The day after learning the Ankle Break, I was dealing with the notifications that had come in the previous day.

Since most were not urgent, I had left them unread and ignored them, but there was a possibility someone might come directly to my room. The reason that didn't happen was because two people who had seen my state during the discussion said, "Let's let him enjoy himself alone for once," and stopped anyone from coming.

Among the few urgent matters was one from Suzune, stating that Kei was having trouble with some girls from Class D. I found it unexpected that Kei hadn't consulted me directly, but perhaps having been helped by me during middle school, she now intended to break through the situation on her own.

And now, in order to hear about this so-called urgent consultation, I am speaking with Suzune, who is clearly in a bad mood.

Kiyotaka: "Sorry, I didn't check them yesterday."

Suzune: "I see. I even went as far as your room, but you weren't there. Where were you?"

Kiyotaka: "Early in the morning, I was training with Rokusuke... I mean, Koenji."

Suzune: "You became friends with Koenji-kun? No, never mind. What I'm asking about is after the discussion."

Kiyotaka: "I went to the small hall with Ken to do some basketball image training."

Suzune: "Even though a classmate is in a predicament, you're quite a heartless class leader."

Kiyotaka: "You're in such a bad mood. Were you lonely? Come here."

Suzune: "That's not... I mean, it's not entirely that, but..."

Since there was no one else around, I pulled her close, and though embarrassed, Suzune affirmed it. Even though we made a contract, I haven't been very demanding of her, so she must have been feeling anxious.

'An honest Suzune, combined with the gap from her usual self, is incredibly cute.'

Kiyotaka: "So? Tell me the details about Kei."

When I asked, Suzune recounted the exact same story I had witnessed in the first loop.

'There are events that occur regardless of my presence which can be helpful, but it's a little sad to think that people's fundamental natures don't change easily.'

Kiyotaka: "So, did you do anything, Suzune?"

Suzune: "No. I wanted to help her since she's one of the people you're close with, but she gently rejected my offer."

Kiyotaka: "I see. Then I'll make a move. Suzune, let me know immediately if it looks like Kei is about to be forcibly taken somewhere. They won't do anything in plain sight of others, so that moment will definitely come."

Suzune: "You're not going to take action before something happens?"

Kiyotaka: "If I act before something happens, they'll scheme to do it somewhere beyond my reach next time. It's better to let them do it once, secure evidence, and use it as a deterrent."

Suzune: "...I understand that, but wouldn't that mean Karuizawa-san gets hurt?"

Kiyotaka: "Part of this is Kei's own fault for causing trouble in the first place. Preventing excessive retaliation is one thing, but being cornered to some extent is a necessary cost."

Suzune: "...I understand. I'll report the situation step by step."

Kiyotaka: "Yeah, I'm counting on you."

After that, I doted on Suzune a little longer before we parted ways before anyone else could arrive.

After parting with Suzune, I called Kikyo to the place where Kei was supposed to be bullied.

Kiyotaka: "Thanks for coming, Kikyo."

Kikyo: "Why did you call me to a place like this?"

Kiyotaka: "I wanted to see you, Kikyo. But you're popular, so I thought somewhere out of sight would be best."

Kikyo: "You're popular too, Kiyotaka-kun. You're the class leader, and lots of girls have their eyes on you."

Kikyo's smile turned dark. Thinking about introducing her to Suzune is terrifying.

Kiyotaka: "No, I don't have the talent for being liked the way you do, Kikyo. In fact, the majority of boys outside our class are hostile toward me."

Kikyo: "In that case, if we went open about being together, wouldn't some girls feel a bit more at ease?"

Kiyotaka: "Are you serious? No, you're joking, right?"

I try to imagine the scenario of going public.

First, if I go public about a relationship with just one person: A war would break out among the girls over whose relationship gets revealed. Furthermore, if I went on a date with anyone other than the chosen one, I'd immediately be called a cheater. Conversely, if I didn't go on dates, my relationships with the other girls would worsen. To top it off, boys who had feelings for the chosen one would direct hostility at me (though some might resign themselves, thinking it can't be helped if it's me).

Next, if I go public about relationships with everyone: I could openly spend time with all the girls, but wherever I went, students would look at me with cold eyes, and I would have to step down from the class leader position. With Shiro around, I could still graduate from Class A by offering advice from the shadows, but I wouldn't be able to openly have rematches with Ryuuen or Arisu, and I'd spend a very suffocating three years.

