Chapter 2: The Villainous Glasses Guy and the Charismatic Light Girl

 

“President, are you okay?”

Looking up, Uzuki was frowning down at me.

Glancing around, I noticed classmates chatting or packing up, realizing it was after school.

“I called out to you a few times, but you didn’t respond…”

“Sorry, I was spacing out.”

“It’s not just now, you know. You’ve been like that all morning.”

Come to think of it, today seemed to pass by unusually fast. I had to think for a moment to recall what I ate for lunch.

Showing such a state would naturally make even Uzuki worry.

“Is something troubling you? I’m here to listen if you’d like.”

As Uzuki said this, a group of female classmates began to surround her. Two of them hugged her shoulders from either side, grinning as they patted her head.

“Vice-President Nakau-chan’s hospitality is top-notch, isn’t it?”

“Why don’t you two just admit you’re dating already?”

“Wha!?”

Uzuki’s face turned bright red in an instant, and she jumped about ten centimeters off the ground.

“Don’t say silly things! It’s not like that! It’s just that the President’s been out of it since morning—”

“Araasu? What’s araasu?”

“I’m kinda dumb, so I don’t get it, but is it like an alliance or something?”

“So, like, his heart’s in an alliance? What does that even mean?”

“It’s ‘heart not here’! I just tripped over my words, okay? Sorry!”

[T/N: Uzuki meant to say 在らず (Arazu) which means ‘not existing,’ or ‘absence’]

“That’s a pretty unique way to mess up.”

Despite Uzuki’s refined appearance and presumably good upbringing, she always responds in full when teased, which is why she often gets played with like this.

“Is that true, President? You’re all araasu today?”

“I didn’t notice, but… what’s up, Higashiguchi?”

“Well…”

Caught off guard, I found myself at a loss for words. The girls in class didn’t miss their chance.

“He’s totally araasu! Look at him, he’s in full araasu mode!”

“Stop it! Don’t make araasu a trend!”

With that, the girls’ teasing shifted from Uzuki to me.

“Even Higashiguchi, who usually slips out of any trouble smoothly, is visibly shaken. Something definitely happened!”

“Hey, what’s up, President? What’re you hiding?”

“Is it a girl? Oi, Glasses, you getting cozy behind our backs, Glasses?”

The girls cornered me toward the window with relentless momentum. The speed at which they band together when their curiosity aligns is so typically girlish.

“I’m staying silent.”

“No right to remain silent here. And no escape either.”

“We’re not exactly big on human rights.”

“You’re the worst!”

Hoping for some camaraderie in a moment like this, I shot a pleading look at the guys who’d been on the sidelines. But they just glanced at me, threw out some bad acting like, “Guess it’s time for club activities,” and left the classroom. Got it. There’s no justice in this room.

“Hey, who’s the girl?”

“If you don’t spill, your nickname’s gonna be ‘Backroom Deal Glasses’ for life.”

“I-Is that true, President…? You’re getting cozy behind our backs…!?”

Don’t believe them, Uzuki.

The reason for my araasu state is, indeed, a girl. But not the kind these girls are imagining. And it’s definitely not something I can talk about in this situation.

Because even I still haven’t fully processed what’s going on.

So, I’ll have to use my trump card to dodge this.

“A girl… yeah, sure, it’s a girl…”

Pushed against the cold window, I muttered as if giving in. The girls erupted in excitement.

“For real!? Spring’s finally here!? Glasses’ spring!?”

“That’s great… Higashiguchi-kun, who’s been called Villainous Glasses ever since joining the student council, finally has his spring…”

Some were shocked, others teary-eyed. To think a single rumor of romance could cause such a stir—am I some kind of lucky guy? As if.

“Yesterday, I got this.”

With that, I held out an envelope addressed to ‘President Higashiguchi.’

“What, what!? A love letter!?”

“Pretty old-school! Can we read it!?”

I nodded, and the girls pulled out a folded piece of paper from the envelope and opened it. Uzuki was hopping behind them, trying to catch a glimpse.

And what was written there was…

‘Know your place. And know shame.’

Written in bold, thick brushstrokes. The girls gasped. Somewhere, a sound like “Hiss…” came, as if a chill had passed through someone’s throat.

And inside the envelope was another item: the photo of me and Uzuki from that Nakayoshi Newspaper article.

My face was scribbled over in bright red marker, completely defaced.

“Th-this is…?”

“Yesterday after school, I came back to the classroom for something I forgot, and it was in my desk.”

“This is definitely the work of one of Uzuki’s radical fans…”

“Huh!?”

The playful atmosphere flipped in an instant, and the girls turned pitying eyes on me. Uzuki alone looked flustered, as if this was news to her.

I don’t know how much she’s aware of, but Uzuki is actually quite popular among the students.

Like Nishimaru, she’s in a prominent position, and with her cute appearance and refined aura, her fanbase has been growing since becoming vice-president. Some say she surpasses Nishimaru in male popularity.

She’s practically an idol, which means she has some weird fans too.

And that’s exactly why the gazes directed at me, always by Uzuki’s side, are filled with all sorts of emotions. Broadly speaking, they fall into the same category as ‘murderous intent.’

At the very least, my classmates know this. That’s why the girls now showed sympathy, patting my shoulder.

“…Sorry, President.”

“This would definitely put anyone in an araasu state.”

“It’ll… be okay, you know.”

“Thanks. I’m hoping so.”

Uzuki alone seemed unsure of what to say, ultimately letting out a strange “Fuhe…” and giving a wry smile.

By the way, a kid from a shrine family took this cursed object, saying, “I’ll burn it with the dolls at the shrine.”

So, I ended up dragging the class girls into this little farce, but honestly, it’s a lie.

Well, the cursed object being delivered is true. Stuff like this comes all the time, so I can’t let it get to me every time.

The real reason for my araasu state isn’t the cursed object.

Needless to say, it’s Nishimaru Nanna’s bizarre behavior yesterday.

‘Are you dating the vice-president?’

She came to the old school building’s study room and started a written conversation with that question.

Then, just when I thought she’d left, she hit me with another weird one: ‘By the way, are you dating anyone?’ I denied that too, and she promptly left the study room.

What was she even trying to do? What was her goal?

The representative of the club alliance, practically the student council’s archenemy, went out of her way to barge into the student council president’s study room. Of course I’d be on guard.

But what actually happened was, in summary, a chat about romance. Talk about anticlimactic.

I’ve been racking my brain since yesterday—on my way home, this morning at school, even during class—trying to figure out Nishimaru’s intentions.

Overthinking led my mind to some wild guesses. Recalling yesterday’s written exchange, setting aside our roles as student council president and club alliance representative, I thought it over again.

‘Are you dating the vice-president?’

‘Did you go on a glasses shop date?’

‘Do you often go out together?’

‘You’re not dating Nakau-chan?’

‘Really?’

‘You’re not lying?’

And those flushed ears. It’s almost like… she’s into me.

“No, no, no!”

In the old school building’s study room, I shouted my self-questioning answer aloud, taking advantage of being alone.

No student council duties after school today. So I’d headed straight to my sanctuary, the study room.

“What am I even thinking…”

The idea that Nishimaru has a thing for me? Thinking that up means I’ve lost it.

Or maybe that’s her plan. Is she trying to win me over by getting close? Could it be—a honey trap?

As mentioned, purely based on looks, Nishimaru Nanna is definitely a beauty. Not quite on Uzuki’s level, but she’s got plenty of fans of the opposite sex.

