After deciding to give up, I became popular

“Shirogane, for the next election, I will write you a letter of recommendation, but you'll have to handle the campaigning and promotional speeches yourself after that.”

As a fellow student of the 'Mixed Dormitory,' Kanade Natsukawa had put in his all to reach the apex of Shuchiin Academy. Naturally, he had no shortage of connections and resources, but using them just to help Miyuki Shirogane ascend to the position of president seemed like a bit of an overkill.

Although, according to the original storyline, Miyuki Shirogane was capable of fulfilling the duties of that role, the problem didn't lie there.

Even the most magnanimous person wouldn't pour everything into helping a rival for love just because they admired their character and abilities, unless that person had some peculiar fetish.

Kanade Natsukawa certainly didn't have that kind of fetish; in fact, it could be said that he was deliberately making things difficult for Miyuki Shirogane.

He wanted Miyuki Shirogane to experience the amount of effort he had put in to reach the president's seat, especially since this time there was also his personally appointed, extremely troublesome opponent—Kaguya Shinomiya.

“Sorry, Shinomiya, although your abilities are also strong enough to be more than capable of handling the president's position, I personally favor Shirogane a bit more.”

“Of course, if you feel unconvinced, you just have to defeat him. When that happens, I will admit that my judgment was wrong, and I will admit that you are the most suitable person.”

Because of Kanade Natsukawa's intervention, the relationship between Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane didn't develop as it had in the original story. However, Kanade Natsukawa could sense something.

Kaguya Shinomiya would often unconsciously look at Miyuki Shirogane, and then gaze at him with a very strange look.

Perhaps that was attraction?

Kanade Natsukawa couldn't quite describe what kind of look it was, but he imagined it was as he thought.

Perhaps he himself had more opportunities to interact with Kaguya Shinomiya, but he had never seen her give him any special look, always gazing at him with a calm expression.

Just like looking at a completely unrelated stranger.

However, daily life presented a completely different scene of constant confrontation.

His sincere efforts were met with cold hostility, and Kanade Natsukawa was, of course, heartbroken once again.

Fortunately, he was somewhat used to it, and he chose to let go after not being sad for too long.

Presumably, the two of them wouldn't have any further involvement in the future, just like his other pasts…

003. Goodbye, Kaguya

In order to smoothly hand over his work, Kanade Natsukawa had already arranged and dealt with all the remaining student council affairs a few days ago. The part that was his responsibility was basically completed.

The main purpose of coming to the student council room today was to inform everyone of his decision and… to enjoy one last time with the heroine.

Of course, he didn't forget the friendship between friends.

Shirogane and Ishigami had both indirectly inquired about the reason for his resignation, but he had brushed them off.

His heroine was silent as always, but Kaguya Shinomiya was usually like that, and Kanade Natsukawa found it difficult to read her thoughts.

The only one who wasn't too affected was that pink octopus head. Although she was shocked at first, she immediately put on an optimistic face and took out a board game to invite everyone to play together.

It was also a custom of the student council room, and Kanade Natsukawa didn't refuse, happily joining in.

However, unlike before, this time he didn't have to scheme and consider his heroine's thoughts; he could just happily enjoy the game.

“Looks like I won again.” Kanade Natsukawa snatched Chika Fujiwara's last chip, a look of relief on his face.

“Wow! How did the president win again? Are you cheating! Referee, I demand a rematch!”

Chika Fujiwara, who had finally managed to hang on until the end, thought she could win the game by cheating, but she lost to Kanade Natsukawa once again.

“Shut up, you idiot senior. If you keep talking, I'll expose your cheating methods!”

Yu Ishigami unceremoniously stopped the pink octopus head's tantrum, not moved by her pitiful appearance at all.

“Let's stop here for today. It's getting late, everyone go back to your classes.”

Seeing that everyone still wanted to say something, Kanade Natsukawa waved his hand to stop them.

Seeing that Kanade Natsukawa wasn't in the mood to talk, the others opened the door one by one and prepared to leave, only Kaguya Shinomiya remained in place without moving.

“Kaguya-chan, let's go too…呜呜呜…”

Well done, Ishigami.

Kanade Natsukawa silently gave Yu Ishigami, who had pulled Fujiwara Chika away, a thumbs up, then turned to look at his former heroine.

“Is something the matter? Shinomiya.”

“……”

None of the expected questions or outbursts occurred; all that was present was silent mutual gazing.

However, Kanade Natsukawa didn't care; he was already used to such high-pressure scenes.

“If there's nothing important, then I'll…”

“Is there a reason?”

“What?”

“A reason, the reason for resigning from the president's position…”

“You're asking that right away…” Kanade Natsukawa's heart skipped a beat; he thought the other party would exchange a few pleasantries with him first.

But that was just how it was, after all, with the aloof and elegant 'Ice Kaguya,' getting straight to the heart of the matter was her instinctive action.

“What does Shinomiya think it is?” Kanade Natsukawa first asked back, but after seeing that Kaguya Shinomiya didn't react, he smiled self-deprecatingly.

“Everyone has their own secrets, don't they? Classmate Shinomiya shouldn't be too concerned about the so-called reasons.”

Perhaps he could just make up a reason to coax her, but facing the girl he once loved so much, he couldn't bring himself to tell a lie that didn't come from the heart.

Did he really have to say the fact he didn't want to face—because you don't like him?!

Why bother killing and condemning someone's heart?

Therefore, escape, avoiding the topic was the most suitable method for him, and only escape could give his fragmented love a chance to breathe.

“……”

“Then… goodbye, Kaguya…”

This was the first time Kanade Natsukawa had called her name, and it would also be the last.

……

In the blink of an eye, it was time to leave school, and a light drizzle had begun to fall outside.

The light rain in early summer was sticky and damp, and it didn't bring a refreshing coolness, only a lingering stickiness.

