Chapter 294: Otaku Are So Easy to Trick

"Hello everyone! Thank you all for gathering here for me~ The fan club–exclusive rock-paper-scissors tournament is about to begin~"

On a stage at Hyakkaou Academy, a spotlight shone on a beautiful girl holding a microphone.

Cheers erupted below. Students waved glowsticks, and flashes from cameras flickered continuously.

Yumemi Yumemite—before the student council disbanded, she was the head of public relations and also a school idol. With her charming looks and bubbly personality, she had amassed countless fans both inside and outside the school.

And they were all die-hard fans.

Seeing the excited faces below, Yumemi nodded with satisfaction and announced, "Each player gets one vote chip. If you win, you get a vote. If you lose, there's a consolation prize—a Polaroid photo with me~"

"OOOOHHHHHH!!"

The fans exploded with excitement again.

To them, the student council president seat didn't matter at all. It had nothing to do with them.

But getting a photo with the school idol? A once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Yumemi, standing on stage, suddenly showed a pitiful expression.

"Today, I really feel like throwing rock~"

Seeing that deceptive expression from their idol, the crowd's energy surged again.

"Alright then, let's begin. Rock, paper, scissors!"

Whoosh!

Yumemi played rock—and everyone in the crowd played scissors.

'Too easy. This idol persona is way too effective.'

Yumemi thought as she collected over a hundred votes—probably more than any other candidate.

"Thank you all~"

After thanking her voluntary sacrifices, Yumemi turned to the election committee student.

"We can announce the result now, right?"

"What are you talking about? You didn't win."

"What are you talking about? I beat everyone." Yumemi frowned.

"Really? Look over there."

"Huh?"

The student in the costume pointed in a direction. Following the gesture, Yumemi's eyes widened when she noticed one hand among the sea of scissors—one hand with all five fingers open.

Someone had played paper. The round was invalidated.

"What!?"

She strained to see who dared to sabotage it—a boy with blond hair and a smug grin.

"...Takamine Rinji!?"

The one who played paper was Rinji.

Today, he wasn't wearing his usual Shuchiin uniform. Instead, he threw on a Hyakkaou Academy uniform and slipped into the crowd to join the fan event.

"You..."

"Using the idol effect to gather votes. Not bad. I'll give you credit for the creativity," Rinji said with a grin.

"..."

Yumemi knew she'd been played.

She had thought this event would go perfectly, but never imagined Rinji would so boldly blend in.

He usually wore a striking black school uniform, which made him stand out among the red ones. This time, he'd deliberately disguised himself in red to avoid being spotted.

"Um..."

Holding back her urge to curse, Yumemi said into the mic, "Takamine-kun, you're not one of my fans, are you?"

"Of course not. How could I be a fan of someone as shallow as you?"

"..."

The moment he said that, a vein popped on Yumemi's forehead—and the crowd erupted in outrage.

"Hey! Did he just call our Yumemi shallow!?"

"Do you know how hard she works!?"

"Don't think we're scared of you just 'cause you're the head of the Anti-Gambling Club!"

Yumemi quickly cleared her throat and said, "Cough, everyone, please be civil. No fighting, okay?"

Once the mood calmed, she returned her gaze to Rinji.

"Takamine-kun, are you participating in this tournament too?"

"No, just came to have a look." Rinji stood up and smiled. "Carry on. I won't interfere again."

"Thanks~"

Yumemi smiled and apologized internally, relieved that he seemed satisfied.

If he really wanted to sabotage her, she wouldn't have had any way to stop him.

"Alright then, next round! Rock, paper, scissors!"

Whoosh!

Everyone threw their hands again.

This time, no one tried to mess around. But Yumemi's face suddenly darkened.

All the fans had played scissors. Rinji had played rock—same as Yumemi.

"You..."

"I told you, I'm not interfering," Rinji said with a grin. "I'm just playing along properly this time."

"..."

The election committee announced, "First round winners: Yumemi Yumemite and Takamine Rinji! The winner between the two of you will be determined next."

"...Tch."

Amid furious glares and jeers from the fans, Rinji stepped on stage and faced Yumemi.

"Can't lie—otaku money is easy to grab. If you can exploit it, so can I."

"Takamine-kun, do you want the student council president position?"

"Not at all. I'm the treasurer at Shuchiin's student council. I couldn't care less about Hyakkaou's."

"Then why are you interfering?"

"Because it's fun."

"..."

"Alright, let's settle this. I look forward to it, Yumeji Yumemite."

"You little..."

Yumemi gritted her teeth at Rinji's bold intrusion—but now, there was no backing out.

She had to face him.

"The finals begin!"

With that cue, both of them raised their hands.

Yumemi focused on Rinji's hand. His index and middle fingers were slightly extended.

'He's going to play scissors? No... maybe it's a bluff. Or maybe he knows I think it's a bluff... or maybe he knows that I know that he knows—'

Just that small motion plunged Yumemi into a spiral of overthinking.

"Rock, paper, scissors!!"

'Screw it! He's definitely playing scissors!!'

She threw her hand out.

But at the last moment, Rinji's fingers twitched—a subtle movement that shattered her focus.

In the end, Rinji played scissors. Yumemi played paper.

"This..."

"Not decisive enough, Yumemi-san."

Rinji won.

He collected 126 votes.