Making Blondie Cute

"Please support us! Support Nishida Yuki!"

"Support the incumbent student council president, Takasu! Takasu-kun has already served as president for two years."

"Aikawa Eri! If Aikawa Eri, who just won the Tokyo Literature Award, becomes vice president, we'll all be able to see more works and novels."

"Nishida Yuki served as student council president throughout elementary and middle school."

"Morii Jinpachi! Morii Jinpachi! Baseball team captain Morii Jinpachi!"

"Nishida Yuki is a freshman representative, but she is very capable. Please trust in Nishida Yuki!"

"Sakagami Honoka advocates for changing our school uniforms! We want cuter skirts and better-looking uniforms!"

"Cast a vote for Nishida Yuki!"

"..."

Standing at the entrance of the cafeteria, Suzuran Ayano, Akimoto Yoichi, Nishida Yuki, and Kuroo Maya were handing out flyers.

The flyers were naturally printed with information about the student council election, featuring Nishida Yuki and Akimoto Yoichi as the main candidates.

At this moment, other student council hopefuls were also handing out flyers.

However, those second and third-year seniors didn't show up in person; most of them had their campaign members doing the distributing. Only Nishida Yuki and Akimoto Yoichi appeared in person, solely to increase their own name recognition.

After all, not to mention the incumbent student council president Takasu Takao and vice president Kido Chiharu, whom everyone already knew, the other candidates Sakagami Honoka and Aikawa Eri were also the president and vice president of the Literature Club.

That Morii Jinpachi was also the highly popular captain of the baseball team, who had high hopes of leading the Izuki Academy baseball team to Koshien this year.

Regardless of which president or vice president candidate it was, they all possessed high name recognition.

Although Nishida Yuki was also relatively well-known—being a freshman representative, plus her wealthy background and dignified, beautiful appearance—she had left a deep impression on everyone.

However, the presence of Akimoto Yoichi caused the students entering and leaving the cafeteria to choose to walk around them.

Even though Akimoto Yoichi had handed the task of distributing flyers to Ayano and the others, people still didn't dare to approach the group, fearing they might be targeted by a troublesome person.

Watching the other candidates enjoy such popularity while their side remained cold and deserted, Ayano couldn't help but feel frustrated and dejected.

"These people are truly hopeless. Why do they all like to judge a book by its cover? Have they ever even seen Akimoto-kun bully anyone? Do they think Akimoto-kun is a delinquent just based on his appearance?"

Putting the large stack of flyers in her hand onto the table, Ayano took a big gulp of water and complained.

"No, no, no, his appearance is enough. If it were me, I'd be the same." Kuroo Maya said with a sharp tongue.

Then, her little cheek was pinched by Ayano.

"Akimoto-kun, why don't you dye this conspicuous blond hair back?" Nishida Yuki looked at Akimoto Yoichi's hair and said teasingly.

"Yeah, can you dye it back? Your blond hair... I think it would be better if you changed it back to black." Ayano, for once, was in agreement with Nishida Yuki.

Although the blond hair had almost become a trademark for Akimoto-kun, if he didn't want to be expelled, it was necessary to try and look like a good student.

"I can't dye this blond hair back. Maybe it's because I used some strange dye when I bleached it before; my hair just won't turn back to black."

Akimoto Yoichi had tried to dye it back, but walking around with his blond hair felt like handing out business cards to everyone he met.

Unfortunately, whether he went to a hair salon or bought hair dye himself, nothing worked.

The blond hair had probably become part of his soul; he was destined to sport it forever.

"Is that so? Then there's nothing we can do." Ayano sighed.

Akimoto Yoichi looked at the flyers that hadn't been handed out. Given the current situation, he was one hundred percent going to be expelled.

The school-wide vote would be held in a week, and all students would cast their ballots for the candidates.

Before then, everyone would do their best to win over votes.

If Akimoto Yoichi had some talent, he could successfully reverse the stereotypical impression people had of his appearance, but unfortunately, Akimoto Yoichi's greatest strength was his fists.

In the end, after much discussion, they could only do what the other candidates were doing: hand out flyers.

But as they could see, they were being ignored; people wouldn't even come close, let alone support them.

"How about wearing a mascot costume or something? That would grab people's attention, what do you think?"

While Akimoto was struggling with a headache, Nishida Yuki clapped her hands together and offered a suggestion.

