After school. As winter approached and the sun began to set earlier, the sky was stained a faint orange.
The smear campaign Rintaro had orchestrated was finally losing its momentum. Even Tennoji-san and Narika seemed relieved, having sensed the change in the crowd's atmosphere during their lunchtime speeches.
As I had hoped, Kikou Academy’s sense of integrity was strong. This academy was home to many earnest individuals who were quick to point out when something was wrong. Most students didn't blindly trust every rumor they overheard; they preferred to see the truth for themselves.
In my eyes, a negative campaign is a strategy that preys on thoughtlessness. Consequently, it failed to take root in an environment like Kikou Academy, where the majority exercised deep consideration.
I didn't mean to gloat, but I already knew what I wanted to say the next time I saw Rintaro. To the boy who seemed so disappointed in this school, I wanted to stand tall and ask, "See? This academy isn't so bad after all, is it?"
I even hoped that, perhaps, he might come to like the place just a little bit—
—But then the situation shifted.
In the classroom, where the students were beginning to thin out, Taisho walked over to my desk.
"Tomonari, you looked like you were having trouble concentrating during the afternoon classes. Are you okay?"
"……I’m fine."
I could only offer a forced smile.
Taisho gave a short nod of acceptance, but I got the feeling he had sensed the heavy air around me and chose not to pry.
"Still, people are spreading some bizarre rumors. Saying your background is a fake and all that."
"……So it seems."
"No one in their right mind would actually believe that, though."
To Taisho, who believed in my innocence without a shadow of a doubt, the idea that I might actually be troubled by the rumor didn't exist in the slightest.
The rest of my classmates seemed to feel the same. No one doubted me.
And that was exactly why…… my heart ached.
A needle of guilt pricked the inside of my chest.
I wanted to stand beside them all as my true self one day. But for now, I still couldn't reveal the truth.
"Tomonari-kun……"
Asahi-san approached with an apologetic look on her face.
"I’m sorry. Maybe Rintaro did this because I helped you guys, and he's angry……"
"It's not your fault, Asahi-san," Taisho cut in.
I nodded in agreement.
"Taisho-kun is right. You don't need to feel responsible, Asahi-san. In fact…… I’d be happy if you kept helping us."
"…………Okay."
Asahi-san gave a small nod.
"That Rintaro…… just because his smear campaign stopped working, he goes and starts a rumor attacking your social standing. Doesn't that just mean he's getting desperate?"
"……Perhaps."
So far, I hadn't heard of any evidence being cited for the rumor. As Taisho said, the most likely scenario was that a panicked Rintaro had just made something up.
However—my position was far too precarious to allow for complacency.
(If Rintaro actually found some kind of proof……)
The mere existence of that risk made me feel as if he had his hand gripped around my heart.
Because the rumor was true. I had faked my background to transfer into Kikou Academy. For someone in my position, being suspected of exactly that was a nightmare.
Even if there was no evidence and the students didn't believe it, what would Mr. Kagen think?
If my identity was exposed, my role as a caretaker might be brought to light as well.
As I was now, I was a ticking bomb that could blow Hinako’s "perfect lady" facade to pieces——.
"Tomonari-san."
"Itsuki."
Voices called out from the hallway.
Tennoji-san and Narika were peeking into the classroom. I stood up and walked over to them.
"Sorry. It’s almost time for the speeches, isn't it?"
"This is no time to be worrying about that," Tennoji-san said cautiously.
Beside her, Narika looked at me with an anxious expression.
"Itsuki…… are you okay?"
"……I’m not sure."
Because they knew my true identity, they understood that this rumor couldn't be ignored. They saw right through the desperate anxiety swirling in my mind.
(Hinako……)
I looked back at the classroom and my eyes met Hinako’s.
Seeing the sorrow in her gaze, I made my decision.
"I’m going to talk to Rintaro," I told Tennoji-san and Narika.
"You two focus on the speeches. Joto-kun’s approval rating is climbing, so we can't afford to be reactive anymore.……I’ll handle the rumor myself."
