I Was Going to Compete Against Akimoto-kun?

"Please give me your vote! Vote for Nishida!"

"Please, thank you! Support Nishida Yuki!"

"Nishida Yuki! Nishida Yuki!"

"..."

When Akimoto Yoichi put on the mascot costume and started handing out flyers again, the results were completely different.

Everyone who saw the costume came over out of curiosity. Only when they got closer did they notice Akimoto Yoichi's blond face, which was completely at odds with the cute, fairytale-like costume.

Most of them were startled, then curious. A cheerful mood filled the air, and at last, he managed to hand out the flyers.

Handing out flyers didn't mean people would necessarily support him, but at least the flyers were getting out there.

More importantly, he'd gotten off to a good start.

Once more people heard about a blond guy handing out flyers in a childish mascot costume, even more of them came over.

It turned out that when people saw a tiger, they all found it frightening.

But if that tiger was a character from an anime, they didn't find it nearly so scary.

The plan was going just as well as they'd hoped.

Of course, none of this had anything to do with ordinary, unremarkable students.

For example, Fukayama Midori and his new buddy, Tachikawa Tokuo.

"I never thought that scary-looking guy from the class next door would put on a mascot costume. At this rate, he might actually become vice president."

Tachikawa Tokuo leaned against the window, gazing down at Akimoto Yoichi in his mascot costume, surrounded by several girls, and sighed in amazement.

Beside him, Fukayama Midori watched the scene below, his expression complicated as he looked at Suzuran Ayano and Nishida Yuki standing next to Akimoto Yoichi.

But he still acted as if nothing was wrong.

"Akimoto-kun... He wouldn't surprise me if he became vice president. He's really impressive."

"Definitely. He's so tall, too. I was shocked when I first saw him. We're all high school students, so how come he's so tall? How tall are you, Fukayama?"

"Me? I'm 167 centimeters... No, I should be 168 now. I feel like I've grown a little lately."

"168? Not bad. I'm about the same height as you. If I were over 180, do you think I'd have lots of cute girls around me, too?"

"..."

Fukayama Midori didn't respond to Tachikawa Tokuo.

He looked as if he'd just bitten down on a pebble while eating.

He knew all the cute girls around Akimoto Yoichi. One was his childhood friend and neighbor, Suzuran Ayano; another was Kuroo Maya, his close childhood friend from middle school.

The last was Nishida Yuki, who'd talked to him and shared a secret with him at the opening ceremony. She was in his class, but somehow she was completely unfamiliar with everyone else in it.

"Man, now that we're in high school, it looks like we still can't get girlfriends. We're not even in the same world as Akimoto-kun here. Maybe I should dye my hair, too. Who knows, it might get the girls' attention."

Tachikawa Tokuo kept talking to himself, completely unaware of the three girls from the seats behind them walking over.

With a bang, someone kicked Tachikawa Tokuo's desk.

Startled, Fukayama Midori and Tachikawa Tokuo turned around in a panic. Nagase Kumari and two other flashy girls stood before them.

"Ahahahaha! Did you just say you wanted a girlfriend, you little loser? Huh?"

"You want a girlfriend? Give me a break. You're obviously a virgin. You can't even get a girlfriend without some skills. You think anyone would date you? That's hilarious."

The dark-skinned girl's and the tall girl's voices drew the attention of the rest of the class. Under everyone's gaze, Tachikawa Tokuo wished he could crawl under his desk.

Fortunately, Nagase Kumari stepped in to stop her friends.

"Okay, you two, stop making fun of them. This must be really important to them."

"Kumari, you're absolutely right. It really is important. If a guy like him can't find a girlfriend in high school, he'll definitely be a virgin his whole life. Hahahaha!"

"Oi! How about I help you out? You just have to pay me. It's only fifty thousand yen. You can make fifty thousand yen in three minutes. What a bargain! I'm a genius!"

Louder laughter echoed through Class B. Nagase Kumari could only sigh as she watched her two airheaded friends crowd around Tachikawa Tokuo and tease him.

Though she wasn't exactly smart herself.

Fukayama Midori looked like he wanted to run, but didn't dare. Nagase Kumari smiled and apologized to him.

"Sorry, Fukayama-kun. I hope you don't mind what they said."

"It's okay, Nagase." Fukayama Midori wasn't very good at dealing with Nagase Kumari's two friends, but he didn't dislike her.

She wasn't as hard to approach as she looked.

In fact, once he got used to how friendly she was, he realized Nagase Kumari was actually pretty cute.

"What were you talking about just now? Let me see." With that, Nagase Kumari knelt on Fukayama Midori's thigh, then leaned over him to look out the window beside him.

"Ah, wait, Nagase! Don't push into my seat... Uh."

Nagase Kumari's chest pressed right against his face. As Fukayama Midori spoke, he could smell her scent with every breath.

And with her weight on his thigh, he couldn't keep his composure.

Fortunately, Nagase Kumari soon pulled back from the window.

"Oh, you're watching that blond guy from the class next door. Is he running for vice president?" Completely unaware of how much her actions had affected a virgin, Nagase Kumari carried on as if nothing had happened.

"Ah, yeah. Akimoto-kun's really impressive," Fukayama Midori replied awkwardly, leaning forward a little.

"Oh, then why don't you run for office too, Otaku-kun? You could run for student council president or something."

Nagase Kumari grinned.

"Huh? Me? Run for student council president?" Fukayama Midori was stunned.

Running for student council president would mean competing against Akimoto-kun and Nishida.

No way. That was Fukayama Midori's first thought.

He couldn't think of anything about himself that could compare to them.

"Sure. If that blond guy you know can run for vice president of the Student Council, why can't you run for student council president? You're no worse than him. How will you know if you don't try?"

Nagase Kumari was serious. At least, Fukayama Midori couldn't tell that she was lying.

Did Nagase Kumari really think he was just as good as them?

Without realizing it, Fukayama Midori felt a little more confident.

"Y-yeah, you're right. Maybe I could get elected too. Ahahahaha." Fukayama Midori laughed awkwardly.

Even so, he wasn't getting carried away.

He'd thought the joking conversation would just end there.

But Nagase Kumari grabbed his arm and pulled him out of his seat.

"Then let's go! You can definitely do it, Otaku-kun. Come on! Even if you don't get elected, we've got nothing to lose, right? The important thing is the experience."

"You mean it? Wait, I haven't even made up my mind."

"Don't worry. Leave it to me!"

"...Wait, Nagase!"

Under the puzzled gazes of their classmates, the two ran out of the classroom.