"Ishigami, I'm feeling really lost right now."
"What is it this time?"
"I've realized that the mediocrities at this school can't properly judge my appearance."
"..."
"Why did you suddenly go quiet?"
"No reason. Just thinking that there must be quite a lot of 'mediocrities' in this world."
Ishigami and Takamine Rinji were currently playing console games in his room—this had become a staple of their post–student council routine.
Unlike normies who had packed social schedules, ever since the two had met, their gaming habits simply shifted from single-player to multiplayer.
"Is it because my hair's too long? Maybe I'd look better with a buzzcut…"
"Please don't. You look fine as you are," Ishigami quickly stopped him. "Besides, you're not the type to care about how others see you, right?"
"That's true."
"But I do think I look too skinny. I need to hit the gym and bulk up a little." Rinji nodded thoughtfully while holding the controller.
"You seem plenty strong already—not like someone who hasn't trained."
"My strength's above average. I've done some physical training in the past. But… it doesn't show. So I think I should work on my image."
"Working out sounds like a good idea," Ishigami said. "What kind of build are you aiming for?"
"Like The Rock."
"..."
Ishigami tried to imagine Rinji's face on The Rock's massive body...
And immediately grabbed Rinji's shoulders, his face filled with panic.
"Rinji, I'm begging you—don't do that!"
"Huh? Why not?"
"It'd look totally off! Just imagining it feels wrong!"
"...Fine. I'll just look up some nearby gyms for now."
Rinji pulled up his map app and searched for gyms in the area.
"Doesn't seem like there's any good ones nearby… oh wait, found one! SILVERMAN GYM—it has decent reviews. I'll check it out later."
"...If you're really worried about your image, maybe you could try asking the drama club."
"The drama club? Why?"
"They occasionally do stage plays around campus or in the harbor district. If you land a male lead role, it might help improve your image with the other students."
"So that's how it is—pretty clever idea."
---
The next day.
With the thought of giving it a try, Takamine Rinji headed to the school's drama club.
Originally, their main actor, Ko Ogino, who'd played many roles, had mysteriously vanished thanks to Rinji's antics. Now the club was short on talent.
Rinji had already compensated them with some extra funds last quarter, but money alone couldn't replace missing talent.
When he reached the drama club's activity room, he knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Upon hearing a response, he opened the door.
The room inside was dim, but still visible. Most of the drama club members had taken off their uniforms and were wearing costumes.
"Hello, I'm looking for—"
Before he could finish, a shocking scene unfolded before him.
Shinomiya Kaguya stood in the middle of the room in a white outfit, holding a kitchen knife stained with red. Her face and clothes were splattered with blood.
Lying on the floor was Fujiwara Chika, a red stain on her chest, eyes lifeless, a trickle of blood at the corner of her mouth.
"Shinomiya Heiress… I didn't expect you to go this far."
"Wait, Rinji, this is a misunderstanding!" Kaguya shouted.
"I knew it. I always knew you'd do this eventually, but I didn't think it would become a school tragedy."
"What do you mean you 'knew'!?"
"Such a shame."
Rinji shook his head and crouched next to Fujiwara Chika, holding her hand.
"Huh? There's still a pulse."
"Ehehe~"
Chika suddenly sat up, giggling.
"Shinomiya killed me~"
"You scared me. So you're not dead after all."
"Hey! You seriously thought I killed her!?" Kaguya exclaimed, stunned.
"Ahahaha, it's all thanks to Kaguya's excellent acting," Chika said, handing Rinji a stack of flyers. "This is the drama club's new play: Women of Love and Hatred—a story of a wife and a maid scheming against each other for a man, ending in tragedy."
"...I see. I should've figured Shinomiya heiress wouldn't make a move in such a public place."
"I wouldn't do it in private either! And you really did believe I was a murderer!!"
Just as Kaguya was about to give Rinji a piece of her mind, the drama club president walked over, smiling.
"Ah, if it isn't Student Council's Rinji. What an honor. What brings you to our drama club today? Problems with club funding? Or looking to retrieve the girls?"
"Actually, I'm here for personal reasons." Rinji got straight to the point. "I'm interested in acting. Do you have any roles suitable for me?"
"Now that you mention it…"
The president nodded thoughtfully.
"Since Ogino vanished, and a few others quit recently, we've been looking for new members to fill the gaps. That's why we reached out to the girls from the student council too."
"Ogino's disappearance was my fault. If there's anything I can do, let me know."
"Perfect."
The club president snapped his fingers.
"Before summer break, we're putting on a new version of Sleeping Beauty. Without Ogino, we'd love for you to play the lead role."
"I'd be happy to."
The lead? That must mean the prince, right? Not exactly the solo-action hero he was hoping for, but if he played it with enough swagger...
"Here's the script, Rinji. Take a look."
"Sure."
Rinji accepted the script, but the moment he glanced at it, his expression changed.
Kaguya and Chika peeked over and, upon seeing it, both burst into laughter.
"...Let me just ask—what role did Ogino originally play?"
"The prince who wakes the princess with a kiss."
"And what role am I playing?"
"The sleeping princess."
"Someone! Bring me my sword! I'm cutting that bastard down today!!"