Episode 43: The Responsibility That Must Be Taken

When it comes to academies, there are student councils, and Royal Lytisia Academy was no exception in having such an organization.

It wasn’t a supra-legal institution with absolute power like you’d often find in fiction from my previous life, but it was something the students admired.

The reason being that all the student council officers were without exception elites.

The finest talents from each grade gathered there, leading the entire school in various situations at this academy.

Combined with the fact that many came from high social standing, it wasn’t uncommon for students to view them with an almost deified impression.

In that sense, perhaps you could see them as a super-institution filled with the charisma to move people.

Come to think of it, the student council route was well-received among players too.

With characters competing for first place in popularity polls enrolled there, and other officers gaining popularity by association, it was becoming quite the dominant group.

I feel like they were often in the spotlight, helped by the high quality of their story completion.

…And now I’m being proposed to join that very student council.

“…Why would you extend such an invitation to me?”

I gazed at Eleanore, who was gripping both my hands and asking me to join the student council with her.

Of course, in the original work, Eleanore didn’t belong to the student council.

Although she seemed like an honor student and left a good impression on those around her, she didn’t belong to any clubs or committees.

But now she was proposing that we join the student council together.

“Arcs and I… or rather, the noble course and the knight course don’t usually have points of contact, do we?”

“…Well, that’s true. I’ve heard that even though we’re on the same grounds, there aren’t many opportunities to interact.”

Because the school buildings are different and separated, it’s quite rare to meet people from the noble course during normal times.

The committees exist independently from each other, and there aren’t many points of contact after school either. If there were any, it would probably only be during events.

“Even though we’re close enough to see each other immediately, not being able to meet is so… lonely”

The strength of her grip on my hands tightened.

“But… if we joined the student council. If we joined the student council that’s jointly formed by the noble course and knight course…!”

A straightforward gaze and a voice filled with earnest feelings.

…Ah, so that’s it.

I understood.

While I said earlier there were no points of contact, the student council is the one place in Royal Lytisia Academy where these two courses can interact even during normal times.

It’s probably because it’s the institution that oversees the entire academy.

I still haven’t fully grasped the complete picture of Royal Lytisia Academy in this world, so even when told I didn’t quite get it… but in other words, what Eleanore wants to say is:

“…You thought we could be together more, is that it?”

“…Yes”

Illuminated by the fountain’s light, I could see her cheeks and ear tips flushed red.

“Certainly, the time we could spend together would increase. I hear the student council has its own dedicated room and is quite busy.”

Though not large, the student council has its own dedicated building.

If that’s the case, the workload can hardly be called small.

But yes, I do think the time spent together would increase.

“I wouldn’t mind joining if it’s Eleanore-sama’s request. Well, it’s not confirmed, but let’s try running for it.”

“Then—”

A smile was about to bloom on her face.

Seeing that, I continued speaking while feeling pained.

“But… is that really all right with you?”

“…Eh?”

She showed a bewildered expression.

My response must have been unexpected to her.

“Are you trying to join the student council… just to be with me?”

She neither affirmed nor denied.

Without saying anything, she simply moved her gaze downward… toward our clasped hands.

At least she won’t deny it.

“Eleanore-sama. That… that won’t do.”

Slowly, I released her hands that were gripping mine.

“You mustn’t act with me as your driving force. Is joining the student council truly something you want to do?”

“…That is…”

Eleanore made a pained face and her words caught.

It’s not as if my heart doesn’t ache.

Being thought of as someone this beautiful woman wants to be with is more than honorable enough.

However, I can’t accept it with a simple yes.

Eleanore is a count’s daughter.

And before that, she’s a single human being.

I think it’s wrong to act with another person at the center, just because she wants to be with me.

Ultimately, that’s called dependence.

“Actions with someone as your driving force… may make you happy at the time. But that choice might become an irreversible regret, you know? It’s your life, so you should do what you truly want to do.”

The end of dependence is usually nothing good.

When you’re abandoned by that person, or when your feelings for them fade, you’ll surely regret your actions up to that point.

I can assert the former won’t happen.

But the latter might.

As she experiences various things from now on, she may become interested in people other than me.

In the first place, she’s a noble—she should be able to have a fiancé in the future.

“Is being with me… unpleasant?”

“That’s not it. Rather, I’m saying this because I care about you, Eleanore-sama.”

I don’t like the preachy way of saying it… but this is something I’ve been thinking ever since it became a possibility that I might die.

I want her to live a happy life, not a miserable end like in the main story.

I don’t intend to disappear, but even if I were to disappear.

A bad ending… doesn’t suit Eleanore.

“I want you to seek your own happiness… only for yourself. I want you to walk your own life, Eleanore-sama!”

Having said what I wanted to say, I quietly waited for her response.

Eleanore seemed considerably shocked and was looking down.

“…I understand what you want to say, Arcs.”

After a brief pause, she spoke.

“But I want you to know my feelings.”

What she showed when she raised her face was… a smile.

It was a fleeting yet strong smile.

“I understand that you’re saying this for my sake, Arcs. …But”

“Even so, I… don’t want to bend myself.”

A resolute expression, somewhat different from her usual self.

I could feel intensely that she was trying to act according to her own convictions.

“With my true will as it is now… I want to join the student council together with you, Arcs.”

Eleanore grasped my hands once more.

This time it was firm and strong.

“I don’t know about the future. I might regret my choice… but I’ll surely regret it if I don’t act now.”

Those feelings must be real.

No matter what I say, she won’t bend her will.

I’m certain of that.

…Probably, my existence has become the foundation of her convictions.

It has taken root deeply.

I can never bring myself to say “how did it come to this?”

“Haah…”

I exhaled all the air that had accumulated in my lungs at once.

At this point, I just have to steel myself.

Whether to administer rough treatment or to take responsibility.

“We need to think about campaign promises, don’t we.”

I just said that briefly.

Eleanore made a blank expression, but must have understood immediately.

“…Yes!”

She smiled like a blooming flower and nodded.

I couldn’t help but smile too.

While feeling anew the weight of what I was carrying… for now, I decided to turn a blind eye to the troublesome matters, just a little.