[Warning 15+]
Prologue 2The Real Ending
That day.
It all started with a letter in my shoe box.
A reality I'd been trying to avoid from the very beginning.
…Maybe, definitely.
It was so much fun, and most importantly, it was so bright and so satisfying.
And─.
An ideal reality, where everyone can keep laughing─.
Let's rewrite that reality.
◆
"Why are you here…?"
Nagasaka-kun stared at me with a wide-eyed expression.
After leaving Sachi-senpai, who was confused by the results of the Student Council President Election, I made my way to the rooftop of this building. As I thought about how things were unfolding exactly as I'd expected, I bit my lip tightly.
So… …this is how it turned out.
Looking back at this revealed reality, I felt terribly uneasy.
I truly couldn't forgive myself for causing a situation like this.
…No, that's wrong. I mustn't.
No matter how much I torture myself like this, I won't achieve my goal.
Since taking advantage of this situation is indeed the best choice, and since I've already decided to go with it, there's no reason for me to complain now.
Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to apologize to the person who made me unable to laugh, to the person who had no choice but to make me unable to laugh.
So, I—froze my heart.
Facing the root of all evil.
"Numbers are easy to understand, aren't they? Because numbers clearly show reality."
"Eh..."
"Isn't Nagasaka-kun the one who understands that best?"
Hah, Nagasaka-kun's eyes widened.
Numbers—that is, objective information.
I heard from Sachi-senpai that Nagasaka-kun is really good at processing information.
Finally, I understood the strange feeling I'd been having about Nagasaka-kun all this time—
The reason why I've always thought of Nagasaka-kun as an unusual guy.
—The Nagasaka-kun I've seen all this time always makes the best choices.
When it comes to small things, like when Nagasaka-kun is casually chatting with someone. He'll casually bring up a topic that's sure to interest us, then steer the conversation so we feel comfortable.
With me, the topic is novels; With Tokiwa-kun, it's sports; With Torisawa-kun, it's challenging and inspiring topics—that sort of thing. Of course, Nagasaka-kun's way of speaking and tone of voice are also carefully tailored to each person.
And Nagasaka-kun does this with everyone in the class—no, more than that, even with all the students in our grade, as if Nagasaka-kun could do it with anyone.
Furthermore, when someone is confused about their identity, Nagasaka-kun can guess their desires—like "If only it were like this, it would be best"—then show them the way to make it happen, or even influence the people around them.
That was most evident when Ayumi was having problems. Even Hibiki-chan, her closest friend, couldn't see Ayumi's true nature, but Nagasaka-kun managed to figure it all out and provide the best solution.
And Nagasaka-kun managed to get that once chaotic class to acknowledge what was best.
Without any waste of effort and with absolute certainty, Nagasaka-kun always chooses the most appropriate answer and then carries it out.
A guy who can do something like that—without a doubt, he's no ordinary guy.
However, I don't understand why Nagasaka-kun isn't an ordinary guy.
After all, Nagasaka-kun isn't the type of guy who's attuned to the intricacies of other people's hearts like Tokiwa-kun, nor is he the type of quick-witted person like Ayano or Torisawa-kun. Basically, I see Nagasaka-kun as a simple and honest person, much like Ayumi.
That's why I'm always surprised that Nagasaka-kun could do something like that, and that's also why his actions are so hard to predict.
If I hadn't brought that up first, I wouldn't have known how to deal with Nagasaka-kun—with that in mind, I spent my time gathering information, from observing what he was thinking and how he acted, to secretly contacting people connected to him to ask what he was really like.
─And, as the Student Council President Election approached.
From Sachi-senpai, who for some reason had formed a connection with Nagasaka-kun and was even helping him with his work, I heard her assessment of him.
At the same time, I remembered hearing that Nagasaka-kun's specialty was research, and intuitively, I understood.
Nagasaka-kun—cleverly utilizing the information he had gathered beforehand, he had already taken the best possible steps first.
If that's really the case, it could explain behavior that has always seemed unnaturally over-optimized.
However, as the saying goes, "Easy to say, hard to do," I do have my doubts about whether it's actually possible… …but if I think about it more deeply, maybe it is. As long as I spend a lot of time on it and really focus.
In any case, I've concluded that information is the weapon that makes Nagasaka-kun such an extraordinary guy, and the source of his strength.
─That's why I…
…Deliberately provided the information Nagasaka-kun relies on.
I decided to make Nagasaka-kun face the reality.
"—Those numbers are proof. Most of the students at this school—the 'Ordinary people'—are reportedly disappointed after being subjected to this ridiculous charade."
"Ridiculous… …charade…?"
Nagasaka-kun, who had been looking around restlessly, suddenly stopped moving.
