After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

The sun hung high above Yu Gao High School.

It seemed to be positioned at an exact ninety-degree angle, spreading sunshine and heat. Discover exclusive content at empire

Spreading an abundance of sunshine and heat, that is.

The sunlight was so intense that the view outside the window turned into a golden blur, as if a single glance could scorch one's eyes, making it hard to look directly at it.

And if you added the incessant shrill cries of the cicadas, redemption was impossible even without looking outside.

Although it might be a bit late to say this,

summer had arrived!

Buzz buzz buzz buzz.

The cooling system of the laptop on the desk emitted an irritating hum.

Kagura Hikaru and Ayakoji Chiyoko, dressed in their light, short-sleeved school uniforms, were so hot they even rolled up their sleeves, turning 'short sleeves' into 'sleeveless'.

Each stationed at their own chair, they guarded the computer, constantly pressing the F5 key to refresh the vote count on the school's official website.

They were now in the Discipline Committee's domain, rightfully enjoying the marvelous human invention of air conditioning.

Honestly, the person who invented this thing should get the Nobel Prize, and while we're at it, might as well throw in the Hugo Award, Nebula Award, Akutagawa Prize, and every other conceivable award.

Even so, one could still feel that our generation owed too much to the inventor of air conditioning.

Unfortunately, even for a school with financial resources like Uka, they still wouldn't install air conditioning in every classroom.

The students had no choice but to depend on three electric fans to barely get by in the sweltering space.

So, even if it wasn't to check the preliminary results of the Student Council election, Kagura Hikaru would visit this place every day after the break between classes started.

The mere fact that the Discipline Committee's office had air conditioning made it worthwhile for him to move his feet here.

After the start of summer, Kagura Hikaru was more than happy to come here.

"How is it, are the results out yet?"

While fanning his collar up and down just like cooling the laptop with a fan, he asked Ayakoji Chiyoko, who was sitting in front of the computer.

Truly the de facto leader of the Discipline Committee, the only fan in the room was naturally in her possession, fanning gently against herself as her bangs fluttered lightly.

Even sweating, she looked beautiful.

"Not yet... Tch, this website needs maintenance, it's so laggy," she complained discontentedly.

"Eh..."

Kagura Hikaru leaned lazily back, stretching his right hand behind the chair's back and reaching to check the direction of the air conditioning blow.

The room was obviously working, yet the temperature seemed reluctant to fall.

Was this the fierce heat of Tokyo?

It was a little too extreme...

"Got it!"

Ayakoji Chiyoko's voice made him jump, nearly toppling onto the floor.

Stabilizing the chair, Kagura Hikaru leaned forward, peering at the screen: "Which place is it?"

"...Second," Ayakoji Chiyoko said, propping herself up with her hands and leaning back, disappointed.

Kagura Hikaru stood up and went over, taking a serious look: "These numbers are pretty good, don't be disheartened."

"I'm not disheartened, just disappointed," she said.

The voting data on the official website showed, with the initial tally of student votes from the entire school, that the total number still had Kiryu Hina in the lead, with Ayakoji Chiyoko right behind her in second place.

In fact, this was within Kagura Hikaru's expectations.

Hina had been operating in Uka for over a year, it wasn't so easy to surpass her so quickly.

For now, the current President still had a more profound influence.

Although her real acquaintances all thought she ought to be heartless.

"Just forty votes short, that's about the number of people in one class, this number is already quite impressive," Kagura Hikaru encouraged.

Perhaps due to the public speech and that particular story having an effect, Kiryu Hina hadn't led by as much as imagined.

Ayakoji Chiyoko's speech was superior to hers, more humorous, with a story, and content that made people think, and her promises to the students were more in line with their thoughts.

The results of the initial vote already reflected this.

The original gap in popularity between Ayakoji Chiyoko and Kiryu Hina within the school had been incredible, to keep the vote difference down to forty was a great improvement.

"Yes, afterwards I have to thank Saijo Mari," Ayakoji Chiyoko also acknowledged this and nodded.

During these past few days of canvassing, Saijo Mari had been a significant help.

As the president of the Sports Committee, she had a very effective network in the sports clubs, and many had given their votes to Ayakoji Chiyoko under Saijo Mari's persuasion.

During the Student Council election period, she would be a great asset.

Kagura Hikaru had one hand on the table using the mouse to check the detailed votes of the other candidates, and the other hand was resting on the back of Ayakoji Chiyoko's chair.

This position allowed her to almost feel the warmth emanating from him.

Ayakoji Chiyoko diverted her gaze subtly, staring at the buttons on Kagura Hikaru's shirt that were undone, through the small gap that was visible, she could faintly see his healthy and well-proportioned chest.

The more she looked, the hotter her cheeks got, and when she couldn't take it anymore and raised her head, she saw Kagura Hikaru also looking at her.

"What do you think about making some flyers to promote our campaign?"

"Eh... Um? What?"

"I'm talking about flyers, putting your image and campaign promises on them, sticking to the slogan of changing the school rules all the way through, to prevent President Kiriyu from competing with you for this area."

"Oh, yes, flyers, um..."

Ayakoji Chiyoko pretended to wipe off sweat to cover up the real reason for her blushing, and after a brief moment of chaos, she carefully considered Kagura Hikaru's suggestion.

Flyers were indeed a good idea, on the one hand, they could strengthen people's impression of her, and also firmly associate her with the concept of changing the anti-dating school rules and creating a free campus.

The only problem was, if done excessively, it could become annoying.

Flyers were something that most people wouldn't look at twice and would throw away folded into paper planes into the bin.

If they were distributed in excessive quantities with the aim of creating an advertising effect, it could backfire, and people might start to feel that her methods were cheap, and her support might actually decrease.

If they were really to be distributed, then some tricks were needed.

"It's simple," Kagura Hikaru said at this time, "just turn the flyers into reusable tools, and they won't be easily discarded."

"Like what, for example?"

"Collecting stamps."

"Stamps... indeed."

Ayakoji Chiyoko quickly got his point.

Instead of just distributing a flyer as a piece of paper, if you add a stamp-collecting feature on the back, coordinate an event with the Society Discussion Meeting, and attach stickers that come with the daily publications to the back of the flyer, people could submit the completed collection for a reward.

In the Island Nation, such promotions were very common and usually had a good participation rate.

Ayakoji Chiyoko also gave her opinion: "Let's include the flyers in the Society Discussion Meeting's daily editions, and declare that only a fixed number will be distributed, so there won't be an excessive flood causing annoyance."

Kagura Hikaru nodded, "As long as everyone is still interested in the final prize for the collection, they'll have to keep the flyer that serves as their stamp card with them, and not carelessly throw it away. Over time, they're bound to take an interest in reading it."

"Well done, Kagura, that's a great idea."

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes brimming with laughter.

They were slowly edging closer to victory.