Comfort and Clubs

The time has come.

Toudou Shizuka didn't express the same intense surprise or indignation as the others. He quietly moved through the somewhat noisy crowd and approached Ichinose Honami. His voice was low, yet carried a gentle, steady strength that reached her ears clearly:

"Ichinose, don't dwell too much on this result. I don't think it's necessarily a reflection of your abilities."

Ichinose paused slightly, looking at Toudou Shizuka with a questioning gaze.

Toudou Shizuka met her eyes, his expression sincere and calm. "I... well, I happened to overhear some senior students chatting.

It seems Horikita Student Council President... when he was a first-year, he never allowed first-year students into the core departments of the student council." He used the vague but plausible excuse of "overhearing."

"Huh?" Ichinose Honami was taken aback.

"Really?" Kobashi Yume also leaned in.

Kanzaki Ryuji's sharp gaze fixed on Toudou Shizuka, clearly assessing the reliability of this information.

Toudou Shizuka nodded, his tone tinged with speculation but firm. "I think it might be some unwritten tradition within the student council, or... perhaps the President wants to observe new students for a while?

After all, they've just enrolled and aren't familiar with the school's rules and operations. Letting first-years directly into the decision-making level might be too risky? So, this recruitment drive might be more of a formality, or... the beginning of some observation and test? The President will likely consider admitting truly potential new students after getting to know them better."

His words skillfully combined "senior student rumors" with logical deductions about the student council's operational logic (utilizing fragments of past life memories). This not only explained that Ichinose's rejection wasn't due to a lack of ability but also hinted at future hope ("after getting to know them better") and pointed out the possibility of a "test" (aligning with the Chairman's "Special Exam" theme). He transformed a pure failure into a "threshold" that required patience and strength to overcome.

The disappointment and confusion in Ichinose Honami's eyes melted away like snow in warm sunlight. She looked at Toudou Shizuka; his gentle, steady gaze and clear, logical analysis were like a clear spring flowing into her somewhat lost heart.

Yes, if it's because of an unwritten rule like this, and not because my abilities are insufficient, then everything makes sense! And Toudou-kun's analysis is very reasonable. This might really just be the beginning, a test!

[Ichinose Honami Affection +5 (Provided crucial information, greatly alleviating disappointment and self-doubt, and instilling hope). Current: 31 (Friendly) -> Target: 50 (Friendly).]

"Toudou-kun..." Ichinose Honami's voice regained its usual clarity, filled with genuine gratitude and rekindled fighting spirit. "Thank you for telling me this! It really... helped a lot!

You're right, this might just be the beginning! I won't be discouraged! I'll keep working hard to prove my abilities and show Horikita President our Class B, show him my value!" Her A-rank Charisma reignited, this time with more resilience.

"Yeah! Go, Class Rep!"

"That's right! Honami is the best!"

"Let's all work hard together in Class B!"

Seeing Ichinose quickly rally, the Class B students also reignited their enthusiasm, cheering her on. Kanzaki Ryuji looked at Toudou Shizuka, his eyes behind his glasses holding deeper scrutiny and a hint of imperceptible approval.

[Kanzaki Ryuji Affection +3 (Highly recognized the value of his information and his stabilizing role at a critical moment). Current: 27 (Neutral) -> Target: 45 (Recognized).]

[Shiranami Chihiro Affection +2 (Appreciates providing crucial information to help the Class Rep). Current: 20 (Neutral) -> Target: 40 (Close).]

[Kobashi Yume Affection +1 (Happy to see the Class Rep cheer up). Current: 32 (Friendly) -> Target: 40 (Close).]

The crisis was averted; it even became an opportunity to unite the class. Toudou Shizuka stood among the crowd, smiling like everyone else as they cheered for their Class Rep, but his mind was clear.

[Simulation Points +20 (Successfully guided key plot progression, alleviating a core member's crisis). Current: 90 points.]

[10 points remaining to purchase [Deep Sleep (Basic)].]

He looked at the string of rising affection values on the system interface, especially Ichinose Honami, who was getting closer to the 50-point target, and Kanzaki and Shiranami, who were also steadily improving.

The student council election was just an interlude. The real "Special Exam" had yet to arrive. But Toudou Shizuka knew that on this chessboard where strength reigned supreme, he had already silently placed a crucial piece.

Through precise information delivery and timely emotional guidance, he not only solidified his position within the class's core circle but also gained valuable trust and affection.

The next step: patiently wait for points to break 100, or continue to cultivate Shiranami Chihiro's affection to unlock that practical B-rank information summarization skill?

He glanced at Shiranami Chihiro, who was already engrossed in her work with a determined look, and his mind was made up. Improving his own fundamental ability to process information was the immediate priority. He casually walked over to Shiranami's desk, pointing to a complex document she was organizing about the application process for school club funding, and said gently:

"Shiranami, this document's categorization is a bit messy. Would you like me to help you separate the basic requirements and special clauses first? It might make it clearer for you to summarize the core points?"

Shiranami Chihiro looked up, meeting Toudou Shizuka's gentle smile. She nodded slightly with almost no hesitation. "Yes, thank you for the trouble, Toudou-kun." Her voice was still soft, but that sense of trust had already grown invisibly.

The seedling of affection, under Toudou Shizuka's careful watering, was quietly growing towards the fruit of unlocking skills.

The setting sun dyed the open space in front of the club building a warm orange-red. Booths for various clubs were spread out like a small expo, with shouts, music, and performances mixing together, creating a lively, youthful clamor. The Class B students also dispersed in twos and threes, looking for clubs that interested them.

Toudou Shizuka's goal was clear. His gaze calmly swept over the noisy crowd, heading directly towards a relatively quiet but more focused area—the recruitment points for combat-style clubs. Karate, Judo, Kendo... Finally, his steps stopped before a simple signboard that read "Sanda Club."

Behind the booth stood several lean, well-built young men in black training uniforms. They had composed demeanors and sharp eyes, clearly senior students. Leading them was a tall young man with a buzz cut, a faint scar on his brow, and eyes as steady as bedrock. He stood with his arms crossed, not shouting energetically like other clubs, but quietly observing the incoming freshmen with a scrutinizing gaze.