55 Impudence - Part 4 (2/2)

Once done, I set the chalk down then turn to face the class.

”Behold!”

There, bright and bold, are the words ”Mixed-Gender P.E Classes” written clearly on the blackboard.

”My comrades, gym class is a time of physical and spiritual bonding. There isn't a single class that is more hands-on or intimate in comparison. So why? Why must we be segregated by gender? Isn't that just promoting a world where it's ”us vs them” when it comes to guys and girls? Think about it! Guys, before last week, we always had so much fun during P.E didn't we? Wouldn't it be so much more enjoyable if the girls were also there to be a part of it?”

Imagine it, guys.

This proposition has nothing to do with gender equality or segregation.

This is about…

The girl's gym uniforms.

”Wouldn't you guys love to have Jennifer and the rest of the girls join in on all of the fun we have?!”

Jennifer in her gym uniform.

I know all of you degenerates love looking at her body with your disgusting gazes.

I know it because I too, couldn't resist it at some point.

But there's nothing wrong with that!

We're just teenage boys going through puberty!

We deserve to have these sights etched into our minds!

Jennifer Swift wearing gym shorts!

Jennifer Swift's boobs squeezed up against her gym shirt!

Use your imagination, guys!!

”I think it'd be a great time for everyone, don't you all agree?!”

An audible gulp echoes throughout the classroom.

Aha, someone took the bait.

They just imagined it.

Now, I just need to press on a little more…

”I won't deny that biologically, guys are a little better at physical activities after puberty, but that doesn't matter. P.E isn't about being the best, it's only about exerting our bodies! And if the girls can't keep up, then it's no problem. Maybe we, as guys, can help them out a little!”

A one-on-one training session with the girls in our class, while they're in their gym uniforms.

All this and more, can be yours.

And one lucky guy might even have the pleasure of getting a that alone time with Jennifer herself.

It's something that we could only dream of before today.

But if you vote for me, then this could become your reality.

”…”

They all look like they've made their decisions.

While the girls seem to be on the fence, the guys all have a relatively serious face.

Yeah.

That's right.

You're all men, so you know the real reason I'm proposing this idea, don't you?

”I truly believe that this would be the first step to creating a real bonding experience for our classroom. I know I haven't done the best job being sociable with the rest of the class, but I'd like to think that these rumors opened my eyes to the fact that I really should appreciate every one of my classmates more. I hope that I can create a homeroom 103 where fun things like these are more frequent and common. Thank you.”

After completely my speech, I bow and walk back to where Jennifer is sitting.

… Hah.

Like hell I'd want to spend more time with you idiots. I hope every single one of you gets tricked into voting for me.

I'm not the kind of person who would just forgive the pitchforks you all raised over some stupid rumor.

If I get into power, I'm only going to do things that benefit the 'Fated Ones'. Apologizing is one thing, but if you all think I'd want to be friends with you after everything you've put me through, then you've got another thing coming.

”…”

I freeze in my steps.

Jennifer's glare is like Medusa's gaze.

My body can no longer move.

Is she seriously that pissed about my speech?

Ah, I guess she realized I was offering her up to the guys as a bargaining chip…

Ahahaha… can't say I don't deserve it.

Taking the time to steel myself, I walk beside her and turn back to face the classroom.

”Okay! Now that the elections are done, I'm going to be handing out slips of paper so that you all can cast your votes. Once you're done, just fold them and place them in the box in front of the classroom.”

”…”

”…”

Here I am, standing next to the woman who started all of this.

Just looking on as the rest of the masses puts in their votes.

It's kinda exciting…

”Just so you know, no one believed anything you said.”

She sure has a nasty tongue.

”I wouldn't be so sure about that. There's some things you can't understand unless you've experienced it for yourself.”

”Huh? What are you talking about?”

”Love.”

”Lo… Pfft.”

”…”

”Here I was wondering what you were going to say. Love doesn't exist, Chase. It's just a cheesy concept that people sing to themselves so they can feel less lonely in the world. I know Scarlet enjoys her little Disney fantasies, but that's all they are. The original story of ”The Little Mermaid” doesn't end with Ariel in the arms of her sweet prince like it did in the movie. He chooses the princess over her and she meets a tragic end alone. Real life is like that. It doesn't matter how fond you are of a man. They'll always choose the cuter, more attractive, more popular girl regardless of how much substance you might have in comparison. They're all idiots.”

Jennifer's words were as cynical as ever.

Saying that if we had a choice, the guy would always pick the cute popular girl isn't that far-fetched of an idea.

However…

Despite the cynicism, I sensed pain in her words.

