Love Fight
During the cultural festival, there are no classes at all.
Thanks to that, I got up in the morning and headed to the Student Council Hall instead of the Main Building for the executive committee meeting.
It seemed there were no visitors on the academy street yet, probably because it hadn’t opened to the public.
I could see students preparing for street vendor stalls.
I passed them and arrived at the Student Council Hall.
Entering the building, I headed towards the meeting room where the executive committee meeting was held.
As I walked through the corridor near the meeting room, I spotted a familiar face.
It was Student Council President Saionji Aris.
“Good morning, Saionji-senpai.”
I greeted her as usual.
“Good morning, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
Aris replied.
But her response was different from usual.
The slightly relaxed vibe she had around me recently was completely gone; she seemed as strict as when we first met, a perfect superhuman in a cold wind.
‘What’s up with her all of a sudden?’
Did I do something wrong?
[Partner, why are you so worked up? It’s pretty similar to usual.]
A calm voice from the Black Prince echoed in my head.
No, it’s definitely not similar.
It might be a subtle difference that ordinary people wouldn’t notice, but I could tell.
There must’ve been some change in Aris’s mindset.
I have no clue what it is, but it’s something I should be mindful of.
Namely, I’m worried about Aris, especially with the cultural festival episode coming up.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll head to the meeting room first.”
While I was lost in thought, Aris entered the meeting room ahead of me.
[Partner, I don’t know what you’re worried about, but if it’s about Saionji, I don’t think thinking about it now will lead to any sharp conclusions. Shouldn’t we just head to the meeting first?]
‘Yeah, you’re right.’
The Black Prince had a point.
Let’s just go to the meeting.
Above all, today marks the second day of the cultural festival where events from the original story take off, so I need to keep an eye on many things.
Just as I was thinking that and moving to leave, a familiar annoying voice came from behind me.
“Oh my, who do we have here? The renowned Black Beast, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, I see.”
I turned my head.
There was the blue shaggy haircut glasses guy, Maeda Shinji.
He adjusted his glasses and smirked ominously.
He approached me and whispered in my ear.
“Your show-off days end today. Hehe······.”
As expected from a third-rate villain—he laughed obnoxiously, as if today was a big day for announcements.
“Since you’re so repulsive, why don’t you just get lost?”
I grabbed Maeda Shinji’s wrist and pushed him away from my body.
An unpleasant guy like him coming near me was infuriating.
“Hehe, hehe, hehe······. Well then, I’ll excuse myself first.”
Maeda Shinji, laughing like a madman, brushed past me.
Seeing his attitude, it looks like today really is the day of the attack, just as in the original story.
It seems that the day of the terror attack is indeed upon us.
The problem is, now that the flow of the original story has completely gone off the rails long ago, I can’t help but wonder why only the cultural festival is following the original flow.
But I’ll think about that later; first, I need to stop this.
Even if something goes wrong, the president is nearby, and the Japan Hero Association is close by as well, so we should be able to handle it somehow.
The surveillance measures for the old school building are also perfect.
As for the trickster position, I can contact Haru, who knows the original story just like me, and have her prepare with Seira.
Thinking that, I sent a message to Haru.
[Haru. Judging by Shinji’s behavior, today is definitely the day of the cultural festival terror. Shinji and I will handle it, so please keep an eye on the president and check out the New World League.]
[Got it! ♥ I trust you, Oppa ☆⌒(*＾-゜)v]
After receiving Haru’s reply, I entered the conference room.
It’s the start of the second day of the cultural festival.
*
Execution Committee Conference Room.
“As the head of the disciplinary committee, I will focus on patrolling the security-vulnerable areas today.”
Maeda Shinji says with a friendly grin.
Patrolling the weak security areas.
That’s practically declaring that he’s going to cause trouble in the old school building.
If they’re signaling this openly and I just sit here and take it, then I’d be a fool.
“Understood. Then we will conclude today’s meeting here.”
Clap, clap.
With Aris’s words, the meeting ends.
The execution committee members scatter.
After confirming Shinji’s exit, I approached Aris, who was organizing the documents.
“President Saionji.”