Today, as planned, they were going to deliver speeches that addressed the demands of Hinako’s supporters.
Sensing my resolve, the two of them gave a firm nod.
After watching them leave for the speech venue, I headed toward the first-year wing and pulled out my smartphone.
The call connected almost immediately.
"Ms. Shizune, I’m sorry. There’s something I need to consult with you about urgently——"
I filled her in on the rumors circulating through the academy.
Since we had already shared the fact that we were being targeted by a smear campaign, she understood immediately that this was likely a part of it.
『I believe it is highly unlikely that your true identity has leaked to any outside parties,』 Ms. Shizune stated flatly.
『Ever since the incident with Tennoji-sama, we have refined our methods and taken exhaustive measures to ensure such a blunder never happens again. While someone might suspect something from your behavior, there should be no way for definitive evidence to leak.』
"……I see. I’ll try to confirm things on my end as well."
『Understood. Please be careful.』
Despite her certainty that nothing had leaked, Ms. Shizune’s voice carried more tension than usual. She realized how dangerous this situation was.
I tucked my phone into my pocket and started toward the stairs leading to the first-year classrooms.
Rintaro was standing right there.
"I’ve been waiting for you. You wanted to talk, didn't you?"
"……Yeah."
I stared straight into Rintaro’s fearless, mocking smile.
◆
"You really got me."
Rintaro spoke the moment we sat down across from each other in the school cafe.
He pulled out a flyer and showed it to me. It was the one I had drafted last night and printed this morning to debunk the rumors.
"This flyer is impressive. I checked the website too; the sheer volume of information is staggering. I never imagined you’d counter a smear campaign with such brute force.……As someone who prefers underhanded tactics, it’s quite frustrating. You certainly had the nerve to stick to a straightforward approach in this situation."
"……Probably because I’m not very good at being underhanded."
"It’s better that way. One should always act fair and square whenever possible."
Look who’s talking.
I exhaled my rising irritation in a long sigh.
"……What I want to discuss is the new rumor you started regarding my background."
Neither of us had touched the cups on the table.
Conscious of the tension thickening between us, I asked, "On what basis are you spreading that?"
"Basis? There isn't one," Rintaro said without a hint of remorse.
"That’s just how smear campaigns work. It’s all about whoever speaks first."
Rintaro tilted his cup and took a sip of coffee.
"Of course, finding evidence makes it more effective, so I did consider investigating. But if you were faking your standing, Tomonari-senpai…… then the Konohana Group would have to be backing you, right?"
My public profile listed me as the heir to a mid-sized IT firm within the Konohana Group.
If my status was a fabrication, then the Konohana Group was undoubtedly complicit.
"No investigative agency in the world can stand up to the Konohana Group. I tried using a few of my own connections, but…… well, it was pointless. I gave up on finding definitive evidence almost immediately."
To Rintaro, this topic clearly didn't warrant any anxiety. He set his cup back on the saucer and stared at it for a moment, perhaps contemplating the price of the china.
I let out a quiet breath.
There was no basis. The rumor Rintaro had spread was a complete sham.
He hadn't actually discovered my secret.
(Thank God………… but I can't let it show on my face.)
If I showed visible relief now, Rintaro would only grow more suspicious.
So I maintained a mask of calm, as if to suggest that even entertaining the doubt was a waste of time.
"However, I still think the possibility isn't zero," Rintaro said, shifting his gaze back to me.
"If your true identity is that of a Commoner who shouldn't even be at Kikou Academy…… then every bit of your behavior, everything that feels so 'un-Kikou' about you, suddenly makes sense."
From his perspective, that was certainly true.
"Just give me one chance."
"A chance?"
"Yes. Right now, I’m going to speak to you as if I believe you are a Commoner. I want to tell you how I feel."
Before I could even tilt my head in confusion, Rintaro stood up.
As if my secret had already been laid bare, he practically shouted.
"——Why are you hiding it!?"
Rintaro’s voice rang through my ears.
