Presidential Elections and the Queen Chapter 1 (1)

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In accordance with Kanon's strong request, the day's patrol took the all important tour of the gymnasium. (Tatsuya was seriously troubled over the necessity of accompanying her.)

In relation to the school grounds, it was the second building if you came from the entrance.

By sheer coincidence, today was the Kenjutsu club's practice day.

"…The older Shiba. That's a different girl than the one you usually bring when you watch us."

"Please don't talk like I'm a playboy."

Whether he was serious or joking was hard to tell from the tone of his voice — but Tatsuya thought he felt the jest was at least partly serious — the one who had come to talk to him was Kirihara.

"Really, Kirihara-kun. Isn't saying stuff like that rude to Chiyoda-san? Because Chiyoda-san is serious about Isori-kun."

"…Well, if that's the way it is, it's okay."

The one whose outburst eased Kanon's discomfort and made Tatsuya breathe a deep sigh of relief was Sayaka.

The reason Sayaka of the Kendo Club was participating in the Kenjutsu club's practice wasn't so that they could use the club hour to date.

Since the spring incident, the sports clubs who used magic and the sports who didn't felt they had to increase opportunities for mutual interaction between themselves. Especially with the clubs that were basically the same, sports clubs whose only difference was the rule about whether magic could be used or not in competition had taken it upon themselves to bridge the gap by undertaking positive actions; thus, the current trend was born.

The Kendo club and the Kenjutsu club pioneered the trend. Sayaka and Kirihara were the first to use that excuse — that is, they were the first participants to take part in a mutual exchange program.

—Therefore, this means these two are not practicing together just because they like each other.

Enough gossip.

Tatsuya, despite Sayaka's support(?), was still getting the stink eye from Kirihara, so he explained the situation.

"Chief Watanabe ordered us to go together."

Although what he said was true, it would have been better to act as if he didn't need to excuse his behavior. Volunteering information like this made it seem like he was using his job to cover up immoral behavior.

"Eh, then that rumor was true."

Kirihara not only unexpectedly readily believed him, but made a meaningful comment.

"A rumor?"

"Oh, Shiba-kun doesn't know?"

"The rumor about Chiyoda becoming the next Public Moral Chief and Chief Watanabe making the rounds to get it approved. Frankly, don't you think that girl having to make the rounds to get it approved is such a tiresome thing for her to do?"

Tatsuya realized the 'rumor' Sayaka and Kirihara were announcing tag-team fashion was completely true, but in the face of this spectacle, he chose silence.

"It's just like they said it was. It's Chiyoda, so they've got to make an exception. Because Watanabe-senpai really likes Chiyoda. In order to be able to appoint Chiyoda-san, who has no experience, as her successor, she has to make a lot of effort."

Even though Tatsuya didn't say anything, they didn't stop adding to the heap.

"Hmm, that girl not only looks like a Takarazuka (A famous all female acting troupe where women play all the roles even the male ones in love scenes), but she thinks like one, too, eh? Well if Chiyoda becomes chief she'll certainly make quite a picture."

The Girls Opera, since the beginning of the modern era, could be called a traditional theatrical entertainment, so Tatsuya didn't feel that 'thinks like a Takarazuka' was a particularly dishonorable appraisal, but it seemed that Kanon's sensibilities reached a different conclusion.

"Oh, you're treating not just me but Mari-san as lesbians… Kirihara-kun, aren't you very brave."

"Wait a minute!" Behind Kanon's back, as if someone was painting Acala (A fierce guardian deity in Buddhism portrayed with an aura of fire), an aura of fire rose up. (To be accurate, it was an explosion of violently charged psion particles.)

"I never said lesbian!"

Despite the fact that in terms of simple power, Kanon was rumored to be number one among the second years, and the fact that she also had great rage on her side, Kirihara waved his head and fist excitedly.

"No problem."

At the violently strong Kanon's pronouncement, Tatsuya breathed a deep sigh. His right hand made a swift light thrust.

"Huhh!"

With an out of pitch screech, the violent dance of psion particles subsided. "Wh-What did you do?"

From her position sunken down on the floor, the red-faced Kanon was using both of her scalding eyes to glare at Tatsuya, the cause of her minor indignity.

"…That was more effective than expected. Truthfully, I thought he was putting me on about 'pleasure points', but..."

It was Yakumo's deceitful Tenketsujutsu (Probably blind spot technique).

Located on the back are some "spots that cause pleasant feelings"—he was just taught them this morning. He used a thrust with his index finger on one after he watched Kanon get increasingly red faced. As she listened to his monologue, he modified his facial expression.

"Chiyoda-senpai, what would happen if Public Moral members went around starting their own personal brawl?"

"Aah… but he..."

"There is no 'but he'. Okay, after the occurrence of sexual harassment, it's best to have the Disciplinary Committee conduct a trial. As a general rule, the testimony of a Public Moral Committee member can be considered independent evidence."

"Oi?"

In the confusion brought on by the swift change in the status quo, Kirihara kept out of it; nonetheless Tatsuya and Kanon didn't take their eyes off of each other.

"O K A Y? Will you please restrain yourself from acting like a pot boiling over."

