Chapter 111: I guess the Ice Princess thing wasn’t a lie.

Isn’t this an abuse of power?

‘Ah, also, Kayano, you received an invitation from the Red Team’s cheer squad. What would you like to do?’

I had every intention of rejecting the invitation.

‘Um… the seniors said they’d like to meet you in person to talk….’

But because they were seniors, I couldn’t just go home. Instead, I found myself walking towards the science lab, where they were waiting.

If they want me to join the cheer squad, shouldn’t they be the ones coming to me?

No matter how I think about it, this has to be an abuse of power.

Aren’t they seniors? Don’t they even know what ‘sincerity’ is?

Of course, even if they came thirty times instead of three, I would still refuse.

At least there was one good thing—our meeting place was the science lab, not the old science lab.
If they had taken over my sanctuary, the old science lab, I might not have been able to tolerate it….

“Huaaah….”

Standing in front of the science lab, I took a deep breath before knocking on the door.

“U-um… i-is it okay if I c-come in…?”

“Oh, yeah! Come on in!”

Even though I hadn’t opened the door yet, the room was already filled with noisy chatter, making me wish I could just go back home.

But if I really turned around and left now, I’d be known as the delinquent who ignored her seniors’ invitation and went home.

Not that I’d particularly mind, given that my mental age is that of a middle-aged man in his forties.

However, if this led to my mom getting a call, that would be a problem.

So, just this once, I’ll endure it.

And it’s definitely not because I’m afraid of getting called to the teacher’s office tomorrow.

“A-uh, h-hello….”

With a sliding sound, the lab’s door opened.

Inside, nearly ten students were sitting together.

“Oh, are you Kayano Mina from Class 2-A?”
“Ah, y-yes….”

And in the middle of them sat…!

Hmm. Someone I didn’t recognize.

Well, that made sense—aside from my classmates, I didn’t know anyone in this school.

The person sitting in the center, a senior with a style similar to our class’s biggest socialite, Tateyama, scratched their head with a smile.

“You must’ve been surprised to be called out so suddenly. Sorry about that. We should’ve come to you instead.”

“O-oh, it’s f-fine….”

“That’s a relief. You’ve heard about it from your class, right? Would you like to join the cheer squad for this sports festival?”

“T-that’s….”

I was about to say, I’m sorry, but I have to decline.

But before I could—

“I heard a lot from Haru. From Class 1-A… No, it’s Class 2-A now. The Ice Princess of Class 2-A.”

“…Huh?”

“To be honest, when I first heard that, I thought it was just Haru’s usual exaggeration… but I guess not.”

Haru.

The only Haru I knew was… Tateyama from my class.

“U-um, by any chance… do you mean Tateyama…?”

“Yeah. That’s right. She’s been my close junior since middle school. Though I never expected her to follow me all the way to high school.”

At last, I understood why I had been scouted for the cheer squad.

It was strange from the beginning, wasn’t it?

No matter how much of an ultra-beauty I might be, I don’t have any friends in class and go straight home after school.

There was no reason for my name to be known around the school.

Becoming famous just for being an ultra-beauty only happens in novels.

So suddenly, I get a recruitment offer from seniors I’ve never even met before?

No matter how I think about it, I just can’t understand.

And the culprit behind it all… was Tateyama?

…Well, it’s not really an important matter.

It doesn’t matter who dragged me into this situation.

The only thing that matters is that I have absolutely no intention of joining the cheer squad.

Of course, there was a time—just for a moment—when I admired the idea of joining the cheer squad for the sports

festival, making new friends, and all that.

But I’ve already realized that it doesn’t suit me at all.

To borrow a line from some rom-com manga—

You don’t become popular and make friends just because you join the cheer squad.

You already have to be popular to join the cheer squad and make new friends!

In other words, joining the cheer squad is completely out of the question for me.

“Haa… I-I’m sorry, but I, um… I don’t think I can join the cheer squad….”

“Oh, should I tell you about the benefits of joining first?”

“…Huh?”

There are benefits to joining the cheer squad?

…N-not that I’m considering it or anything, but since they brought it up, I might as well hear them out.

“First, you’re exempt from competing in individual events at the sports festival. Since there’s cheer squad practice,

it’d be too much to prepare for competitions as well. Of course, if you want to participate in an event, you’re free to

do so, and you’ll still have to join the group events.”

“I-is that so…?”

“Yep. And second, on the day of the festival, you get to sit in the front row. Lastly, the student council hands out

snacks to the cheer squad first.”

…The second and third benefits don’t interest me at all.

But the first one… now that’s something worth considering.

At our school’s sports festival, every student is required to participate in at least one event.

But if I join the cheer squad, that requirement disappears?

Last year, I hated having to run the obstacle course….

It’s not just that I dislike sports—I hate the feeling of having all eyes on me while I’m running.

