Chapter 6: Doki Doki literary club

“Hmm…”

“Even so, isn’t it a bit much to fall asleep while eating?”

I gently nudged Seon-a’s shoulder as she started nodding off mid-meal.

She seemed to be the sleepy type.

Dozing off like this was commonplace, and she said she was late on the first day because she overslept.

I was a little worried she might have narcolepsy, but her grades weren’t bad, so I figured she’d be fine.

A week had passed since the entrance ceremony.

I’d been quite busy getting to know the teachers and classmates and studying the textbooks in advance.

However, I hadn’t made any other friends.

For some reason, the other girls seemed to avoid me.

When I asked Seon-a about it, she just smiled awkwardly, looking troubled.

Well, I was glad to have at least one friend in her.

Even now, as we were eating lunch, only Seon-a sat beside me.

But with her dozing off and not talking, I felt a little lonely.

Oh, as a side note, the school lunches were incredibly luxurious, almost too extravagant to be called “school lunches.”

I suspected the cost was quite high, judging from my commoner’s perspective.

It was a luxury I could only enjoy thanks to the scholarship, which covered meal expenses.

“Mind if I sit here?”

“Huh? Sure…”

Suddenly, someone sat down next to me, placing their tray on the table with a thud.

A cheerful voice asked for permission.

It was strange that they chose to sit next to me when there were plenty of other empty seats, but I agreed.

However, when I glanced at them, I fell silent.

It was a boy with a small but toned physique.

Tanned skin, a friendly smile, and shimmering silver hair.

A clean-cut, handsome boy.

He looked like he belonged in a shoujo manga.

He wasn’t from a manga, of course, but he was from a similar genre—a game.

Of all people, to meet one of the game’s capture targets here… If I remembered correctly, his name was Choi Hyeong-gon.

In the game, he was popular due to his friendly personality and handsome looks.

He was also the boy Seon-a was in love with.

Ironically, Seon-a next to me seemed indifferent to him.

Even as he was about to speak, she only glanced at him briefly before resuming her nodding-off routine.

She must have been really tired.

I wasn’t particularly interested in him either.

Rather, I was trying to avoid him.

We were in the same class, so I’d known his face since the entrance ceremony, but I’d been intentionally avoiding him, worried about triggering any game-like flags.

I was still uncomfortable getting involved with boys. Girls were a different story.

“Do you know the class president election is today?”

The teacher had just announced it this morning.

I remembered clearly, even though I wasn’t particularly interested.

It was supposed to take place during our homeroom teacher’s class. But why was he asking me this?

“I hope you’re getting ready.”

What was I supposed to get ready for? His words were vague and without context.

I glared at him, trying to discern his intentions, but he just smiled.

He quickly finished his meal and didn’t say another word.

The awkward and unsettling lunch break ended, leaving me with only faint questions.

Back in my usual spot by the window, I stroked Seon-a’s hair as she slept.

Her soft strands tickled my fingers. Savoring the subtle pleasure, I enjoyed the gentle breeze coming through the half-opened window.

The previous class, life science, had been so boring that most of the students, not just Seon-a, were sleeping on their desks.

“Alright, everyone, wake up.”

But that didn’t last long.

Our homeroom teacher entered the classroom, and the sleeping students’ eyes snapped open.

Especially the boys, myself included.

I kept my gaze fixed on the teacher while gently stroking Seon-a’s back, who was still half-asleep.

If I had been born a boy, I might have had a scandalous affair with the teacher… What kind of thoughts were these to have during class?

“We’re not having class today. So wake up.”

“Then what are we doing?”

“Self-study?”

“No, we’re having the class president election. I told you this morning that we were doing it during my class. You’ve all had a week to get to know each other, haven’t you?”

Cheers erupted throughout the classroom at the mention of the class president election.

I didn’t understand why they were so excited about electing a class president, but I knew I should focus, as it was about choosing someone to lead our class.

I patted Seon-a’s back as she started dozing off again.

“First, let’s decide on the candidates. I’ll also take recommendations, so raise your hand if you’d like to nominate someone.”

I briefly considered raising my hand, but decided against it.

It would be a good addition to my student record, but I wasn’t interested in leadership positions, and I wasn’t confident in leading others.

Besides, with no friends, the outcome of my candidacy was obvious.

While I remained silent, other students started raising their hands one after another.

Some nominated their friends jokingly, while others seemed serious about running. Thinking they were quite a lively bunch, I observed them from a slight distance.

And then it happened.

