When I reunited with my arrogant childhood friend, she had become a talented and beautiful girl – Even though she has probably forgotten about me and I don’t want to be toyed with, for some reason she keeps getting involved with me!?

There were only a few minutes left until Akane’s re-election speech, and I was waiting near the podium.

“Oh, Sato-kun, what a coincidence.”

I turned around at the sound of that voice to see Shion Kanzaki, the chairperson of the election committee, waving and approaching.

“…Kanzaki, huh? Is it really a coincidence?”

“Who knows? Maybe it is.”

Shion, who deflected my question with a chuckle, stared at the podium beside me.

“…Is this all according to your plan, Sato-kun?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Feigning ignorance is useless. The reason we were able to decide the date for the change of speech so smoothly was because we had a contingency plan, and you and I had discussed it in advance. And this proposal came from you. You predicted something would happen during Shinjo-san’s speech, didn’t you?”

As expected, she’s reading my thoughts so well that I’d like to call her my partner. I have nothing more to say, but I guess Shion is talking to check her answer as well.

“…I just considered it as one possibility. As the worst-case scenario.”

“I see. So what do you think will happen this time?”

“…There are three patterns I can anticipate… but I don’t know which it will be. That’s why I’m looking forward to it.”

The answer will be revealed soon.

“Now, Akane Shinjo, please give your candidate speech.”

The MC’s voice is heard, and Akane appears from the wings.

Her steps seem more confident than before.

She reaches the podium, and for a moment, she looks at me. Her expression seems determined.

Then she faces forward, takes a deep breath, and begins to speak.

“Everyone, I’m sorry for the inconvenience and concern the other day. I’m Akane Shinjo.”

Her expression is a bit stiff, but she’s giving the speech just as we practiced.

She uses her hands, controls the modulation of her voice, and desperately, almost as if struggling, Akane conveys her thoughts to the students.

The students are engrossed in watching Akane.

The sight of someone trying so hard to accomplish something naturally draws people’s hearts.

“This is the policy I propose for the student council and our school.”

There’s a round of applause for Akane.

“…It’s not bad, but it’s not enough to reach Fumiko-san.”

As Shion says, it wasn’t bad. It’s amazing that she could do this much with stage fright. Definitely, Akane Shinjo is changing.

But that doesn’t matter to the other students.

“…Yeah, you’re right. It won’t reach her. Not like this.”

But this isn’t the end, is it?

“What do you mean by that…”

“I have one more thing I want to tell everyone.”

Akane started to say something that wasn’t in our plan.

“The reason I collapsed during my speech the other day was not due to fatigue.”

A murmur began to spread through the gym at Akane’s words.

The moment I saw that look on her face, I knew it.

Akane, you…

“…I have stage fright.”

She intends to expose her own weakness.

“I have trouble doing things in front of a lot of people. During my previous speech, I was so nervous that I couldn’t speak, and my mind went blank. I think it’s because my heart is weak.”

As she said this, she raised her trembling hand for the students to see.

“I’m still scared of what everyone thinks of me, and my hand is trembling. But I’m changing, little by little.”

This was evident from her speech earlier.

“Our school is the same! We have to change. Change is scary. But without change, we can’t grow! The ones who will change this school are each and every one of you students! I believe that I can do it with everyone! Because everyone here is incredible!”

Akane accepts her own weaknesses and tries to move forward. Most importantly, she is conveying that each and every student is special, a protagonist in their own right.

Akane’s passionate words are certainly reaching the students’ hearts.

Why do I think so? Because I, of all people, can feel the heat of Akane’s words.

“I want to change myself. I want to change this school. But I can’t do it alone. I need everyone’s strength. So please, help me and lend me your power.”

This is different from always.

It’s not a neat picture. It lacks refinement and is very gritty.

But this is it.

I felt the beauty, and even envy, of her straightforwardness to the point of obstinacy, accepting both her strengths and weaknesses and still trying to move forward.

“I want to fulfill my duty as a student council president who doesn’t lead everyone, but progresses with everyone. Thank you for listening!”

A round of applause, loud enough to echo throughout the gym, was given to Akane.