PrologueWho Decided That Rom-Com Can Be Done with Just Prior Information?
It was a sunny afternoon in early July.
I rode my beloved motorcycle with gusto, heading to my destination.
This year's rainy season ended much earlier than usual, and the skies had cleared since the last community clean-up activity. The scorching hot weather unique to this basin doesn't seem to be coming anytime soon, and even the wind feels dry.
And in a month's time, I'll have my first summer vacation in high school.
Summer vacation is a golden time full of exciting "events" in the world of romantic comedies. Of course, there's the swimsuit chapters at the beach, but there are also classics like wearing a yukata and watching fireworks, or having a campout at a haunted house. It would be great if we could combine them all into a story of a sleepover training camp at a friend's villa!
But... ...each of these events had very high hurdles to overcome beforehand.
First of all, I didn't have any friends who have villas, and renting a place or villa would be a financial burden. Also, it was highly questionable if we could get our parents' approval for a group of high school boys and girls to sleep under the same roof.
We might barely be able to go to the Fireworks Festival, but it would be impossible to pull off swimsuit chapters. The basic problem is that our prefecture has no sea.
There are swimming pools on Fuji-Q Plateau or Lake Fuji for swimming, but... ...even if I suddenly asked girls of the same age to go to the sea, they would probably say, "No way, I won't wear a swimsuit in front of boys. And by the way, your hidden motives are really transparent and creepy." That's what Uenohara-san, the representative of common sense, would say, so it must be true. But, can't you reject me more gently in my imagination?
Yeah, because the preparations seemed so challenging, I had almost given up on doing everything this summer. It does make sense to determine the most viable option and prepare for next year. Besides, the golden time for romantic comedies is usually during the second year of high school, so now is the time to be patient.
Besides, there was one more "event" before the summer vacation that I had to allocate resources for.
"Well, that was close. I almost slipped into my usual habit of thinking about 'The Plans'."
I tapped my helmet a few times to change my mindset. Today was a day to thank my 'Accomplices' for their regular contributions — in other words, a normal day off.
Talking about 'The Plans' and tasks even on a day off would not give Uenohara a break, so I had to put aside that kind of conversation. With an oath in my heart, I revved the engine furiously.
30 minutes early, I arrived at the cafe, our destination, and sat at the back of the second floor, waiting for Uenohara. Perhaps because it was past lunchtime, the cafe had a relaxed atmosphere. Families and pet owners were leisurely spending their afternoon on the outside deck, and near the far wall, a couple who appeared to be college students were enjoying their conversation.
This place is the newly opened "DRAGON CAFE". The cafe has a modern American-style look, and Mr. Owner, who is a barista, prides himself on brewing authentic coffee in person. The name of the cafe comes from the fact that the nearby Aoyamadai Park is known as "Dragon Park".
I originally came here for research for My "Spot Notes," but when I talked to the owner, a barista, we hit it off. Since then, I've been coming here often to hang out. And hey, in rom-coms, there are cases where you "accidentally meet the heroine" at a cafe, right? So, please, a sweet and kind girl who only takes blurry photos of me.
"Sorry to make you waiting,"
Uenohara, my "Accomplice" who has always been a little indifferent to me, arrived. Right on time, 20 minutes before our agreed meeting time.
"Hey, you're early – No, wait, good afternoon?"
"Why is there a question mark there?"
Uenohara tilted her head, looking confused.
This wasn't a meeting, so "you're early" didn't good... ...but saying a normal greeting also felt strange.
"You also came earlier than usual. You usually come 10 minutes earlier."
"Yeah. Today I'm the host, so I don't think it's polite if I keep you waiting and come out early."
Uenohara replied briefly with "hmm" and sat down on the seat opposite mine. As Uenohara moved, a faint citrus scent wafted into my nose.
Hmm, Uenohara smells different today. She usually has a vanilla-like scent... ...I wonder if she's using some kind of deodorant or something.
"So, how do I order it? When I said that I was going to meet someone, they just guided me here."
"Oh, the menu isn't too much, and I've already ordered a variety of sweet drinks. Just tell me what you want to drink, and I'll order it. Their coffee here is amazing."
"Hmm... ...but isn't this a pretty fancy place? Are you sure you want to treat me? You don't have to, you know."
Huh, it was unusual for Uenohara to be so hesitant. Uenohara usually casually ordered in large quantities during our meetings.
"I stand by my words. This is a token of my gratitude for your hard work. Go ahead, order whatever you like."
"Then, I won't hold back."
Saying this, Uenohara started looking through the menu board.
I glanced at Uenohara's clothes casually, and she was wearing a cool black tank top with an outer and a long skirt.
I had often seen Uenohara wearing casual clothes, as we often met on holidays. But for some reason, her fashion sense today felt different from usual.
