It's a Chastity-Reversed World, But It's Different From What I Imagined? - 29

Chapter 29: Student Council’s POV : 1 Student Council President’s Edition

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【Reika Toudou】

After finishing the student council duties, Kiyoe placed tea in front of Reika.

“Thank you, Kiyoe-san.”

“No, not at all. Recently, the workload has been heavy. Starting with the entrance ceremony, then club recruitment, managing the athletic club tournaments, and now, with test season approaching, preparations for the summer events. Many documents have been submitted.”

They divided up the mountain of paperwork among the four of them. With Kuramine, a first-year, expected to join, manpower had to be taken away in order to teach her the work. They wanted to reduce the load as much as possible before that happened.

Originally, they would welcome two first-years at the same time and, within about a month, train them to become effective members. But it was still uncertain just how capable Kuramine would be. On top of that, it was also necessary to select the other candidate, which made the workload heavier than usual.

“It really hurts that the student who was second place declined the council work.”

“Yes. It seems she is aiming to become a librarian, so she wishes to join the Book Club. The Book Club has connections with the Writer’s Club, Cultural Studies Club, and History Club. Considering her future, it is the correct decision.”

At Kiyoe’s report, Reika once again found herself troubled over the difficulty of the selection process.

“..If only a boy would join the student council. Then we’d have a feast for the eyes and our work would surely go more smoothly.”

“Ojou-sama, I believe in that case something else would ‘go more smoothly,’ and the work would actually fall behind. Moreover, we cannot show male students male-related information. There are a number of materials in the student council that should not be shown to them.”

“True enough. We are still on the wholesome side, but the blacklists compiled by past councils are not something we can reveal.”

Both let out a deep sigh.

“Maybe I should seek comfort from Korehito-san?”

“I think that would be wise. Occasionally spending time with your fiancé could deepen your bond. If his existence becomes Ojou-sama’s comfort, it will surely soothe your heart.”

“Yes, I’ll try contacting him. Kiyoe-san, you were going to attend a tea party at lunch today, weren’t you?”

“Yes. As I am serving as club president of the Young Ladies Club, please excuse me for today.”

The Young Ladies Club was a club for learning and practicing the refinements of ladies and gentlemen. Had she not become student council president, Reika would also have joined. 

But because she entered at the top of her class, her student council duties consumed her time, and she could not. Kiyoe, efficient as always, had assisted Reika in her work while in council, and in the meantime had risen to the position of club president.

“It can’t be helped then. I’ll have lunch here while finishing up the rest of the work.”

“Understood.”

They worked right up until the morning homeroom bell. Then, after classes, Reika returned to the student council room at noon. She did feel tired, but it was rewarding, and she did not dislike it.

“Recently, my chest feels heavy and my shoulders get stiff.”

Knock knock.

As she labored alone, there came a knock at the student council room door. Sometimes, handling visitors was part of the work too. It was troublesome, but unfortunately today, no one else was around to help.

“Come iiiin~”

She stopped her work and went to open the door. Standing there was Kurose Yoru, whom she had met just a few days ago. She had heard he was ranked number one in the popularity vote among first-year boys. Apparently, girls of the same age found him too erotic to approach.

“Oh my, if it isn’t Kurose-kun?”

“President Toudou. Are you alone today?”

Her heart skipped a beat at the question. Right. It was just her and Kurose-kun here.

“Yes, yes. I’m alone today. What brings you here?”

Thinking about being alone with him made her happy, and she found herself peeking up at his face from below. Even when she moved close enough for their bodies to nearly touch, Kurose-kun did not look displeased—rather, he blushed, looking adorable.

“Hm? Is something the matter?”

Seeing such a cute, embarrassed face just makes me want to tease him more.

“Ah, um! I was thinking of starting a club!”

Oh, he changed the subject. Well, it can’t be helped. I’ll listen.

“Oh? You want to create a club? And a male like Kurose-kun is the one starting it?”

“Yes. Is that strange?”

Kurose-kun’s anxious look was lovely as well.

“No, no, not at all. It’s wonderful that a male is motivated to do so. But, are you familiar with the regulations for establishing a club?”

She invited him in to hear more details and served tea.

“Yes. Three or more members and a supervising teacher, right?”

