Iris was also a member of the goodwill ambassadors like them, and even more so, Iris was a princess of the elves. Logically, she should be more cautious about the influence of her status, but Iris came here to seek aid, and her main goal was him, so she naturally acted more freely than Elusi, Elliot, and the others.
'Hmm… later, I'll find time to have Elliot, Elusi, and the others come to my house for a meal. To Komachi, Iris's identity as an elven princess felt distant and not that real. On the contrary, the mermaid songstress idols who were active in the public eye probably had a bigger impact on her.'
"It's almost noon, Elusi, don't cling to the president for too long~"
Iris, who had been lying on the desk resting, slowly straightened up, lightly swinging her slender and rounded legs in white stockings as she leapt down from the desk. She lowered her head to tidy up her clothes, smoothing out the wrinkled parts of her uniform, and cleaned the collar that had accidentally gotten water stains.
Only then did she walk lightly to the back of Hachiman, looking at Elusi, the pink-haired mermaid songstress who was tightly clinging to Hachiman and utterly obsessed, and smiled as she reminded, "Eh? Are we going to the cafeteria to eat again? Can't we eat and play here?"
Immersed in the joy of being aided by Hachiman, Elusi suddenly stiffened and looked back at Iris in disbelief.
Why insist on going to the cafeteria to eat? Isn't it the same if they eat here.
As a dedicated idol, she wanted to condemn such a time-wasting act.
"Are you questioning Her Highness' decision?", Standing protectively behind Iris, Aegis stepped forward, her eyes staring directly at Elusi, who had occupied her and Iris's place.
If not for Iris's consent, these mermaids probably wouldn't even be able to get close to the president, let alone receive aid from him together.
To be so ungrateful and disobedient?
She had no issue with Iris's decision, but she felt that she and Iris had not yet reached their limit, and there was absolutely no need to let these mermaid songstresses get involved and share the aid that belonged to them.
"This isn't questioning, okay? I just think it's better for everyone to eat here."
Elusi rolled her eyes, not knowing what to say. Aegis clearly treated the president the same as them, yet as soon as she left the president's side, she turned her back and acted overly serious.
"Aegis, don't be impulsive."
Iris tugged on Aegis, signaling her not to be so hasty. She glanced at Elliot and Ayla, who had stopped their frolicking and were looking over, and smiled as she explained to them, "Please don't mind what Aegis said. I'm not saying we can't eat here. I just think we've monopolized the president for most of the morning already, and we might continue monopolizing him in the evening."
"And after school, the president still has to handle service club matters and go to the girls' swimming club to relieve the stress of their outstanding members. We should give the president some private time to deal with things, right?"
"This lunch period is better left for the president to go to the student council and bond with his childhood friends."
"The president's childhood friends?"
Elusi froze. She almost forgot that the president actually had a close relationship with a pair of childhood twin sisters.
Those twins were quite pretty, but since one of them was the student council president, they had to avoid suspicion at school and couldn't break school rules. When at home, they didn't pay attention either, so to them, the twin beauties Kaede and Suzu had little presence.
They had always assumed Iris, the elven princess, was the president's main wife. That the president would become the husband of the elven queen in the future, that is, a prince of the elf race. As for themselves, they were just outsiders chosen by Iris, able to serve the president under the pretense of seeking aid.
"Mm, the student council not only has the president's childhood friends, but also a fallen noble lady. This afternoon's first period is volleyball class. There's nothing important going on, so the president can spend more time at the student council," Iris nodded with a smile and said nothing about Elusi's strange expression, instead hinting meaningfully at Hachiman.
She always remembered that Kaede and Suzu were the president's childhood friends. She was only seeking his aid and couldn't arbitrarily interfere in the president's relationships with his childhood friends.
However, it wasn't that she truly didn't care about anything just because she came for aid.
It was certain the president liked Kaede and Suzu, and she wouldn't try to make him hate them.
But she could make herself more likable to the president.
Just like now, bringing Elliot, Elusi, Ayla, and Aegis together to receive the president's aid, something that would likely be difficult for Kaede.
Even if Kaede later forced her good friends Rurikawa Tsubaki and Usui Makoto into it, it still wouldn't be enough.
And she could even bring in everyone from the service club, and elven girls from her clan.
"Iris, don't tell me you planned this all along?", Hachiman couldn't help but feel speechless hearing Iris mention Rurikawa Tsubaki, that fallen noble lady.