*
"Hmm... ...Maybe it's just me, but you seem more mature overall than usual...?"
"Eh, I think you should stop looking at me like you're observing me. If anyone else sees you, they'll be really disgusted."
"Oh, sorry. Force of habit."
Uenohara rolled a strand of hair around her finger.
Hmm, hmm. But it was not easy to stop observing her either. It was so ingrained in me that I didn't know how to act like a normal person anymore.
Yeah, now that I'm looking at her, I should probably say something...
"You see, Uenohara, you look good in any outfit. Yeah, it really suits you."
"...Thank you."
Uenohara made a small bow silently, her expression unchanged.
Huh? Uenohara actually thanked me sincerely? Not a single reply... ...Did I mess up my tsukkomi? Or is it a good thing that Uenohara took it for granted? Hmm...
"You look good too, Kouhei. I always thought so, but you are fashionable. You always look clean and neat."
"Oh, yeah, thank you for your kind words."
"My kind words...?"
"I mean, thank you very much."
D*mn, I didn't expect Uenohara to praise me so naturally, and now my brain is short-circuiting.
"I don't really know which one I should choose... ...I can't tell just by looking at the place of origin."
"Hmm, okay, I usually choose the ones from Brazil, but I'm not sure what you like, Uenohara. It's quite bitter. Mr. Owner might be able to recommend something if we ask him—"
"Hey, Kouhei, are you ready to order?"
Just then, someone started walking up the stairs with steady, rhythmic steps — Dun Dun Dun Dun. A long-haired and bearded face came into view.
"Oh, Mr. Owner. You didn't have to come just to pick up our order."
"I just finished with another customer, so no problem."
Mr. Owner, a man in his thirties, had an amiable and friendly demeanor. He had a stern face and a sharp nose, giving him a wild and handsome appearance reminiscent of a Hollywood actor.
He was a great communicator, easily putting others at ease. His speaking skills were among the best, even among the people I knew. I often observed how he interacted with first-time customers or attracted the attention of people with problems, and I felt that it was all very useful.
Coincidentally, I was also attracted to his communication skills and ended up revealing bits and pieces about my "Project". After all, instead of disapproving, he enthusiastically responded by saying, "That's very interesting!" Even Uenohara and the other adults seemed to like him, which was confusing to me.
Mr. Owner smiled gently and began to speak.
"Welcome again. Thank you for coming all the way here with your girlfriend."
"Oh, wow! Mr. Owner, you really get it! I mean, of course, anyone would think that she was my girlfriend, right?! I'm glad that you're playing around with the expected reaction — wait, no! That's not it at all! Who would think that?!"
I was snapped out of my fantasy, as I felt a sharp gaze from the front.
Oops! I was too engrossed and let my imagination run wild with the rom-com scenario!
As I hurriedly covered my mouth, Mr. Owner burst out laughing.
"Haha, that's a funny response. You're always entertaining, Kouhei. I'm sure that you're fun to be around."
"Oh, I'm not sure about that... ...It's much more tiring, if anything."
Uenohara looked surprised by the sudden shift in conversation, but she quickly regained her composure and replied with her usual expression.
"Yeah, with this type of person, you can't try to refute everything. It's better to just go along with the flow."
"Yeah, I've long realized that."
"Besides, a little praise will go a long way in making them happy. Look, you're in a good mood now, aren't you?"
"...I see. That's very insightful."
"I don't think you should say that in front of the person you're talking about?!"
Wait, was that comment about the girlfriend just a compliment?! D*mn, I was fooled by him, I was immediately hooked, line, and sinker!
Regardless of the sullen look on my face, Mr. Owner smoothly moved to stand beside Uenohara, leaning down to tap on the menu in front of her.
As usual, he was very close to people he had just met. But for some reason, it was not fun when Mr. Owner did it. Was it because he was handsome?
"You can't really tell just by looking at the menu, can you? This one has a fruity aroma and is easy to drink, so I recommend it. It's also good as a cappuccino. You like sweets, don't you, Ayano?"
"Huh? How come you know my name...?"
"Because Kouhei talks about you a lot. I guess it must be you."
"Oh, yeah, that's right... ...Talks about, huh."
"I've heard a little about your situation. This is a welcome gift for your first visit."
Then, he took out a small package from somewhere and placed it in front of Uenohara. It was a transparent wrapping bag tied with a red ribbon, containing homemade biscuits, with a handwritten message card as a delicate touch.
Now he is even doing moves that will attract girls... ...This man is really smart in this regard.
"It's entertaining to see people who are out of touch with reality, but it can be tiring to deal with them. If you want to vent, feel free to come over anytime, and I'll listen to your complaints."
"Don't say things like that in front of the person in question!"
