Chapter 2 | April 14th (12:15 PM)

(St. Liliana Academy・Student Council Room)

“──Onii-chan. Hey, Onii-chan.”

“…………”

“Onii-chaaan. Heey. Yoo-hoo. Can you hear meee?”

“…Huh? Ah, yeah. I can hear you.”

The scene shifts to the student council room at St. Liliana Academy. It’s lunch break.

Lost in thought, I was brought back to reality by my sister’s voice.

“What’s wrong? You’re spacing out. Were you thinking about something?”

“Ah, no. It’s nothing important.”

I smiled at Akiko, who was looking at me with concern.

“I’m just a bit sleep-deprived, so my mind wandered. You know, last night was pretty hectic.”

“Is that so? But Onii-chan, you seem kind of gloomy, like your energy’s low. I’m a bit worried.”

“No, no. There’s no need to worry.”

“Is it because the lunch I made wasn’t tasty?”

“You and Ginbei made it together, right? There’s no way it wasn’t delicious.”

“Then are you feeling unwell or something?”

“Not really, no.”

“W-Well, I don’t want to think this, but were you thinking about another woman instead of me, your wife!?”

“Ah, there it is again. Inappropriate wording.”

“Well, even Akito Himenokōji has days like that, huh?”

While sipping her tea after lunch, the president chimed in.

“You’re making a face like you can’t eat, but this guy’s only sixteen. It’s normal for a teenager to have days where they feel down for no reason. Especially now, in the middle of spring. Right, you?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

I tried to respond calmly to the president, who was grinning at me, but inside, I wasn’t calm at all.

She really has a bad personality, that Arashi Nikaidō. She dropped that bombshell this morning, and now she’s acting like it’s nothing. That grin of hers is definitely because she’s enjoying my reaction. Her personality and her tastes are both terrible. She’s really something else.

Still, she miscalculated. She knows about my blood relationship with Akiko and even about my engagement with Arisa… This is going to make things complicated from now on. She said she wouldn’t use it against me, and I don’t think the words of the St. Liliana Academy student council president are that light, but… I can’t shake the feeling that she’s up to no good.

“…….”

“………….”

“…………………….”

“Yeah.”

I wonder if Arisa’s doing okay.

She was really shocked when I left the Takanomiya household, and we haven’t been in contact since. Selfishly, I hope she’s doing well.

Actually, it’s Reiichirou and Kyouko’s fault. They went ahead with the engagement without considering my feelings, and that excitement spread to Arisa too. I mean, she’s a victim in all this too. Out of everyone in the Takanomiya family, she was the one who treated me the best, and I still worry about her──

“Onii-chan. You’re thinking about something bad again, aren’t you?”

My sister glared at me with a sharp look, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“That look in your eyes, your breathing, your lips. All of it is evidence that you’re thinking about another woman. We’re having lunch together right now, so think more about me, okay?”

“…You’re not wrong, but can you really tell what I’m thinking from such small details…?”

“I haven’t been your sister for sixteen years for nothing. When it comes to you, I can read everything from the slightest movement of your eyelashes. I’m basically an Onii-chan expert. Heh.”

“You’re puffing out your nonexistent chest and acting all proud, but what you’re doing is no different from a malicious, obsessive stalker.”

That comment came from Anastasia Nasuhara, who chimed in from the side.

“But I am interested in the content of your statement. Who exactly were you fantasizing about? Confess right now, Akki.”

“No, it’s a misunderstanding. It’s not like that.”

“How disgusting. Not only were you indulging in indecent fantasies, but you’ve already taken care of things under the desk, haven’t you?”

“No, I haven’t done anything like that. What are you talking about?”

“But the boldness driven by your insatiable sexual desires is almost refreshing. Hehe, it seems I’ve underestimated you, Akito Himenokōji.”

“I told you it’s a misunderstanding…”

Nasuhara-san is still a pro when it comes to piling on false accusations. She really comes alive when dirty jokes are involved.

