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

"Ladies and gentlemen, are you believers in love?"

Ayakoji Chiyoko finally spoke up.

And when she did, it was with a very discordant topic.

It wasn't that discussing love in front of teachers during a Speech in a school auditorium was discordant; there were always those who dared to do it.

But the word 'love' coming out of Aykaoji Chiyoko's mouth was, in itself, the biggest discordance!

Look at her abstinential face; she didn't look like someone who would be interested in love.

Was this what they called "gap moe"?

The students who knew her or had long heard of her reputation all gaped, their interest sharply piqued, listening intently to her speak.

"Before we explore the answer, let me first tell you a story that happened during my middle school years when I was attending a girls' school in the Capital City."

Ayakoji Chiyoko smiled slightly, "Many believe that because there are no boys in a girls' school, no romantic tales could unfold, but the reality is quite the opposite. From my experience, I saw more couples during my time at the girls' school than I do now at Ugao High — oh, of course, half of that has to do with Uka's excellent disciplinary management, which simply kills any romances that are found."

"Ha ha ha~"

The students burst into relatable laughter.

Indeed, many of them had similar examples close by.

The couples in their class who were caught exchanging notes by the teacher, dragged to the office for a severe scolding and calls to their parents, were all too common.

Many of those couples were forcibly split or driven into covert, secretive romances.

Facing such situations, they dared not express their anger.

The students couldn't oppose the school; that's the current reality for modern children.

"The love that happened in my girls' school was, of course, between girls only — what is commonly referred to as 'lesbian', 'yuri', 'Lala'. But you must think since it was between the same sex, the relationships wouldn't be exposed or stopped by teachers, right?... Completely wrong, utterly incorrect."

Ayakoji Chiyoko's smile faded as she said, "The love story I'm about to share with you is an inevitable tragedy."

Telling stories, this old trick...

Even though Kiryu Hina knew it was her rival's maneuver in giving Speech, she couldn't help but be drawn in, perhaps one of the human psyche's weak points.

Even for herself, let alone the other students around her.

Even her own 'loyal dog', Hosaka Yui, sitting beside her, looked towards the stage with a mesmerized gaze, patiently listening.

Everyone really had no resistance to love stories, especially if they knew beforehand it was a tragic one.

What a twisted state of mind.

"For the sake of storytelling, let's just call the two main characters Student A and Student B. Student A and Student B met in middle school, belonging to the manga research club. Student A had strong drawing skills and was recognized by Student B as a slightly famous artist online. They became acquainted through this, and I heard Student B even frequently modeled for her artwork.

Through their interactions, the two girls became romantically involved."

After a second of silence, Ayakoji Chiyoko looked up at the ceiling, then bowed her head again to speak, "However, their relationship was not blessed. One day, at Student A's house, they were found lying together, clothes disheveled. Student A's parents reported this to the school teachers, who came to handle it. Although it was later proven to be the wrong response, it wasn't entirely incorrect given the circumstances at the time. In any case, Student A and Student B's relationship was thus exposed."

The students below were uncommonly quiet, more like a funeral home than an auditorium, with only faint murmurs between them, focused as if not hearing a Speech.

The teachers standing on the sides of the auditorium were also stiff-faced, not wanting to speak.

It seemed that by this point in the story, everyone understood that the tragedy was about to begin.

"The middle school teachers made public the relationship between Student A and Student B in an attempt to separate them with shame, to stop them from continuing their mistaken relationship, even asking other students to help monitor them. But with so many secret couples in the girls' school, everyone was accustomed to such relationships and would not object. Instead, knowing the difficulties Student A and others faced, they actively covered for them. Whether it was dating within the school or kissing, it was all conducted with the help of classmates, away from the teacher's view, and their relationship advanced further, becoming a famous model couple in the school.

However, although the school could keep it a secret, they could not hide from their families who already knew the truth. Student A had a fierce argument with her parents, ran away from home, and sought refuge with Student B. But Student B faced a similar dilemma with her own parents also informed by the teachers about their daughters' relationship."

The two emotionally immature high school girls, pressured by both their parents and school teachers, chose to compromise. They broke up."

The students below immediately issued disappointed sounds.

"Love is really tough, isn't it? If it's unrecognised, for adolescents it's almost like the sky is falling."

Ayakoji Chiyoko smiled at the silent audience below, "So, I'll share my answer now, I am among those who believe in love. Surprising, isn't it? Knowing such a tragic story, yet I can still speak these words. There's only one reason why—"

"After graduating from middle school, neither of those girls abandoned the other, but instead entered the same high school with more relaxed regulations, and they are still dating now."

Hearing this, the students were both moved and excitedly clapping their hands.

In the entire school auditorium, there was hardly a student not applauding.

It was the most enthusiastic applause since the beginning of the Speech.

Ayakoji Chiyoko smiled while surveying the students below, taking two seconds to locate that boy in the crowd.

He, too, was clapping, although his face was still wearing its usual calm expression, Ayakoji Chiyoko could tell he was very pleased with her Speech.

So, the smile on Ayakoji Chiyoko's face broadened by another five percent.

Well, although the story was entirely fabricated.

But if it worked, that's all that mattered.

Her real Speech content was only just beginning. Enjoy new stories from empire