IV / Let me show you the true power of the 【Ice Princess】♪
Let’s talk about the “popularity phase.”
The “popularity phase” refers to that period when you’re so popular you can’t even handle it. Rumor has it that everyone experiences it three times in their life—but no one’s ever proven it.
First off, what even is “being popular”?
At its core, it’s undeniably about “being liked by others” or “being showered with attention.”
But since there’s no strict definition of who those others are, doesn’t that mean “popularity” is broader than we think?
A phase where you’re adored by your same gender? That counts. A time when animals flock to you? Also counts. And let’s be real—pretty much everyone gets doted on as a baby. Doesn’t that mean you’ve already burned through one popularity phase right there? Three seems way too low.
In other words, a “popularity phase” isn’t just about getting swarmed by the opposite sex. Acting like only those people are special is wrong. Because the truth is—everyone’s living in their own version of popularity.
Daily life?
Shift your perspective just a little, and bam—the world of popularity is right there—……
“……That’s kinda how I see it, anyway.”
“Haaah. Sure, sure……”
The one dutifully listening to Izumi’s utterly pointless ramble until the very end was Doumoto Inori—
a first-year girl (meaning she’d only been at school for about a month) who was already so popular she’d earned the nickname “Angel-chan.”
Normally, she was paired with Kasuga Haru—aka “Devil-chan”—but today, she seemed to be flying solo.
Well, days like that happen. Even comedy duos go solo more often after hitting it big. That’s the vibe here. Though the downside is, once that happens, they might barely perform together anymore.
“But~, d’you really think people jealous of you being popular would buy that logic~?”
“They wouldn’t, right?”
“They wouldn’t~.”
Casually brushing it off, Inori took a sip from her coffee milk carton.
“I do get why you ran off to the library prep room during lunch, senpai~.”
“Yeah, sorry. My class is a nightmare right now, and Nanao’s at archery club practice… Wait, why are you even here?”
“We usually eat lunch here~?”
“Oh, really?”
“Yep~. Haru said you might show up if we waited here… oops.”
“Huh? What? Haru said what?”
“Nothiiiing~. Forget I said it~.”
With exaggerated theatrics, Inori covered her mouth—clearly faking embarrassment over her slip-up.
“Anyway, you’re alone today? Where’s Haru?”
“Hmm~. Lately, she’s been eating with the student council prez~.”
“Haku— I mean, Shiragiku-senpai? Why?”
He’d almost used the nickname he called her at home but caught himself.
Ever since that “Aaaahn?” incident on the roof, rumors about him and Shiragiku had been relentless—and exhausting.
Inori explained Haru’s absence like this:
“Something about a strategy meeting~?”
“Huh. No idea what that means, but when did they get so close?”
“I think it’s better if you don’t know, senpai~.”
“Hah? Really? Fine, whatever…”
Izumi had no idea Haru had tailed him on his date with Nanao.
“But doesn’t that leave you lonely, Inori?”
“Hmm~. Maybe a little~.”
She didn’t seem bothered, smiling breezily.
“Haru’s been glued to me forever, so she needs practice making other friends. Otherwise, she’d be totally lost if I vanished~.”
“Huh. Guess that makes sense.”
“Yep yep~.”
But then—
Her expression dimmed. Eyes downcast, she murmured sadly:
“Otherwise… I’d worry if she could survive on her own after I’m gone……”
“……Huh?”
The words blindsided him.
Izumi turned them over in his head—then, with a mix of shock and concern, pressed her:
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“…………”
She averted her gaze, hesitating before confessing:
“I never told you, senpai… but I… don’t have much time left.”
“…………”
Izumi was speechless.
Even if they were in the same club, they hadn’t known each other long. Of course, there were things he didn’t know about her and Haru.
But this—this was too sudden. Too heartbreaking—
“Psych! Just kidding~.”
“YOU LITTLE—!!!!!”
Even the famously mild-mannered Izumi roared at her cheerful reveal.
“There’s a line, damn it! Some jokes aren’t funny!”
“Wow~. You’re saying that, senpai? After how you bullied Haru~?”
Her deadpan stare made him flinch.
She was clearly referencing the other day—when he’d teased Haru here. Yeah, even he knew he’d taken it too far.
“L-look, I care about you two, alright? So cut that crap out.”
“Hmmm~?”
