My mind was made up.
Given the emergency and how few students actually knew what was going on, the only person who could step in as a substitute was someone already privy to the situation. Among everyone backstage, I was probably the only friend willing to step up for a role as heavy as Rui’s recommender.
Besides, the teacher had given me the okay. It would be fine. It was nothing compared to the pressure I’d felt during the cultural festival.
"Next, we will have the endorsement speech for candidate Rui Kuroki."
I walked onto the gymnasium stage with steady steps and stood before the lectern. I adjusted the microphone, gave a bow, and then stepped forward to begin.
"Due to unforeseen circumstances, I’ll be standing in as the recommender for Rui Kuroki. My name is Ryouta Izumiya from Class 2-B. It’s a pleasure to be here."
A round of applause broke out from the student body gathered in the gymnasium.
Now, where should I go from here? I had prepared a speech for Tanaka in advance, but for Rui, I had no choice but to appeal to them completely on the fly.
"Um, Kuroki-san... she’s always looking out for everyone. She’s the Class Representative and the captain of the Track and Field Club. She can do just about anything. She’s... she’s perfect, and—"
Only superficial words were coming out. This shallow content wouldn’t cut it. I needed to move past the surface and talk about her—the real Rui. I had to convey who she was, staying true to my usual, straightforward self.
The Rui that I knew.
I glanced toward her as she waited in the wings. Seeing her looking so worried about me, her hands clasped as if in prayer, the words suddenly solidified in my mind.
That’s right. I knew the charm of the real Rui better than anyone.
"But... the real Kuroki-san isn’t perfect."
As soon as I said that, a stir ran through the crowd. I pressed on regardless.
"She makes incredible results look easy, but behind the scenes, she’s faced her share of trouble and near-failures. She isn't naturally perfect at everything. But that’s exactly why she works harder than anyone else to reach perfection. In the Track and Field Club, she pours her heart into practice every single day until her clothes are drenched in sweat. Even in her studies, she’s always serious, whether she’s in class or on her break."
Because I had watched her all this time, I knew the truth. In every selfie she sent me, her practice clothes were soaked. Even in the classroom, she was an expert at switching between her "on" and "off" modes, balancing her time chatting with Airi and Yuria with periods of intense, silent self-study.
"Rui Kuroki’s driving force is her constant, relentless effort to reach perfection. She doesn't just rely on talent; more than any natural gift, she refuses to stint on effort. That is why she has the power to achieve perfection in anything she puts her mind to."
Rui wasn't perfect simply because she was a genius. While she certainly had natural talent, it was her obsession with excellence and her sheer initiative that allowed her to realize the "perfect" image she projected. Because I had seen that single-minded side of her, I truly wanted to support her from the bottom of my heart. If I could make the other students understand that, then surely...
"So, won't you all aim for perfection together with Kuroki-san? As Student Council President, she will undoubtedly be the guide who helps you realize a 'perfect' school life for yourselves. Therefore... please, give your vote to Rui Kuroki!"
I finished with a deep bow, and the applause that followed felt even more positive than I had expected.
Wow, that was nerve-wracking. As I stepped back into the wings, the tension snapped, leaving me with a massive wave of exhaustion. Rui and Nozomi immediately approached me.
"Ryouta-senpai, that was amazing! As expected of you!"
"Well... I don't know if I did that well."
"You did! To be able to say all that in that situation—if it were me, I probably would have panicked!" Nozomi said, looking unusually excited.
In contrast, Rui wore an expression of pure relief.
"Thank you so much, Ryouta-kun. Truly, thank you."
"D-don't thank me. I was the one who volunteered. Don't worry about it."
"No, I’m deeply grateful. Thank you for such a wonderful, perfect endorsement speech."
"Rui... y-yeah. Man, this is embarrassing."
I couldn't hide my joy at her praise.
"Next, we will have the final speech from the candidate, Rui Kuroki."
After the recommender’s speech came the final address from the candidate themselves.
"I’m going now, Ryouta-kun."
