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

The temporary disbandment of the student council didn't cause much of a stir. It was just the routine student council reshuffling that happened every year at Shuchiin.

Aside from the students eyeing the president's seat, everyone else continued their peaceful daily lives.

Rinji walked through the school gates with his bag in hand, just like always.

Now, he was no longer the student council treasurer. Just an ordinary student of Shuchiin. Until Shirogane Miyuki was re-elected as president, he had no reason to return to the student council office.

Of course, that was only because he didn't need to. If he actually wanted to go, probably no one could stop him.

"Excuse me, student, please take a look at this."

"Hm?"

A familiar voice came from ahead, and Rinji looked up.

It was someone he knew—Kobachi Osaragi and Miko Iino.

These two were usually inseparable, and both were members of the Public Morals Committee. Before the fighting incident, Rinji had also worked on the committee for a while, so he was familiar with them.

The two seemed to be handing out flyers on campus, but few students paid them any attention, most walking by as if they didn't exist.

"Iino-san, Osaragi-san, handing out flyers this early?"

"Takamine-kun?"

The two turned their heads and saw Rinji walking toward them.

"This is part of my campaign for student council president," said lino. "I want to let students know I intend to improve the school's atmosphere."

"Oh? You're aiming for the president's seat too?"

Rinji narrowed his eyes slightly.

So she was one of Shirogane's rivals.

Though they'd worked together before, anyone who stood in the way of Shirogane's re-election could only be seen as an obstacle.

Iino, unaware of what was going through Rinji's mind, handed him a flyer.

"This explains why I want to be president. My platform is detailed here."

Rinji accepted the flyer. Though he was already thinking about how to get her to withdraw from the election, he skimmed over it.

The flyer read:

I, Miko Iino, in order to protect a healthy school environment at Shuchiin, pledge the following:

• Boys must shave their heads; girls must wear double ponytails in braids.

• Mobile phones will be banned on campus; belongings will be inspected weekly.

• Boys and girls must stay at least 50 cm apart at all times.

That was the entirety of her platform—a set of policies enough to send a shiver down most students' spines.

Iino looked at Rinji with hopeful eyes.

"What do you think?"

After a moment of thought, Rinji said, "The 'boys must shave their heads' part—I really like that."

"Really?"

Her face lit up with excitement.

To be honest, other than Osaragi, Rinji was probably the only person who had said anything positive about her proposal.

"But the ban on phones is problematic," he added. "On a battlefield, delayed intel can be fatal—it's a matter of life and death."

"Well… Shuchiin isn't exactly a battlefield."

"Let me rephrase. Suppose someone is seriously injured in the gym and needs an ambulance. But since phones are banned, someone has to run across two buildings to find a teacher. That delay could cost a life, right?"

"That's..."

"Or imagine being approached by a criminal on your way home from school. No phone, no way to call the police. Who would take responsibility then?"

"...You make a good point."

Iino began reexamining her flyer.

"Looks like I need to revise it."

"Think carefully. Right now, the student council president's seat is still..."

"Takamine-kun, I have a request."

"Huh?"

Rinji looked at her, puzzled.

"You used to be the treasurer, right?"

"Yeah."

"When I become president… would you be my treasurer?"

"No."

"That was fast!?"

Iino was stunned by the instant refusal.

"Here's the thing, Iino. There's no way I'll work under you," Rinji said flatly. "To be blunt, I don't think you'll become president."

"..."

Osaragi let out a sigh. "Takamine-kun, that's a little too direct..."

"Direct is better. As her friend, you probably understand the situation better than I do."

"Well… that's true."

"The president needs to unite students and communicate with them."

Rinji stared at Iino, who was now looking down uneasily.

"Did you ever consult your classmates before writing that platform? Even when working as a Public Morals officer, you always acted on your own. The two key traits a president should have—you don't possess either. Don't forget, the position is decided by student vote. No matter how good your ideas are, if you don't talk to the students, you won't get their votes."

"..."

Unease. Frustration. That was what filled Iino's heart.

Every word Rinji spoke stabbed like a blade.

"Iino, as a former colleague on the Public Morals Committee, I respect your work ethic. But the president's role is completely different. What you're doing now doesn't even qualify as half-baked."

"Wait, Takamine-kun, that's enough..."

Osaragi tried to stop him, but Rinji finished his thought.

"You don't understand what the student council is for. You're just bringing Public Morals policies into a different role. Acting on assumptions is just another form of negligence."

With that, Rinji walked past her.

"I'll never acknowledge someone like that as the president."

"..."

After he left, Osaragi quickly tried to comfort Iino, who was still silent.

"Don't let what he said get to you. Takamine-kun just—"

"I know."

Iino looked up slightly. Her eyes were red, but firm.

"He's right. I haven't talked to the students. But I'm not entering this election half-heartedly either."