Sho Tanaka is really hopeless

There was an uproar in the class and the reason behind it was the sudden fact that I left my position as a CR. For some, this was an opportunity while for others they were confused. Many of my classmates were looking at me as if asking 'Why did you do this?', but they weren't close enough to ask me that and why would they care about things related to me?

Among the classmates where everyone was talking about what was going on, Yoshida was the only one who could have asked me why I had left my position. But for some reason, she wasn't even looking at me, which I consider pretty odd. I thought, for sure, she would be the first one to ask why I resigned but there were no signs for it to be happening.

'maybe I was expecting too much or maybe we weren't that close... '

I was now relieved that I made this decision. After seeing the reactions of my classmates which more or less I had guessed already I let out a sigh. After that things accelerated quickly when The teacher asked who wanted to be CR. It was a new chance for students who failed to be one earlier so there was no shortage of volunteers.

Everyone was equally enthusiastic about becoming CR. It didn't take long to decide so,

"With this the new CR is... 'Hayato Hiragi'."

This time it was decided by the majority votes. So where the boy's votes were more or less unchanged, the girl's watch made a huge impact on the decision. The fact that 'Hayato Hiragi' became CR was proof enough for that. But who was Hayato? This was my first time being in the same class as him.

If you ask me, I would say he was the complete opposite of me, pure and humble heart, handsome face, good and athletic body, and good grades which come easily in the top 50 of our year. In other words, he was a famous person, so famous that I have heard a few juniors have asked him out but for some reason, he declined them all. There are many conspiracy theories about him like he is already engaged, there is already someone he likes, and one, which is most common, is that he likes Yoshida.

You could see many disappointed faces in the class just like when I became CR. Now then... The class's two most popular kids becoming CR, this is normal, yes, this is normal. When I was the CR, it was an abnormal thing to happen and I changed everything back to the ideal state. While I was admiring my own decisions, my phone vibrated. There weren't many contacts in my phone, so it was easy to guess who it was,

(Meet me on the rooftop during lunch break)

These were the words written in the text.

'Lunch break, huh...'

After the selection process, the teacher asked Yoshida,

"Yoshida, you will continue to do it, right?"

"Of course." There was no hint of

hesitation.

Soon the promised time arrived. The one standing with me was Yoshida. Yes, she was the one who sent me the text and I probably know what she wanted,

"... So what is it?"

"Why did you do it?" (Yoshida)

She wanted to know why I left the CR position. Probably because she thinks she is the reason for that. But she was wrong it had nothing to do with her.

"This... This is the reason."

I extended my hand towards which had a few pieces of paper in it.

"This?"

She recognized it in one look.

"Yes, these are the slips that were used during the first election... and it's funny that none of them has my name on it."

"What?"

Yoshida was surprised by my words. To be honest, I had my suspicions from the start, that's why I collected the slips later, only to find that none of them had my name on them.

"There may be a mistake... Maybe some slips are misplaced."

Yoshida wasn't buying it. She thought there must be some misunderstanding here, something that we were not looking at. I also had the same thoughts not so long ago, only to find out that I was wrong.

"That's not it... Do you remember the number of candidates during the first election?"

"Yes, fifteen I think."

"Correct and these are fifteen slips"

"But that means—"

"Don't say it. "

Yes, that means my name was never there, to begin with, but still, the teacher spoke my name. In other words, the teacher fixed the election but I wasn't able to accept this conclusion. I mean, how could I? There was nothing for the teacher in it. So I assumed someone else was behind it and Yoshida reached the same conclusion as me.

"We need to ask the teacher about it..." (Yoshida)

"Don't worry about it. I have already talked with the teacher about it."

"Is that so?"

She looked a little disappointed. She was connecting everything in her mind and as if concluding, she asked,

"But I still don't understand one thing"

"What is it?"

"If you realized you were chosen accidentally all along, why didn't you say something sooner? Why bring it up now?"

