I Was Possessed By An Unknown Manga

Chapter 163: Attack On The Newspaper Department

After lunch with the President, I consulted about Senior Ayabe from the newspaper club.

“…That’s what happened.”

After hearing my explanation, the President asked with a serious expression,

“Should I cut the newspaper club’s budget using the Student Council’s authority?”

“What?”

I unwittingly widened my eyes at this unexpected response.

But the President’s words didn’t end there.

“Actually, disbanding the newspaper club might not be a bad idea. In this media era, not many students read paper newspapers anyway, so it might be a good time to sort it out.”

“No, no, it’s okay.”

“I was just venting personally. I didn’t expect you to take such measures.”

Then, after a moment of silence, the President asked cautiously,

“If it’s a burden for the matter to get too big, we can handle it quietly.”

“What? No, no, no, no. Really, it’s okay.”

“Hehe, I’m just kidding.”

As I started speaking quickly in my confusion, the President said this and winked playfully.

“I’ve decided to stop wielding power as the Student Council President at will. My term is almost up, anyway.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

The President rarely jokes, so it didn’t sound like a joke at all.

“Come to think of it, only a few months are left until your graduation.”

Unlike Korean high schools, Japanese high school graduations typically happen in March.

This was because there was a short third semester between winter and spring break.

Typically, the previous President’s duties end with the second semester, and a new Student Council President starts a new regime in the third semester.

In the President’s case, having served as the Student Council President for both the second and third years, her achievements were especially notable compared to past presidents.

Despite being called the “Dark Student Council” or such, she received overwhelming support from the students.

Thus, as the secretary, I knew very well how dedicated the President was to this school.

“Yes. I have many memories of this school. Personally, I have no regrets about choosing this place.”

The President said this and sipped her tea with an elegant gesture.

“Besides… You haven’t forgotten the promise we made last time, have you?”

Pfft!

“Cough! Choke! Cough!”

“Are you okay?!”

I took the tissue the President offered in her panic and wiped up the spilled tea.

After the coughing subsided, I nodded and answered,

“Yes, I haven’t forgotten. How could I forget a promise made in such an atmosphere?”

Then, the President, perhaps reminded of the events of the summer break, blushed slightly and averted her gaze from me.

“That’s good to hear. I look forward to a positive response.”

“…Understood.”

The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant.

The peaceful tea party felt like sitting on pins and needles all of a sudden.

I glanced at the Vice President still engrossed in the game, and then stood up from my seat.

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

“So soon? There’s still some time before the fifth period starts.”

“I’m planning to visit the newspaper club, as mentioned earlier. I want to ask Senior Ayabe directly why she was following me.”

“Okay. If you need any help, just let me know. My earlier comment was a joke, but it can become serious if needed.”

Wasn’t it really scary when the President would say something like that…?

I muttered that to myself and told Minami and the Vice President nearby that I would be leaving.

“See you during club activities tomorrow.”

“Yes, President.”

Thud!

As the Student Council room door closed, I found myself alone in the corridor and headed towards the newspaper club’s office.

Hanami Yuzuko was a member of the Ichijo Academy’s newspaper club.

As a first-year student who had been enrolled for half a year, her experience in the newspaper club during middle school led her to choose the same club in high school.

The Ichijo Academy newspaper club had a total of 7 members: two seniors, three juniors, and, including her, two freshmen.

The seniors were soon to graduate and rarely participated in club activities due to center exams, so the actual authority in the club was held by Senior Takagi, a junior, and the vice head.

Unlike the passionate seniors, Senior Takagi and the other two juniors joined the club just to pass time, doing things half-heartedly.

Honestly, participating in the club activities felt almost like a waste of time, so she was seriously considering joining a different club next year.

And then today.

A man visited the newspaper club, which was in a relaxed atmosphere.

Slide!

“Is this the newspaper club?”

A deep voice was heard as the door opened.

His thick forearms seemed like logs of a mature tree, with veins writhing like dragons.

“Wh-what?”

He was so tall that Yuzuko, who was 154 cm, had to step back a few paces to fully see his face.

