Chapter 130: Cultural Festival Live Performance ③

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Translator: Soafp

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If Airi’s hypothesis was correct, then there should be a way to avoid the nightmare using the plan I’d come up with.

The problem was whether the person at the center of it all would actually agree.

So first, I decided to find out how the light music club president really felt.

“President, answer me honestly. You don’t like that Senpai anymore, right?”

“Of course not. I regret that I ever dated someone like him, even for a moment.”

“Then is there anyone else you like now?”

“Not particularly.”

“Anyone you’re interested in?”

“Someone I’m interested in, huh…”

The president rested a hand against her chin, letting her gaze wander into the distance.

Judging by her reaction, there probably wasn’t anyone.

That was going to make things a little difficult.

Or so I thought.

“…!”

Suddenly, both of the president’s cheeks flushed red.

Then she began muttering to herself.

“Huh? W-Wait, seriously?”

Apparently, even she hadn’t been aware of her own feelings until that very moment.

“Who was the person you just thought of?”

“Huh? I-I mean, that’s…”

“Takagi?”

The president’s shoulders jolted.

Honestly, I’d only been fishing for a reaction, but apparently I’d hit the mark.

“J-Just don’t ever tell him. No, don’t tell anyone!”

“Of course. I’m good at keeping secrets.”

Well, even if I didn’t say anything, Airi would probably figure it out.

As long as Takagi didn’t hear about it.

I had plenty of questions about why she’d fallen for Takagi, but there wasn’t time for that right now.

“For now, President, just keep those spats with you. You don’t have to wear them.”

“Huh? R-Really? You seemed so concerned about it.”

“Just be careful not to actually fall, okay?”

“O-Okay.”

If I failed to convince her later, I’d have no choice but to force her to wear them.

No matter what happened to the live performance, I’d get Airi and Nodoka involved and make sure she put them on.

After that, I hurriedly changed into my stage outfit and returned to the gymnasium.

“Takagi, there’s something I want to talk to you about. Just the two of us.”

“Huh? Right now?”

“Yeah. It’s something really serious.”

Takagi blinked several times, looking completely confused, but he still followed me to the back of the gymnasium.

We were short on time, so I got straight to the point.

“Takagi, do you like the president?”

“Huh? W-What are you suddenly talking about?”

“I’m being completely serious. I’m talking about the president.”

If it had been anyone else, they probably would’ve just thought I was being ridiculous.

But perhaps Takagi sensed something from my expression, because he answered with a serious look.

“Honestly, I think the president’s a great person. But I don’t really know if what I feel is romantic.”

Contrary to my expectations, Takagi didn’t seem to have particularly strong feelings for her.

Wait.

Could it be that, unlike the president, he simply didn’t really understand what it felt like to fall for someone?

“Takagi, have you ever actually been in love before?”

“Of course I have! That’s a pretty rude thing to say, even coming from you!”

“I see. Sorry. When was the last time you liked someone? Unrequited love counts too.”

I’d assumed it would at least have been sometime in middle school.

But Takagi couldn’t answer immediately. He began fumbling for words.

“W-Well… third grade was the last time…”

“…Huh?”

“W-What’s wrong with that!? Don’t make fun of a third-grader’s pure love!”

I wasn’t trying to.

Still, when I thought about it, I had ended up with Yuzuki, my own first love, and yet my relationship with her was now this complicated.

So I really had no room to talk.

In any case, despite his usually carefree attitude, apparently Takagi wasn’t the type to fall for people easily.

“Takagi, imagine something for me.”

I placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned closer.

“W-What’s with you all of a sudden?”

“Is there any girl you genuinely hate? Someone so unpleasant that even talking to her makes you uncomfortable?”

“Well, there are a few.”

“Now imagine that girl suddenly kissed you and attacked you.”

“I’d hate it like hell! I’d go straight to the police and file a report.”

At least his sense of right and wrong seemed perfectly normal.

“Then what if it wasn’t that girl, but the president?”

“Huh?”

“What if the president suddenly kissed you, confessed that she liked you, and then attacked you? Would you hate it enough to go to the police and file a report?”

“Th-That…”

Takagi’s eyes widened, and the shock on his face was impossible to hide.

“Just answer this one thing. Would you go to the police or not?”

“I-I probably wouldn’t…”

“Then you wouldn’t complain if you ended up losing your virginity right then and there?”

“Man, you’re being ridiculously straightforward today.”

I didn’t have time to beat around the bush.

Takagi scratched his head and gave an awkward little nod.

“Well… probably not.”

“Then what would you do if the president told you, ‘We already did something intimate, so you should date me’?”

“Well, obviously I’d date her if it got that far! I’m not that much of a scumbag!”

I already knew he wasn’t a scumbag.

He certainly wasn’t the kind of guy who would sleep with just anyone.

The president must have subconsciously been attracted to him precisely because she understood that about him.

“Then, Takagi, doesn’t that mean you like the president?”

“Huh? D-Do you think so?”

“Would you date someone you didn’t like?”

“Y-Yeah… I guess you’re right.”

Takagi slowly nodded, seemingly convinced.

Good.

That was one more piece of the puzzle needed to avoid the nightmare.

Just one more push.

“You’d be willing to endure a little social embarrassment for the woman you love, right?”

“S-Social embarrassment? What are you talking about?”

“Something like having a slightly embarrassing photo of you spread around online.”

“That’s kind of terrifying! What are you planning to make me do!?”

At this point, it was only natural for Takagi to become suspicious.

If he absolutely refused, I was prepared to take his place.

But if possible, it would be much more convenient if Takagi handled it himself.

“I’ll be honest with you. An accident is going to happen during today’s live performance, and the president will end up dropping out of school.”

“…Huh? Dropping out?”

Takagi’s eyes widened.

But the next moment, he suddenly realized something.

“Ah!”

“So that’s why you’ve been worrying about the president’s panties this whole time!”

“Yeah. That’s right. And I’ve thought of a solution.”

“What is it?”

I looked straight into Takagi’s eyes and told him.

“You fall onstage and expose your underwear.”