Grinning, Inori suddenly leaned into him.
“Then since Haru’s not here, you’ll keep me company instead~.”
“Gyah—?!”
As they flailed in the cramped prep room, Izumi sighed inwardly: “Where’s the ‘Angel’ in this girl…?”
At the same moment Izumi was goofing off with his kouhai…
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…the student council room
There was hosting a familiar scene.
“We’re in a crisis of historic proportions!”
—Crack! A bolt of lightning split the sky outside.
…Or at least, it felt that dramatic.
Present were the usual trio of girls—
but this time, Amane, not Shiragiku, was running the show. In fact, she had called this meeting.
Ignoring her lunch, Amane slammed her hands on the table and declared—
Meanwhile, Shiragiku calmly poured tea for everyone before taking her seat.
“So, Amane. What’s the plan?”
“I’m glad you asked!”
With a haughty sniff, Amane launched into the saga of her torment—
Akeboshi Meina.
After Nanao’s recent assault, Meina’s arrival had thrown Amane’s school life into chaos. By snagging the seat next to Izumi, Meina had turned their classroom into a lawless wasteland of flirtation!
“If we don’t act now, we’re done! We need a counterattack!”
(Amane’s lax crisis management was showing—but no one called her out, because they all thought things were fine too.
If these three were stranded on an island, they’d last maybe three days.)
Haru was the first to rally.
Bam! She stood, slamming the table.
“S-Senpai can’t just flirt that easily! Cheaters must be purged!”
(Unbeknownst to her, her best friend was currently getting cozy with Izumi in the prep room. Ignorance is bliss.)
Shiragiku, however, remained unshaken.
“…I see. So that’s Amane’s situation.”
Even after hearing the full story, she sipped her tea, utterly composed.
“In short—you’re scared of losing your ‘same-class advantage,’ so you want our help. Correct?”
Amane flinched.
Put so bluntly, it sounded selfish—but that was the reason for this meeting. Honestly, Amane stood no chance against Meina alone.
Shiragiku’s coldness stung.
“B-but if this keeps up, Izumi might get stolen by Meina!”
“Izumi-kun isn’t that easily swayed. If he were, Nanao would’ve taken him already.”
“Guh—?!”
She wasn’t wrong.
If anything, Amane’s panic now—after surviving the hurricane that was Nanao—was the real issue.
Deep down, Amane knew that.
But logic and emotions don’t always align.
(N-no way… Shiragiku-senpai, you’re too cold…!)
Biting her lip,
Amane clenched her trembling fists.
The humiliation Meina inflicted—Shiragiku and Haru could never understand.
It wasn’t physical. It was her pride as a girl—shredded. That’s worse than death.
Fighting tears, Amane wailed:
“Y-you don’t get it! When you’re born with nothing, no amount of effort matters…!!”
This was personal.
She’d doubled her milk intake. Tried every online massage trick. But her body—the one she’d had since birth—refused to change. She’d even gained two kilograms. Tragedy.
Her gaze flicked to the other two’s chests.
(Shiragiku-senpai = enemy… Haru = ally…)
Haru noticed and edged away.
“A-Amane-senpai… Are you thinking something rude…?”
“N-no! Not at all!?”
Flustered, Amane let out an exaggerated, deliberate ahem.
“A-anyway! Right now, we need tight teamwork! We—you and I—have to protect Izumi-chan’s purity!”
Haru agreed with the idea.
“Yeah… Before Senpai turns into a full-fledged flirt, we should… Hah.”
Mid-sentence, she suddenly remembered—
The incident in the library prep room the other day. When she’d spoiled the mystery novel Izumi was reading, he’d retaliated with his “popular guy” antics, leaving her flustered. The memory flashed through her mind.
Then, with icy calm—yet objective and fair judgment—Haru declared:
“…Amasaki Senpai’s opinion is premature. We should observe the situation a bit longer.”
“Aah! Haru-chan, you totally thought [That might not be so bad~], didn’t you?!”
“N-No, I didn’t! I don’t think that kind of playboy behavior is good at all!”
“Liar! Say it to my face!!”
Hakua nodded with a composed expression.
“Then it’s settled. We’ll watch for a while longer. Ah, just to clarify—I don’t think a flirtatious Izumi-kun would be good either. Truly.”
“Hakua-san too!?”
Amane slammed the table, howling.
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