Chapter 322: Image

"President!! Rinji-kun went too far!!"

"You brought this on yourself—pfft—cough, cough. Who told you to gamble with him? He's a top-tier mind-game player from Private Hyakkaou Academy. Did you really think you could beat him in a bet? Pfft—yeah, just take this as a learning experience."

Kaguya calmly sipped tea on the couch. "She's right. You need to learn your lesson."

After school, Fujiwara was slumped on Shirogane's desk, still sporting her poop-head, pouring out her complaints. But Shirogane couldn't help laughing every time he looked at her ridiculous hair.

"Ugh..."

She was close to tears.

Because Rinji used ultra-strong hairspray, she couldn't wash it out. She had to go to all her afternoon classes looking like that.

Yet none of the students actually judged her for it.

Because the one wearing the poop-shaped hair wasn't just anyone—it was Fujiwara Chika.

She was famous at Shuchiin: a piano prodigy, daughter of a political family, unbelievably cute, great figure, and above all... a certified chaos gremlin.

No one questioned it.

It was like: "Haha, she's got poop hair. Oh, it's Fujiwara Chika? Yeah, checks out."

Overall, Fujiwara's sudden hairstyle change didn't cause much of a stir—at most, the teacher called her over and nagged a little.

"Waa… Miko-chan, the president isn't helping me at all! You're a member of the Public Morals Committee, so you need to discipline them properly!"

Seeing that the president had no intention of reprimanding Rinji, Fujiwara tearfully clung to Iino Miko beside her.

"Um… Fujiwara-senpai…"

"Miko-chan is the cutest! You'll definitely take my side, right?"

"Um…"

Ishigami: "So you're rallying allies now? I feel like I just saw a truly vile side of you."

Rinji: "It's a lesson. Gambling isn't a good thing."

Being hugged and praised as cute made Iino blush completely red, but she still whispered, "I don't think Rinji-kun did anything wrong. Gambling really is bad."

"Waa!"

Fujiwara released Iino and angrily pointed at everyone.

"You're all traitors!"

Ishigami: "We were never on your side to begin with."

Rinji: "Don't count me in."

Iino: "Um… I really respect Fujiwara-senpai, but… gambling is still wrong."

"It wasn't gambling! It's not like we were betting money. I just wanted to get Rinji to wear a dress again!" Fujiwara pointed and shouted. "Don't you guys want to see him in girl's clothes again?"

Ishigami & Shirogane: "Of course we do."

Kaguya: "Not at all. Boys should look like boys."

At Kaguya's statement, Rinji gave her a thumbs-up. "For once, I totally agree. I think I look better the way I normally do. What's so good about crossdressing anyway?"

Ishigami & Shirogane: "Nothing in general—but you're a different story."

Kaguya just smiled. "Yes, Rinji-kun is absolutely right."

But in her heart, she was thinking:

There's no way I'll let you turn into that again in front of the president.

She knew just how destructive Rinji's crossdressing charm was. Even she, as a girl, had been momentarily stunned by the doll-like beauty. Letting the president witness that again? Impossible.

Ishigami: "Anyway, the cheer squad will perform at the sports festival, right? If you want to see him crossdress, why not wait for that?"

"But… but…"

Fujiwara pouted in frustration.

"Don't you guys want to see the other thirty personalities of Rinji-kun!?"

Ishigami, Shirogane, and Iino: "Don't say that! Of course we do!"

"…What?"

Rinji stood up in shock.

"Where… where did you hear that?"

"From Sagara-Sensei."

"…And where did she hear it?"

"Apparently from your grandmother."

"Nooooo!!!!"

Rinji collapsed to the floor, holding his head in despair.

"It's over… my macho image has been completely ruined. It's all over…"

"C'mon, you never had that image to begin with."

Fujiwara squatted beside him and patted his shoulder.

"We never evaluated you based on that 'macho' image."

Hearing that made Rinji's head droop even lower.

"Stop clinging to this idea of being a macho man. Embrace yourself as a cute boy! From now on, quit smoking and swearing, and strive to be a lovable pretty boy!"

"Shut it, poop-head." Rinji muttered. "And don't squat in front of me like that. I can see your underwear."

"Eek!"

Fujiwara quickly stood up and covered her skirt, then ran to Iino and grabbed her shoulders, pointing at Rinji.

"Public Morals Committee—arrest him!"

"No… that just sounds like a well-meaning warning."

"Why is Miko-chan always taking Rinji-kun's side!?"

"Because… I really can't imagine Rinji-kun doing anything perverted," Iino said.

In her mind, despite Rinji's violent tendencies and odd behaviors, he always seemed to be acting for the sake of school order, intentionally casting himself as the antagonist of the students. In her eyes, he was like a rigid enforcer—more upright than even she was. Almost like a vigilante with a sense of justice.

Of course, that was just what Iino thought based on her own biased observations. In reality, Rinji wasn't nearly as good as she believed.

Just like Fujiwara wasn't nearly as perfect as she thought.

Rinji dusted himself off and sat back on the sofa.

"By the way, president—will your family be coming to the sports festival? Will Kei and your dad be there?"

"Kei probably won't make it since she's got classes in the middle school division," Shirogane said. "As for my dad… um… probably not."

To be honest, he didn't want that embarrassing old man coming to school anyway. If he ended up saying something outrageous, it could ruin his image completely.

If Rinji heard it, whatever. Their families were already close. But if other students—or worse, Shinomiya—heard it…

He didn't even want to imagine the consequences.

"What about you, Rinji? Will your family come?"

"I'm not sure… Oh, by the way, president, can I invite Karura?"

"Your girlfriend? No problem."