619 - I Was Genderswapped and Reincarnated as a Villainess, but I’m Making this My Personal Yuri Game

Title: Chapter 619: "Conflict" As October drew to a close, preparations for the cultural festival were steadily advancing, with the newly formed student council already in full swing. Under normal circumstances, the transition to a new student council would take place after the festival, but due to all the previous student council members being expelled midway, the new council had already taken charge of operations. It was well-known that I had supported Masa, and since Natsume caused such an uproar in public after the re-election, people assumed I had influenced him. Not that I have any interest in the student council, nor do I plan on taking over, but rumors suggesting otherwise have been making rounds. Natsume is probably seen as a traitor to the Ichijo and Namba families. In reality, it wasn't Natsume who betrayed but rather that the Ichijo Family imposed unreasonable demands, leaving Natsume no choice but to ensure his own safety. However, such logic doesn't resonate with those involved. They only see the final result of Natsume being under my protection and deduce that I poached him or label Natsume as the betrayer. Listening to everything such people say would only stall us. If it's rumors or baseless accusations we can disregard, it's best left alone. Nonetheless, should things escalate to the point where they attempt violence against Natsume, that would be troublesome. I promised to protect him, so that promise must be upheld. As for the school, I've entrusted Masa, due to his student council role, to look after Natsume. And although they're in different classes, I've also asked Kaidou and Fuki to keep an eye on him during first-year classes. Natsume has moved into the Fuji dormitory with my help, and outside of school, the Kujou Family's guards protect him from potential threats or kidnappings. The new student council is functioning smoothly, and the cultural festival preparations are progressing without any issues, making it quite an orderly school life. "Good morning, Kujou-san." "……Good day, Takatsukasa-sama." Enju spoke to me upon entering the classroom. This year, we're in the same class, but he usually arrives later than me. Yet, he was already here this morning and initiated conversation, which was rather unusual. "Could I have a moment of your time?" "…Please excuse me for a moment while I put my things down." Being approached by Enju, I placed my belongings on my desk and then left the classroom with him. While Satsuki-chan and Seri-chan, who had arrived earlier, were concerned, I asked our group to wait for me. I didn't know what Enju's business was, but going as a flock would likely make the conversation difficult. "Is here alright?" "Yes." In the empty classroom Enju had entered, he asked for confirmation. However, I couldn't tell if this location was soundproof enough or not, since I wasn't privy to the content of the discussion. If he deemed this sufficient, it would suffice for our talk. "Why did you refuse the match against Ibuki before?" "…Huh?" I couldn't grasp the meaning behind Enju's words. Why should I have accepted a match against Ibuki, especially one where the stakes were so dire? "Allow me to ask you, though: could you wager something that could determine the course of your life on such a match? Our marriage, let alone engagement, is a significant matter that could unsettle our families and the noble society. It's unimaginable to decide something so crucial through childish games. The rules and stakes themselves are absurd." "Indeed, that's true. It's inconceivable to wager something that dictates the rest of your life on a result you can't influence. And with family matters, it’s not something children can decide on their own." "Huh?" Enju repeated what I said with an unreadable expression. He should have understood something so straightforward without needing me to explain it. Ibuki might live in his "kingdom" where everything aligns with his desires, but Enju isn't as foolish as Ibuki. He should have realized at least this much and, being Ibuki's best friend, should have stopped him before he did anything excessively foolish... Or maybe... just maybe... "I understand your point well, Kujou-san. That's all, thank you." "………" With a smile that held no mirth, Enju left the empty classroom, leaving an unsettling feeling behind. What was this intense sense of unease...? In the game "Blossoms of Love," Ibuki and Enju were portrayed as best friends, a notion I believed held