“I’m interested too.”

This time, Ginbei joined in.

“Putting aside the fact that you’re one step away from being a stalker, your sister’s statement is fairly credible. I can agree with her claim that she hasn’t been your sister for sixteen years for nothing. Besides, she’s an extreme and fatal brocon. Normally, saying you can tell what someone’s thinking from their eyes, breathing, or lips would be baseless, but in this case, it’s highly credible information. Don’t worry, I’m on your side, little sister. I fully support your opinion.”

“Ah, thank you, Ginbei-san… Wait, why don’t I feel grateful even though you said you support me with a smile…?”

_That’s because, Akiko.

She’s actually dissing you while pretending to praise you._

“So, Akito. Who were you thinking about? Confess right here.”

“No, no. Why does it have to come to that?”

“If anything, I’m the one who’s puzzled by your question. I’m your best friend, so it’s only natural that I’d want to know about your relationships, right?”

“Well, I guess so.”

“Or what? Are you hiding something shady?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then tell me, who were you thinking about? Someone here? Or someone not here?”

“Ah, well…”

_What’s going on?

Why am I being interrogated like this? It’s like I’m in some kind of heresy trial… Akiko, the expressionless Nasuhara-san, and the ever-calm Ginbei are all putting pressure on me, not allowing any rebuttals._

Of course, if I were to honestly say, “I was thinking about my fiancée,” it would only cause more trouble. I need to find a way to smoothly change the subject, but…

“It’s me, isn’t it?”

While I was being pressed by the three of them, the president suddenly dropped a bombshell.

“Akito Himenokōji was thinking about me. While we were having lunch together to strengthen the bonds of the student council, he was lost in thought, fantasizing about being lovey-dovey with me.”

“That’s not true.”

Akiko immediately denied it.

“The student council president, who loves dirty things more than three meals a day and whose computer suggests ‘HENTAI’ first when you type ‘H,’ wouldn’t be someone Onii-chan would waste time thinking about. Even though my dear Onii-chan hasn’t made a move on me yet, he still has good taste in women.”

“We finally agree on something.”

Nasuhara-san nodded.

“It’s quite self-absorbed to think that this man, who is completely indifferent to women’s advances, would fantasize about you. You may have a few redeeming qualities, but it seems you’ve lost even those. How unfortunate.”

“I support their opinions too.”

Ginbei joined in as well.

“In fact, I think the president was just making up an absurd story to lighten the mood during lunch. She deliberately said something outrageous to play the fool──right?”

“Hey, hey, that’s harsh. I’m the student council president of St. Liliana Academy, you know? I was chosen by elites from all over the country for this position. Can’t you show a little more respect or something?”

“No respect here.”

“None at all.”

“Not a bit.”

“Hahaha. You guys are tough, huh?”

Laughing, the president turned her gaze to me.

“What about you, Akito Himenokōji? Are you as harsh as them?”

“Well──”

With everyone’s eyes on me, I hesitated.

I can vaguely understand that my response here is quite important. I want to give a noncommittal answer to avoid trouble, but…

“Hm? What’s wrong? You’re hesitating over something so simple?”

The president grinned confidently, urging me on.

Her expression doesn’t seem to demand a specific answer. Even if I were to say something contrary to her expectations, she’d probably just laugh it off as usual.

That’s how it should be, but…

“Yes. I was thinking about the president.”

I smiled and gave an answer that could easily be called cowardly.

But really, what else could I do? With my weakness exposed and the president’s intentions unclear, going against her would be too risky.

“Yes, I was thinking about the president. It’s only natural, right? She’s a stunning beauty, after all. Plus, she’s at the top of St. Liliana Academy, wielding immense authority over the student council. It’s only natural that I’d end up thinking about her.”

In fact, I should go all out.

I’ll play the flatterer and praise Arashi Nikaidō to the point of overkill. That should minimize the damage.

“But how did you know I was thinking about you, president? I thought I was hiding it well.”

