Horikita Suzune looked at Kazehara Tetsu, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
"You know him well?"
"Hmm..."
Kazehara Tetsu rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. "Does judging by appearances count?"
"...Judging by appearances?" Horikita Suzune repeated, her lips twitching.
"Think about it..."
Kazehara Tetsu explained with a perfectly straight face, "Someone who keeps his head down all day and hugs the walls when he walks is almost certainly the type who avoids trouble. It's not that he isn't capable. He just doesn't want to spend his energy on anything else."
"What is the Student Council? A collection of hassles. Meetings, organizing events, managing relationships—it's all trouble. If you invite someone who has 'leave me alone' written all over his face, how likely is he to say yes?"
Horikita Suzune was speechless.
This whole "judging by appearances" theory sounded dubious and lacked any concrete basis. Had anyone else said it, she probably would have argued back on the spot.
But looking at Kazehara Tetsu's utterly serious face, then recalling what Ishigami looked like in the files... she had to admit he seemed to have a point.
She fell silent for two seconds, then actually moved Ishigami's name a little further down her mental list.
"...Then let's put Ishigami aside for now."
Horikita Suzune shifted the conversation to the second candidate. "As for Nanase..."
Amasawa Ichika's eyes lit up again. She hurriedly leaned in, ready to pull the same trick.
"Nanase, huh..."
She drew out the words, frantically searching her mind for something disparaging to say. "Well, she's..."
"She's a good choice."
Kazehara Tetsu cut in, stopping her midsentence.
"..."
Amasawa Ichika's mouth hung open, the entire tirade she had prepared caught in her throat.
Kazehara Tetsu didn't look at Amasawa. "The Student Council doesn't lack smart people. What