Horikita Suzune's Defeat

"There sure are a lot of people."

Inside the First Gymnasium, Ayanokoji looked around at the crowd and let out a sigh.

A rough count showed over a hundred people already waiting on site.

Although school let out relatively early at Sakurajima, most students still chose to join clubs, with only a minority heading straight home.

Yuyuki and the others stood a little further back as well.

Ayanokoji flipped through the pamphlet he'd picked up at the entrance, looking somewhat uneasy.

"No matter which club I look at, the skill level seems really high. Would they even let someone like me join?"

By appropriately handing over the initiative, it was easier to extract information.

"If Ayanokoji-kun puts in the effort, it's still very possible."

Yuyuki also flipped through the pamphlet, responding with a smile.

The club standards at the school really were high, mostly at the National Level, and some club members could even challenge the Olympics.

From that perspective, even someone who couldn't achieve A Class Graduation could still realize their dreams if they had a special talent.

Only Horikita Suzune had gone quiet since stepping into the gymnasium, silently staring at the stage without a word.

Hearing Yuyuki's words, Ayanokoji decided to push further, sounding a little dejected: "Thanks for the encouragement, but I don't have much confidence in myself. I don't really have any talents either."

"Without effort, nothing can even begin. Why not give it a try first, Ayanokoji?"

"That's true. I'll seriously consider it. Thank you, Tenyo-kun."

Ayanokoji nodded, as if moved by Yuyuki's words.

He also felt a bit helpless.

Everything Yuyuki said was vague nonsense, completely worthless—he couldn't extract any information from Yuyuki's words.

If he kept thinking about it.

He'd only fall into a chain of suspicion over whether the other party was doing it on purpose, so Ayanokoji immediately gave up on the thought.

On the stage.

Girls from the Archery Club, Swimming Club, and Basketball Club took turns giving impassioned speeches.

Soon.

The man Horikita Suzune had been watching stepped to the center of the stage.

Horikita Manabu!

He wasn't tall, looking only about 170 centimeters, with simple-framed glasses. His sharp eyes coldly swept over the noisy students below.

Standing on the stage, Horikita Manabu said nothing, offering no explanation at all.

The students who had been chatting idly also noticed this anomaly.

"What's wrong, forgot your cue cards?"

"Don't be nervous, you got this!"

"Hahahaha~"

The First Year students sent out various encouragements and harmless laughter. Yet Horikita Manabu remained motionless, standing straight, coldly staring at the ones who had spoken.

Gradually, the laughter faded, and the gymnasium suddenly fell silent.

"What's this guy doing?"

Someone whispered to the person next to them, instinctively sensing that now wasn't the time to talk.

The students who had been casually chatting also quieted down, and the gymnasium was filled with an almost unbelievable tension and silence.

This was the student council president rated as the best in Koudo Ikusei High School's history—Horikita Manabu!

In a short time, he had created the perfect stage for a speech.

"Could it be that Senpai is angry? I feel a bit embarrassed. Don't be mad, Senpai. If you have something to say, just hurry up and say it."

Abruptly, Yuyuki broke the silence with a laugh. Everyone in the gymnasium turned to look at Yuyuki in unison.

Ayanokoji's gaze toward Yuyuki also held some confusion. Was This Guy an idiot? Had his earlier judgment been a misunderstanding?

Yuyuki immediately felt a chilling killing intent.

He didn't need to turn around to know.

Horikita Suzune was glaring at him with a look that could kill.

On the stage, Horikita Manabu hadn't expected this situation either, but he reacted quickly.

His sharp eyes fixed on Yuyuki for a moment, and Horikita Manabu said coldly:

"Name?"

"Tenyo Yuyuki."

No need for further explanation—Yuyuki knew he was being asked.

"Is that so."

Horikita Manabu pushed up the bridge of his glasses, nodded, and said coldly:

"This school does not force students to join clubs. If you have urgent matters, you may leave early, or you can ask your classmates about the details of this briefing session later. Are there any other questions?"

"I see. Please continue, Senpai."

Having achieved his goal, Yuyuki also smiled and nodded.

After watching for a moment longer, Horikita Manabu, still somewhat puzzled, withdrew his gaze and looked at the students present.

"I am Horikita Manabu, serving as the Student Council President."

"This school's Student Council has been granted the authority to change the rules by the school authorities, and thus carries great expectations. Therefore, unlike other schools, the Student Council will not accept those who participate in both the Student Council and other clubs."

Gradually, even students who had no interest in the Student Council began to adopt a listening posture. Such was the presence Horikita Manabu commanded.

"Furthermore, the Student Council does not wish for those with naive ideas to run for office. This school is different from others. We only welcome those who understand this point to participate."

After finishing his speech, Horikita Manabu stepped down from the stage and left the gymnasium.

Yuyuki and the others also lost interest and left together with Horikita Suzune. Only Ayanokoji remained in the gymnasium, still holding onto the goal of 'making friends.'

"President, should I go warn that guy named Tenyo Yuyuki?"

Beside Horikita Manabu, the Student Council's Tachibana Secretary asked with a dissatisfied expression.

"No need."

"But that guy actually caused trouble for you, President. He nearly put you in an awkward position."

Hearing Kata's complaint, Horikita Manabu stopped in his tracks and stared at him with a sharp gaze.

"Kata, do you think that guy looks like an idiot?"

"No..."

Kata hugged the folder in his hands and spoke weakly, lowering his head.

Although any normal person wouldn't have spoken up in that situation, Tenyo Yuyuki didn't seem like an idiot either.

"Kata, seeing problems too one-sidedly is your shortcoming."

Horikita Manabu taught him in a cold tone. "Since he doesn't seem like an idiot, don't think about whether his actions are reasonable or what results they might bring. Instead, think about why he had to do it."

"You mean, President, that guy named Tenyo Yuyuki had some purpose that forced him to cause trouble for you?"

The President had deduced so much from just one sentence from that guy. Stars practically sparkled in Kata's eyes.

"Exactly." Horikita Manabu nodded, then lifted his foot to walk again as he said, "Tenyo Yuyuki. Quite an interesting guy. Kata, that guy is a first-year, right? Which class?"

"I remember..." Kata flipped through the documents in his hands as he walked. "First Year D Class. He's also from the Tenmyouin Zaibatsu."

Horikita Manabu paused in his steps again. He nodded. "Is that so..."

"His target is Suzune, isn't it..."

He couldn't help but murmur to himself.

Being in D Class and having a connection to himself—the only possibility was Suzune.

The moment he saw Suzune in the gymnasium, Horikita Manabu understood that she still hadn't grown at all over these years.

Oh well.

A little hardship might do her good.

Though he felt some disappointment and self-blame regarding Suzune's lack of growth, Horikita Manabu still believed in the dazzling talent Suzune had shown in her childhood, like a rough gem waiting to be polished.

After experiencing more difficulties, he believed Suzune could also grow rapidly in this school.

PS: Is anyone still reading... Please give some flowers, evaluation tickets...