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 50: Progress

“Ah, it’s the third day since Shizuku-senpai has been absent from school. You… you must have done something.”

“Hey, that’s rude to assume about a friend.”

Kenta casted a meaningful and intense gaze. Riku, on the other hand, had no idea why he was being suspected. In fact, he had felt that he had been getting along well with Shizuku.

“Because… Shizuku-senpai, who has never been late or absent, has been absent for three days! What’s going on? I don’t know the reason for her absence, and you don’t either, do you?”

“Yeah. She avoids answering when I ask for the reason… Maybe she hates me now…”

“Stop being stupid. That would never happen to you.”

“How do you know that…? I mean, there’s a possibility that I did something unconsciously.”

It’s understandable that Riku thought like that. Anyone would feel the same, not wanting to be disliked by the first girlfriend they’ve ever had. An unprecedented anxiety striked him.

“If Shizuku-senpai disliked you, she would have dumped you quickly. She’s Shizuku-senpai, you know?”

“Well, that might be true, but…”

“Besides, you’re in contact with her through emails, right? She wouldn’t reply to someone she hates.”

“But… she only gives brief answers to my emails. That’s why I’m hesitant to email her…”

“What do you mean by brief?”

“Like when I asked, ‘Are you feeling okay?’ and she just replied with ‘Yes.'”

When there’s no time to spare, email replies can be curt. It’s only natural since they’re replying within a limited time. Riku thinks he should reduce the frequency of email exchanges to give Shizuku more time.

“Well, I don’t know what her usual responses are like, but… To sum it up, there’s no doubt that something happened to her, right?”

“Yeah, that’s why I want to help Shizuku… But she says she can’t tell me because of ‘family circumstances’…”

Both Shizuku and Rinka reply with the same content: “I can’t tell you because it’s a family matter.”

As long as Riku can’t grasp anything, he’s at a dead end.

“Family matters, huh… It would be nice if someone who knows something could step in.”

“Someone who knows something… Ah.”

Kenta’s casual remark reminded Riku of someone who might know something…

That person might be able to break through this situation.

===

During lunch break, Riku visited the middle school classroom and made contact with a certain someone. He wanted to gather even a little information.

“I see, so that’s the reason Shizuku-senpai and Rinka-san are absent…”

“If you know anything, please tell me… Moe”

Riku changed the location to a secluded corner of the schoolyard so they could be alone, and explained the situation to Moe Tachibana, who was from the Tachibana conglomerate.

He thought that Moe, who had been viewing the Kujo family as a rival, might know something about their household as a fellow conglomerate member.

“I know it’s presumptuous, but even if Moe tells you the circumstances, I don’t think there’s anything you can do.”

“…Even so, it’s better than doing nothing.”

“You’re quite forceful… Riku-senpai.”

Moe, who seemed somewhat impressed, widened her eyes and showed her white teeth as if she had come up with a good idea.

“Then, Moe will assert her rightful claim. In exchange for telling you what you want to know, Moe asks that you listen to her request just once, without the right to refuse.”

“Alright.”

“You’re quick to answer, huh? I might even order you to break up with Shizuku-senpai.”

“…I’m prepared for that too.”

If he said such a thing, there’s no doubt that Shizuku would be disappointed.

“I won’t break up with her.” We made that promise…

However, Riku wanted to save Shizuku so badly that he was willing to break even that important promise. He wanted to be her strength.

If there’s a chance to save Shizuku… this determination was absolutely necessary.

“Admirable determination… Then, let’s consider our negotiation settled, and I’ll tell you what I know,” Moe said, her eyes sharp and focused as she finished speaking. The atmosphere became heavy, as if it had changed… and the sound disappeared.

This was the signal to start talking about the main subject.

“…The Kujo family has a certain tradition. It’s something that concerns you, Riku-senpai.”

“Me…?”

“The tradition is to arrange a marriage with someone of a family that matches the status of the Kujo family.”

“…What? What’s that all about?!”

The words that came out of Moe’s mouth were undoubtedly true. However… for Riku, this was new information and it was so shocking that he raised his voice.

It’s an unthinkable tradition for ordinary people, but for those in prestigious families, it’s quite common.

“I thought the tradition had disappeared somehow since there was no problem with you and Shizuku-senpai dating. But looking at the current situation, it seems that Shizuku-senpai was just hiding it from her family.”

“…In other words, my relationship with Shizuku has been discovered by her family?”

“That’s most likely the case… And this is the important part: Shizuku-senpai, who broke the tradition, will be severely punished.”

“…”

“Breaking the tradition is synonymous with committing a crime… The worst punishment is disinheritance. She would be cut off from her parents.”

“What…?”

While frowning and showing disbelief, Riku tried to send Shizuku a message on his phone. However, Moe held out her hand in a “wait” gesture.

“Trying to contact Shizuku-senpai is pointless. She’s probably had her means of communication cut off.”

“But… I got a reply from Shizuku’s phone—”

“—A cold reply, right?”

“What!? How did you…?!”

Moe asserted over Riku’s words.

“It’s because a servant is replying for her. Most likely, it’s done by Shizuku-senpai’s order. If she hasn’t been in contact for days, you would be worried, right?”

“Ah…”

“Since it’s not a reply from Shizuku-senpai herself, it can’t be helped that it’s cold. If a servant replies, they probably won’t impersonate her so that it doesn’t affect her.”

“…”

“This is everything I can tell you. Some of it is based on my speculation, so you don’t need to take everything as absolute truth.”

After Moe finished her long explanation, she blinked deeply and looked at Riku with a serious gaze.

“…Riku-senpai. I think it’s best for you to leave it to time. I am not being sarcastic.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Rinka-san, who has no reason to be absent, hasn’t come to school. She’s probably spending time trying to do something about it… This issue involves you to some extent. Surely, Rinka-san will pass the baton to you.”

“…I understand. I’ll trust you, Moe.”

As Riku nodded, a strong wind blew, shaking his body. The leaves and long grass on the ground swayed as if to prove that the word “trust” was indeed true.

“Whether you trust or not is up to you, Riku-senpai… Now that our conversation is over, as I said at the beginning, you’ll listen to one thing I have to say, right?”

“…Yeah.”

Riku watched Moe’s thin mouth with bated breath as she spoke. Everything would change with just one statement. Whether it was from tension or not, time seemed to stand still, feeling longer than usual.

Riku watched Moe’s thin-lipped mouth with bated breath as she spoke. Everything would change with just one statement. Whether it was from tension or not, time seemed to stand still, feeling longer than usual.

In such a moment, Moe made an irrefutable request.

“Since I’ve given you all this information, please make sure to save Shizuku-senpai.”

“…Huh?”

That request would probably take anyone aback. Despite having set the condition of “I’ll listen to anything,” Moe made a statement with no apparent benefit for herself.

“W-what’s with that surprised expression…? It’s not that I was moved by your determination or anything; I just don’t want the person I consider my rival to disappear. You understand, right?”

“…Thank you, really, Moe. I owe you…”

“If you want to thank me, do it after you save Shizuku-senpai. Well then, I’ll take my leave now!”

As Riku showed a smile, Moe’s cheeks turned slightly red, and she ran off as if defeated by her embarrassment. There was no doubt that obtaining information from Moe had significantly advanced the situation.