The Days of the Student Council (5)
I created Pudding Day in the Student Council.
All executives receive one pudding each in equal distribution.
And they eat them deliciously, replenishing their motivation to make the Student Council even greater.
“What’s the scheme, President Makocchi?”
Iroha had an expression full of curiosity on Pudding Day.
While savoring the pudding, Iroha looked at me suspiciously.
“Performing what the original president would do. It’s not like you, President Makocchi.”
Calling it what Makoto would do. Iroha was criticizing both the original and the replica. Sharp criticism.
“But the pudding is delicious, right?”
“......Well, it is.”
Iroha couldn’t deny it and avoided my gaze.
Even a rational person can’t resist hunger. Since the pudding is delicious.
“Hah. It’s good that you remember this moment, Iroha. This is what power is all about.”
All executives receive one pudding each equally.
But Iroha received two puddings, even more equally.
“It’s not power, but simply giving me your pudding, President Makocchi.”
“Want me to take it back? Then I’ll return my pudding.”
“No, I’ll eat it. This pudding has already transferred ownership to me. Don’t touch it without permission... Hmph.”
Iroha was fiercely protecting the untouched pudding.
It seemed she had no intention of returning the pudding she received from me.
“By the way, I wondered what was going on. When President Makocchi suddenly announced Pudding Day...”
“I didn’t think Iroha would mistake me for Makoto.”
“Have you reflected enough?”
“No, I’ve made a pledge to reflect more in the future.”
Iroha glared at me with a pout after my cheeky declaration.
I had no choice. I was a clone body impersonating Makoto. I needed to increase the sync rate with the original.
I had to act like a weirdo sometimes to avoid suspicion.
“......Really, President Makocchi, please stay competent. There’s only one original, you know.”
In the end, I scolded Iroha.
Her appearance resembled a loyal minister who didn’t spare advice to the monarch.
Iroha was worrying about the Student Council in various ways. She was a splendid talent.
“Sometimes it’s nice like this too, right? It’s all for boosting the morale of the Student Council.”
“......It’s not bad. The pretext is quite plausible.”
But Iroha dug into the details of the incident.
“But if it’s President Makocchi, there must be some other intention.”
“Overthinking it. It could simply be that I wanted to eat pudding.”
It feels bad to eat snacks alone.
Therefore, the logic that I pulled the entire Student Council into it.
“It can’t be. After all, President Makocchi gave your share to me.”
“That’s... Iroha was drooling while wanting my pudding?”
“If I eat it, I’d choose President Makocchi over the pudding. It looks much tastier.”
Iroha’s mischievousness never rests.
She pounces the moment she sees a gap.
“Iroha, you’ve been getting too into ecchi novels lately?”
“Shall I recommend a few to President Makocchi?”
“......I’m good.”
I panicked and shook my head. Iroha giggled while enjoying my reaction.
I prayed inwardly that Ibuki wouldn’t turn out like Iroha.
“Anyway, President Makocchi’s true purpose isn’t pudding, right?”
Iroha shifted to other expense items.
“President Makocchi sent gifts not only to the Student Council but also to high-ranking officials at Gehenna Academy.”
“That’s... It’s a customary gift. There’s nothing special about it, is there? It’s just following tradition.”
To increase the budget execution, puddings alone weren’t enough.
So, I sent gifts to the major personnel at Gehenna Academy as well.
Of course, including the Prefect Team leader Hina. After all, it was for Hina.
I put a lot of thought into the gift for Hina.
After careful consideration, I chose the highest-grade coffee beans.
“There’s no way they’ll suspect my sincerity. The gift senders are more than a few.”
The recipients of the gifts are dozens.
Therefore, the feelings toward Hina won’t be exposed.
“Yes, I know it’s customary. But why send the gift in my name? It’s strange.”
I sent the gift to Hina in Iroha’s name.
If I sent it in my name, Hina probably wouldn’t accept it. The Prefect Team would likely return it.
But with Iroha, perhaps the Prefect Team wouldn’t reject the gift.
In other words, I used Iroha’s name for the gift.
For the record, I didn’t get Iroha’s permission.
“It’s suspicious, President Makocchi.”
“Ugh...”
“Well, explain the reason.”
I didn’t think Iroha would probe the flaw.
I thought she’d let it slide since it was bothersome, but an unexpected attack came.
“Iroha, I mean—”
But I hadn’t prepared an excuse.
“You think of me as the next president of the Student Council. So, I need to inform Iroha about Gehenna...”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear.”
Iroha quickly covered her ears. Iroha was desperately turning away from me.
Her face looked as if she had received a terribly bothersome task to pass on.
“You don’t understand, Iroha. The work is much easier for the top management than for the middle management.”
“Don’t try to sweet-talk me with red lies. I’ll definitely refuse.”
Iroha immediately threw the negotiation table.
Even with a Flak 41 anti-aircraft gun pointed at her neck, she had an expression that she wouldn’t accept the presidency.
“You hate it that much?”
“Yes, I don’t want to think about a Student Council without President Makocchi anymore. Can’t we have permanent rule?”
“Permanent rule in the student-governed Gehenna Academy is impossible.”
“If we use the power of a coup, it might be possible. ......Shall we do a coup?”
Iroha fell into coup again.
I let out a wry smile and tried to dissuade Iroha’s coup request.
“Haa- It’s troublesome. Even if I ask, you won’t tell me, President Makocchi?”
Iroha, having lost motivation, grumbled. It seemed she was tired of probing.
“I already answered. I just wanted to eat pudding.”
“Tsk. Uninteresting President Makocchi.”
When I stubbornly refused, Iroha got angry.
I feel sorry for Iroha, but the details of the matter must be kept secret. It’s something that would backfire.
I diverted some of the expenditure.
It was a loophole to pay the contract fee to Aru of Problem Solver 68.
“I’ve committed a slightly dangerous act... In some cases, it could be very dangerous.”
If discovered, it would be marked as embezzlement.
It’s definitely misconduct, no matter how minor.
“If I can make up the diverted cost somehow, it’s fine, but it’s uncertain.”
The situation was urgent, so I used the funds. I wanted to secure Problem Solver 68.
The cost was quite cheap. Considering the combat power of Problem Solver 68, it was rather cheap.
“Of course, I can’t justify it as rational consumption.”
It’s clearly overspending. If exposed, it would be in a difficult position. I wouldn’t be able to face Makoto.
And as an additional thing, Pudding Day has another purpose. It could be called a kind of bribe.
“......No, calling it a bribe makes it sound bad. It’s just a small token of sincerity.”
Yes. It’s a token of sincerity to receive certain rights from the executives of the Student Council.
The Federal Investigation Club directly under the General Student Council, Schale.
Schale has a rotation system. Students from across Kivotos take turns assisting Schale’s operations.
The shift is randomly drawn, but the rights of the shift can be transferred. It’s a right that can be transferred to another student.
I exchanged the right to Schale duty for puddings. That is, the puddings I consumed are two.
All executives receive one pudding each equally.
But the president of the Student Council receives two puddings, even more equally. Sorry, Iroha.
“Compared to the expenditure spent on the exclusive contract with Problem Solver 68, this is free or almost so.”
It may be a fortunate opportunity for a girl who admires Schale,
But for a girl who is indifferent to Schale, it’s just a burden worse than a single pudding.
“It would be better to keep this in mind once in a while.”
If it’s a fate I have to face someday, I’ll move first.
I promised myself the day I would face Sensei of Schale.