Crossover: After deciding to give up, i became popular

In the end, Natsukawa Kanade found himself cornered.

While he didn't particularly want prolonged contact with an "enemy," he couldn't find a suitable way to decline. More importantly, Isshiki Iroha's "sincerity" had left an impression on him.

Listening to her for a bit wouldn't hurt.

At least for now, Kanade didn't believe she was here solely for personal reasons—it was likely a mix of personal and strategic matters. Her charm offensive might even be a deliberate attempt to lower his guard.

"President, hello."

"President, goodbye."

"…"

"Hm."

As Kanade walked through the school halls, he politely returned the greetings from the students who acknowledged him.

Following closely behind, Isshiki Iroha trailed him by half a step, like a loyal follower.

"Senpai seems so popular. Not like me—nobody ever says hi to me," she said, her voice tinged with faux envy.

"Effort pays off," Kanade replied curtly.

In truth, it wasn't as much popularity as it was reverence.

In a student society—especially in the context of Japan—academic and athletic prowess served as the ultimate currency. Even with his mediocre social skills, Kanade's achievements allowed him to befriend anyone at Shuchiin Academy if he so desired.

But mere excellence wasn't enough to gain the admiration of these prodigious scions and elite students. Were it not for his position as student council president and his repeated top-ranking academic performance, Kanade would never have appeared on their radar.

The world was ruthless, and the principle of survival of the fittest remained deeply ingrained in human society.

Kanade was grateful that his hard work had paid off, enabling him to change the trajectory of his life. Although his initial motivation had been to win Kaguya's attention, his achievements had brought him personal satisfaction as well.

Thanks to the care and camaraderie he shared with his friends, Kanade had learned the importance of valuing himself.

This newfound appreciation extended to everything in his life—his relationships, friendships, and opportunities. He wouldn't let any underhanded schemers ruin them.

"If you work hard enough, you can achieve this too," Kanade said in a gentle tone.

He didn't harbor a bad impression of Isshiki Iroha.

Although her intentions for visiting were clearly not pure, she had so far shown nothing but respect. To him, she seemed like a well-mannered junior who knew her place.

"Ahh, but I can't do it, Senpai! Thinking about greeting so many people every day—I'd never be able to keep up!" Isshiki stuck out her tongue playfully, trying to act cute.

"Senpai is amazing—managing the student council, keeping top grades, and even being good at sports!"

As she spoke, she lightly poked Kanade's shoulder, her fingers pressing against the muscle.

"…Effort pays off," Kanade repeated, unsure how else to respond.

Perhaps he had some talent, but it was his steady perseverance that had allowed him to reach this level. The cost, however, had been significant—like that one time he fell sick after a simple walk in the rain. It was likely the result of accumulated overwork catching up to him.

"Geez, Senpai! You're so dismissive, repeating the same thing over and over! That won't win you any points with girls, you know!" Isshiki pouted dramatically.

"Excessive humility is just arrogance in disguise! You should emphasize how amazing you are!"

"…"

That would be boasting, wouldn't it? Kanade thought to himself.

He couldn't shake the feeling that this junior had an almost inexplicable reverence for him. It was as blatant as the admiration he'd seen in that blonde girl at the bookstore…

"Ahem. Isshiki-san, why exactly are you here? It's getting late," Kanade finally asked, steering the conversation back on track.

If they kept chatting like this, it would feel more like a casual hangout with a friend. But this was their first meeting—how could she create such a relaxed atmosphere so easily?

Is this the power of extroverts? Terrifying.

"Ehhh~? Can't I just want to stroll around campus with Senpai?" Isshiki teased, feigning innocence.

Thankfully, she hadn't gone so far as to latch onto his arm, or it would have been all over the school's gossip channels by morning.

"…"

Kanade simply stared at her in silence.

Faced with his quiet scrutiny, Isshiki eventually conceded, muttering under her breath before finally speaking softly.

"Well, actually, I wanted to ask you…"

"…"

"To ask…"

"…"

"…How to become the student council president!"

The determination in her voice was almost enough to make Kanade think she was asking him to teach her basketball.

"…?" Kanade raised an eyebrow and replied slowly.

"The election speeches haven't even started yet. Isn't this a little premature for a victory declaration?"

"Nooo, Senpai, you've got it all wrong!" Isshiki shot him a glare.

"This isn't about a victory declaration! I just thought—what if, hypothetically, Senpai wanted to hand the position over to me…"

"That's never going to happen. Give up on that idea."

"Senpai, stop interrupting! I mean… I just want you to teach me how to be a good president! You know, as a precaution! Compared to Senpai, I'm obviously unqualified, which is why I need to learn from you!"

Isshiki nodded vigorously, then added with a pitiful expression, "Senpai wouldn't refuse, would you? It's just a bit of mentoring, and it's not like Senpai would lose to me anyway… Unless, of course, you're not confident in yourself…"

"…"

A low-effort provocation—but one that worked on Kanade just enough.

"Fine, I'll do it," Kanade said, his expression blank.

As a second-year senior, how could he let himself be outmaneuvered by a cheeky junior?

There was no hesitation. He'd make her regret walking all over him!

She wanted to learn how to be a good president? Fine. She could prepare for days that felt like 36 hours of non-stop work.

Of course, Kanade wasn't agreeing purely out of spite. It just so happened that this week's workload was overwhelming, and if Isshiki was so eager, why not let her help?

As for the possibility of aiding the enemy? He dismissed the thought. This would only improve her administrative skills, which wouldn't help her win the election—at best, it would make her tenure smoother if she somehow managed to win.

But that wouldn't happen.

No way would he let this bold junior walk all over him. That was simply unacceptable.