Mr. Owner calmly dismissed my criticism with a hearty laugh.
Uenohara was a little overwhelmed by the conversation, but suddenly, she relaxed and smiled gently.
"Yeah, if that happens, I'll complain as much as I want."
Huh?
Couldn't this be... ...a genuine smile...?
"As for the order, I'll order whatever Mr. Owner recommends."
"Certainly."
Mr. Owner nodded in satisfaction and headed downstairs.
Wow... ...who exactly is that man? Uenohara easily made a rare expression just now.
How could Uenohara do it so smoothly? If I could imitate Mr. Owner, my face-to-face negotiations would probably go much more smoothly... ...but that wasn't an option today. How many times do I have to tell myself that?
Clearing my throat, I turned toward Uenohara.
"But today's weather is amazing, and it's a relief that the rainy season ended early. By the way, this is my first summer here, so what's it usually like?"
"It's brutal. I can barely stand it when the temperature reaches 35 degrees, and above that, I feel like I'm going to die. When it exceeds 40 degrees, it's like being in a sauna all the time."
"Well, I've heard about rumors, but I didn't realize it was that bad. Thank goodness the classroom has air conditioning..."
"I hate the heat, so summer I can't stand."
"Hmm, so Uenohara is sensitive to heat, huh? That must be hard when you're on a date..."
"Yeah... ...When I do athletics, it's really hard. The track feels like a frying pan."
"Oh, by the way, why didn't you continue to enter the Athletic Club in high school? Didn't you go beyond the prefectural tournament to the regional tournament? I heard that you were even voted the best player."
"That's not a big deal. Our prefectural level is pretty low anyway."
"Really? But still, I guess placing third in the prefecture is impressive."
"My timing isn't something to be proud of. The regional tournament was a disaster... ...To be honest, I don't even like it that much. I only joined because it was a compulsory club activity at my middle school."
"Oh, I see. So, you didn't really like it, but you chose Athletic Club over other clubs. There must be a reason for that choice, right?"
"Not really... ...If I had to give a reason, I guess I think it has the highest chance of winning the award."
"Oh, I see, that makes sense. I think you considered the chances of winning beforehand."
"Yeah, so I felt that there was no need to continue it to high school."
"Oh, I see."
Hmm, wait...
"By the way, let's change the subject... ...What's Uenohara like at home? What do you usually do on your days off?"
"I just watch television or Y*uTube leisurely. On weekends, I go shopping with acquaintances."
"Oh, good. Do you usually buy clothes?"
"Yeah, and I also look at furniture and other items. Most of the time, I just wander around without any particular purpose."
"Hmm, that's very typical of a girl. So, Uenohara also likes furniture and other items, huh? Your room must be very stylish."
"Yeah, not really... ...My room is just mediocre."
"Oh, I see... ...Oh, by the way, where do people usually shop around here? The station, perhaps?"
"For places close by, the station or Shimaoka, but usually, we go to Aeon in Kyougoku Heisei. It's a bit far by bicycle, but you can spend the whole day there."
[TL Note: イオン = AEON. AEON, headquartered in Chiba prefecture, is one of Japan's largest retail companies, with Aeon hypermarkets, Aeon Mall and Aeon Town shopping centers, Daiei, MaxValu, Maruetsu, and My Basket supermarkets, Ministop convenience stores, Welcia pharmacies, and Aeon Cinema theaters. Aeon dates back to 1758 during the Edo period in Japan, when it was established as a convenience store called Shinohara-ya. The name Aeon is a transliteration of the koine Greek word ὁ αἰών (ho aion), from the ancient αἰϝών (aiwon). The name and the symbolism used in the branding (i.e., aeon) imply the eternal nature of the company. The company has also started operations in Indonesia since 2003, under PT AEON Credit Service Indonesia, and AEON Mall BSD City became their first mall established in 2015.]
"Oh, so Aeon is the best... ...My family also goes to Aeon, but since the one in the neighboring prefecture is closer, we only go there."
"Oh, I see."
"Yeah."
Hmm...
Yeah, we had a normal conversation...
"Hmm, I see..."
"Yeah."
Is this any way to have a normal conversation with Uenohara...?
Now that I think about it, I've never had a conversation with Uenohara that wasn't related to our 'Plan'. We had a conversation from time to time during our meetings, but this was the first time we had a formal conversation like this.
"Oh..."
"..."
What should I do? After I thought about it, I suddenly had no idea what to talk about.
Uenohara leaned her cheek and stared out the window, her figure looking somewhat agitated.
D*mn, this is not good... ...It's not good to ruin an amusement party like this.
Let's see, let's see... ...The theory is to talk about hobbies and favorite things in a situation like this. For Uenohara, the topic is definitely drinks and sweets. According to the information I have, Uenohara prefers Western dishes, and she mentioned that she makes them herself, so I can expand on that and make the conversation go comfortably.
