Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e - Volume 20 - Chapter 5.1

5.1

When I stepped out into the hallway, students from Ichinose's class ran past in a panic. Some of the students from Ryūen's class were heading in the same direction. It didn't take long for me to discover the source of the commotion: a crowd had gathered in front of a classroom.

Ishizaki and Albert were forcing their way through the crowd, shouting at Ichinose to come out because Ryūen had arrived. But Shibata, who had already stepped into the hallway, stopped them.

“What's with you guys barging in like this? We're in the middle of something right now.”

“Middle of something? I don't know anything about that. Just hurry up and bring out Ichinose!”

Ryūen was standing behind them, with a smug smile on his face, giving orders to Ishizaki. However, it wouldn't be wise to make such an obvious siege. It would be easy for the school to detect their problematic behavior in the crowded hallway during lunchtime, with so many surveillance cameras around.

Could it be that those who had sensed Ryūen's actions were hiding Ichinose in the classroom?

The situation, which seemed to be frozen for a while, quickly changed. The classroom door opened and Ichinose appeared, accompanied by several girls who seemed to be advising her to stop. Furthermore, important students like Kanzaki and Hamaguchi also appeared.

“Well, well, well. Finally, you've come out. The foolish leader who quit the student council.”

Ryūen said in his usual manner.

The announcement of the new student council structure had just been released that day. The resignation of Ichinose wasn’t a surprise in itself, as it was well known to everyone.

The reason for her resignation was ostensibly to concentrate on her studies, but whether or not this was true or false was none of Ryūen's business. He came to shake her as soon as possible, thinking that he could use this situation as a weakness.

It seemed that the timing of the meeting was deliberate. They decided that it would be more effective if they could get people's attention. In fact, there were many students from other classes who heard the commotion and came to see what was going on.

Hashimoto from Class A, made eye contact with me in an obvious manner and quickly blended into the crowd of other students.

“It's getting pretty noisy, isn't it?”

Ishizaki commented on the commotion he was causing.

“Well, of course. She infiltrated the student council early on to earn good grades. It's only natural for the crowd to want to hear about the feeling of not being able to maintain even that. Don't you think so?”

“Uh-huh,” answered Ishizaki, spreading his arms lightly in response to Ryūen's voice.

“I told them I was going to concentrate on my studies.”

Ichinose, who looked a little troubled, once again explained the reason why she left the student council.

However, Ryūen didn't care what the answer was.

“You were actually kicked out, weren't you? Or maybe you were told that an incompetent person can't serve in the student council.”

“If that's the way you see it, then maybe it is.”

Ichinose, realizing that it was pointless to respond seriously, matched Ryūen's words.

“Kukuku. Or maybe your past sins are now being called into question? It wouldn't look good if the student council president was a shoplifter. I can understand the feeling of wanting to run away.”

The verbal pressure from Ryūen, who had no intention from the start to settle for sympathy, continued.

While the mention of ‘shoplifting’ might have stirred some thoughts in their minds, Ichinose seemed to have already developed a resistance to such discussions after the events with the student council. She didn't show any signs of being shaken by Ryūen's words.

“I don't know what to say, but it's not good to cause trouble for other people.” 

“Not really. A lot of people want to know, don't you think? The truth about why you quit the student council.”

Not wanting to sit idly by as a fellow classmate, Kanzaki intervened between the two.

“Cut it out, Ryūen. The reason for Ichinose's withdrawal from the student council is as announced by the student council.”

“I don't care about the ostensible reason. You must already have a lot on your mind since you quit the student council! If you lose to me in the next special exam, you're going to fall off a cliff.”

This was a typical statement made by Ryūen, who was confident that he wouldn’t lose to Ichinose.

Ichinose’s class, which was on the decline, had no chance to rise to the top.

Furthermore, the gap between Ichinose and Class A would be doubled, which would make them more desperate than ever.

Ichinose’s classmates, who didn’t feel threatened now, would start to realize this fact.

“It's too much of a hassle to bother with every single exam, so we suggest that your class forfeits.”

“Let's not make any more joking remarks. We're not going to give up on Class A. And we're working hard to make sure we don't lose this special exam too.”

“Working hard? It's true that the only thing you guys have going for you is your stupid seriousness. No wonder you can't give up hope for this special exam, which you could win if you talk with your textbooks.”

There was absolutely no way that Ichinose’s class would abandon the test just because of this altercation.

If we can just shake them up a little more, that should be enough.

According to Kanzaki and the others, a lot of sabotage against their studies had already started.

Ichinose remained silent since Kanzaki’s appearance, who interrupted.

It seemed as if he had nothing to say, but his expression didn’t show any sign of gloom.

“Ryūen-kun… have you not had enough?”

Seeing his unchanged demeanor, Ichinose smiled at Kanzaki, quieting his tense mood.

“You can say whatever you want to me, but I don't want you to interfere with the hardworking students. And think about the students who are going out to eat now.”

She warned Ryūen and the others who were standing spaciously blocking the corridor.

Whether to regard this situation as mere bluff or not was a delicate line, but Ryūen decided that it had been effective enough in increasing the interest and suspicion of those around her for leaving the student council, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

“I'm getting hungry too.”

It was only for a few minutes, but it was amazing how Ryūen’s mere appearance could cause a commotion.

Notoriety was also reputation, and its power was undeniably demonstrated among the second-year students.

When Ryūen and the others left, two-thirds of the students who had gathered scattered in one fell swoop.

Hashimoto was no longer there, and the usual calm lunch break returned. Horikita's class should now be able to eat and study in a more relaxed atmosphere.

“Oh. Ayanokōji-kun!”

Ichinose, who noticed me after the people had scattered, approached with a smile on her face.

“I'm sorry. It was my fault, wasn't it?”

“It wasn't your fault. It's just that Ryūen made a scene. Are you okay?”

“I'm fine. It's rather convenient for us.”

“That blatant provocation?”

“Ryūen-kun will continue to sabotage us until the special exam starts. That's because the advantages outweigh the disadvantages for us.”

She didn’t mind if he interfered with their studies. In fact, they seemed to want his class to interrupt them.

“Ichinose, I think it's time...”

While keeping an eye on the situation, Kanzaki spoke up with an air of reluctance, saying that he didn't have time for a long conversation.

They were probably having a lot of discussions and studying for the special exam, just like how it was in Horikita’s class.

“See you later, Ayanokōji-kun.”

Saying this, Ichinose returned to the classroom normally without any sign of agitation.

“...See you later?”

I was a little concerned about her words, but I guess the first thing to do was to return to the classroom and explain the situation to Horikita.