At the time, Iris had just watched Rurikawa get manipulated by Ursula as an accomplice. Could she have already been thinking about today?
As expected of an elven princess. If she didn't need his help, he probably wouldn't even see her pure and cute side.
"Doesn't the president like her? I quite like Miss Rurikawa Tsubaki's personality. She's very suitable to be a wife and also good at managing those assets," Iris also came to Hachiman's side. Seeing that he was still tightly embraced by Elusi and unable to free himself, she stood on tiptoe and gave his cheek a kiss, smiling brightly.
Rurikawa Tsubaki was Kaede's good friend, so she could be considered part of Kaede's side, but also hers.
Because Rurikawa was dragged into this during her confrontation with Ursula. Now Rurikawa didn't even dare tell Kaede about her involvement with the president.
"I can testify! The president likes her very much! Right now the president is very excited!", Elusi, who was holding the window sill with both hands and blankly staring at the scenery outside, suddenly turned her head and quickly declared she could be a witness or even evidence.
"...", Hachiman had no words. He could only reach out and pinch Elusi's cheeks hard.
What the heck, is she naturally black-hearted or naturally clueless? How could she still interject at a time like this?
"W-Wait, president, don't pinch so hard! I was wrong! You should punish Iris, not me!"
Elusi, feeling the president was seriously going to discipline her, quickly hugged his arm and pleaded for mercy.
"Begging for mercy now? Too late!"
Hachiman showed no mercy. Today, he was going to properly examine if this seemingly pure and adorable pink mermaid idol was really rotten inside.
"Hmm… there's still a bit of time before the morning ends. Aegis, why don't you help too?"
Iris smiled as she looked at Elusi, who was clinging to Hachiman acting cute and pleading, then turned to Aegis beside her, whose face was slightly red but still stiff, and instructed:
"Gulp… Your Highness Iris, you go ahead, I'll just watch…", Aegis looked at Elusi, who was being aided by Hachiman while acting spoiled and cute without restraint, and swallowed, awkwardly turning her head.
Though she had also considered winning the president's favor like Iris, Elusi, or Elliot, she could only think about it, she really couldn't pull it off.
With her sturdy physique, just being praised by the president as cute would already make her blush uncontrollably, let alone deliberately acting like them to flirt with him.
"Elliot, Ayla, can I trouble you to help teach Aegis?", Seeing Aegis hesitate due to shyness, Iris no longer looked at her and instead turned to Elliot and Ayla nearby, smiling.
"Okay!"
"Mm… alright…"
Ayla and Elliot exchanged glances and agreed to Iris's request, coming to Aegis' side, one on each side.
They also felt Aegis was being fake-serious. Clearly, she too couldn't resist the president's charm, yet she accused them of clinging to him.
Aegis thought two mermaid idols wouldn't be a problem, but before she could resist Ayla and Elliot, Iris softly added:
"Aegis, you can't resist. Don't you want to receive the president's aid? The mission of restoring the glory of the high elves is on our shoulders."
"Uh… I didn't mean it that way…"
Body stiffening, Aegis watched helplessly as Ayla and Elliot pulled her over to Hachiman and Elusi, teaching her hand-in-hand how to face Hachiman with the demeanor of a delicate and cute girl.
'No choice. For the glory of the elven race, for its revival…'
Aegis' brain was about to overload, but she could only blush as she watched the affectionate interaction between the pink-exterior-but-yellow-inside Elusi and Hachiman, slowly mimicking them, repeatedly telling herself she was different from Elliot and Elusi, she was doing this for the elves, not out of selfish desire.
Iris watched the embarrassed Aegis with a gentle smile, no longer encouraging Elusi and the others. They'd figure it out themselves.
Though Aegis' stubborn personality couldn't be easily changed, nor did it need to be, a little fun with everyone might make her more honest and likable.
The minor conflict between Aegis and Elusi earlier would vanish like smoke, and in front of the president, everyone would become good sisters.
Iris leisurely used cleaning magic to assist everyone, lifting her gaze to the ceiling, the corners of her mouth rising.
'Gabriel, Vignette, are you watching? Things are getting busier over here with the president~ If you're moved, don't hesitate — come receive the president's aid too~'
———
[Noon, Lunchtime]
After finishing service activities, Hachiman, having had his body cleaned by the three mermaid songstresses Elloit and Elusi, walked through the campus. Watching the students who had just finished class rush to the cafeteria to grab the so-called yakisoba bread, perhaps from having lost too much energy, he felt a little floaty, somewhat dazed, and as if he didn't quite belong with the rest of the students at Sobu High.