His majestic presence was like Gulliver visiting a land of little people.

And Yuzuko, a member of the newspaper club, knew the name of this man.

‘Kim Yu-seong.’

Known as…

‘The strongest in the academy.’

‘The blade of the President’

‘The black beast.’

Whoever coined them, each nickname was as ferocious as the next.

“Who is this, Ayabe?”

“What? Oh, Senior Ayabe?”

Senior Takagi answered Kim Yu-seong’s question with a trembling voice.

She always pretended to be strong in front of the club members, but even she couldn’t help but shrink in the presence of this man.

It was something understood at a genetic level.

The man in front of her was simply born to dominate.

Squeak♥ Squeak♥

Yuzuko, feeling an instinctive fear that made her stomach churn, quietly listened to their brief conversation.

“If you’re looking for the Senior, she didn’t come today. Being a third-year student, she rarely visits the club room.”

“I see.”

“Did the Senior do something to upset the Student Council?”

“…I just wanted to ask something personal. Don’t worry. I don’t intend to harm her in any way.”

After saying that, Kim Yu-seong quietly closed the club room door, saying, “Excuse me.”

“Haaaa~”

Immediately after, Yuzuko let out a breath she had been holding.

It seemed she had been so tense that she forgot to breathe.

The other club members around her were also taking delayed breaths, just like her.

Was the rumor circulating in the academy about the tension he created just by being in the same space not false?

As the extreme tension eased, Yuzuko, who now felt the need to go to the restroom, quietly raised her hand.

“Vice Head, may I go to the restroom for a moment?”

Then, Senior Takagi, who had been standing dumbfounded with a drained expression, answered her question a beat late.

“Huh? Uh, sure. No, let’s go together.”

As the two announced they were going to the restroom, the other newspaper club members, glancing at each other, also raised their hands one by one.

“Me too.”

“I want to go too.”

Eventually, the newspaper club members went to the restroom as a group.

“Tsk, it was a wasted effort.”

I thought she would definitely be in the club room, but she wasn’t there.

It was too late to go to the third-year classroom, so I decided to try another time.

To return to the classroom before the fifth period starts, I crossed the sky bridge from the annex to the main building.

“Hmm?”

But perhaps it was good luck.

The Senior Ayabe I was looking for was walking right in front of me.

Her focus was on the camera in her hand, so it seemed she hadn’t noticed my presence yet.

So, I cautiously approached and spoke to her.

“Excuse me, are you Senior Ayabe?”

“Yes?”

Then, Ayabe-senpai, who belatedly raised her head and saw me, stiffened like a statue, immediately turned her back, and started to run.

“Wait a moment!”

I quickly followed after Senior Ayabe.

Although there was a considerable distance between us, my physical abilities had long surpassed those of an ordinary person.

The distance between us rapidly closed.

“Let’s just talk!”

“I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you!”

But Senior Ayabe, determined not to stop, kept running while covering her ears.

Given the situation, I had no choice but to catch up and grab her.

As I increased my speed, Senior Ayabe, glancing back and alarmed, leaped down the nearby stairs three at a time.

“Whoa!”

Then, seemingly slipping, her body lurched forward.

Fearing a serious accident, I clenched my teeth and lunged forward.

Thud! Crash!

“Ugh… What on earth is happening?”

Thanks to me acting as a cushion, Senior Ayabe was safe but seemed disoriented, holding her forehead and mumbling.

Pinned under her, I cautiously spoke,

“Senior, could you please move aside?”

“Oh!”

Realizing belatedly that she was sitting on me, the Senior blushed and moved back.

“Uh, sorry. It was because of me.”

I got up a beat later and replied,

“It’s okay. I won’t even get a scratch from this.”

Apart from my body becoming stronger, the invincibility had no other benefits, but it was helpful in situations like this.

An awkward atmosphere flowed between the Senior and me, sitting face to face.

“Um, I’d like to talk. Do you have some time after school?”

Then, Senior Ayabe timidly nodded.

“Okay. I’ll come to your class.”

“Then, I’ll see you after school.”

Having barely secured a promise from her, I bowed and returned to class before the start of the fifth period.