"You’re in a brilliant position! You came from a Commoner background, yet you’re the center of attention in this academy! You’re living proof that a Commoner can be polished into someone like this!!"
Rintaro was screaming his inner thoughts.
"Tomonari-senpai, you would be the perfect figurehead for us! If you joined our side, we would win without a doubt! This is the side of the world where you belong!"
There was a note of desperation in his voice.
A bead of sweat trickled down Rintaro’s cheek. Sacrificing his usual cool, he poured out the heat he had been bottling up inside.
He was speaking to me as if I really were a Commoner.
But my answer was already decided.
"…………Sorry, but you’re mistaken."
Hearing my response, the blood drained from Rintaro’s triumphant face.
"I see.…………Haha, I guess that’s reality for you. Either way, even if you were a Commoner, it’s meaningless if my words don't reach you."
Rintaro gave a hollow laugh and slumped back into his chair.
……He really had been counting on it.
He wanted me to be a Commoner so I could be the face of the Joto camp. Given Joto-kun's platform, someone like me would have been the perfect final piece of the puzzle.
I looked at Rintaro. His slumped shoulders radiated frustration.
Regardless of the methods he chose, Rintaro had been serious from the very start.
He wasn't just a stranger to me anymore. He was the brother of my friend Asahi-san, and we had spent enough time talking during this election that I felt I knew him.
So, I decided to speak my mind.
I felt I had earned that right.
"Rintaro. Why don't you stop letting your emotions run the show?"
Rintaro looked up.
As I had told him before, I was trying my best to remain rational to survive at this school. Even then, I occasionally hit my limit and let my emotions slip.
It seemed Rintaro was the same.
"You just want to get back at Asahi-san. That’s the only reason you’re carrying on with this smear campaign."
Ever since Takuma-san explained the "politician type" students to me, I’d felt a nagging sense of doubt. I didn't think Rintaro fit that mold.
It wasn't that Rintaro was a cold-hearted pragmatist who didn't care about the means.
He wasn't a politician type at all…… he was just a kid having an emotional outburst.
"……Just wanting revenge? I’m not that childish," Rintaro said, sounding bewildered.
He didn't seem to understand why I was saying this.
"I’m using rational strategies to make Joto-senpai president——"
"Your grades have been number one in your year since the day you started," I interrupted him.
"You were at the top of the entrance exams too. Your class participation is exceptional…… you’re proactive, and the teachers love you."
I had done my homework on him. I didn't have time at first because I was too busy deciding between Tennoji-san and Narika, but that had changed. I researched Rintaro every spare moment I had.
And I had been amazed.
For someone like me aiming for Vice President, Rintaro was undeniably a formidable opponent.
"Given how far you’ve spread these rumors, you clearly have a lot of influence.……To make people believe something so far from reality, you must have the deep trust of your peers."
Even as first-years, many students should know about Tennoji-san and Narika. Yet, so many believed Rintaro’s lies. That spoke to how much credit his words carried.
The fact that I was even able to go toe-to-toe with someone like him was actually quite strange.
Unless, of course, Rintaro wasn't being driven by logic, but by a personal vendetta that was throwing him off his game.
"You might not be on the same level as Konohana-san, but you’re about as close as a first-year can get. There are students with much better pedigrees, yet you’ve managed to stand at the top of your class.……A guy like you is capable of much more than just a smear campaign."
"That’s…… just speculation."
"Then why do you look so miserable?"
Rintaro went silent.
"I don't think it’s 100% about revenge. On the first day, Tennoji-san and Narika were the clear frontrunners. It’s true you probably felt you couldn't win without underhanded tactics.……But even then, a guy like you could have found another way."
Rintaro’s hands clenched into fists on the table.
"Imagine it. If you didn't have this feud with Asahi-san…… would you really have chosen this way to make Joto-kun win?"
"…………!"
"You want to start a business, right? You’ve already been honing the skills for it. If you’re that motivated, why are you sticking to such a pathetic method?"
I looked him in the eye.
"I’m not underestimating you, Rintaro."