Oh, but wait a minute...?
Is that kind of technical way of speaking okay? This isn't some kind of "Daily Event" in "The Plan".
No, a very basic premise.
Does Uenohara even enjoy casual conversation like a pair of friends with me like this...?
As I agonized over this, Uenohara sighed.
"...What am I doing? It's not that."
"Eh?"
Uenohara then ruffled her hair and looked at me.
"Hey."
"Y-Yeah?"
"You don't have to worry about me too much. Let's talk about the "Plan"."
"Oh, well... ...that's..."
"We're supposed to have a meeting tonight anyway, right? It would be more efficient if we did it now, wouldn't it? Or is there no need to?"
"B-But... ...I think Uenohara might not be able to relax if we do it now. After all, it's your day off..."
"This awkward atmosphere is much more tiring. Besides, nothing interesting will come out of this."
Uenohara said, then, feeling lost, she ruffled her messy hair and pushed it back again.
Oh...
So, in any case, casual conversation with me was not interesting to Uenohara.
"Okay, if that's what Uenohara wants..."
"..."
"Then, let's just do the usual."
"Yeah. That's better."
Uenohara nodded slightly and gave a clear answer.
For some reason, my chest felt tight when Uenohara emphasized her reply like that.
"—Kouhei! It's done, so lend me a hand!"
"Okay!"
Mr. Owner's voice echoed from downstairs, and I stood up.
I felt a little relieved to be able to extricate myself from this situation for the time being, and I quickly headed for the stairs.
In the corner of my vision, I saw Uenohara undoing her ponytail.
*
I brought drinks for both of us and a tray full of sweets to the table. I also washed my hands and returned to my seat.
—Now, let's get started.
"Okay, let's start the meeting with gusto! Today's agenda is to share information about the next event — 'Student Council President Election'!"
I declared, outlining the conceptual background with a "Dun!" sound effect.
"No, it's too normal this time, other customers will look at us strangely."
Uenohara replied flatly while drinking her super sugary cappuccino.
...Yeah, I feel relieved by this atmosphere. It's strange to feel relieved when being dismissed.
"The chapters surrounding the Student Council President Election are important events that appears with high frequency in youth-oriented rom-com. Of course, I won't miss that opportunity... ...By the way, how much do you know about the Student Council President Election at Kyou-nishi?"
"I only know that they will be held at the end of this month. I have no particular interest in them."
"Oh, I see. Then, let me give you a brief explanation."
After saying so, I read the memo that I had compiled earlier on my smartphone.
The Student Council President Election would be held at the end of July, just before the summer vacation at the end of the first term.
Although the official change of office would take place after the School Cultural Festival in the fall, the members of the Student Council Committee were the third-year students, and they would immediately begin intensive exam preparation. This step was taken to facilitate an early handover of duties to lessen their burden.
Starting with the announcement of the Student Council President Election tomorrow, the candidates will be announced, and then we will enter the three-week Student Council President Election period. During this time, there will be campaign poster exhibitions, street speeches, and speech meetings at the general assembly, followed by voting. The voting results will be finalized on the same day and announced through the school broadcast — This is the general flow.
In the Election, only the President and two Vice Presidents, for a total of three, are elected. The other board positions will be appointed by the Principal at a later date to form the Executive Committee. If there are no opposing candidates, the Election will be a vote of confidence, and a majority of votes from all students will result in a vote of confidence.
"—By the way, in recent years, it's always been a vote of confidence, and there hasn't been an actual Election. I think it has become a set path for the second-year students with positions of responsibility to run for office and be trusted. Oh, and apparently, you can run even if you're not a member of the Student Council Committee."
"Hmm... ...Eh, you wouldn't do something weird like running for Student Council President, would you?"
"Weird!? How dangerous do you think I am!?"
What a rude person! But you can maintain that kind of tone, that's more interesting!
"Anyway, when it comes to rom-com, it's rare that the protagonist becomes the Student Council President. Usually, the heroine runs for the position, and the protagonist gets into some trouble in the process – that's the standard template."
(TL Note: Reminds us of OreGairu!)
Battle templates are also interesting, where the protagonist has to compete with a certain kouhai character who has a devilish personality, or a certain heroine who is perfect with pigtails and an energetic personality.
"So, the protagonist supports the heroine by imparting her wisdom, accompanying her during speeches, and working hard for her victory in the Student Council President Election. Through this process, their relationship gradually develops, and the heroine secretly begins to develop romantic feelings... ...That's the kind of 'scenario' I had in mind for this Student Council Presidential Election."
"Ugh, that's a bit creepy. Especially when you say 'romantic feelings' out loud."
