You Shouldn't Do This.
You Shouldn't Do This.
"...."
I was contemplating seriously.
It was because of what happened yesterday morning.
To be precise.
It was because of Ichinose Shizuku.
Affection Level
Ichinose Shizuku ♥♡♡♡♡(19/100)
Current Status: Expectant
Interest Level: 53%
Obsession Level: 0%
'Ah, fuck.'
Looking at the suddenly flashing status window, I clutched my head.
It's right on the verge of breaking past 20 Affection Level.
No, what the hell is going on?
Was there any event warranting this?
The only thing that could even be called an event was kicking out the guys gathered in the student council office this morning.
Nothing actually seemed to happen with Shizuku, whom I was actually waiting for...?
".....So what do I do about this?"
Even as I processed paperwork on the sacred table of the student council, my brain refused to work.
She's a target whose affection level shouldn't rise by even 1.
Yet it's about to reach 20.
Does it even make narrative sense for her to be seduced by someone like me, logically speaking?
'...Pretty.'
Ah. I ran my fucking mouth.
But I just said that offhandedly...!
She's someone who must have heard she was pretty more than a hundred times in her life without me adding to it!
However, this wasn't a situation to quibble over that.
Shizuku's gaze was subtly glancing over at me, and I could feel that something had happened without anyone telling me.
Right now, she was harboring expectations of me and feeling grateful.
Literally, a scenario where she is step by step being romanced is unfolding right before my eyes.
What if I build up a little more affection here?
It will hit 20.
And she will start seeing me as a potential romantic partner.
If that happens, naturally she'll be the one approaching me....!
"...."
Let's think about this.
What if I just blatantly reject her?
From Shizuku's side, she'd go, 'What? Why reject me?' and take action.
What if I give in to the temptation? I'll get beaten half to death by the people of her family.
This is an inevitable event.
Looking at the contents of today's event, I became even more convinced that it would turn out that way.
A deadly dual choice is laughing right in my face.
I checked the Affection window once more.
And let out a sigh.
"....What am I supposed to do about this?"
At that moment.
"What are you supposed to do about what?"
"..."
A voice came from behind my back.
I slowly turned my head.
Before I knew it, Kanna, an executive member of the student council, was standing beside me.
"Since when were you standing there?"
"Since just now."
"Since just now?"
"Yes!"
Kanna nodded.
Then she stared intently at my face.
Why.
Why are you staring at a person's face like that?
"...Why?"
"President."
"Yeah."
Kanna paused for a moment.
And then.
"Did you... happen to get dumped by the Vice President yesterday?"
"...What?"
"Or are you pretending to be dumped?"
"No, wait a second."
Before I could even process the absurdity, Kanna's expression brightened up.
"Ah! So you didn't get dumped!"
"When did I ever get dumped?"
"Then did you confess?"
"I didn't."
"Then you didn't get dumped after all!"
"..."
Kanna pondered for a second.
"Then did you get dumped without even confessing yet?"
"How is that even possible?"
"It seems like it would be possible for you, President."
"Why?"
"Hmm..."
Kanna pondered seriously.
And then.
"Because you do strange things sometimes, President."
"..."
"Ayayat! Why, why are you pinching me!"
She hit the nail on the head.
The fact that she was spot on made me even more pissed off.
I raised my hand once more.
".....No to violence! Absolute opposition!"
"...."
"Just because a nerve was struck doesn't mean you can silence me with violence!"
Listen to her running her mouth...
Spouting statements without any brakes that could be dangerous if overheard...!
".....Should I pinch you one more time?"
"N-No! But I'm also a member of the student council! If the two of you were already in that kind of relationship, you should have let me know!"
"I'm telling you right now, it's not like that."
"....But still. Last time you even patted her head, and Shizuku-ssi didn't say a single word!"
"....."
"Shizuku-ssi is... well, being strictly protected by her family."
"That's true."
"If you patted the head of someone like that,"
"......"
"I thought you did it fully prepared for the consequences."
"Prepared for what consequences?"
"How would I know?"
Kanna nonchalantly tilted her head.
"Because only you know that, President."
"..."
Those words strangely grated on my nerves.
"....What were you thinking when you did that?"
Honestly, what was I thinking back then?
I felt like asking my past self the same thing.
"You don't plan on answering, right?"
"..."
"So that's how you're going to play it...?"
"..."
"....Then I'm really going to interpret it however I want, okay? That the President was completely smitten by the Vice President's looks and pulled all sorts of moves—"
Fuck, absolutely not.
Who knows what kind of rumors she'd spread?
If I leave her be, strange rumors are bound to float around.
I can't tell her the truth, either.
I was in a position where I must never seduce an Ichinose under any circumstances.
Things just happened to turn out like this... but this was never my intention.
Now that it's come to this, I at least have to convince her...
And right at that moment.
-Ttiring!
___
1. Sure. Think whatever you want, Kanna.
2. "It was simply meant as praise."****
3. "I did it because she was pretty."****
4. Ask Ichinose directly about that.
5. "I did it without any real thought, but..."
___
[TIP!]
[The most appropriate explanation for the current situation is as follows.]
[Convey your sincerity by laying out your honest feelings, not anyone else's thoughts.]
