When I read the heart of the never-smiling princess, for some reason she had already fallen head over heels in love for me. - v1 Chapter 18

Chapter 18: The Princess’ exceptional idea

“This is indeed a grave situation indeed.”

It was the afternoon after the greeting campaign day. The regular meeting of the student council executive committee in the student council room began with Saeki’s serious remark.

“No one greets us back. It’s proof that the student council is being looked down upon.”

“It’s not about being looked down upon; it’s just that greeting people back at this age is rather rare, wouldn’t it?” I suggested.

“Of course, I know that. Even with that in mind, our campaign needs to show results at all costs no matter what.”

As always, Saeki’s words were harsh, but I had to admit she was well-aware of that fact and thinking a step ahead as well, as expected of the vice president.

Just then, Jiro spoke up.

“Moreover, won’t they start greeting back one day as if we just keep at it?”

“I returned greetings whenever they were given to me. Isn’t that’s just normal?”

“Well, only in your case.”

“Only in your case? huh?.”

Maybe Jiro’s words echoed Saeki’s sentiment, which annoyed her. Jiro shrugged and looked at Hoshino next.

“Then let’s hear from you then. Did you greet the student council back last year, Hoshino?”

“Uuugh, For me, I, um, was too embarrassed, so I couldn’t do it,” Hoshino answered softly, shrinking back. Well, that’s understandable given it’s her.

“How about you, Saeki?”

“I greeted them back properly. Partly because I knew some of the seniors in the student council back then.”

“And what about you, Takaki?”

“I didn’t. Same reason as Hoshino.”

“Then, how about it President?”

“I greeted them quite properly.”

“I see. So, half of us did greet them back back. I guess there are people who would indeed do it.”

Those three seemed like special cases, but saying this right now would halt the discussions, so I kept quiet.

“If there are people who can greet back, it’s important to make sure they can do it comfortably. Also like, thanking them properly on returning our greetings.”

“That’s indeed a good point, Jiro. Let’s think along those lines. First, we need to create a situation or atmosphere where greeting isn’t embarrassing—”

“Um, I have a question,”

Right then Hoshino interrupted, something which was rare enough to surprise everyone. Even Saeki was more surprised than being angry. Hoshino, feeling the intensity, shrank back again a little.

“What is it, Myu-chan?” Minami asked her in a kind voice.

“Myu …. So, you mean to ask, why do we have to do the greeting campaign?”

Everyone froze. Why indeed?

Saeki was the first to react, tapping her fingers ‘ton, ton’ on the table.

“You know why don’t you, Hoshino. It’s a tradition passed down by successive student councils right till us.”

“Which means, that’s the only reason, right?”

“That’s…”

Saeki’s words faltered, her brow furrowed. Hoshino looked around nervously but still continued.

“I understand the importance of greetings… but making people feel that they have the right to return it back doesn’t sit right, I think.”

“It’s not about forcing anyone. Some people do it voluntarily, so we’re just trying to make it comfortable for them,” Jiro explained.

“For those people, yes, but for others, those who can’t do it out of embarrassment, they will be treated as people who have less empathy. Umm, like as Hiro-kun earlier mentioned, as in my case, so about greeting…”

“You leveled up to using my name!” As Jiro interrupted excitedly, it made Hoshino flinch and stop her words.

“Ah, sorry. What were you saying about greeting them?”

“Um, I think if we only thank those who greet us back, it might make those who can’t greet no matter what, feel excluded. Treating someone in a special way, isn’t good at all.”

“If we continue to worry about even those small stuff, then there will be no end to it. And first of all, it’s their fault if they can’t return our greetings back,” Saeki retorted.

“Nope, I understand what Hoshino is saying,” I added, feeling Saeki’s icy glare as I entered the conversation. Speaking up despite her glare made me feel a little uneasy, but I continued.

“For Jiro and Saeki, it might seem very normal, but there are many people who find it hard to do even the most normal of things. They don’t ignore it; they feel inferior because they can’t do it. Comparing them to others who are normal, and increasing that inferiority even further isn’t the right approach, is what Hoshino is reying to say, right?”

When I looked at Hoshino, she nodded vigorously.

“Making people feel obligated to greet because others are doing it isn’t the essence of greeting. Even if they do it for a while, they’ll stop one following day. If that were to be the end result, then it might be better not to do it at all.”
[TL: Damn, I did that, moreover with a bright smile. I never knew or even considered about such stuff.]

Expressing Hoshino’s viewpoint came naturally to me. Her values resonated with mine.

Not being able to do something others find easy to do, that inability can become incredibly painful. Especially in an atmosphere like the school, where your rank in the social hierarchy often depends on what you can and cannot do. For people like Jiro and Saeki, who are at the top, they don’t know and understand the complexity of this that much, as it’s easy for them to overlook, but for people like me and Hoshino, who struggle with many things already, it’s a constant source of bitterness.

I’m sure Hoshino has faced similar experiences like me.

“Saying it’s better not to do at all, that’s like asking to keep the cart in front of the horse, Takaki,” Saeki countered.

“Of course, that’s an extreme solution. But if we’re just thank them and be satisfied with the same people greeting us back, our acknowledgement as a student council will lower eventually. Instead, we should aim to change the mindset of those who don’t greet back. Make greeting a fun thing to do.”

“Then do you have any ideas?”

“Nope, not really…”

I wanted to come up with a brilliant plan, but unfortunately for my brain, it can’t keep up till that far and make a plan for it. I expected a sharp retort from Saeki, but she remained silent, her brow furrowed, seemingly lost in thought.

An awkward silence settled over the student council room, which was broken by Minami san.

“It was the right choice to have Myu-chan join us. Having diverse opinions is healthy after all.”

Because of Minami’s sudden praise. “Th-th-that’s not a big deal…!” made Hoshino flustered instead.

Saeki, looking absolutely displeased, propped her cheek on her hand.

“I get what Hoshino is saying, but what do we do then? And just to say, don’t even think about the scenario on not doing it anymore, the school authorities will not accept that solution as an option at all.”

“I never said we would be stopping it. I agree with Takaki that making students want to greet us on their own is the ideal outcome. Let’s implement that.”

“But Takaki doesn’t have any ideas.”

“Leave it to me. I have a brilliant idea,” Minami said confidently.

Uh-ugh, somehow, I have a really bad feeling about this.