After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

Going to school in the summer was torture.

Especially for the students who had to walk a long distance, as their school was far from the station.

Haneoka Private High School was one such unlucky institution.

Early in the morning.

The sunlight and the cicadas' song tortured the senses, both tactile and auditory.

Like the other students, Kagura Hikaru dragged his shoulders, wiping sweat as he trudged onward.

The shirt on his back was soaked through.

Actually, that was the least of his worries—what felt worst was taking the train.

Although he wasn't in the sun, his nose suffered greatly.

In the summer, the sour stench of sweat in the train cars grew even more pronounced, with every seat smelling, and no windows to open for ventilation, making it unbearable.

Kagura Hikaru even thought maybe he should just get a motorcycle license, chasing the wind to school every day on a bike seemed not too bad.

In the Island Nation, motorcycle licenses were categorized by engine displacement, and at 16 years old, he was eligible for the one for mid to small motorcycles under 400cc. Enjoy new chapters from empire

But after giving it more thought, he decided to let the idea go.

It wasn't because he thought motorcycles were dangerous or he couldn't afford one, but simply because if he rode a motorcycle to school, he wouldn't encounter Ai Cheng Hua Lian on the train, which seemed like a pity.

Meeting an angel on the train was his motivation to get up every morning!

Speaking of which, he didn't seem to have seen her today.

Normally, he would see her on this train at this time, but not today.

Did she come to school earlier, or could it be that Ai Cheng Hua Lian, too, could be late?

Just as he thought this, he saw her as soon as he entered the school gates.

However, Kagura Hikaru wished he hadn't.

Seeing Ai Cheng Angel walking around with a sign saying "Support Kiryu Hina for Student Council President" in her hands, one could imagine Kagura Hikaru's complete collapse.

He almost grabbed his scalp and screamed like a rabbit.

Wait, rabbits don't actually scream, do they?

That's not important.

"Please make sure to support President Hina's election, support the second vote, thank you all~... Ah, Kagura, good morning!"

Kagura Hikaru looked at her blankly, his bag strap slipping off his shoulder.

There was a sense of astonishment like seeing a good girl fall into a playboy's trap.

The angel, she had fallen...

"What... are you doing?"

"Eh? Can't you tell?" Ai Cheng Hua Lian said with a laugh, holding the sign, "I'm promoting for President Hina!"

"..."

Almost instantly, Kagura Hikaru realized that this was Kiryu Hina's retaliation towards him for helping Ayakoji Chiyoko.

She had deliberately tricked Ai Cheng Hua Lian into joining her team to make him miserable.

Upon reflection, it was clear, Ai Cheng Hua Lian was of little use to Kiryu Hina.

Being from an athletic club, she was nearly incapable of rallying anyone outside of her close Volleyball Club members to vote for Kiryu Hina, because Saijo Mari was in the way.

In terms of individual ability... What special skills did she have besides volleyball, singing, and playing the piano?

If she wanted to promote, she might as well go to the cheerleading squad or the News Department.

For Kiryu Hina, she was practically a vase—no, if one were after aesthetics, Kiryu Hina alone was enough.

So, she was even less than a vase! At best, she could shout slogans and run errands.

But did Kiryu Hina lack such people by her side? Why go out of her way to bring in Ai Cheng Hua Lian, an outsider?

The reason was simple.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian, who had no special skills or appeal, was nonetheless very important to Kagura Hikaru.

She was her only true friend at school!

From the beginning, Kagura Hikaru had no intention of asking Ai Cheng Hua Lian for help because she didn't want to drag her into this election mess.

But it was a misstep.

It's common sense that if you don't go for the hills, someone else will attack them.

Now it seemed that Ai Cheng Hua Lian couldn't fend off the naturally evil Student Council President's offensive.

"Does this really work?" Kagura Hikaru was a bit skeptical that Kiryu Hina was deliberately making Ai Cheng Hua Lian look foolish, and if that was the case, he'd have no choice but to go argue with the Student Council about it.

Just walking around school with a sign could increase support, the hearts of Ugao High students were too cheap.

"I haven't thought about it," said Ai Cheng Hua Lian with a silly look, "the more times I say it, the more effective it should be, right?"

"You..." Kagura rubbed his temples, "Ai Cheng, stop helping President Kiriyu, come to our side."

"Ah? You mean, support President Ayakoji?"

"Yes."

"No, no, I promised President Hina I would help her, how could I suddenly change my mind? I can't do that," Ai Cheng Hua Lian shook her head vigorously.

The refusal was very thorough.

"Okay then, we're opponents now."

"Being Kagura's opponent? That feels like I can't win."

Kagura Hikaru and Ai Cheng Hua Lian looked at each other and smiled, Ai Cheng Hua Lian with a smile on her face, Kagura Hikaru with a smile in his eyes.

Both were just joking.

"Wait here for me a moment."

After saying that to her, Kagura Hikaru left for a while, went to the vending machine downstairs and bought a bottle of chilled peach juice, then handed it to Ai Cheng Hua Lian.

"It's hot, stay hydrated."

"How can I accept this, let me give you money," Ai Cheng Hua Lian started fumbling for her wallet.

"No need, it's just a bottle of water," Kagura Hikaru insisted, handing her the drink, then waved his hand and walked toward the school building, "If you feel too hot, take a rest; don't work too hard."

"Thank you~!"

Today was a lucky day, being fed by Kagura Hikaru.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian thought happily, feeling the coolness of the drink bottle with her hand, as if the scorching heat on her body had dissipated quite a bit.

She twisted the cap, ready to take a sip, when a voice suddenly came from the other side.

"Drinking while walking outside, against discipline, confiscated."

The peach juice in her hand was snatched away by a slender hand, replaced by a lonely 500 yen coin lying in her palm.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian looked up stupidly, watching as Ayakoji Chiyoko drank the beverage while heading toward the school building.

She nearly cried.

That's definitely bullying, right?

"That guy isn't even a Discipline Committee member anymore and still snatching things from people, forcing a sale, so unfair... don't you think, Hua Lian?"

Kiryu Hina appeared, followed by Hosaka Yui carrying a bag of canned drinks.

She took out a bottle of cold cola from the bag, touched Ai Cheng Hua Lian's cheek with it to cool her down, and said with a smile, "Here, this is a consolation gift, you've worked hard in this heat."

"Wuwuwu, President Hina...!"

Ai Cheng Hua Lian cried, tearing up as she violently opened the cola and guzzled it down.

Although she didn't get to drink what Kagura gave her, President Hina's cola tasted great too!

"So, how's the promotion work going?"

"Phewha... Well, it's going pretty normal."

"The second round of voting is about to start, you've got to give it your all."

"Yes!"