"It's a rom-com, so of course, there will be talk of love and romance. What's wrong with that?"
"I'm just saying it's creepy because it is."
Simple denial, good! ...No, wait, now I sound like a masochist. My mind swung too far in the opposite direction due to my overreaction earlier. I need to calm down a bit.
"But according to your logic, wouldn't the story fall apart if there wasn't a 'heroine' running for Student Council President?"
"Yeah, it's usually like that, yeah."
Uenohara seemed to understand what I meant and narrowed her eyes as she continued.
"You don't mean... ...that person, right?"
"As usual, you're quick to respond... ...Yeah, that's what I meant."
I cleared my throat with a 'hem' and stated:
"For this 'Student Council President Election', our target is none other than the 'Student Council President' candidate, Hinoharu Sachi-senpai!"
I proudly declared this with a 'bam' sound effect in my mind.
Uenohara placed the coffee cup she was about to drink on a plate and let out a long sigh while pretending to hold her forehead.
"So that's why you said that you won't be in contact with me for a while because you're conducting a serious investigation..."
"Yup. And now that I've collected all the necessary data, I can calculate her rom-com aptitude. Her results were better than I expected, so I decided to turn this Election into a 'Rom-Com Event'."
Uenohara, still with an exasperated look on her face, finished the last bite of her chiffon cake. By the way, she secretly ate all the other cakes without me noticing...
"That's quite a sudden change of direction. Don't you dislike that senpai?"
"Yup, until now, I've only seen her superficially. And she has some pretty strong gaps in her personality, so I didn't know what kind of 'character' she was. On the surface, Senpai seems like a mature and graceful Yamato Nadeshiko type, but she can also be quite forward and decisive. I thought that she might be a Disciplinary Committee type of character because she takes her work seriously, but it turns out that she doesn't really prioritize disciplinary. But that was just because I didn't have enough understanding (data). After I did some proper investigation, I found out that she's actually quite good... ...although her direction is a bit unexpected."
Saying this, I picked up my smartphone again.
"Lack of information is indeed a lack of potential rom-com aptitudes. Take the Katsunuma incident the other day, for example. That was a big failure because we didn't have enough information in 'Friends Notes'. That's why I decided to research this aspect thoroughly beforehand, so that we don't make the same mistake again."
"Hmm. By 'serious investigation,' you don't mean..."
I smiled and replied:
"I've collected all the 'character' information about Hinoharu Sachi-senpai, from the previous chapters to her current life!"
So, this time, I will first share with you the complete figure of 'character' Hinoharu Sachi.
*
[Basic Information]
Hinoharu Sachi. Class 2-A, Absent Number 25. Secretary and Audit Executive of the Student Council.
In terms of appearance, she has black hair that faces outward with a slight curl, and a calm and mature beauty like Yamato Nadeshiko. In the 'Cutest Girl in Kyougoku Nishi High School Ranking (Whole School Edition)' that I recently held, she was ranked 5th, making her a truly beautiful girl with outstanding style (high combat power).
As a member of Class E, her academic ability is generally high. Her specialty lies in the humanities, with Japanese Language and Japanese History ranking at the top. On the other hand, her physical strength is below average, with only her PE scores standing out; she is a true culture-type student. In addition, she suffered from low blood pressure and had trouble waking up early, had poor direction reading skills, and had many other weaknesses.
Her favorite thing is things that have Japanese aesthetics, while her least favorite thing is having free time with nothing to do. Her hobbies include visiting historical places, and she has a special interest in the mystery genre. During vacations, she often visits famous places within the prefecture, such as Maisagi Castle Park near Kyougoku Station and old castle ruins, such as Kyougoku Castle, which is known as a spiritual place.
Her home is located at the east end of Kyougoku City, and since her school is quite far away, she commutes to school every day on a moped. Her vehicle of choice is a Little Cub motorcycle, and its body color is light blue.
Evaluations:
Visual Aptitude: A
Basic Ability Aptitude: B
Personality Aptitude: B
Behavioral Aptitude: A
Speaking Aptitude: B
Rom-Com Aptitudes: A
Match with 'Charismatic Student Council President' heroine type: 85%
Assuming she is the Student Council President, her rom-com aptitudes will be promoted to S-rank: 'Student Council President Heroine'.
*
"─Heroine type?"
Uenohara Ayano, who was reading 'Friends Notes' on her smartphone, raised her voice when she saw the unfamiliar term.
"This represents the rom-com heroine type. For example, there's 'Devilish Kouhai' and 'Tsundere Ex-Girlfriend'. Originally, these were rated under the heroine requirement item, but to make it easier to understand, they are now categorized."