"Ah, that's good! If we make you wear a mascot suit, Akimoto-kun, it would definitely be hilarious! Maybe people won't be afraid of you anymore! I'd really love to see that scene!"

Kuroo Maya was the first to raise her hand in agreement, looking at Akimoto Yoichi with excitement.

"...A mascot suit? It does seem like it could lower Akimoto-kun's lethality." Suzuran Ayano looked at Akimoto Yoichi with some hesitation.

But she couldn't think of any other way.

"Then I'll wear it. It's just a mascot suit; I'll treat it like a part-time job." Akimoto Yoichi didn't care about it that much.

"Then let's go!"

Seeing Akimoto Yoichi agree, Nishida Yuki clapped happily and stood up from her seat.

The group left the cafeteria and entered the activity room, and upon seeing the box Nishida Yuki opened, they immediately understood.

Nishida Yuki had already prepared the mascot suit.

While they were still racking their brains on how to help Akimoto Yoichi change his image, Nishida Yuki had already made the preparations.

Looking at the various cute mascot costumes before her—little white rabbits, kittens, and kindergarten-style props like teddy bears—Nishida Yuki's intentions were laid bare.

Ayano challenged her, saying, "Are you doing this on purpose just to see Akimoto-kun being pushed around by you? Making him wear a mascot suit like this, and one that leaves his face exposed at that!"

"I am absolutely not wearing a mascot suit like this! If it covered my face, it might be okay, even if it's a bit hot, but I can't accept one that shows my face." Maya shook her twin tails, her face full of resistance.

Akimoto Yoichi didn't have the same hang-ups as these young girls; he walked forward and picked one out directly.

The three girls walked out of the room and stood by the door, waiting for Akimoto Yoichi to finish changing into the mascot suit.

At this moment, Nishida Yuki took the initiative to start a conversation again.

"Where is Midori-kun?" she asked Ayano.

Fukayama Midori, who usually followed the group around, was nowhere to be seen today.

Perhaps it was because he felt he couldn't be of any help, or perhaps he simply didn't want to get dragged into any troublesome affairs and was currently sitting somewhere watching the fun.

As for her childhood friend, Ayano couldn't say she knew him like the back of her hand, but she could guess his motives with reasonable accuracy.

Ayano glared at her, answering fiercely, "I don't know. How would I know what he's doing?"

"Aren't you two childhood friends? You're always together, aren't you?" The smile on Nishida Yuki's face only made Ayano's anger burn hotter.

"So what? I'm not that guy Fukayama's mother. He can do whatever he wants; why should I care?"

"But why do you care about Akimoto-kun? Have you had a change of heart?" The dagger was finally revealed; Nishida Yuki's words left Ayano momentarily speechless.

Maya, standing to the side, felt a bit nervous seeing this, as she had said something similar before.

However, that had just been a joke, and now that Nishida Yuki was asking the question again, Maya was also curious about Ayano's thoughts.

"You! Nishida-san, please don't talk nonsense. That's very rude to Akimoto-kun!" Ayano scolded.

Nishida Yuki said with a provocative smile, "Oh? Are you trying to dodge the question? If you like Midori-kun, I'll support you, you know."

Ayano didn't want to admit that she liked Fukayama Midori because she was a tsundere.

But she also didn't want to say she didn't like him, because wouldn't that be like admitting defeat to Nishida Yuki?

Just then, Akimoto Yoichi, having finished putting on the mascot suit, opened the door and walked out.

"Suzuran-san and I are friends. Although we haven't known each other long, Suzuran-san is very kind and friendly. Without her, I wouldn't be able to study properly, and I will also fully support Ayano."

Hearing Akimoto Yoichi's answer, a smile appeared on Ayano's face.

She pursed her lips and looked at Akimoto Yoichi, who was wearing a little lion mascot suit, and said with slight dissatisfaction, "Just friends? Didn't we also promise to go to my house in a few days to bake a cake? I thought our relationship had become like the one I have with Maya—good friends who tell each other everything, like besties!"

"Pfft~ Akimoto-kun's outfit really does make him look like a thoughtful and gentle male bestie!" Maya looked at Akimoto Yoichi at this moment with schadenfreude.

"A male bestie? That works too." Akimoto shrugged nonchalantly.

Looking at the three people before her, Nishida Yuki's smiling eyes narrowed slightly.