

"Is this for the election...?"

"Yeah. Part of it is for Asahi-san. I want to get this done."

I could feel Hinako tilting her head in confusion behind me.

"I want to debunk all the rumors that are spreading, because Asahi-san feels she's also responsible."

I opened the spreadsheet. I'd had Kita and Suminoe-san help me compile all the campus rumors into this file. Now, I just had to create a response for each one and circulate it. But because of the second wave, the rumors were more complex and varied than last time. If I'm careless and leave a hole in the response, they'll just attack it. It looks like it will take more time to write proper rebuttals.

(I actually want to do something more effective than just debunking...)

Today is the fifth day. There's the weekend in the middle. Rintaro must have carefully planned his smears after seeing their platforms. I need to get the clarifications out yesterday and today. It's a given, but the sheer amount of work is overwhelming.

"Do you need my help?"

"...No, it's better if you don't."

I stopped working for a moment and looked at Hinako.

"Because you're not related to the election, if people knew you helped, a lot of them would probably vote for our side just because of that. Tennouji-san and Narika wouldn't want that, so I'll accept the kind thought."

"...I understand."

Hinako looked a little sad, but showed she understood.

It's fine if she reads the finished script, but I don't want Hinako's contribution to directly become our achievement. Many at Kiou want her as president. If she endorsed a candidate, they would surely follow. Of course, the students here aren't fools. They're realizing they can't just keep watching the back of someone who isn't running. That's why I think borrowing her power would just interfere with their judgment. People have already noticed we stopped holding tea parties at school... We don't want to 'use' Hinako politically. Please vote objectively, setting her aside—they should have picked up on our intention.

"Hinako, sorry."

"It's fine, it can't be helped... I'm just too popular."

Well, she's not wrong...

But who says that while looking so dejected...

(...I need to focus.)

I turned back to the computer and filled out the responses one by one. However, just thinking through each one took several minutes. Even with my motivation, the progress was slower than I expected, which made me anxious.

"Mmph..."

Hinako let out a faint hum as she watched me analyze the types of rumors.

Anyway, I ignored her and continued...

"Mmphhh—mmm..."

Hinako was staring at me and the computer with a fierce expression. She looked... like she really wanted to say something... There was probably something wrong with my method, but since I'd told her I didn't need advice, she was keeping her mouth shut and just watching.

(Realistically... I'll never finish in time like this.)

To win, and for Asahi-san, I want all these debunked by tomorrow. But at my speed, I won't finish even if I pull an all-nighter.

(Come to think of it... Takuma-san did say...)

He'd advised me to rely on Hinako. Hinako's practical skills, as even Kagen-sama admitted, are genius-level. At this key moment, my choice to not rely on Hinako... isn't that just being stupid?

"...I know I can't ask you to help directly."

After thinking, I came up with a compromise.

"Do you have any tricks for processing large amounts of data?"

"...I do!"

Hinako said energetically. She must have been happy I was relying on her.

"I do, but... I want a reward."

"A reward?"

A reward for Hinako would, of course, be...

I pulled open the desk drawer and took out a bag of snacks.

"Here, potato chips."

"N-Not that...!"

"Not potato chips...!?"

How is that possible!? Is it going to hail tomorrow!? Is this a sign of the apocalypse!?

"...Don't be so shocked."

That's asking too much. Given her past behavior, I was certain "reward" meant potato chips, but Hinako just puffed her cheeks, annoyed. She walked over to my bed.

"............Do it over here."

Hinako patted the mattress.

"Okay... is this the reward you wanted?"

"...Yeah."

I didn't get it, but I complied. Since I was on a laptop, I could work on the bed.

After I sat on the bed...

"And then... like this."

Hinako slipped in between me and the laptop. Her small body fit perfectly between my open legs.

"...Um, Hinako, this is a little..."

"...I-It's easier to teach you like this."

But I can't really see the screen...

We were pressed together. Every time I breathed in, I caught a sweet fragrance.

(Calm down, calm down... Hinako just wants to be spoiled...)

The greatest skill I've honed since becoming her attendant might just be the speed at which I can switch my heart to a state of complete calm.

To stay calm, I leaned back slightly, putting some distance between us.

"...Itsuki?"

"Wh-What is it?"

Hinako grabbed my hands as I tried to pull away and pulled them forward.

"............Hold on properly."

