I was Thrown into an Unfamiliar Manga

After having lunch with the President, I brought up the matter of Ayabe-senpai from the Newspaper Club.
"…That’s the situation."

After hearing my explanation, the President asked me with a serious expression.
"Shall I use the student council’s authority to cut the Newspaper Club’s budget?"
"What?"

I blinked wide-eyed at the unexpected response.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
"Actually, getting rid of the Newspaper Club entirely wouldn’t be a bad idea either. Hardly anyone bothers reading paper newspapers these days in the digital age. This might be a good opportunity to clean things up."

"No, no, no, that won’t be necessary."
I waved both hands quickly, trying to stop her.
"It was just a personal complaint, not something I wanted you to take official action on."
The President stayed silent for a moment, then asked cautiously.

"If you’re worried about making this too big of an issue, we can handle it quietly."
"What? No, no, no, no. Really, it’s fine!"
「Fufu, I’m joking.」

The President gave me a playful wink when I started speaking faster out of panic.
"I’ve decided to stop abusing my power as student council president, anyway. My term is almost over."
"That’s… good to hear."

But coming from someone who almost never joked, it didn’t sound much like a joke.
"Come to think of it, your graduation really is only a few months away now."
Unlike Korean high schools, Japanese graduation ceremonies are generally held in March.

That’s because there’s a short third semester between winter and spring break.
So typically, the outgoing president’s duties end with the second semester, and the new student council president starts building the new administration in the third semester.
In the President’s case, she’d served as president for both her second and third year, making her achievements stand out more than any of her predecessors.

Though she was called things like "Dark Student Council President," she had overwhelming support from the student body.
As the secretary, I knew better than anyone how seriously she’d devoted herself to this school.
"Yes. I’ve made a lot of memories here. I don’t regret choosing this school."

The President said that with a graceful motion as she sipped her tea.
"More importantly… you haven’t forgotten the promise we made, have you?"
Pffft!

"Cough! Cough, cough!"
"Are you all right?!"
I took the tissue she hurriedly handed me and wiped up the tea I’d spilled.
When my coughing finally subsided, I nodded.

"Yes. I haven’t forgotten. How could I forget a promise we made in that kind of situation?"
The President, probably recalling what had happened over summer break, blushed slightly and looked away.
"Good. I’ll be expecting a positive answer."

"…Understood."
The atmosphere instantly turned awkward.
A peaceful tea party had suddenly become a minefield.

I glanced at the vice president, still absorbed in his game, then stood up.
"Then I’ll be going now."
"Already? There’s still some time before fifth period."

"I thought I’d stop by the Newspaper Club and ask Ayabe-senpai directly why she’s been following me."
"All right. If you need any help, just say the word. What I said earlier was a joke, but it can very easily become serious."

I muttered inwardly, then told Minami and the vice president as well.
"I’ll see you tomorrow during club activities."
"Yes, Yu-seong-kun."

Clack!
The student council room door closed behind me, leaving me alone in the hallway. I started heading toward the Newspaper Club’s room.
***
Hanami Yuzuko was a member of Ichijo Academy’s Newspaper Club.

She was a first-year who’d been enrolled for about half a year. Having worked in the Newspaper Club back in middle school, she’d chosen it again in high school.
The Newspaper Club had seven members: two third-years, three second-years, and two first-years, including Yuzuko herself.
Since the third-years were about to graduate and almost never came to club activities due to the upcoming university entrance exams, the club was effectively run by the vice president, a second-year named Takagi-senpai.

Unlike the passionate third-years, the three second-years—including Takagi-senpai—were clearly just there to kill time, treating everything half-heartedly.
Yuzuko often thought coming to club activities was almost a waste of time, and she was seriously considering joining a different club next year.
And today…

A man entered the laid-back Newspaper Club room.
Slide!
"Is this the Newspaper Club?"

A deep, heavy voice as the door opened.
Thick arms, like solid logs, with veins writhing under the skin like serpents.
"E-eh?"

