Chapter 246: Withdraw from the Election

"Hayato Hongo has been dealt with. Only one opponent remains."

In front of a whiteboard, Kaguya posted two photos, surrounded by detailed information about each candidate's family and background. A big red X was marked over Hongo's photo, indicating his withdrawal.

The flashbang incident caused quite a stir yesterday.

When the students passed out, Shirogane stood dumbfounded—he hadn't expected Rinji to solve the issue so... explosively.

Quick on her feet, Kaguya had dragged Shirogane away and asked what was going on.

In the end, he told her about the support speech.

Though she'd hoped he'd drag her aside for a miraculous confession, the truth wasn't disappointing—it was within her expectations. So she accepted without hesitation.

By the next day, with the support speech arranged, Kaguya turned her attention to eliminating other threats to the election.

"The next one is... first-year Iino Miko."

She locked eyes on Iino's photo.

"Iino Miko—father is a Supreme Court judge, mother works for an international humanitarian aid organization," Ai Hayasaka stood behind Shinomiya Kaguya, reading aloud Iino's basic information. "It took quite a while to investigate her. She's a troublesome opponent."

"Yeah. It's strange that someone as meticulous as Rinji didn't personally gather intel on her. Was this a slip-up?"

Kaguya smiled, not particularly concerned.

"But people like her will always show cracks once you put some pressure on them."

Hayasaka set the document down and said in a low voice:

"Sometimes there are people who truly are upright. Those shady methods don't always work."

"Everyone has a price. You just have to find what hers is, and that'll be the crack," said Kaguya. "That's what Rinji told me."

"Did Rinji really say that? But I don't think he'd want you to go after this Iino girl, at least not with underhanded methods."

"Hm? Why not?"

"Iino Miko is a member of the disciplinary committee. Back when Rinji first enrolled, he was one too—until he got kicked out over a violent incident. During his time on the committee, he worked closely with her. They weren't exactly enemies."

Hayasaka looked at Kaguya.

"Do you really think it was a mistake that he didn't investigate Iino? Think carefully."

"…That makes sense. But still, she is…"

"Don't worry. Rinji genuinely wants President Shirogane to win. He has his own way of doing things. Your job is simply not to interfere."

---

"…Thank you all for listening."

"Cut."

At Rinji's command, Osaragi Kobachi stopped her speech.

They were in a classroom, filled with students acting as an audience. Osaragi had just finished reading her speech script.

She let out a long sigh of relief after finishing.

"Totally unacceptable, Osaragi-san. You paused five times, stuttered three, and your eyes were all over the place. The ending felt like you just wanted it over with. If this was the actual election, you'd definitely mess it up."

"I-I'm sorry…"

"Whatever. Overall it wasn't too bad. If you could deliver it without a script, that'd be ideal."

Rinji waved her aside and looked toward Iino Miko.

"Iino-san, your turn."

"O-okay."

Iino stepped up to the podium and took a deep breath.

But once she saw dozens of students staring at her, she froze and stared intensely at her script, avoiding eye contact.

Which only made her more nervous.

"Uh… h-hello, everyone… I'm Iino…"

Her voice was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.

"Alright, I've seen enough."

Rinji stood up from his seat. As he did, all the students around him also stood and began leaving.

"Thanks for your time, everyone."

"Thanks for your time." (Random Characters)

Dozens of students nodded and left the classroom.

They were students Rinji had recruited as temporary test subjects. Plenty of students were eager to curry favor with him, and Rinji didn't mind using them.

His purpose? To test Iino's public speaking ability as a candidate.

Once they were gone, only Rinji, Iino, and Osaragi remained.

"I already gave feedback to Osaragi-san. But Iino, your issue is much more serious," Rinji said. "There'll be hundreds of students and teachers watching during the actual election. If you're already scared now, how will you handle it then?"

"I…"

"Look people in the eye when you speak. The script is just a reference, not a face shield."

He glanced at Iino, who was nervously clutching the hem of her uniform skirt with her head down.

"As your former colleague on the disciplinary committee, let me give you a word of advice—drop out of the Election. It's not worth it."

"Absolutely not!"

Iino shouted.

"I… I have to change this school's atmosphere. That's why I have to become student council president…"

"Do you really mean that?"

"Of course—"

"But I don't think you do."

"What?"

"People with true resolve overcome any obstacle to achieve their goals." Rinji stepped closer, towering over her. "You say all the right things, but you can't even handle giving a speech. If you truly had resolve, you wouldn't be faltering here. You haven't conquered your fear for your so-called goal."

"I…"

"Pretty speeches mean nothing. Your odds are worse than Hayato Hongo's—and he's already dropped out."

"Drop out. It's for your own good."