Uneasy daily life

"The skills I gained from being beaten up by Brother Chongyue, though I haven't used them much, are more than enough to deal with a violent teacher!"

"Ha! I'll see just how capable you are, kid!"

Seeing that the two seemed about to start a full-blown fight, Iroha couldn't help but speak up: "Stop fighting! Can you take care of my problem first?"

Bai Ying looked at her with surprise: "What's wrong with you? Just wait to be eliminated, won't you?"

Isshiki Iroha couldn't help but take a deep breath, and smiled through gritted teeth, "Is senpai really that confident? If I show my true abilities, I might have a chance too."

"She clearly doesn't want to be the student council president, thinking it's too much trouble and a hassle, but she's afraid of being gossiped about and slandered, so she's unwilling to voluntarily withdraw from the election. She wants to have the best of both worlds, but now there's this good thing that she's bound to lose the election, and she feels ashamed of losing..." Bai Ying sighed and shook her head, "Sigh, girls."

"#!"

Isshiki Hachiman snorted, "Senior, don't underestimate my connections. If I get serious..."

"Then you'll be the student council president?"

Who wants a job that's thankless, time-consuming, and exhausting?

Even so, I guess I've really been underestimated!

Iroha Isshiki let out a deep breath and forced a smile: "Senpai! How about we make a bet? If I really become the student council president..."

Bai Yinghou retorted: "Then you're just a pretentious freak."

"I'm $%@＃$!＃%——!"

Sigh, my junior's mental fortitude is too weak. How can she compete with Bai Ying on the same stage like this?

Angelina felt as if she were seeing her former self, and couldn't help but sigh.

The vice president glanced at the time: "It's about time for lunch. Is Shiki-kun, should you withdraw from the election, or continue?"

"join!"

"Well, then I wish you defeat." The vice president packed up his things and stood up, saying in a flat tone, "Everyone's busy with graduation matters lately. Since you're interested, Bai, then you can preside over the student council election..."

Bai Ying blinked and said tactfully, "Would it be inappropriate for me to be the referee? Should I just send off that pretentious junior with a red card?"

"Didn't you come here just to be a referee?"

The vice president shrugged: "I'm happy to take it easy. Good luck."

"Wait a minute!" Hiratsuka Shizuka's brow twitched. "Let this guy host the election campaign?"

"I'm also very busy and really don't want to be bothered by Bai-tongxue—besides, what Bai-tongxue wants to do probably doesn't require my special authorization."

The vice president walked out of the student council room, looking like he was leaving get off work.

……

A soprano voice came from the Department of Aid and Service.

"Huh? Running for student council president?!"

Yui Yuigahama, holding her teacup, stared wide-eyed and stammered, "X-Xue, why did you suddenly have this idea?"

“This isn’t a sudden idea; it’s something I want to do.” Yukino Yukinoshita shook her head slightly. “It’s neither a whim nor a passive choice. Yuihama’s reaction is too much.”

"but……"

But if Xiaoxue wants to become the student council president, wouldn't she have to quit the club?

Yui Yuigahama looked at the bright gaze that Yukino Yukinoshita cast at her, her voice gurgling in her throat.

This thought that popped into my head subconsciously was simply impossible to put into words...

Yui Yuigahama suddenly looked at Hachiman Hikigaya, who was dressed in his signature outfit of black tea, light novels, and daydreaming: "Hachiman! What do you think?"

"Uh..." Hachiman Hikigaya seemed to have just come to his senses, turning his head to ask, "Captain, what do you think... Huh? Where's the captain?"

"They're probably busy looking for interesting things to do."

Yukino Yukinoshita guessed, then took out a pen and paper, seemingly writing a plan: "Do you have any ideas for running for student council president?"

Yui Yuigahama said dryly, "Uh... I've never thought about that kind of thing... What about Hachiman?"

"This..." Hachiman Hikigaya said subconsciously, "Making false promises and empty promises, using others' power to inflate their own prestige. Secretly framing and eliminating powerful enemies, using personal connections to offer up family wealth..."

Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama, with indifferent gazes, continued to lower the volume of Hachiman Hikigaya's voice.

"Ahem, these are all things I saw in TV dramas. The words weren't my own; they were things the minister was yelling at me before you arrived."

Hachiman Hikigaya first distanced himself from the matter, then said, "Whether the election is successful or not depends on who the opponent is, right? If Hayato Hayama runs, it will be very difficult for Yukinoshita to win..."

“It’s impossible for Hayama-kun to run for student council president.” Yukino Yukinoshita analyzed meaningfully, “He values ​​his social circle and is used to his identity as the captain of the soccer club and the popular Hayama Hayato. He has no intention of stepping out of his comfort zone, so naturally he will not run for election.”

