Ch.137Election (6)

Life is one wild rollercoaster.

My reputation has evolved from space delinquent to genius, then to physics pervert, then to hero who saved humanity.

And now.

“Is that candidate the graduate school ghost?”

I’ve become the ghost of graduate school.

All sorts of urban legends about me are spreading across the campus community.

That I coexist with an alien.

That I’m actually an outsider with a doctorate.

That I bribed professors.

Surprisingly, all three are correct.

[“Humans have surprisingly accurate instincts. I’m impressed.”]

If there’s one thing that’s unfair, it’s that my approval rating in polls has dropped since the video was released. Thanks to that, the gap between Zernya’s support rate and mine has narrowed to within the margin of error.

Honestly, what does being good at research have to do with leading the undergraduate student council?

Based on this logic, some of my votes were absorbed by her.

I glared at Zernya. She tilted her head as if she didn’t understand why.

“What? Why?”

“Why on earth did you do that?”

“I was trying to defend you. The seniors were saying such nonsense…”

“But why did you play the video there?!”

Zernya, who had been standing confidently with her back straight, immediately hunched her shoulders like a scolded child when I shouted.

“You know too! The entire student body! Was watching! There were hundreds in the audience! Our debate! Was being broadcast! Live! On campus TV! I was! Immortalized! In front of 25,000 people!”

And not just any 25,000 people. They’re the future pillars of the Laniakea Federation.

Me, acting coquettishly saying “I love you so much, Professor…” in front of all these elite students. Ugh.

“But it proved your point, didn’t it?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?!”

“Everyone who saw you researching would know. That you’re a genius. That you’re different from those fakes who have professors ghostwrite their papers. I, I intended to…”

“…It should have stayed buried.”

“Huh?”

“I said it should have stayed buried!”

I clearly remember the expressions on the faces of the senior candidates and the audience when the video was playing.

Those weren’t looks you’d give to a fellow human.

This can’t be happening. I’m human too.

“You’re not thinking of changing your platform now, are you? People will call you fickle.”

“Why would I?”

I can’t abandon my graduate school platform no matter what. For the sake of juniors entering next year, and for my own sake!

“I’m not angry about that. That video was meant for Professor Feynman’s eyes only!”

“That makes it even weirder, you idiot!”

“…Does it?”

Looking back, she’s right. I can’t refute that.

Zernya looked up at me with her hands in her pockets. She had quite a triumphant expression.

“We’re competitors. We’re fighting over who becomes president. I had to do at least this much.”

“Hmph.”

“Don’t worry. If you become vice president, I’ll take good care of you.”

It’s not you taking care of me, it’s me who’ll have to take care of you, you troublemaker.

If Zernya becomes president, it’s only a matter of time before the alien attaches itself to her. If possible, I should become president to make things run a bit more smoothly.

“And you know what?”

“What now?”

Trying to embarrass me again in the next debate?

“I actually like your platform more than I expected.”

“…?”

What’s this?

Is she trying to seduce me now?

***

“We will now begin the second debate and hearing for the student council election candidates. The first half of the second debate will consist of candidates answering questions from the audience…”

The moderator is rambling on, but nothing is registering in my head.

‘I actually like your platform more than I expected.’

I’m still analyzing what Zernya said.

Could she be thinking of going to graduate school too?

I recalled our previous conversation. Clearly, Zernya got angry when I asked her about graduate school.

But in less than a few months, her reaction has done a complete 180.

I don’t understand.

“Audience members with questions, please raise your hands.”

I slowly raised my head.

Most of the hundreds of people were looking at me with their right hands raised, as if taking an oath in court.

I feel like a criminal.

But wait, what did I do wrong?

“I have a question for Candidate Rheinland. I understand you squandered your family fortune and lived a dissolute life in your youth. I’d like to ask if you’ve ever shown restraint or apologized for this.”

“That was during my immature years. I’ve reflected on it and become a new person. I apologize.”

Yes, questions like this are actually easy.