“It’s simple. I’m always watching you.”

The president nodded with satisfaction.

“It’s only natural for a young man with too much energy to think about someone like me──older, nurturing, and famously skilled in bed. And of course, only I could see through such thoughts. Unlike someone who spends all day thinking about her brother, my eyes aren’t just for show.”

“W-What!? I can’t let that slide!”

Akiko immediately reacted.

“I’m Onii-chan’s one and only sister, his one and only family. So of course, he thinks about me more than anyone else, and I think about him more than anyone else. When it comes to Onii-chan, I’m the world’s number one expert… There’s no way the student council president knows him better than I do, or that Onii-chan thinks about her more than me. That’s absolutely impossible.”

“No matter what you say, the facts don’t change, Akiko Himenokōji. You heard what your brother said just now, right?”

“Muu…”

“And it’s clear from his face that Akito Himenokōji has no intention of taking it back. He’s smiling politely, but he’s definitely not backing down. He looks like some skilled salesman right now.”

“Muuu…”

“Well, while some of you were flustered, I did what needed to be done. The name ‘Predator’ isn’t just for show. You should all learn from me, okay?”

“Learn from you? Don’t make me laugh.”

“I understand wanting to think it’s a joke, but you need to face reality. If you keep turning a blind eye to inconvenient truths, you won’t last in this academy’s student council.”

“Muuuuu…”

Akiko puffed out her cheeks and glared at the president, but the situation wasn’t in her favor.

The president, on the other hand, looked annoyingly relaxed, looking down at her subordinates with a smug grin.

“──Time out! Can I call a time out!?”

Suddenly, my sister raised her hand.

“Nasuhara-san! Ginbei-san! Over here!”

She called the other two student council members to a corner of the room.

“Did you hear that, everyone? What’s with the president’s attitude today?”

“Yes. She’s always confident and condescending, but today she’s even more outrageous than usual.”

“In any case, her arrogance seems to be backed by solid evidence. It doesn’t feel like she’s bluffing to intimidate us.”

“So, something happened between Onii-chan and the president? Even though there was nothing just yesterday?”

“It’s not impossible. She’s always on guard.”

“I agree with Nasuhara-kun. Still, she’s quick to make her move. The name ‘Predator’ really suits her.”

They started whispering among themselves.

This scene feels familiar. Is this some kind of student council tradition?

“Anyway, something definitely happened between Onii-chan and the president.”

“Yes. And whatever it is, it’s having a very bad influence.”

“The question is, how should we handle this from now on?”

“I propose we cooperate. The three of us should join forces. We can’t let the student council president run wild like this.”

“I refuse. You’re the most dangerous person here, more than the president. Don’t you realize that? I won’t risk calling in a tiger while chasing a cat.”

“I agree with Nasuhara-kun. From my perspective, it’s better for the president to be all over Akito than for Akiko to be clinging to him. If possible, I’d like Akiko to drop out of the race entirely.”

“Wait a minute! Before worrying about tomorrow or the day after, we should focus on the problem at hand and work together──wait, was that why you made it so I couldn’t live with Onii-chan!? I protest! I strongly protest!”

“Still, we can’t ignore the threat posed by the student council president.”

“That’s true. Perhaps Ginbei and I should team up to keep the president in check.”

“Do you have any ideas, Ginbei?”

“It’s difficult. We don’t even know what advantage the president has gained. Without knowing the cause, we can’t come up with a solution. For now, we’ll have to handle things as they come──”

“Hey, you two! Don’t ignore me and keep talking!”

Hmm…

I don’t really understand what they’re talking about, but it’s clear they’re arguing. They’re talking about cooperating, but it looks like it’s going to end in a fight.

“Hahaha. Young people are so energetic. It’s great.”

The president watched her subordinates running around with a relaxed expression.

Sipping her tea with a satisfied look, she continued.

“But you know, young people need to be like that. They have more potential than those small-minded bureaucrats who play it safe.”