Male students almost never ran clubs themselves. Even when they did, the clubs existed in name only. The budget allocations had to favor them simply because they were male, so frankly, it was not welcome.

“That’s correct. So, what kind of club do you intend to create, Kurose-kun?”

Feeling tired and bothered, she thought she would hear him out and then reject it.

“A club to cheer on girls.”

“Huh?”

She made a dumb sound, unable to understand his words.

“To cheer on girls?”

She repeated it aloud, still unable to grasp the meaning.

A boy cheering for girls? Does that mean flattering them? Hoping to be indulged, to secure better matches, perhaps?

“That’s right. Its name will be the Men’s Cheer Team.”

The name was so on-the-nose, she wondered if he was mocking her. What was he trying to do? After all, men already had state-sanctioned preferential treatment. They didn’t even need to work. She couldn’t imagine what benefit he would get.

“We’ll go cheer at sports tournaments, support cultural activities, and even individually support girls who ask for it.”

The words he spoke were genuinely about cheering. There was none of the hidden meaning she had been reading into it.

“Ufufu… Fufufufufu… Ahahaha. How amusing. That’s very amusing.”

Because he said it with such straightforward eyes, she couldn’t help laughing. When was the last time she had laughed so much?

Ah, how ridiculous.

But did he understand what this meant? If boys said they would cheer, a mountain of girls would leap at the offer. Athletic club girls especially would flock to him in droves.

So, she decided to test him a little.

“That means you’ll cheer for me as well, right?”

“For the student council president? Well, if you wish, we’ll cheer for you. But I plan to add one condition.”

“A condition?”

At the word “condition,” she felt disappointed—so there was a catch after all. Surely he would demand something unfavorable to girls, bending things to his will. There were men who were arrogant and selfish like that, shallow and repulsive.

“Yes. We’ll only cheer for girls that the boys want to cheer for. If a member doesn’t want to, then we won’t.”

Hearing him declare this so confidently left her stunned.

There was no hidden catch at all. What’s the deal with those eyes free of malice? How many battlefields had I braved against corrupt adults to carry the name Reika Toudou?

And yet… He was so young, so pure. The thoughts she had just entertained were nothing but foolish and laughable.

Enough. I should stop doubting him.

“Arrogant, selfish, egocentric, willful… What an utterly ridiculous club.”

Perhaps she was laughing when she said it. She spoke aloud what she had been thinking in her heart. But it was she who had been arrogant, selfish, and self-centered.

What a bad boy, stirring up my woman’s heart like this.

“Ahh… But… It’s fascinating. While pretending to flatter women, you claim it’s men who do the choosing. How truly selfish.”

I can’t hold back… I don’t want to. But which side are you on?

“But that’s why it’s so precious. With your looks alone, it’s more than enough to make women want to be chosen. I wonder… Just how much of this is calculated by you?”

Is it part of his calculations? Or he’s a natural?

“Very well. As long as you meet the conditions, I will recognize it as a legitimate club.”

“Thank you very much!!!”

The way he bowed his head so happily and easily—it made her want to tease him even more.

“Fufufu, you really are fascinating. Tell me, Kurose-kun… Hypothetically speaking, if I were to ask you right now for your support, what would you do for me?”

I wonder how he’ll respond to my teasing?

After thinking for a while, he suddenly started walking. He stopped after circling halfway around the sofa.

“Reika-san. You’ve worked hard.”

A surprise attack!!! A complete surprise attack!!! To hug me from behind like this!!!! Even Korehito Ijuuin-san had never done such a thing!!!

“Eh? Eh? Ehhhhh?! N-no, you mustn’t—”

To whisper gently into my ear in such a seductive voice…That’s cheating.

Her shoulder stiffness and fatigue vanished in an instant! Yes, yes. This was dangerous. Very dangerous.

“I’m always cheering for you. Thanks to President Reika’s continuous efforts in running the student council, we can come to school without worry.”

If he says that to me, I’ll get serious too… Even though I’m the older one, the one who should be the big sister… How unfair.

He continued holding her close long enough for his warmth to sink into her.

I can’t take this anymore.

“How was it?”

“Eh? Hah! N-no, um. That was quite the performance indeed…”

After he left the student council room, Reika sat there alone, dazed, unable to return to her work.

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