Ordinary I and Extraordinary Them - Chapter 170

I proceeded down the familiar corridor to the room where the person I had seen behind the window was likely to be.

Opening the heavy metal door that seemed rather imposing, the view changed to a room surrounded by bright light.

The woman standing by the window welcomed me with a smile on her face.

“Heya, did you come here because you were curious about Koizumi too, Shinra?”

Akane Hiiragi was there, fearless and brazen, no different from when I had met her the other day.
I let out a breath that contained a variety of emotions as I no longer took her presence in this room for granted.

“…Didn’t you send that e-mail in anticipation of me bringing Shiraishi here?”

“You’re reading too much into it.”

President’s words, muttered with a bitter smile, are dissipated inside the room due to the bustle from outside.
I remember after I sat down on the chair closest to the entrance of the student council and turned my body in the direction of where the president was standing.

President’s emails of trivial daily information exchanges contained only one email with content other than her own.
It was regarding the scene we had just witnessed.

It was about the time and day of the week that Koizumi generally came to school, and how she was worried that he might get sick from the summer heat wave.
It is true that at the moment I saw it, I agreed with her and did not have any thoughts.

However, after spending time with Shiraishi during the summer vacation and experiencing the discussion of the arranged marriage with the president, I felt a really minor sense of unease.
All I received from the president was messages about something that really didn’t matter.

Things like, “There was a white cat lying in the garden,” or “The pancakes in the next town over were too sweet for me as I had imagined.”

But as for Koizumi’s story, she sent me the details.

It was as if she had foreseen that I would be there to see what was going on and had created a situation where I would surely be able to see Koizumi.

That was also the reason why I came up with the idea for this action…

It wasn’t president who didn’t understand what I was trying to say.
The next words out of president’s mouth were the ones I wanted.

“What was lacking in this student council election was mutual recognition of the other. Koizumi may have been keeping an eye on Shiraishi and planning countermeasures, but his opponent was not.”

“…I kinda understand what president is trying to say.”

Shiraishi’s eye did not recognize Koizumi.
They saw only the problem and the conditions, and neglected the essential part.

In this case, to understand the other party better.

In the case of a formal confrontation, where both sides take many votes from those around them, one should originally know of other’s actions, words, and thoughts first before presenting one’s own concept to the opposition.

Something different from the opponent, in order for the people around you to understand why you think it is better.

However, what Shiraishi was doing was laying the groundwork around her, which is far from understanding the other party.
Perhaps, no, she definitely thought that if she could put the Shizuku and others around her, she would be able to win the election without any problem.

In fact, if that had been realized, the outcome of the election would have been in sight.
But she would have ended up not recognizing her true opponent, which was the shortcoming mentioned by the president.

“I suppose this is selfish of me, but I didn’t want the two of them to play a game that depended on the power of others if at all possible. I don’t want them to be dependent on others, because that could have stagnated their thinking in the future.”

Dependence on others, succumbing to the absolute strong.
No, this is the providence of the world.

Certainly, there won’t be any growth if they rely on the major forces around them and accumulate achievements that are not of their own making.

As far as I know, I’ve often heard that people like that can’t do anything if you actually make them work alone.

If she’s going to be the head of the school and the student body, I hope she will not be like that.

I could not find the words to deny the president’s wish.

“But thanks to Shinra, this election is going to be a little bit like I wanted it to be. Thank you.”

“I …didn’t do anything.”

After all, all I did was bring the girls to this place.
The words were to Yuuto, the actions were to Kirasaka, and it was Shizuku’s last words that left open the possibility of them joining the student council.

All I have done is to speak pessimistic words, listen to someone’s complaints, and remain silent.

“But you had considered the situation when Shiraishi was not elected, and you recommended the executive committee and asked Rei and Kanazaki to join the committee. Besides, it was Shinra who triggered Shiraishi to change her mind more or less as a result.”

“I just assumed the worst-case scenario and suggested where there would be the minimum compromise for all of us. …The recommendation for committee president was also because of the president’s backing, and Shiraishi wouldn’t have changed without the words and actions of the three of them.”

So stop giving me so much credit.
I know best what I can do.

I know how small it is and how big the people around me are, which is why I feel miserable about myself.
I could almost hear what I wanted to listen to, so I got up from my seat and put my hand on the door to get out of the room.

“What do you think would happen in the future, Shinra?”

“…”

Was president’s question about the outcome of the election or about the changes in their relationship and their lives?

Two choices came to mind, but I purposely said the words about the first choice that came to mind.

“I think it’s a good match considering that Shiraishi won’t use the reasons for running for office with Shizuku and the others in front of him …the number of people in the same grade isn’t much different, so all that remains is how strong an impression she can leave.”

“…You still don’t intend to join the next student council?”

“The question is whether it is necessary or not. …me being in the current student council is due to president’s personal feelings, and as for the next student council it is due to the connections I have with Shizuku and the others. …That’s the only reason I’m needed.”

With that in my mouth, I left the student council office.
I’m sure the four of them would’ve been bored in the parking lot.

If I don’t return soon, there is even a possibility that Kirasaka would leave me behind and go home.
Once I started walking I did not look back in the direction of the student council room.

“You …don’t see yourself in their circle yet, do you?”

The sad girl’s voice drowned out the room like a ghostly spirit.
I understood that the boy who left the student council was not good at relating to others.

But if it were possible, would he be able to ignore his personal feelings, his needs, and look as innocent as a normal young boy with his friends?

I couldn’t help but hope so, even though I knew it would be difficult.

<TL> : This was the last chapter for today, I have finals next week so on update then