E-book Exclusive Short Story: If Hinako Had Run for President

The fourth night of the election period.

While I was thinking about election strategies in my room, I heard a rustling sound from the bed behind me.

“Hmmm…”

I thought she was asleep since it had been quiet for a while, but Hinako was awake. She’d asked to borrow my laptop earlier, and I’d lent it to her without much thought. Apparently, she’d been fiddling with it on the bed the whole time.

“Hinako, what’re you doing?”

“Looking at the survey results… So this is what people think of me.”

The survey she mentioned was the one Tennouji-san had asked me to compile. It was about what everyone would expect if Hinako had run for president.

Naturally, I’d gotten Hinako’s permission before compiling those results. It seemed she was now reviewing the data.

“Come to think of it, you didn’t run for president, but do you have any image of what kind of president you’d be if you did?”

“…None. I don’t even want to imagine it.”

“But if you became president, you could change Kiou Academy however you wanted.”

Of course, within reason.

Changing the academy at will. Perhaps intrigued by that possibility, Hinako paused to think.

“Well… first, I’d make classes three days a week.”

Three days of classes instead of more holidays…?

Oh no. I asked out of curiosity, but I can already see where this is going.

“I’d make lunch break two hours and mandate naptime.”

“Mandate is a bit…”

“If someone’s working hard, it makes it harder for others to sleep, don’t you think?”

She’s subtly considerate in the weirdest way. So clever.

I wish she wouldn’t show off her genius in such odd places.

“And… I’d make it so you can buy potato chips at the school store.”

Honestly, I’d want that too.

However, it feels somewhat out of place for Kiou Academy. If you want chips, you can just buy them at a convenience store. If Joutou’s campaign promises come true, maybe one day the school store will stock potato chips…

“…In reality, if I became president, the academy would probably stay the same as always.”

Hinako said in a small voice.

“What everyone expects from me is steady, predictable results.”

“…I see.”

Hinako has always lived up to everyone’s expectations.

Meeting expectations means being realistic. When you fulfill someone’s demands, the outcome stays within their assumptions.

Tennouji-san and Narika’s campaign promises were like a breath of fresh air for everyone at Kiou Academy. Joutou’s promises, in particular, must feel especially bold and innovative. But Hinako’s wouldn’t be a new breeze. Her promises would largely follow the same path as before.

“But it’s not like you can’t change Kiou Academy, right? You were doing things like M&As in the management game.”

“Mm… I don’t think it’s technically impossible.”

In the management game, Hinako had reformed the Konohana Group as needed. Steady management was her biggest strength, but that didn’t mean she was incapable of driving change. Surely, Takuma-san stirred up that last recall scandal to confirm exactly that.

“But I’m better at delivering solid results than sparking reform… and I think everyone kinda senses that.”

Saying that, Hinako lowered her gaze.

“It’s… a little frustrating.”

Hinako muttered under her breath.

“What’s frustrating?”

“I think I could bring about change if I really wanted to… but no one sees me that way. This survey… if it was about Tennouji-san or Miyakojima-san, the results would’ve been completely different.”

Indeed, if this survey had been about Tennouji-san or Narika, the responses would’ve been filled with calls for reform, unlike Hinako’s. That fact seemed to weigh on her.

(…So Hinako’s conscious of those two, huh.)

I’d been so focused on the election that I hadn’t thought much about Tennouji-san and Narika lately, but throughout our long academy life, Hinako has always stood shoulder-to-shoulder with them.

The three of them are already in a relationship of friendly rivalry. That’s why Tennouji-san ran for president, and Narika’s surely been influenced by it to some degree.

That line from Hinako just now… Tennouji-san would be thrilled to hear it.

Ahh, Tennouji-san.

You’re definitely seen as a rival by Hinako…

“…Who were you just thinking about?”

“Huh? N-No, I wasn’t thinking about anyone!”

She’s sharp all of a sudden.

Right now, Hinako’s burning with rivalry toward Tennouji-san and the others. If I admitted I was thinking about them, she’d probably pout, so I reflexively dodged the question.

“I don’t plan on becoming president, but…”

Hinako’s cheeks flushed faintly as she spoke.

“If you thought about me a bit more, Izuki… I might’ve hesitated a little longer.”

With that, Hinako buried her face in the blankets.

I’m honored she feels that way, but unfortunately, her worry is unfounded.

Because I’m always, always thinking about Hinako.