NOVEL NEXT I fundamentally decided to take on the role of Student Council President earlier than planned because I believed I should step up to handle the mess I created.
My decision to free the real Mika ultimately led to a disaster that pulled Color into Kivotos. In other words, the responsibility for this crisis lay heavily on my shoulders.
To be honest, knowing this wouldn’t have made me give up on Mika. Unless, of course, I could find a perfect way to completely prevent the descent of Color first.
But the situation had already unfolded.
We found ourselves facing a crisis without proper preparation. Since this was entirely my fault, it was only right for me to take responsibility.
But that aside…
“Uh, well, as for the sighting of my look-alike that’s been posted on the internet—”
“By the way, the sighting also included a photograph. Upon closely analyzing the individual in the photo, the results showed that aside from hair color, wing color, and outfit color, everything else matches with you, Student Council President…”
“No! With that much difference, it’s not something you would call a match…!”
In that moment, I forgot this was a press conference and screamed out loud, completely unprepared to talk about the real Mika.
Of course, those close to me were already aware of the story, but revealing it to so many people right now was a different matter. It was both sudden and extremely embarrassing.
But unexpectedly, I was fully aware that the journalist’s words weren’t wrong.
Contrary to Shiroko, who matures suddenly when touched by Color, the Color-touched Mika was just a mirror image of me. The hair color was slightly different, the wings were different, and maybe the eyes were a bit different? The outfit and Halo too…
Wait, when I list it out, there are indeed a lot more differences!
Still, the most decisive feature that looks the same is the real problem.
What on earth is wrong with Mika, showing up in D.U. just when she got released and making things difficult for me?
Of course, reminding myself that she only went to find the Teacher back then does evoke a sense of pity.
“The circumstances are a bit complicated and difficult to explain… So first off, the student seen in D.U. is not me, but it is Misono Mika.”
“…What?”
“…”
Should I say it or not? Is it okay to reveal it like this, pushed into a corner? Really?
I could use the excuse that there are still details under investigation due to the connection with Color…
Ah. I already confirmed the identity of Mika.
“…Currently, there are two Misono Mika in Kivotos.”
Regretting my hasty statement, I opened my mouth.
Upon reflection, I was annoyed at Mika for dropping such a bomb on me.
Not that I actually hated her; she was more pitiful and worrisome. Yet, I thought if I insisted I hated her, maybe things would be a bit different, and that was my wishful thinking.
“The detailed situation is highly personal and complex, so to put it simply… the one here is the fake, and the one sighted in D.U. today is the real Mika.”
The reporters were buzzing, unable to comprehend the unbelievable statement usually unimaginable. Some demanded a more detailed explanation, while others hastily tapped away on their laptops.
I caught one of them mouthing, “Is she crazy…?” but I wasn’t upset. It would be challenging to understand without taking the time to explain everything.
However, I had no intention of revealing every detail about my possession incident or what Mika had to endure to everyone.
“I called myself a fake because the original owner of this body isn’t me. So, the kid seen in D.U. today is the real owner of this body; I simply happened to take that place.”
Instead of diving into all the details, I focused on sharing essential information I had to convey. I absolutely despised tying myself to lies, so I spoke the truth and made sure to be vague in parts.
That’s about as much as was appropriate.
“However, the real Mika, who was the original owner of this body, is the threat we’re facing. The supernatural phenomenon, the light that drives people to madness—Color has tainted her. That’s the reality of the other Mika you witnessed today.”
I omitted many parts. Nevertheless, I prepared to shift the focus of the story to Color. Raising awareness about Color is more beneficial to everyone than paying attention to the two Mikas.
“So, is that other Student Council President a dangerous being?”
“I can’t give you a definite answer, but… the likelihood is high. And because of that, there’s something important I need to tell everyone. If, by some chance, you witness the phenomenon of Color, flee the scene immediately. For everyone’s safety, I sincerely hope you will follow this directive.”
Honestly, I didn’t know how easily people get tainted by Color.
I still couldn’t grasp whether it’s a matter of one person being affected or if Color continues to taint numerous unspecified individuals.
Yet, the possibility of a confrontation between Color-affected students vs. unaffected students alone was so dizzying that it made my head spin. For me, preventing that scenario became a burning desire.
It’s excruciatingly sad to think Mika could be our enemy, but if a situation arises where I must aim a gun at the people I love with all my heart… the sense of loss and emotional pain would be beyond comparison.