"From what I've heard, 'It's annoying to see them getting all excited on their own,' 'Don't drag others into this,' 'Whether they're chosen or not, it's going to be a hassle,' 'From start to finish, I don't care'—"
"…"
"'You read too much manga.'"
Hearing those words, Nagasaka-kun clenched his fist tightly.
I didn't miss that reaction.
─So, that's how it is.
The ideal goal Nagasaka-kun had in mind—it really is unusual, isn't it?
After biting my lip inwardly, I tried to stay calm and continue the conversation.
"Shiozaki-senpai's energetic performance didn't seem to resonate with them; In fact, it seemed to have the opposite effect. Upon hearing that, everyone immediately lost their enthusiasm."
"…"
"The Online Q&A Session with Sachi-senpai, too. At first, everyone seemed to enjoy it because it felt like something new, but after thinking it through clearly, they probably thought, 'Isn't that just a PR stunt?'"
"…!"
"Some people have even criticized Sachi-senpai, calling her 'Unstable' or 'An attention-seeker.' But those are people who don't know her at all—people who have nothing to do with her. Besides—"
"K-Kiyosato-san!"
As if to interrupt me, Nagasaka-kun shouted as if he couldn't take it anymore.
A moment later, Nagasaka-kun's face looked startled, and his mouth moved indistinctly.
"Oh, Kiyosato-san, um… …that's…"
Hm…?
"Why… …are you suddenly bringing that other thing up…?"
The question sounded vague and a bit confusing. Maybe Nagasaka-kun was confused and couldn't quite get his thoughts together yet.
But I could guess what Nagasaka-kun wanted to know.
"Here's the thing. I want you guys to know how what you're doing will end. That's why I came here to tell you."
"Our end…?"
"Yeah. From the very beginning, I knew this Student Council President Election would end in a strange way."
"─!?"
Even so, that doesn't mean I went out of my way to influence the outcome of this Student Council President Election.
For example, manipulating public opinion so that a no-confidence motion would pass, or controlling people's behavior so they'd cast blank votes… ...things like that—there's no way I could do them.
It's just that I gave a little nudge to draw everyone's attention to both Sachi-senpai and Shiozaki-senpai—people who were trying to do something out of the ordinary. I just made the reactions of "Ordinary people"—the kind that could happen—more obvious.
…Yeah.
I just knew this would happen; That's all.
"Those 'Ordinary' people, you know. If they feel like they're being dragged into something unusual—well, if there are unusual people around them, they definitely won't be able to accept it."
"…"
"It has absolutely nothing to do with whether what you do is good or bad; People who are far removed from our common sense are considered 'strange,' and we immediately reject them, thinking, 'I don’t want to get involved.'"
"…"
"As a result, in the end, we'll face an outcome that's no laughing matter for anyone. It's not just the people directly involved, but those around them get dragged into it too, don't they?"
"…No one can laugh…"
Nagasaka-kun muttered as if he were rambling.
I nodded without saying a word, then took a step forward.
—And.
In this reality.
Which has begun to involve "Ordinary people" and do extraordinary things—
"Nagasaka-kun."
You.
"Fools who dare to pursue unconventional dreams like ours—just by existing, we're already causing everyone suffering."
—That was me, back then.
Nagasaka-kun's eyes widened, and he took a step back as if he were about to fall.
"We…?"
Just as he was about to say that, Nagasaka-kun clenched his teeth as if holding himself back.
"No… …sorry, hold on, that's enough for today."
Then Nagasaka-kun started walking hurriedly, as if he wanted to leave the place right away.
I immediately interrupted Nagasaka-kun.
"Maybe you're thinking, 'First, I should look into it,' right? 'Gather all the information, and then decide what to do,' that sort of thing. …With Ayano, right?"
"Eh…!?"
"I don't think that's necessary. From the start, I intended to share all the information needed to make a decision."
Tucking a strand of hair that had flown loose and stuck to my cheek behind my ear, I looked around.
─Following the unexpected results of the Student Council President election, the Student Council was in chaos. The teachers were busy in a meeting discussing whether to accept these results, so they didn't have time to think about anything else. If only the rooftop key had been returned a little later, it wouldn't have been a problem.
And Ayano, who would likely be the biggest obstacle, had also been taken care of.
I let out a sigh, "Phew," then leaned against the warehouse wall on the roof.
The sky above me was covered in thick gray clouds. Even though it wasn't raining, the blue sky felt very far away; That was the weather at the time.
"…Why did I know this would happen? I'll tell you guys now."
—Then I began to tell the story.
Back then, I was the odd one out.
I fought my way there, and finally made it.
"It happened when I was still in middle school—"
—The End of Reality.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
RP: Angga Kun
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