“I’ll dedicate myself to ensuring the Newspaper Club can officially become a recognized club!”
Pastel declared proudly.
“The student council exists for the students, after all!”
“We’ll trust the student council. Finally, we can escape the reality of managing on a tight budget.”
The deputy chair and members were moved to tears.
Since the Newspaper Club mainly dealt with gossip, it seemed to be far from any noble or honorable scholarly activities like publishing academic journals. It appeared they had difficulty receiving various kinds of sponsorship.
And that’s when I made my grand entrance!
Like a noble supporting a struggling artist, I waved a check in the air~!
Very noble indeed!
At this rate, I might even be half a Melissa!
What’s more!
We even got official club approval!
Once we become an official club, the student council can personally exercise the budget to provide the Newspaper Club with the paper, ink, meal funds, pocket money, and all they desire.
Originally, such a simple measure had to be approved by the professors 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 now held many powers, including the authority to pass budget proposals.
An official club?
Not a problem.
After all, the student council is supposed to listen to the unnoticeable struggles of the less visible and work diligently.
There’s no reason not to help true journalists who work hard for the students while managing on a tight budget.
Booga-booga!
Pastel puffed up her chest with pride.
She even stood on tiptoes to elongate her stature, strutting around.
The deputy chair of the Newspaper Club cautiously glanced around and brought over a chair.
“Please, sit here.”
“Ah! No, it’s fine! I’ll just go back to the student council and make the Newspaper Club an official club now!”
Pastel bowed and exited the Newspaper Club.
Bouncing around, she hummed.
“The world is beautiful~.”
Spinning in circles.
“Conflicts can be resolved through dialogue~.”
Arms raised high.
“There are so many kind people in the world~!”
Oh yeah.
“Hah.”
The demon, transformed into a Demon Sword, felt a bit uneasy.
What’s that about?
“Why do you look like that?”
“Nothing.”
Hmm.
The more he denied, the more curious I got.
I held the Demon Sword up and stared intently.
Curiosity beam~!
After a moment, the Demon Sword hesitated to disperse into smoke and maintained its form, looking conflicted about whether to speak seriously or not.
“……Alright.”
The demon sighed.
“It should be correct that the essence of the consumed being is properly integrated into the inner world? Not being treated separately.”
“Mercury and Venus Friend, right?”
“Yeah, those vague things.”
“Of course! They’re totally a solar system family!”
Arms wide open.
“You’re all family!”
“Then that’s settled.”
The demon seemed somewhat relieved.
“It seems we’re dealing with a phase now. It must be twisted due to an unfavorable environment and circumstances.”
Pastel’s eyes widened.
If the guardian made a remark analyzing the reason for rebellious behavior, it was completely shocking.
Am I going through a phase?
Swaying from hormones?
Hmm.
Not really.
Pastel narrowed her eyes.
“Are you talking about what I just claimed in front of the mirror? Calling myself a ruler?”
Shaking her index finger side to side.
“Wrong answer! It’s not a phase; it’s just my usual personality! I love power, you know!”
Exactly, exactly!
Nodding, Pastel walked on with a slightly pouty face.
The demon was doubting me again.
“What do you know about me, anyway? If you judge others’ personalities like that, no wonder you wear such a drab suit all the time.”
Exactly, exactly.
After a moment of silence, the demon faintly muttered.
“It’s a phase, alright.”
Pastel, who hadn’t heard it clearly due to her grumbling, halted.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing. But hearing your words makes sense. I apologize for my remarks that didn’t consider you. I’ll be more careful moving forward.”
Hmm.
Even after receiving an apology, it felt uneasy.
“Yeah, well.”
Pastel pouted her lips and shook her head as she walked.
But feeling uneasy, she tried to press the demon for answers, yet sensed someone approaching from the other end of the hallway, stopping the conversation.
Wait a moment. Melissa came walking by, a newspaper from the club in her hand.
Pastel lit up at the sight of her best friend.
“Melissa!”
She waved both hands.
“You came to see me!”
My healing factor!
Buzz-buzz Melissa!
Just as she was feeling down, Melissa arrived at the perfect moment!
Melissa shuddered when she spotted Pastel. She hesitated for a moment, trying to hide the newspaper behind her back, but perhaps realizing that such behavior was undignified, she gave up.
“Pastel, I wanted to talk to you at the right time—”
“Melissa!”
Pastel lunged at her and hugged her tightly.
“Listen! Listen! Everyone is doubting me! I mean really doubting me!”
Even the demon!
Poorly held by the grip, Melissa struggled to breathe. The sorceress felt threatened and had a hard time pushing Pastel away.
“Ah, sorry!”
Melissa cleared her throat lightly.
“It’s fine. But wait, everyone is doubting you?”
Pastel’s expression turned into a frown.
“Yes, yes! That! Really everyone is doubting my heart! I just wanted to keep everyone safe and worked hard to achieve results!”
Pastel’s voice quivered as she poured her heart out.
“When everyone suddenly turns on me, I feel hurt and upset, no matter how tough I am! There’s no one to believe in me, and I thought I was popular, but I’m actually all alone!”
Not being popular? Pastel?! Unbelievable!
Clutching her head in despair, Pastel gazed at Melissa with sad, delicate eyes.
Then her face lit up with a smile.
“But it’s okay! I have Melissa!”
Wah!
My best friend!
Trustworthy even more than the demon!
Pastel firmly grasped Melissa’s hand.
Her pink eyes sparkled.
“You came to hang out with me today! Truly, you’re the only one!”
Sparkle, sparkle.
“Right, Melissa?”
Melissa flinched.
“Yes, yes.”
Her golden eyes subtly averted. The newspaper in her other hand hid further behind her back.
“Of course. I trust you. We’re friends after all.”