He was so tall that Yuzuko, at only 154 cm, had to take several steps back just to get /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ his face into view.
The overwhelming presence was like Gulliver visiting Lilliput.
And Yuzuko knew exactly who he was.

Kim Yu-seong (キム・ユソン).
Also known as—
"The Academy’s Strongest."
"The President’s Blade."
"The Black Brute."

No one knew who came up with these nicknames, but they were all terrifying.
"Who here is Ayabe?"
"Huh? Oh—Ayabe-senpai?"

Takagi-senpai, answering in a trembling voice.
She always acted tough in front of other club members, but even she instinctively shrank back before him.
At a genetic level, she understood.

The man before her had been born to dominate.
Kyung♥ Kyung♥
Yuzuko felt a primal fear tightening in her lower abdomen as she silently listened to their short exchange.

"She didn’t come today. She’s a third-year, so she doesn’t come to the clubroom often."
"I see."
"Um… did she do something to upset the student council?"

"…No. I just have something personal to ask her. Don’t worry, I’m not here to cause trouble."
With that, Kim Yu-seong said a simple "Excuse me," then quietly closed the door behind him.
"Haaah~"

Yuzuko exhaled a breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding.
The tension had been so thick that she’d literally forgotten to breathe.
The other members were just as breathless as she was.

For someone to cause this much pressure just by standing in the same room… the rumors about him weren’t lies.
As the tension drained away, Yuzuko suddenly felt the urge to use the restroom and quietly raised her hand.
"Vice president, may I go to the restroom for a bit?"

Takagi-senpai, still standing frozen with a drained expression, answered after a delayed pause.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Sure. Actually, I’ll come too."
When the others heard that, they exchanged looks and started raising their hands as well.

"Me too."
"Same here."
In the end, the entire Newspaper Club went to the restroom together.
***

"Tch. What a waste of time."
I’d assumed she’d be in the clubroom, but of course she wasn’t.
It was too close to fifth period to head to the third-year classrooms now, so I decided to try again later.

Crossing the connecting bridge from the annex to the main building—
"Hm?"
Maybe I was lucky.

Ayabe-senpai was walking straight toward me.
She was so focused on the camera in her hands that she hadn’t noticed me yet.
I carefully approached and spoke.

"Excuse me, you’re Ayabe-senpai, right?"
"Huh?"
She finally looked up, and the moment our eyes met, she froze like a statue—then spun around and bolted.

"Wait, please!"
I immediately chased after her.
Even though there was quite a bit of distance at first, my physical ability had long surpassed that of a normal person.

The gap between us shrank rapidly.
"I just want to talk!"
"I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you!"

But she didn’t stop, covering her ears and stubbornly running away.
At this point, I had no choice but to catch her.
I sped up, and when Ayabe-senpai glanced back, she panicked, jumped to the side, and began taking the stairs three steps at a time.

"Ah—!"
But she must have twisted her ankle, because her body lurched forward.
If she fell, it could turn into a serious accident, so I grit my teeth and threw myself forward.

Crash! Thud!
"Ugh… what just happened?"
Thanks to me cushioning her fall, Ayabe-senpai was unhurt, though she sat clutching her forehead, dazed.

Pinned beneath her, I said carefully,
"Senpai, would you mind getting off me?"
"Ah!"

Realizing she was sitting on me, her face turned bright red as she scrambled back.
"S-sorry. It’s my fault."
I sat up slowly and replied,

"It’s fine. This sort of thing doesn’t even leave a scratch on me."
The so-called Unyielding Body might not have many benefits, but it sure came in handy now.
An awkward silence stretched between us as we sat facing each other.

"Um… I just wanted to talk. Would you have some time after school?"
Ayabe-senpai hesitated, then gave a small nod.
"Okay. I’ll come to your classroom."

"Then I’ll see you after school."
Finally getting her agreement, I bowed slightly and hurried back to class before fifth period began.