COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 174: I deceived you, please forgive me!

______

"I heard that you were the one who made the rule prohibiting boys from joining the swimming club and that you expelled all the boys who were already members. Is that correct?"

Narumori's calm words made Nagumo break out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly tried to explain.

"That's true, but I did it for the safety of the girls in the swimming club!"

"Oh? Is that so? Please elaborate," Narumori said, his tone steady but laced with authority.

Nagumo straightened his posture and spoke with what seemed like sincerity.

"Chairman, you may not be aware, but there have been instances in the swimming club where male members harassed female members. My decision was entirely to protect the safety and comfort of the female members!"

Nagumo's tone was so serious and heartfelt that it almost sounded believable. Even Rin nearly believed him.

"Ha~" Rin chuckled softly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Nagumo with a mocking smile. "If there are such troublemakers in the swimming club, Nagumo, why don't you tell us their names and which classes they belong to?"

"Wha…what?" Nagumo stammered, caught off guard.

"Our school takes harassment and bullying very seriously," Rin continued smoothly. "We can't allow bad behavior like that to go unpunished. So, Nagumo, let's hear the names of these boys. I'm sure the chairman will take immediate action."

"…"

Nagumo gritted his teeth silently. There were no such boys in the swimming club; his earlier statement had been a complete fabrication.

Rin tilted his head, feigning confusion. "What's wrong, Nagumo? Don't you remember the names or classes of these boys?"

He paused thoughtfully before adding, "It's fine. Since you expelled them from the swimming club, the swimming club's instructor should know who they are. We can just ask him."

"…"

With just a few calm words, Rin had cornered Nagumo completely. If the school called in the expelled boys for questioning, it would immediately expose Nagumo's lie.

Turning to Narumori, Rin spoke earnestly. "Chairman, surely you wouldn't let students who harassed female members of a club go unpunished, right?"

"Of course not," Narumori replied firmly.

"Then, I suggest calling over all the boys Nagumo expelled from the swimming club and questioning them directly."

Realizing that he was about to be fully exposed, Nagumo could no longer remain silent.

"Wait a minute!" he shouted, panic in his voice.

"I…I confess. There was no harassment of girls by boys in the swimming club."

"Oh~" Rin's smile widened as he looked at Nagumo, who now appeared both humiliated and defeated. "So, what you just said was nothing but a lie to fool the chairman, wasn't it?"

"Nagumo, you're incredibly bold. Not only did you fabricate this story, but you also dared to lie to the school's chairman. What else are you capable of?"

Nagumo, visibly fuming, glared daggers at Rin but managed to keep himself from exploding. Turning to Narumori, he adopted a shameful expression and bowed his head.

"I deeply apologize, Chairman. I… I lied to you. Please forgive me!"

"Hmm." Narumori took a slow sip of tea, his expression unreadable. "I can forgive you, but Nagumo-kun, you must tell me the real reason why you expelled all the boys from the swimming club."

The chairman's calm yet commanding tone left no room for argument.

In truth, Narumori already knew the reason, having been informed b Arata. However, since Arata had heard it secondhand from Rin, the chairman wanted to hear it directly from Nagumo himself to confirm its validity.

"..." Nagumo broke out in a cold sweat. The truth was undeniable—he had kicked out all the boys from the swimming club and even implemented a rule banning male members, all for his own selfish reasons.

To prevent other boys from seeing his childhood friend, Asahina Nazuna, in a swimsuit...

Nagumo knew that no matter what excuse he came up with, the sharp-tongued Rin would tear it apart. There was no way out. He had no choice but to tell the truth.

"For... for my childhood friend..."

Nagumo stammered, his face flushed with shame, as he reluctantly confessed his true motives.

Hearing the explanation, Narumori couldn't help but look surprised.

It was exactly as Arata had reported.

"So, Chairman, would you consider this abuse of power?" Rin asked pointedly, adding more fuel to the fire.

"Of course it is," Narumori replied firmly.

Nagumo's heart sank in despair.

But Rin wasn't finished.

"Nagumo abused his position just to protect his own selfish interests and prevent others from seeing his childhood friend. Chairman, I think someone this corrupt and self-serving doesn't deserve a place in the student council."

"If someone like Nagumo remains in the student council, who knows how many more students will suffer because of his misuse of power?"

Nagumo clenched his fists tightly, suppressing the urge to punch Rin right then and there. But he knew he had to fight back—if he didn't, his fate would be sealed.

Before Narumori could announce his decision, Nagumo stood up abruptly and bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle, his voice filled with remorse.

"I'm so sorry!"

"Mr. Chairman, I deeply regret my actions. I will immediately remove the rule banning boys from the swimming club. I will also personally apologize to the boys who were forced out and invite them back to the club!"

"I promise to turn over a new leaf and dedicate myself wholeheartedly to serving the school and its students!"

"Wow," Rin interjected with a mocking grin, "you're pretty good at apologizing, Nagumo, but I doubt a leopard can change its spots. You should just quit the student council altogether—it'd be better for everyone."

Nagumo's fists trembled.

Who are you calling a leopard? he thought furiously, but he dared not speak up.

Narumori sighed and gestured for Rin to stop.

"Matsuoka-kun, that's enough. Nagumo, please take a seat."

The chairman's words made Rin frown, but Nagumo felt a glimmer of hope. It seemed Narumori wasn't planning to expel him entirely from the student council.

"On behalf of the school and the student council, I will now announce the decision regarding Nagumo's misconduct," Narumori declared.

"First, Nagumo will be removed from his position as vice president of the student council. He will remain in the council as an ordinary member."

Both Rin and Nagumo were dissatisfied with the decision—but for entirely different reasons.

Rin was unhappy that Nagumo wasn't expelled entirely from the student council.

Nagumo, on the other hand, was frustrated at being demoted and losing his prestigious title as vice president.

'Fine', Nagumo thought, trying to comfort himself. ' I'll accept this for now. I still have plenty of chances to reclaim my position—or even become the president.'