true here since they'd grown up together. But is that really the case? Every time Ibuki made an idiotic blunder, didn't I already think Enju could have stopped him if he wanted? Even though the Konoe Family ranks higher and the Takatsukasa Family is a subordinate branch of the Konoe Family, both are part of the prestigious five families. Regardless of how bad Ibuki and Enju's relationship might be, the connection between the Konoe and Takatsukasa Families can't be easily broken. Even with the differences in family status, wealth, social standing, and influence, neither can ignore the other. One can’t simply sever ties with someone influential on a whim due to personal disagreements. While there might be youthful squabbles over compatibility or mutual dislike, adult relationships evolve into something greater... or so I thought. But is that truly the reality? If Enju truly were Ibuki's friend, shouldn’t he have intervened earlier whenever Ibuki was about to do something foolish? Enju was always just there behind him, without stepping in to stop him. If, just perhaps, Enju didn’t refrain from giving advice because he couldn't, but instead deliberately allowed Ibuki to act foolishly, letting him fall from grace—if his aim was to tarnish Ibuki’s reputation, then everything changes. Just because Ibuki and Enju were best friends in "Blossoms of Love" doesn't mean that reality, now so altered, holds to that same "setup." So what was his intention in calling me this morning and posing that question? Both Enju and I should have already known the answer. Was Ibuki too foolish to realize it, or did Enju deliberately want me to reaffirm my opinion? If his intent was to further lower my estimation of Ibuki, to make me lose all respect for him, what did that imply? Currently, Enju is no longer the "Snow White Prince" Takatsukasa from the game, but rather the "Black-hearted Prince" Takatsukasa living in this real world. Despite telling myself repeatedly that this reality differs from the game, I find myself influenced by game knowledge. Assuming that Enju is Ibuki's "best friend" or "ally" is hazardous. In this world, who knows what could happen. Up until now, I believed that, unlike in the game, Enju was a subdued character who rarely took action. I assumed this was because the main storyline of the game, which begins in high school, hadn't started, and the protagonist hadn't appeared. But there's a high chance that's not the case. From now on, I must pay close attention to Enju's movements... ~~~~~ Enju, uncharacteristically early to arrive at school, waited for Kujou Sakuya. His setup was perfect. He immediately greeted Sakuya in the morning and led her to an arranged empty classroom. Sakuya's surprised reaction when he addressed her in the morning was amusing. Her face clearly showed she never expected to be approached by Enju. Seeing such an expression from the normally unflappable Sakuya made Enju feel as if he'd gained a rewarding prize. Initially, Enju hesitated to pull such a scheme. But just seeing that expression on Sakuya's face was more than rewarding enough, making him glad he went through with his plan. Enju persistently questioned her about the match Ibuki had proposed at the Gohokai salon. Once Sakuya answered, he promptly exited the empty classroom. But instead of returning to the class, Enju waited for Sakuya to leave before heading back into the classroom. There he found... “Did you get it, Ibuki?” “…………” As Sakuya exited the classroom and Enju re-entered, Ibuki stood frozen within. Ibuki had been hiding in the classroom all along. Unable to comprehend or calm his anger after Sakuya rejected his proposal, Enju had attempted various explanations. But with no success, he had finally resorted to this scheme. By having Ibuki hide in the empty classroom, allowing Enju to bring Sakuya in to express her thoughts, Enju hoped Ibuki would finally understand why Sakuya refused the match. Although he couldn't predict Ibuki's reaction after hearing it, at the very least, Ibuki would comprehend Sakuya's reasoning. Enju just wanted to avoid dealing with a sulking Ibuki who wouldn’t listen to reason; he hoped Sakuya's words might finally break through. “So, she didn't refuse because she doesn't want to marry me; it was because she can't, due to considerations for both the Konoe and Kujou families, as well as others, right? Hahaha!” “Ibuki… Are you serious?” Ibuki isn’t unintelligent; he maintains top ten grades in his class. However, he is foolish in other ways, as Enju was beginning to realize. He believes everything will