Chapter 71
"I'll dedicate myself to getting the newspaper club approved as an official club!"
Pastel proudly declared.
"Because the student council exists for the students!"
"We'll only trust the student council. We can finally escape the reality of operating while saving on living expenses."
The vice president and members were moved.
It seems the newspaper club mainly deals with gossip, so it's far from noble and honorable writing activities like publishing academic journals. That's why it was difficult for them to receive various sponsorships.
That's when I appeared just in time!
Ta-da~ a check like a noble sponsoring a poor artist!
I was quite noble!
At this rate, wouldn't I be 0.5 Melissa?
Moreover moreover!
Immediate approval as an official club!
If it becomes an official club, the student council can directly execute the budget to give the newspaper club the paper, ink, food expenses, pocket money, etc. they want.
Originally, even such obvious measures had to be approved by professors and administrative staff, but not anymore.
The school belongs to the students.
Now that the procedure of giving the school to students has been completed, the student council has many powers including budget approval rights.
An official club?
It's not difficult.
Originally, the student council should listen to hardships in inconspicuous places and work meticulously.
There's no reason not to help true journalists who are active for students while even saving on living expenses.
Proud.
Pastel boasted to her heart's content.
She stretched her body fully, even standing on tiptoes, and puffed up puff puff.
The newspaper club vice president looked around then personally brought a chair.
"Sit here."
"Ah! It's okay! I'll go right back to the student council and make the newspaper club an official club!"
Pastel bowed and left the newspaper club.
She hummed and hopped hop hop.
"The world is beautiful~"
She spun around twirl.
"Resolve conflicts through dialogue~"
She raised both arms high.
"Because there are many good people in the world~!"
Oh yeah.
『Hah.』
The demon who had changed into a magic sword was uncomfortable.
Oing.
"What's wrong?"
『It's nothing.』
Eeng.
Saying it's nothing makes me more curious.
She held up the magic sword and stared intently.
Curious beam~
After a while like that, the magic sword scattered into smoke then maintained its form. It seemed to be considering whether to have a serious conversation in human form.
『...Forget it.』
The demon sighed.
『You properly assimilated the consumed ranks of existence into your inner world, right? Not having them act separately.』
"You mean Mercury and Venus friends?"
『Yes, those whatever things.』
"Of course! They're totally solar system family!"
She spread both arms.
"You're all family!"
『Then that's fine.』
The demon was somewhat relieved.
『Seems puberty has come. Perhaps you're just twisted because the environment and situation are bad.』
Pastel's eyes went round.
To make statements like a guardian analyzing the reasons for rebellious behavior, while doing so.
Complete shock.
Could I be in puberty?
Swaying from hormones?
Eeng.
But I'm not.
Pastel narrowed her eyes.
"Don't tell me you're saying that because I called myself an authority figure in front of the mirror earlier?"
She wagged her index finger.
"Ding ding ding! Wrong! It's not puberty, just my usual personality! I originally love power!"
That's right that's right!
Pastel nodded then moved her steps with a slightly sulky expression.
Demon doubted me again.
"To begin with, what do you know about me to say such things? You wear gloomy formal wear because you judge others' personalities like that."
That's right that's right.
The demon was quiet then muttered softly.
『It is puberty.』
Pastel who didn't hear properly because she was grumbling paused.
"What did you say?"
『It's nothing. Hearing your words, there's a point. I apologize for speaking without considering you. I'll be careful from now on.』
Eeng.
Still uncomfortable even after hearing an apology.
"Yeah, whatever."
Pastel pouted her lips then shook her head and walked.
Then feeling still uncomfortable, she was about to press the demon but sensed someone's presence from down the corridor and stopped talking.
After waiting, Melissa walked over. A newspaper published by the newspaper club was grasped in one hand.
Pastel brightened at her close friend's appearance.
"Melissa!"
She waved both hands.
"You came to see me!"
My healing factor!
Honey bee Melissa!
You came at just the right time when I was feeling upset!
Melissa flinched upon seeing Pastel. She hesitated then tried to hide the newspaper behind her back, but seemed to think such behavior itself was undignified and gave up.
"Pastel, I wanted to talk to you-"
"Melissa!"
Pastel rushed over and hugged her tightly.
"Listen! Listen! The whole world doubts me! Completely completely doubts me!"
Even demon!
Melissa who was tightly embraced gasped at the superhuman strength. The magician who felt a threat to her life pushed Pastel away with difficulty.
"Ah, sorry!"
Melissa let out a faint cough.
"It's okay. More importantly, the whole world doubts you?"
Pastel made a tearful face.
"Yes yes! That's it! That! Everyone really doubts my heart! I just wanted to protect everyone safely and I worked hard to even produce results!"
She poured out her heart in an upset voice.
"When everyone changes like this, even I feel hurt and upset! There's no one to trust and I thought I was popular but I was actually alone!"
Pastel who's not popular!
No way~!
Pastel who was clutching her head staggered then looked at Melissa with fragile eyes.
Then she gradually smiled brightly.
"But it's okay! Because I have Melissa!"
Waa!
My close friend!
A close friend I can trust more than demon!
Pastel tightly grasped Melissa's hands.
Pink eyes sparkled.
"To come looking for me to play together today too! There's really only you!"
Sparkle sparkle.
"Right, Melissa?"
Melissa flinched.
"Y-yes."
Golden eyes subtly avoided her gaze. The newspaper grasped in her remaining hand was hidden behind her back.