"..."

Yui Yuigahama felt like she had been called.

Hachiman Hikigaya curled his lip: "Binding others while binding oneself, turning initial sincerity into hypocritical persistence, it's truly a torturous and twisted relationship..."

“It’s just a different choice.” Yukino Yukinoshita shook her head slightly. “What Hikigaya-kun sees as stubborn pretense, but the person in question probably enjoys it and doesn’t feel much restriction or constraint… Hayama-kun values ​​his relationships with his friends and wants to spend his three years of high school with them, so naturally he wouldn’t think about becoming the student council president.”

"Only by binding oneself can one bind others; the price of freedom is unfreedom. Therefore, the relationship between people is inherently distorted."

Yukino Yukinoshita sighed softly to herself.

It seems that Hachiman and Yui haven't regained their memories... Azusagawa Kaede and Azusagawa Sakuta were both involved, and perhaps there's also Makinohara Shoko, who's somewhere unknown. They might be able to remember what happened, but there's nothing that can be done about Hachiman and Yui.

Originally, the request to heal Azusagawa Kaede was supposed to deepen their understanding of each other and allow them to open their hearts to each other under certain circumstances... but time went backwards, and the situation returned to square one.

Yuihama secretly harbors a crush on him, while Hikigaya goes along with it, feigning ignorance.

This time, I'll seize the opportunity to break the status quo myself.

Yukino Yukinoshita said, "I plan to go into politics in the future, and this student council president election is a great opportunity."

"..." Yui Yuigahama began with difficulty, "What about the club..."

Yukino Yukinoshita watched her quietly. Yuigahama Yui couldn't continue speaking for a moment. Yukino was serious about doing this... Should she stop Yukino just because she didn't want the club to end? Wouldn't that be just like her classmates in junior high?

No, I am not the same as Xiaoxue. I am just trying to meet my parents' expectations, while Xiaoxue is someone I made my own choice.

"Cough cough."

Hachiman Hikigaya coughed lightly, breaking the somewhat quiet and stiff atmosphere. He joked, "At a time like this, a department head should jump out and say, 'Trying to run away? You're mine alive or dead, hahaha...'"

What do you mean by "his person"?

Yukino Yukinoshita was suddenly reminded of what happened last night. She was in a daze and was bullied in various ways. She could only be led by the nose and let him do whatever he wanted to her. In every sense, she was his person...

"Hikiya-kun, stop spouting nonsense like Shiro-kun." Yukino Yukinoshita smiled slightly, her lips pursed. "You might get wiped out someday."

There was a murderous aura—perhaps the minister had offended Yukino and he had inadvertently stepped on a landmine?

Just as Hachiman Hikigaya was about to change the subject, there was a knock on the door.

"Please come in."

The door to the activity room opened, and Chitanda Eru and Oreki Houtarou walked in.

"Huh? Uncle Bai isn't here?"

Chitanda Eru looked around, a little disappointed.

"He'll come back once he's derived enough pleasure from other people's annoyance and expended some of his energy."

Yukino Yukinoshita asked, "Chitanda-san, do you have any requests?"

Chitanda Eru skillfully found a chair and sat down, frowning as she asked seriously, "How can I become the student council president?"

"Huh?" Yui Yuigahama, who was lost in thought, was stunned. "You want to be the student council president?"

Chitanda Eru: "Mmm."

Hachiman Hikigaya said in a strange tone, "Uh... this kind of request is probably a bit troublesome..."

Yukino Yukinoshita sized her up and asked, "Why do you want to be the student council president?"

“I want to practice how to do things,” Chitanda Eru said softly. “I plan to return to Jinde in the future, and if I want to lead everyone in building Jinde, I definitely need to figure out how to work together with others. In junior high, I volunteered to be in charge of many activities, but I was reckless and thoughtless, which caused a lot of trouble. Oreki helped clean up the mess many times, but I can’t always rely on Oreki…”

Houtarou Oreki looked around, thankfully the white figure wasn't there, otherwise he would have jumped out and shouted "Kill the traitor!"

"I've done quite a few things, including helping everyone plan school trips, serving as an executive committee member at the sports festival, and performing on stage at the cultural festival. I have some experience."

Chitanda Eru counted off as if she knew them by heart, and said seriously, "It just so happens that the student council is having a change of leadership, so I want to be bold and run for student council president directly."

Yui Yuigahama was a little conflicted, and subconsciously looked at Yukino Yukinoshita. If she were to help Chitanda run for student council president, Yukino...

“I’m sorry, I can’t accept this request,” Yukino Yukinoshita said bluntly. “I’m planning to run for student council president, so we’ll be rivals.”

