It was the day before the Student Council President election.
Since I was serving as Tanaka's official recommender, I had to deliver a speech at the campaign rally the following day. That was why we were meeting in my room after school to go over the details.
"Ugh, since when did your room start smelling like some try-hard high schooler’s cologne, Ryouta-kun?"
"What kind of description is that?! I only bought some room fragrance because Rui and the others have been coming over lately."
"Hmph... how cocky. Even though you’re still just a closet loner pretending to be an extrovert."
Tanaka sulked as she spoke, then began rummaging through my "special" bookshelf—the one where I hid all my adult content—and started flipping through a book.
"And yet you read nothing but these filthy manga."
"D-Don't go confusing 2D erotica with reality!"
"Look who’s talking! You've got some nerve!"
With our usual bickering out of the way, we finally got down to business.
"Seriously though, how am I supposed to recommend someone who hasn’t shown her face in public even once during the entire campaign?"
"You know the real me, Ryouta-kun! You should have plenty to talk about."
"The 'real' Tanaka... Loner, otaku, social recluse."
"Why are you only listing negative things?! Besides, those all apply to you too, Ryouta-kun! Look in a mirror sometime!"
Tanaka kept flipping through the ero-manga while snapping at me. Of course, since I was now close friends with the Beautiful Girl Trio, I felt I was on a completely different level than her.
"Anyway, I assume you've at least decided what you’re going to say tomorrow?"
"Eh... Well, of course! I’ve put together a spectacular speech video..."
"A video? Don’t tell me... you’re not planning to stand on the stage for the actual event either?"
"I-I can’t help it! I have debilitating stage fright!"
"Good grief. Why did you even run for office then?"
A "Virtual Student Council President" was completely unheard of.
Apparently, the whole thing had started because the teachers were worried Rui wouldn't have any competition, so they approached Tanaka. But now we had a perfectly capable rival in Himesaki.
Rui was as popular as ever, but Himesaki had built up enough momentum to actually challenge her. She still didn't seem to have many friends, but she’d been working her tail off alongside her lone classmate recommender.
Himesaki had spent the campaign greeting students and shaking hands. That personal touch seemed to be working wonders. Meanwhile, our Tanaka... had done absolutely everything from behind a screen.
"Tanaka, I'm genuinely worried about your future."
"What's with the sudden gravity?! You're being incredibly rude!"
While internally weeping over the fact that it was far easier to find flaws in Tanaka than merits, I kept drafting her recommendation speech. I figured a safe, generic approach would be best.
"Knowing you, Ryouta-kun, weren't you actually dying to be Kuroki-san's recommender instead?"
"...Honestly? Yeah, maybe I did. I want to be the Vice President in Rui's Student Council, and I really wanted to be the one supporting her."
"Ryouta-kun..."
"But I have to do my job. Rui asked me to help her, sure, but right now, I'm officially Tanaka's recommender. Regardless, I have to give it my all tomorrow."
"...I suppose you're right. That's so like you, Ryouta-kun."
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you mocking me again?"
"Who knows~?" she teased.
In any case, everything would be decided tomorrow. I had to stay sharp.