From the day the election period kicked off, Asahi-san had often worn a troubled, awkward expression.
She must have been agonizing all by herself about how to face Rintaro.
Watching Asahi-san quietly shed tears, I realized my to-do list had grown by one more item.
I would speak with Rintaro during today's lunch break.
◆
Lunch break.
I headed over to the first-year wing and caught Rintaro walking along the connecting corridor. I called out to him immediately.
"Rintaro, I need to talk to you."
"Certainly."
It seemed Rintaro was on his way to help with Ren Joto’s campaign speech, but he accepted my invitation without hesitation.
We moved to a table in the garden. Sensing that the conversation would be something we wouldn't want overheard, Rintaro intentionally led the way to a spot at the very back.
Coincidentally, the seat Rintaro chose was the same one where Asahi-san’s bitter regret had so recently lingered.
"What can I do for you? Have you decided to join our side?"
"No."
"That’s a pity. I was quite hoping that was the reason for this talk..."
The moment he sat down, Rintaro looked at me with expectant eyes, but I simply shook my head.
It was likely that very expectation that had made him ditch his duties for the speech to make time for me. I felt a pang of guilt for getting his hopes up.
"I want to talk about Asahi-san," I said bluntly.
Rintaro let out a small sigh.
"I’ll say it again: that was just a sibling spat. There’s no need for you to worry about it, Tomonari-senpai. Besides, it seems my sister is convinced I’m the one who launched a smear campaign against you, but there isn’t a shred of evidence—"
"—It was you, Rintaro."
As Rintaro trailed off, I spoke again, firmer this time.
"You’re the one behind the negative campaign."
"...And what makes you so certain?"
As Rintaro tried to play dumb, I laid out the evidence.
The proof that Asahi-san’s intuition was right.
"Right now, there are several nasty rumors circulating about Tennoji-san. Are you aware of what people are saying?"
"...Well, as a participant in this election, I do make sure to stay informed."
Then this will be simple.
Narika wasn't the only one targeted; Tennoji-san was a victim as well. I brought up a specific rumor I’d heard from Suminoe-san this morning.
"The rumor is that the etiquette seminars will be divided based on the rank of the social circles the students belong to, making the difference in family status glaringly obvious. Have you heard that one?"
"I have. It’s certainly been making the rounds."
Rintaro looked at me as if to say, So what?
"Tennoji-san never said a single word about holding an etiquette seminar."
Rintaro’s eyes widened.
"...But Tomonari-senpai, you said so when we spoke, didn't you? You told me the next speech would involve an explanation regarding the implementation of an etiquette seminar."
"We scrapped it. We decided that mentioning it in a speech would lead to exactly the kind of misunderstandings people are spreading right now."
I had discussed it with Tennoji-san just before the speech and decided to call off the announcement.
We wanted to make this an academy where everyone can live nobly. With that goal in mind, we decided to avoid any campaign promises that might even slightly highlight family pedigree.
And yet, for some reason, the rumors claimed Tennoji-san was moving forward with the plan, and a negative campaign was already in full swing against it.
Someone had leaked our internal plans.
"The only person besides our team who knew we were planning that seminar... was you, Rintaro."
Rintaro pursed his lips and fell silent.
Currently, the smear campaign served to benefit the Joto camp. On that basis alone, I had been suspicious of Joto and Rintaro. But if there was another reason to suspect Rintaro specifically, it was the speed at which the rumors had spread.
Anyone who truly knew Tennoji-san and Narika would have realized instantly that the rumors were false.
Their noble way of life was etched into the minds of the student body; they were as famous in the academy as Hinako herself. Anyone who knew them wouldn't have helped spread such rumors; they would have laughed them off.
And yet, the rumors caught fire.
That meant they were being spread by people who didn't know Tennoji-san and Narika well. Once I realized that, I concluded the source couldn't be their peers. It had to be the third-years or the first-years. Since the third-years had watched them since their own first year, I suspected the current first-year class.
The sparks were being fanned among the freshmen.
That was Rintaro’s personal domain—an area where it was difficult for us to reach. By the time the rumors reached our ears, they had spread so far that we were forced to play catch-up.