With her small face and delicate frame, she’s got great proportions. Fair skin, cool features, clear eyes. An alluring, unique vibe.

Is she using her looks to seduce me and bring down the student council from within?

Nishimaru, what a terrifying woman.

“No, no, stop. Let’s switch gears.”

I realized my thoughts were veering off into crazy territory again.

Anyway, let’s forget yesterday. This is my precious study room mental recharge time. Nishimaru ruined it yesterday, so today, I’m healing my soul.

Just as I opened my half-read book, it happened.

“…No way.”

Footsteps echoed from the hallway. The sound was exactly the same as yesterday’s.

The door opened with a click, and I looked over.

Nishimaru Nanna walked into the study room like it was nothing and, naturally, sat next to me.

“…………”

I could hear the sound of textbooks and notebooks being flipped through, the scratch of a mechanical pencil. She seemed to be studying normally today.

If that’s the case, no problem, right? Except I’m not laid-back enough to think that.

‘What’s your goal?’

I wrote this on a sheet of loose-leaf and initiated a written conversation with the person next to me.

As if she’d expected the question, her reply came immediately.

‘Studying. This is a study room, isn’t it?’

I can practically see her smug face. Sure, but that’s not what I mean.

‘Why this study room?’

‘It’s a nice study room, right?’

‘What’s nice about it? It’s dusty and drafty.’

‘Because you’re here, Higashiguchi-kun.’

“……”

No, no, don’t get flustered, me.

‘Why sit next to me?’

‘Why do you think?’

‘Because you knew I’d be here and you’re planning something.’

‘You’re too paranoid. Did you get a threatening letter from one of Nakau-chan’s radical fans or something?’

I did. Just as you guessed.

This conversation’s going nowhere. So I gave up pursuing it and asked one last thing.

‘You really just came here to study?’

‘It’s a good environment for studying with few people around. That’s all.’

‘Someone who cares about how many people are around wouldn’t sit right next to someone else.’

‘∑q(’□’)’ (a shocked emoticon.)

What’s with that emoji? Why’s she writing emojis in a written conversation?

I let out a small sigh, folded the loose-leaf with a rustle to signal the end of the exchange.

Nishimaru’s presence is distracting. It’s distracting enough to make me want to scream.

But she’s got logic on her side. Where someone chooses to study is their business. I can’t exactly tell her otherwise.

So I opened my paperback again.

If she tries to start another weird written conversation like yesterday, I’m not engaging. I’ll crumple up her paper and toss it.

If she thinks she can disturb my peace, let her try.

Over two hours had passed since Nishimaru came to the study room.

“…………”

“…………”

Surprisingly, there’s been no interference from Nishimaru.

Since our written exchange ended, all I’ve heard is the sound of her pencil on her notebook. She’s actually studying quietly.

Though I was on guard at first, I soon got used to the situation.

I immersed myself in my book for about an hour, then worked on homework and review.

It was the ideal study room session.

When Nishimaru showed up again after yesterday, I’d been wondering where to find a new sanctuary starting tomorrow. But if she keeps this up, I don’t need to change spots.

Having enjoyed my alone time to the fullest, I started packing up my notebook and pencil, ready to head home.

Whether she sensed I was leaving or not, Nishimaru made her move.

Of course today wouldn’t end without something happening.

With just the student council president and the club alliance representative alone in a closed space, something was bound to happen.

And what Nishimaru pulled was—

‘I’m Nishimaru Nanna. Got any questions?’

It’s like she’s soliciting anonymous Q&A submissions.

Staring at the sentence written on the loose-leaf, I pondered.

I don’t know her motive, and I could ignore it, but as student council president, I’ve got tons of questions for the club alliance representative. So I decided to play along.

‘What’s the club alliance’s stance on the issue of commuting manners?’

I wrote this and passed it to the seat next to me.

It’s a tricky question, but the sound of her pencil was light and breezy.

And in about ten seconds, her reply came back.

‘Questions are limited to personal ones.’

That’s the opposite of how it usually works.

Why is she actively seeking personal questions? She’s just an attention-seeker, isn’t she?

‘Then I’ve got none.’

I replied curtly and resumed packing.

But during that time, I could hear furious scribbling from the seat next to me.

It was almost scary how frantic it sounded, but ignoring her and leaving after she went to such effort felt a bit harsh, so I waited a little.

And what was written on the loose-leaf she handed back was:

‘(Examples) What’s Nanna-chan’s favorite food?

What’s Nanna-chan’s dream for the future?

What’s a secret Nanna-chan hasn’t told anyone?’

She listed example questions.

I don’t need your consideration, thanks.

Her relentless, annoying persistence is making my intense caution seem foolish. What is she even thinking?

Could it be she just… wants to get closer?

No, that must be her goal—to make me let my guard down. That’s got to be it.

Don’t fall for it, me.

‘What’s your favorite food?’

That aside, since she went to the trouble of giving examples, I figured I’d ask one.

Her reply was:

‘Depends on the season. You know, like seasonal stuff.’

So pretentious. What a ridiculously pretentious answer.

If you’re gonna give a pretentious answer, don’t list it as an example. Name a favorite food you like year-round.

‘Right now, banana milk.’

That’s got nothing to do with seasons.

I could just leave now, but I decided to at least go through her example questions.

‘What’s your dream for the future?’

‘To be a bride’ (＊‘ω’＊)

Shut up, seriously.

‘Or maybe a job that doesn’t exhaust me mentally, doesn’t encroach on my personal time, keeps a good balance, and something I can proudly say is my life’s purpose.’

Talk about a temperature shift. The ‘or maybe’ part is on a whole different level. It’s like a kindergartner and a thirty-something job-hunter are coexisting in one body.

‘What’s a secret you haven’t told anyone?’

For the final question, her response took a bit longer.

And what came back was:

‘That no one knows the real me, I guess’ (^O^)

I said stop being pretentious. Don’t tack a goofy emoji onto a slightly deep answer.

Besides, there’s no need to tell anyone your true self, is there?

Having dutifully answered her three example questions, I was about to leave when Nishimaru was still scribbling something on the loose-leaf.

‘I’m Higashiguchi Makita, got any questions?’

‘I do──────!!’ ((°ω°))/

Impersonation, huh? This is getting ridiculous.

I didn’t need any questions, but somehow I was being roped into her little Q&A game.

After skimming through the fabricated question and her enthusiastic response, the loose-leaf disappeared back to her side.

When it returned, a new question had been added.

‘What’s your hobby?’

What is this, a marriage interview?

‘Reading.’

‘What are you reading now?’

‘The Murder at the Scarlet Tower.’

‘I read that too! It’s great, right? If it’s okay, want me to tell you who the culprit is?’

‘No way that’s okay!’

That’s the last thing I want!

‘If there’s anything I can do to help, just say so. I’m totally down to assist. I can even give hints.’

No, that’s not how mystery novels work. I’m not dying to figure out the culprit that badly. Seriously, don’t help me, ever.

‘What’s your type of girl, Higashiguchi-kun?’

Another question came in.

‘Don’t really have one.’

‘Liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar!’

That’s creepy!

‘If I had to say, someone I can have fun talking to.’

Intimidated, I ended up writing a kind of childish answer.

Thankfully, she didn’t press further, so she seemed satisfied.