“I have a question for Candidate Adelbein. How did you obtain the video evidence you showed regarding Candidate Rheinland last time?”

The problem is the video. The moment that topic came up, I felt my breath catch.

“I was present at the scene. I recorded the video with the consent of the person involved.”

“So are you two friends?”

“F-friends?”

Zernya stammered before nodding her head.

“Yes, we are friends.”

Laughter leaked from the audience.

They seem to think we’re close friends and one of us pulled this stunt to mess with the other. No, people, we’re not that close.

“I have a question for Candidate Rheinland. What is your relationship with Professor Stranov, who led the resonator research?”

“As you saw in the video, he will be my advisor when I enter graduate school.”

Well, since it’s come to this, I’ll just be brazen about it.

“Do you plan to attend Iryuel Academy for graduate school?”

“No. I’ve submitted a joint advisor application at Stellarium…”

“I believe it’s impossible to have joint advisors from other schools at Stellarium.”

“The professor whose lab I plan to join is going to marry Professor Stranov soon. I can study in that professor’s lab while maintaining continuous exchange with Professor Stranov.”

Murmuring.

The audience’s expressions changed ominously.

“…I didn’t know that was possible. Thank you for your answer.”

Anyway, this kind of questioning about me continued.

What’s going on?

Why do I feel like I’m the only one being attacked?

Even after an hour, people only ask questions to me or Zernya, with hardly anyone asking the second-year seniors about policy directions.

Thinking about it carefully, there was only one thing this meant.

[“It means they don’t consider the second-years as viable candidates. All the attention has already shifted to you and that girl.”]

When I turned my gaze, there she was, smiling contentedly.

That’s right. This was Zernya’s strategy all along.

[“That silver-haired girl is truly clever. With that video, she made sure the spotlight shone only on you two. She sees only you as her competitor, pressuring the others to just be background characters.”]

In the students’ minds, only Zernya and I exist.

They’re just curious about which of us will become president.

That’s why they’re bombarding only us with questions.

“I have a question for Candidate Adelbein. If you become student council president, what policies will you implement first?”

“I will consult with the vice president to select suitable people for each department and review the budget. Only then can we estimate how much to spend on student welfare.”

“I’d like to ask the same question to Candidate Rheinland.”

“I would also take the same approach as Candidate Adelbein.”

The budget is most important.

And soon, the most important topic came up.

“Personally, I have a request for all candidates. Currently, the Federation’s economy has slowed due to the long-standing invasion of Darwin-type aliens. As a result, the employment situation at Stellarium is not what it used to be.”

Employment.

To think even Stellarium has to worry about employment.

Don’t major companies come recruiting?

“Generally, I’d like to see increased recruitment from galactic-scale mega-corporations like the Adelbein Group or Hudson Corporation, rather than just companies operating within a single planetary system.”

“Ahem, I’ll try my best.”

“I’ll do my best as well.”

The second-year seniors cleared their throats.

Now I see it was a privileged complaint. It’s like people who can go to Samsung saying they won’t settle for anything less than Google.

The problem is, can this be achieved with the power of a student council president?

“For a company like the Adelbein Group, I can work to arrange a recruiting booth.”

“Ohhh!”

Except for Zernya.

I envy how she can speak so confidently without hesitation.

Zernya smiled and delivered a follow-up strike.

“Additionally, I will prepare specific measures for large-scale startup support, such as lectures by professional consultants and attracting external capital.”

“Ohhh!”

The audience was instantly swept into a cauldron of emotion.

“What are your thoughts, Candidate Rheinland?”

Zernya asked.

Her sinister smile doesn’t look innocent at all.

“I’m curious how you would address the employment concerns of current students.”

She really seems determined to become president by any means necessary.

Not a chance. I have my own plan.

“There’s also graduate school employment.”

***

[Voting Results]

[1. Zernya von und zu Trisha Adelbein: 8,472 votes]

[2. Eidel von Rheinland: 8,219 votes]