Rintaro exhaled as if resigning himself and bowed his head.
"You’ve got me. It’s as you suspected—I am leading the negative campaign."
"...You’re admitting it that easily?"
"Even if it’s only circumstantial, I can’t exactly deny it after you’ve explained it that clearly. I suppose I’ve been hoisted by my own petard. I was so busy ensuring the rumors were disseminated that I failed to listen closely to Tennoji-san’s speech."
Rintaro voiced his regret with a trace of bitterness.
If he had actually listened to her speech, he would have realized we’d scrapped the seminar.
"Honestly, I intended to tell you about the negative campaign when the timing was right anyway. It was only a matter of when."
...He intended to tell me?
Why did he think it was okay for me to find out?
"..................Are you mocking me?"
When I let my irritation show, Rintaro looked at me with genuine astonishment.
"...So you do get emotional, Tomonari-senpai. I took you for a more rational person."
"I'm not particularly rational. It’s just that here at Kikou Academy, I’ve learned the hard way that emotions alone don't get you very far."
That didn't mean I didn't get angry.
I thought back to Asahi-san this morning—to how she had shed her usual carefree persona and broken down in tears. I tried to imagine her pain as best I could.
I never wanted to see Asahi-san make that kind of face again.
"I heard the story from Asahi-san. Because she decided to inherit the business, you were left alone and driven into a corner until you stopped caring about the methods you used."
"...I won’t deny that," Rintaro affirmed.
"Honestly, I sympathize with you. But that doesn't make this right."
An isolated Rintaro must have been deeply wounded.
To start a business in reality required overcoming hurdles far higher than anything in the Management Game. Moreover, the business Rintaro was aiming for was likely of considerable scale. Trying to achieve all of that alone was a monumental task.
It wasn't hard to imagine the sheer pressure and desperation he felt.
Even so—.
"I’m asking you. Stop spreading these rumors. Asahi-san is suffering because she feels responsible for what you’ve become."
I bowed my head to him.
Tennoji-san and Narika were also likely hurting inside from the baseless slander.
This wasn't a strategy; it was a scheme. It might be a logical tactic for Rintaro’s camp to win the election, but it was hurting people in the process.
Someone was out there, quietly shedding tears.
"...Please, raise your head."
When I slowly looked up, Rintaro was watching me with a calm gaze.
"I see..."
Rintaro thought for a moment before speaking.
"Fine. If you’ll come over to our camp, I’ll stop."
"You...!"
"Please don't misunderstand. I’m not mocking you."
I had started to stand up, thinking he was making a joke of me, but Rintaro’s expression was deadly serious.
His eyes were focused and intense. I had no idea what was truly going on in his head, but being pierced by that gaze—which was undeniably sincere—left my anger with nowhere to go.
"You’re currently trying to absorb the Hinako Konohana-senpai sympathizers, aren't you?"
"How do you know that...?"
"You distributed a survey, didn't you? The one asking what people would have wanted if Konohana-senpai had run for President. A copy reached me as well."
That was the idea Tennoji-san had come up with. It seemed the survey had spread even to Rintaro.
We had collected a massive amount of data. It must have reached the underclassmen in just half a day.
"The idea itself is impressive, but what surprised me most was that Tennoji-senpai—who was so fiercely competitive with Konohana-senpai—actually accepted it. That must be your influence. Your strength, which isn't very typical for this academy, is rubbing off on the people around you."
Rintaro bowed his head.
"Tomonari-senpai, please join us. We need you."
The tables had been turned.
But I still didn't get it.
I had no idea what Rintaro’s end goal was.
The respect he showed me didn't feel fake. It didn't seem like he was just trying to smooth things over for the moment, either.
Nevertheless... no matter what Rintaro was after, my resolve wouldn't waver.
"The people I want to see as President are already decided."
Rintaro didn't raise his head.
I couldn't tell what he was feeling as he stood there with his head bowed.
◆
After school that day. Once I returned to the Konohana manor, I found myself naturally explaining the situation to Hinako.
