Izuki Academy let out a little after three in the afternoon.
After school, students either went to club activities, headed home, or went out shopping.
Akimoto Yoichi and the others, having entered the Student Council elections, were still carrying out their campaign activities.
Besides handing out flyers to the various Literature Clubs, they also made rounds of the sports clubs' fields.
As a result, while they couldn't say for certain that all those students had become guaranteed votes, they had at least changed people's opinions and impressions of Akimoto Yoichi.
After they'd handed out today's few hundred flyers, they'd also had plenty of photos taken.
Sitting beneath the shade of a large tree on campus, the group, who'd been busy all day, could finally take a break.
"It's so hot." Akimoto sat on the grass after taking off his mascot head.
His head was drenched in sweat. He handed the girls a few bottles of drinks he'd picked up along the way.
"After a few days of our mascot-costume campaign, I think we have a much better chance of winning the Student Council election. A lot of people have learned about Akimoto-kun's hard work and kindness," Ayano said encouragingly.
The biggest obstacle in the Student Council election was Akimoto Yoichi's frightening appearance. Everyone was wary of him.
Now that Akimoto Yoichi was wearing a mascot costume, he no longer looked scary.
Ayano believed people would soon accept him.
Nishida Yuki narrowed her eyes and curled her lips into a smile. "Exactly. It'd be great if Akimoto-kun always looked like this. Then nobody would be scared of him."
"Always? Then why don't you wear one yourself? I'm sure you'd be popular in a mascot costume, too."
Before Akimoto could say anything, Ayano shot back at Nishida Yuki.
Nishida Yuki hadn't lifted a finger during the past few days of campaigning.
Though the mascot costume Akimoto wore had been provided by her, Nishida Yuki had refused to hand out flyers. A refined young lady didn't do menial work.
"Oh? I'm popular wherever I go," Nishida Yuki said confidently.
Ayano gritted her teeth in frustration, but she couldn't find anything wrong with that.
Nishida Yuki really was an elegant beauty, with a dignified, graceful appearance that perfectly fit people's image of a young lady.
In fact, their campaign had also relied on Nishida Yuki's pretty face. When people saw a beautiful young lady standing beside someone in a mascot costume, they became more interested.
Beauty and the beast were a surefire way to attract attention.
"Hm? Akimoto-kun, people are sharing your photos. Someone even posted them online."
Kuroo Maya, who'd been fiddling with her phone, looked up and said this.
She held her phone out to the three of them. Akimoto and the others leaned in and saw that they were indeed photos of him.
Thinking back, quite a few people had taken photos with Akimoto Yoichi. They hadn't refused, of course, and now it seemed the photos had spread far and wide.
"That's wonderful, Akimoto-kun! More people are sure to learn about you! Everyone's impression of you will change!"
Ayano was delighted. This was exactly what they'd been hoping to achieve.
If the photos spread even further, she was sure people's fear and apprehension toward Akimoto Yoichi would gradually fade.
But Akimoto Yoichi didn't say anything. He didn't seem nearly as happy, and Ayano noticed.
"What's wrong, Akimoto-kun? Aren't you happy? More and more people are seeing you in a mascot costume, so nobody will be scared of you."
"Or are you embarrassed because your photos are being shared? Wearing a mascot costume that shows your face can be a little embarrassing."
"Should we stop taking photos from now on?"
She thought Akimoto Yoichi had fallen silent because he was embarrassed about his photos being shared.
"Huh? No, that's not it." Akimoto shook his head. "I'm worried this might cause trouble, but maybe I'm just overthinking it."
"Trouble?" Maya was puzzled, and her imagination ran wild. "Are you worried someone will see you and start picking on you? Do you have some hidden past, Akimoto-kun? Like a retired samurai or something? Mm-hmm!"
"Don't make things up, Maya-chan." Ayano pinched Maya's cheek.
Nishida Yuki watched the scene with amusement, covering her mouth as she giggled. "If that's the case, then I suppose it could cause a little trouble. Should I ask the school to increase patrols?"
"I'm not worried about anything from my past. I'm worried someone might find fault with me. Once something gets too widely circulated, it tends to attract unnecessary trouble." Akimoto Yoichi shook his head.
Aside from the delinquents from another school he'd run into on the first day of classes, he hadn't antagonized anyone.
But the more famous you got, the more trouble you attracted. The moment you appeared online, all sorts of weirdos were bound to show up.
Some people would praise you, and others would criticize you. In the end, online attention led to livestream sales or a bungee jump off a rooftop.
He had no intention of seriously fulfilling his role as a blond delinquent. He just wanted to study quietly without being disturbed.
Otherwise, there were already two heroines right in front of him, ready to get up and ride him whenever they liked.
"True. Even if a lot of people won't be so afraid of Akimoto-kun anymore, there'll definitely be plenty who say unpleasant things or try to find fault with him." Ayano's earlier excitement faded as she realized the problem.
"Really? I don't think it matters much." Maya hadn't given it much thought. She was just happy that someone she knew had become famous.
"Anyway, the photos have only spread to a small corner of the internet. There are plenty of delinquents online who are weirder than Akimoto-kun."
"I'm sure the buzz will die down after a while. Right now, people just think it's novel."
"If Akimoto-kun actually becomes Vice President, that'll be even bigger news! Hahahaha—ow!"
Ayano rapped Maya on the head, cutting off her laughter.
There was so much to like about this girl, except that her mouth was always getting her into trouble.
"Akimoto-kun really is interesting. Your thoughts and ideas always surprise me. You're a blond delinquent, a troublemaker, and yet you don't want to be famous? How interesting." Nishida Yuki rested her cheek on her hand and smiled as she looked at the unusually clear-headed Akimoto Yoichi.
"Then I guess I'm just unlucky," Akimoto said with a shrug.
The more Akimoto disliked and rejected her, the happier Nishida Yuki became.
"But Akimoto-kun is right. You already have visitors." Nishida Yuki picked up the warm red bean soup in front of her and looked toward a group of girls storming toward them.
Akimoto Yoichi, Suzuran Ayano, and Kuroo Maya noticed them as well.
The girls all had something conspicuous on them: armbands marked "Public Morals."
When Ayano saw the girl leading them, she immediately grew tense and quietly warned Akimoto.
"That upperclassman leading them is the head of the Public Morals Committee, Ise Yuri, a third-year. Why would she come here?"
Ayano was on the Public Morals Committee herself. Seeing her fellow members show up here gave her an ominous feeling.
Of course, neither Akimoto Yoichi nor Nishida Yuki answered Ayano.
Even Maya had more or less guessed why they were here. All they could do was brace themselves as the army of Public Morals Committee members approached.
"You're Akimoto Yoichi, right? Hmph. You're nothing special. I thought you'd be terrifying, but you look like a little puppy." That was Ise Yuri's opening line, delivered right to his face.
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