Macho Man Doesn't want a Slice-of-Life

"Cheers!"

At a family restaurant, the student council—or rather, the former student council—gathered around a table, raising glasses of juice to celebrate the successful end of their term.

Because the president was required to wear a heavy gold emblem on the collar along with the fall uniform jacket, it had been quite uncomfortable in the warm season.

Luckily, Shirogane had returned the emblem. Now he could finally take off that thick jacket.

"Whew, I feel so much lighter."

Without the jacket, Shirogane felt the weight lift from his shoulders.

"Though you'll probably need it again next week—weather's cooling," Ishigami noted.

"Buzzkill."

Now that he had stepped down, Shirogane felt visibly more relaxed.

Rinji, sitting in his seat, chuckled. "Can't wait to see what kind of guy takes over as the next student council president."

"Oh, right—Rinji."

Shirogane suddenly turned to ask.

"Why don't you run for student council president?"

"No thanks."

Rinji waved it off.

"Let's not forget I got suspended once for a violent incident. And if I became president, you'd all get the privilege of experiencing Shuchiin under my dictatorship."

"Hahaha, Rinji-kun, you're hilarious," Fujiwara laughed loudly.

Kaguya: "No… I don't think he's joking."

Shirogane stretched his shoulders. "If any of you were willing to run, I'd feel a lot better."

To Shirogane, Rinji was the most suitable next president. If Rinji took over, Shirogane could truly relax.

Of course, Shinomiya Kaguya was also a reassuring choice. If she became president, it'd be fine too.

Ishigami was reliable and serious in his work.

As for Fujiwara… yeah, maybe not. Shirogane genuinely worried about her running.

"Actually, being student council president is tough, but the perks are great. Besides a learning stipend and priority access to the study rooms, the biggest benefit is the 'Shuchiin Board of Directors Recommendation Letter,'" Shirogane said.

The recommendation letter was the biggest perk for any Shuchiin president—it guaranteed access to almost any university in the world.

Shirogane had earned the right to receive it.

"Oh, you mean that letter that lets you get into any college?"

Rinji didn't seem too interested.

"I've got plenty of people who could write one of those for me. I'm not picky about colleges anyway."

"Hahahaha, classic Rinji."

Kaguya, on the other hand, felt she wouldn't mind becoming president.

She wasn't particularly interested in the recommendation letter—but forming the student council again would give her a reason to gather these people and be near Shirogane.

"President…"

"I'm not president anymore," Shirogane said with a smile.

"R-Right."

Kaguya realized that Shirogane was no longer the president.

So how should she address him now?

Should she call him "Shirogane-kun"? Would that sound too distant? Or would "Miyuki" be too intimate?

But calling him "Miyuki-kun"…

Her cheeks turned slightly red.

She felt that saying his name directly might be too forward.

"Miyuki-kun."

Just then, Fujiwara called out.

"Miyuki-kun, want another cup of coffee?"

"Sure, thanks."

"Hot or iced, Miyuki-kun?"

Kaguya: 'This woman is way too flirty!!'

In her worldview, only couples should use each other's first names. So she immediately branded Fujiwara a "flirt."

Ishigami: "I'll have the same as Miyu-senpai."

Kaguya: "!!!?"

'Miyu-senpai? That's such a cute nickname!'

Her shock turned into a new idea.

'That's it. First-name calling is too flirty, but nicknames are totally fine. It still feels close.'

Gathering her courage, Kaguya picked up her glass.

"Then I'll ask the waiter.… Pres."

Fujiwara: "But he's not the president anymore."

In the end, Kaguya couldn't muster the courage.

Rinji picked up the others' empty cups. "I'll still go with President."

Fujiwara sighed. "Seriously, Rinji-kun, he's not the president anymore. You can call him something else."

"President is president. Even if he steps down, he's still the president," Rinji replied. "Shuchiin only has one president, and that's Shirogane Miyuki."

"Then what does that make the next president?"

"If the president never stepped down, that random guy wouldn't even have a shot. At best, he's just picking up scraps. It doesn't matter what position he gets. What matters is how I see him."

Fujiwara blinked. "...That's a typically arrogant thing to say. What if the next president insists you call him 'President'?"

"Stupid question."

Rinji narrowed his eyes at Fujiwara.

"I'd break his arms and legs and dump him into Tokyo Bay to feed the fish."

"...Rinji-kun, you might wanna tone down your dangerous thoughts."

Rinji's arrogance was beyond ordinary understanding, but the student council had long gotten used to it.

Shinomiya Kaguya hadn't said a word since Rinji spoke. While she couldn't understand his arrogance either, she did agree on one thing.

She wanted Shirogane Miyuki to remain president.

She also knew that stepping down would allow him to focus more on his studies and future, free from the burdens of student council work.

Maybe it was selfish, but in her eyes, only Shirogane could be president.

"Rinji."

Shirogane suddenly turned toward Rinji.

"Do you want me to continue being student council president?"

"I hope the president will consider his own future. If you're tired, take a break," Rinji said with a smile. "But to me, you'll always be the president. That's never going to change."

"I see..."

Kaguya silently watched the two of them talk.

She still thought Rinji was incredibly arrogant—he ignored all external standards and only cared about his own views.

But...

It was exactly that arrogance she admired.