"...I see. So the rumors were being spread by Asahi-san's younger brother."
I told her that Rintaro was trying to undermine us, but I stopped there.
It was probably best not to mention Asahi-san’s specific family situation. I felt a strong aversion to leaking her private business without her permission.
"...Will he stop?" Hinako asked.
"I don't know. Probably not."
Rintaro had offered to stop if I joined the Joto camp. Since I’d rejected the deal, the chances of him ending the smear campaign were slim.
"Well, from what I've heard, this Rintaro boy isn't the type to quit. It’s proving quite effective for their election campaign, after all."
Takuma-san’s face was on the laptop screen, speaking with his usual nonchalance.
Hinako looked at the laptop with a sour expression.
"...Itsuki. Can I please just hang up on him?"
"You can’t. Besides, you’re the one who barged into my conversation with Itsuki-kun, Hinako," Takuma-san replied.
"Muu..."
Stung by his logic, Hinako puffed out her cheeks.
I had been reporting the election status to Takuma-san via video call when Hinako had wandered into the room. After all, Takuma-san’s advice was what had prompted me to aim for the Student Council in the first place, so I’d been giving him periodic progress reports.
"I think I’ve figured out the thing you said was missing from the Management Game, Takuma-san. It’s political maneuvering and schemes, isn't it?"
"Correct. But you’re a bit slow if you only notice it after becoming a target. You need to be more suspicious of others, Itsuki-kun."
I was well aware that I’d been insufficiently vigilant.
I had been focusing all my energy on supporting Tennoji-san and Narika. While I’d kept an eye on the Joto camp, it was only to differentiate our campaign promises or to learn from their speech techniques. My mindset had been one of observation and reference, not defense.
I thought I’d been careful enough—making sure our speech spots weren't stolen or that campaign supplies were available. But a smear campaign was an attack that bypassed my expectations entirely.
"I didn't think students at Kikou Academy would sink to that level."
"If you’re always by Hinako’s side, it’s only natural you’d feel that way."
What did he mean by that?
"The academy is full of ambitious people. Under normal circumstances, there are plenty who would resort to dirty tricks. But no one does that in front of Hinako. No matter how much they scheme, no one can hold a candle to her in the first place."
Even if she was a lazy slob at heart, Hinako’s abilities were world-class. Scheming simply didn't work on someone like her.
Perhaps being by her side had shielded me until now.
Protected me from the raw, ugly ambition that could crush a person.
"There are generally two types of people at Kikou Academy. The Management types, who are children of CEOs, and the Politician types, who are children of politicians. The Politician types are often quite comfortable with those kinds of methods. After all, they’ve been raised in a world of intrigue. Come to think of it, Itsuki-kun, you’ve mostly spent your time with Management types, so perhaps you haven't learned to make the distinction."
Now that he mentioned it, the vast majority of my acquaintances fell into the former category. Hinako was the primary example, and since my own public status was the same, birds of a feather had naturally flocked together.
Just as the Politician types had their traits, the Management types had theirs. They prioritized objective results above all else. As proof, the top academic performers at the academy were almost all Management types.
"It seems Rintaro-kun was born on the CEO side, but something in his past twisted him. That’s likely why he hit it off with the candidate he’s supporting."
Being born the child of a CEO didn't mean everyone followed the same script. Perhaps Rintaro’s split with Asahi-san had pushed his mindset closer to that of a Politician type, leading him to align with Joto, who was one by birth.
But if that was the case—.
"...What about you, Takuma-san?"
I felt a similar dangerous edge from Takuma-san—the kind of Politician type who wouldn't care about the means to an end.
Takuma-san fell silent for a fleeting moment before answering.
"Perhaps I had something happen in my past as well."
He dodged the question with a shallow smile.
Was it a joke? Or... was there still something he couldn't tell me?
"Regardless, for some people, there are goals that can't be reached without relying on a bit of plotting."
"I see..."
"So, I think we should have Itsuki-kun learn how to play the game. Honestly, your talent would shine brightest in that field. If it's you, Itsuki-kun, you could be mimicking me in no time—"
Hinako reached over, operated the laptop, and cut the call with Takuma-san.