“What is it, Kim Deok-Sung?”
Aris maintains her cold demeanor.
“I have something to say. Just the two of us. Can you spare a moment?”
Regardless of Aris’s attitude, I need to say what I have to say.
Before Shinji causes any trouble in the old school building, we need to infiltrate it to catch him on-site.
“That’s not possible. I can’t spare time for personal matters… I can’t show favoritism. After all, I am Student Council President Saionji Aris.”
Aris sharply reacts to my words.
“What? Did you just get rejected like a black beast?”
“I thought you two were getting along well…”
“There was a woman the black beast couldn’t conquer…”
“Is this actually a love quarrel?”
“Indeed, the president! To endure the black beast’s gaze that can send anyone away with just a glance! Amazing!”
As soon as Aris’s speech ends, the extra execution committee members start gossiping.
No, that’s not the intention!
Suddenly accelerating like this takes me a bit by surprise.
[What’s going on with Saionji?]
Even the Black Prince has finally noticed Aris’s abnormal behavior and said this.
However, unlike the Black Prince, I’m just beginning to guess why Aris is acting this way.
By the way.
I have to say what I need to say.
Without saying a word, I picked up my phone and sent a message to Aris.
There are too many extras around to openly discuss the old school building.
If I happen to let something slip in front of these light-mouthed extras, it could reach Maeda Shinji’s ears, and the entire plan I’ve worked on so hard would be ruined.
[What I wanted to say is that we don’t know when the culprit will arrive at the old school building, and since there’s no site inspection today, it’s better for the two of us to secretly lie in wait there, just like we talked about before.]
Ding.
Aris’s phone vibrates.
As she checks the message, Aris flinches.
Her face turns slightly red.
“…But just this once, I will make an exception and honor your request.”
As soon as Aris finishes her sentence, the extra execution committee members start their nonsensical chatter again.
This is nonsense.
“What? Did Saionji-senpai fall after all?”
“How amazing is the Black Beast at night to make even the iron wall president fall…?”
“Looks like it was a love fight after all!”
What kind of rumor is that about being amazing at night?
Unbelievable.
“Thank you, Saionji-senpai.”
“Well, follow me.”
Aris grabs some documents and heads out first, and I follow behind her.
*
Old School Building.
Right in front of the health room, where a magical barrier has been set up, lies a closed teachers’ room.
Aris is sitting in this place filled with old desks and chairs.
I’m sitting too.
The windows are already blocked with blinds, keeping the inside out of view.
With the barrier already installed to block our presence ahead of time, Maeda Shinji surely wouldn’t notice us even if he used other means.
On an old desk in the teachers’ room, a CCTV monitor shows the inside of the health room where the barrier is set up.
Aris’s gaze is fixed silently on the monitor.
An awkward atmosphere continuously flows between her and me.
[Partner, do something! You’re the Saionji expert, right? This air is so awkward I can’t take it.]
Even the Black Prince couldn’t hold back his complaints about it.
[It’s a gentleman’s duty to alleviate a lady’s grievances.]
‘Got it, so just shut up for a bit.’
After stopping the Black Prince’s voice, I stand up.
“Saionji-senpai.”
“……”
No answer from Aris, her eyes still glued to the monitor.
If things are going this way, I’ll have to stir things up to drag her response out.
Grab.
I take hold of her wrist.
Blush.
Aris’s face turns red.
“What are you doing, Kim Deok-Sung?”
Aris says in a flustered voice.
“Is something wrong? You look a bit off this morning. I’m a little worried.”
“That is…”
With her face red, Aris squirms, trailing off.
“And suddenly you’ve been treating me so coldly this morning? Did I do something wrong to you, Saionji-senpai?”
At this point, there’s no need to beat around the bush.
I throw a straight ball at her.
Aris’s eyes widen at my words.
Her face gets even redder.
“That’s because, as student council president, I shouldn’t favor specific students…”
Aris bites her lip and fidgets with her fingers.
I know.
Her habit of biting her lip and fidgeting with her fingers comes out when she’s lying.
She’s blatantly signaling that she’s lying, which makes me even more on edge.
“Is that really all there is to it?”