It was hard to see this as a 'family' distance. My heart was pounding, and my brain was about to short-circuit.

(If this keeps up... it's not good!)

I panicked, breaking out in a sweat. I frantically tried to get my blank mind working. What were we doing...? Oh, right. I was asking her for a trick.

"H-Hinako! Um, what were you going to teach me!?"

I could barely speak, but Hinako didn't seem calm either. She let out a weird "Hngh..." sound and looked at the screen.

So, what is Hinako's practical trick for handling mass data?

After thinking, she spoke again.

"You take the data... and 'scramble' it like this... then organize it..."

"'Scramble'..."

Nope. I don't get it at all. An image of scrambling a raw egg popped into my head.

"Mmm... wait, I'll try to be clearer..."

"If it's too hard, it's fine."

"No... I want to help you..."

Hinako looked like she was thinking hard.

I knew that if I gave her time, Hinako could explain it. She's always able to switch between her 'slob' self and her 'perfect ojou-sama' mode. It's just a surface switch; her abilities don't change. Right now, in her 'real' mode, she has no motivation, which highlights her lack of life skills. But if she is motivated, she can perform just like her ojou-sama mode. And in that mode, she often tutors classmates. She has the ability to teach. And it's an ability so great that the elites of Kiou Academy rely on her...

"...You're good at seeing the 'truth' behind the data, but you're not good at looking at all the data from a macro perspective."

Hinako crystalized her thoughts into words and explained again.

"You have to... make all the data 'abstract,' then categorize it by its 'essence.' For example, the essence of this rumor and this rumor is just 'suspecting Tennouji-san of feathering her own nest'..."

"...I see. If you analyze it down to that, you only need one unified answer."

Hinako nodded.

"This is just my personal feeling... but that power of observation to see the 'essence' is what's important. If you only look at the surface problem, it's endless... and it takes time, and it's a huge pain."

I knew that last part, 'a huge pain,' was her true feeling.

But, "the power of observation to see the essence"... I've learned a good phrase.

I've always been good at seeing the 'person' behind the data, but the data itself has an essence. I could probably get there eventually; my negotiation with Ikuno was a good example. I saw what he really wanted—the essence—and we made a deal. If you observe the person, you can find the essence. But that's inefficient. It's good for one-on-one, but for this much data, it's too slow. Observing the person behind all this data would take forever.

Therefore, I need to learn to see the essence from the data itself.

The ability to process mass data. That's what I need now.

When I become vice president, this kind of work will increase... I'm glad I realized what I was missing.

...I'm happy.

Knowing I can still grow makes me happy.

"Hinako, thank you... I'll give it a try."

I forgot we were pressed together and threw myself into the task.

I re-examined the campus rumors, not by stubbornly handling them one-by-one, but by browsing the whole list. Then, I categorized the ones with a similar 'essence' and, finally, thought of a solution for each category.

As Kagen-san and Takuma-san acknowledged, Hinako's practical skill is genius-level. But it's not just "talent." She has her own logic, her own principles to follow, and she thinks systematically. It's a steady, fundamental-based strategy.

This... I can copy this.

After about an hour, my brain got used to this systematic thinking. The data that had seemed overwhelming... I'd found a breakthrough. I was filled with motivation.

(At this rate... I can move on to the next step.)

It looked like I could pull off what I really wanted to do—something better than just debunking. A smile naturally spread across my face.

When I finished, I carried Hinako, who had fallen asleep at some point, back to her bedroom, hid the potato chips in her desk drawer, and left.

◇

When Rintaro Asahi got home, he wouldn't speak to anyone but his mother.

He ignored the servants' greetings and went straight to his room. After school, he would only leave his room for dinner and his bath.

His mother was currently on a business trip, so he wasn't talking to his family at all. His relationship with his sister was below freezing, and he was unilaterally distancing himself from his father.

The father he despised was more irritating than a stranger. His every visible move, every sound, was annoying. His father used to seem imposing, but maybe because he failed to build trust at the company, he was now just pathetic.

Rintaro had discarded his father in childhood without hesitation.

By making his father the public enemy, he'd won the trust of the employees. There were many talented people at J. Co., Ltd. now just waiting for Rintaro to start his own company. The preparations for poaching them were flawless.

Rintaro didn't regret abandoning his father.

But he couldn't understand why his father never blamed him.

