Chapter 82: Rising? Falling? [side Mishima Satsuki]
Pfft! Did you hear?
Yukari Tomonaga's Miss Hokusho title... it got revoked! I'm so hyped!
I knew it, right? I thought it was weird that such a delusional girl got an overwhelming vote difference for Miss Hokusho just because the film club did something unnecessary.
Right after the beauty contest award ceremony, I directly listed the unfairness and rule flaws of this contest in the student council's suggestion box and submitted it!
Isn't that kind of thing more like a popularity contest rather than a beauty competition?
I get that if it were a university beauty contest, it'd be positioned as a stepping stone to becoming a female announcer, where circles, connections, and schemes are all fair game in a political event, but this is a school event, you know?
Sure, Yukari Tomonaga did become cute, but I don't think I lost in terms of looks.
That's exactly why I was dissatisfied... but the student council understands more than I thought.
Apparently, there was talk of stripping her of the Miss Hokusho title completely, and I wish they'd gone with that.
Well, having it taken away after winning once hurts more, so I guess this is fine?
...But since it's not a disqualification, the ruling is that Yukari Tomonaga is Miss First-Year, and Miss Hokusho has no recipient...
If Yukari Tomonaga had been disqualified, I'm sure I would've been the next in line... and then Miss First-Year would definitely have been me...
If that happened, maybe the situation would've changed a bit...
And that's because.
I, number two Kageno, got pushed out by second-tier Akino and fell from the top clique...
I longed for that position so much, and even though I didn't make any major mistakes, those two teamed up to nitpick my flaws and attack me.
In the end, I lost in a meaningless majority vote, and the hierarchy of the girls in this class was decided with Akino being supported by Kageno as her assistant.
The top clique girls sided with Kageno and joined forces with Akino?
They said, "Let's hear everyone's opinions and decide," taking a wishy-washy approach. This way, nothing gets decided, right? I raised my voice, but all I got were cold stares.
...My mood is dropping...
Follower "Satsuki, what are you gonna do?"
"Why not apologize to Kageno-chan? Make up with her?"
What am I gonna do, you ask? There's nothing I can do, is there?
The only ones sticking with me are two dim-witted gals who were like backups from my top clique days.
※ These two don't have any failing grades lol
Even for trivial decisions, I have no influence, and my opinions are completely ignored.
Even if I complain about the current situation,
Follower "We might've ignored weaker factions with fewer people too."
"Since everyone agrees, it's better not to say anything unnecessary, right?"
"What do you mean by unnecessary?!"
If these girls were a bit more useful, things could be different...
It's not the best method, but... when your back's against the wall, you don't have a choice, right?
If I can't gain points on my side, then what if they lose points on theirs?
How about it?
"About the cultural festival's excellence award card... make it disappear by any means necessary, okay? Doesn't matter how, it's their responsibility, right? So then..."
I avoided using definitive words out of fear of being recorded or betrayed, just hinting at things to the two of them.
After all, back in my top clique days, these girls weren't particularly useful. If they can be of use here...
The two stood up with sad expressions on their faces.
Follower 1 "That excellence award was something we all worked hard to win, Satsuki. You wouldn't know, but every day, we all stayed late working on decorations, menus, customer service—it was everyone's effort. Using it for something as petty as a power struggle, and just to bring someone down..."
Follower 2 "Maybe it's partly thanks to Satsuki's beauty contest win, but... that's something you shouldn't do as a person. Hey, Satsuki, both me and this person think you're the most beautiful. I've always admired Satsuki."
Pointing at her companion, she says something nice... Yeah, well, you guys get it. Admire me... I get that. I nod.
Follower 2 "Satsuki, you're dumb, full of yourself, dumped your long-term boyfriend like trash, and then played the victim like you're crazy. I thought that back then, and I still think it now."
What?! What did you just say!?
You ugly thing!
Follower 1 "Even so, you had this misguided coolness because you were so confident in your beauty, always looking down on others with this weird intensity. That aura came from you being unapologetically confident with no guilt... The current you is lame."
Follower 2 "Satsuki's charm was her confidence and coolness, saying, 'I'm the top!' Trying to use us, who've been with you all this time, as pawns like this... Lame. I can't even stay with you anymore. You've never been treated like this by the girls you've hung out with before, right?"
Both "Well, bye-bye!"
The two left after saying that.
For a while, I stood there stunned,
Osada "Mishima-san? Are you okay?"
"..."
She probably saw everything. Osada is that kind of girl.
I lost a bet and have to use polite language with this person until I become a second-year.
But? I'm staying silent. This way, I don't have to use polite language with her!
It's frustrating, but it's the least I can do to resist!
Osada "It'd be better to get along with everyone in class, you know? Though it probably won't get through to you."
"..."
Osada "Oh, I met Saito-kun for the first time the other day, and he's smart, right? He's a regular in club activities, made it to the top 8 in a tournament, that's amazing! Is Yamamoto doing okay?"
"..."
Osada smiled brightly, praised Kousuke, and left after asking if my boyfriend Masaki was okay.
I can hear voices.
"Osada-san is speaking politely to her, and yet..."
"It's not graceful, huh..."
"Lame."
"Osada-san is so kind."
In our class, even though I lost a bet, they're praising Osada for letting the bet's terms slide and treating me like I'm the villain for accepting the bet in the first place...!
I have no allies in this class, but that's fine.
...I've got Masaki.
That night, the news reported a scandal involving that major used car dealership.
Well, even if it's a big company in the prefecture, it shouldn't affect Masaki's family business, right?
Or so I thought, but the next day, Masaki muttered that it had unexpectedly spread to them.
To be continued.
☆ ☆ ☆
Today's Yukari
"Well, it's been months of dieting, so maybe this is a sign to take a break?"
※ This is a suspension for improper relationships with the opposite sex. It's not a vacation.
"Delivery pizza is delicious! I can't go out, so there's no helping it♪"
※ Pizza has been unlocked. Weight gain.