The rom-com aptitudes simply determines how similar a person is to a character in a rom-com, and separate criteria are needed to judge whether a person is suitable as a 'heroine'. Therefore, the degree of compatibility with the type of heroine commonly found in rom-coms ── in other words, the 'heroine type' ── is calculated numerically. If the match rate is 80% or higher, it will be given an 'S-Rank', which is unique to heroines.
That way, subjective opinions and biases can be minimized as much as possible, and an objective evaluation can be made. This is much better than deciding based on one's imagination alone.
"However, right now, her match rate doesn't meet the criteria. But after she becomes Student Council President, she will match the 'Charismatic Student Council President' type, so she will be officially recognized as a heroine after her victory in the Student Council President Election."
By the way, Kiyosato-san had too many suitable heroine types, such as 'Angel-like Classmate' and 'Refreshing Sports Club Member', so she was an unconditional 'Main Heroine'. On the other hand, Katsunuma-san didn't meet the rom-com aptitude requirements even though she matched the heroine types, so she was an exception as an 'Unconquerable Heroine'.
Uenohara sighed disinterestedly and continued, "I don't understand how you can call her charismatic. Where did that come from?"
"That will become clear later. Just keep reading."
[Biography ── Childhood]
Sachi was born and raised in Kyougoku City. She was an only child. Both her parents were teachers and were often busy with their works, so she was often left with her dad's parents. Her grandpa had been a member of the City Council, and through that connection, he had deep ties to the community. As his granddaughter, Sachi, affectionately called 'Sachchan', was loved and raised in a warm and loving environment.
As a child, Sachi was curious and loved to play. Although not physically strong, she was quite active. During the Shopping District Festival, she eagerly enjoyed the stalls and portable shrines. Sometimes, she sneaks into the courtyard of Takedata Shrine with the surrounding children or tries to climb the stone wall of Tenshudai in Maisagi Castle. She often engaged in dangerous activities.
Sachi's parents disciplined her strictly and scolded her severely whenever she did something dangerous or wrong. Sachi often sulked and refused to go home to her grandparents.
According to people who knew her at the time, Sachi also felt lonely and wanted her busy parents to take care of her.
"Again with the sudden personal information... ...Where did you dig this up from?"
"First of all, I found the name of Hinoharu, a City Councilor, on the internet, and then I checked the City Council meeting minutes. I found out that the support came from the chamber of commerce, so I asked the stalls near the main residence in the shopping district. When I told them I was their friend, they told me a lot of things."
"...Only someone like Kouhei checks the City Council meeting minutes as a high school student."
By the way, the shopping district mentioned here refers to the 'Chuo Shopping District', an arcade located southeast of Kyougoku Station. It is a place with a nostalgic atmosphere, filled with many long-established privately-owned stalls.
Perhaps because of this, the stallholders are mostly elderly couples reminiscing about the past and sharing stories. Yeah, 80% of those stories have nothing to do with Senpai.
[Elementary School Years]
As time passed, Sachi gradually conformed to her parents' educational philosophy, and by the time she was in the lower grades of elementary school, she no longer engaged in dangerous activities.
Instead, Sachi started doing outrageous things within the rules and regulations. According to an elementary school classmate, she came up with ideas like lunch auctions and ranking the jump rope scores of all classes on the bulletin board, initiating impromptu class competitions. She showed leadership skills beyond her years.
This may be the result of her efforts to satisfy her desires while obeying her parents' instructions, leading to a mindset that seeks maximum results without breaking the rules.
"What kind of elementary school girl is she? Senpai, is she a strange person...?"
"Yeah, it's surprising, isn't it? She does some outrageous things."
After all, this is an idea and execution that goes beyond what an elementary school student can do. I just focus on things like my independent research project.
"If this happened in elementary school, I wonder what middle school and beyond will be like..."
"Of course, I've also looked into it."
[Middle School Years]
In middle school, Sachi focused on Student Council activities from the start.
With greater leadership skills than in elementary school and the ability to bring people together, Sachi created what became known as 'The Two Great Festivals of Higashi Middle': School Cultural Festival and Music Festival. Her charisma and early development, which made her stand out, likely played a role in this achievement.
A RINE group called 'Hinoharu-senpai ♡ Promotion Committee' was formed, demonstrating his popularity. By the way, it seems that most of the members are her kouhai girls.
Even now, Sachi was treated as a legendary figure, respected as the Student Council President who single-handedly changed the school.
"Oh, I think I'm mixing up some of the things I heard from Torisawa here. I don't think Torisawa knows her personally, but she is a celebrity known by everyone in Higashi."
"That's probably what happens when she makes a fuss like that."
"By the way, I heard that Senpai changed the Cultural Festival from a small event for school-related people to an event open to the public, and changed the Music Festival, which used to be just a choir performance, to a big event that includes bands, a cappella groups, and even Kyogen. Apparently, they set up a special stage in the gymnasium for that, just like our School Cultural Festival."