"Itsuki doesn't need any of that."
"...Thanks."
It made me genuinely happy that she trusted me that much.
Naturally, even if it were to achieve my goals, I had no desire to undermine others.
"But it’s strange..." Hinako said thoughtfully.
"I only know a little about Joto-kun... but no matter how much he wants to win, he didn't seem like the type to condone a smear campaign. I wonder how Rintaro persuaded him."
"Well, going by Takuma-san’s logic, Joto is a Politician type to the core."
Since Joto was the head of his camp, he had to know everything his assistant Rintaro was doing. After all, I reported every single one of our activities to Tennoji-san and Narika.
Why was Joto turning a blind eye to Rintaro’s smear campaign?
Or perhaps—.
"...Takuma-san said all that, but..." I shared my thoughts with Hinako. "I don't think Rintaro is really that kind of person."
"...What kind of person?"
"How do I put it... like he isn't the type who wants to rely on schemes."
"Nn...? But he’s actually doing bad things..."
Bad things, huh...
Hinako’s observation was objective, and in its nonchalance, it was mercilessly accurate.
Rintaro’s actions—trying to tank the other candidates' images with baseless rumors—could certainly be classified as bad. If we actually had something shameful to hide and Rintaro was exposing it out of a sense of justice, he might have had a moral high ground. But that wasn't the case.
"Because Itsuki is kind... do you sympathize with Rintaro?"
"Well, I think there’s room for sympathy, but..."
Was it right to label Rintaro as 'evil' when he had been driven to such extremes?
I felt like I was arguing for the fundamental goodness of humanity.
But...
(Still... it just doesn’t feel like that’s the case.)
I decided I would look into Rintaro in more detail.
I needed to turn this intuition into a conviction.
"...Alright."
Even though the call with Takuma-san was over, I didn't close my laptop.
I still had work to do late into the night.
As I began tapping away at the keyboard, Hinako peeked over my shoulder.
"Election work...?"
"Yeah. There’s something I want to do for Asahi-san’s sake, too."
I felt Hinako tilt her head behind me.
"I want to correct all the nasty rumors that have spread. Asahi-san is feeling responsible for them."
I opened my spreadsheet software.
With the help of Kita and Suminoe-san, I had compiled the rumors circulating through the academy into the file before me. Now I just had to prepare responses for each one and disseminate them. However, since this was the second wave of the smear campaign, the rumors were more complex and varied than before. If I provided a sloppy or vulnerable answer, they would just attack the response itself. Preparing proper rebuttals for everything was going to take time.
(Honestly, I wanted to do more than just correct them...)
But I didn't think I could make it in time.
Today was the fifth day of the election period, and we had the weekend in between. Rintaro had clearly taken his time to analyze Tennoji-san and Narika’s campaign promises to craft these rumors carefully. Now I had to deal with them all between yesterday and today. It was only natural that the sheer workload felt like it was about to crush me.
"Should I help?"
"...No, you shouldn't."
I stopped working for a moment and looked at Hinako.
"This is election business. If people found out you helped us, I think a lot of people would vote for us based on that alone. Tennoji-san and Narika don't want to win that way, so I’ll just take the thought."
"...I see."
Hinako looked a little sad, but she accepted it.
Having her do a simple check on a completed speech draft was one thing, but having her direct effort become our result was a different matter.
There were so many students who had wanted Hinako to run for President. If she showed favoritism to a specific candidate, they would surely follow her lead.
Of course, the students of this academy weren't stupid. Eventually, they would realize they couldn't keep chasing after Hinako when she hadn't even run. That was why I felt that if I borrowed her power here, I would be interfering with that realization.
Everyone in the academy had likely noticed that we hadn't been hosting tea parties since the election started. We had no intention of using Hinako for political leverage. We wanted them to vote with a mind independent of her. Our intentions should have been clear.
"Sorry, Hinako."
"No, it can't be helped. It’s because I’m simply too popular."
It was true, but... she was probably the only person who could say that with such a dejected face.
