“Hey, Matsushita-san. Do you have a moment?”

Unusually, Kushida called out to me.

“Sure. Want to go to the café?”

“Hmm, it’s a bit hard to talk about there.”

Kushida suggested a bench by the beach where no one would be around.

It was a bit far, but it couldn’t be helped.

We walked there together.

“Matsushita-san, you should be careful, okay? You’re Ayanokōji-kun’s girlfriend, so people are really jealous of you. Especially with today’s rumors.”

“Ahaha, I’m used to it already. At least no one’s putting thumbtacks in my shoes at this school.”

“There are security cameras, and something like that could get you expelled. By the way, when did you realize Ayanokōji-kun was amazing?”

“I get asked that a lot. Around May, during the pool.”

“You’ve got a good eye. I didn’t notice at all when we first enrolled. Actually, no one except you probably did.”

“Maybe. Kiyotaka-kun was holding back, back then.”

We reached the spot while chatting casually.

Kushida seemed to steel herself for what she was about to say.

Just as she was about to start, my phone rang.

“Sorry, give me a second.”

“Yeah, that’s fine. Who is it?”

“Kiyotaka-kun. Hello?”

Kushida’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

After a brief, ordinary conversation, I ended the call.

“Sorry for the wait. So, what did you want to talk about?”

“…It’s about the class vote.”

“Yeah, I figured. Do you have some kind of plan?”

“I do. But since you’re basically the girlfriend of the class’s real leader, Ayanokōji-kun, I wanted to hear his thoughts too.”

“Ah… he hasn’t decided yet either. It seems like he’s still considering Hirata-kun’s stance. Initially, he agreed with Horikita-san though.”

“…Doesn’t that annoy you?”

I gestured for her to continue.

“Horikita-san relies on Ayanokōji-kun too much, even though you’re his girlfriend. Whenever something happens, she depends on him. And during the sports festival and paper shuffle, she apparently pushed him really hard too, right?”

“That’s true. Kiyotaka-kun is capable, so I understand why she relies on him.”

“And you’re okay with that? You’re not jealous of Horikita-san?”

“I’d be lying if I said not at all. But I think Horikita-san is genuinely doing her best for the class.”

I gave a partially guided answer.

Probably not exactly what she wanted, but enough given the current situation.

Still, I needed to meet her halfway a little.

“That said, I do find it unpleasant how much she expects from Kiyotaka-kun. If this test ends up being about voting for people you dislike, I might vote for her… just kidding.”

As if waiting for that, Kushida cautiously agreed.

“…Honestly, I’ve also had issues with her attitude. She’s really harsh on people who aren’t capable, and at the beginning she wouldn’t let anyone but Ayanokōji-kun get close to her.”

That brought back memories.

Back when Kiyotaka-kun was just known as the only guy who could talk to Horikita.

“And this time too, she’s trying to expel weaker students. I feel like she hasn’t changed at her core.”

Honestly, I agreed with that.

“If someone is disrupting the class… I don’t really want to say this, but if someone has to be expelled, maybe it should be someone like Horikita-san.”

“…I get what you’re saying. She does rub me the wrong way a bit.”

“Then could you help encourage people to vote for her?”

I nodded.

Kushida seemed pleased.

If she got both me and Kei on her side, most of the girls’ votes would go to Horikita.

She must have thought her plan was secured.

“Have you already talked to others?”

“Oh come on, ‘talked to others’ sounds bad. But yeah, I’ve mentioned it to quite a few people.”

“And the other votes?”

“Hmm… hadn’t thought much about that. Maybe Koenji-kun and Sudo-kun?”

That directly opposed Horikita’s policy.

They were disruptive, but capable.

“I see. I won’t worry too much about that part then.”

“Ahaha. Who are you voting for?”

“Secret.”

“Ehh! I told you mine!”

She puffed her cheeks, pretending to be upset.

After that conversation, it wasn’t cute at all.

And just like that, our meeting ended.

* * *

Contrary to Hirata’s wishes, vote manipulation was happening.

Of course it was.

Not many people could entrust their fate entirely to others.

Only someone like Hirata could.

Groups were exchanging praise votes, and criticism votes were piling onto Yamauchi, Ike and Horikita.

Right now, Horikita had the most, followed by Yamauchi and Ike.

A few days later, when I opened the classroom door, Shinonohara confronted me angrily.

“Matsushita-san, what is this supposed to mean?”

She shoved her phone in my face.

New rumors were posted.

Matsushita Chiaki hid her abilities and looked down on others

Matsushita Chiaki mocks Shinonohara Satsuki’s looks

…This was troublesome.

Because part of it was true.

I had hidden my abilities.

And I did have a tendency to judge people harshly.

The Shinonohara one was worse.

I hadn’t denied it strongly back then.

But admitting it now would be bad.

“That’s not true.”

“Really? Then what about the first one?”

She was determined to paint me as the villain.

“I did hide my abilities, but that doesn’t mean I looked down on others. I just didn’t want to stand out.”

“And what’s with constantly bringing up your boyfriend?”

…This was getting bad.

“I didn’t mean it that way. But those rumors are baseless.”

“…Fine.”

She backed off, unconvinced.

I quickly messaged Kei and Nene to align our stories.

After that, more rumors spread.

My reputation kept dropping.

The worst part was the mix of truth and lies.

Still, my friends and Kiyotaka supported me.

“Who’s spreading this stuff?”

“I won’t forgive them.”

“Chiaki doesn’t deserve this.”

They defended me.

Apparently, people were starting to gather criticism votes against me too.

Targets now included Horikita, Yamauchi, me and others.

…Horikita still lacked popularity.

“If it looks like Chiaki might get the most votes, I’ll vote for Horikita.”

“Me too.”

“Same.”

But there was no point in cutting someone capable like Horikita.

“Thanks, but I’ll be fine. You know who my boyfriend is, right?”

“Ah… yeah.”

“He’s basically perfect.”

They were convinced.

I trusted him.

* * *

The day before the vote, rumors flooded the forums.

But this time, it wasn’t just me.

Shinonohara was accused of prostitution.

Miyake of smoking and gambling.

Horikita of being obsessed with her brother.

Kiyotaka of being a secret agent.

Hirata of growing drugs.

“Such stupid rumors.”

“Someone’s trying to manipulate votes.”

That was the general sentiment.

Still, for those targeted, it wasn’t funny.

“Who spread this… I won’t forgive them.”

Shinonohara muttered angrily.

“Are we really okay going into the vote like this?”

Someone said that.

Then he stood up and addressed the class.

“Everyone, listen. About tomorrow’s vote.”