After Himesaki summoned me, I headed straight to the rooftop.
Though I was no longer her "dog" but a friend, I had plenty on my mind—especially regarding her decision to run for the Student Council.
I walked at a brisk pace, and when I arrived, I spotted Himesaki tucked away in a corner of the roof, eating her lunch. She was holding a rice ball about the size of a handball with both hands, munching away in silence. It was a classic "loner meal."
"Ah! Ryouta-senpai, over here, over here!"
Noticing my arrival, Himesaki waved me over with a cute, inviting smile.
"Thank you for coming so quickly! You’re certainly light on your feet, aren’t you?"
"Yeah, well, I guess... But even as a candidate, are you still eating all by yourself?"
"Hey! There’s no causal link between running for office and not having any friends!"
"I just thought that since you’re running for Student Council President, you’d finally adjusted to your class and made some friends."
"Oh, I see..."
Himesaki finished the rest of the massive rice ball in one big bite. Her expression clouded over slightly as she tucked the plastic wrap back into her lunch box.
"I only ran because my classmates told me I should give it a shot. I actually spent a long time agonizing over whether to do it or not."
"So you just went with the flow?"
"I-I mean, I couldn't exactly say no! Even my homeroom teacher told me to run, you know? Even though he knows perfectly well that I haven't settled into the class yet."
Himesaki pouted, her words laced with a hint of sulking.
Regardless of her social standing, I could understand why they’d encourage her to run given her potential.
"It just shows how much they expect from you. Besides, has anything changed around you since you became a candidate?"
"Well... I suppose. Everyone said they’d help me with the campaign."
Himesaki gave a bashful smile. It felt softer, more genuine than the smiles she’d given me before.
"I’m still treated like some sort of special case most of the time, but I figured that through this campaign, maybe I could get people to know the real me, even just a little..."
"If you can look at it that way, then I’m glad you decided to run."
"B-but! Running for office is still so stressful! I feel like once I get on that stage, I’ll get nervous and start talking a mile a minute. It would be so much easier if I could just do it in English."
A sudden speech in English? Honestly, that would probably be a hit.
"Ryouta-senpai might not get it, but... despite how I seem, I'm the type who gets nervous easily."
"Whoa, that sounds kind of erotic."
"What exactly are you getting excited about!?"
When we first met, Himesaki had been all about that cheeky underclassman act, but it turned out she had a side like this, too.
"So, basically, you don't think running is a bad thing, you just hate it because you're bad at public speaking?"
"Y-yes."
"But you were plenty lively back when you were threatening me with those photos. Just give your speech with that same energy."
"T-that was different! I was just desperate to get close to you, Ryouta-senpai! The real me is much more... bashful."
"That... also sounds kind of erotic."
"I'm asking you, where exactly is the excitement coming from!?"
At this point, anything Himesaki said sounded suggestive to me. I couldn't explain why.
"Well, you've already committed to it, so give it your best, Himesaki. I'll be rooting for you, and if you ever run into trouble—"
"Actually! The reason I called you here today was because I have a favor to ask!"
Himesaki suddenly stood up, clutching her lunch box.
"Ryo-Ryouta-senpai... you aren't Rui-senpai's official recommender, are you?"
"Recommender? Well, technically no, but..."
"Then! If you're willing, would you consider being mine!?"
"Wait, what? Me, your recommender? Are you serious?"
"Yes! You're actually quite popular with the freshmen, so I really wanted to ask you."
Hearing that made me think back to when I was waiting for her the other day. I certainly recalled the students who looked at me with shock earlier, but it hardly felt like popularity.
"Ah, sorry, Himesaki. I’m already supporting Rui, but more importantly, I’ve already become the recommender for a goofball named Tanaka."
"Eh? You're the recommender for that Tanaka person?"
"Yeah. So I can't be yours. Sorry."
"I... I see."
Himesaki’s face fell, her disappointment plain for anyone to see.
"Sigh... I thought that if I could ask you, I could get through this without feeling so restrained."
"I’m really sorry. Isn't there anyone else who can do it?"
"Oh, that's not an issue. My friends in class already offered. I just hadn't given them an answer yet because I wanted to check with you first."
"I see. But in a way, isn't that better? You might become closer friends with them. It's not like I can be your only friend forever."
"I wouldn't... really mind that, though."
"You wouldn't?"
"No! I mean, I think it would be easier! Having one friend who’s easy to handle like you is enough for me!"
"Easy to handle? Geez, thanks."
Perhaps because I’d turned her down, Himesaki’s words were suddenly laced with a bit of venom.
"But honestly, I'm a little jealous. Between your relationship with Rui-senpai and now this Tanaka person, you have quite the wide social circle for someone like you."
I didn't know anyone with a narrower social circle than mine. The fact was, I hung out with the Beautiful Girl Trio, but I didn't have a single male friend to my name.
"I suppose I'm just a casual fling to you."
"Hey, where did you learn a phrase like that!? What textbook is that from!?"
"I suppose we have nothing but a purely physical relationship."
"We don't! Though I'd like one!"
This girl must have been watching some weird dramas lately.
"Now then, that's enough joking around."
"Wait, so our relationship was just a joke to you?"
"Don't hit me with a counter-argument!"
Himesaki stood up with her lunch box, offering a light retort.
"You're going to be Tanaka-senpai's recommender while supporting Kuroki-senpai, right? In that case, we're enemies starting today."
"I guess so."
From the moment Rui decided to run, this was the exact situation I’d wanted to avoid... but I suppose it was inevitable.
"Kuroki-senpai is a high wall to climb, but I’m going to give it my absolute all."
Himesaki gave a polite bow and left the roof.
She really might be the only person capable of rivaling Rui. I couldn't afford to be complacent.
"...Hm? A LIME from Airi?"
Airi: Ryouta! Come to the classroom right now!
Good grief, what is it this time!?