(...I need to focus.)
I turned back to the computer and started filling out the list of responses.
However, each one took several minutes to think through. Despite my motivation, the work wasn't progressing as fast as I’d hoped, and frustration began to mount.
"Mu..."
Hinako let out a soft sound as she watched me analyze the rumors.
I tried to ignore it and keep working, but...
"Muuuuuuun............"
Hinako was watching my screen with a very grim expression.
She looked... like she desperately wanted to say something.
I was likely doing something inefficiently. But because I’d said I didn't need advice, Hinako was keeping her mouth shut and watching over me in silence.
(To be honest... I'm never going to finish at this rate.)
For the sake of the election and for Asahi-san, I wanted to have every rumor debunked by tomorrow morning. But with my current pace, even an all-nighter wouldn't be enough.
(...Wait, Takuma-san did say something.)
He’d recommended relying on Hinako.
Hinako was a genius whose practical abilities were recognized even by the likes of Shizune. In this crunch time, was it really 'sincere' to refuse her help, or was it just plain stupid?
"...I can't have you help me directly, but..."
After thinking it over, I came up with a compromise.
"Is there some kind of trick for handling this much data at once?"
"...There is!"
Perhaps she was happy to be needed; Hinako’s voice was full of energy.
"There is, but... I want a reward in exchange for teaching you."
"A reward?"
A reward for Hinako usually meant...
I reached into my desk drawer and pulled out a bag.
"Here. Potato chips."
"N-No, not that...!"
"It’s not potato chips!?"
Incredible. Was it going to snow tomorrow? Was this some kind of omen of a natural disaster?
"...Don't look so shocked."
I couldn't help it. Given her track record, I was certain potato chips were the ultimate reward, but Hinako was puffing out her cheeks with a slight pout.
She walked over to my bed and...
"............Work here."
She patted the mattress.
"I mean, sure, but is that the reward?"
"...Nn."
I didn't quite get it, but I complied. It was a laptop, so working on the bed was easy enough.
Once I was seated—
"And then............ we do this."
Hinako slipped into the space between me and the laptop.
She nestled herself perfectly between my spread legs.
"...Um, Hinako. This is a bit..."
"I-It’s easier to teach this way."
I could barely see the screen. Our bodies were in constant contact. Every time she breathed, I caught a hint of her sweet scent.
(Stay calm, stay calm... Hinako just wants to be pampered...)
The skill I’d refined most since becoming her caretaker was probably the ability to switch into a state of total mental detachment at a moment's notice.
To keep my composure, I leaned back slightly to create some distance.
"...Itsuki?"
"W-What?"
Hinako grabbed my arms as I tried to pull away and drew them back toward her.
"............Hold me, properly."
It was becoming extremely difficult to see this as just a 'family' level of distance. My heart was pounding against my ribs. I felt like I was going to lose my mind.
(Any more than this is... dangerous!)
Agitation sent a cold sweat down my back. I forced my blank mind back into gear.
What were we doing again? Oh, right. Hinako was supposed to be teaching me a work trick.
"H-Hinako! So, what kind of trick is it!?"
My voice was a bit shaky. Hinako didn't seem entirely calm herself, letting out a soft, bashful little noise as she looked at the screen.
What exactly was Hinako’s secret for handling massive amounts of data?
After a moment of thought, she finally spoke.
"With huge amounts of data... you sort of... make it fluffy before you file it away."
"Fluffy..."
No good. I didn't understand a thing. In my mind’s eye, I saw an image of clouds drifting lazily across the sky.
"Nmu mu... Wait, I’ll try to put it into words..."
"You don't have to if it's too hard."
"No... I want to help Itsuki..."
Hinako looked like she was thinking very seriously.
Inwardly, I knew that if she took the time, she could probably verbalize it.
Hinako was always switching between her natural lazy self and her Young Lady mode. But it was only her outward personality that changed; her innate abilities remained the same. In her natural state, she was so unmotivated that her total lack of life skills became apparent. But the opposite was also true: as long as she had the motivation, she was capable of the same level of performance as her perfect 'Young Lady' persona.