"Of course. I believe you. We're friends."
"As expected of Melissa! I knew only you wouldn't doubt me! If even you doubted me, I would have collapsed in despair!"
Sniff.
"Ah..."
Melissa chewed her lips then couldn't speak. Then she hid the newspaper further behind her back.
Oing.
"But what's that in your hand?"
Melissa's pupils trembled.
"It's nothing."
Pastel subtly checked behind Melissa's back. Melissa hurriedly turned her body to hide the newspaper.
"Melissa?"
Melissa smiled awkwardly.
"More importantly, shall we enjoy tea time? I was bothered that you evaluated Bellamont family's cookies as delicious. I prepared even more delicious apple cookies."
Huk.
Cookies more delicious than those made by Elsior's chef.
"Thank you Melissa! There's really only you!"
Pastel hugged her tightly. Melissa flinched then let out a small sigh of relief.
Pastel's hand took advantage of that gap to snatch the newspaper.
"Ah!"
Surprised Melissa tried to grab it again but it was no use.
Pastel who stepped back snickered and opened the newspaper.
"I'll look since it's nothing!"
The contents caught her eye at a glance.
The article the newspaper club had created.
It was that fabricated article saying Marquis Your Excellency gave black money to silence the newspaper club.
Why does Melissa have this newspaper?
Come to think of it, this is the path to the newspaper club.
No way no way was Melissa on her way to the newspaper club to confirm the truth because she doubted me?
Huk.
Pastel's mouth fell open.
She looked at Melissa with a shocked face.
"Melissa...?"
You who are my only friend in the world and who I trusted even more than demon for a moment, you?
Melissa's pupils trembled.
"I wasn't doubting you."
It was a voice feeling pangs of conscience.
"So that..."
Melissa let out a faint laugh as if her own lie was funny. She avoided her gaze then confessed her lie.
"I'm sorry."
Huuk.
Pastel who lost strength collapsed with a thud.
"Melissa, even you...!"
There's no one to trust~!
Melissa approached feeling very sorry.
"It's true I had doubts after reading the article. Aside from you being a Craft, I even acted as your proxy for smug- um, family rebuilding activities. But seeing you today, those doubts are gone."
She looked up at Pastel's tearful face.
"Reaaally?"
"Yes."
Melissa carefully took the newspaper.
"Illegal rebuilding activities were unavoidable regardless of your tendencies since the Craft family originally did such things and had the know-how. But this is a different area, right?"
She opened the newspaper and read the contents carefully.
"Thinking deeply, it was an article with absurd content. There's no way you would dishonorably silence the newspaper club or manufacture poisons identical to terrorists."
"Yes yes! That's right that's right!"
Pastel completely agreed. She jumped up from her seat.
"As expected of Melissa! There's only you!"
But Melissa who seemed to completely believe her made a subtle smile.
"However, there's something that bothers me. Will you answer?"
"Of course!"
Pastel nodded.
The Southern Commander's successor opened her mouth.
"Why did you bring private soldiers onto campus?"
Their gazes met.
Silence fell.
Pastel's eyes gradually went round.
"Why are you asking that? Are you and Elsior on such bad terms? If so, why don't you two really reconcile? If you're embarrassed, shall I arrange it?"
"What?"
Melissa was perplexed at the sudden words.
She pondered then nodded as if convincing herself.
"Ah... It was because of Elsior Bellamont."
"There's preventing Elsior's assassination, and indiscriminate terrorism that would sweep up other friends too."
Pastel spoke seriously.
"I may seem like a frivolous person and really am, but I live while distinguishing matters. I'm fully alert when it's important."
Alert alert.
"Ah, I'm sorry."
Melissa bowed her head deeply.
"I thought you were swept up in self-interest. I was blinded by the Craft family's infamy again. I'm sorry."
Pastel smiled brightly.
"It's understandable! I accept your apology!"
She linked arms with Melissa.
"Since the misunderstanding is cleared up, there's no need to go to the newspaper club right? I have work left so it's difficult to go eat your cookies, but let's have a light tea time in the student council room today!"
"That's right."
They moved their steps.
Lulula.
After walking for a while, Melissa smiled softly as if some tension had been released.
"Thinking again, it's embarrassing. I was fooled by a vulgar article. There's no way you would silence the newspaper club or manufacture dishonorable poisons."
"That's what I'm saying!"
Pastel nodded.
"I wouldn't suppress students' voices but cheer them on! I just did that! The newspaper club was so poor I even sponsored them! Who else would do this!"
Nod nod.
"What?"
Melissa turned sharply.
Golden eyes stared intensely.
Pastel grumbled.
"Everyone is really too much."
They had already arrived in front of the student council room.
"Come to think of it, I'm not sure if there are snacks."
"More importantly, Pastel."
"Hm? What's wrong?"
Pastel was about to turn to Melissa while opening the student council room door.
Yellow paralytic gas flowed out from the door gap.
Oh no.
Pastel who startled greatly flung open the door.
The interior covered in yellow gas came into view. Ellie and Dustin were still collapsed face down.
Huk.
Pastel clutched her head.
Uwaa.
"I left without ventilating after bursting the gas earlier~!"
I'm sorry guys~!
She turned to Melissa.
"Ventilate with magic..."
A very intense gaze was felt.
Oing.
"What's wrong Melissa?"
A gaze looking at a criminal.
Pastel suddenly felt extremely wronged.
I didn't do it!
I'm wronged...!