This Japanese Monogatari Isn't Lame
Chapter 322 - 237: Beichuan Si’s Little Tricks (4000 words)

Chapter 322: Chapter 237: Beichuan Si’s Little Tricks (4000 words)

The online voting for the Youth Painting Grand Prize will end the day after tomorrow.

Beichuan Hui Li’s work is currently in first place with 1563 votes.

However, the work in second place is Ando Fuyu, who surged from tenth place.

She had bought votes, gaining two hundred or so a day, and quickly caught up.

Additionally, her painting skill is fairly good, and her rapid momentum attracted some people to cast their final votes for her.

Now, Ando Fuyu’s votes are at 1521, but with her rate of gaining a couple hundred votes a day, it’s estimated that Beichuan Hui Li will soon be surpassed by her.

Hmm—

Seeing herself about to be overtaken, Beichuan Hui Li pouted and even found her sandwich less tasty.

She was somewhat puzzled at how fast Ando Fuyu’s votes had increased, especially since Ando Fuyu’s paintings weren’t as good as hers.

Beichuan Hui Li sighed while clutching her sandwich.

"The website for the Youth Painting Grand Prize?" Sitting next to her, Sakurai Saki adjusted her glasses, a hint of curiosity in her tone, "Speaking of which, haven’t you already secured first place, Hui Li?"

"Not anymore... Saki, I’m about to be overtaken by that girl from the art club, Ando." Beichuan Hui Li touched her head, somewhat embarrassed, and continued, "I thought I had it in the bag, but it looks like I was just being naive."

Upon hearing this, Sakura Miori and Takigawa Nanako leaned in closer.

They all knew there was a feud between Ando Fuyu and Beichuan Hui Li. Beichuan Hui Li had even flaunted her first place before; everyone was discussing where they should go to celebrate her continued lead. How could it be that within just a few days, Beichuan Hui Li was about to fall from first place?

That’s when Otomoto Ai, with her calm voice, spoke up, "Perhaps you aren’t aware, Hui Li, but I heard Senior Ando has been buying votes online. The rate of increase just doesn’t seem right."

She frowned and continued, "Not only does she usually give you a hard time in club activities, but she also resorts to these tactics in the competition. Hui Li, why not let Brother Temple handle this?"

Among the five, Otomoto Ai was the calmest and most astute, and thus could see things more clearly than the others.

At the very least, Beichuan Hui Li wouldn’t have as hard a time if she merely relied on Beichuan Si, the largest support in Kyubei.

However, what Otomoto Ai never expected was for Beichuan Hui Li’s face to change, and she exclaimed loudly, "No! I can’t tell Brother Temple!"

"...What...?" The close friends all voiced their confusion.

The voices made Beichuan Hui Li blush.

Stiff-necked, her face red, she asserted, "This kind of thing won’t mean anything if I don’t do it myself."

"I must prove myself to those people with my own abilities."

In this regard, Beichuan Hui Li seemed to possess a child-like stubbornness.

Yet from another perspective, this very trait made it impossible for the other four to dislike her.

Perhaps it was because of her personality that she was the most cared for and loved among the five.

But with what Ando Fuyu and her group were doing, cheating their way through the contest, it wasn’t even a matter of proving one’s abilities anymore.

Thus, Otomoto Ai made a decision—

To secretly tell Beichuan Si about this.

After all, Beichuan Si was a senior, and in Kyubei, his reputation alone was enough to intimidate juniors and dominate seniors.

If anyone could help Beichuan Hui Li, it would be him.

Especially since the voting day was the day after tomorrow, at this rate, Beichuan Hui Li was indeed about to be pushed to second or even third place.

With that thought, Otomoto Ai quickly packed up her lunchbox after eating and, greeting her close friends, hurried back to the main building, heading towards Class 2A.

As she ascended the stairs, she saw Beichuan Si talking with a pretty-looking girl with shoulder-length hair.

Was that—

Senior Shen Gu Mirai from the second year?

Otomoto Ai was taken aback.

She looked back and forth between Beichuan Si and Shen Gu Mirai, surprised to see Shen Gu Mirai smiling intermittently as she talked with Beichuan Si.

Shen Gu Mirai was a well-known figure in the second year, often discussed for both her talent and her looks.

And there was Brother Temple, chatting with someone during lunch? And with popular Senior Shen Gu? That was quite surprising.

While she was still pondering, Beichuan Si’s gaze had already remotely caught hers.

It was indeed impolite to continue spying after being noticed like that.

Otomoto Ai, carrying her lunchbox, stepped away from the stairwell’s partition and respectfully approached Beichuan Si, "Brother Temple, Senior Shen Gu, good afternoon."

"Friend of Hui Li?" Beichuan Si asked Otomoto Ai, "Did you need something?"

He had already sensed Otomoto Ai sneakily spying but, since she was a friend of Beichuan Hui Li, he didn’t mind too much.

"Well..." Otomoto Ai’s gaze hesitated as it shifted between Beichuan Si and the grinning Shen Gu Mirai.

At that moment, Shen Gu Mirai suddenly spoke up, "This student must be here concerning little sister Hui Li’s issue, right?"

Her large eyes stared intently at Otomoto Ai, occasionally twinkling with a lively spark.

"Eh?" Otomoto Ai paused, a bit incredulously, "Senior Shen Gu, how did you know?"