The chaos at the start of the school year gradually settled, and Kōdo Ikusei High School began to fall into its everyday routine.
Under Class B Class Leader Ichinose Honami's leadership, the class steadily moved forward with its work: setting up a class group chat, tentatively forming study groups, and gathering everyone's opinions on club activities... Everything seemed upbeat and united.
Toudou Shizuka was like a patient fisherman, quietly casting his net in Class B's seemingly calm waters. He deliberately created natural opportunities to interact with Shiranami Chihiro.
When Shiranami struggled to carry a big stack of paper interest surveys that needed to be entered, he would "happen" to pass by and naturally take half;
When Kanzaki Ryuji needed to quickly find historical participation figures for a particular type of club, he would "casually" point out a hidden search path on the device;
During group discussions about how to gather information, he would suggest a few general frameworks to make it easier for Shiranami to organize everything afterward.
These gestures were small and natural, never forced, yet they perfectly met Shiranami Chihiro's work needs. She would always give a slight nod, softly say, "Thanks, Toudou," then return to her notes and tablet.
Toudou Shizuka could clearly see the number representing Shiranami Chihiro's Affection slowly and steadily climbing on the System Interface.
[Shiranami Chihiro Affection +1 (grateful for help with the work). Current: 15 (Neutral).]
[Shiranami Chihiro Affection +2 (recognizes efficiency in handling information). Current: 17 (Neutral).]
[Shiranami Chihiro Affection +1 (admires clear thinking). Current: 18 (Neutral) -> Target: 40 (Close).]
At the same time, Kanzaki Ryuji's Affection was steadily increasing as well. Toudou Shizuka's attentiveness to information and sense of organization, along with his consistent willingness to help with class matters without vying for credit, had earned the rational Vice Class Leader's approval.
[Kanzaki Ryuji Affection +2 (continued recognition of collaborative value and practical attitude). Current: 24 (Neutral) -> Target: 45 (Approval).]
Ichinose Honami, for her part, saw Toudou Shizuka as a capable supporter of the class's information work. Whenever something new came to light or she had a concern, she instinctively asked for his opinion.
[Ichinose Honami Affection +1 (continued trust). Current: 26 (Friendly) -> Target: 50 (Goodwill).]
Amid this steady accumulation of everyday interactions, a piece of news dropped like a stone into a tranquil lake, sending ripples through Class B—the Student Council was recruiting new members.
The notice was posted in a prominent spot in the Teaching Building, its wording official yet enticing: "We're recruiting outstanding New Students who wish to serve the students and staff of the entire school and develop excellent leadership and execution skills to join the Student Council's various departments!"
"The Student Council!" Kobashi Yume stared at the notice, her eyes sparkling. "It sounds so impressive! Honami, you're definitely going to apply, right? You're so amazing—you're sure to get in!"
Ichinose Honami stood in front of the notice with a gentle smile, but her eyes shone with unusual brightness and determination. "Yeah! I want to give it a try.
"If I can join the Student Council, I can not only improve myself, but also do more to secure information and resources for our Class B." Her A-Rank Affinity gave her words an infectious quality, and the students around her nodded in support.
[Target: Ichinose Honami (refreshed)]
Leadership Charisma (Affable): A-Rank (active, clear goal)
Team Cohesion Building: A-Rank (active, tied to class interests)
[Motivation for running for the Student Council: 90% serving the class and obtaining information, 10% personal development] - System analysis.
Toudou Shizuka stood behind the crowd, watching Ichinose's determined profile, and understood. Fleeting fragments of memories from his previous life surfaced at once: the Student Council, and its president, Horikita Manabu, who seemed gentle but was actually tough and uncompromising... He remembered clearly that in his first year, Horikita Manabu would never truly let any New Student into the inner circle.
The Student Council recruitment drive was more a means of observation and selection—and might even be the beginning of some kind of "test."
Ichinose's A-Rank Affinity and sense of responsibility made her naturally inclined to shoulder more and work for her class's benefit. Her intentions were pure, but she would likely run into the Student Council President's invisible wall.
Toudou Shizuka didn't speak up to dissuade her. For one thing, it wasn't the right time. For another, this might... be an opportunity?
An opportunity to get closer to Ichinose's inner circle and greatly raise her Affection? He needed to wait for the right moment.
Over the next few days, Ichinose Honami began her campaign. She carefully prepared her résumé, organized her record of serving as a class officer in middle school and her achievements, and emphasized her dedication to service and determination to secure benefits for her class.
Kanzaki Ryuji and Shiranami Chihiro also helped her put together supporting data. Everyone in Class B had high hopes for her.
Toudou Shizuka kept to his own routine. He used [Thought Acceleration] to finish his coursework efficiently. He spent half his remaining energy helping with the class's information work (mainly making things easier for Shiranami), and the other half immersed in the [Campus Store] and forums on his Personal Device, researching how to spend points and looking for potential sources of information while quietly saving Simulation Points (current: 70 points), with his sights set on the 100-point [Deep Sleep (Basic)].
At last, the day the interview results were announced arrived.
After afternoon classes ended, Ichinose Honami went alone to the Student Council Office to collect the results. Class B's students—especially Kobashi Yume, Kanzaki, and Shiranami—waited for her in the classroom, filled with anticipation.
The minutes ticked by, and the mood gradually shifted from anticipation to unease. When the classroom door opened and Ichinose Honami walked in, everyone noticed something was wrong.
She still wore a gentle smile, but it was clearly strained, like a thin veil she was struggling to hold in place over the disappointment and confusion deep in her eyes. Her steps, usually light and energetic, seemed weighed down by a barely perceptible heaviness.
"How did it go, Class Leader?" Kobashi Yume rushed up first and asked anxiously.
Ichinose Honami took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice calm, but her disappointment still showed in its faint tremble. "Well... The results are out.
"I'm sorry, but... I wasn't selected this time." She tried to say it lightly, but the effort she made to sound composed only made it more painful to hear.
"What? How could that happen?"
"Honami, you're so amazing!"
"Could there have been a mistake?"
The classroom erupted, filled with disbelief and voices protesting the unfairness of it all. Kanzaki Ryuji furrowed his brows, while Shiranami Chihiro looked at Ichinose with concern.
Ichinose waved her hand to quiet everyone, her smile growing even more strained. "It's okay. Maybe I didn't prepare well enough, or maybe the upperclassmen had other things to consider. Don't worry about me. I'm fine."
Her A-Rank Emotional Management let her maintain a basic level of composure in front of everyone, but Toudou Shizuka could clearly sense the blow and confusion she felt at being rejected.
[Target: Ichinose Honami (status refreshed)]
Emotional Management (setback): B-Rank (struggling to maintain appearances)
Self-Doubt (mild): C-Rank (beginning)
[Affection: 26 (Friendly)] - fluctuating sharply at this moment; positive feedback urgently needed.
Before you continue