Just Want to Be a Slacker

The club introductions proceeded in an orderly fashion. Though each presenter's wording differed slightly, the gist was more or less the same.

They all said things like "Welcome, newcomers!" and "Our club has so much charm!" and so on.

But none of that held any appeal for Kamio Tatsuya. He figured most clubs weren't really suited for beginners anyway.

Esports clubs especially—you'd bust your ass, suffer through all kinds of hardship, and get bossed around by senior members at every turn. Kamio Tatsuya wasn't a masochist, so why would he go looking for trouble?

As for the smaller niche clubs, like the Tea Ceremony Club—sure, the senior girls in kimonos were really pretty, but he figured he'd pass.

Brewing tea? Anyone can do that.

If you think the tea tastes bad, it's definitely the leaves' fault, not my technique (for sure)!

As for starting a new club, you needed at least three people to submit a joint application.

Gradually, the club information sessions came to an end.

The senior Kamio Tatsuya had been watching earlier—the one standing at the very back of the stage—stepped forward expressionlessly. He stood calmly in front of the microphone without a word, simply staring down at the students below.

"Why isn't he talking?"

"Haha, he's probably just nervous."

"Good luck!"

The first-year students let out laughter, some kind-hearted, some mocking. But Kamio Tatsuya noticed that the seniors who had finished their club introductions and stepped back showed no trace of a smile on their faces.

Not a hint of a smile—their expressions were deadly serious.

When the laughter reached its peak, the room suddenly fell silent. The gymnasium sank into a deathly stillness, so quiet that Kamio Tatsuya could hear the breathing of those around him.

The cheerful, relaxed atmosphere in the hall instantly turned tense and grave.

Hey, hey, hey—you're wasting one minute up there, but there are over a hundred of us down here. That's over a hundred minutes wasted. Don't you know basic math?

"Tch. Putting on airs."

Kamio Tatsuya couldn't help it—he let out a snicker. And because the gym was so quiet, a lot of people heard him. The silence that had just settled was shattered by a wave of laughter.

Kamio Tatsuya could even see Nagumo in the corner wearing a delighted grin. But the senior on stage still didn't change his expression, as if such a trivial disturbance wasn't worth his attention.

What a tough guy, Kamio Tatsuya thought.

But this burst of laughter only lasted a few seconds before silence fell again.

And Kamio Tatsuya felt a chill creeping toward him from not far away.

He turned his head slightly. Horikita Suzune's gaze—one that could kill—was fixed squarely on him.

Oh, come on. I just didn't play along with your little act.

Why are you staring at me with such a terrifying expression?

Kamio Tatsuya couldn't figure out why Horikita Suzune was angry, but he instinctively felt this might not be a good thing. Maybe he'd gotten himself into trouble.

The silence in the auditorium stretched on for a while before the person on stage finally began to speak.

"I am Horikita Manabu of Class 3-A, currently serving as the Student Council President of this school."

Horikita...

Wait, is she related to you or something?

No wonder she glared at me.

"As upperclassmen graduate, the Student Council will recruit talented individuals from among the first-year students. Applicants don't need any special qualifications, but please refrain from joining other clubs. In principle, those who wish to participate in both the Student Council and another club will not be accepted."

Horikita Manabu's tone was very gentle, but most people felt a sense of tension. Even though Kamio Tatsuya's interruption had lightened the mood earlier, at some point, Horikita Manabu on stage had regained control of the atmosphere.

"The Student Council does not want candidates with naive ideas. Such people will not only fail to be elected but will likely leave a stain on this school.

Our Student Council has been granted the authority and mission by the school to change its regulations, and thus great expectations rest upon us. We welcome only those who understand this."

What understanding? What naivety? If you're not going to explain clearly, then don't—it's just a measly Student Council. Don't get too cocky, all right!

The first-year students watched Horikita Manabu turn and leave. Kamio Tatsuya had no desire to stay either. Taking advantage of the moment when no one else was moving, he squeezed through the crowd and slipped out of the gymnasium.

"Stop right there!"

A vaguely familiar voice came from behind him. Kamio Tatsuya didn't even need to look to know who it was—Horikita Suzune. So he quickened his pace.

"I said stop!"

This time, the voice came from very close behind him, and a hand landed on his shoulder.

"I'm not obligated to listen to you, Horikita." Kamio Tatsuya kept walking as he spoke. "And grabbing someone right off the bat like that—that's pretty rude, you know.

Also, could you take your hand off? With a move like that, people might get the wrong idea."

Because having someone's hand on his shoulder was uncomfortable, Kamio Tatsuya finally stopped. He stood still, calmly looking at Horikita Suzune beside him, ready to deal with her and move on.

Chapter 13: Thank You, Horikita Suzune, for the 90,000 Points

In front of the gymnasium, Kamio Tatsuya and Horikita Suzune stood facing each other, a meter apart.

To be honest, Horikita Suzune was the textbook definition of a beautiful girl—long, straight black hair, a cool and delicate face, and a figure that was just right.

Normally, someone like that would naturally inspire a bit of goodwill in most people.

But Kamio Tatsuya only found it troublesome right now.

