Chapter 96
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: 9.6 Backbiting
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"Like a damn witch hag."
After the chairwoman left the president's office.
A venomous insult echoed out, one that no one could believe came from President Mizuki herself.
"Just what about Shinobu doesn't sit right with her? She's always picking fights over nothing!"
"I'm sorry, President."
Shinobu bowed her head to the president, who was snorting in fury.
"Shinobu, don't let it get to you. The chairwoman's just nitpicking because she doesn't like me."
The chairwoman's words were clearly nitpicking.
But knowing what was really behind that nitpicking, I couldn't just let it slide.
"I agree it's pointless nitpicking, but it's not like she's doing it because she hates the president—"
"Naibusu! Are you taking the chairwoman's side right now?!"
"Huh?"
How did it turn into that?!
"You like power that much? Of course you do. Compared to a mere student council president, the chairwoman's on a whole other level. She could do whatever she wants with the president or the guard captain. Why don't you just ask her for the president's seat while you're at it?"
"P-President?"
Her words were all over the place.
"And what was that about 'promiscuous behavior'? What, has Naibusu been doing something behind my back? Something like this, like...!"
President Mizuki vented her frustrations in a sudden outburst, and before long, tears welled up in her eyes.
"...Sorry, Naibusu. I got carried away with my emotions..."
President Mizuki covered her face and bowed her head.
Shinobu turned away with a complicated expression.
Ugh. This is tricky.
I could understand why the president felt so wronged.
She'd worked hard to earn her mother's approval, only to get scolded at every turn instead of praise.
Good deeds went unmentioned, while she got picked apart over forced nitpicks.
How could she not be angry?
And now her emotional pillar, Shinobu, was being targeted too. It must have been too much for the president to bear.
I sat down next to her.
"President. Don't take it too hard."
"Naibusu..."
"The chairwoman isn't doing it because she hates you. If anything, it's because you're her precious daughter that she's pushing you not to slack off."
To the Mizuki couple, their daughter Mizuki Kyoko was nothing short of a miracle.
She was the single ray of hope that connected the couple, who had been condemned by everyone around them. It was only because of their daughter that they could tie the knot amid blessings from those around them.
Without Mizuki Kyoko, they never would have become a couple, President Mizuki Ichiro's political career would have gone downhill, and the chairwoman never would have become chairwoman.
And on top of that, she looked just like her mother—how could she not be adorable?
"Hic...!"
President Mizuki sobbed and buried her face in my chest.
I placed my hand on her back to stroke it... but pulled it away after catching Shinobu's murderous glare.
Anyway.
It went without saying that the Mizuki couple cherished this miraculous daughter of theirs.
But the way they showed that cherishing was polar opposites.
The doting father who spoiled her endlessly: President Mizuki Ichiro.
The Spartan mother who only wanted to raise her strong: Chairwoman Mizuki Ryoko.
And that's where the Mizuki family hierarchy came into play.
In that household, the mother—the chairwoman—ranked first, while the father—the president—languished at the very bottom. He had no say against his wife's educational policies.
With parents who were both celebrities, their daughter naturally drew massive public attention too. The chairwoman wanted her to grow into a flawless superhuman, one above reproach or finger-pointing. As a result, Mizuki Kyoko had endured harsh, borderline abusive education from a young age.
No matter how hard she tried, praise never came from her stingy mother.
And the father's constant praise, even for breathing, brought her no thrill whatsoever.
It was no wonder the president, worn down by her surroundings, had started to go astray.
"Thank you, Naibusu. I feel a bit calmer now."
The president finally stopped crying, lifted her head, and smiled.
Her tear-streaked smiling face looked as pitiful as a lily on the verge of wilting in the rain.
"No big deal. My chest is yours anytime you're sad. In return, when I'm down, your—"
-Whack!
Shinobu smacked the back of my head.
"That hurts."
I grumbled as I turned around, only to see Shinobu clenching her fist and trembling.
"You deserve more than that!"
Her face flushed beet red with anger, as if pomegranate juice might drip from it any second.
"Hehe."
The president giggled at the sight of us.
Good. If taking one hit from me could bring back her smile, it was a bargain.
"Whew. Then we need to think of a countermeasure."
Clap. The president clapped her hands as if to refresh the mood.
I was baffled.
"Countermeasure? What kind?"
"What have you even been listening to? Getting called out by the chairwoman for promiscuous behavior. What a disgrace to the guard."
Shinobu shot me a pitiful look.