Instead, her final question was this:

‘Do you think you could get along with Nishimaru Nanna, Higashiguchi-kun?’

“…………”

Staring at that sentence, I didn’t know what to think.

Despite myself, something inside me had been shaken over these past two days.

I could feel my perception of Nishimaru Nanna crumbling.

‘Given our positions, it’s impossible.’

That’s why I had no choice but to push her away, like I was escaping.

Without waiting for a response, I packed my things and stood up.

As I passed behind Nishimaru to leave the study room, it happened.

“…!”

Suddenly, a loose-leaf was thrust in front of my face.

Nishimaru stood up, staring into my eyes while holding up the paper.

Written on it was:

‘Think about it without our positions.’

“…………”

What’s the point of hypotheticals like that? Our roles as student council president and club alliance representative aren’t going anywhere.

But under Nishimaru’s intense gaze, I caved.

Borrowing a pencil from her desk, I wrote my response standing at her seat. Nishimaru didn’t even sit back down, peering over my shoulder at the loose-leaf.

‘I wouldn’t know unless we actually talked.’

As soon as I wrote it, Nishimaru started writing her reply right in front of me.

‘So, was today’s written chat fun?’

I hesitated but answered honestly.

‘A little.’

Seeing that, Nishimaru froze for a few seconds. Only her ears turned slightly red.

Then, for some reason, she flipped the loose-leaf over and started writing something big on the blank side.

When she finished, she held it up to her face.

‘(ᵛωᵛ)’

“What’s that face supposed to be?”

Too lazy to write it down, I couldn’t help but blurt out a retort.

I thought I’d get scolded for breaking the no-talking rule, but…

“Kufu…”

From behind the paper covering Nishimaru’s mouth, I heard a stifled giggle.

＊＊＊

The next day, undeterred, I visited the old school building’s study room after school.

But today, I was different.

No longer was I in that weak mental state, trembling with thoughts like, “What if Nishimaru shows up again…” No way I’d let that happen.

Because when I arrived, Nishimaru was already sitting in her usual seat.

“…………”

Right after entering the study room, I hesitated for a moment.

There was no need to sit next to her. There were three other seats besides the ones on either side of her.

Sitting next to her would just lead to more of her incomprehensible antics.

There was no need to go picking chestnuts out of the fire. No reason to let Nishimaru steal my precious downtime.

Knowing that, I still sat in my usual seat next to Nishimaru.

Sitting by the window is part of my study room routine. It’s infuriating to let an irregularity like Nishimaru disrupt that.

This isn’t about stubbornness. If she tries something annoying, I’ll just ignore her.

‘KONNICHIWA’ (@-ω-@)

“……”

The loose-leaf came right away. I glanced at it and ignored it.

‘Hello.’

—Or so I pretended, before properly responding.

Greetings are important, after all.

After the initial written greeting, about an hour and a half of quiet time passed.

I finished my homework and prep, read my book to a good stopping point, and started packing up.

As if sensing my intent to leave, Nishimaru made her move.

Maybe she’s being considerate not to disturb my studying. But honestly, she doesn’t need to be that considerate if she’s just going to pull something anyway.

“…?”

Slipped through the partition gap, the loose-leaf had a 3×3 grid with a ‘◯’ in the top-right corner. Not a well, but a tic-tac-toe board.

The start of a tic-tac-toe game.

Seeing it, I couldn’t help but think, “Whoa, nostalgic!” I haven’t played such an analog game since elementary school. Even back then, I only played it when I was bored out of my mind.

And now, I was being invited to play it. By my archenemy next door.

Naturally, there’s no reason to indulge her. Why waste my life’s precious time on such a lame game?

Ignoring her and continuing to pack, the loose-leaf was pulled back.

‘Let’s play.’

It came back with that added.

I kept ignoring it, but it kept being pulled back, added to, and returned.

‘Tic-tac-toe is fun.’

‘It might be the most fun thing right now.’

‘Le──t’s──pla──y!’

What’s with her? Why is she so passionate about tic-tac-toe?

I hate to admit it, but I found it a tiny bit cute.

Not because I thought it was a tiny bit cute—absolutely not—but I decided to humor her for now.

I don’t know what she’s scheming, but I haven’t built a position that’d be undermined by something as trivial as tic-tac-toe. I mean, what kind of tic-tac-toe game would ruin my status?

Pretending to play along to figure out why Nishimaru’s been sitting next to me for three days straight isn’t a bad move. Playing tic-tac-toe carries little risk. I mean, what kind of risk could tic-tac-toe even have?

I sat back down, quickly grabbed a pencil from my bag.

Without overthinking, I placed an × in the top-center square, left of her ◯, and passed it back.

As if to say, “That’s the spirit!” the partition was tapped cheerfully. Why’s she so excited?

A few seconds later, the loose-leaf returned. A ◯ had been added in the bottom-right square.

I’m not obsessed with winning, but losing to Nishimaru would be plain aggravating. I placed my first move carelessly, so I need to focus now.

With ◯s in the top-right and bottom-right, she’s got a line, so I have to block by placing an × in the right-middle.

Then she placed a ◯ in the dead-center. Another line, so I have to block again.

“…………”

Wait, am I trapped?

◯s in top-right, bottom-right, and center. Top-left and bottom-left are empty.

Yeah, I’m trapped.

Whether I place in top-left or bottom-left, she’ll place in the other and win.

“Kufu…”

“…!”

A faint giggle. Turning, I saw Nishimaru peeking from behind the partition before quickly ducking back.

She was definitely smirking at me.

That jerk…!

My blood boiled. To think I’d get this pissed off over tic-tac-toe.

I can’t end it like this.

‘One more time.’

‘Don’t you have something to say first?’

‘I lost.’

‘(^ ^)’

The simple emoji only made me angrier.

Along with the emoji, a new 3×3 grid was drawn.

This time, instead of a ◯ in the top-right, Nishimaru placed a blacked-out ♡. I don’t know what her obsession is, but I’ll crush that flirty attitude of hers.

To avoid repeating last game’s disaster, I mentally ran through all tic-tac-toe patterns.

Basically, if neither player messes up, it’s always a draw. And for the second player, the first move is critical.

If the first player places in a corner, the second player must place in the center, or they’ll definitely lose.

So I wrote an × in the center and passed it to Nishimaru.

Once you understand the structure, there’s no game more boring. With nine squares, unless you’re a complete idiot, it ends in a draw. Well, I was that idiot with my first move last time.

I figured I’d leave after a draw. I’ve wasted enough time.

Just then, the loose-leaf came back from next door.

“???”

The moment I saw the board, I thought I was dreaming.

My × was gone. The × I placed in the center was gone.

In its place was a blacked-out ♡.

With a bad feeling, I held the loose-leaf up to the fluorescent light.

The back showed the trace of my × clearly.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated. A chat from Uzuki.

‘President, are you free right now?’

‘My × got eaten by a ♡.’

‘What happened? Do you need my help?’

In my shock, I sent Uzuki the situation via chat. That’s how rattled I was.

Brushing off Uzuki’s concern, I scribbled furiously on the loose-leaf.

‘Hey! Don’t make a ♡ eat my ×! That’s cheating!’

‘(^ ^)’

I oughta smack her.

Not only was the final ♡ placed, but next to the board, she wrote, ‘Nanna win♪’ and ‘You lost, buddy.’ What am I gonna do with her?

‘No blacking out, got it?’