“Just as I thought, it’s you, Melissa! I knew you wouldn’t doubt me! If you doubted me too, I would have truly despaired and collapsed!”
Sniff.
“Ah….”
Melissa bit her lip, unable to speak. Then she hid the newspaper even further behind her back.
What’s this about?
“What’s that in your hand?”
Melissa’s eyes shook.
“Nothing much.”
Pastel stealthily checked behind Melissa. Melissa quickly turned and tried to hide the newspaper again.
“Melissa?”
Melissa smiled awkwardly.
“More importantly, would you like to enjoy some tea time? I was bothered thinking about how you rated the Cookie from the Bellamont family as delicious. I’ve prepared even tastier apple cookies than that.”
Whoa.
Cookies that are tastier than those made by Elshire’s chef?
“Thank you, Melissa! You really are the best!”
Pastel hugged her tightly again. Melissa shivered and then let out a small sigh of relief.
Taking the opportunity, Pastel snatched the newspaper.
“Ahh!”
Startled, Melissa reached for it again, but it was futile.
Pastel fell back, bursting into laughter as she opened the newspaper.
“Let’s see what’s so ‘nothing special’!”
The content quickly caught her eye.
An article created by the Newspaper Club.
The fabricated article claiming that His Lordship the Marquis had given black money to silence the Newspaper Club.
Why does Melissa have this newspaper?
Now that she thinks about it, this was right by the pathway to the Newspaper Club.
Could it be that Melissa was doubting me and was on her way to confirm the truth with the Newspaper Club?
Whoa.
Pastel’s mouth fell open.
Her shocked face turned to Melissa.
“Melissa…?”
The only best friend in the world, the one I trusted more than the demon for a moment, is doubting me?
Melissa’s eyes trembled.
“I didn’t doubt you.”
Her voice sounded burdened with guilt.
“So, it’s just that—”
Finding her own lie amusing, Melissa let out a faint chuckle. Avoiding eye contact, she ultimately confessed her lie.
“I’m sorry.”
Whoa.
Pastel felt her strength vanish and plopped down onto the ground.
“Melissa, even you…!”
Not a single person I can trust!
Melissa approached with great remorse.
“I did have doubts after reading the article. Apart from Craft, I even took part in your… um, family reconstruction efforts. But seeing you today, those doubts have faded.”
Pastel looked up with tear-filled eyes.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Melissa cautiously took the newspaper back.
“Illegitimate reconstruction efforts must not be easy, given Craft’s former endeavors and know-how. But this is something else entirely.”
Unfolding the newspaper, she read the piece carefully.
“When you think about it, the article makes no sense. There’s no way you could silence the Newspaper Club unethically or manufacture poisons like a terrorist.”
“Yes, yes! Exactly!”
Pastel completely agreed. She jumped up from her seated position.
“Just as I thought, it’s you, Melissa! You’re the only one!”
Yet, Melissa, who seemed completely trustworthy, wore a subtle smile.
“However, there’s something I’m still concerned about. Would you answer this?”
“Anything!”
Pastel nodded vigorously.
The heir of the Southern Commander opened her mouth.
“Why did you bring soldiers to the school?”
Their gazes met.
Silence hung in the air.
Pastel’s eyes gradually widened.
“Why are you asking that? Are things really that bad with Elshire? If so, why don’t you all make up? If it’s embarrassing, shall I arrange it for you?”
“Huh?”
Melissa looked baffled by the sudden remark.
After some contemplation, she nodded her head as if coming to a personal understanding.
“Ah… Was it because of Elshire Bellamont?”
“To prevent an assassination attempt on Elshire, and there’s also the indiscriminate terror that affects other friends.”
Pastel said seriously.
“I might seem lighthearted, but I know how to differentiate between things. When it matters, I stay focused.”
Focusing hard!
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Melissa lowered her head apologetically.
“I thought you got swept up in greed. I also let Craft’s infamous reputation cloud my judgment. I’m sorry.”
Pastel grinned.
“That’s understandable! I’ll accept your apology!”
She linked arms with Melissa.
“Now that we’ve cleared up the misunderstanding, we don’t need to check on the Newspaper Club, right? Since I’ve got work to do, I can’t go taste your cookies today, so let’s just have a light tea time in the student council room!”
“That sounds good.”
They moved forward.
La la la.
After walking for a bit, perhaps feeling relaxed, Melissa softly smiled again.
“Thinking back, I feel embarrassed. I fell for that vulgar article. You couldn’t possibly be the one to silence the Newspaper Club or manufacture disgraceful poisons.”
“I told you!”
Pastel nodded eagerly.
“If it were me, I wouldn’t suppress the student voice, but rather, support it! I was just doing that! I sponsored them because they were so poor! How many people are like me?”
Right, right.
“Yup?”
Melissa turned sharply.
Her golden eyes bore into Pastel intensely.
Pastel grumbled.
“Everyone’s really too much.”
Before they knew it, they arrived right in front of the student council room.
“And I wonder if there are any snacks.”
“More importantly, Pastel.”
“Huh? What’s up?”
Pastel turned to look back at Melissa as she opened the door to the student council room.
Yellow paralysis gas poured out from the gap in the door.
Whoa.
Startled, Pastel flung the door open wide.
The inside was engulfed in yellow gas. Elly and Dustin were still collapsed, face down.
Whoa.
Pastel clutched her head.
What have I done?!
“Ugh! I exploded the gas earlier and didn’t ventilate the room!”
I’m so sorry, guys!
She turned to Melissa.
“I can ventilate… with magic…”
An extremely intense gaze felt directed toward her.
“Huh?”
“Why do you look like that, Melissa?”
A gaze that seemed to see a criminal.
Pastel suddenly felt very wronged.
I didn’t do it!
This is so unfair…!
