Chapter 182 – The greatest class president
On Wednesday morning, before class started, Ichinose brought Yukio to the entrance of her classroom. He never imagined that the reliance Ichinose mentioned would turn out to be this.
Initially, Yukio thought they would go to their respective classes after breakfast. However, during breakfast, Ichinose mentioned that she planned to confess her past to her classmates.
Her reasoning was incredibly sound. She said that since her classmates were so worried about her, she couldn't keep hiding the truth from them. At the very least, she needed to let them understand the whole story. But the thought of recounting her past made her anxious.
She didn't know if her classmates would continue to support her once they knew about her shoplifting past. Thinking about even slightly negative outcomes made her very nervous.
So Ichinose requested Yukio to accompany her. Without him, she might not have the courage to climb out of this little pit.
With her plea laid out so plainly, what else could Yukio do but sigh and agree?
Indeed, Ichinose was just as Yukio had analyzed the night before: she would put others before herself, lacking motivation for her own sake. She could help others climb out of deep abysses but couldn't climb out of a small pit herself.
However, this was Ichinose Honami. If she weren't like this, Yukio wouldn't care so much about her. Thus, he agreed gladly.
When Ichinose's classmates saw her return to the classroom, they were naturally delighted. Her best friends, Shiranami and Kobashi, immediately ran up and hugged her from both sides.
"That's great! Honami, it's so good that you're okay."
"What's wrong with your eyes? They're a bit swollen. Do you need to go to the school infirmary?"
Meanwhile, Kanzaki first directed his gaze to Yukio at the classroom door, thinking, as expected, Yukio had managed to bring Ichinose back.
Handing the situation over to Yukio last night seemed to have been the right move.
Ichinose was deeply touched. She scanned the room and saw not only Shiranami and Kobashi but also the rest of her classmates looking at her with genuine happiness.
This made her realize that she couldn't keep hiding the truth. How could she face everyone's trust if she did?
After the alternating warm and cold compresses, her eyes had mostly de-swollen, now shining with a strong light. Without hesitation, she smiled, patted Shiranami and Kobashi's hands, and walked confidently to the podium.
Standing there, facing the gaze of her entire class, Ichinose's heart trembled slightly. Even though she had been forgiven, even though she had walked out of the darkness, would everyone still accept her?
A girl who could confidently help others found herself hesitant and lacking confidence when it came to her own issues.
The class fell silent, curious to hear what Ichinose was about to say.
The classroom was enveloped in silence. Shiranami looked at Ichinose with worry, Kobashi twirled her fingers nervously, deeply concerned, Kanzaki adjusted his glasses, and Shibata perked up his ears.
Facing everyone's anticipation, Ichinose felt a surge of strength growing inside her, gradually dispelling her inner confusion.
It was like a person who had fallen off a cliff, grasping at a rock at the last moment. The expectations of her classmates were like protruding rocks on the cliff face.
They allowed Ichinose to slowly climb up. When she reached the edge of the cliff with no more footholds available, all she needed was her own strength to pull herself up, yet a sliver of hesitation remained in her heart.
Naturally, without any hesitation, Ichinose turned her head slightly and glanced at Yukio at the classroom door. Yukio nodded gently. Unlike the expectant gazes of her classmates, his eyes were filled only with encouragement and support.
It was as if Yukio had descended from above the cliff and pulled Ichinose up from the edge.
In her mind, like a revolving lantern, scenes began to replay: Mrs. Kobayashi's forgiveness, her sister's apology, and her mother's guidance.
Finally, her thoughts settled on the image of Yukio hugging her, gently patting her back, and wiping her tears.
She couldn't hesitate any longer. The past was behind her, and a new chapter was about to begin.
"Everyone!" Ichinose's expression was sincere, her eyes more resolute than ever: "The rumors circulating these past few days are not slander. I did indeed do something in the past that was hard to forgive."
Shiranami froze, Kobashi covered her mouth in shock, Shibata was incredulous, and Kanzaki instinctively stood up, wanting to stop Ichinose from revealing something that could affect the whole class.
But before he could act, Ichinose began to tell her story: her impoverished family, her sister's birthday, her mother's illness, and the stolen butterfly hairpin.
Ichinose hid nothing, explaining every detail and the entire story clearly. The whole class fell into a profound silence.
After openly sharing everything, Ichinose bowed deeply to her classmates: "Although after that, Mrs. Kobayashi forgave me because my mother took me to apologize."
"My sister, who once accused me of being a criminal, also forgave me. My mother, who I hurt the most, forgave me as well."
"The matter should have ended there, but I didn't want to hide anything from all of you. You all worked tirelessly for me, looking for the culprit behind the slanderous letter, and dispelling rumors on the school forum for me."
"I am deeply grateful for all of this, but this was not slander or rumor. Don't worry about me. I will take full responsibility for my actions and atone for this with my behavior."
Under Ichinose's gentle yet powerful speech, everyone was profoundly moved.
You could call her a poor girl, mock her for resorting to theft, and even criticize her as unfit to lead the class or serve as class president.
But you could never deny that Ichinose Honami was a kind, angelic girl.
"No, that's not it!" Chihiro Shiranami was the first to react, standing up with a tearful voice: "Even if it wasn't slander or rumor, I still love you the most, Honami!"
"Exactly!" Kobashi stood up as well: "Honami-chan doesn't need to think so much! All I know is that Honami-chan made a mistake but earned everyone's forgiveness!"
At this moment, Shibata's expression brightened, and he stood up to call out: "What's there to say? Ichinose Honami will always be our class president!"
With these three leading the way, the rest of Ichinose's classmates grew excited:
"Just like Shibata said, Ichinose, we will continue to support you!"
"Believe in yourself, you are the best, the greatest class president!"
***
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