As Shiriku and Fuyumi ascended the staircase in tense silence, the air between them grew heavier with unanswered questions. Fuyumi couldn't hold back her frustration, and once they reached the rooftop, she confronted Shiriku with a mixture of confusion and anger.
"Shiriku! Where are we going?" Fuyumi demanded, her tone sharp, eyes narrowing with impatience. Yet, Shiriku remained steadfast, instructing her with a stern directive, "Don't talk, just keep following me." With that, he continued walking, leaving Fuyumi seething with unanswered queries.
After what felt like an eternity of navigating the labyrinthine hallways, the duo arrived at the secluded haven of the 1st-year school rooftop. As Shiriku halted and turned towards Fuyumi, the setting sun casting long shadows, the atmosphere mirrored the uncertainty lingering between them.
Shiriku, maintaining a serious expression, cut straight to the point, "What's your reason for winning?" His gaze bore into Fuyumi, seeking an honest revelation. Fuyumi, taken aback by the sudden inquiry, couldn't help but laugh with a touch of sarcasm.
"Huh?! Of course, my reason is to become our class president and also to defeat you," Fuyumi declared, her voice escalating in pitch. With a sharp finger pointing at Shiriku, she continued her rant, "But it looks like I'm gonna lose! After all that cheering I heard in the classroom when Sensei Takahashi asked about you, it already beat mine. We all know after voting, I'm gonna lose anyway!"
Fuyumi's frustration poured out, each word a sharp jab expressing her exasperation. Her body language was charged with energy, punctuating her words with dynamic gestures. The anguished expression on her face revealed the weight of perceived defeat settling in.
Meanwhile, Shiriku stood there, absorbing Fuyumi's words with a mixture of sadness and understanding. The sunset painted a poignant backdrop to their conversation, shadows playing on Shiriku's face as he recalled a conversation from the previous night. Shiroe's words echoed in his mind, influencing his current demeanor.
The tension on the rooftop simmered, with emotions hanging in the air like the fading sunlight. As Shiriku looked at Fuyumi, a wave of sadness crossed his eyes, triggered by a memory of a significant conversation he had with his brother Shiroe the night before.
Approaching Shiroe with a sense of determination, Shiriku shared his decision to run for class president. Shiroe, his older brother, responded with genuine enthusiasm. "Well, that's great! It's nice to see you trying out new things!" Shiroe expressed his pride, a wide smile playing on his face.
Embracing the encouragement, Shiriku reciprocated the joy. "Yes," he affirmed. However, Shiroe, being the insightful older brother, delved deeper into the reasons behind Shiriku's sudden interest in the class president position. "What's your reasoning to run for class president?" Shiroe inquired, curiosity evident in his eyes.
As Shiriku began to share the story, the atmosphere between the brothers shifted. "Well, at first, I wasn't interested, but my friends kept on insisting that I should join," Shiriku recounted, a hint of reluctance in his voice. His expression turned serious as he continued, "Since I'm a Kami, I kept saying no. Until one girl, who is considered an ice princess by everyone, kept on mocking me."
Shiriku's recounting carried a mixture of frustration and determination. His hands gestured subtly, mirroring the internal conflict he experienced. The intensity in his eyes hinted at the emotions underlying his decision.
"I was still not going to run for president, but she kept on attacking me and using the 'Kami' family," Shiriku explained, his voice resonating with the weight of the situation. He continued, revealing the turning point, "She said I don't have anything besides the 'Kami' family, and that's the reason why I decided to run for president. So that I could show that so-called ice princess that she will regret crossing over me."
Shiriku's declaration carried a serious and determined demeanor. His gaze fixed on Shiroe, communicating the gravity of his decision. The memory of Fuyumi's taunts and challenges fueled his resolve, a silent promise to prove his worth beyond the shadow of his family name.
Shiroe, initially amused by Shiriku's reasoning, burst into laughter. "Hahaha... That's your reasoning, huh?" he chuckled, a hand on his chin. Shiroe's amusement was evident in the playful glint in his eyes. Still laughing, he probed further, "May I ask what's the girl's name?"
