Let's do it again, Yukino.

"It's nothing. I just told her not to put so much salt in her cooking next time. Tonight's food was so salty it almost brought tears to my eyes, hahaha."

Chunri scratched her nose with her hand and couldn't help but laugh.

Xiaoxue stared blankly at his face, then nodded gently.

She tiptoed, silently extending her slender, clean fingers to touch the line of liquid beneath that cheek, then brought it to her lips and licked it with her tiny, koi-like tongue.

"Well... it is quite salty. Remember to add some sugar next time."

Xiaoxue responded gently with a faint smile.

"I'll add sugar, I definitely will... It's really too salty, and it's making me feel so uncomfortable, Xiaoxue..."

"It'll be alright, it'll be alright, Qing."

Feeling the boy's body trembling, the woman spoke gently, as if comforting a small animal.

Their hands were clasped together, their fingers intertwined, inseparable.

And so I walked silently on my way home.

Xiaoxue vaguely heard the boy's words.

"I will become the student council president, and on the day I become president, Xiaoxue, remember to come find me. I have a gift for you as your birthday present."

(P.S.: I'll share my thoughts on the day of the finale. Until then, please stop reading.)

Chapter Nine: The Melancholy of Iroha

In an election, everything is full of unknown possibilities.

However, high school student council elections are not simply filled with pledges and speeches.

The decisive factors for success are not so much related to these.

Because everyone understands that even if school system reforms are proposed, the chances of them being implemented are very low. Although many people have talked about things like wearing casual clothes to school and opening up the roof, not many people have made corresponding attempts to realize them.

Because of the absence of these individuals, student council elections were primarily conducted among students with higher prestige within the grade.

Like Hayama, like Yumiko, even like Yukino Yukinoshita.

However, they were all very clear that they didn't have the energy to serve as student council president.

Hayato Hayama is the captain of the soccer club and simply doesn't have the time to manage the student council president. Yumiko's personality also means she's not suited to be the student council president. In a sense, the position of vice president, who is better at interacting with classmates, would be more suitable for her.

However, that was a spot that Haruhi had specially reserved for her own Yuki, so how could she let Yumiko take it away first?

"The number of signatures on the register is about enough."

After nearly two or three days of preparation, and by searching through all her friends and classmates, Chunri finally managed to gather the number of people required for the list.

From Yukino-sensei at the beginning to Zaimokuza later, then to the little lion from another school, as well as his own master, and Junko from his family, he even went to find the senior manager Shin from the restaurant where he used to work, Lisa, and the Gen family couple from the pet hospital. In short, he wrote down the names of all the friends he could think of.

"There are still two or three short, roughly twenty or so if I count them?"

Sitting in her office chair, Hiratsuka Shizuka counted the few scattered names on the list and frowned.

"How about we find some classmates to fill in temporarily? No one will know anyway."

"...That would be considered cheating, wouldn't it? What if a classmate changes their mind at some point in the future? Wouldn't I be incredibly embarrassed?"

"...That's true, isn't it? You have so few friends."

"I'm really sorry that I have very few friends. And to be honest, this is already a lot. Look at Da Zhangwei's phone contacts, you can count the number of people he can contact on two hands."

"Think about it again. Which female juniors did you provoke at Zongwu High School? Try pleading with them again. Maybe you can succeed."

"I'm very devoted, okay? I've never messed with any female students. Wait, you mean female students?"

Upon hearing Hiratsuka Shizuka's reminder, Kasuga seemed to recall a certain devilish junior schoolgirl.

"I've got it! That girl, Isshiki-chan, I don't remember contacting her yet."

"You're not talking about Isshiki Iroha, are you? I heard she's been nominated by her classmates to run for student council president this year. I advise you not to rush to find her. If she catches you doing something wrong, you're finished."

"What could I possibly have against me? What a joke! Who am I? I used to be Kasuga Gian, now I'm Kasuga the model student, and I'll be the model youth in the future. What wrong thing could I possibly do? Hahaha, don't worry, I'm going to find Isshiki-chan."

My battle for student council president, Haruhi Kasugano!, has only just begun!!

If Ai weren't still in Tokyo taking care of Kaguya, perhaps Kasuga wouldn't have to work so hard; the student council's table at Shuchiin would have been enough.

Damn it, it all stemmed from the tragedy of not being able to afford the fare from Chiba to Tokyo.

……

"Hmm...you're not here? You already went home after school?"

I went to Isshiki's class, only to find that the girl was no longer in the classroom.

"According to Ayaha-chan, she's going to a restaurant with a really weird name. If you're looking for Ayaha-chan, you can go there to find her."

A junior student in the same class as Isshiki answered very enthusiastically.

Kasuga remembers this girl; she seems to have been a freshman who joined the Disciplinary Committee. He remembers that when they first met, he was kicked hard from behind by Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei because of this girl.

