章節 139: No one Wants to be me
So the student elections this year were going to be interesting. Not that Arata could say he remembered the last one. Back then, he didn't care that much about it outside of voting for Misei. And now that he thought about it, that was probably only because Yogi kept pestering him to do so. Going into this, he assumed that he was going to do the same. However, that forecast wasn't looking positive anymore.
"Looks like that's everyone who wants to sign up." Misao looked over the list of names of people who put their hat into the ring. Which wasn't anything beyond the people who Arata knew too well.
"Yeah, and…" He took note of something missing on these lists. "Wait, there's no names under the secretary or treasurer positions."
"Then I guess no one wanted to sign up for them." She told him. That didn't make any sense to him. Who was going to take those positions? "So, let me be the one to make the formal request. That being, if you'd like to continue being this school's dual secretary/treasurer."
"What?" He was awestruck in hearing that. "Is that really the backup plan?" It hardly seemed fair for him, since he wasn't planning on sticking around. Not to mention that this is two jobs, not one.
"Well, the idea is that the entire school practically decided you were already the best option. So take it as you already winning your elections." That sounded absurd. Would he really be unanimously chosen to continue a role he was given just a few months ago? One that he wasn't even originally elected for in the first place.
"I don't mind helping out." Of course, it wasn't as if he'd deny her outright. Chances were that whoever became student council president and vice president are already his friends. The exception being Syari, but that wild card was unlikely in his mind. "But I can't do both, not for my last year." That would be too much responsibility.
"You could ask someone to take one of the spots." She told him. "I can think of a suggestion." Obviously, she was referring to Akaki. Because, who wouldn't want their crush to be working with them everyday.
"I'll consider him." It wasn't as if he had a better option to choose from anyway. Hopefully that boy wouldn't mind.
Wait a second, but what was he thinking? Arata had already agreed to help Akaki with Akiba. But at the same time, he didn't want to leave Misao out hanging like this. Perhaps asking for his help wasn't the best idea. He was going to have to weight his choices heavily.
The two of them submitted the forms to the office. Now everything had been officially squared away for the school, and campaigning was going to be done. "Now that's all taken care of, we should go catch up with the others." The group had agreed to getting something to eat after school for all the hard work done by the student council.
"Actually." However, Misao had a different idea. "Perhaps we should meet them at the agreed upon location. I had something I wanted to… Talk with you about." That pause there worried him. What did she want to discuss in private?
Either way, he didn't reject her offer. So Arata joined the girl on a different path to the planned destination. It didn't take long for her to get right to the point. "So, Yogi likes me?"
"What?" How did she already determine that, he wondered. "What makes you think that?" His attempt to not give himself away went horribly.
"Arata, you only know two boys personally. And I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have asked that question if it was Akaki." She was able to deduce rather quickly when she considered why he would ask that question. "That is, unless you were actually talking about yourself."
"No, you caught me." The jig was up. "Yogi does have a crush on you." Hearing him say that, she never would've imagined that to be the case. The idea that a boy actually liking her, especially one like him, seemed unreal. "Please don't tell me I let you know."
"I have no intention of doing so." She answered. "But let me guess, you agreed to help him out too?" Arata had to nod very shamefully in response. This indeed was becoming quite a mess for him to handle.
"I don't even know what I'm supposed to do with all this."
"How about taking a step back?" She suggested. "This whole relationship stuff, maybe you should be letting people take care of themselves instead of trying to fix it yourself." Misao was right, but he had a concern about what if things went wrong without him being there. What would happen to this group, if something went sour. "I'm sorry about pressuring you as well. I'll try to avoid doing so in the future."
"Thanks." He took her words to heart. "You know, I'm glad we could talk. It's really easy to be honest with you about this stuff." Arata didn't know what he'd do without someone like Misao. Having someone to relief some of the things he felt like holding in was nice.
"Same here." She shared the same sentiment. "Ever since you showed up, I feel a lot lighter."
Their conversation went well. So both of them were able to meet up with the others without any negative energy. A good thing since they had other important details to discuss regarding the student elections.
"I wonder if I can afford to do the same things last year." Misei pondered as her and her trusty vice president drafted campaign strategies. "There are completely different candidates from last time, so I wonder if I can prove myself compared to them."
"Of course, you also have the experience to lean on." Misao suggested that perhaps they tap into that advantage, since she was a popular girl. A lot of the students, specifically the ones that were first years and only knew her in that role might be swayed that way.
"Since you've been doing it for so long." Those two weren't the only ones talking about the plans. Even Yuriko was getting in on it. "Why don't you talk about things that could, or should be changed for next year?" While everyone was talking, Arata took this time to be a little quiet from the group for once. Especially since he was still worried about the others that were in this race. That included Yuki and Yogi, who were off elsewhere talking their own things over. Though, he did take note of the only other person not talking much.
"Are you not interested in all this?" He asked Erina, who had been just slurping up her noodles.
"Not really." She answered him, then lifted up her bowl to down the broth. The girl pointed up a finger to the kitchen to let them know she would like another serving. "Last year, I didn't pay too much attention either." If anything, she disliked it since Yogi spent more time with Misei during that period.
"Who are you going to vote for then?" He was pondering what he might do himself. Sure, if the other runners weren't people he knew. Then of course Misei got his support. But things were a lot more different than he was expecting going into this.
"I'm really good friends with Misei, but…" It was hard not to pass up the opportunity to lend support for Yuki, since Yogi was a part of that. He would certainly notice her a lot more after that. "And I imagine that it's a lot harder for you, with Ichiri and all that."
"Yeah, I have no clue what she's thinking." It was frustrating for him, since it appeared random to every single one of them. If she had a good reason, then he could see why she'd want to do it. But no one seemed to know what that reason was.
"And the worst part is, that you have to work with the winner no matter what happens." That was another one of his fears. If he chose to support someone and someone else won, then it could lead to some animosity, despite the prior relationship. The exception would be Syari, but that girl had a lot of other things he was dreading about.
"What makes you say I'll just accept to keep the position?" He asked. As of right now, Arata had never officially stated to anyone else outside of Misao that he'd continue being part of the student council.
"You don't seem the type to turn it down." She answered. "But if you want someone to take one of the roles, and if Yogi and Yuki wins…" she nudged him in the arm, pointing out the obvious.
"I'll think about it." Misao's words echoed in his mind. If he was to look for someone to help him out, then it was best if he didn't consider all this romance to cloud his decision-making. The school deserved better than that, surely.
While they were talking, the door to the restaurant opened. A bell sounding to let the owners know, but also in this case, to announce the arrival of the library committee. Ichiri was the one to lead the way, and she made a beeline right for their table.
"Hey Ichiri." Arata greeted them, as she stood right next to his seat. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Well, the food here's pretty nice." She told him. "But first, I'm here to ask you to be our campaign manager."
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