He looked away, his gaze wandering.
"You could have taken other paths, but you chose a way that hurts people because you wanted to hurt Asahi-san while you were at it."
It was just a tantrum. A way to vent his spite.
His smear campaign was nothing more than a childish reaction to people not doing what he wanted.
I had been misreading the situation the whole time.
This wasn't business or politics. It wasn't a high-stakes battle of wits.
Rintaro was just struggling with an emotional problem—the kind anyone could have.
And likely…… the only person who had realized that from the beginning was Asahi-san.
"Rintaro.……Just because you’re hurting doesn't give you a reason to hurt others."
Having said my piece, I waited for his reaction.
Rintaro bit his lip, his whole body trembling slightly. He kept his head down, looking exactly like a child being scolded by a parent.
(……He didn't even realize it?)
I had a feeling that might be the case.
His drive to push Joto-kun to the presidency and his resentment toward Asahi-san had become tangled together. But hearing my words, he seemed to have finally acknowledged it. He just wanted revenge.
"……So what if," he said in a thin voice.
"So what if I just wanted to get back at her…… what does it matter?"
He chose to be defiant.
"My answer hasn't changed.……If you want me to stop, come to our side."
That was the one thing I still couldn't wrap my head around.
Rintaro had been trying to recruit me from the start. He had been insistent long before he ever suspected I was a Commoner.
I didn't know why…… but I couldn't accept his offer, no matter what. There were other people I wanted to support.
"……I only know one way to stop you, Rintaro."
It was probably the simplest way.
"This smear campaign…… you didn't get Joto-kun’s permission for it, did you?"
Rintaro’s eyes snapped wide. That was all the confirmation I needed.
"I talked to Joto-kun, so I know. He’s not the type of person who would condone this. And I’m betting your attempts to recruit me were your own idea too, right?"
When I spoke with Joto-kun alongside Hinako, I’d felt it.
For someone who supposedly wanted to recruit me, he was strangely distant. I’d worried I was being oversensitive, but even Hinako said she felt something was off.
Joto-kun hadn't been involved in the scouting or the negative campaign at all.
"……Are you going to tell Joto-senpai what I’ve done?"
"……That depends on what you do next."
Rintaro looked at me with confusion, as if asking why I hadn't already done so.
The reason was that a massive question had occurred to me before I could report him.
Why did Rintaro feel he had to do everything on his own?
Why did a Vice President Candidate feel he had to go to such lengths?
I understood that the smear campaign was mostly about his sister. But what about the scouting?
Why did Rintaro have to do it instead of Joto-kun?
"I heard Joto-kun’s family places a lot of importance on tradition."
"……You researched that too?"
I’d heard it from Tennoji-san.
In any world, reform comes with pain. In the political world where Joto-kun’s parents lived, that pain was a weakness they couldn't afford to expose.
To survive in politics, his parents wanted him to avoid making waves. Politicians are always under scrutiny, and a son’s misconduct can end a career.
In that environment, did Joto-kun really intend to push for reform at the academy?
To me…… it didn't look like it.
"Rintaro. Joto-kun never actually intended to win the election, did he——"
"——That has nothing to do with it!"
Rintaro snapped back, as if trying to shield himself from the truth.
"Joto-senpai’s ideals are real! He is the one who should be leading this academy!"
He stood up and stormed out of the cafe.
I picked up my cup and drained the cold coffee in one gulp. The bitterness helped clear my head.
"…………Alright."
I’d made up my mind.
I was going to stick my nose into this family feud.
◆
As I walked along the corridor, I heard Tennoji-san’s voice. She was giving a speech in front of the gymnasium, and a large crowd had already gathered.
I spotted a girl watching the scene from a short distance away and approached her.
"Tomonari-kun?"
"Asahi-san.……I need to talk to you about Rintaro."
Sensing the seriousness in my expression, she nodded and followed me away from the gymnasium.
As we moved, I looked back and caught Tennoji-san’s eye. Seeing the two of us together, she likely realized it was about Rintaro. She gave a small smile and resumed her speech with even more energy, as if telling me to leave things there to her.