'Yeah, it's a dead end. As expected, maintaining the stance that I have no specific partner while not neglecting the affection I receive from others is the optimal approach.'

Kikyo: "Don't think about it so seriously. You know right away that it'd be game over if we got caught."

She replied in her dark tone. Well, of course.

Kiyotaka: "I know, but I couldn't help wishing we could all hang out openly."

Kikyo: "That's... I also wish we could, but..." fidgeting

She suddenly seemed happy, a complete change from just before. Hitting Kikyo straight in the heart with honesty is definitely most effective.

Kiyotaka: "By the way, did you notice there are no surveillance cameras installed here?"

Kikyo: "Yeah. I thought there might be something since you, Kiyotaka-kun, chose this place. But when you said it was out of sight, I figured it meant there was nothing around."

Kiyotaka: "I see. You deduced it from my usual behavior."

'Both Honami and Kikyo surpass me in terms of observing people and being liked by them.'

Kikyo: "So, what is it you want to ask of me?"

Kiyotaka: "I'm thinking of becoming student council president next semester. I want you to help with my election campaign."

Kikyo: "You just joined the student council recently, Kiyotaka-kun, and now you're going to be president!?"

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. The current president is a conservative, but Nagumo Miyabi, who is considered certain to be the next president, is a reformist. I'm allied with the current president, and I'm thinking of stopping Nagumo by becoming president myself."

Kikyo: "I've heard of Nagumo-senpai. It's all bad rumors, like he's got almost the entire second year under his thumb, he's driven everyone who opposed him to expulsion, he's a womanizer..."

'Impressive information network as always.'

Kiyotaka: "Those rumors aren't wrong. To add to it, he extorts points from classes he's brought under his control, stripping them of their resistance."

Kikyo: "Whoa, is that for real?"

It was something that would make anyone recoil, whether in public or private.

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. Moreover, because he has almost no rivals in his own year, he frequently challenges me and the president to contests."

Kikyo: "Do you accept those challenges, Kiyotaka-kun?"

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. Even when the student council members went to karaoke, I won and he gave me one million points."

Kikyo: "Using extorted points to bet against someone else... he's totally a dangerous guy!"

Her true character was finally seeping into her public tone.

Kiyotaka: "We've gotten off track, so let's get back. What I want to ask you, Kikyo, is to improve my image. Right now, my standing and trust within the class are rock solid, but..."

Kikyo: "To other classes, you're just an overly capable and troublesome enemy."

Kiyotaka: "That's a hard way to put it, but... yes, that's right. So I want you to subtly plant a positive image of me, so people will want to vote for me instead of Nagumo."

Kikyo: "But if Nagumo-senpai has lots of points, won't people just get bought off?"

Kiyotaka: "This is a means to counter that with fewer points. Rather than forming a contract with Nagumo, who has little direct involvement with other years, I want to make them feel there's a greater advantage to currying favor with me, someone in the same year. If one of those two is associated with bad rumors and the other with good rumors, what do you think will happen?"

Kikyo: "They'll suspect the one with bad rumors might return kindness with betrayal, and they'll expect the one with good rumors to repay the favor."

Kiyotaka: "Exactly. I'll actually include offers of cooperation in special exams, not just points, as part of the contract. But aside from Ryuuen's dictatorial class, forming a contract with someone people are reluctant to vote for would cause some backlash. And besides, there's no value in a student council president who got there solely through money."

Kikyo: "If that's the case, I'll do my best!"

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. This is something I can only ask of you, Kikyo."

Kikyo: "Since I'm going to work hard and do you this favor, I have a request too. Is that okay?"

I knew what it was, but I dared to ask.

Kiyotaka: "What's your request?"

Kikyo: "I haven't been able to spend time alone with you, Kiyotaka-kun, for a while, and I've been feeling lonely. Is that... not okay?"

Kiyotaka: "Of course it's okay. I didn't choose this place just to talk about that. I genuinely wanted to spend time with you, Kikyo."

Kikyo: "Really! But won't someone come?"

Kiyotaka: "It's fine. Anyone who'd come here is either here for a secret talk or for the same reason as us. Neither of us can pry too deeply."

Once I explained that, Kikyo relaxed and reached out to me. Unlike that time before, I accepted her without avoiding it. Our flirting continued until the alarm Kiyotaka had set signaled that it was just before the discussion.