"Good luck, Rui."
I spoke to her and watched as she walked out onto the stage. I had been curious for a long time about what she was going to say. I knew she aimed for personal perfection, but I wanted to know what kind of "perfection" she envisioned for the school as its president.
Rui adjusted the microphone, straightened her back, and looked out over the student body with a beautiful, poised posture.
"—I am Rui Kuroki, a candidate for Student Council President. Tell me, everyone—what does 'perfection' mean to you?"
Rui began to speak in a calm, measured tone.
"Ever since I can remember, I have strived to be a perfect version of myself, putting in effort every single day. But... even so, as Izumiya-san just said, the reality is that I am not perfect."
Rui suddenly shifted her gaze toward me in the wings and gave a small, private smile.
Rui... do your best.
"I have achieved many results in my life. However, no matter how hard I try, I always make some minor mistake. Some of those mistakes have even had the potential to drop my score from a hundred to zero. Therefore... I cannot call myself perfect."
Rui was openly denying her own perfection. It was a departure from her usual self-confident manner. However, to me, it seemed as though she was confronting her own identity right here on stage.
"However... perfection is achievable. Every one of you, when you look back on your path, can stand tall and be proud that your journey was perfect. Creating such a perfect road is undoubtedly possible."
Even though her tone remained steady, her words were filled with a passionate message that resonated through the room.
"To make your high school lives perfect, I chose not to offer specific campaign promises. My reason for that was simple: I didn't want to limit myself to temporary reforms. Instead, I promise here today that I will focus first on listening to your needs, sincerely facing the issues you care about, and striving to improve every single one of them."
While Tanaka was throwing out promises that might or might not be feasible, this was why Rui hadn't been specific. She didn't want to push her own ideas onto others; she wanted to stay close to the students and solve problems together. It was a very Rui-like way of thinking.
"Until now, I, Rui Kuroki, have received a great deal of support from all of you in my pursuit of perfection. But from now on, I promise to do my utmost so that you can all be proud of the remainder of your high school lives. To that end, I ask for your precious vote. Thank you very much."
With that, Rui gave a graceful bow and looked out over the students once more. It was a speech that clearly conveyed why she was able to achieve so much and why she was so popular. And until the very end of the election, she did not let her perfect smile falter.
I watched the remaining speeches from the wings, finally at ease. Both Nozomi and Tanaka—who appeared via video—finished their speeches without issue, laying out their own promises.
Once the final speeches were over, it was finally time to vote. The students cast their ballots into boxes near the exits as they left the gymnasium. Afterward, they returned to their classrooms to wait for the results, while the current Student Council and the Election Committee remained behind to count the votes.
I followed the flow of students out, wrote a name on my ballot, and dropped it into the box.
Naturally... I wrote "Rui Kuroki."
As soon as I returned to the classroom, Airi and Yuria rushed over to Rui and me.
"That was tough for you two! Good job!"
"No, Ryouta, you were seriously amazing! That was an ad-lib, wasn't it?"
"Oh, uh, yeah, I guess."
In contrast to the two of us, who were cooling down after giving it our all, the girls were incredibly hyped up. Still, I was just relieved that everything had ended without any major trouble.
"The results should be out soon, Rui. Are you nervous?"
"Yes... but..."
"But?"
Rui let out her usual, soft chuckle.
"Despite the trouble, once the final piece fell into place—the final weapon I was saving, Ryouta-kun—I knew I couldn't lose."
"F-final weapon... if you were going to say something like that, you should have just asked me from the start."
"Ah—Ryouta’s blushing because Rui-chan praised him!"
"N-no I’m not! This is just...!"
"The vote counting has been completed."
As we were talking, an announcement came over the PA system.
"The results of the election are as follows..."
The air in the classroom went silent instantly. And then...
"From Class 2-B—Rui Kuroki has been elected."
At that moment, the classroom erupted in cheers. Receiving congratulations from everyone, the soft, characteristic smile finally returned to Rui's face.