A hero who wants to help others wants to live a normal life - Chapter 15

Chapter 15   Joined the Student Council

“Ah, sorry, sorry! —so, what’s going on?”

When Inori finally turned to face Kujou properly, Kujou let out a small sigh, perhaps out of relief or to calm herself, before starting to speak.

“The thing is, I’ve been assigned to the student council, and I was hoping that Inori-san might consider joining as well…”

“Huh? The student council… me? Why?”

She glanced at me, but I had no idea. Sure, Inori’s grades aren’t bad. She can be a bit clueless and naive, but she’s not stupid. However, that alone doesn’t seem like a good enough reason to be invited to join the student council.

There are plenty of other students with better grades, and many who have the right status or background to be chosen—like the heirs of big corporations or foreign princesses.

If there’s any reason why Inori might be selected over them, it would have to be…

“The student council, huh… Well, because she’s a ‘Blessed One,’ I suppose.”

Kiriya muttered, and he was probably right. In fact, I couldn’t think of any other reason.

“But I don’t think it’s that much of a big deal. Even if she’s a ‘Blessed One,’ she’s still just a kid. What use would she be in a student council, which is just a group of students?”

If Inori were already an active ‘hero,’ it might make sense. Someone whose mere presence would elevate the prestige of any organization.

But Inori is still just a student and hasn’t accomplished anything significant. She’s still just a kid with no real achievements, fame, or influence. It’s unlikely she’d be able to make any notable contribution if she joined the student council.

“Even so, she could be useful as a symbol. Even as a student, there are situations where she’d need to act publicly, and she’d be invaluable for publicity purposes.”

Is that how it works? …Yeah, that’s probably it. We know our own weaknesses as ‘Blessed Ones’ because we’ve experienced them firsthand, so we don’t see it as such a great thing. But the other students don’t see it that way.

As fighters against monsters, ‘Blessings’ are seen as extraordinary gifts, and ‘Blessed Ones’ may even be objects of admiration.

If that’s the case, her actual accomplishments might not matter; she’d be welcomed regardless.

“The duties would include organizing school events, overseeing the student body, and representing the academy in meetings with parents and guardians. Regardless of the path you choose in the future, your time on the student council would never be a waste.”

I guess that makes sense. After all, the parents are not just any parents; they include CEOs of major companies, members of the nobility, and foreign royalty. If you get to meet and speak with such people, it could certainly be beneficial for your future. Many would likely desire to make such connections.

However…

“Uh, pass.”

Apparently, none of that seemed appealing to Inori, and she lightly refused Kujou’s proposal in an offhand manner.

“Eh…”

Kujou seemed genuinely taken aback by the rejection, especially in such a casual tone. Hearing Inori’s response, she stood there stunned, her eyes wide, her mouth half-open in disbelief.

But I think it’s a good proposal. Even putting aside the matter of the future, it’s valuable to have an environment where Inori can interact with people on equal footing, apart from me. If possible, I don’t want to let this opportunity slip by.

…No choice, then. It may be a bit forceful, but I’ll have Inori join the student council.

With that decision made, I turned my gaze to Kujou, who was still in a state of shock, and spoke up.

“Um, Kujou-san, please include her in the student council.”

“Eh…”

She clearly hadn’t expected to hear such a response from me right after being refused by Inori. Kujou let out another bewildered sound.

But there was one person who couldn’t accept this—Inori herself.

“Why are you answering for me!? I said ‘pass!'”

Inori shouted in frustration, upset that I had agreed after she had already refused. But I wasn’t planning to let this opportunity slip away.

“That’s why I answered. Because you said ‘pass.'”

“Not that kind of ‘pass’! I didn’t mean to give you permission to answer; I meant I don’t want to join!”

“But if you refuse here, you’ll just end up trying to join the same club as me, right?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s exactly why. As much as I’d miss being apart from my little sister, this is for your own growth. So, do your best.”

“If you’d miss me, don’t choose something that separates us!”

“Um…”

Kujou seemed unsure how to react to our argument unfolding right in front of her and let out a puzzled noise.

Hearing that, Inori shifted her focus from me back to Kujou, preparing to reject the offer once more. But…

“I’m absolutely not going to—”

“Inori.”

I didn’t shout loudly. In fact, I barely whispered her name.

But before she could finish her sentence of refusal, Inori stopped and turned her gaze back to me.

“You understand, right? If you don’t want the student council, then it doesn’t have to be that. But don’t choose ‘the same as me.’ Think for yourself, and make your own choice, as ‘Inori.'”

I really didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want to resort to forcing her like this.

But if I didn’t, Inori would have insisted on going wherever I went. So… I’m sorry.

“…Fine. I’ll join.”

“Huh?”

“I said I’ll join the student council! Ugh, seriously!”

For a few seconds, Inori’s face contorted as if she wanted to say something in response to my words, but in the end, she decided to go along with what I had said, reversing her stance and agreeing to join the student council.

Kujou, unable to understand why Inori had suddenly changed her mind after a brief conversation, looked at us in confusion. But I’m sure that our relationship is something no one else could understand.

“Is it really okay to decide things so forcefully like that?”

“It’s fine. If I don’t do it this way, she’ll probably just keep following me around forever.”

Kiriya, who had been listening nearby, frowned with concern at how I had wrapped things up so forcefully. But this was for the best.

“But! In return, I’m going to be with you all the time outside of student council!”

“You’ve got student council members in your class. Why not deepen your bonds with them instead?”

Kujou is in the student council too, so I think she and Inori should get along since they’ll be in the same committee and doing activities together. If they could become friends, that would be great.

“Ehh… Oh! Then, why don’t we all just stay together?”

…That idea was unexpected.

Wait, does that mean we’d be doing everything together, like classes, breaks, and school events? That’s a bit too much…

Look over there. Even Kujou and her bodyguard, Toudou, are frowning at the idea.

“Um, that’s…”

“Don’t worry, it’s not like we’ll be together all the time at school. Just having lunch together, that’s all. We’re all students at the same school, so why not help each other and get along? And eating lunch together is a good start, right?”

“Well… I suppose that would be okay…”

Kujou seemed hesitant, but with her own words from yesterday thrown back at her, she couldn’t really refuse and eventually nodded.

“How about that? Now I can stay close to you while also getting to know them better!”

“That’s kind of forceful… and some people don’t seem too happy about it,” I said, glancing behind Kujou. There, Toudou was looking visibly displeased.

“Huh? What, you don’t like it?”

“It’s not that… I don’t…”

“What? I can’t hear you.”

“…! I said I don’t dislike it.”

Though she said that, her face was filled with anger, like she was ready to pounce at any moment.

Hey, hey, let’s not have another fight just one day after the last one, alright?

At least both of them seem to understand that. It doesn’t look like it’s going to escalate into a fight. Or maybe Toudou has realized she doesn’t stand a chance and is just gritting her teeth and bearing it.

“Can they really get along…?”

“Probably not.”

Hey, Kiriya. Even if it’s a lie, you could at least say they will be fine…