Chapter 4: 4: The Threat Unfolds
[Kasumigaoka Utaha is a third-year student, meaning she will graduate in less than a year. You realize you need to act quickly.]
[A week later, the student council elections will take place. Using your intelligence and good looks, you win most of the votes and are successfully elected as the student council president.]
[You devote much of your energy to the role of student council president, not just to show off, but to use the position's power to achieve your sinister goals.]
[Now that the timing is right and you no longer need to hide in the shadows, it's time to make your presence known to Kasumigaoka Utaha. You plan to…]
[1. Visit her classroom during a break.]
[2. Wait for her at the school gate after classes.]
[3. Use club management as an excuse to have her come directly to the Student Council Room.]
After all the preparation, it's finally time to take action.
The first two options seem a bit weak. Why should he go find her? She should come to him.
So, he chose the third option.
[You, as the student council president, send someone to deliver a message to Kasumigaoka Utaha, asking her to come to the student council office during lunch break.]
[You warn her that if she doesn't, her club might face the risk of being disbanded.]
[As expected, Kasumigaoka Utaha arrives at the designated time. When she stands before you, she doesn't even recognize you as the boy who saved her two years ago.]
[It's no wonder though, back then you hadn't told her your name, and now you're wearing plain glasses, making you look completely different.]
[Enable first-person perspective mode?]
What? First-person perspective?
Suzumiya Chisato instantly perked up and sat properly. He doesn't immediately choose to enable it and asks a question for clarification.
"What exactly does the first-person perspective mode mean?"
[The host's normal physiological senses—touch, smell, hearing, sight, etc.—will be fully integrated into the simulation scene, providing a 360-degree realistic experience.]
[Of course, you cannot specifically control your actions and speech. How the situation unfolds will still depend on the simulation system's own deductions.]
"Will everything I experience in the simulation affect my real body?"
[Rest assured, it will not.]
With that reassurance, there's no reason to hesitate.
Just enable it!
The scene before his eyes blurs momentarily.
When it clears, Suzumiya Chisato is no longer looking at the plain ceiling, but instead finds himself in the grand and elegant student council office.
The room is spacious, with a luxurious chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
The wooden bookshelves along one wall add a touch of class. The chair he sits in is soft, and in front of him are an open computer and a fragrant cup of red tea.
It's so realistic. But that's not the important part.
The most striking and fascinating thing in the room is, of course, the beautiful girl standing before him—Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Her posture is upright and she looks both stunning and untouchable. At this moment, she is brushing her long hair, and her expression shows a hint of impatience.
However, she seems to be deliberately controlling her feelings, not letting any impolite expressions show.
The next moment, she straightforwardly asked.
"President, I don't understand why my club suddenly faces a risk of losing funding and being disbanded. Could you explain?"
Her tone is neither humble nor haughty.
But Suzumiya Chisato, who heard this, smiles without any sign of nervousness.
"Well, I have my own reasons."
He leisurely stands up from behind the desk and walks out.
Under Kasumigaoka Utaha's watchful gaze, he locks the student council office door after walking past her.
"President, what does this mean?"
Her sense of unease grows as she instinctively takes a step back, unable to hide her anxiety.
But then she realizes...
This is a school during lunch break, and students can be seen walking outside the student council's window. If anything happens, someone will definitely notice.
This thought gives her a bit of reassurance.
"Honestly, haven't you recognized me yet?"
Suzumiya Chisato walks slowly towards Kasumigaoka Utaha, his voice tinged with a mix of mockery and helplessness.
"I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes remain cautious as she steps back, maintaining a safe distance between them.
"Really? Well, maybe this will help you remember."
Suzumiya Chisato slightly tilts his head, removes his plain glasses, and instantly loses his refined, gentle demeanor.
Instead, his face reveals a menacing and sinister look.
He approaches Kasumigaoka Utaha step by step.
Kasumigaoka Utaha looks terrified as she steps backward until her back hits the wall, leaving her with no place to retreat.
"It's been a while, Miss Kasumigaoka, who captured my youthful heart so easily and then ruthlessly deceived me and stood me up for a whole night."
Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately recognizes you. Her gaze shifts away, and her lips quiver as she struggles to find the right words.
[A cruel smile appears on your face.]
[As you approach to grab her wrist, she quickly reacts by pulling her arm behind her to prevent you from catching it.]
"I... I'm leaving!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha lowers her head. She took quick and cautious steps towards the student council room's door.
[You don't move to stop her. As her hand touches the door lock, you calmly speak.]
"So, what about your club?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha's hand freezes.
"A club that was established six months ago and holds the dream of the person you want to repay…"
"Can you accept that your cherished place will be removed from the school's club roster just like that?"
[Not hearing any movement from behind her, you let a triumphant smile show on your face.]
"Not only that. The school has a clear rule that students must not engage in any off-campus work activities without prior approval from the student council for their safety.
"But that person…"
"As far as I know, he's been working at convenience stores, as restaurant servers, delivering newspapers and milk, and even doing online part-time jobs like order brushing."
"Such dedication."
"With so many violations of school rules… let me think."
"One violation usually results in writing a reflection essay and a week of home reflection. With so many work activities, it would mean staying home for over a month."
"Though it might not be a severe punishment, such violations will be recorded in their high school file and follow him for life. Do you really want such a situation to happen?"
The usually proud and aloof expression on Kasumigaoka Utaha's face shows frustration and anger.
Her hands, previously hanging by her side, balled into fists as she slowly turns around and asks, through her gritted teeth.
"What exactly do you want?"
"It's not what I want to say, but rather what you plan to do to make amends. Besides that, I'm very curious about what motivated you to do what you did back then."
[You step forward, lifting Kasumigaoka Utaha's chin. As you look into her face, which now shows disdain, your excitement grows.]