go his way and interprets events to suit his convenience. Enju recognized this tendency, but not the full extent. Ibuki's egocentric thinking and self-serving interpretations are far more severe than Enju had anticipated. He applies wild interpretations that typical people wouldn’t think of, unable to grasp the subtle emotions of others that ordinary folks would understand. The setup—intended for Ibuki to realize the reality of Sakuya's thoughts—ended up being filtered through Ibuki's screwed viewpoint, ignoring Sakuya's true intentions and common sense. It didn’t go as Enju envisioned. But once Ibuki started his runaway thinking, Enju couldn’t stop him. “Alright! Let’s figure out a way to make Sakuya more straightforward!” “Ah! Wait, Ibuki! Calm down!” Ignoring Enju's chase, the "Disappointing Prince" Ibuki Konoe rushed headlong into further chaos. ~~~~~ In Class 2-1, chaos unfolded like a scene from hell. "I'm saying it's fine, so what's the problem?" “They said: ‘Respect the school's rules!’ Plans for the cultural festival have already been set! Other classes are moving according to it! You can’t just change things now!” This year's exhibit for Class 2-1 was a "cafe." Out of the twelve classes in the entire school across three grades, five classes wanted to host a "cafe" as well. Allowing nearly half the classes to host the same cafe was out of the question. Moreover, the locations suitable for setting up cafes were limited, making it a competition. Class 2-1 managed to secure the "Home Economics Cooking Room" by pushing Ibuki's assertions through, thus obtaining a slot for the cafe. Along with the Science Lab and Teacher's Lounge usage rights, a total of three classes were set to open cafes. After numerous meetings and Ibuki exerting pressure on the school to secure the Home Economics Cooking Room, which allowed for the cafe, now Ibuki insisted on changing the plans. Upon hearing this, the new student council president, Masa, confronted Ibuki with a rational stance, igniting their conflict. “I’m not saying to cancel the cafe! I’m proposing we open a store in Class 2-1, host a live show in the gym, and add a play in the auditorium!” “Where do you plan to get the manpower for that? What about the budget? Even though Class 2-1 can use their classroom, schedules and usage for other locations have already been decided! There’s no way you can suddenly disturb that!” “What if I make use of them? Others can withdraw! Nobody needs their amateur shows! Class presentations take priority!” “………” Ibuki’s arrogance left his classmates in Class 2-1 speechless. Even for a member of the five families, this was too much. “Ugh, I told you from the start that we should’ve chosen something other than a ‘cafe’. But someone just had to force it through… And then, when preparations started moving, this someone goes and changes things out of nowhere… Seriously, just the worst—” “What did you say? You’re… was it Hagiwara Shion? The one who flirted with Sakuya only to end up crying from the retaliation, weren’t you?” “Hmph! And so what? It wasn't you who did it! Why bring up something that old?” “Enough! Regardless, the student council can't allow any intrusion at this point!” “Shut up! It’s none of your business! A lapdog made student council president by Sakuya!” "That's right! You should stay quiet for a moment! Right now, I'm talking to Ibuki Konoe!" Up until this point, Class 2-1 had precariously managed to maintain a delicate balance, avoiding direct confrontations between its volatile trio: Ibuki Konoe, Masaki Oshiji, and Shion Hagiwara. However, the events surrounding the cultural festival finally led to a clash between them. --- To add to your favorites, please log in. Support with a Like Currently unavailable Please log in to rate the work. To leave comments, please log in. Back to top Share on Twitter or LINE Send via Twitter LINE +Note+ Unless otherwise stated, all works are fictional and unrelated to real people or organizations. Unless specified, the rights to the works reside with the author (excluding some works). Quoting beyond fair use without permission is prohibited and constitutes a copyright violation. This work is link-free. Feel free to link (introduce) it. This work is compatible with computers. It automatically detects whether you're using a smartphone or a computer and displays the appropriate page. Reading time is estimated based on reading 500 characters per minute and should be used as a guide. Author's My Page Report typos Back to top Let's Become a Novelist! Read Novels! Search Information provider