[TL Note: 狂言 = Kyogen. Meaning "crazy words" or "wild speech", Kyogen is a traditional drama passed down from ancient times in Japan. It is a "manga" drama where cheerful and funny characters take the stage and make the audience laugh with their silly speech and strange movements.]
"That's quite an achievement for an ordinary public junior high school... ...Didn't Senpai face opposition from various parties?"
"According to the information I got, there was a lot of resistance from the teachers and the school. But she seems to have rejected it with logical arguments."
"...She is worse than a delinquent."
"She even fought against those scary teachers that everyone hates, so she's treated like a hero by the students. Torisawa said that she is 'looking forward to what she'll do in the future', so it seems like even the senpais are watching her."
"That's the kind of freedom-loving idiot that Torisawa wants, huh?"
"Hey, you must have just used the wrong words there, right?"
[First Year of High School - Present]
After a carefree middle school life, Sachi entered Kyougoku Nishi High School, the number one party school in the prefecture.
Soon after entering Kyou-Nishi, Sachi joined the Student Council and, despite still being a first-year student, she proposed various reform plans and ideas.
One example is the 'Recommended Seasonal Cafeteria Report' published in the Student Council newspaper, which was her idea. Sachi also opened and operated the Student Council's public relations account on Tbitter.
Sachi is energetically active in various roles. Perhaps because of her hard work, she was appointed to an administrative position usually reserved for eleventh graders in her tenth grade year and took on the role of financial auditor at the end of the last fiscal year.
"Hmm, I see. Holding several positions means that some of them left halfway through, right?"
"Yeah, from what I gathered, it seems that she took over the duties of someone who quit because they wanted to start preparing for the university entrance exam early. Normally, someone who doesn't have any position would take over, but I think she volunteered, saying, 'It's not too difficult, I'll do it."
"Huh... ...so it wasn't forced on her?"
"I don't think so. Yeah, the task only involves checking the budget plan at the beginning of the fiscal year, and that is also the time when the new Student Council will be launched, so it might be more efficient to have an experienced officer handle it."
[Overall Evaluation]
A person with unique ideas and the ability to put them into action, capable of leading others strongly. Her middle school friends describe Sachi as "born to be Student Council President", "always in a festive mood", and "would die if she quit", indicating her proactive involvement in Student Council activities. Sachi's candidacy for Student Council President was unquestionable.
Despite her popularity, few have expressed their feelings for Sachi, and she has no dating experience. Perhaps because of her overly proactive actions, many just observed her from a distance. She herself says, "I find Student Council activities more fulfilling than romance," and is not very proactive about love, leading some to call her a "wasted beauty."
Regardless, her orientation was positive, and her compatibility with "The Plan" was very high, making her a key character who had an outstanding talent as a "heroine" and a "rom-com character."
"─And that's all, that's the situation."
I placed my smartphone on the table and took a breath.
"I've simplified it a bit, but this information is integrated from multiple sources and is reliable. If you're worried, I can also provide the raw data."
"No, I trust you. There's nothing scarier than you, Nagasaka Kouhei, when you're seriously investigating something."
"Did I just hear a voice again?"
At this point, Uenohara Ayano placed her smartphone on the table and covered her mouth with her hand, in her usual thinking pose.
"Hmm, is there something on your mind?"
"Yeah, I'm fine with Senpai's personality, but... ...what about the people around her now? Any information on that?"
"Huh? You mean about her friends?"
"Yeah. And also her relationship with the Student Council members."
I opened the relevant part of the Friends Notes and started to explain.
"Let's see, she has some friends in her class. There are also friends from the same middle school in other classes. She doesn't seem to be a central figure in her class, but that doesn't mean she's ostracized or disliked."
At the very least, it's not like Katsunuma's situation where she has no place in school. If there was a negative story like that, it would definitely come from somewhere.
"As for the Student Council, it seems like everyone is depending on her. I don't think she has any close friends there, but there are comments like 'She does a lot for us, and it's very helpful. Sounds like a good relationship, right?"
"Have there been any conflicts or problems with anyone so far?"
"Hmm, let's see. Regarding issues that stand out... ...there was a time during her first-year when she temporarily had a conflict with her classmates. Remember, it was about the Community Clean-up Activity?"
"Oh... ...right, is it about deciding on a policy?"
"Yeah, exactly. She said it herself, but it seems that there was a split between the 'Let's Take This Seriously' faction and the 'Let's Take This Casually' faction. But in the end, it seems to have been resolved well, and there don't seem to be any problems left from that time."
I double-checked this with a former classmate during the follow-up investigation, and it turned out to be accurate. Her reaction was more lighthearted, "Oh, is there something like that?"