Grateful for her support, I led Asahi-san to the back of the gym.
Once I was sure no one was around, I told her everything Rintaro and I had discussed.
"……I see. So Rintaro did everything on his own, and Joto-kun didn't know anything about it."
Asahi-san held her head in her hands.
"What should I do…… I actually glared at Joto-kun a little during lunch today……"
"It couldn't be helped. I knew Rintaro was the mastermind, but I didn't think he was keeping it a secret from Joto-kun either."
I hadn't expected him to admit it so easily, though.
I still didn't quite understand why Rintaro was only open with me. He even said he’d intended to tell me he was the one behind the smear campaign from the start……
"Then if we have Joto-kun stop him, it’ll all be over, right?"
That was true. But I shook my head.
"No, let’s not do that."
"Eh? Why not……?"
"If we do that, the underlying problem Rintaro is facing won't go away."
If I told Joto-kun, Rintaro would behave for a while. But once the election was over and he was off Joto-kun’s leash, he’d just do the same thing again somewhere else.
Like at Asahi-san’s home, for instance.
"But that’s…… just a problem between us siblings. You don't need to go that far, Tomonari-kun……"
"No, let me help."
Asahi-san looked apologetic, but I stayed firm in my decision to intervene.
The biggest reason was that I couldn't ignore how much she was hurting, but if I told her that, she’d only feel more guilty.
So, I gave her a more selfish reason instead.
"The Management Game was difficult, but it was also fun. I learned firsthand the importance of competing seriously against others.……I’m hoping for the same thing from this election."
It was half an excuse, but it was also the truth.
I wanted this election to be a meaningful experience. As I’d learned in the Management Game, if everyone involved can find value in the struggle, they can end up as friends even if they were rivals at the time. Ikuno-san and Ms. Suminoe were perfect examples. I could still talk to them normally today.
I wanted that kind of resolution here, too.
"It might be selfish, but I want this election to be a fair fight. I want us to be able to laugh together when it’s over, whether we win or lose. And when this is done…… I want to be friends with Rintaro, too."
When I said that, Asahi-san’s eyes widened.
If Rintaro were purely a rational actor trying to destroy us, I wouldn't have suggested this. I would have just told Joto-kun and been done with it.
But I believed that without this sibling rivalry, Rintaro would never have resorted to these tactics.
Which meant Rintaro wasn't the fundamental problem.
If I could mediate this feud…… everything else would fall into place.
"So, please let me help you two make up.……I want you, Rintaro, and me to all be able to fight this out fairly."
Rintaro was bringing his family issues into the election.
Maybe…… I could have just ignored it.
But even if I became Vice President that way————I knew I would lose something important.
I couldn't take that office with pride if I had to step over a hurting Asahi-san and a suffering Rintaro to get there.
"…………Thank you."
Asahi-san whispered her gratitude.
"For taking me…… no, taking us so seriously."
Her eyes were moist.
I’d tried to emphasize that I was doing this for myself, but maybe that was unnecessary.
She must have wanted to end this fight as much as anyone.
Asahi-san wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and looked at me.
"Tomonari-kun.……Can I count on you?"
Seeing her determination to move forward, I nodded.
"Yes. You’re always helping me, Asahi-san. Let me return the favor for once."
"Ahaha…… you’ve really become dependable, Tomonari-kun."
Was she remembering when we first met?
I’d spent the last six months trying my hardest to grow. If those daily efforts had turned me into someone dependable, then helping her now was exactly what I should be doing.
If my path so far had been the right one, then I wanted to keep being someone who could help others.
"Man, no wonder so many people like you~" she said with a laugh.
"Am I really that popular?"
"Yeah. In more ways than one."
In more ways than one?
I tilted my head, confused by the phrasing, but she only smiled.
"Alright, I’d like to start planning how to get you two reconciled…… but first, there’s one thing I have to ask."
I looked at her seriously.