Adding that warning, I schemed to slyly take the first move. This game heavily favors the first player anyway. Why did I settle for second all this time? Foolish me.

I wrote a ◯ in the top-right of the nine squares and sent it over.

Here, Nishimaru started doing something weird again.

Instead of an ×, she wrote ‘su’ in the center square and sent it back.

What’s ‘su’? Is anything fair game now?

It was already bad by the second game, but this is a disgrace to the name of tic-tac-toe. Swapping ◯ and × for random stuff is outrageous. Know shame, know shame!

Still, since she filled a square, the game’s on. She followed the center strategy, so it’s likely a draw. After the second game where my × was eaten by a ♡, a draw’s good enough.

I wrote a ◯ in the bottom-right.

Then, a ‘ki’ appeared in the right-middle.

What’s she trying to do? Not even sticking to ‘su’? What’s the point of these letters…?

“…!”

Suddenly, I saw it from a broader perspective.

‘Suki’

That’s what’s written on the board.

Wait, is that what this is? Using tic-tac-toe as a pretext to confess her feelings to me?

Sitting next to me on purpose, persistently inviting me to play tic-tac-toe—was it all to convey these two characters? Was the ♡ in the second game part of this too?

No, no, no, no, no!

Don’t fall for it. How many times do I have to tell myself?

I got flustered for a moment. That’s the honest truth. Can’t help it, I’m a virgin.

But a virgin getting flustered is the same as being tricked. It’s the honey trap I was wary of.

Nishimaru, was this your plan all along?

Toying with a virgin’s pure heart to create trouble for the student council? That’s despicable. Tricking a virgin is the gravest sin, as decreed by the Washington Convention or something.

Snapping back to cool-headedness, I placed a ◯ in the left-middle.

Now that I know her deep scheme, there’s no reason to keep playing, but ending with a loss is just annoying. Let’s draw and go home.

Come to think of it, what comes after ‘su’ and ‘ki’? Probably ‘yo’ or something. Maybe she’ll bring back the ♡ as a callback. If it’s ‘da,’ that’s pretty blunt. If it’s ‘pi,’ it’s so random I’d actually respect it.

Lost in pointless thoughts, the loose-leaf came back.

‘Ari’

Ari?

Outside the grid, next to ‘ki,’ she wrote ‘a’ and ‘ri.’ She’s not even pretending it’s tic-tac-toe anymore, writing outside the squares.

Stringing it all together: ‘Sukiari.’

An opening?

“—Fhuuu.”

“Uwaaah!?”

A warm breath grazed my ear, and I toppled off my chair.

Looking up, Nishimaru was grinning down at me with the smuggest expression, pointing a finger to her lips and whispering, “Shh.”

Apparently, she’d blown into my ear.

Who knew a sudden tickle to the ear could make the body react so much? Goosebumps raced across my skin at lightning speed.

Seeing Nishimaru’s face, like a kid who pulled off a prank, my shock finally turned to anger.

“You…!”

“Shh.”

‘Shh, my foot. You think someone who blows into another’s ear can act all high and mighty about keeping quiet? Using the sacred game of tic-tac-toe as a tool for harassment is beyond vile.’

I scribbled that on the loose-leaf, ready to hand it over. But Nishimaru quickly packed up and bolted out of the study room like she was escaping.

“Oi!”

When I raised my voice, she turned back at the door, striking her third “Shh” pose before leaving.

“—!”

Left alone, I let out a wordless cry.

And for no particular reason, in my anger, I filled the remaining squares with ◯s.

＊＊＊

The shock of the tic-tac-toe game lingered for a while.

It started with Nishimaru’s sudden invitation and ended in an unexpected way. At first, I was trying to figure out her motives, what tricks she had up her sleeve, but her final puff of breath blew all that away.

A scheme, a plot, a honey trap—I know that’s what it is.

But like a curse, my body couldn’t forget that moment.

Even now, a day later, a ticklish sensation lingered in my ear.

“P-President……”

“Uwaaah!”

A sudden whisper in my right ear. I couldn’t help but jump, just like yesterday.

The voice’s owner widened her eyes, then turned bright red, bowing repeatedly.

“S-S-Sorry, President! Everyone told me to do it, I had no choice! No choice!”

“Don’t pin it on us, Vice-President~”

“You were pretty into it yourself.”

“N-No, that’s not true!”

During lunch break, as usual, Uzuki was being teased by the girls in class. They probably egged her on to talk to me from close enough to whisper in my ear.

But that prank was way too well-timed and hit way too hard.

“So, what’s up with you, Higashiguchi? That’s a rare overreaction.”

“Did Vice-President Nakau’s ASMR not suit your tastes?”

“What’s going on? Is Glasses still acting weird from yesterday?”

Seeing my dramatic reaction, the class swarmed around me.

“No, anyone would jump if someone suddenly whispered in their ear… Sorry for shouting, but it’s nothing, so don’t worry.”

I tried to wave them off, but unusually, Uzuki didn’t back down.

“I’m sorry for pranking you, but… I feel like you’re still out of it today, President.”

“Uugh…”

When Uzuki looked at me with those pure, worried eyes, I couldn’t say anything.

“Is Higashiguchi still hung up on that threatening letter from yesterday?”

“Well, can’t blame him. That thing was a legit cursed object.”

“Y-Yeah, that’s it. It even showed up in my dreams…”

Luckily, my classmates misunderstood the situation. Ironic that I’m being saved by the threatening letter from Uzuki’s radical fans, of all things.

“I-I’m really sorry… Should I make an announcement school-wide to stop sending threatening letters or anything like that…?”

“N-No, let’s not make a big deal out of it…”

I felt a bit guilty for making Uzuki feel bad, though.

Then, the straight-talking gal in the front seat, inspecting her split ends, spoke up.

“Higashiguchi, wanna hear a good idea? A way to stop the threatening letters and articles like yesterday’s from being written.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“Get a girlfriend already.”

Murmurs of agreement rose from the crowd.

“Yeah, that’d clear up the rumors about you and Nakau, so no more annoying articles or ticking off her crazy fans.”

“It’d solve everything peacefully. Sounds good, right? Higashiguchi, just date someone. For the sake of school harmony.”

“Are you all aware you’re basically sexually harassing me?”

These guys are so carefree because it’s not their problem. Date someone for school harmony? What’s that supposed to mean? Why should I, in the prime of my youth, have to enter a strategic romantic relationship?

“You don’t have anyone like that, do you?”

“……”

‘Suki’

Against my will, that rude question made me instantly recall those two characters from yesterday. And my tingling right ear.

No, no, that was the ‘suki’ from ‘sukiari.’ It was a tactic to ambush my ear.

Remembering that at this exact moment shows how bad my condition is.

If she sits next to me in the study room again, what’ll happen to me?

“Higashiguchi’s not exactly unpopular, right? He’s tall. And he’s got glasses.”

“Are glasses a plus for popularity?”

“Depends on the person. Some people are crazy about them.”

“Glasses fetishists are intense. No joke, some act like the glasses are the main character.”

“At that point, they’re just in love with glasses.”

“Then just date a glasses superhero or something.”

While I was trapped in a whirlpool of thoughts, my classmates were getting hyped over their own conversation. It made my worries seem utterly ridiculous, which was honestly a relief.

Amidst it all, Uzuki suddenly asked.

“President, do you want a girlfriend?”

“Dunno.”

“Ehehe, got it. Anyway, shall we head to the cafeteria?”

