“I will dedicate myself so that the newspaper club can be officially approved as a club!”
Pastel declared proudly.
“The student council exists for the students!”
“We can finally break free from the reality of managing on tight budgets. We can trust the student council.”
The deputy head and the members were moved.
It seems that the newspaper club, as it mainly dealt with gossip, was far from noble and honorable writing activities like publishing academic journals. Therefore, it seemed difficult to receive various kinds of sponsorship.
At that moment, I made my entrance!
Like a noble supporting a poor artist, I threw down a check—bam!
It was quite noble!
With this, wouldn’t I get 0.5 Melisas?
Moreover, moreover!
It was even approved as an official club!
Once it becomes an official club, the student council can personally allocate the budget so that the newspaper club can receive paper, ink, food expenses, pocket money, etc., that they desire.
Originally, even such a natural measure would have needed approval from the faculty and administrative staff, but not anymore.
The school belongs to the students.
Having gone through the process of giving the school to the students, the student council had many powers, including the right to approve budgets.
Official club?
It’s not that hard.
Originally, the student council should listen to the hardships of unnoticed places and work meticulously.
There’s no reason not to help true journalists who are active for the sake of students while also saving on living expenses.
Pudut.
Pastel puffed up proudly.
Standing on tiptoes, she stretched up and swayed.
The deputy head of the newspaper club glanced around and brought a chair himself.
“Sit here.”
“Ah! It’s okay! I’ll go back to the student council right away and make the newspaper club an official club!”
Pastel bowed and left the newspaper club.
Humming, she hopped along.
“The world is beautiful~.”
Spinning around.
“Let’s resolve conflicts through dialogue~.”
Raising her arms high.
“There are many kind people in the world~!”
Oh yeah.
“Haa.”
The demon, which had transformed into a cursed sword, felt uncomfortable.
Huh?
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Hmm.
The fact that it was nothing made me even more curious.
I held up the cursed sword and stared intently.
Curiosity beam~.
After a moment, the cursed sword seemed to hesitate, maintaining its form instead of dissolving into smoke. It looked as though it was contemplating whether to talk in human form or not.
“…Fine.”
The demon sighed.
“The essence of what I’ve ingested must be properly blended into the inner world, right? It shouldn’t be playing separately.”
“Are Mercury and Venus friends?”
“Yeah, those incomprehensible things.”
“Of course! They’re an entire solar system family!”
She spread her arms wide.
“You all are family!”
“Then it’s settled.”
The demon seemed somewhat relieved.
“It seems puberty has come. It appears that the environment and situation were just unfavorable, causing some rebellion.”
Pastel’s eyes widened.
If a guardian said something like analyzing the reasons for rebellious behavior, that would be a total shock.
Am I in puberty?
Swaying with hormones?
Hmm.
No way.
Pastel narrowed her eyes.
“Are you talking about the power I claimed to have in front of the mirror earlier?”
She shook her finger side to side.
“Bzzzzt! Wrong answer! It’s not puberty; it’s just my usual personality! I love power!”
That’s right, that’s right!
Nodding, Pastel shifted her steps with a slightly pouty expression.
The demon doubted her again.
“What do you know about me to judge? Is that why you live in a dull suit?”
That’s right.
The demon quietly murmured after some time.
“You’re in puberty.”
Pastel, who hadn’t heard clearly due to her grumbling, paused.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing. Considering what you said, it has some merit. I apologize for making remarks without paying attention to you. I’ll be more careful in the future.”
Hmm.
Even though I got an apology, it still felt awkward.
“Yeah, whatever.”
Pastel pouted her lips and shook her head.
Then she felt awkward again and was about to question the demon, but she sensed a presence from the other side of the corridor and stopped talking.
After waiting, Melissa walked over. She was holding a newspaper that the newspaper club had published.
Seeing her friend, Pastel cheered up.
“Melissa!”
She raised both hands and waved.
“You came to see me!”
My healing factor!
Bumblebee Melissa!
Just when I was feeling down, you showed up!
Melissa flinched when she spotted Pastel. After hesitating, she tried to hide the newspaper behind her back, but realizing that it was unseemly, she abandoned the idea.
“Pastel, I wanted to talk to you—”
“Melissa!”
Pastel rushed over and hugged her tightly.
“Listen! Everyone in the world is doubting me! They totally doubt me!”
Even the demon!
Strangled in the embrace, Melissa took a sharp breath. The magician, feeling threatened for her life, struggled to push Pastel away.
“Ah, sorry!”
Melissa cleared her throat lightly.
“It’s fine. But did you say everyone doubts you?”
Pastel’s expression turned sad.
“Yes! That’s it! That’s it! Everyone really doubts my heart! I was only trying to keep everyone safe and I worked hard to achieve results!”
In a voice filled with distress, she poured her heart out.
“When everyone suddenly turns against me, even I feel upset and hurt! There’s not a single person I can trust, and I thought I was popular, but I’m actually all alone!”
Not a popular person, but Pastel!
That’s ridiculous!
Holding her head, Pastel swayed before looking at Melissa with soft eyes.
Then she gradually began to smile brightly.
“But it’s okay! I have Melissa!”
Wow!
My best friend!
A friend I can trust more than the demon!
Pastel tightly grasped Melissa’s hand.
Her pink eyes sparkled.
“You came to play with me today! There’s really no one else but you!”
Sparkling.
“Right, Melissa?”
Melissa flinched.
“Yes, yes.”
Her golden eyes subtly avoided eye contact. The newspaper held in her other hand was hidden behind her back.
“Of course. I trust you. We’re friends, right?”