"In the first place…… why did you betray Rintaro, Asahi-san?"
Her face stiffened.
"You gave up on starting a business and decided to take over the family company…… but it wasn't just for 'stability,' was it? I can't believe you’d betray Rintaro for such a simple reason."
Deciding to take over a family business for the sake of a stable future was a common enough choice. I hadn't questioned it before, but seeing the guilt that had been eating at her lately, I suspected there was a much deeper reason.
Asahi-san wasn't the type to betray someone just to save her own skin.
There had to be something more behind the rift between her and her brother.
"The reason I betrayed Rintaro…… there is one," she said, her voice weak.
"But even if I told him now…… it wouldn't mean anything."
"Is it because you have a goal, but you haven't seen a way to succeed yet?"
"Yeah……"
I see.
Then the solution was simple.
"In other words, you need a consultant."
I just had to lead her goal to success.
Asahi-san just stared at me, her mouth hanging open in shock.
◇
When Rintaro got home, he went straight to his room and flopped onto his bed in his uniform.
After talking to Itsuki at the cafe, he had assisted with Ren Joto’s speech as usual. Rintaro’s method involved meticulously checking the crowd's reaction and the reach of the sound, signaling improvements in real-time.
For instance, he’d had the microphone volume turned up today. It was the sixth day of the election, and the students were starting to lose interest. There was more chatter than usual, so he’d increased the volume to drown it out.
Ren Joto’s approval was climbing.
The exhaustion in his body was proof of his success.
Now, if only Ren Joto actually wanted to win——.
"……Damn it."
Even with the numbers rising, he didn't feel any closer to his goal. Sometimes he felt like he was just burning himself out for nothing.
He thought of Itsuki Tomonari.
The man was the final piece they were missing. If Itsuki joined their camp, they would have a clear path to victory even with Joto-senpai in his current state.
But the negotiations had been a disaster from start to finish.
If anything…… Itsuki now held all the cards.
(If he tells Joto-senpai…… everything is over.)
As Itsuki had guessed, Rintaro had orchestrated the smear campaign behind Ren Joto’s back. If that came out, Rintaro would be finished.
He had a mountain of work to do for the campaign…… but he couldn't find the strength to get off the bed.
As he stared at the ceiling, he heard a noise from the next room.
His sister, Karen, was home. It was 7:00 PM…… a very late return for her. Rintaro had been staying until 6:00 PM for campaign meetings, which was already late by academy standards, but she had stayed even longer.
She wasn't even a candidate; what could she have been doing at school for so long?
As he pondered this, he heard her door open and close, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps in the hallway.
……So noisy.
He felt a flash of irritation at her unusual behavior.
Checking the time had made him realize he was hungry. He rolled off the bed and headed toward the dining room.
He didn't want to see his family, but hiding in his room during meals felt too much like a petulant child, and he hated that.
Just before he entered the dining room, he heard his sister’s voice…… and his father’s.
"Karen. Does that plan have the other party's agreement——"
"Yeah. Itsuki-kun is handling that for me——"
Rintaro opened the door, and the conversation stopped as they both turned to look at him.
Clearly, they had been discussing something they didn't want him to hear. He wanted to tell them he didn't care, but the mention of Itsuki Tomonari’s name bothered him.
If Itsuki was sharing information with Karen…… she could tell Joto-senpai everything at any moment.
Was that what they were talking about?
He glared at them with suspicion——.
"Rintaro," his sister called out.
He ignored her and sat at the far end of the table.
"Rintaro!"
Her voice rang through the room.
He looked back reflexively.
"……What?"
"Give me some of your time after school tomorrow."
Karen’s expression was one of absolute determination.
"There’s something I need you to hear. No matter what."
Her voice had a strength that had been missing before.
It wasn't just defiance. Sensing her resolve, Rintaro found himself unable to ignore her.
"……If it’s a waste of time, you’ll regret it."
He glared at her, but she met his gaze with equal intensity.
Irritation bubbled up inside him.
Now……
What could she possibly have to say after all this time……?
