"Good morning, everyone."
Ichinose walked onto the speaker's podium with a smile full of energy.
"Many people probably know me, but please allow me to introduce myself; I am Ichinose Honami from Class 2-B."
"In the past, the Student Council President has mostly been held by people from Class A; someone might question whether a person from Class B has the ability to handle this position."
"Although I have experience serving as a Student Council President in middle school, everyone is also aware that Advanced Nurturing has significant differences from ordinary schools."
"I also lack confidence and am not certain whether I can handle the position of Student Council President; moreover, I believe everyone has heard some rumors about me."
"Logically speaking."
"A person like me should not be qualified to become Student Council President, right?"
"..."
Hikigaya's pupils contracted greatly; he was completely dumbfounded.
Ichinose actually changed his speech draft!
The rumors were nothing more than her and Himeno Yuki and others dating him at the same time.
Such character becoming Student Council President?
Would it be accepted by others?
Probably most people would find it hard to accept.
However.
Choosing the best among the mediocre.
At least Ichinose was stronger than Horikita Suzune; Hikigaya was also very confident in his speech draft, so surpassing Yagami Takuya was certainly not a problem.
Moreover.
He had also persuaded Katsuragi and Ishigami Kyo from Class A and sent messages to Kiriyama and others.
As long as they didn't speak.
Ichinose becoming Student Council President was eighty percent a sure thing.
Knowing Ichinose and others were dating Hikigaya at the same time, we weren't going to say anything, yet you deliberately brought it up yourself.
What does that mean?
Wasn't that just like provoking others?
Hikigaya felt he had considered things as thoroughly as possible; he didn't expect Ichinose to actually take the liberty of changing his speech draft...
However.
There was nothing he could do now; he could only continue to watch Ichinose's performance.
On the other side.
Sakayanagi Arisu sat at the edge of the gymnasium.
Well, she could sit.
Sakayanagi Arisu furrowed her delicate brows and similarly looked at Hikigaya with a hint of surprise, but seeing Hikigaya's shocked expression.
She instantly understood that this was clearly Ichinose's own judgment.
Damn it.
Isn't this just causing trouble for Hikigaya?
She originally thought Ichinose was the person most loyal to Hikigaya; she didn't expect it would turn out like this.
"However."
On the stage, Ichinose continued her performance, smiling:
"Although I lack confidence in myself and am not sure if I can handle the duties of Student Council President, there is someone I can trust."
"If I can become Student Council President, I will arrange for Hikigaya to serve in the position of Student Council Vice President."
As for Hikigaya's big name.
Although it was a bad reputation, it was already known throughout the school.
"Everyone may have some misunderstandings about Hikigaya."
Feeling the complex gazes from below the stage, Ichinose took a deep breath and said:
"Everyone should have heard that Hikigaya coerced girls in middle school; that is false. In fact, it was me; I once had an experience of shoplifting..."
On the stage.
Standing before the entire school.
Ichinose's voice trembled slightly as she spoke of her past once again.
Although Hikigaya didn't notice, Ichinose had been working hard behind the scenes to restore Hikigaya's reputation.
The misunderstanding had to be cleared.
Hikigaya had been silently contributing for them, which Ichinose had always seen; how could she possibly accept it so frankly?
This stage.
Was the best opportunity.
Although two-timing was a fact, that was also an unavoidable matter.
Until now.
Whether it was her companions or Hikigaya, Ichinose still wanted both.
Ichinose was very clear.
This was indeed very cunning.
Since she was cunning, she would frankly accept the cunning side of herself, but the misunderstanding must be cleared.
Speak the truth.
As for whether everyone could accept it, Ichinose was not sure; at least she could do so with a clear conscience.
No matter what the result.
She could face it properly.
Most importantly, she had confidence in Hikigaya's speech draft.
"Clap clap clap."
Below the stage.
A thunderous roar of applause rang out.
It was precisely Amikura mako and others from Class B; Kobashi Yume and others were clapping while looking at Ichinose on stage with smiles.
Sure enough, Ichinose was very cool.
However.
People from other classes were certainly clapping along with the flow, but their gazes toward Ichinose were somewhat complex.
Ichinose was indeed a gentle and kind girl.
Being able to selflessly help others like this.
How many people could do it?
The matter of shoplifting didn't sound like a big problem either.
Even taking a step back.
Even if Hikigaya didn't bully girls in middle school, the fact of two-timing was still true, right?
This sounds like.
Isn't it just shameless?
Truly incomprehensible.
Why Ichinose would say such things in this kind of setting; it provided no benefit at all and would only lower her own evaluation.
Sure enough.
Birds of a feather flock together; she was a lunatic just like Hikigaya.
Horikita Suzune's brow was tightly knit, and Ayanokouji was similarly puzzled, unable to fathom what these people intended to do.
After all.
Ichinose merely wanted to clear the misunderstanding for Hikigaya because of a promise; it was normal not to understand.
"What does Ichinose want to do?"
"Is there something wrong with her brain?"
In Class 2-D.
Ike Kanji and others kept their voices low.
Although they also didn't think Ichinose's dark history of shoplifting was a big deal—it couldn't even be considered a dark history.
Admitting one's own flaws was a difficult thing.
Before the entire school.
Telling her own dark history just to help Hikigaya clear an insignificant misunderstanding.
Was she a lunatic?
Did she really think that by doing this.
She could change their view of Hikigaya?
Clearly, it was impossible.
On the other side.
Feeling the envious gazes of the Class B classmates, as if saying it was so good to have such a girlfriend.
Hikigaya's heart immediately became more complex.
Ichinose actually remembered such a thing and was actually considering him.
But.
He was already like this.
Clearing an insignificant little misunderstanding.
What meaning did it have?
Outsiders' views of him would not change in the slightest.
More importantly.
Hikigaya was originally very confident in his speech draft.
Now he wasn't sure.
Perhaps Ichinose's frankness would allow her to get more votes, or perhaps they would think she was shameless and vote for someone else.
Hm?
Hikigaya turned his head and glanced at Nanase Tsubasa and others in the first year.
Originally, even without saying anything.
Nanase Tsubasa and others would likely vote for Ichinose.
Perhaps.
This was Ichinose's purpose in asking Nanase Tsubasa and others for help?
Now.
Hikigaya also could not judge the direction of things.
Forget it, forget it.
Eight or nine out of ten things in life do not go as one wishes.
It was impossible for everything to go as he expected.
If Ichinose could not become Student Council President, he could only think of other ways.