I don't know what that pain is, but I get the feeling that Jennifer went through something heartbreaking before she came to high school.

Something that drove her into this obsessive mission of misandry.

”You know… back in middle school I actually had a crush on one of those cute, popular girls.”

She rolls her eyes.

”Whoop-di-fucking-doo. Color me surprised.”

”… I think I actually had a chance with her. We were in the same friend group and we spoke pretty much every day. Eventually I decided that I'd confess to her. Tell her how I feel and all that. Not in an overly dramatic way, I'd just let it slip into the conversation naturally. See where it takes us. But… that never happened. Because sadly, people found out about my living situation, just like you did.”

”…”

”I'll never forget how differently my friends; my friends started treating me. Like I was suddenly less of a human being than they were just because I was barely making ends meet. Just because I didn't have the money to live the same lifestyle that they did. That stuff really did make me feel like much less of a person than they were. Even that cute, popular girl started looking at me differently, despite us being so close before that.”

”Serves you right. Men are all like that. They couldn't tell you anything about what a girl is like deep down. Not 'til they're stuck in a marriage with them and realize the terrible mistake they made. It's all about their face and their body, and how many other men want her. It's all about power for them. Bunch of apes…”

She clicks her tongue.

”… My point is, some of us grow out of that. I won't say that all men do, but a lot of us have learned to look beneath the surface. I mean, you're the cutest, most popular freshman girl at this school and that still wasn't enough for me to do anything with you on that day.”

”…”

”There are things in life more important than sex, and there are a lot of men who eventually do come to that realization. So… I think it'd be wrong of you to write off an entire gender based on a few bad eggs.”

”Tough talk from someone who basically sold me off as a sex object during his campaign speech.”

Ahahaha, I knew she was going to say that.

”D-don't worry about that. I'm not actually gonna go through with it.”

Probably, anyway.

”Oh? Maybe I should let everyone know that then.”

”And you call me the sociopath…”

”Heh. I'm impressed that you two figured out I was responsible for those tweets at least.”

That's the first time I've seen her smile like that.

Like she was admitting defeat on some level.

She almost doesn't look like the devil now.

”… Hey Chase.”

”Huh?”

”Even if it isn't 100% certain like I thought it'd be, you're still going to lose this election. I hope you know that.”

”… Probably.”

”But.”

”But?”

”It was fun, wasn't it?”

Fun?

…

After everything she's put me through, she's going to call this 'fun'?

Are you serious?

”Go to hell. You really are the devil.”

”Ahahahaha! What a funny guy! Scarlet really does know how to pick them, doesn't she?”

Though hearing it from her pisses me off to no end, I suppose it was fun in its own way.

Overcoming all of these obstacles together with my friends to take down a common enemy…

I've become a stronger person from all of this for sure.

And…

”After all, he's the boy I fell in love with.”

”…”

The warmth that filled my body when I read those words gave me a second wind.

It truly did make me feel like this life was worth living in again.

Who knew that garbage like me could make an amazing girl like Scarlet fall in love?

The world really is a big place…

”Hey, you two. Get to your desks. You need to vote too.”

”Uh, right…”

We both offer a nod to Miss Bell and hurry off to our seats.

…

Ahh dammit. I wonder if it was enough…

Writing my name like this just makes this whole thing feel surreal.

Will anyone else even bother writing my name on their piece of paper?

There's no way, is there?

That just doesn't seem likely.

I feel someone patting my back.

”Sig?”

”Chase-dono… that was beautiful.”

”T-thanks…”

”I'm sure… *sniff* Nick would be proud if he were here to see it…”

”Dude, he's not dead. Relax.”

”But Chase-dono, he's probably going to be…”

”…”

”Let's not think about that til the elections done, Sig.”

”A-ah, hai…”

Nick…

I probably wouldn't have been given the opportunity to stand there if it weren't for you.

Seriously… what kind of madman hits Jennifer Swift in the face in the middle of class?

Though, I guess Nick was never one for judging social cues.

He's all about what he believes in. People might call him a nerd, but I think he's the embodiment of living by your own rules.

It makes sense that society wouldn't appreciate someone like him, but… I can't help but respect it. It takes a lot of courage to stand up against every person and every preconceived notion just to be the man you want to be.

”…”

Enough.

I need to vote.

Let's get this out of the way.

Once I'm done writing my name, I walk over to the teacher's desk and place my ballot into the box.

And after a while, the voting had been concluded.

The votes were drawn and counted, and the winner would be decided.

Or rather, the winners.

The votes tallied up to 14-14.

It's a draw.