I reached the school gates in the blissful state of flirting with Sensei all the way there, yet for some reason, I ended up walking toward my classroom with Tanaka at my side.
"Honestly, why do so many beautiful girls flock to a loner like you, Ryouta-kun? Myself included."
"Even if we set aside the category error of including you, Tanaka, isn't it obviously just my human magnetism? Even as a loner, I'm the charismatic savior who's constantly bailing out beautiful girls."
As I spoke with my head held high, Tanaka muttered something I didn't quite follow: "I'm a beautiful girl too!"
"But to think even the beautiful new teacher who arrived in the fall is getting along with Ryouta-kun... Listen, Ryouta-kun, if you have too many connections with women, you'll run into trouble, okay? It's the most basic of basics in dating sims!"
"I get it, I get it. But Tanaka, as my friend, you should know that no matter how close I get with these beautiful girls, I won't end up in that kind of relationship, right?"
"Well... I suppose everyone is close with you, but I don't think any of them are 'serious' about Ryouta-kun."
Tanaka was insulting me with zero hesitation.
W-well, she wasn't wrong.
Rui’s goal was to keep a capable—self-proclaimed—savior like me within arm's reach; Yuria was my number-one understander who let me touch her thighs; my friendship with Airi included a bizarre promise that allowed me to look at her breasts; Himesaki was a junior who admired me; Sensei was essentially an older sister and childhood friend; and Tanaka… well, Tanaka was just bad at dribbling.
"I hear you. But personally, I just want everyone to keep getting along well like we are now."
"Please stop with the flags! That's exactly the kind of omen that happens before a harem protagonist gets dragged into the worst kind of trouble!"
No, I was being sincere... but I guess Tanaka was just worried about me in her own way.
"It's fine, Tanaka. I'm the kind of man who really performs when it counts."
"Why are you saying 'performs' with that weird emphasis? It sounds like you're talking about something sexual!"
"More importantly, you should work hard too, Tanaka. Why don't you find yourself a boyfriend soon?"
"Mind your own business! I'm, well, you know, I'm steadily making my move!"
Making a move on what? By the time I could wonder, Tanaka had already run off and ducked into the classroom next to mine.
Well, I'd just have to hope that spring would eventually come for Tanaka too.
More importantly, my life as the Vice President was officially starting in earnest today.
To be honest, I didn't really know what I was supposed to do in this role, or how I should handle things...
"Ah, Mr. Vice President."
"Eh?"
As I was lost in thought, someone suddenly called out to me from behind, making me flinch.
"Just kidding. Ryouta-senpai, why are you so jumpy?"
"Wh— Oh, it's just Himesaki."
The one who had gone out of her way to address me by my title was my junior, Nozomi Himesaki.
As usual, her cheeky side—the one that loved to tease me—was alive and well.
It seemed she was overdue for a punishment... in my imagination, anyway.
"Ryouta-senpai, why are you grinning like that?"
"Oh, no, it's nothing. I was just thinking about doing this and that to you in my delusions later."
"Wait, wha—what is that!? I don't know what you mean by 'this and that,' but you don't usually say that to the person's face! Seriously!"
I, the Vice President, was met with a perfectly logical retort from my junior.
"Hah... Honestly, Ryouta-senpai. But I guess that's what makes you a pervert! I'm learning so much."
"No, you aren't! How many times do I have to tell you that 'pervert' isn't a concept to be respected?"
After that, I continued to be jerked around by Himesaki's ignorance.
Well, as the Vice President, I supposed I should exercise at least a little self-restraint over my perverted feelings.
But if I purged the pervert from my soul... would I... would I even still be me?
"Himesaki... even if I'm no longer the man I once was, will you call me a pervert one more time?"
"What's with the drama? You sound like the ending of some supernatural horror or slasher movie. Well, Ryouta-senpai, you are the master of perverts, so if you really want me to call you that, I will."
After exchanging that bizarre promise, I began my daily life as the Vice President.