After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

Once liked Ando Naoto, still does, and now wants to run for the Student Council election, beginning to oppose her.

This was Kiryu Hina's claim.

She had told Kagura Hikaru, and Kagura Hikaru relayed the information to Ayakoji Chiyoko, and they had taken action, trying to see if Saijo Mari could become a supportive partner.

Up to now, everything had probably been within her expectations.

Until now, Kagura Hikaru had resorted to cheating-like methods and learned the real thoughts of Saijo Mari.

Lies were uncovered.

There had never been a 'strong candidate' nor an 'enemy'.

From the beginning, it was all fabricated by Kiryu Hina.

Saijo Mari's reputation had been harmed.

But what about the purpose, the most crucial purpose?

What benefits could one possibly gain from such actions, and what drove Hina to disparage an innocent third-year senior by opening her mouth?

Of course, Kagura Hikaru also understood the value that resided in Saijo Mari.

She could be said to be the largest neutral party in the school, standing right in between the forces of Ayakoji Chiyoko and Kiryu Hina.

Whoever could win her over would become the biggest power.

No, that statement wasn't quite accurate.

To be precise, if Saijo Mari leaned towards Hina, then no matter how hard Kagura Hikaru and others tried, they could not possibly win the election.

But if Saijo Mari leaned towards Ayakoji Chiyoko, then the Disciplinary Committee would possess the strength to contend with Kiryu Hina on equal footing at last.

In simpler terms, Saijo Mari was a guaranteed winning card for Hina, yet a legendary equipment for Ayakoji Chiyoko that allowed for battling beyond one's level.

Her importance to both sides was self-evident.

Yet, knowing this, Kiryu Hina didn't think of striking first but rather actively handed over the opportunity to Kagura Hikaru and his group.

She wasn't counting on Kagura Hikaru to help her with this, but she had explicitly told him to convey it to Ayakoji Chiyoko.

Apart from her having a more significant plot, Kagura Hikaru couldn't think of any other reason.

Something must have occurred with Saijo Mari, leading Hina to believe she could control her and manipulate her, eventually benefitting herself by harming Ayakoji Chiyoko.

That means, the focus is on betrayal, right?

Kagura Hikaru thought of someone.

Hosaka Yui.

She too had suddenly turned traitor, pushing Kagura Hikaru and Ayakoji Chiyoko into a tough spot without any warning.

At that time, both were stranded in the Capital City as a lone man and woman. Even without something like a shared room record, Hosaka Yui could have used it to fabricate some other ambiguous news to damage Ayakoji Chiyoko's reputation.

If the latter had not prepared in advance, they would have definitely suffered a loss.

But this time it was different. Saijo Mari wasn't one of Kiryu Hina's people and wouldn't act on her orders.

Unless, Hina created a 'must' rationale.

Finding this reason, uncovering the leverage that perhaps even Saijo Mari herself hadn't realized someone held over her, was Kagura Hikaru's next task to solve.

After talking about the election, Kagura Hikaru really wasn't interested in making small talk anymore.

He had intended to take his umbrella and go look for Komori Ai, who had disappeared to who knows where.

But unexpectedly, Saijo Mari seemed quite engaged in conversation and he found no opportunity to leave.

"Actually, the atmosphere at home has been a little strange recently, so I don't really want to go back so early," Saijo Mari said with some embarrassment as she tidied her bangs, "Normally by this schedule, I would have been home already and wouldn't have run into Classmate Kagura at the convenience store."

"Is that so....."

"After all, being a child when parents argue puts you in a tough position, you've had this experience, right?"

"..."

Unpleasant memories circled back in front of him.

The father, angrily smashing everything on the table, and the mother, cold and spiteful with her words.

Both had become completely different from their usual selves.

Standing between them, I felt nothing but agony.

My family was crumbling right before my eyes.

The feeling was, to say the least, extremely difficult.

"Mother even mentioned divorce, and father said he would take me and my sisters to America and never come back. They fought terribly over this,"

Saijo Mari sighed, "What should I do in this situation, what do you think, Classmate Kagura?"

"...I think you should protect your sisters...,"

"Yes, I think so too, so every time my parents argue, I take them to their room. But the thought of possibly being separated from my sisters if they divorce, it just..."

Kagura Hikaru didn't think she was intentionally prodding his sore spot.

She was sincerely troubled.

But she had chosen the wrong person to confide in.

Why go to a somewhat familiar friend instead of someone she met by chance in a convenience store and had only seen a couple of times to complain about her family woes? There was definitely something off about that.

Kagura Hikaru thought of something and subtly glanced around.

Then, unsurprisingly, he spotted Komori Ai peeking out from behind a nearby shelf.

Pretending to grab something, he walked over to where Komori Ai was and stopped, lowering his voice, "Are you behind this?"

From his previous impression, Saijo Mari was not the type to blabber in front of a stranger; if she were the type to overshare with acquaintances and lacked emotional intelligence, she wouldn't have such a good reputation in the sports clubs.

More than the possibility of Saijo Mari suddenly snapping, Kagura Hikaru was more inclined to believe Komori Ai had done something to her.

"Eh~ What are you talking about, Xiao Ai is too young to understand,"

Facing the questioning, Komori Ai tilted her head as if confused and pushed her cart, trying to sneak away.

She was grabbed by the collar and pulled back.

"Speak up, did you do this?" Kagura Hikaru held her, feeling like he was training a cat.

Komori Ai seemed to find it amusing and deliberately pulled her clothes in the opposite direction. Catching a glimpse of Kagura Hikaru's serious expression, she finally sobered up and muttered, "It'll be back to normal... by tomorrow morning... "

It was indeed her, had she used that ability again?

Was she trying to help him?

Kagura Hikaru looked back and saw Saijo Mari still staring blankly at a pack of diapers, lost in thought, before turning back.

In terms of convenience and potential harm to society, Komori Ai's abilities were far stronger than his own. If he could control her, anything could be possible.

If it were an ambitious person, they might be very excited at this moment.

But Kagura Hikaru said to her, "Thank you for your help, but don't do this again."

Using supernatural powers to disrupt the social order would only make one's living environment abnormal.

He didn't know how Komori Ai felt, but Kagura Hikaru sincerely hoped she wouldn't misuse her abilities.

This would repeatedly remind her that she was an exception, a different kind of human, ultimately isolating herself from society like a ghost.

In fact, Komori Ai had already become a ghost-like presence.

Except for Kagura Hikaru, no one could see her, her past was a mystery, and her future unseen; she could be described as a living ghost wandering amongst humans.

Seeing her like this was quite distressing.

Whether you call it excessive compassion or sorrow for lost souls, Find your next read on empire

Kagura Hikaru did not want to see another, perhaps the only creature like him, living such a miserable life.

This would inevitably make one wonder if their own future would also be like this.

A future of abusing one's powers, acting recklessly, leading to the ruin of everything one held dear.