Chapter 40: Voting Results

Voting Results

And then a week later.

During the lunch break when the voting period began, I was standing in front of the bulletin board.　

Surprisingly, not many people wanted to participate.

Five girls, five boys. Ten people in total.

I thought a wedding dress was a dream for girls, but it seems that many female students were put off by the voting format.

It seems like you need to have a pretty strong mentality to be able to pull off a beauty pageant where your own photo is posted and voted for.

Even I, as a man, wouldn't apply if I was participating as a man.

It's just that the exterior is female, so there's no hesitation.

To begin with, there are not many men who are interested in bridal.

Even if they were to wear a tuxedo for a photo shoot, they probably wouldn't participate unless it was with their girlfriend.

Voting means that your opponent is random.

Among them, two of the girls who boldly declared their intention to participate were me and Ayanokoji.

The other three were female students whose faces and grades I didn't know.

If I had to sum up my impression of the photos of the three of them posted on the bulletin board in one sentence, it would be that "they are beautiful"

Let me just say that in my eyes, all women can be classified as either "cute" or "beautiful." Men are an exception.

Three out of the five boys are Ijuin, Onizuka, and Nagumo. The other two are unknown.

There's also a lineup of handsome guys.

It is no exaggeration to say that which handsome guy a girl chooses depends on her preferences.

I'm surprised that Onizuka applied, regardless of Ijuin.

"It's like a Beauty and Mister pageant."

"Nagumo"

Nagumo came from behind and rested his chin on my shoulder.

"There are so many beautiful men and women. Why am I here too?"

"Huh? Didn't you apply yourself?"

"I made Nagumo-san participate."

Ayanokoji appeared from somewhere.

Nagumo was also forced to participate like me... We are comrades...

"After all, there tend to be fewer men at these kinds of events... But thanks to him, the ratio of men to women is now half and half."

"I'm just making up the numbers. Don't you think that's terrible? Otome-chan, if that's the case, why don't we have a wedding for Master and herpet?"

Absolutely not.

"I mean, there's no way I'd win with all these beautiful girls around!"

"Huh? Otome-chan, don't you think you know too little about public opinion?"

Don't talk like it's politics

There is just now way I would win this.

"Look," Nagumo instructed with just his eyes to listen to the conversation of a pair of girls passing nearby.

"Who will you vote for at the charity event?"

"Eh? Maybe I will vote for the girl Saotome-san? You know, the one who keeps the boys in her class as pets, right? I admire her queen-like strength."

"Me too, Saotome-san! She's small and cute, but she's strong!"

They passed by me down the hallway, not realizing that I was the Saotome Otome they're talking about, standing nearby.

"Otome-chan, you're a celebrity~"

"It's your fault!!"

I grabbed Nagumo by the collar, but Nagumo didn't seem to care.

There's not even a trace of remorse.

Don't you have any feelings of guilt?

"Now, now, both of you. The voting period is two weeks, so no matter what the rumors are now, the results will be known in two weeks."

"Well, that's true, but..."

After being persuaded by Ayanokoji, I let go of Nagumo.

Even though the results won't be known until two weeks from now, this start bodes poorly...

One week later.

It can be called an intermediate result.

To vote, simply place the sticker located at the bottom of the bulletin board under the photo of the applicant you wish to vote for.

It looks like my bad feeling is coming true.

Below my photo was a huge row of pink stickers.

I received an overwhelming number of votes compared to the other applicants.

"Oi! What should we do, Nagumo!"

Once again, I was in front of the bulletin board, grabbing both of Nagumo's shoulders and shaking him violently.

"Make up your mind what to do, you're a man."

"My body is female!"

"Don't act like a girl only when it's convenient for you."

Saying that, Nagumo began to lick the candy stick.

Cold.

So cold!

Why? You've always been so kind and helpful in giving me advice up until now...

"Rather than worrying about yourself, look at the number of votes the boys got."

I shifted my gaze to where Nagumo was pointing with the candy.

Ijuin and Onizuka were in a close race for the total number of stickers.

As expected of the main hero of a shoujo manga.

"So my turn is gone. So I'm a little grumpy."

"Nagumo..."

Although he looked normal as usual, Nagumo had a somewhat depressed aura about him, so I tapped him on the shoulder.

"Cheer up, at least with this you can save your moment for the actual wedding, right?"

"...Otome-chan is a sinful woman, isn't she?"

"I'm a man."

"You have to choose one way or the other, really."

Nagumo lightly pokes me on the head.

The difference in votes is already this big.

It was as if the girl had decided that I would be the subject.

As Nagumo said, the problem is the boys.

It will be a wedding photo shoot with either Ijuin or Onizuka.

I wanted to avoid the event altogether, but because Ayanokoji asked me to, I had no choice.

The question posed by Nagumo just before the event began comes back to mind.

"If you had to choose between the student council president and the delinquent, which would you choose?"

I felt like the answer to that question would be decided at this event.

Finally, the day came when the final results were announced.

Voting closed this morning, and the posters showing the number of votes were removed from the bulletin boards.

During lunch break, Ayanokoji comes over to compile the data and post it up after redesigning it so that it's easy to understand at a glance.

A large number of spectators had gathered at the bulletin board in front of the entrance to see it, where it had been announced.

"Everyone! Sorry to have kept you waiting!"

When Ayanokoji appeared with a piece of construction paper in hand, the students became excited and eager to get started.

Ayanokoji handed the butler some construction paper and had him stick it on the bulletin board.

"Here are the results!"

Bang!

The names of the first to third place winners were written in Gothic font along with the number of votes they received.

Naturally, I was the one who received the most votes from the girls side.

While for the boy side, it was Ijuin.

I felt a wave of indescribable emotions swirling inside me, like relief and disappointment.

That would be disrespectful to both Ijuin and Onizuka, so I decided to ignore my feelings.

Onizuka came in second place by a narrow margin.

The difference was just three votes.

"...It's a relief."

A sad voice said.

Before I knew it, Onizuka had blended into the crowd and was standing next to me.

Those words pissed me off.

"...What was a relief about this?"

"This was good, wasn't it?"

"So, what was good about it?"

"…………"

Onizuka tried to leave without saying anything.

I grabbed his arm.

"Wait, what's wrong with you? What are you trying to say?"

"Nothing in particular..."

"There's no way that's true! You look like a child holding back on something he wants!"

"...! Let go!"

He shook my arm off with all his might.

Onizuka soon blended into the crowd and disappeared from sight.

"Onizuka..."

I tried to chase after that big figure, but the girls in my class stopped me.

"Saotome-san! Congratulations on first place!"

"I thought you and the student council president were a good match, so I'm happy!"

"The cool student council president and Saotome-san, who's good with boys, are sure to be a wonderful couple!"

"Th-Thank you... Haha..."

While I was thanking each of them, I lost sight of Onizuka.

As for Ijuin, he was surrounded by another crowd.

I'm sure he's receiving compliments and stuff too.

The bell rang to signal the end of lunch break, and Ijuin and I were finally freed from the crowd.

"Thank you for your hard work..."

"Ah, yeah..."

When I called out to him, Ijuin's cheeks turned slightly red.

I wonder if he is aware of this.

Ijuin held out his hand.

"Well, how should I put it... yoroshiku."

I held his hand.

A handshake.

It's just a handshake.

Maybe a handshake is different.

That slightly off-kilter attitude is typical of Ijuin.

"Ah, okay..."

It was like a newly dating couple, well I've never dated so I don't know, but with that innocent conversation, the bride and groom became one.