"Therefore... it is for that very reason I ask for your cooperation."
With those words, Tennoji-san bowed her head deeply.
Everyone’s eyes widened in surprise. Naturally, I was no exception.
During her final speech, Tennoji-san had projected such an aura of absolute reliability. For a person like her to begin our first meeting by bowing... it was surely the last thing anyone expected.
However, her sincerity was palpable in that single gesture.
She would be a model. She would lead. Tennoji-san had declared these things, yet she was not blinded by conceit. She had bowed her head first to ensure everyone understood that she had no intention of running a one-woman show.
"At the end of the day, I am only human. Even if I wish to lead the students, there will be many times when things do not go as planned. In those moments, I wish for all of you to support me. I suspect that, from this point forward, you are the only ones who will see my vulnerabilities."
If the Tennoji-san who led the student body was her public persona, then the Tennoji-san who interacted with the Student Council executives would be her private self.
To perform gracefully on a stage, the support of those behind the scenes is essential.
So, please support me. In response to her request, I gave a firm nod.
"I will definitely support you," I said, my voice rising above the sound of applause.
Even as I spoke the words, my mind drifted to Hinako.
Hinako had to maintain the facade of a perfect Young Lady at all times, which was precisely why she relaxed so thoroughly in private. Perhaps Tennoji-san was destined for a similar path.
The public-facing Tennoji-san who guided the students.
And the private Tennoji-san who struggled through trial and error within the Student Council Room.
...If that was the case, then I was in my element.
I wasn't a caretaker for nothing. Looking after a Young Lady who toiled behind the scenes to maintain her public image was something I was well-accustomed to.
"We look forward to working with you."
"We look forward to it!"
Abeno-san and Yodogawa-kun also offered their greetings while applauding.
Finally, Narika smiled.
"I feel proud to work under your leadership, Tennoji-san."
Coming from Narika—who had been her rival until just moments ago—those words of encouragement seemed to strike a chord. Tennoji-san’s expression crumpled for a fleeting second before she tightened her gaze, as if fighting back tears.
The rhythmic sound of clapping echoed through the room.
I expected the meeting to conclude on that high note, but—
"Personally, I still think it would have been better if Miyakojima-san were the president," Abeno-san remarked nonchalantly.
"Wh—!? W-w-w-why is that!?"
"Because she was the first one to host a tea party for us. You did one too, Tennoji-san, but in terms of timing, that was originally Miyakojima-san's idea, wasn't it?"
Abeno-san looked at Narika with a calm, analytical expression.
"W-well..."
Narika, being far too honest to lie, gave a hesitant confirmation.
It seemed that, for now, Abeno-san favored Narika over Tennoji-san.
Tennoji-san glared at Narika with a look of mounting frustration.
"Narika Miyakojima...!! As I thought, you are still my rival...!!"
"W-why are you glaring at me? We're supposed to be allies now!"
Is this going to be okay...?
Will this Student Council actually be able to work in unity...?
Thinking that the road ahead looked rocky, I set a new goal for myself.
As the Vice President, my primary duty was to support Tennoji-san. But beyond that, there was something else I wanted to achieve in this role.
I recalled what the former president, Minato-senpai, had told me—that there were people in this academy who would resort to cowardly tactics.
(...I want to ensure that those kinds of people have no place here.)
Thinking that the world could be a place where the honest are rewarded might be overly idealistic. But I felt that with Tennoji-san, we might actually be able to build it.
In this academy, so many students were crushed by the weight of their family's expectations. Hinako was like that, as were Tennoji-san and Narika. Asahi, Rintaro, and Joto—they were all being swept away by those heavy responsibilities.
Was there no way to reach out to them?
If their hearts could find some room to breathe, I was certain that no one would feel the need to resort to underhanded tricks.
(The problems unique to Kikou Academy... I, a commoner, will solve them.)
In the past, I would have dismissed such a thought as foolish. But after hearing Joto’s proposal for the commoner-ization of Kikou Academy, I could no longer laugh it off.
If my perspective as a commoner could be of any use...
Then I would utilize it to the fullest for Tennoji-san's sake.
My goal: an academy where everyone can live with nobility.