…At that moment, perhaps my strong heart would crumble like a house of cards.
“Anyway, my story veered off course a bit, but the Student Council has decided to convene an emergency task force to respond to this situation. By now, you should have probably checked the emails sent from each academy’s student council. So, let’s… ”
I knew how uncooperative everyone had been during the meetings held in the original story. Many academies had not attended, and even those who did were largely uncooperative.
But the emergency task force I convened would be slightly different. It had to be different, of course.
Unlike Rin, who wasn’t trusted by the leaders of other academies, I had built a solid trust relationship from the moment I possessed this body until now.
As someone who maintains positive relations with most academies, I declared the convening of the emergency task force under the title of Student Council President.
I could confidently assure that there would be less resistance compared to when the former president convened the task force.
After all, my becoming the Student Council President was to serve as the gravitational point to bring about better results. I also had confidence in realizing that goal.
So now, all that remains for me is to prove it.
“I’d like to ask for everyone’s cooperation. I hope we can set aside personal issues and interests and confront this crisis as one.”
I will absolutely stop Color.
I’ll do my utmost to ensure not a single person gets tainted by Color, preventing the disaster of Shinpi being overturned. Finally, when I reach the end of all this…
What awaits us will not be a ruined world but the flapping wings of birds soaring through the clear skies.
This is the story of us moving toward the future.
And it is my journey to save a girl who had to thrash about in despair.
I sincerely wish that at the end of it all, we can all laugh together.
*
“The Student Council convened a task force… Does this headache I’m getting already signal the start of tiring matters?”
“Keek. Kishishit. As expected, this is the type of action I recognized from a true opponent.”
“…What?”
“Iroha, the time has finally come! Mika, that girl was probably blissfully unaware of this, but the first button of my grand plan has finally been threaded. Kishishit! She has no clue that this situation is what I’ve been aiming for!”
“…What’s going on this time?”
As Makoto began to show her usual Makoto-esque behavior, Iroha grabbed her throbbing head in despair.
Regardless of that, Makoto opened her loud mouth to answer Iroha’s question.
“It’s about the Student Council President, Iroha!”
“Yes, why? Is it that the provided position that filled my predecessor with air is now taken by Mika? Honestly, I think that position suits her better than T-party.”
“Exactly! That’s exactly what I aimed for!”
“…?”
Iroha glanced at Makoto, who was absurdly confident as if stating something that was incredibly obvious. That serious expression even made Iroha think, “Is she for real?”
“Wait. Iroha, did you think I was genuinely interested in a hollow title like Student Council President?”
“Wasn’t it?”
“What do you take me for? Absolutely not! The only place I belong is Gehenna and Manma Battle, don’t you know—how disappointing, Iroha.”
“Oh, right…”
Makoto lightly chewed upon Iroha’s lukewarm response while chuckling.
“There’s a saying that if you want to deceive the enemy, you start by deceiving your allies.”
“I’m surprised you know such a saying, Senpai.”
“That’s right! This great Makoto has reached a level even higher than that saying! In short, Iroha.”
“Yes, that… I’m not sure what you mean, but wow.”
As Iroha gave a soulless compliment, Makoto continued her speech, disregarding it.
“Before deceiving the allies, deceive myself.”
“…?”
“Does it sound like a joke? But look. It has taken such effect, hasn’t it!”
Up to this point, Iroha merely thought her senior had gone off on some odd tangents. It was only when Makoto showed her the screen on her phone, displaying the article topped with a photo of Mika in a Student Council outfit, that Iroha realized otherwise.
“That girl joined the Student Council. This means I finally have the foothold to unleash my true plans, Iroha.”
Behind her words, Iroha was genuinely aghast.
“Do you really think you can achieve that by having signed the Eden Treaty on your own…?”
“The real subject of the contract, Mika, has joined the Student Council. That means, if I press that the Eden Treaty is void, it simply is!”
“…The subjects of the contract are Manma Battle and T-party, Senpai.”
“What…?!”
“Hah…”
Seriously, is this what it means to be a senior?
Iroha shook her head and began to walk away.
“I-Iroha! Wait! If we put our heads together, we can come up with a solution. Wait, where are you going? You aren’t going to Mika, are you?!”
“…I’m going to send a response, Senpai. I need to attend the emergency task force.”
Iroha was once again lost in thought about whether she should have accepted the scout proposal made by Mika back then.
It was that time of the day again where daily quests appeared at least once a day.