Chapter 378: I Envy Them

"You'll need approval from the local government and residents' committee to host a bonfire," Ishigami said. "But if there's a fire truck present, it might be allowed."

"So it's about gaining their trust."

Rinji nodded.

"Iino-san is probably good at that. She often helps out in the neighborhood. If she contacts the fire department in the next few days and gets signatures from the local groups, it might happen."

"Exactly!" Iino said excitedly.

She truly wanted this bonfire to happen.

"So, Iino, if you want them to agree, you'll need someone to help contact the fire department and manage the relationships. Otherwise, it'll be really hard to pull off."

"Rinji's right," Iino nodded. "I need someone to help."

"Right, so pick someone to go with you… why are you looking at me?"

---

That afternoon, Rinji visited the local fire station to negotiate borrowing a fire truck for the event.

Though he could've easily bought a truck himself, hosting a bonfire required more than that—it needed official approval from the fire department.

So, Rinji used safety education as an excuse to convince the fire department to approve the school's bonfire festival.

As for why he had to personally handle this, it all came down to being roped in by Iino.

She just had to randomly pick someone and ended up choosing him—all thanks to how reliable he usually acted.

In Iino's eyes, there was nothing Rinji couldn't solve once he got involved.

Of course, he wasn't the only one working with Iino this time. Fellow Cultural Festival Committee member Onodera Rei volunteered to help her, and Iino's "guardian" Osaragi Kobachi also tagged along.

Iino and Onodera were tasked with getting signatures and approval from local community groups, while Osaragi and Rinji took on the fire department.

"Thank you all very much for your understanding and support," Rinji said, bowing to the fire station chief. "On behalf of Shuchiin's student council and the Hoshin Culture Festival Committee, I sincerely thank you."

After exchanging bows with the station chief, the paperwork was officially complete.

"Seriously, getting me to do something like this—does Iino think I have nothing better to do?"

"From what I've observed, Rinji-san really is pretty free."

Osaragi adjusted her thick glasses, expressionless as she stared at him.

"You were just like this when you were a Public Morals Committee member. Osaragi, instead of constantly roasting me, maybe try focusing on your own dreams once in a while."

"Sorry, I really don't have any."

"You… Forget it."

Leaning against the wall, Rinji pulled a cigarette from his pocket and stuck it between his lips.

"Hey, even if you smoke as a former Morals Committee member, don't do it right outside the fire department! If they see you, they could revoke the bonfire permit."

"...Tch."

Annoyed, Rinji put the cigarette away and walked into a shaded alley before lighting it.

Blowing out a puff of smoke, he stared in the direction of the school. "Damn it, Ishigami bailed on me. I thought we were supposed to suffer together?"

"Well, Ishigami-kun has his own things going on," Osaragi replied, pushing her glasses again. "He needs to make a move on Koyasu-Senpai ."

"...Ah, so that's what's going on. I did notice him looking at Koyasu kind of strangely. Guess it's about time."

"With the Hoshin Festival approaching, the confession success rate jumps to 60% during this period," Osaragi said. "I think Koyasu-senpai is a good choice for Ishigami."

"Not a bad idea…"

"Certainly better than having feelings for a cross-dressing Rinji."

"Don't bring that up!!"

Rinji stomped his cigarette, sparks flying.

"Ishigami is my bro. Our friendship can withstand anything. That whole sports festival thing—we're never talking about it again."

"Alright, I won't bring it up."

Osaragi waved her hand as if to say the topic was closed. Then she looked back toward Rinji.

"By the way, Rinji, how do you see yourself?"

"Huh?"

"As a good guy? Or a bad guy?"

"Do I even need to think about that? Obviously, I'm a bad guy."

"So, you're at least self-aware. I thought maybe after doing a few good deeds, you'd start seeing yourself as some idealistic hero."

"People who think like that are weak. Trying to justify their bad deeds by saying 'I just did the right thing in my own way'—if you've done something bad, you're no longer a good person, no matter what the outcome is."

Rinji lit another cigarette as he spoke.

Osaragi stared at him in silence for a moment, then asked, "Then why does a 'bad guy' like you keep helping Ishigami and Miko? This isn't the first time. Did something happen in the past?"

"Stop assuming stuff, you nosy four-eyed freak."

Rinji exhaled a cloud of smoke, his gaze distant as if recalling something.

"Whether it's Ishigami, Iino, or even the President… they're all people I envy."

"You? Envious of someone?"

"Of course. People who have something I lack—of course I'd envy them," Rinji said with a smile. "I've always believed that kindness is the most valuable trait in a human being. And those guys all have that. So yeah, I envy them."

He tilted his head up, gazing at the sky.

"Back at a certain crossroads in my life, I chose the shortcut. I gave up on being kind and became a villain. Sure, that made life easier and gave me a clearer role to play. But... the moment I let go of kindness, I became a coward. A disgraceful deserter. That's why I admire people who stay kind no matter how tough things get. They're more human than someone like me."

If he hadn't abandoned his kindness back then, maybe… just maybe, he would've had the confidence to face Hayasaka properly.