The Student Council of Shuchiin Academy wasn't like those in ordinary high schools that closed during holidays. As a top-tier institution with many commercial ties to the outside world, the Student Council was essentially always open.
However, while usually only the treasurer would be present, the entire Student Council had gathered this time. The atmosphere, however, was far from cheerful.
"Sigh... is Yuu-senpai back just because of this?"
With his legs propped up on the coffee table, Ishigami Yuu didn't stop playing his game, but his eyes couldn't help but peek cautiously at Kaguya-senpai, who was dressed in casual wear.
The white dress and light makeup were a version of her he had never seen before. He had no ulterior motives, of course; he was just practicing the necessary awareness of his surroundings for personal survival.
After all, any abnormality in Kaguya-senpai was directly linked to his life. He didn't want to receive a death threat over a couple of coupons again!
"This kind of situation is really hard to handle. Since no physical contact has happened yet, it might be difficult to resolve..."
"How can you say that!"
Slam! Iino Miko threw the documents onto the table, her face flushed with anger. As a member of the Public Morals Committee, she would never allow such things to happen openly on campus!
Are the Student Councils over there all dead? If their Morals Committee is useless, replace them immediately! And what was with Ishigami's lax attitude!
"And Ishigami-kun, please do not put your feet on the coffee table in the Student Council room!!!"
"Are you just venting your 'powerless rage' on me? So mean..."
"I am not venting!"
"Sorry for the intrusion. Ah~ Ishigami, you're here too?"
The moment he entered, Miyazawa Yuu saw Ishigami with his signature dead-fish eyes being pummeled by a girl's small fists. Such close behavior between a boy and a girl usually meant...
"Is she your girlfriend? You high schoolers are quite open nowadays~"
"WRONG!!!"
Frozen mid-action, Iino Miko suddenly let out a sharp, high-pitched scream and whipped around to glare at the person who had made such an impolite comment.
What is with this guy?! Is he as senile as the principal?!
"Eh? No?"
Instantly faced with an angry glare, Miyazawa Yuu held his hands up to maintain a safe distance. His face was filled with massive confusion. If they weren't a couple, why were they so close? Are they arch-nemeses?
The girl before him, though possessing long black hair, was unexpectedly serious. Judging by her uniform and Morals Committee armband even on a holiday, she seemed like a good kid!
"Regardless, Ishigami, she seems like a good kid!"
"Even if you say that... I'm sorry! My attitude toward you was terrible. I am Iino Miko, a member of the Public Morals Committee of Shuchiin Academy."
Facing him directly, Iino Miko realized belatedly what a massive "beast" she was bristling at. But since he called her a good kid, he seemed like a good person!
Her attitude softened immediately. She bowed politely, then tilted her head up slightly to confirm, saying seriously: "You must be Miss Busujima's... father, right? Please look after me!"
"Ha?"
Having not said a word since entering and suddenly being dropped down a generation, Busujima Sakurako—who had been mouth-agape, immersed in the luxury of the noble academy—felt her temper flare instantly!
She was the "bad woman" who intended to hold Miyazawa Yuu in the palm of her hand, body and soul. How could she stomach this unearned humiliation!
"I say... mmm-mmm-mmm!"
"Ah~ say more. I really love hearing that!"
Her words were cut off halfway as the bastard covered her mouth. Busujima Sakurako glared at the smug Yuu and bit down hard on his hand. Only when the pressure relaxed did she use her tongue to push his hand away.
"Pah! Yuu, you'll take even this kind of petty advantage?"
"Ma~ ma~ doesn't this make you look younger, Miss Busujima? But can I call you Miko-chan? Actually, I'm just a university freshman!"
"Eh? I'm so sorry!"
Truly a good kid. Realizing she had misspoken, Miko-chan immediately fell into the classic two-hit combo of panicked apologies and bows.
Miyazawa Yuu waved his hand dismissively as he walked past her, offering comfort: "It's fine~ at least on my end."
"You can say that, but I'm actually curious how the security let you in looking like that..."
Seeing his Morals Committee member on the verge of a breakdown, Shirogane Miyuki quickly intervened to smooth things over and redirect attention, saving Miko's CPU from an embarrassed explosion.
Sensing Shirogane's intent, Miyazawa Yuu cooperatively patted Miko's shoulder and stepped toward his old acquaintances.
"Thanks a lot. You all came just to help me. And who is this?"
"Yes! I am the Student Council Secretary, Fujiwara Chika! Please look after me!"
Fujiwara Chika had been hiding in a corner. When mentioned by Yuu, she shuddered and rubbed the back of her head, running over with an extremely sycophantic smile, looking as if she had done something wrong.