◆
After school on the seventh day of the election.
After the speeches were over, we gathered at the cafe.
It was quite a large group for one table—seven people in total—so we were seated in a booth at the back to avoid standing out. The group included the usual Noble Tea Party members—myself, Hinako, Tennoji-san, Narika, Asahi-san, and Taisho—along with Rintaro, the only first-year.
"I see," Rintaro said, taking a sip of his coffee before anyone else.
"Ganging up on a single junior…… is that it?"
"It’s not like that," Asahi-san said, shaking her head.
"I asked everyone here because I want them to hear what we have to say.……But for now, it’ll just be me and Tomonari-kun talking to you, Rintaro."
Exactly. We weren't trying to intimidate him. It might have looked that way, but if he was still making snide remarks, he was probably fine.
Besides, Rintaro had brought this on himself.
"Everyone here is a stakeholder in what we’re about to discuss. Especially regarding the smear campaign."
Tennoji-san and Narika were the targets, obviously.
I would explain Taisho’s presence soon.
And Hinako was here because…… well, she was involved in everything.
"First, there’s something I need to share with the group," I began.
"The smear campaign so far has been Rintaro’s doing alone. He’s been acting without Joto-kun’s knowledge."
Tennoji-san and the others looked surprised.
They clearly had questions, but they kept them to themselves for now. This was a conversation between Asahi-san, Rintaro, and me. They realized that if everyone started talking at once, we’d never get anywhere.
"Rintaro has several reasons for doing what he did, but I believe the main driver is his feud with Asahi-san."
I looked at Rintaro as I said it.
He’d denied it before, claiming he wasn't that childish. He’d said revenge against his sister wasn't part of his plan.
But now, Rintaro spoke with a somber expression.
"I’ve had time to organize my thoughts since our last talk.……I’ll admit it. My actions were driven, in part, by a personal grudge against my sister."
"!"
Asahi-san’s face crumpled at his glare.
But she didn't look away. She bit her lip and kept her eyes on him.
"Rintaro. I’m going to end this sibling rivalry right here."
"……Huh?"
Rintaro looked stunned.
He’d probably expected me to try and persuade him to stop the campaign.
But that wasn't why we were here. We were here to put a period on this feud.
"Rintaro, do you know why Asahi-san actually decided to take over the family business?"
"……Because she wanted security, obviously. We saw how pathetic our father was and decided to move on. For her to throw that away and crawl back…… it’s pathetic."
Rintaro spat the words out.
But I knew better. She hadn't done anything that deserved his hatred.
"Even if she did it to protect you?"
Rintaro froze. "Protect…… me?"
I looked at Asahi-san. It was time for her to explain.
"I’m sure you know this, Rintaro…… but Dad is completely isolated at the company right now."
He didn't say anything, so she continued.
"If neither of us takes over…… the company is going to be run by people who hate our family."
Asahi-san had mentioned before that the anti-Asahi faction was gaining power. Rintaro had been fanning those flames, but the faction had existed long before the rift between the siblings began.
"The business you wanted to start…… it was that appliance store we dreamed up together, right?"
"……Yes. I wanted to use the family’s know-how while fixing the toxic corporate culture."
"Which means your new company and Dad’s company would be in the same industry."
Rintaro looked at her with suspicion, wondering where she was going with this.
But this was the crucial point.
"If neither of us takes over Jays Holdings…… that company becomes a massive enemy for you."
Rintaro twitched at the word "enemy."
"Jays is one of the top five appliance retailers in the country. It has history and capital on a completely different scale.……Do you really think a startup can survive against that? It’s too big to have as a rival."
"……Being in the same industry doesn't guarantee a conflict. And I was going to recruit the employees who hate my father to my side."
"You can't take everyone. There are plenty of people there who hate our entire family, not just Dad.……And those people are the ones who would take over if we left. If you started a company, they’d do everything they could to crush you."
Rintaro was brilliant. His grades proved that.
But because he was brilliant, he would be seen as a threat. There would always be people eager to snuff out a rising competitor.
