Am I being simulated by their love affair.

Chapter 399 Unexpected Situations Beyond the Election

The student council election at Haneoka High School was held on a Monday when the cicadas were nowhere to be heard.

The auditorium was brightly lit, and students from all three grades were seated, watching the girl standing behind the podium give her speech.

"I am Marie Honma from Class 2-6. You can find my information on page five of the election bulletin. Due to time constraints, I will briefly introduce myself."

However, as people look at the boy, their gaze will naturally drift to the side and fall on the tall and straight-looking boy.

In an environment where everyone is seated, standing staff inevitably stand out, and Jun Matsueda, who is looking down at the documents in his hands, is undoubtedly the most conspicuous one.

"Is that Matsueda-senpai?" the first-year students in the crowd whispered among themselves. "He's even more handsome than I imagined."

"That's him. Isn't he the one Tomatsu-senpai confessed to during the sports meet?"

"I heard that Senior Mochizuki's relationship with him seems to be quite complicated."

The girl behind the podium seemed to hesitate for a moment. Jun Matsueda looked up to confirm that the projection system on the stage was still working properly.

It seemed to be just due to nervousness. He turned around, and the curious gazes immediately disappeared.

After confirming that everything was alright, the boy greeted Hiromi Seshita backstage and returned to his class.

As soon as he sat down, Tomatsu Yuka, who was sitting next to him, smiled and whispered.

"The smile that Matsueda gave to his juniors when he came over was exactly the same as the smile he gave to visitors when he worked at the Literature Museum."

"That's how it is when we're in business." Jun Matsueda sighed, and the girl's smile relaxed a little more.

Sitting behind Tomatsu Yuka, Mochizuki Haruka leaned over, placing herself between the two.

"Can the pine branches rest now?"

“It’s temporary.” The boy took a sip of the mineral water that was placed at his feet. “After the speech, I will read out the voting instructions.”

"This is so troublesome." The young lady was getting a little impatient. "Who am I supposed to vote for later?"

"Just vote for whichever one you like."

"I didn't listen, I'll just vote the same as you."

Matsueda Jun glanced at her helplessly, "I'll vote for Mitani-kun."

"Mitani? Aren't you going to vote for Honma, who's in our own class?"

The girl looked at the girl on the stage, who had just finished her speech and was bowing to the audience.

"Mitani's ideas are more to my liking."

Mochizuki Haruka pursed her lips and looked at Tomatsu Yuka on the other side. The two exchanged a glance.

They all knew the real reason—Mitani was the girl who came to the class last week to campaign and give a speech with Yamami Maki.

Jun Matsueda turned to chat with Ken Sakamuro on the other side. Haruka Mochizuki was a little bored. She looked at the campaign bulletin on Tomatsu Yuka's lap, the paper of which the girl had crumpled into a cylinder.

Who are you planning to vote for?

Tomatsu Yuka gazed at the floating curtain on the stage. Behind the curtain were the backstage staff, and the leaders of the previous student council were also behind them.

"I want to vote for Honma."

As the last candidate's speech was about to end, Jun Matsueda left his seat and went backstage from a corner.

"Matsue's here?" Seshita Hiromi waved to him, and the three student council members stood behind the girl.

Yamami Maki picked up the microphone that was placed aside and handed it to the boy. "Is it Matsueda's turn to speak next?" Tsushima Kou glanced at the girl. His colleague seemed to be more proactive in front of Matsueda lately, which was somewhat unexpected.

He thought they would maintain their ambiguous and shy relationship until the end of high school. The boy yawned, feeling somewhat bored.

"Yes." Jun Matsue nodded. With the curtain blocking the view from the audience, he relaxed and said a few more words.

"Who do the seniors think has the best chance?"

Tsushima Kou glanced at the boy who spoke last on stage, "The president and Yamami-kun both have someone they support, right? I feel like these two are the ones."

"Doesn't Tsushima-senpai have a successor?" Seshita Hiromi asked her former club president curiously.

"It's too much trouble." The boy waved his hand. "I don't have the same amount of free time as them."

"I only agreed to recommend Honjo-kun." The president pushed up his glasses. "His attitude is very proper, but his actual ability is average. Mitani-kun is more likely to succeed."

“Mitani is quite good at self-promotion,” Yami Maki smiled. “She still has many shortcomings and needs to continue to work hard.”

Thank you all for your support!

The voice from the podium interrupted the conversation. They looked at Jun Matsueda, who picked up the microphone, cleared his throat, and walked toward the spotlight in the center of the stage.

Amidst the dazzling white light and countless gazes, Jun Matsueda calmly turned on the microphone.

"Hello everyone, I am Jun Matsue, the vice chairman of the election management committee. The final speeches of the seven candidates have all ended. Next is the voting process."

"Before the official voting begins, I will read out the voting instructions. Please make sure you know the number of the candidate you support, which is displayed on the screen behind me and on the campaign proclamation."

"Japan is a democratic country. After we turn eighteen, we all gain the right to vote. As a real election practice, I hope everyone will abide by and value the whole process and cast their precious and valid vote."

The boy's voice wasn't particularly serious, but it made people unconsciously straighten their posture, and the whispers from the audience gradually subsided.

"Once the voting begins, please stand up in order of your class, collect your ballot from the election committee member of your grade, write down the candidate you support at the voting station, fold it twice, and put it into the ballot box."

He gestured towards the counting station directly below the stage, saying, "After the voting ends, we will immediately begin counting the votes and announce the election results on the spot."

"Thank you for your understanding and support." Jun Matsueda bowed.

It was just a routine voting explanation, yet he received more applause than any of the previous candidates.

Yamami Maki was also clapping behind the curtain. The backstage staff had all gone down to guide the voting, leaving only the three student council members on stage, while the other two boys had tacitly walked away.

“Matsue-kun has a lot of presence when she stands on the stage, which reminds me of how my dad and grandpa used to give speeches.”

The boy smiled and said, "It's just an act. Speaking in front of so many eyes, even if everyone else is silent, you still feel the pressure."

"That's impressive too." The girl took the microphone and put it aside, looking at the crowd below the stage.

"Now we can rest assured and wait for the statistics."

For Jun Matsuoka, this was just an afternoon of observing from the sidelines, which was about to end. However, the news that his senior received shattered his spectator mentality.

While the audience was still recording the voting results, Yamami Maki on stage turned around, her hand unconsciously gripping the curtain as she looked at the boy behind her.

“Matsue, my dad just sent me a message.”

He said he wanted to see you.

The girl looked at him with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.

(End of this chapter)