"Right. Naibusu, what exactly is this 'promiscuous behavior'?"
Oh no. They say the mouth is the root of all evil.
The chairwoman just had to say unnecessary things.
"Why's that coming up here? President, don't worry about it. The chairwoman was just joking."
"Doesn't sound like something she'd joke about. Be honest."
"I need to get to class, so if you'll excuse me."
"Naibusu!"
I tried to flee, but the president suddenly hugged my waist.
I froze awkwardly in her embrace.
"Are you going to abandon me like this...?"
The president looked up at me, eyes brimming with tears.
"What do you want me to do?"
I sighed and sat back down.
No point resisting someone I couldn't beat anyway. Better to give in quick.
"Help Shinobu level up. We had to cancel last time, remember?"
"Ah~."
Last time, we'd gone to visit the Rune Tower but ended up picking up Akane on the way and just came back.
Was she bothered by the chairwoman's talk of 'popularity contests over skill'?
But trying to get stronger by leveling up felt like too simplistic a solution.
"President, I don't think the 'skill' she mentioned means that kind of skill. Just do your job better in your position and—"
"No. Shinobu's already doing the best she can in her current role. She needs to blaze a new trail!"
Is that so? I wouldn't know what Shinobu gets up to on the daily.
I glanced at Shinobu, who bowed her head politely.
"Please, help me out."
"Hmm."
Her asking first like that.
She must really want this.
Honestly, it wasn't hard to agree. Nothing complicated about it.
But I'd planned to head home early today to recharge Akane's mana, bond with my big sis, and cheer up Yuu, who seemed down.
"Naibusu."
"Whoa?!"
The president placed her hand on my thigh. Not just placing it—she stroked upward from below.
Maybe because of what happened before, that touch carried some inexplicable eroticism.
"I'm begging you. You're the only one I can ask this of."
"P-President."
Her hand crept higher up my thigh.
I looked to Shinobu for help, but she just glared like she wanted to cleave me in two right then.
Why?! I'm the one suffering here!
'Don't think you can tarnish a daughter of the Mizuki family and get away with it unscathed.'
I could almost hear the chairwoman's icy voice in my ear.
"...Alright, President."
I had no choice but to give in.
Otherwise, I'd end up tarnishing the president. If I hadn't already.
But her hand didn't stop. Like a fire truck blasting through a red light.
"President?!"
"Panties won't cut it this time, huh? So... "
"I said alright?!"
I grabbed her hand as she went for my belt.
"President. Stop. I want to help you purely. This kind of behavior from you is an insult to my purity."
Not posing or anything. Straight from the heart.
Purity. Chastity. Pure love. Such beautiful words.
The president nodded deeply, as if understanding.
Then she stood up and started unbuttoning her blouse?
"You're right. I wasn't showing enough sincerity."
"Listen to me!"
I grabbed her hands and pleaded with Shinobu for help.
But Shinobu was unbuttoning her own blouse too.
"President. Sullying your body—let me handle that alone. It's my problem."
"Shinobu, you too?!"
I rushed to Shinobu and grabbed her hands mid-unbutton.
"What's wrong with you? Are you doing this just to mess with me?"
At my plea, Shinobu smirked, curling one side of her lip.
"This is what you wanted anyway, right? Promiscuous Naibusu."
"Well, denying it would be a lie, but..."
I had no comeback to her mocking words.
"Naibusu. Just let me tarnish you and take responsibility."
"Sigh."
By then, the president had already taken off her blouse.
Responsibility? If you'd told me a month earlier, I'd have seriously considered it.
But now I already have people to take responsibility for. With interest, even.
'Mother. I'm not the Kyoko who blindly obeys you forever. I'll let this Naibusu you called promiscuous tarnish me. From today, I'm delinquent Kyoko!'
...President. Are you a child?
The president was acting purely out of rebellion against her mother. Nothing else registered.
I wish she wouldn't drag me into parent-child fights. My life could be at stake.
Not that it'd be better if she picked some other guy.
As for Shinobu's mindset...
'Guess women can't do anything without a man's help. Fine, then. I'll act womanly and fawn over a man for help. Even if it means getting dirtied by that promiscuous Naibusu. My body has no value anyway.'
Her self-esteem had somehow plummeted straight through the floor.
Just because the chairwoman chewed her out? Over something that minor?
"Sigh."
I let out a deep breath and slumped back onto the sofa.
"Fine. Do whatever you want."
I'd given up too.