Chapter 406: Target—Student Council President

"This is the student council office. Feel free to look around, just don't touch anything."

"Takamine-senpai is so strict. Don't worry, I won't touch anything."

After dropping Moeha off at the office, Kei left for a drink, saying she'd be back soon. Moeha curiously scanned the room.

After a brief survey, she locked her eyes on the president's desk and plopped into his chair.

"That seat's for the president. You shouldn't be sitting there," Rinji frowned.

"Geez, senpai, you're way too stiff. Girls don't like that, you know~"

"Whether I'm liked or not has nothing to do with you."

His tone was cold. He wasn't going to treat her differently just because she was cute.

Moeha stood up and asked, "Where's the president? Isn't he usually here?"

"Nope. He wouldn't be holed up here during the whole festival. He's probably out enjoying it too."

"I see… That's too bad."

"You said earlier you wanted to see someone—don't tell me it's the president?"

"Yep."

"What for?"

"Well…"

Moeha suddenly looked shy, pressing her index fingers together.

"I've… set my sights on the president."

"You mean you're running for student council president? That's not an easy job."

"That's not what I meant."

Click.

At that moment, the door opened, and Fujiwara entered holding a card of Shirogane.

She was probably tired from chasing "Arsène Lupin" around campus and came back for a break.

"Huh? Rinji-kun? Moeha? What are you two doing here?"

"Fujiwara," Rinji pointed to Moeha. "Your sister came to tour the school. Didn't you know?"

"She never told me!"

"Well, she just said she's aiming for the president."

"Oh, I see~"

Fujiwara nodded like a veteran, giving her sister a knowing look.

"Being student council president is hard work, you know. You need to be prepared—"

"That's not what I meant!"

"Eh?"

Hearing her sister, Fujiwara's face froze in horror.

"You mean…"

"I… like the president."

Moeha's cheeks turned red.

"I saw him during the middle school festival and couldn't stop thinking about him. Even though Kei keeps saying her brother is bossy, I think she's just showing off. I've totally fallen for him."

Fujiwara's face contorted into panic.

"Moeha, you can't harbor such unrealistic fantasies! He's not the man you think he is. Honestly, he's a mess."

Rinji: "I can't just let that slide. What's wrong with the president?"

"Don't interfere, Rinji-kun! My sister doesn't understand what he's really like!!"

Clutching her head, Fujiwara exclaimed, "His singing skills is like a ritual to summon an Eldrich Horror, his dancing looks like an exorcism, and teaching him anything is a nightmare… Even though he did overcome it eventually."

Moeha: "Then it's fine, isn't it?"

Rinji: "Everyone has flaws. No one's perfect."

"Rinji-kun, just shut up! You trained him too, right? Don't you remember how terrible he was!?"

Moeha curiously looked at Rinji.

She figured he must know the president well—after all, they came together to the middle school festival.

"Takamine-senpai, what kind of person is the president?"

"The president?"

Rinji paused and glanced at Fujiwara.

She was frantically making gestures at him to spill the dirt.

But Rinji began calmly.

"The president… is very capable. His academic performance is unmatched, always ranking first. He even helped the red team win several gold medals during the sports festival. Any minor flaws he has, he can overcome quickly. Most importantly, he's kind-hearted and always attentive to student voices. Truly impeccable in every way—"

Smack.

Fujiwara slapped his shoulder and stared at him blankly.

"Rinji-kun, what good is lying through your teeth?"

"No, I'm just stating facts," he replied flatly. "It's perfectly normal for your sister to like the president."

"..."

"I knew it!" Moeha beamed. "Hearing it from Takamine-senpai makes me like him even more!"

"I can't take this anymore!!"

Fujiwara dropped to her knees.

"Then… Takamine-senpai, do you know what kind of girls the president likes?" Moeha asked hopefully.

"The president, huh…"

The answer was obvious—Shinomiya Kaguya.

Rinji glanced at Moeha. Despite being a middle schooler, she had a surprisingly curvy figure, likely a family trait. Meanwhile, Kaguya, who was a year older than him…

"The president… likes flat-chested girls."

"…Eh?"

——————————————————————————————————————————————

"Rinji-nii, I was just about to look for you."

After walking out of the student council office, Rinji ran into Kei in the hallway. She was carrying two cans of coffee.

Handing one to him, Kei asked, "Is Moe still in the student council room?"

"Yeah, Fujiwara's there too. She's probably lecturing her little sister."

Opening the coffee and taking a sip, Rinji looked at Kei with a smile. "Is there anywhere you'd like to visit? I can take you."

"Hmm… There was one place that caught my interest when I went to buy drinks."

"Where?"

"Second floor of the senior building. A place called 'The Witch's House.'"

Rinji's heart skipped a beat.

"I want to go check it out."

"…Can we go somewhere else?"