“Of course it’s you, Melissa! I knew you wouldn’t doubt me! If you doubted me too, I would have truly despaired and collapsed!”
Huh.
“Oh….”
Melissa fidgeted with her lips, unable to say anything. Then she hid the newspaper further behind her back.
Huh?
“What are you holding in your hand?”
Melissa’s eyes trembled.
“It’s nothing special.”
Pastel peeked behind Melissa’s back. Melissa hurriedly turned her body to hide the newspaper.
“Melissa?”
Melissa smiled awkwardly.
“Rather, would you like to enjoy some tea time? I was bothered by your evaluation of the cookies from the Bellamont clan. I’ve prepared delicious apple cookies which are even better.”
Whoa.
Cookies made by Alesia’s chef being less tasty?
“Thank you, Melissa! You really are the best!”
Pastel hugged her tightly. Melissa flinched and let out a small sigh of relief.
Amidst that, Pastel’s hand snatched the newspaper.
“Ah!”
Surprised, Melissa tried to grab it back, but it was no use.
Falling back, Pastel giggled as she unfolded the newspaper.
“Let’s see what’s nothing special!”
The contents came into view at a glance.
An article written by the newspaper club.
The fabricated article stating that His Excellency the Viscount had given black money to silence the newspaper club.
Why does Melissa have this newspaper?
Come to think of it, this was the path to the newspaper club.
Could it be that Melissa suspected me and was on her way to the newspaper club to verify the truth?
Whoa.
Pastel’s mouth fell open.
Staring at Melissa with a shocked expression.
“Melissa…?”
The only friend in the world, whom I trusted more than the demon, suspected me?
Melissa’s eyes trembled.
“I didn’t doubt you.”
Her voice carried a sense of guilt.
“That’s why…”
Seeing her own lie as amusing, Melissa let out a faint smile. She turned her eyes away and confessed her lie.
“I’m sorry.”
Whoa.
Feeling weakened, Pastel slumped down.
“Melissa, even you…!”
I have no one to trust!
Melissa approached, looking very sorry.
“I did feel doubts after reading the article. Separate from the Craft family, I’ve also participated in your clandestine, um, clan reconstruction activities. But seeing you today has eased those suspicions.”
Pastel looked up at her with a sad expression.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Melissa cautiously took the newspaper back.
“Illegal reconstruction activities clearly relate to what the Craft family originally did and their know-how, so it’s not surprising, regardless of your tendencies. But this is a different area altogether.”
She opened the newspaper and read the content carefully.
“Upon deeper reflection, it was an absurd article. There’s no way you would silence the newspaper club dishonorably or produce poisonous substances like a terrorist.”
“Yes, yes! That’s right!”
Pastel totally agreed. She jumped up from her seat.
“That’s just like you, Melissa! You really are the best!”
Yet, Melissa, who had appeared to trust her completely, showed a subtle smile.
“However, there is something that bothers me. Would you answer me?”
“Anything!”
Pastel nodded her head.
The heir to the Southern Commander began to speak.
“Why did you bring in soldiers to the school?”
Their gazes locked.
Silence fell.
Pastel’s eyes grew larger.
“Why are you asking that? Is your relationship with Alesia that bad? If so, how about you two reconcile? If it’s embarrassing, should I arrange it?”
“Excuse me?”
Melissa looked flustered at the unexpected comment.
After some thought, it seemed she convinced herself, nodding.
“Ah… was it because of Alesia Bellemonte?”
“To prevent Alesia’s assassination, and it’s indiscriminate terrorism that could sweep up other friends.”
Pastel spoke seriously.
“I may seem like a lightweight, and maybe I really am, but I live in a way that differentiates between matters. I can be serious when it’s important.”
Fidgeting.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Melissa bowed her head.
“I thought you were caught up in selfish desires. I was blinded by the Craft family’s infamous reputation as well. I’m sorry.”
Pastel smiled brightly.
“It’s understandable! I’ll accept your apology!”
She linked arms with Melissa.
“Now that the misunderstanding is resolved, there’s no need to go to the newspaper club, right? I have some duties left, so it would be awkward to eat your cookies, so let’s just have a light tea time in the student council room today!”
“That sounds good.”
They began walking.
Lululala.
After walking for a while, it seemed the tension had eased, and Melissa softly smiled.
“Now that I think about it, it’s embarrassing. I was deceived by such a vulgar article. You wouldn’t silence the newspaper club or manufacture disgraceful poison.”
“That’s what I’ve been saying!”
Pastel nodded her head.
“If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t silence the students’ voices but rather cheer them on! I just did that too! I even sponsored the newspaper club because they were too poor! Who else does that?”
Yes, yes.
“What?”
Melissa suddenly turned around.
Her golden eyes bore intensely into Pastel’s.
Pastel grumbled.
“Everyone is just too much.”
Before they knew it, they had arrived at the student council room.
“By the way, I wonder if there are any snacks.”
“More importantly, Pastel.”
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
Pastel tried to turn back to Melissa while opening the student council room door.
Yellow paralysis gas wafted out from the gap in the door.
Oh no.
Startled, Pastel flung the door open.
The interior covered in yellow gas came into view. Eli and Dustyn were still collapsed on the floor.
Whoa.
Pastel held her head.
Ahhh.
“I didn’t ventilate after the gas burst earlier!”
Sorry, guys!
She looked back at Melissa.
“Can you ventilate with magic…?”
A very intense gaze was felt.
Huh?
“What’s wrong, Melissa?”
A look typical of a criminal.
Pastel felt herself getting very wronged.
I didn’t do it!
I’m innocent…!
