Public Morals Committee Chair Ise Yuri took one look at Akimoto Yoichi and called him a "teddy bear."
Was that an insult or a compliment?
Akimoto Yoichi looked at the imposing girl before him, unable to tell what she meant.
That said, sitting on the ground in a big dog mascot costume, Akimoto Yoichi did look rather cute.
If you overlooked the potentially insulting wording, then from the perspective of a girl who meant no harm, perhaps it wasn't meant as mockery.
"Um, President Ise, I'm Suzuran Ayano, a Public Morals Committee member from Class A, first year. It's nice to meet you."
Seeing the atmosphere grow a little tense, Suzuran Ayano immediately stepped forward.
As a fellow Public Morals Committee member, she was like the filling in a sandwich.
On her left was her senior, and on her right was her guy friend. She was the one who most wanted to keep things from getting any worse.
"This is Akimoto Yoichi, who's running for Vice President in the Student Council election. This is Kuroo Maya, also from Class A, and this is Nishida Yuki from Class B."
"President, what brings you here? We've been campaigning for the Student Council election all day."
"As a member of the Public Morals Committee, I can assure you that we've all been following the school rules."
Watching Suzuran Ayano try so hard to explain and defuse the awkwardness, Akimoto Yoichi stayed quietly seated where he was.
Ise Yuri, however, showed no particular reaction. She raised both hands to her chest and played with the braids hanging beside her face.
Facing Ayano, she merely gave a cool nod. "Mm, I know you, Suzuran. I know them, too. Unlike the Student Council bunch, the Public Morals Committee isn't bored enough to waste time on some election. We have better things to do."
Her remark was clearly pointed. She swept a disdainful glance over the Student Council campaign flyers lying beside them.
At those words, Akimoto Yoichi and Nishida Yuki exchanged a look, each understanding what the other was thinking.
It seemed the Student Council and the Public Morals Committee at Izuki Academy didn't get along very well.
Generally speaking, the Student Council was responsible for organizing and managing the academy's activities, and the Public Morals Committee was part of it.
But the Public Morals Committee had considerable authority. It managed campus discipline and maintained order, usually conducting patrols to make sure students followed the school rules.
So even though the Public Morals Committee belonged to the Student Council, its nature meant that the Student Council couldn't necessarily control it.
Sometimes, the Public Morals Committee even kept an eye on the Student Council.
They would criticize and condemn the actions of the president, vice president, and other Student Council members, then put the story in the campus news.
Judging by what Public Morals Committee Chair Ise Yuri had just said, it was obvious that the Student Council and the Public Morals Committee weren't on good terms.
"So, Madam Public Morals Committee Chair, what brings you here? Did you realize we're the future Student Council president and vice president, so you came to put us in our place ahead of time?"
Nishida Yuki wasn't as polite as Suzuran Ayano. Smiling sweetly, she gazed at Ise Yuri.
"Nishida! You can't talk to your senior like that!" Ayano tried to stop her, looking anxiously at Ise Yuri.
"Oh? It might be more interesting if you became Student Council president." Surprisingly, Ise Yuri wasn't annoyed.
Her gaze shifted from Nishida Yuki to Akimoto Yoichi, who hadn't said a word the whole time.
She noticed the sports drink bottle crushed in his hand and gave a small, crooked smile.
Then she took a bottle of black tea from her pocket and held it out to him. Akimoto Yoichi stared at her in confusion.
"If you've been sweating a lot, black tea or green tea would be better. Jasmine tea is fine, too."
"You really are an idiot, drinking a sports drink. Those things are just overhyped."
"If this is all it takes to throw you off, you'll never become vice president."
For a moment, Akimoto Yoichi couldn't tell whether she was mocking him or trying to help him.
She meant well, right?
"Th-thanks." Akimoto Yoichi took the tea and opened it for a sip.
After watching him drink, Ise Yuri nodded with satisfaction.
But the strange atmosphere still left everyone confused, and Ayano couldn't help asking, "President Ise, what brings you here? Like I said, we haven't done anything that violates the school rules."
"No, you've broken the rules." Ise Yuri once again displayed the authority of the Public Morals Committee chair.
"Oh? Which rule? I can have it changed." Nishida Yuki wasn't joking.
Akimoto and Ayano both knew that the crazy girl really would do that.
"Obviously, the mascot costumes," Ise Yuri said.
Ayano was about to explain, but Ise Yuri continued before she could get a word in.
"There's nothing wrong with wearing mascot costumes to promote your election during club activities."
"In fact, you've been doing that for the past few days, and the Public Morals Committee hasn't stopped you."
"But outside of those activities, you're supposed to wear your uniforms properly. You broke that rule by wearing the costumes between classes."
A Public Morals Committee member behind Ise Yuri brought out a tablet.
A video was playing on the screen. It showed Akimoto Yoichi walking down the hallway in his mascot costume between classes.
Akimoto Yoichi immediately understood.
"We were just testing whether the costumes were easy to wear, so we went out for a walk. Some of them are hard to move around in," he explained.
"Oh? Is that so?" Ise Yuri nodded, apparently satisfied with the explanation. "Then be careful from now on. You can't dress improperly between classes. Save the mascot costumes for your campaign activities. If you understand, say, 'I understand.'"
"I understand," Akimoto Yoichi replied.
The Public Morals Committee members, who had been somewhat on edge, were surprised by how smoothly Akimoto Yoichi answered.
No matter how you looked at it, Akimoto Yoichi didn't seem like the sort of person who would be so easygoing.
Could it be that he really was just as their chair suspected?
"Good. Then that's settled."
Ise Yuri nodded with satisfaction. She lifted her chin proudly, a dimple appearing on her cheek.
So this was what it meant for the thunder to rumble loudly but the raindrops to barely fall.
At first, Akimoto Yoichi and the others had thought the Public Morals Committee was there to pick a fight. Who knew they'd just offer a reminder, with no intention of punishing them or dragging things out?
Was that really it?
"Um, President Ise, did you come all this way just to tell us that?" Ayano couldn't help asking.
Glancing at Ayano, Ise Yuri nodded. "Yes. But I also wanted to get a close-up look at Akimoto-kun."
Then she looked at Akimoto Yoichi.
Ise Yuri's gaze lingered for a moment on the yellow hair atop his head. She stood before him with her hands on her hips.
Her lively eyes shimmered beneath long lashes. Her shapely legs, sheathed in black tights, gave her the figure of a model. Standing with her back to the sunlight, she had an extra touch of charm.
"There are plenty of nasty rumors about you, Akimoto-kun, but I'm not the sort to judge people by their appearance. I've met plenty who look more honest than you but are much worse."
"But for the sake of the school's reputation, I'll be keeping a close eye on everything you do. If you break even one school rule, I, as Public Morals Committee chair, will not go easy on you."
"If you understand, say, 'I understand!'"
As far as Akimoto Yoichi was concerned, the only thing that gave the Public Morals Committee chair any authority was that "Say, 'I understand!'" of hers.
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