"Huh? Yukinoshita-san is running for election too?"

Chitanda Eru was taken aback, then nodded repeatedly: "Then let's do our best together!"

There's no such thing as cheering each other on in something like this! Chitanda-san, could you stay any longer?

Yui Yuigahama internally grumbled, a sense of melancholy creeping over her. Compared to the club's request, Yuki had chosen to run for student council president… This was the Yuki she knew and admired—resolute, decisive, and efficient…

"Yukinoshita-san, do you know how to run for student council president?"

Chitanda Eru asked the question as she went along.

The group was taken aback. What kind of question was this?

“Chitanda didn’t come to ask for help,” Houtarou Oreki explained. “She wants to ask Shirayaki about the requirements and procedures for running for student council president, whether there are any things she should pay attention to, and what she needs to do if she wants to run…”

Yui Yuigahama asked in surprise, "Didn't you ask us for help with your election campaign?"

“Hmm… In that case, even if I succeed in becoming student council president, I don’t know if I’m capable enough,” Chitanda Eru said seriously. “Since I want to run for president, I have to work hard myself. More than the result of becoming student council president, I want the results of becoming student council president. This is something that can’t be delegated.”

The girl's words were clear, firm, and resounding.

"So how do I register? By talking to a teacher? Or by contacting the student council?"

Chitanda Eru asked with a face full of curiosity and excitement.

Houtarou Oreki coughed and offered an explanation on her behalf: "After she heard about this, she rushed over to inquire about it."

“You can find the rules and regulations on the forum,” Yukino Yukinoshita said carefully. “The requirements for running for student council president are that you need at least thirty nominations, which you need to gather yourself. During the election, you need to think about what to do to gain more support. This could be giving a speech or presenting your ideas and concepts to get more votes. Ultimately, your success in the election will be determined by the number of votes you receive.”

"Feeling lost right now? Think carefully. You can list out everything you've done, whether it's school trips, sports festivals, or cultural festivals—you'll have a corresponding resume. This will give classmates who don't know you a direct understanding of you. You also need to understand the student council president's job and responsibilities, and within that scope, propose your ideas—for example, what activities you plan to organize, or how to persuade some classmates to vote for you..."

Isn't this aiding the enemy? Given Yukino's personality, it's normal for her to talk about the election process and precautions, but giving advice and tips to the other side seems like she's talking too much.

Hachiman Hikigaya took a closer look and began to doubt whether he had misjudged the situation.

Damn it.

Why does it feel like the minister is looking at Chitanda Eru?

A strange kind of kindness...

Didn't Yukinoshita subconsciously guard against Chitanda before?

Chapter Six: Various Lords

The rooftop has always been a place for discussing and conducting business, and it's also full of stories.

White Shadow was invited to lunch by Mai Sakurajima, and she also brought along Angelina, who had brought her own bento box.

“Summer vacation is over. I could have taken a break from work and made time for other things…” Mai Sakurajima took a bite of her food and sighed, “Unfortunately, I’m about to graduate from high school. I already have to worry about my studies, and now that the hater has shared such a high-quality performance, I’m busy with work as well.”

Bai Ying ate a fried meatball and sighed in a desolate voice, "Busy, it's good to be busy."

Mai Sakurajima rolled her eyes in annoyance: "Isn't Hater-kun being a bit too carefree? Whether as the male lead or the screenwriter, Hater-kun is a fairly well-known figure in the entertainment industry, yet he doesn't take any gigs or appear on shows, and spends all his time arguing with netizens online..."

“I call myself a self-employed individual,” Bai Ying declared confidently. “Creative work requires inspiration; with inspiration, there are works, without inspiration, there are no works! What’s the point of going on TV shows and doing promotional appearances? To perform a ‘How would you evaluate Mai Sakurajima?’”

Sakurajima Mai's eyes twitched. She picked up a piece of fried chicken from her lunchbox and poked the white figure with her finger: "What else do you want to say?"

Click, click, click!

"good to eat!"

Bai Ying licked the crumbs of his mask from the corner of his mouth: "Someone has found you, hoping to find me through you?"

"The director of 'Ninefolds' was my mentor in my first television drama, giving my career a great start," Mai Sakurajima said briefly. "He wanted to help his son, who was also in the entertainment industry, so he contacted me, hoping I would contact you..."

Angelina ate her melon, her expression turning strange. Oh... is this what human relationships are like?

Bai Ying placed a piece of onion into Sakurajima Mai's lunchbox, and shouted with a cynical expression, "A director's son is a director, a general's son is a general, a politician's son is a politician—can this society ever get any better?"

Mai Sakurajima glanced sideways and put the onion back in the bowl: "The director hopes you can refuse his son."