Chapter 16. Let’s Take Over the Student Council Room!

“Here you go. Could you quickly stamp your approval on these documents?”
“What’s this for?”
I entered the principal’s office early in the morning and handed the approval documents to Principal Takami.
“I want a relaxation room with tatami mats.”
“Rejected.”
I woke up early to do this! He rejected it in seconds! How cruel!
“Even though I outrank Principal Takami!”
“Can you handle the practical aspects of running the school? Would you like to take over? Major General Kamiya?”
“Grumble…”
I thought I could push through with momentum, but it didn’t work.
Principal Takami is the final authority in the school. So there’s nothing I can do.
“Besides, there are no empty rooms in the school building right now.”
“So, what should we do? It’ll be tough if we get busy with missions and don’t have a proper place to rest, you know?”
“Well, there’s some truth to that.”
Principal Takami pondered.
As for Hayami-san, she’s officially a school instructor, so it wouldn’t be strange for her to use the female instructor’s dorm. 
But as a student, I can’t use the instructor’s dorm, and if my identity gets discovered, my secret could get revealed.
“Then, we should just take over a room.”
“Take over a room?”
If I were leading a normal life, I wouldn’t have encountered such a phrase, so I inadvertently repeated it aloud.
“In this school, we often seize club rooms through duels.”
“It’s still a barbaric rule, huh? But in this case, it seems like the quickest solution.”
Perhaps I’ve already become accustomed to the school’s atmosphere; I’m losing my hesitation.
“However, I’m not keen on taking over club rooms belonging to weaker clubs… By the way, which group occupies the largest space?”
“Oh, that. It’s the Student Council.”
At that moment, Principal Takami smiled cunningly, hinting at some other scheme he had in mind.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Suo-senpai, could I have a moment of your time?”
Just after lunch break began, I went to the floor where the 2nd-year classrooms.
I expected Suo-senpai to get surrounded by his entourage, but he was sitting alone by the window seat.
“Kamiya…”
Suo-senpai’s confident expression from the time he got surrounded by his followers seemed to have completely changed. He looked at me with despair and resignation, as if saying, “Finally, you’ve come.”
“Huh? What happened to your entourage?”
“They all stopped coming near me since that duel.”
Ah, so he’s fallen from grace. He’s been abandoned by the backing of the private enterprise in the background. 
He brought it upon himself by acting arrogantly during the duel, so it’s inevitable.
“So, what do you need from me? Want me to do a strip dance or something?”
“It’s not like I’m asking you to do something for me. I just need you to accompany me for a bit.”
The reward Suo-senpai and Mina received from the duel last time was that they would serve the school until Suo-senpai graduated. In other words, the loser becomes a lackey. Suo-senpai has no right to refuse my request now.
“You got it… But remember, I’ll definitely reclaim myself in the next duel!”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go then.”
Ignoring Suo-senpai’s pretentious declaration, I hurried ahead. I wanted to get this over with during lunch break.
“Hey, Kamiya. This is the Student Council room, you know?”
“That’s right.”
“…What business do you have in the Student Council room?”
Since he clearly seemed hesitant, I thought explanations would be a hassle. 
Ignoring Suo-senpai’s question, I knocked on the grandiose door of the Student Council room and entered.
“Excuse me.”
As I opened the door, it was like entering a different world.
The room had a plush red carpet and got furnished with antique-style sitting sets and desks.
This room doesn’t seem less expensive than the Marshal’s office, does it?
“What do you need?”
A male student sitting behind the desk in front of the Student Council room’s door looked at me over his metal-framed glasses.
“I’m Kamiya Yuusuke, a first-year. Nice to meet you, Student Council President.”
“I know you. You’re the first-year who dueled with this shameless 2nd-year, right?”
The person who followed me discreetly froze and averted his eyes as if to say, “Oops!”
“I’m sorry about that. Anyway, I came here for a reason.”
“Make it brief. I’m busy.”
The Student Council President shifted his gaze to the documents on his desk and lifted the stamp for approval.
“Then, briefly. Please allocate a portion of this Student Council room.”
Just before stamping the document, the Student Council President’s hand paused.
“I see. You’re the rumored mad dog.”
While pushing up his glasses, he maintained a calm demeanor, but there was a hint of anger in the Student Council President’s voice.
“Hey! Why the hell are you picking a fight with the Student Council over a club room of all things?”
Suo-senpai questioned me with a pale face.
“Huh? This room is so spacious, it wouldn’t hurt to have a bit of it. Besides, this much space is clearly wasteful.”
The Student Council room was about the size of three classrooms. With the spacious antique furniture, taking about one classroom’s worth of space wouldn’t pose any problems for the Student Council’s operations.
“With your abilities, couldn’t you easily take over a club room from a weaker club?”
“But that would lead to the dissolution of the club. Isn’t that pitiful?”
“Whether you win or lose, the Student Council will definitely keep an eye on you!”
“Oh, Suo-senpai, how considerate. Are you worried about me?”
“For now, I’m under your command, so whether I like it or not, I’ll get dragged into it too!”
Suo-senpai shouted in frustration.
“Huh? What’s with the commotion? Oh, it’s the loser boy. What’s up?”
As Suo-senpai and I argued, the door of the Student Council room opened, and someone entered.
“Why…?”
With a wrinkled brow, Suo-senpai directed a resentful gaze at the silver-haired girl with tanned skin who had entered.
“Could you please call me Vice President Nase~? You couldn’t even get into the Student Council or become the top of your class, you loser~”
Vice President Nase, who was provocatively dressed in a modified school uniform, teased Suo-senpai, not resembling someone from the Student Council at all.
It seems she can behave freely as long as she has power.
“Eventually, I’ll bring you down.”
“Shouldn’t you worry about yourself more than me~? First, you need to break free from the control of that first year. What are you betting on for the next duel~? Are you going to drop out~?”
Amid Vice President Nase’s laughter, Suo-senpai made bold statements but looked frustrated.
“Nase-kun. This time, it’s from the first year, not a duel request from Suo-kun.”
“Huh? From this first-year~? Why~?”
“This first-year wants a portion of this Student Council room.”
“Well, well, this first year seems like a big shot~”
Laughing heartily, Vice President Nase’s eyes didn’t share her laughter.
She’s beautiful, but she’s a scary type.
“Nase-kun. Please prepare the conditions for the duel.”
“Sure. So, what does the first-year want?”
“I want a space equivalent to one classroom from this Student Council room.”
“And what will you offer if you lose?”
“This person.”
I grabbed Suo-senpai by the collar and presented him to Vice President Nase.
“Hey!?”
Once again, Suo-senpai, who was not informed of anything by me, protested, but unfortunately, he has no right to refuse now.
“If I lose, I’ll transfer the rights of his servitude to the Student Council.”
“Hmm… It’s not bad as a condition to use the third-ranking second-year as a rag. But that alone is weak. If you agree to give us the authority to set the field conditions for the duel, then it’s okay.”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
Then the Student Council President and I agree to the duel conditions.
“Then, with this, the conditions are complete.”
Vice President Nase quickly prepared the conditions document and finished the paperwork.
“Who will represent the Student Council?”
“We have a good opponent. Oh, it seems they just arrived.”
Knock knock! The door of the Student Council room was knocked.
“Excuse me. Please take care of me today as well.”
After a polite greeting, a petite girl entered the room.
“Huh? Aren’t you…”
I recognized the atmosphere of the girl. Although I couldn’t see her face from behind, she was the girl who had been harassed and became the cause of my duel with Suo-senpai.