“I see. Is that so?”

She’s speaking so condescendingly… but the president is almost the same age as us, right?

“The student council at St. Liliana Academy has always been full of strong personalities.”

“I can imagine. The kind of people who get into this academy seem like they’d be full of quirks.”

“Yeah. Everyone’s got their own quirks, and the ones with the most quirks are often the most capable. It’s a lot of work for the person in charge.”

“…Is this student council a prime example of that?”

“Exactly.”

The president winked with her uncovered eye.

“Conflict and opposition are normal. Fighting is an everyday occurrence. But even as they argue, a sense of camaraderie forms. They’re all highly capable, so once they come together, they can perform well. Right?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

Ginbei’s abilities speak for themselves, and even Akiko and Nasuhara-san are somewhat famous in this academy. If everyone works together, we could become the best student council ever.

“We don’t have much work right now, but there will be times when we need to show our true abilities. Like during the sports festival or cultural festival.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“But if we’re fighting among ourselves during those crucial times, it could get pretty bad.”

“Absolutely. We want to avoid that.”

The president turned her gaze back to the “internal conflict” happening in the room.

“They say ‘after the rain, the ground hardens.’ If it’s within a controllable range, I’d rather have it rain every day.”

“I see. I guess so.”

“The new semester has just started, and the whole academy is still a bit unsettled. During times like this, we in the student council need to stand firm. Otherwise, we won’t set a good example for the other students. It’s fine to clash and argue──it’s better than bottling things up. Even if it’s a rushed job, it’s important to create a form first. Don’t you think?”

“…………”

There’s something about the way she’s talking…

It’s not just condescending──it’s like she’s seeing everything in advance.

Is she doing all of this on purpose?

Is she deliberately stirring up conflict to strengthen the student council?

If so, she’s really something else.

“More importantly, Akito Himenokōji. How about giving me a shoulder massage? I’ve been so busy lately that my shoulders are stiff.”

“…I don’t see you doing that much work, though.”

“Those at the top have struggles that those below can’t understand. Right?”

“Well, I guess so.”

“And it’s classy to keep your efforts and struggles hidden from others. I’ve been doing a lot behind the scenes, you know.”

That’s probably true.

She’s the one who revived the student dormitory that was supposed to be demolished, allowing me and my sister to live there.

She got the budget approved by the board, set the dormitory’s policies, and handled the renovations──all without us knowing.

And she did all of that while keeping up with her studies, sword training, and student council work.

When you think about it, it’s no wonder Arashi Nikaidō is the student council president at St. Liliana Academy──

“Plus, my chest is bigger than most, so my shoulders get stiff faster.”

“I see.”

“So, I’d rather have you massage my chest instead.”

“Do you really think I’d agree to that?”

“Do you remember your title in the student council?”

“‘Assistant Deputy Secretary Proxy,’ right? A position you made up.”

“Actually, I’ve been keeping it a secret, but the main job of the ‘Assistant Deputy Secretary Proxy’ is to handle the student council president’s sexual desires. Now that you’ve accepted the position, you have to fulfill your duties.”

“You’re making up the job description too? No way I’m doing that.”

“Why so cold? …Well, I guess it’s fine. If you massage my chest, it’ll just get bigger. If it gets any bigger, my shoulders will get even stiffer. Hahaha.”

The president laughed loudly, completely lacking in refinement.

Somehow, this person… I just can’t figure her out.

She hinted at my blood relationship with Akiko and even brought up my engagement issues, but today she’s back to her usual self, all while keeping an eye on the important things.

If she were just a pervert or just a capable person, it would be easier to deal with. But she’s both, and she knows how to switch roles at the right moments, making her hard to read. She’s like a baseball pitcher with precise control who occasionally throws wild pitches.

Anyway…

As I watched the three girls still arguing in their huddle, I couldn’t help but think back to the first time I met the student council president.

Arashi Nikaidō──probably an ally, but be cautious.