Seeing this, Shinomiya Kaguya sighed and looked away. She had encountered this kind of situation many times before.
"Mhm, glad to meet you. If you ever want to go diving, you can give me a call."
Though they hadn't met before, since she was part of the Student Council, she was a friend by extension. Miyazawa Yuu naturally gave his most sincere greeting—promoting his business.
However, his enthusiasm didn't put the eccentric girl at ease. Instead, she became more panicked, unable to even maintain a normal expression!
"Ye... yes! When I have time, I'll definitely mobilize my whole family to visit!"
"The whole family isn't really necessary... So, Miyuki? You found them?"
"Yes, but I'll let Ishigami explain the specifics to you..."
After Fujiwara's display, Shirogane Miyuki also felt inexplicably guilty. His gaze drifted, instinctively landing on Kaguya, only to find her excessively calm.
The latter noticed his gaze and smiled, taking a step forward to shield him.
"..."
Looking at the hand extended toward him, Shirogane Miyuki struggled for two seconds before shaking it.
"In that case, I will explain on his behalf. Busujima Kyoko, seventeen years old, high school senior. Because her father is unemployed, she has been a pariah at school..."
Ishigami Yuu was also very calm. Unlike Kaguya's superhuman psychological resilience, he simply understood Yuu's personality and wasn't afraid of him getting angry over a slip of the tongue.
However, when he mentioned the father's unemployment, he noticed a subconscious twitch in the other Busujima's mouth, so he paused for a moment.
"I'm fine... please continue."
"No problem, Busujima-senpai. The matter wasn't hard to investigate. I hacked into the school's private forum and found that quite a few people are dissatisfied with why a 'commoner' is sitting with them..."
He pushed the documents Miko had slammed onto the table earlier toward Yuu. Rather than words, Ishigami preferred using data and screenshots to explain things.
Picking up the documents and flipping through a few pages, Miyazawa Yuu's expression went from calm to a slight frown. Likely because the space was private, many of the comments were truly foul.
The situation was simple. It's like how a bottom-tier office worker might think the big boss is kind, while their immediate supervisor is incredibly harsh.
The closer people are in hierarchy, the more dissatisfaction and mental extraction they tend to direct at the "lower class" just one step below them...
The situation was similar to: "Her perfume smells bad," which then evolved into: "We all ostracize her, so we're all good friends."
"...Fujiwara Hiromi? So they really intend to use dodgeball to force Kyoko out of school?!"
"At least according to the chat logs... that is the case."
The atmosphere, which had lightened slightly with Yuu's arrival, stiffened again. Busujima Sakurako remained calm; after all, these were just "scraps" she herself used to play with. Beyond anger, she didn't have many other emotions!
"Constantly bragging about being from a political family, claiming no one from a small place can touch her?"
"Yes! I am very sorry! We didn't know she would do such a thing!"
"Sigh..."
Looking at the girl who had voluntarily performed a dogeza and was tearfully apologizing, Miyazawa Yuu asked tentatively and awkwardly: "Biological sister?"
"No! She's an extremely distant cousin-cousin-cousin-sister I don't think I've ever even met?!"
Though the relationship was indeed incredibly distant, Fujiwara Chika, adhering to the simplest philosophy of interpersonal relations, still felt she bore an inescapable responsibility for this!
There was no helping it; her overly naive personality made it hard for her to distance herself from bad things happening around her.
"Then that's that. I thought you guys had done something, you got so tense~"
He breathed a sigh of relief. If it were a close relative of a friend who had done this, it would be hard for him to take a heavy hand. Shirogane and Fujiwara's nervousness had been truly intimidating.
But if it was a distant relative, what did it matter? If you go back three generations, who doesn't have a few distant relatives who ended up being the talk of the family?
This was perfectly normal and nothing to be ashamed of!
"Don't worry, we aren't the type of bad people who just take our anger out on anyone, right, Busujima?"
"Mhm!"
Sakurako's expression relaxed instantly. She had thought the culprit was right in front of her, but it turned out to be just an overly naive and kind young girl.
Honestly, it was a good thing they braked in time. Otherwise, if she bullied such an innocent girl, she'd probably wake up in the middle of the night and slap herself twice in reflection!
Nearly catching an ally in the crossfire—this grudge would have to be settled with that Hiromi person!
"Alright, Chika, would you mind leading the way?"
"No problem! Please leave it to me!"
A good person! He isn't holding me responsible!
Her tiny, naive brain didn't even process the fact that she had never been at fault in the first place. Fujiwara Chika's eyes grew serious as she snapped to attention and saluted, promising to complete the mission!