As It Turns Out, Some Things are Inevitable

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[Hikigaya Hachiman's POV]

My fingers tapped on my laptop keyboard as I idly listened to the talk Yukino and Yui had. After two days of searching, we still hadn't found a single willing person to participate in the election. We didn't even say anything about their qualification.

They were blunt when they rejected Yukino and Yui's offer. I asked around too, but those bastards thought I was intimidating them to not participate. I had explained myself a couple of times, but they assured me that they understood me. They didn't. I wanted them to replace me and not eliminate rivals.

Given the time we had on our hands, it was highly likely I would have to resort to dishonesty. I didn't want to become the student council president even though I knew I was worthy of the position. I already had a lot on my plate. I wanted to laze around too, damn it. I would make Isshiki win. She was a necessary sacrifice.

Namu Amidabutsu. May Buddha's love trail your path of hardship.

I would coerce Isshiki into becoming a student council president. I knew it wouldn't be hard to convince her.

Don't I… sound like an asshole?

It was whatever. Humans are inherently selfish. They socialize to fulfill their personal needs. Isshiki had it coming. She should be prepared for the consequences she had to endure for the trap that she had willingly walked into. I was innocent. My master plan was thus justified.

"Hachikan-kun1, you should stop laughing. It's creepy."

Yukino's quip made me aware of what my throat was doing. I put a stop to my evil laugh and turned to the Yuki-Onna.

"I know you like it. My laugh must have made you unable to control yourself, doesn't it?"

Yukino snorted and then turned away with a slightly red face. I mentally thanked her for getting embarrassed in my stead. I should stop letting my mouth quip freely. I was so used to bantering with Shinobu that I treated every quip as a challenge.

"Kuhum! Anyway, I don't think we have anyone willing to participate in the upcoming election. It seems you have to become the president, Hachiman-kun."

"Are you just going to feed your precious clubmate to a hungry tiger?" I asked, aghast.

"It's hard to believe that you can manage the employees of such a big company, yet you are this averse to work." Yukino rubbed her forehead in frustration. "Also, you can still be part of the club even though you are student council president. Unlike other clubs, our club doesn't need funding from the school, so a certain rule doesn't apply to it."

Yukino contemplated before hesitantly saying, "Besides… if we only want to be around each other, we don't have to be in the service club. All of us can join the student council and socialize there." She finished her sentence with a blush.

"Yukinon…" Yui looked at her with shining eyes. "That is a great idea. I am fine where we are as long as I can be with you!"

And there you have the daily dose of Yurigahama.

"I thought this club was created to prove that you could change the world by making people help themselves," I pointed out.

"Do I have to stop helping people when I stop becoming the president of the Service Club?"

I stared at Yukino silently and met her resolute eyes. She firmly believed what she said. She was still naïve like she used to be back then, but something was different. She had yet to see the world, but she had come out of her idealistic bubble. It was endearing to see.

"You have grown," I smiled.

"Eh?"

Yukino looked taken aback. She fiddled with her hair and looked anywhere but me. She was blushing out of embarrassment. She looked cute. It was sad to think that I had to constantly embarrass her to see her cute look.

"I like your idea, but, no, I am not going to become a student council president," I declared with a professional smile. "No matter how competent he is, a president needs to maintain a certain image. I can't always be there for the student council, so I am not an ideal candidate. Therefore, Isshiki has to win."

"You are saying it as if you have a sure way to make her win," Yukino remarked with a disapproving frown. "You are going to resort to machinery, aren't you?"

"Correct."

"He didn't even deny it!" Yui exclaimed in astonishment.

Yukino sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation. She lost the cuteness that I liked to see on her face.

"Isshiki-san is far from an ideal candidate. Putting aside the fact that she has no interest in becoming a president, she has no experience in being a leader and managing people. She may be the manager of the soccer club, but, to be frank, anyone can assume that mundane job. You must have bumped your head last night if you think she can replace you."

"You don't have to be so harsh, Yukinon," I remarked, astonished.

"Don't call me Yukinon!" Yukinon protested with red cheeks.

"Do you mean Yui is special!?" I asked with mock disbelief.

"Why do you sound so condescending!?" Yui shouted indignantly.

Looking at each other, we chuckled lightly. When our chuckles settled down, Yukino cleared her throat and got back to business. She asked me to reveal the plan I had in mind. I told her I was going to let Isshiki take the spot and help her once in a while with her duty as the president. I pointed out that helping her would align with our club's purpose.

Yukino, however, wouldn't be Yukino without her in-depth analysis and her dislike toward my proposals. She told me that the Service Club would end up as a crutch for the crippled student council. We would be the pseudo-student council, earning nothing from the work we did. She pointed out that I should have hated that to my core.

"While I am not saying that Isshiki-san is incapable of becoming independent, there is a high chance she would rely on us in every matter concerning the student council. If we are going to be involved that much, isn't it better to become part of the student council?"

Yukino was right. I had always been aware of the situation. I had yapped about my master plan because I didn't want to be the face of the student council. I didn't mind doing the student council's job. I could manage. I only didn't like being a poster boy. Alas, the result of my machination was not in my favor this time.

"Very well," I sighed. "I will become the president; however, I want you to be by my side, so become my vice!"

"I… I will."

I was glad to hear Yukino's confirmation, but I wondered why she sounded so flustered. She must not have expected to be dragged into the matter. I was quite a devious man, you know. I didn't fall alone. I dragged at least one person to fall into the abyss with me. Shinobu had taught me that.

Since we had reached a conclusion, we packed up our things and got out of the clubroom. We went to meet Shizuka-chan and told her about Yukino's participation in the upcoming election. Shizuka-chan was a bit surprised, but she quickly smiled brightly. She seemed to be proud of Yukino's decision.

"Different houses; same people. I can feel the youth you are radiating!" she exclaimed obnoxiously. "I am glad that you finally see what I mean. Yukino, Hachiman, I am proud of you."

"Thanks… I guess?" Yukino said unsurely.

I smiled lightly and nodded at Shizuka-chan. She grinned at me, understanding my gesture. Yukino was smart enough to tell what was wrong with people, but she failed to see what was wrong with her. She would realize it in due time, but it was not the time yet.

We said goodbye to Shizuka-chan and then walked out of the building. On our way, Yukino and Yui told me they would not be coming home with me since Yukino's driver would pick them up. I told them to go ahead and then headed to the vending machine near the field. Inserting my coins into the machine, I chose a can of Maxx Coffee.

Clank!

I bent down and picked up the can from the vending machine. I opened the can as I turned around. As I was about to drink the content, a ball was heading my way. It was extremely slow in my eyes, but I was annoyed regardless. I was just trying to enjoy my drink.

Deciding to mess with the idiot who kicked the ball, I tiptoed and controlled the ball with my chest. Letting it fall to my thigh, I juggled it a couple of times before kicking it to the person who had kicked it my way. Coincidentally, it was Hayama.

Bam!

"Keuh!"

The ball hit him square in the stomach. He keeled over while clutching his stomach in pain. I briefly wondered if my kick would kill him, but I decided he should be fine since I barely put any force behind the kick. Even if it killed him, fortunately, he was Hayama.

While everyone was busy tending to Hayama, I drank my Maxx Coffee and walked away. Someone was running toward me, but I ignored them as I couldn't care less about what they were going to say.

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Honorary Mention:

Venerable Immortal Bowzr

Venerable Immortal Cris Venegas

Venerable Immortal JayJonnaJamison

Venerable Immortal Kkmoney

Venerable Immortal Solaz

Venerable Immortal Tomas Lopez-Familiari