“Yeah.”

Leaving the classmates debating glasses and fetishes behind, Uzuki and I headed to the cafeteria.

It was during that moment.

“Ah.”

“Hm?”

“…Oh?”

On the first-floor corridor, we ran into her again.

Nishimaru Nanna. We’d just encountered her in the same spot last week.

Unlike last time, though, it was just me, Uzuki, and Nishimaru here now.

I was a bit tense because of the study room incidents. Come to think of it, this was the first time we’d run into her outside the study room since she started barging in.

“Hello, student council duo.”

“Yeah.”

“Hi.”

Nishimaru glanced between me and Uzuki, flashing her usual serene smile.

Uzuki, facing her nemesis, was visibly tense but seemed to notice something different.

“Nishimaru-san, are you alone today? That’s rare.”

Now that she mentioned it, her usual entourage wasn’t around. That’s not a common sight. Normally, a crowd of people eager to curry favor trails behind her.

To that question, Nishimaru gave a small laugh and answered.

“Just heading to the staff room. More importantly, are you two, as always, mindlessly heading to the cafeteria together, even at a time like this?”

Not sure what she meant, I tilted my head. Uzuki asked in my place.

“‘Even at a time like this’?”

“That post. The buzz around it hasn’t died down yet, has it? And yet, you’re boldly spending lunch break together. Shameless, aren’t you?”

“…?”

I felt a slight sense of unease.

But I couldn’t put it into words yet; it was just a faint foreign sensation brushing my thoughts.

Uzuki, on the other hand, seemed offended by the remark. She bristled but then caught herself, glanced at me, took a deep “suu-haa” breath, and calmed down. Impressive.

“The contents of that article were all malicious speculation. So there’s no reason to change our behavior because of it.”

I almost let out an “Ooh!” in admiration.

Was it the deep breathing? Uzuki responded calmly.

“But that photo wasn’t fake, was it?”

“No. We just went shopping together.”

“You looked pretty chummy picking out glasses.”

“That’s your subjective take. At the time, the President and I were at our usual distance.”

What splendid anger management. The old Uzuki, who’d ignite like a lighter in front of Nishimaru, was now responding coolly. Remarkable growth.

“In the end, didn’t Nakau-chan pick out the President’s glasses, according to the article? Is that true?”

“Yes, he asked me to.”

“Those are the glasses he’s wearing now, right? Why’d you choose those?”

“I picked a trendy model that I thought suited the President. Why does that question matter?”

Nishimaru, true to form, kept her enigmatic smile intact.

“…Hm?”

No, something was off.

Nishimaru’s smile stayed, but she wasn’t moving. She’d gone completely silent, frozen.

Yet her shoulders seemed to rise and fall slightly. I could faintly hear her breathing through her nose.

Is she… trying to suppress anger? Is she doing anger management?

Looking closer, that smile seemed to carry an odd pressure…

“Huh? Isn’t that Nishimaru-san and the President?”

A voice came from the school building. A few female students were watching us with excited eyes, turning our conversation into a spectacle.

“See ya.”

Perhaps sensing it, Nishimaru passed by Uzuki.

But in that moment, she muttered just loud enough for me to hear.

“I don’t think those glasses suit him, though.”

“!?”

Uzuki whipped around with enough force to stumble.

Before I could think, “Oh, crap,” she was already roaring at Nishimaru’s back.

“Th-That’s not true!! They totally suit him!!”

“…………”

“Hah…”

Uzuki cautiously checked my expression, then looked around. Finally, her face turned bright red with embarrassment, and she collapsed to her knees.

The path to anger management isn’t mastered in a day.

That happened, and now it was after school.

“What was that about…?”

In the study room, I was doing homework while recalling the lunch break incident.

Uzuki snapping at Nishimaru? That’s par for the course.

Bystanders saw it, and the Nakayoshi Newspaper Club posted an article titled ‘Vice-President and Club Representative in a Lunchtime Catfight!?’ Also par for the course.

The unease came from Nishimaru’s side.

Having clashed with her in countless council meetings, I could tell today’s Nishimaru was off. Uzuki didn’t seem to notice.

Her words earlier had an unusual edge.

Nishimaru is usually aloof, sarcastic, and rarely shows emotion. That enigmatic quality, with her swirling emotions hidden, defines her.

But at lunch, she said:

‘Are you two, as always, mindlessly heading to the cafeteria together, even at a time like this?’

‘And yet, you’re boldly spending lunch break together. Shameless, aren’t you?’

For Nishimaru, those words were unusually direct and harsh.

And there was that moment where she seemed to be calming herself, smiling while breathing deeply.

Was there a trigger somewhere?

Or does even Nishimaru have bad days?

The only difference was the lack of her usual entourage.

As I was mulling this over, it happened.

As expected, footsteps approached again today.

One thing caught my attention: they were faster than yesterday or the day before, with shorter intervals. The sound of shoes scraping was sharper, almost as if they carried irritation.

The study room door opened.

Assuming she’d sit next to me as usual, I kept my eyes on my homework.

But then, something unexpected happened.

“Hey, Higashiguchi-kun.”

She spoke to me.

Turning, I saw Nishimaru Nanna standing behind me like a sentinel.

“We need to talk.”

“Huh? No, talking’s not allowed…”

“It’s a conversation for the school, so it’s not casual talk.”

What kind of logic is that? More importantly, a conversation for the school?

With a deadly serious expression, Nishimaru declared.

“Simply put, I want to end this ridiculous feud.”

“…Huh?”

She meant the feud between the student council and the club alliance.

Stunned by such an unexpected statement from an unexpected person, I was speechless.

Before I could ask “why,” Nishimaru explained “how” she planned to achieve it.

“You and I—we’ll manipulate this feud from behind the scenes.”

Her smile was more bewitching than ever.

＊＊＊

The student council and the club alliance are at odds. It’s a tradition at Hiiragigaoka Academy.

Unlike the fierce conflicts of the founding days, it’s now more of an entertainment ritual, as mentioned before.

That said, those involved aren’t opposing each other just for show or whimsy.

There’s a reason the feud can’t be reduced to a mere formality.

There are as many opinions as there are students, and as many agendas as there are clubs.

But there’s only one academy.

Thus, it’s only natural for the student council, which mediates between the school and students, and the club alliance, representing the clubs, to clash. They can never fully align.

And what happens if either side slacks off?

To maintain this small society, balance must be upheld, even if it means knocking the other down.

Neither can be too strong or too weak. If support concentrates on one side, the school’s overall balance collapses, potentially undermining its function as a place of learning.

It might sound dramatic, but there are past examples.

When the club alliance gained overwhelming support, the school descended into chaos, leading to boycotts. The student council has even been disbanded mid-term multiple times because of this.

The student council is the discipline faction; the club alliance is the freedom faction. It’s obvious which one teens tend to favor. Hence, those cases make sense.

To regular students, it might be entertainment, but to us, it’s not a game.

That’s why Nishimaru Nanna, with her overwhelming charisma as the club alliance representative, puts me and Uzuki on edge.

But now, something is threatening to shake that foundation.

In the old school building’s deserted study room.

Facing each other directly, knee to knee, me and Nishimaru.

The club alliance representative just proposed a ‘fixed match’ to the student council president.

“…Are you serious?”

“Dead serious. You think I’d make a joke with stakes this high?”

Fair point. If I reported this to the right authorities, everything Nishimaru’s built would crumble. Her standing in the school would be gone.

