Gathering supporters—using a prominent figure as a mascot for your own publicity wasn’t a bad move. I could understand why she wanted to recruit Natsukawa.
"—But it's a bad move, isn't it?"
"……Excuse me?"
The words had slipped out before I could stop them. I’d spoken them like a mumble, so I hoped she would take it as me just talking to myself. It was fine; I could still recover. However, no matter how much I tried to restrain them, my words didn't seem like they were going to stop.
"I heard some rather suspicious words just now… might I ask for your reasoning?"
"Natsukawa stands out far too much. If you make her your spokesperson, everyone around you will just think, 'Wait, why is that person running instead of Natsukawa-san?'"
"Wh-What…!?"
"Speaking as your average guy, I’m telling you: if you recruit Natsukawa, she’ll actually overshadow you. Just by standing next to you."
A gaze that practically screamed what do you mean by that pierced right through me. But even without me going out of my way to explain it, she surely understood what I was trying to say.
True, this girl had a half-Japanese look and her blonde hair suited her; she was cute in her own way, so she definitely stood out. Chromarty’s whole gimmick was built on that visibility. And yet, if she placed someone even cuter than herself right next to her, all that effort would be for nothing.
"Natsukawa is cuter than you."
"—"
Chromarty’s mouth hung open like she couldn't believe such a ridiculous thing had been said. The two girls behind her looked at me with eyes that asked if I really had to go that far, but then they took another long, hard look at Natsukawa’s face. Their temples began to twitch. How do you like that? That’s our Natsukawa for you. She'll make you fade into the background.
"M-Marika-san…! She—Natsukawa-san is from the 'East'! We shouldn't interfere with them too much!"
"Y-Yes…! I think we should just gather volunteers in a way that befits the 'West'!"
"……"
Chromarty trembled, her face flushed with indignation. She seemed to have lost her words at an answer that had likely gone completely against her expectations. You’re too naive; I won't let you use Natsukawa as a stepping stone like that. I’ll make sure to keep her away from any and all trouble.
"—Heh, hehehe……"
"……!"
After a moment of trembling, Chromarty forced a smile onto her face. Her previous air of a petty character vanished, replaced by a sharp glint in her eyes. With a look that suggested she had "marked" her target, she glared up at Natsukawa from a slightly bowed position.
"—Eep…!?"
Suddenly, Chromarty’s body stiffened as she looked toward Natsukawa. I braced myself for a moment, but then I looked over in that direction as well and understood.
The whole class was there. Well, maybe not everyone, but almost the entire population of Class C had crowded by the doorway, watching the scene unfold. Among them were those who were looking at Chromarty with visibly annoyed expressions. Yeah, there was no competing with this… she had been completely cast as the villain. Well, her demands were unreasonable from the start, anyway.
"M-Marika-san… we should…"
"I-I think it’s best if we retreat for now…"
"Urgh……"
The three of them recoiled. It seemed the two in the back were desperately trying to persuade Chromarty to leave. They probably didn't want to cause a scene and stand out in a bad way. Honestly, I wondered what kind of circumstances led someone to become a lackey like that.
"……Well then, if you’ll excuse us."
There was no point in someone like me sticking around anymore. Chromarty had simply picked the wrong opponent. She had tried to pick a fight with Natsukawa, who beat her in looks and popularity, save for a slight difference in grades. This was the natural conclusion. She’d been thoroughly repelled.
"Sajocchi, Sajocchi."
"Hmm…? Eh……"
Ashida, who had been staying out of it until now, pointed a finger with a wry smile. Wondering what was up, I looked back over my shoulder to find Natsukawa there, her face buried in both hands, her body trembling. I noticed her ears—the parts she couldn't quite hide—were bright red.
"Eh, what? What happened?"
"No, it’s your fault, Sajocchi. You said something incredible without looking the least bit embarrassed."
"Something incredible……?"
"You know, calling her 'cute' like that."
"Huh? Isn’t Natsukawa sick of hearing that by now?"
"W-Well, maybe… but it’s probably a bit much to have it said so grandly in front of everyone……"
"Cute" was a word I’d said so often I was practically sick of it myself, and more than anything, it was a well-known fact that I thought so. At this point, I felt no shame in telling Natsukawa she was cute. Wasn't she used to hearing it?
"……The time, the place, and the situation were all just right for a disaster, I guess."
"She’s turned as red as an octopus in a completely different sense now."
"Sajocchi, you’re really something else, seriously."
Geez… don't get mad all of a sudden. You're scaring me……
As I was getting flustered by Ashida, whose eyes were scanning me up and down like a delinquent looking for a fight, I felt a tug on the hem of my uniform.
I looked back to see Natsukawa, her face still flushed.
"………Don't say such embarrassing things……"
"You’re cute."
"……! D-Don't look at me!"
"And there’s the usual reaction."
