After the signal for the end of the game, Currier and Cecily gave me some words of thanks for coming as a chaperone, I returned the thanks and headed directly to the changing room.
　I finished changing in the changing room and left the room.

Once again, thank you for your service, Kurohiko.

　Cecily and Currier, Zeke, and Hyrgis were the ones who were waiting for me.

'That's great, Krohico,'
Thanks, Zeke.
That was amazing.
Mr. Hirgis thank you very much.

　I don't know.

'It's rare to get a compliment from Mr. Hirgis, so I'm kind of happy about that.
So you're not so pleased to be praised by me and the currier?

　A zit-eyed Cecily appeared in front of me.

'Whoa!　Hi, please don't read people's minds without permission!
Well no, it was in your voice.
'What?　Really?
'It's like Kurohiko's clarity is also here...'
But, of course, it's nice to be praised by Cecily, isn't it?
Okay, that's enough.

　I was turned away again, as usual.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

It's the only time Kurohiko is very kind to me, right?
'Hmm. I see....

　For some reason this time, Hyrgis-san's subtle-looking gaze pierces me.
　
　I shouldn't underestimate this person, after all.

''Oh well.''

　Then Zeke interrupted with a wry smile.
　As expected of Zeke.
　Dependable.
　I'm sure Zeke would have a nice follow-up here!

You see, it's not every day that I get a compliment from someone who wants a compliment from me, so...
...................

　If you think about it calmly, it's actually a line that doesn't serve as a follow-up to anything.......but it was really a more effective word to change the atmosphere of this place than a poor follow-up.
　
　With Zeke's words just now, Cecily-san and Hyrgis-san were unable to say anything.
　I can't say anything, either.
　I'm sorry for getting bogged down in such a trivial matter, Zeke.

　Then, oh, my goodness," Currier said, coughing up a dry cough.

"As a result, the game ended in a draw, but...

　Currier-san, who was leaning back against the wall and folding her arms, gave me a penetrating look.

''That was quite a gentle way to settle the matter, Kurohiko. Well if you say it's like you, it's like you.
Haha you saw that coming, didn't you?

　Mr. Currier gives a masterful sigh.

'Of course. That last one, you obviously aimed for it, didn't you?'

　The last thing would be the flow of me and Chairman Dristos' swords bouncing off each other, resulting in a tie-breaking resolution.
　I look in the direction of the training ground with a slightly bitter mood.

''It seems that the student council president ... isn't my [enemy], so ...
'I don't know. That woman's series of actions this time could have been very detrimental to you, depending on the outcome, right?　And yet--

　Currier gives me a dismissive look.

''Maybe you don't see that as a detriment in your case, though.

　I knew what she was worried about.

'I don't think I would have cared if I lost to the student body president I don't think I would have cared if people said anything about me after I lost. It's nice to have them worry about me, though.
Goodness gracious. You're a good-natured softie. You're not going to be able to get a good idea of what you're going to do with it. However, I haven't come up with any concrete countermeasures yet, though... that fighting style is a fighting style that I can do because it's you.
''Haha........But once again, seeing that inherent technique, Dristos Kirsinha is a high wall.......''

　Cecily lowered her eyebrows.

''So you're going to think about countermeasures now.

　Hmph, Cecily runs her fingers along my arm.

"Now it's my turn to surprise Kurohiko, isn't it?
I'm looking forward to it, Miss Cecily.

　Then Currier and Cecily disappeared toward the girls' locker room.
　Zeke and Hyrgis-san said that they had some house business to attend to, so they were going to leave as is.
　The two of them seemed to have put off their home errands for later to come and support me.
　After hearing that, I was a little glad to have won.




　After I left everyone else, I headed for the training ground I always used.
　Currier-san said it was better to rest, but after today, I was going to put myself more into training as well.
　I want to practice the technique called 《Souryu》 that Commander Sogut taught me, and I want to practice it.
　There's no problem with the fatigue from the earlier match.
　Besides, the fight I just had was also for my own personal growth.
　I'm gonna have to be strong.
　To beat that man...

Hmm?

　Someone called my name.
　I turned around.

Chairman Dristos?

　Standing there was Chairman Dristos in his uniform, having finished changing his clothes.

''That game you just had ... that last one was on purpose, wasn't it?

　As expected, he had seen through it.
　

'Yes.'
Why did you throw away a fight you could have won?
'I didn't think Chairman Dristos was a bad person,'

　The chairman twists his mouth.

''That's not a good reason. Besides, looking back on all that has happened, you know I'm not a good person, don't you?
More importantly, he was not the enemy.

　The man had no animosity.
　He used me as an ally.
　But Chairman Dristos never set out to bring me down.
　Then what does she want?

　I just want to win.

　That's all.
　And that guy who wants to win, I guess.

You want to beat Koudelka Ferraris... don't you, Chairman Dristos?

　The Chairman falls silent and falls flat on his face. After a moment.

Yes, well I'll admit it, yes.
'And isn't President Dristos the one who thinks he'll do anything to save face as student body president?
...It's only natural. As the next head of the Kielcinha family, I must always be the 《strongest》.
'So ... you were vaguely uneasy about the presence of Koudelka Ferraris, the daughter of the same five great dukes who were close in age, who was always being compared to you?

　The lack of rivalry with Mr. Beoza, who is spoken of as a peer - perhaps partly due to his own lack of great career aspirations - is probably because his family isn't one of the five great dukes.
　The other five great dukes, the nearest generation of the Sigmsos and Renowthia families are far apart in age (let's leave the matter of Makina-san's age aside for now).
　Even the Duke of Troia, Mr. Vanstoss, is still far behind in age. That VanShtos-san's younger brother, Bashkata, who was also close in age, was just a mysterious overall strength pushman who missed the mark, so he was out of the question from President Dristos' point of view.
　So the only rival is naturally going to be the one.