So, is Nishimaru genuinely trying to control this feud from behind the scenes?

With me, together.

“…I’ve got some questions.”

“Go ahead. I’ll answer what I can. If we team up, I can answer more.”

She’s sharp, as expected. She’s probably got a plan to mitigate the risks I mentioned. She’s playing humble, but I can’t let my guard down.

“First, why do this?”

“Because I’m tired.”

“Of the feud?”

“Of being expected to perform.”

“…………”

Nishimaru exuded exhaustion. Was that wry smile genuine?

“And……”

Nishimaru stared into my eyes, but no further words came.

“And what?”

“…I’ll tell you someday.”

She smiled as she said it.

Is that reason outside what she can answer now? Suspicious, but prodding won’t make her slip up.

“I get how you feel. But I also think it’s dishonest.”

“……”

“You’ve been leading the club alliance and gaining student support while feeling this way?”

The moment I criticized her, Nishimaru’s closed lips parted, and words poured out resoundingly.

“Having my youth consumed by a feud just to entertain people watching safely from the sidelines? That’s not something I can stomach. It draws unnecessary attention, and the cost-benefit’s awful. Being the club alliance representative is just a raw deal.”

“O-Oh…”

Nishimaru laughed with clear frustration. Her darkness seemed deeper than I’d thought.

And another surprising thing.

To think Nishimaru Nanna, of all people, valued something as vague and sentimental as youth.

“What do you mean by bad cost-benefit?”

“School records. Compared to the student council president, the club alliance representative’s role doesn’t amount to much.”

“Getting practical now, huh?”

“I’m not even sure if I’ll go for a recommendation entrance exam. If that’s the case, I’d rather put as much effort as possible into the drama club.”

Nishimaru is part of the drama club. While active as a club member, she also serves as the representative of the club alliance, coordinating the opinions of all the school’s clubs.

By the way, Nishimaru isn’t an actor but is involved in scriptwriting and directing. Despite many requests for her to perform due to her appearance, she firmly declines.

The enigmatic Nishimaru Nanna, who always seemed to carry an air of mystery, was now spilling surprisingly human words. Whether they’re her true feelings or a lie to deceive me isn’t clear yet.

But strangely, they felt convincing.

“If you hate it so much, why’d you become the club representative?”

I threw out a straightforward question. Nishimaru paused for a beat before responding.

“…Curious?”

“Obviously.”

Nishimaru narrowed her eyes, falling silent.

And the expression she showed next quietly shocked me.

“Fine, whatever.”

Nishimaru smiled, as if giving up.

It was an expression unlike any I’d seen from her, tinged with a pitiful emotion. That unexpectedly human side of her made my heart skip a beat.

For some reason, in that moment, I felt like I was seeing Nishimaru as just a girl for the first time.

“Because it’s my ‘role.’”

“What do you mean?”

And so, Nishimaru began to speak at length about the role she’d assigned herself.

Ever since she was old enough to notice, Nishimaru Nanna was aware that she drew an unusual amount of attention.

She wasn’t particularly smart or athletic. There were surely girls cuter than her.

Yet for some reason, adults and kids alike would focus on her in fleeting moments.

She must have exuded some kind of mystique even back then.

To Nishimaru, that was deeply embarrassing.

She wasn’t the type to crave attention, so enduring such scrutiny was painful.

Naturally, she became a quiet child. She figured if she didn’t speak, the attention would shift to someone else.

But that wasn’t enough to divert the spotlight fixed on her.

“As a result, the kid named Nishimaru Nanna got slapped with labels like ‘mysterious.’”

“…I see.”

Sitting knee-to-knee, facing each other, Nishimaru gave a small smile.

At first, I was observing the situation from a distance, thinking, What’s going on here? But her past was unexpectedly compelling, and before I knew it, I was listening intently.

“If I stood silently, I was seen as an enigmatic, otherworldly presence. But the moment I spoke, everyone tried to dissect every word for deeper meaning.”

“That’s some cost-effective character-building.”

“Seriously. Even though I was just thinking about school lunch or whatever.”

That’s when Nishimaru realized it. She understood the true nature of those gazes.

In this world, you’re never seen the way you want to be. You’re only perceived through the distorted lens of how others want to see you.

“Everyone wanted me to be some unfathomable entity.”

“…………”

So Nishimaru gave in.

‘Mysterious,’ ‘enigmatic,’ ‘otherworldly,’ ‘aloof,’ ‘elusive.’

She accepted the labels others slapped on her, digested them, and reflected them back.

She polished the image of Nishimaru Nanna that everyone expected.

That was her resolution at age ten, she said.

“Well, it wasn’t that far off from my actual personality, so it wasn’t too painful. I just had to stay quiet.”

“Is that how it works?”

“Yeah. That’s how it works.”

Now, Nishimaru Nanna had a long-standing dream: to become a writer.

“Expressing myself through words alone, not my appearance, was the most valuable thing to me.”

“Got it.”

That’s why she joined the drama club in high school. She wanted to write scripts.

She could write novels anytime, but the chance to have someone perform her lines was rare.

But, as expected, reality didn’t bend to her wishes.

“Then the drama club seniors begged me to act too.”

“Figures.”

“But that was the one thing I absolutely refused.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t want to act anymore. I was scared that taking on another persona would break me for real.”

“…I see.”

In a snap decision, she said:

‘I also want to work with the club alliance…’

“Right. If you said that, the drama club couldn’t pile on more responsibilities.”

“Exactly. The club alliance is a big deal at this school.”

The traditional feud between the student council and the club alliance was the perfect excuse to avoid acting.

But once she joined the club alliance, Nishimaru inevitably drew attention there too.

Being both charismatic and efficient, she rose through the ranks at an unprecedented pace, against her own wishes.

And so, swept along, she was appointed the new club alliance representative as a first-year.

That’s the past of the ‘character’ Nishimaru Nanna, shaped by others’ gazes.

If this is a story crafted to deceive me, it’s far too elaborate.

“Why tell me all this?”

“Because you wouldn’t believe me otherwise, right?”

“Fair enough.”

“I didn’t want to tell this story. It’s a secret I’ve never shared with anyone.”

With a deep sigh, Nishimaru’s cheeks flushed slightly.

“So, you’re saying you’re that fed up with the student council-club alliance feud?”

“Exactly. I never wanted to be the representative. Manipulating the alliance from behind as an executive sounds way more fun.”

She casually says something terrifying.

“I’m the one writing scripts, not dancing on the stage.”

“For someone who says that, you’re awfully good at hitting sore spots during meetings.”

“That’s half character, half genuine. It’s your fault for leaving openings, Higashiguchi-kun.”

Nishimaru let out a short, mischievous “Kuku” laugh.

“Saying something you don’t believe at all lacks conviction. You can’t make 1 from 0. But you can turn 1 into 10 or 100. That’s what building a character is.”

If there’s even a sliver of genuine emotion, it can be intentionally amplified.

So that’s how she internalized the new label of club alliance representative into her character.

“You really pull it off.”

“You’re talking like it’s someone else’s problem.”

“Because it is.”

“Don’t you have some experience with this, Higashiguchi-kun?”

“…!”

I was at a loss for words.

Caught off guard, I was stunned, but it also clicked deep inside.

The reason Nishimaru bared her past so openly wasn’t just about the feud.

She was certain I was the same as her.

Nishimaru stared at me with those captivating eyes.

