Why Is the Prettiest Girl in School Trying to Talk to a Loner Like Me during Lunch Break? - Chapter 126 - Sophistry

Chapter 126 – Sophistry

“W-w-what!? Andou-kun just declared he’ll ‘make school entry and exit free’! Can we take this as an official campaign promise!?”

“Campaign promise…?”

“Hey, you! Do you even understand what you’re saying? This may be a debate, but we’re not allowed to lie in our statements! Which means if you get elected, you’ll be obligated to keep that promise about ‘making school entry and exit free’!”

“So what? Is making school entry and exit free really such a big deal?”

“Of course it is! If we allow free access, it increases security risks, potential for student injuries, and encourages skipping class! Besides, even if you become student council president, you fundamentally can’t implement policies that change school regulations. Making promises you can’t keep violates election rules!”

“That’s correct… As intellectual glas—I mean, as Ishida-kun points out, during student council elections, candidates’ public statements are treated as campaign promises with an obligation to fulfill them after winning.

This rule exists because of a past student council president named ‘Kan’yama Hatoo’ who rode to victory on empty promises and then broke every single one after being elected. Therefore, Andou-kun’s statement becomes an official campaign promise—but does Andou-kun actually intend to keep it?”

(I see, that’s why Ishida was so furious… But wait, this basically means I can say whatever I want as long as I don’t win, right? My chances of winning are already near zero—my real goal is for Asakura-san to win so I can join her student council! All I need to do is tank Ishida’s support rate… So since I’m not winning anyway, time to spout complete BS!) (Andou)

“Of course, I’ll do everything in my power to make it happen!”

“””WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!””” ←Student audience

“You idiot! Do you seriously understand what you’re saying!? The student council president doesn’t even have the authority to change school regulations!”

“Hold on there, Ishida-san… Look at all these students supporting my proposal. Doesn’t that mean everyone wants what I’m promising? If the students feel this strongly, shouldn’t a student council president at least try to make it happen, even if it seems impossible? Or are you the type who’d become president and do nothing because ‘it’s impossible anyway’? Not me! Even if the president lacks direct authority to change rules, I’ll petition the school administration to make it possible!

Sure, it might be impossible—but it also ‘might be possible’! If you want to be student council president, act on ‘what might be possible’ rather than ‘what can’t be done’! That’s what being a student representative really means!”

“Grrrr…”

“This is incredible! Who could have predicted this turn of events… Ishida-kun is being utterly demolished in debate by some complete unknown! Just listen to this crowd reaction!”

“””WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!””” ←Student audience

“This is insane! I forgot who he is, but he’s destroying Ishida!”

“Who is that guy!? First time I’ve seen that intellectual blockhead speechless!”

“I think… he’s the one dating Asakura-san… what was his name? Whatever, he’s amazing!”

“What an unexpected development! Is Ishida-kun really going to lose like this? The debate’s dark horse emerges! His name is—uh, what was it again?”

“It’s Andou! Hah, how’s that feel, Ishida…? We ‘loners’ are experts at making excuses to escape situations, which makes us the ultimate sophistry machines. With no one around us, our constant sparring partner is the ‘reality’ called ‘myself’!”

(Compared to the daily barrage of ‘jealous glares from normies crushing on Asakura-san,’ you’re weaker than a slime! I’ll demolish this whole debate with pure sophistry!) (Andou)

“B-but! Free access means suspicious individuals could enter campus! Plus, students leaving could get into accidents!”

“Then just make it free during lunch break only. Besides, school already has open access during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal. Adding lunch break wouldn’t make much difference.”

“What happens when problems actually occur!?”

“By that logic, we’d never do anything. Accidents and intruders could happen during morning hours too. Instead of ‘restricting’ students out of fear, shouldn’t we ‘trust’ that our school doesn’t have students who’d abuse that freedom?”

“””WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!””” ←Student audience

“Damn it… Nothing but idealistic drivel. This is getting us nowhere!”

“Well well, what an unexpected turn! Let’s hear from our other participant—what’s Asakura-san’s position on this?”

“Eh, me!?”

“Tch……”

(Current situation: the venue overwhelmingly supports his ‘pro-opening faction’ over my ‘anti-opening faction’… However, if she sides with my ‘anti-opening’ position, I’ll have an opening for a counterattack!

And even with an opposing view…) (Ishida)

“Asakura-san…”

(Damn! If Asakura-san voices ‘anti-opening’ views, it’ll kill the momentum we’ve built… But if she supports ‘pro-opening,’ that becomes her campaign promise too, which causes problems later! Unlike me, she actually needs to win the presidency.

Which means Asakura-san can only give an ‘anti-opening’ opinion here!) (Andou)

“I believe—”

“……”

(Which way!?) (Andou and Ishida)

“I don’t think there’s a need to open the school.”

“I-I see!”

“Tch…”

(This shifts momentum back to Ishida’s position…) (Andou)

“However, I also think dismissing student opinions outright, as Ishida-kun is doing, is inappropriate for a candidate.”

“What?”

“Oh?”

“Everyone’s lost sight of the core issue. We shouldn’t be debating whether to allow free access during lunch. The sole topic is that ‘the cafeteria is too expensive.'”

“Oh right, that’s true…”

[Next Episode Preview]

“Everyone, thanks for always supporting us! It’s the Class Rep.

Now then, what’s in store for next time on ‘Nazekanno’?”

The girl who’s been called airheaded throughout ‘Nazekanno’ finally reveals her true capabilities!

Witness the power of the ‘school’s number one beauty’!

The ‘perfect beauty’s’ rhetoric rocks the debate hall! -suka!

Next time on Nazekanno: “One Coin” – Please watch it -suka!

“Andou-kun, finish them off!”

* The preview contents may be false previews.

Translation Notes:

– Sophistry (屁理屈) – “Fart logic”; twisted reasoning that sounds logical but is fallacious

– Kan’yama Hatoo – Parody name evoking corrupt politicians who break promises