In fact, I was just thinking about which event I should sign up for to avoid standing out as much as possible.

If joining the cheer squad means I don’t have to compete, then… that’s actually a pretty tempting offer.

Of course, I’d still have to take part in group events like tug-of-war or ball toss, but I don’t mind those.

If anything, refusing to participate in those would make me stand out even more.

“Hmm….”

But if I join, that means I’ll have to stay after school for cheer practice.

And just being in the cheer squad will already put me in the spotlight….

It’s a tough choice….

As I was lost in thought, the blonde senior sitting in the center spoke up again.

“Oh, and this is a special privilege just for you, Kayano. I heard you always go straight home after school, right? If

you join the cheer squad, you don’t actually have to come to practice. You can just go home as usual.”

“…Huh? R-really?”

“Yep. To be honest, cheer practice has already started, and we didn’t expect you to join. We just told Miyauchi to pass

the message along, that’s all. So, if you join, you can just go home right after class, and on the day of the festival, all

you have to do is wear the uniform we give you and sit in the back.”

Unbelievable.

Is the cheer squad… some kind of divine organization?!

“Th-then… I’ll join….”

With perks like this, I’d be an absolute fool to refuse.

“Really?! Thank you! Oh, just in case, can I get your LINE ID?”
“Ah, sure….”

And just like that, I gave my LINE ID to the blonde senior—Hinoshita-senpai—and headed straight home.

The cheer squad… is amazing!

Of course, I had no idea what consequences this choice would bring on the day of the festival….

“Haah… So the whole ‘Ice Princess’ thing wasn’t a lie, huh…?”

As Kayano left the classroom, Hinoshita let out a deep sigh.

Her friends and juniors sitting nearby seemed to share the same thought, nodding in agreement.

“I never imagined there would be someone at this school who could speak so boldly and coldly in front of you,

senpai. It was almost like she had no idea who you were.”

“Haha, Koyama. That’s ridiculous. There’s no way a high school student around here wouldn’t know who senpai is…”

Hinoshita Karen was the most famous student at Shiodome Private High School.

Not in a bad way.
She was known for her unwavering sense of justice.

She firmly believed that justice without strength was meaningless.

Starting with aikido, she had mastered karate, judo, kendo, boxing, kickboxing, and jiu-jitsu—so even the rowdiest

male students couldn’t disregard her just because she was a girl.

In fact, they actively avoided her.

Among the local delinquents, there was even a saying: “If you see Hinoshita, run immediately.”

On top of that, she had worked with the police to take down an entire gang of reckless bikers near the school and

even succeeded in reforming them.

She was, without a doubt, the most well-known student at Shiodome High.

The way students looked at her ranged from admiration to fear and everything in between.

So for a fellow student to not know who Hinoshita was?

That was beyond absurd.

“But that’s not what really matters, is it?”

Hinoshita murmured as she recalled the impression Kayano had left.

Her appearance—yes, one could definitely say she was as cute as a doll.

She was small in stature, with long, light brown hair cascading down to her waist, looking soft to the touch.

Her mysterious blue eyes were striking enough to make one wonder if she was mixed-race.

Her skin was flawless, her features were sharp, and her overall figure was well-proportioned with not a trace of

excess fat.

Even her chest, which seemed a little disproportionate to her petite frame, added to her charm.

By all accounts, she should have exuded a warm and gentle aura.

But the atmosphere she gave off was anything but warm.

Her blue eyes carried a chilling indifference, as if she cared for nothing and no one.

Her voice was laced with an icy coldness.

Even Hinoshita—who prided herself on being the embodiment of justice—couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of

intimidation in front of her.

But just as Kayano had said, none of that really mattered.

In the end, Kayano had come before her and joined the cheer squad.

That was all that mattered.

“This year’s cheer squad is going to be way more fun than last year. Right, everyone?!”

“UOOOOOOH!!!”

The science lab filled with roaring excitement.

In a corner of the room, out of Kayano’s sight, stood a whiteboard.

And on it, these words were written:

‘PROJECT: ICE PRINCESS THRONE’

Beside it, a large drawing of a majestic throne was sketched.

Of course, after learning about Kayano’s personality, Tateyama had deliberately refrained from telling Hinoshita anything about her.

It was her way of being considerate, thinking that even that kind of attention might burden Kayano.

As a result, Hinoshita’s knowledge of Kayano had been frozen in time since last year.

And the reason why she had invited Kayano to join the cheer squad and come up with this plan?

“I really hope Kayano joins the cheer squad next year!”

“Oh? You’re that fond of her, Haru?”

“Yes! She’s such a cool and cute girl! If senpai saw her, you’d understand right away! I bet just having her sit

quietly in the back would be enough to boost everyone’s morale!”

“Hmm… I see.”

It was all because of comments like those from Tateyama.

Not that Tateyama even remembered saying any of that.