Although She's a Beautiful Student Council President Who Maintains Her Coolness Towards Everyone, She Wants to Act Spoiled and Lovesick Around Him, Who is Misunderstood by Everyone as a Delinquent - Chapter 35: Moe and Realization

“Is it okay around here…?”

“No, no, you don’t have to move to the corner… Is it such a secret conversation?”

“Yes, I can’t let anyone else hear it.”

Moe stopped in the shade of a tree at the corner of the school.

It was currently lunchtime, and there was no one else in this secluded spot.

When she brought him here, it must have been about something that could only be discussed in private.

“I just want to confirm something… Is that okay?”

“It’s fine, but… what is it?”

“…You’re not dating Kujo Shizuku, right?”

“Yeah, we’ve just known each other for a long time… But why would you ask that?”

“Well, if you were dating Kujo Shizuku, I couldn’t proceed with this conversation.”

At this point, Riku noticed the negative emotion in Moe’s voice when she mentioned “Kujo Shizuku.”

“Then, I’ll just say it directly… I want you to date me, Senpai.”

“…Date?”

She said it without any hesitation or tension.

“Yes, as in a romantic relationship. If it’s impossible, I don’t mind if it’s just a ‘fake’ relationship.”

“I can’t keep up with what you’re saying… Why would you ask me that? We’ve only known each other for two days.”

Riku understood that Moe didn’t have feelings for him. There must be some other purpose for her request.

“It has to be you, Senpai, or it won’t make sense. It won’t.”

“Meaning…?”

“Of course, I won’t ask you to date me for free. If you agree to date me, I’ll give you anything you want. If it’s money, I can give you billions. How about a luxury car? You can get your license later.”

There’s no way a student could do that. As if reading Riku’s thoughts, Moe preemptively said…

“I can make it happen. Have you heard the names Tachibana conglomerate or Tachibana Company?”

Moe grinned smugly, and rightfully so. After all, Riku had heard those names before.

“Tachibana… Wait, are you the daughter… of that family?”

“Yes. That’s why I can easily share it with you. If you’re still worried, I can even write up a contract.”

Moe continued the conversation with a light tone, but her eyes were serious. She was genuinely trying to negotiate.

“Besides… you can date a cute younger girl like me. It’s all good for you, isn’t it?”

“…Well, I won’t deny that.”

“Right? If we become a couple, we can naturally do things like a couple. I won’t refuse.”

At first glance, there would be no reason to refuse. Just by dating, she would grant him his wishes and they could act like a couple.

It seemed like a perfect deal… but sweet deals often have a catch. And there was something that proved it.

“Hey, I still haven’t been told… What’s your goal, Moe?”

“Does it really matter…?”

“…Tell me.”

“…!”

Riku’s tone and expression changed in an instant. It was clear that anger was the source.

“You don’t have to make such a scary face…”

“Moe, are you… plotting something to bring down Shizuku? I can’t imagine what, but I figured that out when Shizuku was mentioned at the beginning.”

“…”

“Besides, offering to grant my wishes just to date you is already strange.”

Riku took control of the conversation, his eyes sharp and expressing his thoughts without holding back. He confronted Moe head-on, refusing to back down.

He couldn’t afford to let this important matter slip away. He had to settle it right here, right now.

“I’ll ask you one more time. What’s your goal, Moe?”

Riku slowly stepped forward, closing the distance between him and Moe. In the process, he unconsciously gave her a glare.

But, as if to push back against Riku, Moe let her emotions take over and uttered those words, lowering her voice more than ever before.

“I hate her so much… I can’t stand her,.. Kujo Shizuku…”

“…What?”

“She’s the only one I can’t forgive… She acquired my mother’s company through dirty means after we worked so hard to build it up, and even got a boyfriend-like guy so easily… Everything always goes her way…”

Moe’s voice trembled, and her hands clenched tightly. It was clear from her attitude that she was desperately trying to suppress her anger.

“Hey, it’s wrong to hate Shizuku for that. Companies that lose in competition get acquired. That’s the basics of society, and it just happened that the company that acquired yours was Shizuku’s. And, wasn’t it her parents who acquired your company, not Shizuku?”

“Kujo Shizuku acquired my company on purpose, just to harass me… She can easily do that because she has the know-how…”

“…Hah.”

There was no concrete evidence, but Moe believed it wholeheartedly. Riku could only be dumbfounded by her reasoning.

Moe was still in middle school… It was natural for her to be mentally immature. Riku, a high school student, was still quite immature himself.

“That’s why I want you, Senpai. I just need to take the guy Shizuku’s after. Then I can return the humiliation from back then, doubled or even tripled…”

“…Do you think I’ll agree after hearing your goal?”

“You’re not going out with Kujo Shizuku, are you…? So why? You only need to go out with me, and you’ll get various things granted, right?”

“I’m really being underestimated… I won’t be manipulated just because some favors are thrown my way. Not even with the best treatment.”

To Riku, Shizuku was an irreplaceable friend. She had filled the gaping hole in his heart when he lost his parents at a young age.

There was only one course of action for Riku to take regarding Shizuku—protect her.

“Why do you care so much…? She’s a dirty woman…”

“OI, Stop bad mouthing Shizuku any further.”

“!”

At that moment, Riku revealed the anger he had been holding back. He couldn’t stand having Shizuku, whom he knew well, badmouthed without understanding her.

“Your anger towards Shizuku is just misplaced resentment. Do you have any evidence that Shizuku used dirty methods? Is there any proof that Shizuku was the one who acquired your company?”

“…”

“If your company was acquired, then acquire it back. You could win the competition. I know it’s not easy, but controlling me like a puppet won’t accomplish anything.”

“I… I understand that. But I can’t calm down unless I do this…”

Moe’s faint voice slipped out. Still, Riku didn’t stop.

“You just don’t know Shizuku. Shizuku helps people who are in trouble. That’s the kind of person she is. I can say this with confidence. I’m willing to take responsibility.”

Riku desperately wanted to convey this to Moe. That Shizuku wasn’t that kind of person.

Even if Shizuku had acquired one of Moe’s companies, it wasn’t to harass her.

“I can understand feeling hatred, but if you want to get back at her or prove yourself, there are better ways. Bringing her down won’t benefit you. It will only make you look like a dirty person.”

If they tried to bring each other down, it would be counterproductive. They wouldn’t be able to enjoy their school life. There would undoubtedly be irreparable trouble at some point.

“…That’s all I want to say. No matter how many times you say it, I won’t go along with it.”

“I won’t be responsible if you regret it.”

“No way I’ll regret it if it’s for Moe’s sake.”

“You’re so stupid… being so kind to someone like me…”

Moe understood that she was just resentful. That’s probably why she had no choice but to act like this, with nowhere else for her emotions to go.

“I don’t intend to be kind at all.”

It was just as Riku finished saying that.

Kiin-koong-kaang-koong

The chime signaling the end of lunch break rang loudly across the schoolyard.

“Wow, it’s already this late… Sorry for getting emotional earlier, Moe.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“I’m glad you said that. Well, I’ll be going now.”

“…Yes. Thank you for your time.”

With those final words exchanged, Riku parted ways with Moe.

For a moment, he thought he saw a somewhat refreshed expression on Moe’s face as she left.

As Riku headed back to the classroom, the conversation with Moe made him more certain of his feelings.

(To get so worked up like that… That must be the true nature of my feelings…)