I Reincarnated as the Villainess in a Yuri Game, and While Trying to Avoid the Ruin End, it's Somehow Turning into a Romantic Comedy with the Heroine - Chapter 13

Shaking it off, I headed toward the entrance with Ms. Chifuyu.

“Where are we doing the street speech?”

The speeches are generally not held inside the school building during lunchtime out of consideration for students who are studying or resting. As the term “street” implies, it has to be done outdoors, but there is no specific designated spot.

“The center of the sports ground would be the best, but that will be difficult.”

“Is that so?”

“The places where people gather easily will be monopolized by the second and third-years, so we won’t be able to cut in there.”

“I see.” Ms. Chifuyu pursed her lips tightly.

“Besides, the street speeches will most likely be dominated by the student council president candidates anyway. Honestly, it will be hard to stand out here.”

The upperclassmen have more achievements and wider connections. Ms. Chifuyu is well aware that this is not a world where a freshly entered rookie can easily stand out. Although it must be frustrating, possessing that kind of objectivity is also a sign of her intelligence.

“Well, the important thing is to stand out more than the other vice-president candidates, right? Then there’s no problem.” Even if the president candidates draw attention, it ultimately has nothing to do with Ms. Chifuyu.

“You say that so lightly.”

“You’ve got great visuals, so it’s fine, fine.”

“…If you repeat something flippantly, your words lose weight.” Even so, Ms. Chifuyu’s eyes darted around. Hehe, what a cute one.

And I truly wasn’t too worried. Even in the original story, Akari-chan’s pure nature exploded in this scene, which Ms. Chifuyu covered, and for better or worse, her quick wit made a good impression and stood out. So, I should be fine just following that development.

“We ended up here.”

In the end, we had to take a position in the corner of the school yard. The good central positions were taken by the president candidates, and since they were surrounded by a large crowd of students, we were inevitably relegated to this spot.

“Well then, I’ll have you start with your support speech.”

The surrounding candidates were also beginning their speeches. As expected, more people gathered around the upperclassmen, and only a few were assembled in front of us.

“Ahem… Well then.”

In that sense, I might be useful. Since there was clearly a disproportionate person present in this venue, the likelihood of attracting people’s attention was high. There was a chance to appeal Ms. Chifuyu’s competence there. There should be no problem with this flow.

“I am Yuzuki Yuzuriha, serving as the campaign manager for this year’s vice-president candidate, Chifuyu Suzukaze. First, what you should notice about her is—”

“Oh? Isn’t that the… the… student speaking over there?” A strange voice was heard right from the start. It felt less like interest and more like an undertone of condemnation in the voice.

“It’s true! Isn’t that the person they call the problem child? I can’t believe someone like that is giving a street speech…”

“I wonder if she ran as a joke.”

Ah… well, this can’t be helped. Akari-chan and Luna are too lenient, and Ms. Chifuyu is too flexible. Originally, Yuzuki Yuzuriha is the kind of person who is treated this way. It’s only natural to think I’m unsuitable for this kind of venue, so I just have to endure it.

“—That is all.”

In any case, I managed to deliver the planned speech. And the fact that “Yuzuki Yuzuriha was giving a support speech” seemed to be unusual. People started gathering like spectators.

“More people gathered than I expected…” Even Ms. Chifuyu was surprised, gasping at the crowd that was the size of those around the upperclassmen.

“It seems I stood out after all.”

“For better or worse…”

The listeners were supposed to be impressed by Ms. Chifuyu’s flexible, corrective speech, but…

“Oh, is that the candidate over there?”

“It seems so. Since she can only recommend a campaign manager like that, she must be quite an immature candidate herself.”

The non-stop slander reached my ears. It clearly contained intentional sarcasm. Well, considering Yuzuki Yuzuriha’s character, I was prepared for some criticism. But…

“…I have no choice but to do this.” Ms. Chifuyu seemed somewhat intimidated. The situation was completely hostile. And because of me, an atmosphere was spreading that made people feel they could criticize without reservation.

“I am Chifuyu Suzukaze, the candidate for vice president you just heard introduced. I believe reform is necessary to make this academy a better place. First—” She began to speak, her voice slightly strained but maintaining her usual composure…

“Make this academy a better place, she says?”

“Oh, what’s wrong?”

“Well, she appointed someone so crude and uncouth as her campaign manager! If she wants to change the academy for the better, shouldn’t she first reform that person’s character?”

“Indeed, there’s a point to that. It’s a contradiction already.” The voices became louder and louder.

“Besides, the candidate herself is a first-year, isn’t she? It’s free to run, but aiming for vice president right from the start is too ambitious. Why doesn’t she first get her feet on the ground and reflect on herself?”

“It’s surely difficult to tell her that. If she had the intelligence, she wouldn’t be behaving so brazenly and inappropriately.”

“No doubt about it.”

This felt less like having an audience listen to a speech and more like being a sideshow. A mocking atmosphere dominated the group.

“—!” Because of that, Ms. Chifuyu’s words stopped.

…It was my fault. Yuzuki Yuzuriha’s accumulation of villainess acts had created this situation.

“Oh dear, it seems the candidate has lost her train of thought.”

“What do they think the Verite Girls’ Academy student council election is? They should realize that merely running with someone like that is demeaning our tradition and prestige.”

Those words were excessively harsh and cynical.

“…I-I apologize.” They were enough to make even Ms. Chifuyu lose her will to fight. No matter how brilliant she was, she was still a first-year. It must be terrifying for a girl who just entered the academy to stand there. To be criticized and called a disgrace by upperclassmen would certainly hurt.

And the person most furious about this situation was me, the one who created it.

“…Shut up.”

The air fell silent.

“What did she just say?”

“I-I don’t know… Surely no one in this academy would use such vulgar language…”

“I said it!” I found myself shouting.

“W-What did you say?”

“H-How rude! Know your place! Utterly lacking in refinement, you’re just a first-year…”

“Stop talking rubbish! This is a place to appeal whether a person is suitable for the student council or not! The people who can’t listen quietly to that courage are the ones lacking in refinement!”

“Wha—!?”

They could talk about me all they wanted. Yuzuki Yuzuriha was the kind of person who had done enough to deserve it. But Ms. Chifuyu was different. She wasn’t the one who should be criticized. This unjust treatment was absolutely wrong.

“Listen, anyone who thinks about it knows the most suitable person for vice president is Chifuyu Suzukaze right here! If this talented woman doesn’t make it, who will? It would be a loss! It would be a loss for Verite Girls’ Academy if she doesn’t make it! If you understand, you must absolutely vote for Chifuyu Suzukaze on election day! Just you watch, she’s definitely going to win!!”

With that loud declaration, the mockery that had filled the air instantly vanished.