“Higashiguchi-kun, you—you’ve deliberately internalized the serious, strait-laced class president vibe, haven’t you?”

“……”

“Villainous Cold Glasses, was it? That’s spot-on. It perfectly captures the evolved form of the ‘character’ you’ve cultivated.”

Her flowing words sounded muffled, despite how close we were.

I stared back into her mesmerizing eyes, staying silent.

I was afraid. Afraid that if I said, “What are you talking about?” my voice might tremble.

“Hehe.”

Nishimaru smiled, as if she saw right through my feelings.

“You’re probably—a kind person, Higashiguchi-kun.”

She gave a soft, gentle smile.

“Earnest, sincere, a person of justice. Since childhood, you’ve kept meeting others’ expectations like that, right?”

“…That’s not—”

“But unlike me, who could just stay quiet, you had to act. Sometimes taking righteous actions that earned you harsh whispers. That accumulation of kindness built the Villainous Cold Glasses character, didn’t it?”

Nishimaru murmured with warm eyes but a faintly detached expression.

“In the end, a character starts as something you’re aware of shaping, but over time, others layer on their perceptions, and it becomes this bizarre construct.”

“…………”

“Being shaped by others’ perceptions is kind of grotesque, isn’t it?”

Her words sank unfiltered into my heart.

Plenty of people—kids and adults alike—called me a stereotypical class president or villain-like.

But not a single person had ever pointed out that I was consciously fitting into that mold.

Except for the girl in front of me.

“But in the end, everyone’s being labeled with a character, right? Whether they’re aware of it or stick to it is another matter.”

“…………”

The class president character I unconsciously sprouted in childhood and built up over time.

Now it’s part of me, a well-known trait of Higashiguchi Makita.

And just now, it was effortlessly peeled back and dismantled.

By my sworn enemy, someone I didn’t even want to talk to.

How do I describe this feeling? It’s hard to put into words.

There’s pain. Fear, too. But for some reason, there’s also joy.

One thing’s clear: it didn’t feel as bad as I’d expected.

“…How did you know?”

I should deny it for the sake of my position. Showing weakness to the club alliance representative is unacceptable.

But stripped bare like this, I didn’t have the energy to resist.

Nishimaru smiled with satisfaction—or so I thought, before she suddenly stood up and declared.

“Because you’re being controlled by your glasses!”

“……?”

I had no idea what she was talking about.

Up until now, every word from Nishimaru had been carefully woven with a tangible warmth. But this statement was utterly incomprehensible, no matter how I tried to parse it.

What’s scary is the blazing intensity in her eyes, as if this was the one thing she’d been dying to say.

Without a doubt, this was the most excited expression I’d ever seen on Nishimaru.

The Nishimaru who never showed emotion, always wearing a mysterious smile.

“Controlled by my glasses…?”

Nishimaru rattled on with a know-it-all air.

“You probably started wearing glasses to lean into the serious class president character, right? Thought pushing them up would make you look the part. I get it. Glasses are an insanely obvious character-building item. I totally get it.”

She totally gets it, but her fervor was overwhelming me.

“W-Well, yeah… Actually, my eyesight isn’t even that bad.”

“I knew it!”

Her voice sharpened, making me flinch.

“It was obvious to me! You don’t truly need glasses!”

“Y-You can tell that just by looking…?”

“Of course! For some people, glasses are an absolute necessity! Without them, they’re cut off from the world! Glasses are the bridge connecting people to the world!”

That’s way too dramatic.

“Speaking of, I’ve never seen you wear glasses, Nishimaru…”

“Because my eyes are fine. And I don’t get much thrill from wearing them myself.”

So what does she get a thrill from?

“And another thing I’ve been meaning to say—your glasses don’t suit you! The old ones or the new ones!”

“O-Oh… really?”

“Yes! It’s obvious you’re using glasses as a character prop! People in our circle can tell right away! Don’t underestimate glasses!”

Our circle?

This intensity, this tone, this undeniable pressure—it felt familiar. It’s the same vibe as the hardcore idol, anime character, or Shinsengumi fans in class.

Which means…

“Nishimaru, are you one of those glasses fetishists?”

“Yesss!”

An incredibly enthusiastic reply burst out.

“So, from a glasses fetishist’s perspective, glasses don’t suit me?”

“I didn’t say that!!”

The loudest shout of the day echoed through the study room. Apparently, she didn’t say that.

“H-Hey, your voice… It’s way too loud, Nishimaru…”

“Your old glasses weren’t totally bad! Black frames were the right call! But square frames don’t work for your face!”

Needless to say, I couldn’t keep up with her passion once we hit glasses talk.

I’d never seen this Nishimaru. Probably no one in the school had.

“And your current glasses! They’re absolutely tasteless!”

In her agitation, Nishimaru let out a “Kaaah!” and roared at the heavens.

“Really…? They were pretty expensive.”

“I can tell they’re good quality! But they don’t match you! Like I said, square frames aren’t for you! And half-rim!? Half-rim!? Haa!?”

“Just to confirm, half-rim isn’t inherently bad, right?”

“Of course not! They look amazing on people they suit! But you’re definitely not a half-rim guy!”

Half-rim. Glasses with only the top part framed in black. Uzuki recommended them because “they’re trendy,” and I bought them.

Apparently, to a glasses connoisseur, that was unforgivable.

“I bet Nakau-chan picked them just because they’re trendy!”

“She did say that, but she also thought they suited me…”

“No way! It’s obvious she chose them without considering face-glasses compatibility! I thought she was a fun kid to tease, but I’m disappointed! Honestly!”

So that’s what Nishimaru thought while teasing Uzuki.

In the no-talking study room, the absolute opposite of silence was unfolding. But I didn’t have the courage to stop her, so I just watched.

I suddenly recalled Nishimaru’s parting shot at lunch.

‘I don’t think those glasses suit him, though.’

I thought it was just a jab, but it seems those were her heartfelt words. No room for doubt now.

Another memory surfaced: the first time Nishimaru came to this study room.

‘Did Nakau-chan pick out those new glasses?’

When I confirmed it in our written chat, I heard a loud thud from her desk and “Fuu-fuu…” like she was suppressing rage.

That, too, was her raw, unfiltered reaction.

The glasses fetish is deep. That’s what the girls in class said at lunch.

I thought they were exaggerating, but their words held no falsehood.

Oh, the terror of glasses fetishists.

“Zee… zee…!”

Nishimaru, panting after shouting her heart out, gave me an opening to steer the conversation back.

“So… you figured out I’m living as a class president character because you saw through my lack of commitment to glasses?”

“Exactly. I can spot someone wearing glasses half-heartedly in an instant.”

That’s terrifying.

“…Well, I get that you’ve got some special skill with glasses.”

“I won’t deny it. But it’s not just glasses. I also sensed we’re the same.”

“You mean people who’ve deliberately leaned into a character?”

“Exactly.”

Though our processes and positions differ, Nishimaru and I share the experience of living by embracing and wearing a character.

We’ve been enemies, but as humans, we fall into the same category.

And so, the conversation circled back to the starting point.

“So, Nishimaru, you became the club alliance representative but got worn out continuing the feud with the student council. That’s why you want to conspire with me, the student council president, to end it?”

“Yeah. But abruptly ending a traditional feud on our own would ruffle too many feathers.”

That brought us back to Nishimaru’s opening line.

‘You and I—we’ll manipulate this feud from behind the scenes.’