Shiriku, maintaining his serious expression, responded with a single name that held significance in his decision. "Her name is Fuyumi Shimizu." The mention of Fuyumi's name triggered a surprised reaction from Shiroe, his eyebrows shooting up in astonishment.
Shiroe's surprised expression transformed into intrigue as he processed Shiriku's revelation. "A Shimizu, huh? So, are you that determined to beat her?" he inquired, his eyebrows raised with curiosity.
Shiriku, trying to downplay his determination, chuckled nervously. "Not really, hahaha," he responded with a sheepish grin. He admitted, "Actually, there's also a part of me that doesn't want to run for president just to beat her." Shiriku's nervous laughter betrayed the internal conflict he felt.
Intrigued by this unexpected twist, Shiroe leaned in, asking, "Oh, what is it?"
Shiriku, his expression growing more serious, began to unravel the layers of his motivation. "Well, Fuyumi Shimizu and my friend Sachi Koizumi from the same class are friends. Sachi was the first person who interacted with me on the first day of school. The two of us even went to lunch on the first day. I was really happy that someone actually tried to have a conversation with me; I was happy... until Fuyumi Shimizu arrived at the scene."
As Shiriku recounted the initial encounter, his body language subtly shifted, mirroring the emotions of the past. Shiroe, listening attentively, absorbed the details of the story.
"As she greeted her friend Sachi, she then looked at me in the eye and kept mocking me, especially about when I couldn't answer a question from our sensei," Shiriku continued, his tone carrying a mix of frustration and sadness. His hands gestured slightly, portraying the discomfort he felt during that moment. "But Sachi was there and kept the mood good, trying to make me and Fuyumi Shimizu close as friends," he added, highlighting Sachi's role in the attempt to bridge a friendship.
Shiroe, processing the emotions underlying Shiriku's story, asked a crucial question, "Well, do you want to be her friend?"
Shiriku's response held a touch of melancholy. "Well, yeah... Sachi is my friend, but Fuyumi is Sachi's long-time friend. So, I thought it would be nice to be friends with Fuyumi Shimizu too. But it looks like after this president election, we won't be talking anymore, especially Sachi. Well, I still got my pal Junichi Kaneko if ever that happens," Shiriku admitted with a hint of sadness.
Shiroe, offering brotherly advice, stated, "Well, Shiriku, do what you think is right. But if you want advice about making friends with a 'Shimizu,' then lose." Shiroe's pleased smile emphasized the importance he placed on the potential friendship. Shiriku, caught off guard, responded with a confused expression. "What?!" he exclaimed, his serious and confused face directed at his brother, who remained unfazed.
"I'll think about it," Shiriku added, his mind now wrestling with the complexities of friendship, rivalry, and the unexpected twists of the class president election.
In the present moment, atop the school rooftop, Shiriku confronted Fuyumi with a surprising proposition. "Hey Fuyumi, if you really want that position, I'll give it to you," he declared, his tone serious, and his expression unwavering.
Fuyumi, taken aback by this unexpected offer, couldn't comprehend the sincerity behind Shiriku's words. Confusion and anger flickered in her eyes as she retorted, "You! You're just mocking me now, aren't you? Giving me the position?!" Her voice carried an angry undertone as she confronted Shiriku.
While Fuyumi's anger flared, she couldn't shake off a hint of surprise and confusion. Thoughts raced in her mind, and she couldn't help but recall her sister's warnings about the Kami family. Inwardly, she concluded, "My sister was right, 'Kamis' are all the same."
Fuyumi clenched her fist, grappling with conflicting emotions. However, an unexpected realization struck her, "But this Kami is really weird," she mused internally, her gaze fixed on Shiriku. The complexity of emotions played across her face, mirroring the internal turmoil as she assessed the sincerity behind Shiriku's offer.
Meanwhile, Shiriku maintained a solemn expression, his eyes reflecting a mix of sadness and seriousness. The weight of the decision lingered in the air, creating a tense atmosphere on the school rooftop. As Fuyumi grappled with her emotions and Shiriku stood resolute, the rooftop became a battleground of unspoken feelings and conflicting intentions.