Uenohara continued her thinking pose for a while, then nodded.
"Okay, that's fine for now. So, what do you plan to do from now on?"
"Yeah, first of all, I will contact her tomorrow and try to find out her specific plans for the future. And if possible, I will ask if I can give a speech of support for her."
Even in the case of a vote of no confidence, a rally will be held.
In an election campaign, few people would be willing to give a speech of support for a vote of confidence whose winner was almost certain. If I can attract attention, there is a chance that I can get that position.
If that happened, I would be able to act alongside her with impunity during the Election period, making it easier to trigger the various "sub-events".
The big goal this time was to suddenly close the distance that had been maintained so far and aggressively increase her "favoritism" to me. Of course, I will also enjoy this event to the fullest.
"So I'll just wait for now. I don't think there's anything I can do."
"Yeah, we don't need any extra manpower right now. I'll let you know if anything comes up."
"Understood. Okay, I guess I'll be hearing from you soon."
"Hey, how many times do I have to tell you to stop putting up those flags — do you want a refill?"
I suddenly realized that Uenohara's coffee cup was empty and asked her.
"No, I already ordered something else, so I'm fine."
"Huh? When did you do it?"
"Just now, on RINE. I exchanged IDs with Mr. Owner."
"When did you have time for that!?"
"When Kouhei was in the bathroom. I asked him at that time."
Mr. Owner... ...you were too quick to close the distance...
*
After that, we shared some other routine information, and then dispersed. I rode my motorcycle up the hill as the sun was setting.
The main road up the hill was filled with cars heading to the city. I think most of them were family cars, so I guess they all went out to dinner.
This area is a newly developed residential area, built on what used to be fields. So there are no restaurants around here, and if you want to eat out, you have to go down the hill to the bottom of the basin.
There are probably a lot of families with small children, so I guess this is their weekend routine.
...When the traffic light in front of me turned red, I stopped my motorcycle and put my feet down. I stared at the stream of cars heading into the city, my mind wandering.
—In the end, today was just like our usual meeting.
As soon as the meeting started, Uenohara answered right away, and I was able to speak without feeling pressured. At least, there was no strange sense of incompatibility like the first time.
Uenohara didn't seem bored either, so I guess this kind of relationship suits us.
That's right — it was because of the "Project" that I was able to spend so much time with Uenohara.
Without the "Project", I'm just an average boy, maybe even below average. There's nothing interesting about me, nothing that makes me stand out. I'm just a nameless background character who likes rom-coms.
There's no way someone as highly specialized as Uenohara would enjoy hanging out with a normal boy like that.
Uenohara has a lot of friends, and if she wanted to, she could easily find someone more compatible with her in normal high school life.
The only thing I can offer Uenohara is "The Project". I don't have anything else.
That's why, if I want to repay her — I have no choice but to keep running towards the success of the "Project".
I declared this to myself as I gripped the accelerator of the motorcycle.
But did I drink too much coffee...? My stomach feels a bit heavy.
*
The next morning.
I stifled a yawn as I walked towards the Student Council Office.
Last night, I had read a light novel with a scene of the Student Council President Election. That's why I'm sleep deprived right now.
I mean, come on, there's the two of them working together to strategize in the Student Council Presidential Election, surprising their opponent with an unexpected move during the speech, and then at the end of the story, there's a lucky feel-good situation like "Thank you for helping me so far, Bre○n"... and so on? How could I not feel happy thinking about that? It was only natural that my heart was racing and I was restless. As I arrived in front of the Student Council Office, my mind drifted to the "Prologue" scenario I had prepared.
Okay, then! Let's start the "Student Council President Election"!
As I was about to knock on the door like usual, I glanced at the bulletin board next to the entrance.
There was a new sheet of paper posted there, with the words 'Notice of Student Council President Election'.
The names of the candidates were...
"...Huh!?"
Surprised, I forgot to knock and immediately opened the door to the Student Council Office.
"S-Senpai!"
"Wow, you startled me!"
Hinoharu-senpai, who was sitting in front of her laptop like usual, jumped slightly.
"Nagasaka, you must knock properly. We might be having a meeting, so remember that even among friends, manners are important."
"Oh, but the Student Council President Election!"
"...Student Council President Election?"
"Why isn't your name on the list!?"
Hinoharu-senpai paused for a moment, then quietly put on her light-blocking blue glasses.
Hinoharu-senpai turned her gaze back to her laptop and started typing.
"Because I'm not running for it."
"Eh...?"
"That's what I told you, I won't run for the Student Council President."
Hinoharu-senpai said flatly without looking at me.
"I'm not planning to run for Student Council President. I intend to continue in my current position."
—Oh, why does my rom-com never go as planned...? Why does it always take a wrong turn...?
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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