“We’d control the feud from behind, gradually softening it until it finally ends. That’s the plan, right?”

Nishimaru nodded firmly.

“Not a single word off.”

“…Seriously?”

I couldn’t help but clutch my head.

Nishimaru was serious.

She was dead set on turning the storied war between the student council and the club alliance into a ‘farce.’

“The club alliance and student council are organizations that, by their nature, can only get so friendly. For healthy school operations, they need to clash. One always has to play the necessary evil.”

“……”

“So you and I will use these ‘characters’ that others have built up to manipulate the feud from behind. No more playing the clown—we’ll be the ‘scriptwriters’ of this feud. You’ll shed the villain role and become a revolutionary.”

Nishimaru grinned cynically. This must be the face of a gambler.

“That’s why you approached me? You even scoped out that I come to this study room?”

“…Well, yeah.”

“Sitting next to me, pulling all those weird stunts—it was all to get closer to me and make it easier to build a partnership?”

Finally, the meaning behind her bizarre behavior these past few days clicked. If that’s the case, it makes sense.

I was about to call it impressively thorough, but Nishimaru, for some reason, pursed her lips.

“What’s with that face?”

“…You think so?”

“Think what?”

“…Fine. For now, you can think that.”

Her tone suddenly turned sharp. Did I step on a landmine or something?

I really can’t figure out what this girl’s thinking.

Nishimaru crossed her legs and arms, leaning back in her chair.

“So, doesn’t it sound fun? Wanna join me, Higashiguchi-kun?”

“…………”

Let’s be honest. Yeah, it sounds fun.

Deep down, I’m not exactly thrilled about being treated as Villainous Glasses, even if it’s an extension of the character I’ve built.

Joining her might let me vent some of that frustration.

A revolutionary rewriting school tradition. It’s got a cool ring to it. Way cooler than Villainous Cold Glasses.

But—

“Sorry, Nishimaru.”

“……”

Nishimaru’s expression didn’t change. She just stared at me and asked.

“Can I hear the reason?”

“One thing. I can’t betray the student council—especially Uzuki.”

If Nishimaru and I manipulated the feud behind the scenes, and it succeeded, everyone else would become our puppets.

It’d mean deceiving them all.

The student council officers work hard every day for the school’s sake. I can’t disregard that. Same goes for the students who support us.

Above all, Uzuki has been by my side since we joined the council as freshmen.

Since I became president and Uzuki vice-president, it’s been even more evident.

With both president and vice-president as first-years, and none of the officers used to council duties, we each figured out what we could do and worked for everyone’s sake. That effort built the council we have now.

I just can’t betray them.

“Even if that betrayal ends up being justice for the school?”

“There’s no guarantee it’ll succeed, right? Weighing that risk, it’s too dangerous a plan to jump into.”

Nishimaru listened quietly, her face expressionless.

“And above all… I’m fine staying this character.”

“…Meaning?”

“Like you said, I’ve internalized this character. But it’s been so long, it won’t come off anymore. It’s stuck to me.”

That day in fifth grade, when I couldn’t resist being pushed into the class president role—that’s when my fate was sealed.

By accepting the character and merging with it, all that’s left is the class president, Villainous Cold Glasses version of me.

Even my childhood friends and family probably only know the character version of me.

The real me doesn’t exist in anyone’s mind anymore. So it’s as good as nonexistent.

“Our characters keep the school running smoothly, don’t they? So this is fine. I’ll stick to my character. That’s how society works.”

“Society…?”

“Only a handful of adults get to be their true selves. Most people play a role, becoming the ‘character’ others expect.”

That’s what happens when you enter society.

“If we’re all headed there anyway, what’s the point of struggling? So, I’m done.”

With that, I turned my chair ninety degrees, facing the desk instead of Nishimaru.

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear any of this today.”

And one last thing, straight from the heart.

“Sorry for being such a boring guy.”

“…………”

Time to study. Homework, prep, review. Staying the villainous, cold student council president requires constant effort.

Forget it. All the interactions with Nishimaru up to yesterday, today’s offer—everything.

“Here we go!”

“Whoa!?”

With Nishimaru’s shout, my vision spun wildly. She’d moved behind me and spun my swivel chair with all her might.

After two and a half spins, Nishimaru grabbed my tie and pulled my face close.

“Hehe. Yeah, boring. I didn’t think you’d be this boring.”

“…Yeah, I bet.”

Say whatever you want. I’m done with this character nonsense.

The fire inside me is completely out.

“You think the fire inside you is completely out, don’t you?”

Her words, as if reading my mind, made me turn my averted gaze back to her.

Nishimaru’s eyes were burning blue.

“Higashiguchi-kun, you don’t get it.”

“Get what?”

“You didn’t internalize and accept your character. You’re being consumed by it. By a character created by others. That’s what’s boring.”

“……”

So what?

Human society isn’t just about being interesting or boring.

“Talking like you know it all about adults and society—what does a high schooler like you know?”

“…You’re the same, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. I’m a kid. That’s why I’m desperately fighting back. Trying to flip a situation I don’t like with grit and ingenuity.”

Her tone was neither persuasive or cold.

She was simply stating her truth, matter-of-factly.

“Playing an expected character is necessary in society. I won’t deny that. But letting that character consume your soul? That’s boring.”

“That’s…”

“Create your own value, decide your own life. At the very least, that’s how I want to live.”

“……”

“Same with glasses! You’re not being controlled by them! Decide your own glasses, Higashiguchi-kun!”

That part’s a bit confusing.

“Stop spouting nonsense and let’s start a revolution together!”

Still fired up from the glasses tangent, Nishimaru declared with fierce conviction.

“To me, you’re not some Villainous Cold Glasses—”

“Huh?”

“…No, never mind.”

At the very last moment, Nishimaru swallowed her words for some reason.

Her face gradually flushed red. What was she about to say?

“A-Anyway, if it’s us…!”

Suddenly, faint footsteps echoed from beyond the door. It was the security guard’s patrol time.

Nishimaru hurriedly returned to her seat. I turned back to my desk.

The study room door opened, then closed after about three seconds. The guard probably peeked in to check for issues. The footsteps faded away.

‘Do you really think the two of us can end the feud?’

I wrote this on a scrap of notebook paper and passed it to the seat next to me.

The reply came back quickly.

‘We can. Absolutely, if it’s the two of us. I want to do it with you.’

Nishimaru’s written words, unlike her usual tone, felt soft and warm.

Normally, written words in chats or notes feel colder than spoken ones. But Nishimaru’s written words carried an odd warmth.

That made me recall something she said earlier.

‘Expressing myself through words alone, not my appearance, was the most valuable thing to me.’

Maybe for Nishimaru, who wears a character, writing lets her show her true self more than speaking.

If that’s the case, I want to know this Nishimaru better.

I want to see the heart of Nishimaru that only comes out in writing, that no one else knows.

Beyond ending the feud or breaking free from characters, that mundane desire felt, for some reason, more appealing to me right now.

‘If everything goes well, could we play tic-tac-toe on the classroom whiteboard or something?’

‘Sure. I’ll crush you as many times as it takes.’

‘You only crushed me that one time.’

‘(^ ^)’

I’m definitely beating her someday.

‘Alright, let’s end the feud so we can play tic-tac-toe.’

‘(^ ^)b’

I glanced over at the seat next to me.

Nishimaru’s ears were still faintly red.