　Koudelka Ferraris, who is one year younger than you.

　Perhaps Chairman Dristos knows the impression he has been given by the students at the school.
　That may be why he is even more frustrated.

　As I found out after the fight just now, President Dristos is not a person who is resting on his laurels.
　Even with that <>, he must have figured out the best distance and timing to move to attack in his own way after taking the duration into consideration.
　He must have also worked hard to create a body that could use that unique technique continuously.

　A shadow appeared on Chairman Dristos' face.

''After all, a member of the Kielcinha clan must be a [snake] a cunning snake, must be. He must be a schemer, a schemer, a scheming schemer and that is the fate of a family that has been a part of the Serpent, a family that has always been held up as noble by both the royal family and the common people. It's not.....

　As someone born into a famous nobleman's family, fate.
　I learned that from the Arkwright family and one incident with the Horns, for example.
　A great weight is placed on those of a famous family, even if they are young.
　A pressure I can't even begin to imagine is trying to crush them out of sight.

'I've always hated Koudelka. The younger Koudelka is always looking cool, breaking the record I set a year ago.... I am told that I should have been, while Koudelka is admired and favored... Those who gather around me are all those who want to use the name of Kielcinha... but... Koudelka will attract those who like Koudelka himself....

　His eyes relax and the Chairman smiles a shadowy smile.

'What's the difference between me and Koudelka?　Can't we defeat our natural destiny after all?　

　Opposition.
　The pressure of the family name.

　Both of them, Chairman Dristos must have been facing both of them all along.
　........Come to think of it, I remember there was someone near me who had a similar problem.
　This person may be holding something similar to the feelings she had for me at the time in Koudelka Ferraris.
　However, I feel like there's something different about replying here, 《Everybody has at least one problem.

''Well, you know, threadbare.''
...Yes?
It's obvious that you made that...?
What?

　Huh?
　Have you noticed that... no?

'Maybe the Chairman has too much tension in his eyes and shoulders?　Impressions are very important. I know a person who is very kind, but is easily misunderstood as cold because of his pompousness, and another person who is kind and well-liked by everyone, but is actually acting out a kindness that is sought after by the people around him. But in the school, both of them seem to have a solid impression of each other based on what they usually look like.
..........
So maybe Chairman Dristos should relax his eyes and shoulders a bit.　You know, like now--

　I mean, this guy has a strange look in his eyes - he's so cute!

"?　How can I help you?
'Is it okay to be honest and direct here and tell them that the change in your eyes makes you look absurdly pretty or something?
What?
..........

　It was in my mouth again.........

'And anyway!　 Besides.........if you have a real complaint, if it's okay with me, I'll find time to listen to it, right?　Oh, of course I won't say anything about it........I mean, this won't be the fundamental solution to the problem I had earlier, but.......
.....

　Oh, did you laugh?
　And an unusual, soft smile.

'There's a lot of things off about you, aren't there?

　........Good.
　I thought the standard 《Weird Person》 would pop up in the flow, but it was good.
　It seems that only the recognition of a strange person was avoided.

''........may I ask you one last thing?　I'd really like to have an answer to this question, so I'd really like to have an answer to this question alone.

　Chairman Dristos, who had gone from a sharp fox-like string of eyes to a raccoon-like charming look, straightened his posture and asked a question.

'Why did you throw away your win in the match?'

　Wasn't the answer because I thought he wasn't a bad guy?
　It was partly because I didn't like the way some of the audience wanted President Dristos to lose there.
　But I don't dare to say that here and act like a good person.
　I smile.

It's easy. I told you that the match between me and President Koudelka was a draw.　And President Dristos said it would be unfair for me to fight President Koudelka if I didn't fight him as well.

　Surprisingly, Chairman Dristos could have just taken it to the match.
　If only the fact remains that, like Koudelka Ferraris, he had a match with Sagara Krohiko.
　Of course, since he came to win, he would have hoped to surpass Koudelka Ferraris with a result higher than a draw.
　But - the minimum requirement was to take it to a match against Sagara Krohiko.
　When he couldn't bring it to the table, Drystos Kircinha might have thought he had "lost".

''So--''

　I turned away and walked to the training ground.

'I thought it would be fair to end up with a draw with Chairman Dristos as well.

　Without daring to look back, I left the place.




　When I arrived at the training ground, I immediately practiced the "Double Dragon" form, just as Commander Sogut had told me.
　But after a while... finally, I couldn't bear the shame anymore.
　He bent down on the spot and covered his face with his hands.

''Why did I say such a high and mighty thing to Chairman Dristos just now.......now I'm starting to feel embarrassed.......''

　It was a statement to avoid making it a reason to play the good guy, but looking back, why did I leave a pompous, know-it-all line and dash off........
　I'm not much of a person either........and yet I'm ashamed.......
　No, it was also somewhat because I thought it would be a bad idea for the two chairmen to settle the matter in a strange way before the Seibu Festival.......

''Um, Kurohiko?''
You can't mean--

　Chairman Dristos?

Huh?

　I turned around.

Isla?

　It was Ira who approached me.

'What's going on?'

　Ira-san looks like she's having trouble saying something as she thumbs her fingertips together on either side.

'What do you want from me?'
Uh, um... you know what?

　Ira-san hesitated for a while, but finally she seemed to have made up her mind.

''Actually, I've decided to participate in the upcoming Seibu Festival, in the ungraded class.
Isla's in the normative class?
Yeah. So, you know, the thing is...

　Ira-san glances up at me.

"?

　Ira-san squeezed her eyes shut and said in a determined tone.

''I wonder if you'll let me practice on you until the Holy Martial Arts Festival!