"To find the culprit and his motives..."

Yoshida hesitated for a moment like she wasn't expecting this as my answer, So I added,

"Yes, I could have gone along with it, be CR and no one would have known. But I wanted to see why was I forced to be one."

"So you know who did this?"

"Yes, but I can't reveal his identity."

"... "

" I think you already know who did this."

"I guess but I don't understand their motivation."

'Maybe I do know' She muttered to herself and I didn't hear it.

"That's what I want to know" (Sho)

" ... "

"Well, That's that... I think this is goodbye now. "

"What do you mean?"

"We won't be working together now... But if you need my help, don't hesitate to ask me. We're friends after all."

Her eyes widened with my words,

"Although I don't think you'll be needing that with Hiragi around."

"..."

I started to leave but stopped midway.

"...Don't worry, I won't break your promise."

" ..."

'To not fall for her... not only her but anyone. That's the plan.'

Saying that I left Yoshida behind and went back to the class. Yoshida also reached the class after some time, so it didn't look like we were together. Which was good because the last thing I want is some random rumors while I'm going back to where I belong. Soon the break was over. The day went by quickly and by the end, everyone adjusted to the new CR. Yoshida was like her usual self and I regained my peace.

So the question is, who is the culprit? For that let's go back to yesterday after school. After school, I went to sensei to talk about it. After I showed her the slips, she asked me,

"Didn't you want to be CR?"

"... I-I"

I didn't know how to answer that. Maru sensei looked outside the window towards the school grounds where the track and field club was assembled. They doing their regular workout. You could feel they were in a different universe than us like they were concentrated in their little world and didn't care what was happening outside.

"Do you remember your first year?"

"..."

"I was new at that time. Everything was new to me, teaching students and all."

I still didn't understand what she was getting at. Finally meeting my eyes she continued,

"I was struggling at that time to fit in but you know I found someone who was struggling as me."

She paused. Yes, she was new at that time. She was young while other teachers were old, and she was struggling to maintain a proper distance from where they could have a proper relationship as colleagues. Not only that but teaching students for the first time was also challenging.

"That someone was me, right?"

She nodded. At the same time while she was struggling. I was also trying to fit in with my peers. I did everything I could, acting from teacher's boy to being a nice guy. But here we were.

"But still, that doesn't explain this."

This doesn't explain the fact that I was chosen without any reason or for a reason I'm not aware of. Sensei holds the answer to that as she was the one who was behind all this or so I think,

"You see, when I was new, I often felt like giving up and quit this job, saying this job is not for me. It was you who gave me a push, I was like if a student can work hard I can too..."

She paused for a moment and continued with a disappointed tone,

"When I saw you during the class. To be honest, I was a little disappointed. I mean, you're the reason I'm here but it felt like you gave up on everything like you weren't expecting anything from others and were going on the same path that I once tried to go so... So, That's why I thought maybe I could give up a chance where you can get what you want..."

I was listening to her side of the story. Everything she said did indeed happen. Maybe I saved her which wasn't my intention at all. I indeed gave up on always expecting from others or even hoping for it. That's what I have decided for me, it was my decision alone, it was the decision that I made after going through the thing that only I experienced and only I know why I made that decision. That's why, these small distractions won't change my decision.

"As a teacher, I'm still inexperienced but as an adult, I have more life experience than you do. So I'm sure when you look back on these days you'll have regrets."

It was like she was speaking for herself.

"... I understand what you're saying but... I can't live up to your expectations."

She looked a little disappointed but again softened her expressions.

" So, please choose someone else as CR."

She let out a sign,

"Maybe I was meddling where I should have. All right, that means you'll be stepping down, right?"

I nodded in return. Now you have it. I still don't understand why I have to go through this just because she felt she was doing something noble. Not that I can complain, after all, it's not like I'm holding a grudge against her.

I'm not going to lie, it did have some positive effects on me like exchanging contact info with Yoshida and connecting with the class even for a little while.