(...It doesn't matter.)

That arrogant father followed his skewed values. And his sister was a traitor. They had promised not to follow in their father's footsteps, but one day she suddenly decided to save herself and inherit the company.

To Rintaro, this house was a den of fools.

Not here.

His place was not here.

"Ah."

As he was walking to his bedroom, he ran into his sister, Karen.

Their rooms were next to each other. Their hearts were distant, but their rooms remained. Every time this happened, Karen would look guilty.

Today, however, after showing that usual guilt-ridden expression, she immediately met his gaze.

Seeing her attitude was different, Rintaro couldn't help but be the first to look away.

He hurried into his room, annoyed as he replayed the interaction.

"...Tsk."

Just a traitor. Has she decided to just own her mistake?

No, don't think about it. Rintaro took the election bulletin from his bag and checked the approval ratings.

(Support is skyrocketing. Keep up the smears, and have Joutou-senpai talk about the part-time job system.)

It was time to use Itsuki Tomonari's advice. He himself had only thought of internships. From the next speech, they would announce they were discussing petitioning the school to allow part-time jobs.

(Though... Tomonari-senpai knows a lot about part-time jobs.)

He didn't just suggest it; he'd quickly listed concrete examples like construction sites, cram school tutors, and hotel staff, which had surprised Rintaro.

He didn't know what high school Itsuki Tomonari attended before transferring, but given his family, he must have gone to a good private school... or so he thought, but something felt off.

Rintaro, learning from his father's mistakes, had actively reached out to the outside world. He knew the Kiou students' values were skewed.

He thought Itsuki Tomonari was the same... but maybe not?

That strength he has, so unlike a Kiou student, could it be—

(...No way.)

Rintaro reached a possible conclusion, his brow furrowed. He picked up his phone. Using the network he'd built since his sister's betrayal—contacts in the Asahi family, elite employees on his poaching list—he began to investigate the possibility he'd just considered.

◆

The sixth day of the election period.

I went to school even earlier than usual, using the school's photocopier to print out the documents I had finished at the mansion.

I was holding the stack of printed papers and walking to the courtyard when I ran into a girl from my class.

"Huh? Asahi-san?"

"Ah... Tomonari-kun."

Asahi-san looked a little awkward.

"Tomonari-kun, have you been coming this early all through the election?"

"Yeah. But why are you...?"

"Uh... I wanted to apologize."

Asahi-san pressed her lips together firmly and spoke apologetically.

"I'm sorry I cried yesterday... I'm sorry, because of me, I caused you guys a lot of trouble."

Asahi-san bowed deeply.

If I stayed silent, it felt like she would just keep apologizing.

I really wanted to see her back to her usual, cheerful self.

That's what I thought, from the bottom of my heart... so I decided to show her what I'd worked so hard to complete last night.

"Actually, I came in even earlier than usual today."

Asahi-san looked up, stunned. I showed her the papers in my hand.

"I wanted to hand this document out to everyone as soon as possible."

Usually, I hand out flyers in the courtyard announcing the speech location. But this wasn't that.

I handed one sheet to Asahi-san.

She took it, glanced at it, and looked puzzled. It was a flyer densely packed with text. The font size was about the same as a newspaper—not unreadable, but very different from our past flyers.

However, the volume of information was everything.

"This is..."

Asahi-san realized what it was. I nodded to her and said:

"This is a list clarifying every single negative rumor about us that's currently circulating in the school—"

As I explained, I showed her the back of the sheet.

"—and it also includes responses to rumors I predict might spread in the future."

Before Hinako taught me her trick, I thought I'd only have time to debunk the current rumors. But thanks to Hinako, I had extra time, so I was able to make what I'd originally wanted.

Something to stop Asahi-san from being hurt any further—

"I predicted the future rumors and prepared the clarifications. I filled the entire back, but it still wasn't enough, so I designed it so you can see the rest on a website."

The URL was written on the back.

Rintaro's rumors were, in short, just speculation. They deliberately twisted the parts of Tennouji-san's and Narika's speeches that lacked detail.

If that's the case, then as long as we explain everything perfectly, they'll have no opening to attack.

However, explaining every detail in a speech would take too much time, so it's not practical. That's why I chose to do it with a document, not a speech.