_____
'Why the hell are choice prompts popping up here all of a sudden?'
I looked down for a moment at the semi-transparent text shimmering before my eyes.
It seems this current situation is crucial enough to serve as a branching point for an event.
I really don't know why, though.
'......Look at the state of these choices...'
Options that seem guaranteed to put me on a highway to hell are glowing brightly.
If I pick those, I probably won't wake up tomorrow morning.
Option 1 goes without saying, and Option 4 has way too many variables since there's no telling what she'd say to Shizuku.
As for the remaining three....
2. "It was simply meant as praise."
[There is a high probability the other person will counter with 'Why is head-patting considered praise?']
5. "I did it without any real thought, but..."
[There is a high probability of this being judged as a lie.]
'....If it's like this, there's only one choice left.'
No.
Wait a second.
Is it really okay to choose this one?
Considering how I've acted toward Shizuku so far, it was already weird enough.
I patted her head. I told her her hands were pretty.
And now, on top of that...
-'I did it because she was pretty.'
If I say this...
"...."
There was a high chance Kanna would take it in a weird direction.
But if I choose another response?
'...That's even more dangerous.'
At least this was true.
Because I genuinely thought so.
Those hands were pretty.
And I thought the effort she put in to build up those hands was amazing.
So.
'....Alright. Let's go with this.'
I did it because she was pretty.
There was no other way to explain it anyway.
And the situation immediately progressed.
"...It's true, because she was pretty."
"....Eh? Really just because of that?"
Whether my words were exceptionally shocking, Kanna asked back with wide eyes.
This was also my honest feeling.
I mean... the marks of her genuine hard work really were pretty.
'...In the first place.'
In that situation, if I had said anything else, I might have been buried on the spot.
It was a stroke of luck that meddling recklessly turned out... decently? If I had incurred Shizuku's hatred, I wouldn't be standing here right now.
However.
'I can't just tell her that directly either.'
So I devise a plausible excuse.
A statement that convinces the listener while preserving my image as Student Council President.
I pondered briefly.
And then.
Ah, this is it.
"Ichinose worked really hard."
"....Pardon?"
"Those hands."
Without thinking, I recalled Shizuku's hands.
Hands filled with calluses and scars.
"She tried so hard."
"...."
"It'd be a bit sad if nobody acknowledged that."
Either way, Shizuku is a young girl at her core.
At least, based on what I've seen of her so far.
Even if she's a bit twisted from being tossed around by this and that, Shizuku is still an ordinary girl with feelings.
So, shouldn't her hard work be praised?
"..."
Kanna's mouth parted slightly.
"Is that why you patted her head?"
"That's..."
I paused for a second.
"Just."
"Just?"
"Because she was pretty."
"That's the exact same answer as before."
"I mean."
I added, feeling slightly frustrated.
"She's pretty, and on top of that, she worked so hard."
"......"
"Then can't I give her some praise?
Besides, when I looked at those hands... I genuinely thought they were pretty. At least, that impression is my honest feeling."
"...."
"And while we're on the subject,"
"Eh?"
"Let's not bring up her family too much around Ichinose here."
Kanna's expression turned a bit serious.
"....Pardon?"
"......"
"It must be tough on Ichinose too."
"Shizuku-ssi?"
"Of course."
I answered as if stating the most obvious thing in the world.
"She's the eldest daughter of her family."
"......"
"On the outside, she has to constantly act as the eldest daughter of the Ichinose Family."
"......"
"At least here, she shouldn't have to be like that. No, she needs to be able to catch her breath."
Kanna was silent for a moment.
I continued without giving it much thought.
"So, I think as long as she's in the student council, she can be comfortable."
"......"
"And I'll make sure of it."
"...."
Kanna stared at me intently.
"President."
"Yeah."
"Do you realize what you're saying right now?"
"I know."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
I nodded.
"...President."
"What."
"......Are you that fallen for Shizuku-ssi?"
"...."
I fell silent for a moment.
Fallen for her?
Well.
Denying it felt like it would drag things out.
"Let's just say I am, then."
It was bothersome to deny it anyway, so let's just go with that.
"....Then why didn't you confess?"
"That's because..."
I answered as if I was asked a totally obvious question.
"It would put Ichinose in a tough spot."
"......."
[!!ULTRA CRITICAL!!]
【 The critical hit was extraordinarily effective!!!! 】
【 The target's Affection Level drastically increases! 】
【 The target's Affection Level drastically increases!!! 】
[A hint has been unlocked as Affection Level rises past a certain threshold!]
[A hint has been unlocked as Affection Level rises past a certain threshold!]
【 The target's Affection Level has settled above a certain threshold...! 】
【 The target's Affection Level is.... 】
"..."
What is this.
As soon as I averted my eyes for a second, system notification windows started popping up like crazy, making cold sweat pour down.
Uh.
No way.
It can't be.
"..."
Glancing over slightly, through the crack of the half-open door...
.....Huh.
I see the figure of someone who definitely shouldn't be there.
Shizuku, with her eyes wide open, completely unable to hide her shock.
........Looking like she undoubtedly heard every single word I just said.
"..........."
Seriously, what the fuck did I just say? Kanna.
Answer me.