When I got back to the classroom, I found Airi and Yuria huddled over my desk, using my seat without permission as they stared intently at a smartphone.
"What are you two up to?"
"Ah, Ryouta! Hey, look at this!"
"This?"
At Airi’s urging, I leaned in to look at Yuria’s phone.
A video was playing on the screen. A synthesized voice was reading out text, accompanied by a character sprite of a mysterious, beautiful girl in glasses. Seriously, what was I even looking at?
"Wait, did you make this video, Yuria?"
"As if. Just listen."
『Alright, everyone, please remember to write "Kanade Tanaka" on your ballots on election day. Until next time—』
The video ended with that final sign-off.
"T-Tanaka?! She said she wasn't going to do any campaign activities, yet she’s making videos like this? Where did you even find this?"
"You know the one, Ryouta. The school’s underground bulletin board. The video was posted as an unlisted link, but it’s already got several hundred views."
"Hundreds!?"
Compared to professional streamers, that number was tiny, but for a PR video for a high school student council election—especially an unlisted one that required a direct link to view—having several hundred hits was insane.
Back in junior high, I had uploaded a video titled "【HILARIOUS】 I Tried Mentos Cola." Even though it was set to public, it only got fifteen views. To top it off, someone left a comment saying "Nice try, summer vacation kid," which forced me to delete the video in tears. Because of that trauma, I knew exactly how abnormal these numbers were.
The fact that she was drawing this much attention on a shadow forum was impressive.
"Tanaka-chan is amazing, isn't she?" Airi said. "It’s like she’s making full use of all this modern technology. The art is really good, too."
"Well, Tanaka might have creepy social skills and a weird personality, but when it comes to her indoor hobbies, her specs are as high as Rui’s."
"Now isn't the time to be impressed," Yuria cut in. "Tanaka actually makes some incredibly solid campaign promises in this video."
"Promises? From that Tanaka?"
"Yeah, look here."
Yuria scrubbed back to a few seconds before the end of the video, showing me a summarized list of Tanaka’s pledges.
"Increasing the number of study rooms by utilizing empty classrooms, expanding the terrace seating in the cafeteria, opening and renovating the annex in the old school building that’s currently just used for storage... The scope is pretty massive for a student council election."
"But they’re surprisingly realistic," Yuria noted. "She isn't promising to build brand-new things that would be impossible to fund; she’s talking about cleaning up and repurposing spaces we already have but don't use."
Just as Yuria said, Tanaka’s promises addressed those minor inconveniences that everyone felt but no one had done anything about. They were goals that seemed achievable with just a bit of effort.
The bit about the empty classrooms hit home. With the number of classes decreasing in recent years, there were more and more unused rooms—including the one where Airi and I used to eat lunch in secret.
I’d always thought it was a waste, but I never expected someone to turn it into a campaign promise. I’d assumed Tanaka spent all her free time idling on the rooftop, but she might have been 'observing' the school more closely than any of us.
"Based on the reactions on the underground board, her support base is already growing," Yuria said. "Though, since alumni check those boards too, it’s hard to tell for sure."
"No, Tanaka’s aim is the buzz," I muttered. "This might be exactly what she wanted. No one had ever thought of using the shadow forums for campaigning before."
"This is bad..." Airi whispered. "All the more reason we have to do that."
"Agreed, Yuria."
"That?"
Yuria and Airi nodded to each other, exchanging a meaningful glance. I felt that familiar sense of dread crawling up my spine again.
"What is everyone talking about?"
As we huddled around the desk, Rui walked into the classroom, having just finished her meeting with the track and field club.
"Ah, perfect timing, Rui," Yuria said. "I’ve got a little favor to ask."
"Oh?"
Yuria leaned in and whispered something into Rui’s ear.
Rui let out a soft giggle. "Hehe, that’s a wonderful idea, Yuria. Ryouta-kun, I’ll be in your care after school, okay?"
"Wait, what do you mean 'in my care'!?"
Things were moving forward without my input again. What exactly was I supposed to be doing after school? I felt nothing but pure terror.