“Yes.”
“Saionji-senpai really can’t lie. It’s written all over your face.”
Our gazes meet.
*
“Saionji-senpai really can’t lie. It’s written all over your face.”
Kim Deok-Sung’s words pierce my ears.
His black eyes meet Aris’s gaze.
Don’t lie.
Kim Deok-Sung’s words stab into Aris’s heart like a dagger.
He was right.
Aris is lying right now.
She shouldn’t favor specific students; that is the duty of the student council president.
It’s not wrong, but the fundamental reason for treating Kim Deok-Sung coldly wasn’t that.
Aris lowers her head.
“…I suppose I can’t fool you.”
A bitter smile hangs on Aris’s face.
She has watched Kim Deok-Sung this whole time and knows.
His insight surpasses that of the culprits.
She still remembers how, during the Kyoto Exchange Tournament, it was as if he had foreseen the future, easily grasping the schemes of his opponents.
She had been holding her breath.
So, it was no surprise that he easily saw through her lies.
Aris thought to herself.
Thump.
Her heart raced as if it would burst.
Her face turned red.
It was embarrassing.
The fact that she had lied was embarrassing.
The thought of trying to deceive him made her feel ashamed.
But confessing the truth was just as terrifying.
‘I’m scared of being with you.’
Aris felt frightened.
She was scared of becoming lax when she was with him.
She was scared of the picture of herself with her lady mask shaking.
She was scared of her heart leaning towards him.
‘I can’t go back to how things were before.’
For Aris, the past was a nightmare.
Awkward appearances, a poor family, and the bullying during her school life.
She never wanted to return to that nightmarish past.
It was terrifying.
What if everyone at the academy found out that she was just a country girl, not a sophisticated urban lady?
What if she was pointed at and bullied again like before?
She was scared of being accused of deceiving everyone as a rustic country girl, not even a true lady.
But the more she stayed next to him, who accepted even her country girl self, the more she unconsciously wanted to revert to her past as a country girl.
He was just so comfortable.
He accepted it all.
So, she feared that if she kept opening her heart, she’d revert to her original country girl self.
That was why Aris intentionally distanced herself from Kim Deok-Sung.
She closed the heart she had opened until now.
She did her best to deny her feelings.
‘I’m selfish.’
On one hand, she wished he would continue to accept her.
That was why she couldn’t confess her true feelings.
If she confessed, she would surely be hated.
She didn’t want to be disliked by him.
What a selfish and ugly heart this was.
Aris bit her lip.
Still, she couldn’t say it yet.
Even if she might get punished for this ugliness someday, that day was not today.
Aris bit her lip and spoke.
“But I can’t say more than this…”
“It’s okay.”
Kim Deok-Sung interrupted Aris.
Her eyes widened.
“You don’t have to say anything right now. I don’t know what’s going on, but sometimes there are things you can’t reveal to others. I understand completely. So, when you’re ready, just let me know.”
Kim Deok-Sung spoke in a casual yet caring tone, as usual.
“That is…”
Aris was taken aback.
Her heart raced.
It was an ambiguous answer.
If the roles were reversed and she were Kim Deok-Sung, she might have contempt for her own answer right now.
But he was saying he understood even this, that it was fine, and that she should tell him when she was ready.
She couldn’t look him straight in the eye.
Aris glanced down.
Thump, thump.
Her heart kept pounding.
In a small voice, she murmured.
“Why are you being so stupidly kind?”
If he spoke so gently, any girl would fall for him.
Aris bit her lip as she swallowed the rest of her words.
She placed her hand on her chest.
The sound of her heart racing transmitted through her palm.
She was embarrassed that the sound was so loud, it might reach him in front of her.
“What do you mean kind…? Wait a second.”
Just then, as Aris spoke, Kim Deok-Sung’s gaze shifted to the CCTV screen.
“The culprit has appeared.”
At his words, Aris’s eyes landed on the monitor.
On the Health Room monitor, a blue-haired man with glasses, Maeda Shinji, stood with a sinister smile.
It was the moment when the betrayer of the academy, who had installed the Magical Barrier, was finally revealed.
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