He knew exactly why Horikita Suzune had come to see him—it was because he'd just badmouthed that Horikita Manabu up on the stage.

But seriously, the guy himself had no problem with it, so who was this ugly hag to stick her nose in?

Even if he was her relative, so what?

The way Horikita Suzune came off to Kamio Tatsuya right now was just like those brainless fangirls blindly defending their idol.

Those types were the scariest. If Kamio Tatsuya had known Horikita Suzune was like this, if he'd known she had that kind of relationship with Horikita Manabu up there—

He'd have choked to death before making that remark.

Of course, it wasn't that he was scared. He just found it purely troublesome.

"Why did you say that in the gym just now?"

"Because I felt like it. What's it to you?"

Facing the aggressive Horikita Suzune, Kamio Tatsuya answered casually.

"Do you think it's cool to mock the Student Council President?" Horikita Suzune's intensity didn't waver at all.

"Say whatever you want. If there's nothing else, can you get out of my way? I'm leaving."

With that, Kamio Tatsuya took a step to the right, ready to go.

"You're not leaving until you explain yourself."

Horikita Suzune also stepped sideways, blocking his path.

"Heh, the Student Council President himself hasn't come to chew me out. Who are you, an outsider, to butt in?"

Kamio Tatsuya's expression soured slightly.

Outsider?

You're calling me an outsider?

Horikita Suzune's face shifted several times before she spoke again.

"I'm no outsider... The President, he's my brother. My biological brother." Then she fixed Kamio Tatsuya with a sharp glare. "So now do I have the right to meddle in this?"

Watching Horikita Suzune, Kamio Tatsuya's brain worked furiously, and an idea struck him instantly.

Then, a mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Heh, then you two siblings really are worlds apart. The brother's in Class A, but the sister ends up in Class D."

After that, as if he'd slipped up, he immediately shut his mouth.

"Of course I can't compare to my brother." Horikita Suzune answered without hesitation, but then she seemed to catch something. "What did you just say?"

"Nothing. I said your brother's impressive, keeping a straight face even when mocked like that. Happy now?" Kamio Tatsuya dodged the subject.

"You just said my brother's in Class A, and I got placed in Class D. What does that mean?"

Good, Horikita Suzune. I didn't misjudge you.

You caught it after all.

"Heh, you think I'd tell you? If you want to know, go investigate yourself. I'm planning to use this info to earn Points. No way I'm just handing it over to you now."

With that, Kamio Tatsuya slipped past her while she was stunned.

As he walked, he started counting down in his head.

Three!

Two!

One!

"Wait. I can buy it with Points."

A smile spread across Kamio Tatsuya's face, hidden from Horikita Suzune's view. He stopped and turned to look at her with a half-smirk.

"Not impossible, but... buy it? Can you afford it?"

"I want to know what you just said about the classes. Ninety thousand Points—is that enough?"

"Ha, what are you thinking? A paltry ninety thousand Points? Have you lost your mind?"

Kamio Tatsuya shot her a contemptuous look.

"And I can promise I won't tell anyone else. It won't affect your ability to resell that information."

Faced with Horikita Suzune's earnest vow, Kamio Tatsuya shattered her composure with a single sentence.

"I don't trust you."

"You—"

Horikita Suzune fumed, but there was nothing she could do. She was the one asking for a favor.

"But if you only want to know about the relationships between the classes, I don't mind selling you that part. Even if that info gets out, it's no big deal—just don't say you got it from me."

Kamio Tatsuya changed his tune, loosening up a little.

Besides, spreading that information makes it easier for me to take the next step.

Not only did I make you my tool, I even charged you for it—sorry about that, Horikita Suzune.

"So what's the real story?"

"Transfer the points first."

Kamio Tatsuya pulled out his phone with an expression that left no room for negotiation.

Horikita Suzune gritted her teeth, took out her phone, exchanged contact info with Kamio Tatsuya, and transferred ninety thousand Private Points to him.

Seeing his balance return to six digits, Kamio Tatsuya's mood visibly improved.

"This school divided students into grades from the moment of enrollment. The best are in Class A, the next in Class B, then Class C. As for Class D—they're all defective goods. That's why I said the gap between you and your brother is so huge. Get it?"

"You... are you telling the truth?"

"Honest to a fault. If it's a lie, I'll refund every last point."

By now, Horikita Suzune had forgotten her original purpose for coming. Her mind was full of what Kamio Tatsuya had just said.

No wonder your brother's in Class A and you're in Class D—the gap between you really is enormous.

Those words clung to her ears like a nightmare.

When she came back to her senses, Kamio Tatsuya had already disappeared.

After finishing the deal with Horikita Suzune, Kamio Tatsuya stopped by the cafeteria for a meal before heading back to the dorm.

On the first floor of the dorm, Kamio Tatsuya ran into Ike, whom he'd met earlier at the gymnasium.

"Hey, Kamio, I made a guys-only chat group yesterday. Wanna join?"

Truth be told, Ike didn't have any particular impression of Kamio as a person, but that scene in the gymnasium earlier had earned his deep admiration.

Saying something like that in a situation like that...