I didn't need that analysis, Ashida. I mean, what was the difference? Was it the presence or absence of ulterior motives? Or did she prefer being told with a straight face? Leave it to me; if a serious face made her happy, I’d say it as many times as she wanted. Serious face. You’re cu— Stop glaring at me, Ashida……
"—W-Wait right there, Amano!"
"……"
"Did you not hear me tell you to wait!?"
"Eh, ah, me? Eh, Amano……?"
That was the name shouted just as I was about to head back into the classroom. Hurry up and answer, Amano… I thought as I turned around, only to find Chromarty looking straight at me. Wait, am I Amano? I’ve become Amano so naturally, what’s going on? I wondered why she thought my name was Amano. Wataru Amano…… it actually had a nice ring to it.
"Fine then! No matter how much of a difference there is in elegance, the one who wins in the end is the one who takes action!"
"Pardon? Eh?"
"I will absolutely become the next Student Council President! For that sake, I won't even lose to that 'cute' Natsukawa Aika-san over there!"
Leaving those words behind, Chromarty turned on her heel and marched away with her two companions. Putting aside her ambitions for the presidency, the sight of her trying to beat Natsukawa in a beauty contest seemed so reckless that I actually started to feel sorry for her.
"……Chromarty……"
"Chromarty? Who’s that?"
"Eh……?"
A disturbance had arrived the moment we cleared the troublesome hurdle of regular exams. They were using terms like "West" and "East" as if they were labels for something, but what did that actually mean? I’d assumed it was just because the school buildings were divided into east and west for Classes A–C and D–F, but was there some kind of tradition behind it? I’d thought the class assignments were random.
However, it felt rather discriminatory. I’d figured that ojou-sama way of speaking was just Chromarty’s thing, but the two behind her were also acting strangely high and mighty. Perhaps there had been some special arrangement made at the time of enrollment.
"There was."
"There was one……?"
The person who told me so flatly was Iiboshi-san. I’d had a feeling she was strangely well-informed, but to think she actually knew the details… I tip my hat to her. Please keep up the good work as the Class Representative.
"Look, there are many famous companies around here, right? Once you get past the residential area and across the train station, it’s a business district."
"Ah, come to think of it, yeah."
"On top of that, this is a private preparatory school… From the perspective of important people, it’s a way to maintain the family’s prestige through their child’s academic background. And this school is quite old, isn't it?"
"Ah, don't remind me."
Speaking of which, there was a dilapidated roundabout behind the school that didn't lead anywhere. When I first enrolled, I’d hoped it might connect to the station.
"In that case, it’s a sort of Showa-era mentality…… originally, the school divided the east and west every three classes, and they wanted to distinguish between those who were donors and families who weren't as much as possible, you know?"
"'You know?'… Ah, so that’s why they were saying 'West' and 'East.'"
That was pure discrimination. From the perspective of their parents, they must have some kind of perception that "commoner families are vulgar," right? Well, it wasn't like we were being treated unfairly by the teachers because of it.
"But even if you say Classes D–F, there are three classes. Are there really that many rich kids?"
"Hmm…… basically, they seem to be concentrated in Class E. The others are for affiliates and such……"
"Heh? I don't really get it……"
"Elegant."
"Eh?"
"The 'E' in 'Elegant.' Apparently, it’s because it means 'refined' or something like that. It’s just a rumor, though."
"Eh?"
I didn't really know what to say to that. Was a reason like that even allowed? That was a stupid reason with zero academic feel to it. One of the donors definitely got carried away and suggested that, didn't they? I really hoped it wasn't the school’s own idea.
"Well, it seems that kind of thing has been fading with the times. Especially in the last year or two."
"Heh? Did the government keep an eye on them because of the rich kids?"
"No, it’s simply because the 'East' was stronger. In terms of character, unity, appearance, and grades."
"Isn’t that just a total victory?"
"I was convinced when I saw the Disciplinary Committee President and the Student Council Vice President. Both of them are from the 'East,' after all."
"True. I can agree with that if we're looking at the Disciplinary Committee President."
"Eh……? Yeah, the Disciplinary Committee President and the Student Council—"
"The Disciplinary Committee President, yeah."
So this school had a history like that. I’d thought it was something that only happened in dramas or manga. The faculty office and the social studies reference room were in the South Building, while the music room and home economics room were in the North Building. Since I had no reason to go to the West Building, I hadn't been conscious of the divide at all.
"It just doesn't come up as a topic often, but I think people in the same clubs as students from the 'East' and 'West' probably know about it. Though, it’s hard to imagine pampered little masters and misses who’ve been driven door-to-door since they were in elementary school joining sports clubs."
"I-Is that so……"
I decided I should probably keep it a secret that I was driven to and from school when I was in elementary school. And since I wasn’t in a club either, it somehow felt like a personal attack. Hello, I’m a pampered little master.