“Um, I’d like to nominate someone.”

A brown arm shot up.

A spirited voice caught the attention of the class. I flinched slightly and looked at the owner of the hand.

A silver-haired boy with messy hair sat in the front row, a cheerful smile on his face.

Choi Hyeong-gon, that boy.

“I’m not taking any more jokes.”

“I’m serious.”

“Alright, Choi Hyeong-gon, was it? Who would you like to nominate?”

“The person I’d like to nominate…”

He paused, then shifted his arm and pointed towards the back.

Everyone’s gaze followed his gesture, and I instinctively turned my head.

But there was no one behind me, since I was sitting in the last row.

*…Huh? I turned back around. Everyone was looking at me.

“…is Lee Sia.”

Huh? Why me? I glared at him, wondering if it was a joke.

But he didn’t seem to be joking. He continued speaking in a rather serious tone, despite the smile on his face.

“She has excellent grades and good conduct, making her a role model. And as the freshman representative, I believe she has the qualities of a leader.”

“So, should I write it on the board?”

I wasn’t as great as he made me out to be. His praise left me speechless.

I probably wouldn’t get elected anyway, and even if I did, it wouldn’t be a bad thing considering college applications. I nodded in agreement.

But at that moment, Seon-a suddenly stood up. With an unusually angry expression, she spoke in a forceful voice. When did she even wake up?

“Wait a minute! Shouldn’t you ask her if she wants to run before nominating her? You can’t force someone to be class president if they don’t want to!”

“Huh?… Well, I suppose you’re right. Sia, what do you say? Do you want to be class president?”

Why was Seon-a objecting when I wasn’t the only one who was nominated without being asked? I looked at her, puzzled by her sudden outburst.

It wasn’t as if the position of class president was mine for the taking just because I wanted it.

Yet, Seon-a spoke as if I would automatically become class president if I was nominated.

Before I could question her further, I closed my mouth, feeling someone’s intense gaze on me.

Warm brown eyes sparkled like glass beads.

I glanced at the front and saw the boy who had nominated me staring intently at my face.

Ah, I see. That’s what this was about.

“…I don’t mind.”

“Sia…”

“Don’t worry. I really don’t mind.”

Fine.

If he wanted it that badly, I’d run.

I wouldn’t get elected anyway.

I watched as my name was written on the board, crossing my arms nonchalantly.

Even if I did become class president, it wouldn’t be so bad.

In this fiercely competitive society, all that mattered were the credentials to prove yourself. And a line about being class president on my student record would surely be helpful later on, for “leadership skills” or whatever.

Well, what were the odds of me actually winning? I was so naive back then.

And then, against all odds, I won.

First, things went strangely from the beginning.

As soon as I was nominated, the other candidates started dropping out, as if it were some new type of bullying.

Even those who had been serious about running shook their heads and declared they were giving up.

When the teacher briefly asked for their reasons, they all answered that they didn’t stand a chance.

That narrowed the candidates down to me and a boyish girl with short hair.

Before the voting, we each gave a short speech outlining our pledges.

And then something even stranger happened.

The vote counting began, and I beat the other candidate—a popular girl whose name even I, a social outcast, knew—by almost double the votes. I was officially the class president.

Had I given some Winston Churchill-level speech? All I said was, “I’ll do my best.” Perhaps brevity was the key?

“…I will do my best for the class.”

“Alright, you can go back to your seat.”

Loud applause followed the teacher’s announcement. Still dazed, I walked back to my seat from the podium.

Seon-a frowned, looking displeased. Did she dislike me being class president that much? I gently nudged her cheek. She turned to face me.

“Seon-a, do you not like that I’m class president?”

“No. I don’t like it.”

A sharp, immediate denial. Even with her changes, Seon-a wasn’t usually so blunt.

“…Why?”

“If you’re class president, you’ll have less time to spend with me.”

…What a cute creature.

“W-wait! What are you doing…!”

“Just a moment! Let me hold you like this!”

“I can’t breathe…”

I pulled Seon-a close and buried her face in my chest, stroking her hair.

She let out a gasp, her face red with embarrassment.

Even that looked adorable.

Seon-a squirmed in my arms, pounding my back with her fists like a kitten.

Ah, was this kind of intense display of affection embarrassing for her? I finally released her after enjoying her slender form for a while.

She shouted, “Dummy!” her eyes slightly teary. Her shoulders trembled, as if she hadn’t calmed down yet.

The boys, and even the girls, who had been watching our commotion had flushed faces. Why?