"Looks like we made it just in time."
"Yeah. Barely avoided disaster."
On Sunday evening, the student council finally completed the setup for the French exchange welcome party.
Seeing the students from both schools chatting happily inside the venue, everyone in the council breathed a sigh of relief.
"Good work, everyone from the student council."
At the auditorium entrance, the principal raised a wine glass and gave a gentlemanly smile to the council members.
Looking at the principal's carefree demeanor, Shirogane couldn't help but feel a little ticked off.
"Principal, next time give us more notice. Don't drop this on us right before the deadline."
"Haha~ I got it."
The principal chuckled, just about to say more—when a hand suddenly grabbed his head from behind.
"Principal."
With a terrifyingly deep tone, Takamine Rinji appeared behind him.
"You pushed all this work onto us with such short notice. Don't you think you owe us something?"
"Eh? Rinji-kun…"
"Since the French exchange students are here, how about you demonstrate a bit of Japanese culture, Principal? A seppuku performance, maybe? I'll act as your second."
"…Huh?"
"Be sure to carve a perfect cross into your belly, or I won't grant you a swift death even if you scream like a pig."
"Wah… so scary!"
The principal had heard a few things about Rinji from Sagara. He knew Rinji wasn't joking.
"Alright, stop bullying the principal now."
Sagara Kaya appeared behind Rinji and gave him a light smack on the head.
Pulling him aside, she smiled at the rest of the student council.
"Anyway, you all enjoy the welcome party."
"Okay."
While Rinji was dragged away, the remaining student council members—Shirogane, Kaguya, and Chika Fujiwara—entered the hall.
Ishigami didn't come. Though a council member, he had some social difficulties—and since these were all French students and he couldn't speak French, he opted out.
Watching the students in French uniforms, Shirogane whispered to Kaguya:
"Do you speak French?"
"Not really," Kaguya replied with a smile. "What about you, President?"
"Heh."
Shirogane grinned and said, "Comment allez-vous mademoiselle, Je m'appelle Miyuki Shirogane." ("How are you, miss? My name is Miyuki Shirogane.")
"Oh~ Impressive as always, President."
Kaguya clapped softly in admiration.
"I crammed with a travel guide last minute."
"Bonjour."
Suddenly, a French girl approached them with a greeting.
"Merci beaucoup pour votre invitation." ("Thank you very much for your invitation.")
Shirogane: "…"
He didn't understand.
"Nous devons vous remercier d'être venus," Kaguya responded fluently. ("We should be the ones thanking you for coming.")
"Nous vous divertirons, j'espère que vous aurez des souvenirs inoubliables." ("We will entertain you and hope you'll leave with unforgettable memories.")
"Merci beaucoup pour votre aide." ("Thank you very much for your help.")
Shirogane: "…"
'Kaguya, you lying snake!'
Before he could stay shocked too long, Fujiwara's voice rang out:
"La plupart des produits japonais ne sont pas parfaits sur le marché intérieur…" ("Most Japanese products aren't perfected for the domestic market, so…")
"Secretary Fujiwara, you speak French too!?"
"Yup~"
Chika turned to him with a cheerful grin.
"My mom's a diplomat, so I've been trained in several languages since I was little."
"…So I'm completely isolated."
Shirogane was on the verge of collapse.
He was the only one in the hall who couldn't speak French.
"Damn it… why did Sagara-sensei take Rinji away!? If he were here, at least I wouldn't be alone!"
"President, were you looking for me?"
"Eh!?"
Shirogane turned and saw Takamine Rinji standing behind him.
"Rinji? Sagara-sensei let you go?"
"Yeah. Aunt Kaya was just worried I'd say something reckless in front of the exchange students. But since I don't speak French, she figured I couldn't cause too much damage and let me go."
"I see…"
Seeing Rinji here eased Shirogane's mind.
At least now he wasn't completely isolated. There were two of them who couldn't speak French—
"Bonjour."
"Bonjour, je suis le comptable du syndicat étudiant," Rinji said smoothly. ("Hello, I'm the student council's treasurer.")
"Passez une bonne journée au Japon." ("Hope you have a wonderful time in Japan.")
"Je vous remercie." ("Thank you.")
Shirogane: "…Rinji… you speak French too?"
"Nope, I just memorized that one sentence."
That was true.
Rinji only spoke Japanese, English, and Chinese. He had never studied French.
"What about you, President?"
"I… know a little, I guess…"
Also true.
He knew maybe one or two lines, tops.
"As expected of the president."
"No…"
Meanwhile, from a hidden corner of the hall, the principal was staring at Shirogane talking to Rinji.
"Shirogane, do you know why I told you to organize the welcome party so late? It was a test. You're an excellent student, but whether you can lead as student council president still needs proving. This will be your final trial."
The principal whispered:
"Becky."
"Yes."
From the shadows emerged a French girl with a sly grin.
"That student council president—go at him with full force."
"Are you sure?"
"Don't hold back."
That girl was Bertoise Becky, the vice president of the French student council. Known for her brutal debate tactics, people said her sharp tongue could kill.
"Which one is the president?"
"That blonde guy with the fierce eyes—Shirogane Miyuki."
"I see him."
Becky smirked and began walking toward her target.
"Oh right, he's wearing a gold pin at the collar. That's the president's badge, don't mistake—wait, huh?"
The moment the principal said it, Becky was already gone—headed into the hall.
And she had clearly picked the wrong target.
'Blond hair, fierce eyes—that has to be the one.'
She stopped in front of Takamine Rinji and gave a twisted smile.
Rinji, confused, watched her approach with no idea what was happening.