"I understand, thank you."

"Um, it's nothing. Goodbye, senior."

Springtime kindly thanked the girl.

A restaurant with such a strange name, besides Fengliu'an, is probably the only one like it.

"But during this period, with that little devil going to the brothel, is it true that girls' resistance to desserts is always zero?"

Springtime touches the back of his head.

……

"Oh, welcome! May I ask which number you are? — Oh, it's Haruki. I thought you were a guest."

Saki, dressed in a Furyu-an waitress uniform, stood at the entrance of the restaurant. Her service-oriented smile vanished the moment she saw Haruhi appear.

"What? If you're not a guest, just go in from the back."

"I'm not here to see you. I'm just here to eat. It's been a long time since I've patronized this restaurant. I finally have this opportunity, so I have to come. After all, I used to spend some time here, and I've developed a deep attachment to it."

Haruhi glanced around the hall for a while, and Risa was carrying a plate of snacks toward the guests' table.

"...Do you think I'm naive enough to believe what you're saying, future student council president?"

Hearing Haruhi's clumsy explanation, Kawasaki Saki couldn't help but sneer.

"Forget it, who exactly are you looking for?"

"Are you looking for Isshiki-chan? Did Isshiki come here today?"

"You mean that junior? He came over not long after school. Look, he's at the table in the corner. He's been here for a while. He ordered a cake and a drink and has been sitting there without touching anything."

Because Isshiki Iroha was a frequent visitor, Saki was very familiar with the flaxen-haired girl. When Haruhi asked about it, she pointed in a direction.

Following Saki's gaze, sure enough, the girl in the Soubu High School uniform was sitting quietly at the dining table, staring blankly at the cake on the table as if lost in thought.

When Kasuga saw the person in question, he immediately ran over, but Saki stopped him.

"Remember, you have a girlfriend, so don't go flirting with other girls."

"It's not as sordid as you think, Sashi Sashi, you can rest assured, I have important business to discuss with her."

"I don't care. I promised Yukino that I would keep an eye on you when she can't see me. If you ever go astray, I'll be the one to take the blame."

"..."

Chunri rolled her eyes and decided not to continue talking to the spy girl.

He took a few steps to the table where Iroha was sitting, patted one corner of the table, and coughed lightly twice.

"Hey, you're coming to Fengliu'an alone so late at night, can't you invite your friends? You're not Teacher Da, it wouldn't be difficult for you to invite a few girls from your class, would it?"

"Oh, it's a senior. Did you come here specifically to see me?"

Isshiki raised her delicate and pitiful face and grinned at Kasuga, who was already sitting in front of her.

"Nonsense, do you think I'm the kind of person who comes here to eat just because I have money like you? I'm here to see you, of course."

Haruhi took out the autograph book from her schoolbag and placed it in front of Isshiki.

"There are a few spots left. If you'd like, please sign your name on this."

"..."

Faced with Haruhi's request, Isshiki subconsciously shook his head, not mentioning the other person's matter, but instead took out a fashion magazine, opened it to a page, pointed to the contents, and said to Haruhi.

"Senior...don't you think the clothes in this magazine are absolutely gorgeous?"

She had a cunning smile, like a little fox.

"Ah, it looks great, but I don't really like women's clothing."

Springtime moved her autograph book closer to Issei.

Even if it's a request, you shouldn't deliberately harass your senior by dressing as a woman.

"I really like this dress, but I don't have enough money. Senior, what should I do?"

"I don't have any money either, how about learning about online nude loans or even... beep--pay?"

"!!!"

Under the table, a girl, filled with rage, kicked Haruhi's thigh. Fortunately, Haruhi dodged in time, preventing the attack from hitting a more vital organ.

"How rude of you to say such a thing to such a lovely junior! No wonder you have so few friends that you have to come to me to make up the numbers!"

"You were the one who started this mess, weren't you? If you want to buy new clothes, go find a cheap boyfriend to buy them for you. First of all, I don't have a single penny, and secondly, I'm your senior. If other people find out about this, especially that department head, I'll be exposed! You've gone too far with me, haven't you, Iroha-kun?"

"It's a pity that I was recently friend-zoned by Hayato-senpai, and no one is willing to be my ATM. Thinking about the future makes me feel quite uncertain and confused about love. I'm not like senpai who can shamelessly pester Yukinoshita-senpai forever."

She puffed out her cheeks, looking at Chunri with a hint of anger.

"Ah, I've been thinking about these things every day these past few days, and I haven't been able to study properly. No matter how I look at it, it's all the senior's fault, so I've made a decision."

"In short, they're leaving all of their future life decisions to their seniors, whether it's work or marriage, the seniors are going to take care of everything!!"

"How can you entrust everything to me? I'm just a handyman; I can't even manage my own affairs, let alone help you that much. So please, just ignore me and sign quickly. I don't care how late you stay here after you sign..."