"…Understood"

The sulky faced Kanon was too busy averting her eyes to be aware of Sayaka's mutter of "… doesn't what you just did count as sexual harassment, too?"

"Now that you mention it, isn't the Student Council election coming up real soon?"

At last, the chaotic situation had subsided. In order to move from the talk of the Public Moral succession, Sayaka had brought up this topic for the second time today (at least for Tatsuya). To keep any club members from putting fuel on the fire, Sayaka hospitably introduced the perfect water cooler gossip topic.

"At the end of the month, right. Yeah, I'd call that real soon."

Kirihara responded to Sayaka's question. "I've heard it's going to be a one-on- one match between Hattori-kun and Nakajou-san."

Paying no attention to the difference between first and second course, Kanon quickly joined her fellow second years' conversation.

"Nope, Hattori isn't doing it."

For Tatsuya the déjà vu conversation had been broken up by the revelation of a new fact.

"Oh, really?"

It looked like Kirihara's words were a surprise to Kanon.

"Yep, that Hattori is going to succeed the chief of Club Management. I heard it from him myself that he wasn't going to take part in the election."

"Hmmm, Hattori-kun… however it's proper. Club Management can't be done by anybody without brute strength."

Kanon accepted Kirihara's answer with a proper nod.

He could see what they were saying. The Club Management Group certainly had a more violent image than the Student Council, Tatsuya thought.

Even under normal circumstances, scouting for club members, taking space for club activities and the like caused many inevitable disputes. Thanks to Katsuto's glare, great big riots hadn't happened, but an ordinary person couldn't do the same thing.

However — Tatsuya thought,

This meant that of the strongest candidates for Student Council President, both would not take part in the election.

Just who is going to be the next Student Council President…

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After the patrol was over, homeward bound. Miyuki had just finished with the Student Council.

Leo, Erika, Mizuki, Honoka, and Shizuku were done with club activities. Mikihiko was done with his independent training in the practice room.

It had been a while since Tatsuya could mingle with his usual circle. They crowded around a table in a coffee shop that was on the way to the station.

And in nearly no time the topic became the upcoming election. "Hmmm… to tell the truth, a little unreliable."

Leo gave a cold appraisal of Azusa. "But her true abilities tower over others."

"I believe it's better to have a gentle person as Student Council President." Shizuku and Mizuki seemed to be members of the Support Azusa party. "Anyway, the possibility of Hattori-senpai has completely disappeared, right?" This was a repeated inquiry of Erika.

"Aah, it seems like he himself has told others about it so there doesn't seem to be a way to be mistaken about it. Even the Student Council President can't steal the person who is the next successor to the Club Management Group Leader."

Tatsuya replied with an affirmative.

"That's true… I don't believe even those people could stand against chief Juumonji."

Countless nods of yes, yes came from Erika's side.

"Therefore, after all, Nakajou-senpai is the only possible person who can become a candidate."

Mizuki returned to the topic of the next Student Council President.

"But, she herself has said she doesn't want to do it, right? Okay, Miyuki, become a candidate!"

"Wait, Erika, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Miyuki's eyes widened in response to Erika's surprising remark.

But, unexpectedly, it seemed that Erika was really taken with her own suggestion.

"It's not like there's any regulation prohibiting first years from becoming Student Council President, right? In the recent Nine Schools Competition, Miyuki not only took part in the Newcomers Icicle Break, but battled against second and third years in Mirage Bat and won. I think your true power and popularity make you perfect."

"Don't say such nonsense. In general, a high school student's 'true power' cannot only be measured by magic power?"

"If it's scholarship, we have Tatsuya here. Once you become Student Council President, you can appoint anyone as staff."

Mizuki entered support for Erika's position in Miyuki and Erika's back and forth conversation.

"Yeah, that's right. President Saegusa was getting rid of the first course only limit."

"Even Mizuki…"

It was a superficially chiding remark, but a waver could be felt in Miyuki's voice.

"Yeah, yeah. That's right, if you were president, you could head hunt Tatsuya- kun from the Public Moral Committee… ."

At Erika's Mephistopheles-like (a young girl version) whisper, Miyuki visibly trembled.

"Conversely, wouldn't it be okay if Tatsuya became Student council president?" "Oh, that sounds interesting."

As childhood friends, they didn't compete with each other, but this time Mikihiko blew Erika's outrageous idea out of the water with one of his own.

While Leo gazed around blankly at these evil plots, Tatsuya asserted, "That's impossible."

"Certainly, if it was Miyuki there might be enough support for the idea to make it happen, but I could not collect enough ballots."

However, Shizuku had a different opinion.

"But, Tatsuya-san, you took a major role in the Nine Schools Competition," "No, Shizuku… I was part of the backstage crew for the victory and only competed in one event. It's said that the work of those who work behind the scenes can not be comprehended if you're viewing the front."

Once again, Tatsuya denied the possibility of being elected, but Honoka raised her voice in a fervent rebuttal.

"Still, if Tatsuya-san was ever placed on the ballot, I would absolutely vote for him!"

"Me too Onii-sama. If Onii-sama ever ran for office, I would campaign for you by distributing leaflets or anything else you wanted me to do."

Surrounded on both sides by Miyuki and Honoka, who were subtly competing over who was more enthusiastic, Tatsuya realized he had a slight headache.