“Luckily I brought an umbrella today.” Kanade Natsukawa muttered to himself.

It could be said that it had become a habit. In the past, in order to create special encounter scenes with the heroines, Kanade Natsukawa would almost always pay attention to the weather forecast and prepare a not-too-big umbrella on rainy days to lie in wait on time.

In the past, he would have thought the strategy was very successful, but from today's perspective, it seemed that only a hint of foolishness remained.

But if there was anything worth remembering… then it would only be that—the crying angel in the rain.

Smooth and glossy flaxen long straight hair, smooth and delicate milky white skin, a straight and well-defined nose, a pair of captivating eyes, and full, bright, beautifully shaped cherry-colored lips.

A delicate beauty like the creation of the gods.

Even today, Kanade Natsukawa found it hard to forget that lovable girl, just like a limited-edition CG that had been painstakingly conquered after consulting countless materials, that unachievable artistic scene had long been firmly imprinted in the depths of Kanade Natsukawa's mind.

That was naturally a wonderful encounter, not intentionally sought out, but just a casual glance, and it was impossible to tear his gaze away.

“Natsukawa… classmate?”

A clear and graceful voice suddenly rang out, and Kanade Natsukawa's attention was drawn to it.

Turning his head to look, a pretty girl was standing at the door, with red lips and white teeth, and a hint of doubt in her almond eyes under her long eyelashes.

Another unexpected encounter, Kanade Natsukawa thought, and it happened right when he was recalling the past.

He not only knew the girl next to him, but was also very familiar with her.

Mahiru Shiina, a girl who was recognized as a 'beautiful girl with both literary and martial arts skills,' and was known as 'Angel-sama.'

Gentle, obedient, virtuous, with a perfect Yamato Nadeshiko personality, small in stature but with beautiful curves, and the most important point—she was once the heroine that Kanade Natsukawa thought of, and was the first heroine that Kanade Natsukawa took action with.

First love ah, like unripe flowers and fruits, immature, difficult to swallow, but the aftertaste it brings is endless.

“Good afternoon, Classmate Shiina.”

“Uh… good afternoon…”

Kanade Natsukawa could see a hint of embarrassment in her, but honestly, he thought he should be more embarrassed at the moment, after all, it wasn't her who had rejected the confession, but him.

“Is something the matter?” Kanade Natsukawa asked.

She didn't look like she was waiting for someone, and a closer look revealed that she wasn't holding anything in her hands either.

As expected, was it because she didn't bring an umbrella? Kanade Natsukawa thought to himself.

“If you don't mind, then use this umbrella.” Kanade Natsukawa handed his umbrella over.

Although the romance had long ended, it was difficult to remain indifferent when he saw the girl he once liked trapped in front of him.

And most importantly, he was currently in an excellent single state, and didn't have to worry about causing misunderstandings with the girl he cared about.

“Eh? No, that's not it, I didn't call you for this…”

A beautiful blush appeared on the angel-sama's face, and her unplaced plain hands waved gently, looking uneasy.

“Of course I know.” Kanade Natsukawa chuckled, “After all, you used to rather sit in the park and be rained on all night than accept my umbrella.”

“Don't worry about anything, just treat it as a little help from a stranger who doesn't know each other, or are you unwilling to give me even this little bit of right?”

“Of, of course not! It's just…”

It's just because I feel you're tired, so I'm worried and want to ask.

She couldn't say such words at all, and after hesitating for a long time, angel-sama finally thought of something she could say, “Right, right! I just think that if I take your umbrella, you won't be able to go home…”

“Don't worry about me, I can still go to the student council room to get a spare umbrella.” Kanade Natsukawa handed over the umbrella in his hand, speaking with a gentle attitude.

Without giving Mahiru Shiina a reason to refuse, Kanade Natsukawa turned and left the next moment.

And the angel-sama who was left in place, pursed her lips and remained silent.

After a long time, she sighed softly, “Still as strong as before, and we could have gone home together…”

If it was before that incident, Kanade Natsukawa would have definitely taken the opportunity to propose sharing an umbrella, and she wouldn't have disagreed, it's just that now…

The relationship between the two of them could no longer go back to the way it was before, and Kanade Natsukawa had already become the student council president, the top of the academy, no longer a useless person without any presence, and no longer needed to rely on her care…

004. Megumi is just an ordinary girl

After estimating the time in his heart and confirming that Mahiru Shiina was almost gone, Kanade Natsukawa slowly walked out from the corner of the corridor.

He naturally wasn't holding an umbrella in his hand.

But it wasn't a literary and artistic self-pity, wanting to vent the sadness brought about by the unfulfilled romance in the rain, but simply because he couldn't open that rest room anymore after handing the student council room key over to Miyuki Shirogane for safekeeping.

“Suddenly a little regretful…”

He should have sent the key over tomorrow, Kanade Natsukawa thought.

The rain kept falling.

But it wasn't a big deal, just getting a little wet, he had done similar things before.

Just as Kanade Natsukawa was about to step into the rain, an ethereal voice accompanied by the fragrance of pagoda flowers floated into his ears.

“Natsukawa-kun, good afternoon.”

A familiar voice, but with a somewhat similar and non-similar feeling.

Kanade Natsukawa immediately reacted.

“Good afternoon, Classmate Katou.”

Megumi Katou, the well-deserved heroine in the 'Saekano' project, with a friendly personality, seemingly unguarded and somewhat natural, but in fact gentle, elegant, and understanding. Although she is a beautiful girl, she is always unconsciously ignored because of her shallow presence.

She has strange nicknames such as 'Saint Megumi' and 'Zhuge Megumi.'

However, after a simple interaction, one can understand that she also has all kinds of small emotions, and is indeed a cute ordinary female high school student.