REIKA-SAMA -286

The next day, Ririna really followed me to Zuiran during summer vacation.

"Reika-san, we going to meet in the cafeteria for lunch?"

"Yes, that's fine." I guess she's decided we're having lunch together. I thought about only attending certain subjects in the morning, pop into the handicrafts club before going to cram school in the afternoon, but if Ririna intends to spend the day with me, I guess I can't. Well, hanging out with Ririna's not so bad once in a while.

"Oh, Ririna. Can you attend class by yourself? Do you have friends you can talk with in the class?" Students who attend Zuiran's supplemental classes are mostly diligent external students, so will Ririna have anyone she gets along with? I know from experience, how lonely that can be…

"Huh? Who do you think I am?" Ririna laughs scornfully

"Is that so…" I shouldn't have worried about her. "Which lecture are you attending?"

"At this hour, math, I guess."

"Oh? You're not good at math, Ririna?" I guess it's in our blood. I'm the same. I understand.

"Huh? Who do you think I am? It's one of my better subjects."

"Is that so…" She's third in her class, after all… She doesn't look like she's heading to the class, even after putting her indoor shoes on, so we talk about family and relatives by the entrance.

"And that lady wants to arrange a marriage btween Taka-nii-sama and her daughter. That's not even funny!"


"Really? Onii-sama's been turning down all of them, but there are more offers every year. I don't want Onii-sama bothered when he's so busy with work."


"Right! And that relative's daughter! She's so shameless! Every time we meet at a memorial service, she tries to get closer to Taka-nii-sama, and makes snide comments at me so that I can hear."

"Because Ririna's always battling with the women after Onii-sama…"

"I've heard from mother, too, that she was after Taka-nii-sama."

"I knew that. She's an apprentice to the master of the tea that mother is close to, and we're invited to the theater and for dinner through him, so we can't bluntly refuse."

"What's with that!? It's such a bother."

"I've seen her at a party, but she's a little too flashy, and I don't think she's a good match for Onii-sama."

"Right! I won't ever accept her to marry Onii-sama!"

"Then, did you know? The one who just returned from studying abroad, she's trying to approach Onii-sama…"

"No! If someone that ambitious married into the family, she'd take over!"

The insults don't stop…

"Oh?"

"Ah." As Ririna and I swore to repel all bugs that approached Onii-sama, Fellow Stalking Horse came through the entrance. "Gokigen yoh."

"Good morning. What are you doing out here?"

I can't say insulting possible sister-in-laws, so I reply, "Just chatting."

"Oh."

He gazed at Ririna, so I answered, "My cousin, Ririna."

"Gokigen yoh, student council president."

"Good morning. I've heard about you. You've gathered the biggest group of juniors, even though you're not even in the Pivoine."

"Ririna…" What are you doing, for real…? I'm worried as a cousin. "Do you have work with the student council today, Mizusaki-kun?"


"Yeah. We're having the election after summer vacation, so I'm making preparations."

"Have you decided on your nominee?"

"Sort of." It's called an election, but the nominee of the current president is always a heavy favorite, and almost certain to be chosen. Even so, there must be work to do.

"What's the next president like?"

"Someone who can speak bluntly to the Pivoine." The president's primary job is to parley with the Pivoine, so the student council spends a year building up someone who can do that.

"Don't think of the Pivoine as the adversary, too much."

"That's my line." Fellow Stalking Horse shrugged and sighed. "I'm not worried about the juniors, but the sophomores… There are a lot of hot blooded ones. They'll be a problem for the next president." I just thought that the other day. "And there are the rising sophomores. Kisshouin, what are the freshman Pivoine members like?"

"Normal, I believe…" Around me, every Pivoine member junior to me are cute and obedient. Fellow Stalking Horse didn't seem convinced, and still seemed worried after he graduated. "Even if I graduate, if a junior Pivoine member goes too far, I can warn them."

"Please." The Pivoine is well connected, so our influence remains even after graduation. Just like the last president, Youko-sama…

"Ririna, let me know if the a Pivoine member gets out of control."

"…All right."

"Kotou-san, I'd like you to lend a hand as a classmate to the next student council president."

"…" Ririna silently nodded, without looking at Fellow Stalking Horse. Oh, that was rude.

"Hey, Ririna. I'm sorry, Mizusaki-kun. My cousin doesn't mind her manners towards her seniors…"

"No, don't worry about it. Well, I should be going."

"Yes, later." After Fellow Stalking Horse left, I poked Ririna with my elbow. "What put you in a bad mood all of a sudden?"

"…I didn't know Reika-san was that friendly with the student council president." It's common knowledge that the Pivoine and student council are adversarial, after all.

"We're classmates. Besides, it's no fun to limit who you can get along with just because you're Pivoine or in the student council." The present circumstances won't allow it, but I'd rather be openly friendly with Wakaba-chan.

"Oh… But from the way he talked, he's already decided that the Pivoine is bad…"

"Well, the student council was formed to protect the regular students from the Pivoine's absolute authority. Besides, fello… Mizusaki-kun had been looking to reconcile the student council and Pivoine."

"Really?"

"Yes, but it's difficult to do." Fellow Stalking Horse has left that hope to the next generation.

"Oh, but it's probably impossible for the next student council to make that happen."

"Why?"

"I don't know who he's nominating, but the juniors on the student council are all small fry."

"I see…" Members who Ririna dismisses as small fry… I guess Fellow Stalking Horse won't get his wish. "That's too bad."

"Why are you disappointed?"

"Because I think like Mizusaki-kun. Like I just said, if the Pivoine and student council got along, student life would be more fun."

"Oh…" Ririna takes an uninterested expression. Well, she's supposedly the head of the biggest group, so she's probably enjoying life as a student and doesn't care about the Pivoine or the student council.

"As Mizusaki-kun asked, if the next student council president is having problems, help him, Ririna."

"…If I feel like it."

"Oh, Ririna… You might not understand, but there are a lot of problems to the meek external students."

"I know. I have plenty of them in my group." Despite seeming like an elitist, Ririna takes care of her subordinates, so a lot of people idolize her. Even though she's so spoiled…

"Then this involves you, too."

"Humph. I won't let anyone mess with my people, no matter who they are."

"Is that so…" As expected, boss. Helping her subordinates. She couldn't enter the Pivoine because of the grade school requirement, but her family background and connections allow her to speak on equal terms with Pivoine members, so she's probably up for anything. Of course, the weak flock to her.

"Oh, look at the time. Bye, Reika-san. I'll see you the cafeteria later."

"Yes, yes."

As she quickly heads to the junior classrooms, what look like classmates greet her, and Boss Ririna waves back. I head to class also.

For the next student council president, it might be Ririna instead of the Pivoine that causes the most problems…

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