"It's a lot of information, so maybe not many people will read it all. But this is Kiou Academy. There are a lot of serious, diligent people. I think some of them will read it all, and those people will be the ones to debunk the rumors for us."

The people who will read it, will read it.

The people who will check, will check.

And when people realize the rumors are false, they will, of their own accord, take our side in clearing them up.

I believe I can have that kind of hope in Kiou Academy.

Even if, as Takuma-san said, there are many here who would use any means to achieve their ambitions, they are still fundamentally serious in how they conduct themselves.

I firmly believe in the diligent attitude of the students here.

"I think this will completely stop the smear campaign."

I said this to the astonished Asahi-san.

"Asahi-san, you don't need to apologize—we're not going to lose over something this minor."

We will win.

Making that clear was the best way to erase her guilt.

Her big eyes widened, and she pressed her lips together tightly.

"...Give me half."

Asahi-san held out her hands to me.

"It's late, but I'm going to help, too... Actually, I wanted to help from the start, but I was worried about what Rintaro might do if I got involved, so I couldn't make a move."

So that's what it was...

Asahi-san was aware of how much Rintaro disliked her. From her perspective, it made sense.

But now, it seemed she believed we could win, so she decided to help without any more hesitation.

"Good morning!"

Asahi-san took the flyers, walked right up to the arriving students, and started handing them out.

"The rumors spreading around school are all lies! You can see the truth if you read this! Please take one!"

Asahi-san moved around, handing out flyers as if to make up for the time she'd lost.

...I can't lose, either.

I psyched myself up and handed out flyers.

"Hey, you two."

After I'd handed out about fifty, Taisho called out to me and Asahi-san.

"Asahi's helping today?"

"Yep! I'm planning to help all the way to the last day!"

Asahi-san said with a smile as bright as the sun.

Seeing her as energetic as she was before the election, Taisho grinned.

"Guess I'll help too, then."

Taisho said, walking over to me to get some flyers.

Just as I said thanks and handed him the stack... he whispered in my ear.

"...Tomonari, sorry. Since Asahi wasn't helping, I didn't either."

"...It's fine, but you could have helped by yourself, couldn't you?"

"...Idiot. There's no way Asahi would normally just sit this out, right? I figured she must have had her reasons... If I helped, she'd be left all alone."

Taisho glanced over at Asahi-san, who was happily handing out flyers.

Taisho didn't want to let Asahi-san be isolated, so he had deliberately kept his distance from our campaign.

"...You can be surprisingly kind."

"Am I?"

Taisho looked puzzled.

Taisho and Asahi-san are both so considerate of others—that's exactly why they were the first friends I made at this school.

If it weren't for them, I don't know where I'd be.

Come to think of it, they're the reason I was able to fit in here... I'm sure now that our meeting was inevitable.

It wasn't me who found them.

It was Taisho and Asahi-san who found me.

—I want to become vice president.

I felt that desire surge, stronger than ever.

I want to make them think that talking to me that day was the right call. I want them to feel honored to be friends with me. I feel like that's the greatest thanks I can give them.

Because, "Thanks for being my friend"—that's too embarrassing to say out loud.

I'll show my gratitude through my results.

"Good morning—!"

"Please take one—!"

Taisho's and Asahi-san's voices echoed across the campus.

Many students, noticing their voices, were willing to take a flyer. I realized once again just how amazing the influence of these two well-connected people was.

(This way... we can finally move forward.)

Rintaro's scheming should stop with this, too. If these flyers work, there will be no holes left to exploit in Tennouji-san's and Narika's platforms.

I thought everything would go smoothly from here, but—

◆

It was lunch break. After eating with Hinako, I went to watch Tennouji-san's and Narika's speeches. Since class was about to start, I headed back to the classroom.

However, the moment I walked in, Kita noticed me and rushed over.

"Tomonari-kun, I heard a weird rumor..."

Kita said, looking troubled.

A rumor... I had been half-listening to conversations during lunch, and just as planned, students who read the document were automatically debunking the rumors Rintaro had spread.

So I thought I didn't need to be as worried...

"A 'weird' rumor?"

"Yeah, it's a little different from the ones before..."

I thought the previous ones were plenty wild...

Kita, looking unsure of how seriously to take it, told me what it was.

"...There's a rumor... that you're faking your identity."

My mind went blank.

That...

That, alone...

...is the one rumor that must never, ever get out.

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