Rintaro claimed to have the employees on his side, but it wasn't total. Jays Holdings had over five thousand employees across its group companies. There were plenty of executives and potential successors.
Asahi-san’s father was a capable manager, so the average worker didn't hate him. The resentment came from the high-level executives who knew his personality. The anti-Asahi faction was at the very top.
And those people were cautious. No matter how much Rintaro tried to use his father as a stepping stone, he could never win them all over.
If both siblings walked away, someone from that faction would take control. The future Asahi-san feared was a very real possibility.
"And you know as well as I do, Rintaro—starting a business isn't easy. Most fail."
I’d realized that during the Management Game. Because it was a game, growth was almost automatic, but in reality, there were countless hurdles. Even just securing funding was a nightmare.
Even for Kikou Academy students, success was never guaranteed.
"If things didn't work out for you…… I couldn't stand the thought of you having nowhere to go. So I wanted to make sure there was still a place for you to come back to."
Asahi-san looked her brother in the eye.
"I decided to take over the company…… because I wanted to protect my family."
Rintaro stared at her, speechless.
This was the truth. If neither of them stayed, the company would fall to outsiders. If Rintaro’s startup failed, they’d lose everything. By staying, she was ensuring they wouldn't end up on the streets.
She was willing to walk into a den of vipers alone to keep a roof over her brother’s head.
Her resolve was every bit as strong as his.
Rintaro clenched his teeth, his eyes boring into his sister.
"Then why…… why didn't you just tell me that!?"
There were two reasons.
One was her kindness. Telling her brother she was preparing for his failure felt like she was doubting him. She didn't want to throw cold water on his dream.
But there was a second, even more important reason.
"Because I didn't have the strength to back it up," she said softly.
"I felt like if I told you, I had to be able to prove I wouldn't end up like Dad. I wanted to find a way to succeed before I spoke…… I’m sorry. I tried so hard, but I couldn't find a breakthrough. I’m not like you, Rintaro. My grades aren't that special."
She gave a self-deprecating laugh.
Rintaro’s grades were top-tier, but Asahi-san was still well above average, even for this school. She’d been a tutor in our study groups, after all.
But she didn't want to try and persuade him until she felt she had truly achieved something.
She’d been trapped by her own high standards.
"But I’m finally ready to move forward. That’s why I’m talking to you today."
She looked at me, and I took the cue.
"Rintaro. Read this."
I pulled a stack of documents from my bag and handed them to him.
"This is……"
"You know about the mobile appliance business she ran during the Management Game, right?"
Rintaro nodded slowly.
"This is the actual business plan for it."
I handed copies to Hinako and the others as well.
Asahi-san wanted to protect her family, but she hadn't known how. So, I’d helped her draft this.
"Asahi-san is going to take the lead and make this business a reality."
This was her first step.
"Once the election is over, I’m submitting this for internal approval. Tomonari-kun and I handled the market analysis and revenue models.……Dad already looked it over. He said that with my results from the Management Game, they’ll take it seriously."
"……Do you really think it’ll pass? Even if the plan is solid, the people who hate Dad will——"
"——That’s why I’m submitting it under my name!"
Asahi-san stood up, her voice echoing through the cafe.
"I’m going to do this, and I’m going to prove I’m the right person to lead the company!"
She had made this choice for him.
Legally, a student couldn't lead employees directly, so she’d have to work through others. But practically, if her father gave her the green light, she could be in the office, in the meetings, and on the ground.
She might be accused of overstepping, but she didn't care.
She was going to show the anti-Asahi faction what she was made of.
Through this business, she would prove her worth to the entire company.
She would prove that Karen Asahi was a leader.
"I’ve made my decision. Being a student doesn't matter. I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect this family. And I’m going to build a reputation for integrity now, so I don't lose people’s trust like Dad did."
Determined and dignified, Asahi-san stood her ground.
"……A business like that shouldn't belong to our company alone," Rintaro whispered, his voice trembling as he turned the pages of the plan.