It's natural for Kirisu Mafuyu to disapprove of him skipping classes, while everyone is working hard on their studies, he's ditching class and neglecting his academics.
But Kirisu Mafuyu doesn't know, skipping class isn't easy for him either. The elf princess sisters Iris and Aegis are already strong, and coupled with the high-demand trio of mermaid songstresses, by the time he came out of the service club, he felt his legs a little weak.
Even though he has the ever-improving and reliable powerful skill, which allows him to grow stronger with each setback, no matter how strong they are, he always manages to counter them in the end.
However, no matter how strong his recovery ability is, it can't replenish his life energy out of thin air. He still needs to eat something to replenish himself.
Temporarily in sage mode, Hachiman exhaled lightly, deciding not to think about the exhausting aid activities, and slowly made his way to the cafeteria to buy some food before heading to the student council office.
Iris considerately suggested he join Kaede, Rurikawa Tsubaki, and the others for lunch in the student council office, but his bento was left in the classroom, and going to the student council office empty-handed to mooch food didn't feel right.
If he specifically returned to the classroom to fetch his bento, but then didn't eat with Gabriel, Ichinose, and Yuina, that also wouldn't feel good. So he decided to just go to the cafeteria to buy something to eat.
As for his bento, he figured Gabriel and the others could share it. Those gyaru girls don't really like eating proper meals and usually snack or drink milk to get through lunch, so it would be a good chance for them to eat properly.
[Gabriel, I'm heading to the student council for a bit. Take out my bento and share it with everyone, please take special care to include Yuina.]
[Mm... okay, I'll let Yunia and the others know.]
After seeing Gabriel reply to his message, Hachiman put away his phone, looked at the now-bustling cafeteria, and squeezed into the crowd. At the shop corner, he quickly bought three servings of takoyaki in different flavors and some hash browns.
Students had four lunch options at school: eat a set meal in the cafeteria, buy bread from the shop, bring their own bento, or not eat at all.
Set meals had to be finished inside the cafeteria and couldn't be taken out, so naturally, he went to the shop to buy food.
That yakisoba bread, which often appeared in anime, was always popular, but he wasn't too interested. He preferred snacks like hash browns and takoyaki.
"Senpai, senpai..."
After buying snacks, Hachiman also bought a few bottles of drinks from the vending machine. Just as he was about to leave the cafeteria to go to the student council office, he suddenly heard someone repeatedly calling out behind him.
He was a first-year student; no one at Sobu High should be calling him senpai. But since the voice behind kept calling without anyone responding, he realized that "senpai" was indeed meant for him.
"You are... the one from the girls' swim team...", Hachiman turned around and saw a short-haired girl with black hair and eyes, her expression cool, standing behind him. He was a little surprised.
"Manager-senpai, I'm Nanasaki Ai from Class 1-A. You may have heard of me from Captain Hibiki."
With her neat short black hair and somewhat cool demeanor, Nanasaki Ai saw that Hachiman didn't seem to quite remember her. She gave a slight bow and politely introduced herself.
"Nanasaki-san, huh? I have indeed heard about you from Captain Hibiki. You, along with Mikari and Ayano, all have great potential. I saw your training yesterday too, if nothing goes wrong, you freshmen should be able to place in the tournament."
Hachiman looked at the suddenly proactive Nanasaki Ai with a face full of doubt.
He actually knew who Nanasaki Ai was. Not only did he remember this cool, gallant, and cute underclassman, but even if he didn't, his romance list would remind him of who this girl was.
There were several excellent members in the girls' swim team who needed him to relieve their stress. Aside from the four seasonal girls, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, Nanasaki Ai was also one of them.
However, Nanasaki Ai was the type of proper romance heroine, different from the seasonal girls who were "main heroine in name only." She probably had a stronger sense of principle, so he hadn't proactively approached her.
"Thank you for the compliment, senpai. Compared to senpai Hibiki and the others, I still have a long way to go."
Hearing Hachiman's praise, Nanasaki Ai bowed slightly again, her attitude extremely humble and polite.
"Have you eaten lunch? The shop is probably too crowded now, and even if you manage to squeeze in, there won't be much left. I bought several servings of takoyaki, if you don't mind, feel free to try some."
Hachiman looked at Nanasaki Ai, then at the packed shop area, and puzzled, took out the takoyaki he had just bought and handed it to Nanasaki Ai.
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