Meeting Horikita Manabu

Horikita Manabu pushed up his glasses and rested his chin on his hands, staring straight at me. The pressure he exuded was immense.

But I didn't care in the slightest. I knew this man's weakness was his sister. If I could exploit that soft spot, I'd have a chance to negotiate.

I casually sat down on the sofa, crossing my legs, completely unfazed by the fact that I was facing the great Student Council President.

Seeing my attitude, Tachibana Akane started to scold me, but Horikita Manabu stopped her with a raised hand.

He looked at the underclassman facing him, his unyielding aura showing a hint of interest.

Not everyone could face his presence without fear. That alone was enough to pique Horikita Manabu's interest.

Horikita Manabu asked with a serious expression, "May I ask why you've come to see me, underclassman?"

"Is there some difficulty with your class? If so, please file a complaint. You've overstepped by coming directly to the Student Council, kid."

He immediately tried to put Akasaka in his place.

But Akasaka Ryunosuke was not intimidated in the slightest, meeting Horikita Manabu's gaze directly.

Horikita Manabu then smiled. "It seems the students of Class D this year aren't as trashy as usual."

Horikita Manabu leaned back in his chair, narrowing his eyes.

The other party had deliberately given me a piece of information. It seemed careless, but it was intentional.

He wanted to see how much this underclassman could analyze from that single sentence.

As expected, Akasaka pretended to ponder, but he understood perfectly. He had to act like a novice on the surface, but not too incompetent, or he wouldn't capture the other party's attention.

After about ten seconds of thought, I asked Horikita Manabu, "Does this school rank students based on levels A, B, C, and D?"

"From what you just said, Class D seems to be the worst."

"If Class D is the worst, then conversely, Class A must be the best. Am I wrong?"

Horikita Manabu instantly jumped up, staring at me in shock, as if he had seen a monster.

"You figured all that out from just one sentence I spoke?"

Horikita Manabu had no choice but to take this underclassman seriously. Even he couldn't have deduced so much from a single sentence.

Seeing her president's serious expression, Tachibana Akane knew this underclassman was something special.

To analyze so much from just one sentence, it was no wonder the president was so serious.

Horikita Manabu pushed up his glasses and sat back down in his chair. But this time, his expression was noticeably much more serious.

"You came here to gather information, didn't you?"

Faced with Horikita Manabu's question, I quickly nodded in acknowledgment, adding a bit more.

"There's a girl named Horikita in our class too. I wonder if you two are related?"

Horikita Manabu gave a faint smile. "I must say, you're quite perceptive. She is my sister. A bit... unaccomplished, perhaps?"

Horikita Manabu admitted it frankly, with a hint of helplessness.

His sister had been clingy since childhood, insisting on attending the same school as her brother. He hadn't expected her to actually follow him here.

Honestly, he didn't want Suzune to come to this school. After all, this was a school where the strong preyed on the weak, and Suzune was too easily taken advantage of.

Given Suzune's usual personality, she wouldn't make a single friend in this meritocratic school. Fighting alone would lead to isolation.

Horikita Manabu worried himself sick over his sister. But then he looked at the underclassman before him and thought to himself, [Perhaps I can ask this young man to look after my sister. If I offer him enough benefits...]

[Provided this underclassman doesn't have any ulterior motives...]

Horikita Manabu feigned contemplation for a moment before speaking to Akasaka Ryunosuke. "Your name is Akasaka Ryunosuke, correct? I sincerely invite you to join our Student Council."

Tachibana Akane, standing nearby, was stunned.

She hadn't expected the Student Council President to invite a freshman who had only been at the school for two days into the Student Council.

This had never happened before in this school, which showed how much importance the President placed on this person.

Akasaka deliberately stroked his chin, pondering, calculating how to maximize his benefits. He then asked.

"What benefits would I get for joining the Student Council?"

Horikita Manabu smiled. It was best to trade with benefits. He was only afraid of those who couldn't even trade with benefits; that would be truly difficult.

Horikita Manabu pushed his glasses up again and explained the benefits of joining the Student Council to me.

"Upon joining the Student Council, you will receive 100,000 points monthly. This is an additional amount, separate from your regular points."

Horikita Manabu seized the opportunity to reveal a sliver of information to the person before him.

There was a school rule against stating things directly, but a hint was permissible.

Faced with Horikita Manabu, who was deliberately feeding him information, I couldn't help but scoff inwardly. [Damn sister-complex!]. But outwardly, I showed nothing and continued my own maneuvering.

"I see. So, the points next month might not necessarily be 100,000, is that correct, President?"

Horikita Manabu smiled again, this time with admiration. He hadn't expected this underclassman to be so outstanding. If he revealed any more, this person might uncover all the school's secrets.

Horikita Manabu maintained his composure. To ensure fair competition among the students here, he decided not to reveal any more information.

He handed the Student Council acceptance letter to Akasaka Ryunosuke, the meaning clear.

What was Akasaka hesitating for? 100,000 points were his for the taking. Besides, this was one of the purposes of coming here...

I quickly signed my name and handed it back to Horikita Manabu. After he took it, Horikita Manabu nodded in satisfaction and took out his phone, scanning 100,000 points to me on the spot.

I looked at the extra 100,000 points in my phone and looked at him curiously. "Does your Student Council pay a month in advance?"

Horikita Manabu shook his head. "No, we usually pay on the first of next month. The reason I'm giving it to you this month is an investment in you."

"Of course, the money is still your money. I'm just giving you an advance on a month's wages, so you won't get any next month."

I couldn't help but pout. I thought I could get another 100,000 points for free. But I still accepted the president's kindness, as I really needed it.

For the sake of future plans...

Horikita Manabu nodded in satisfaction when he saw me accept, and added.

"Come report tomorrow. I'm sure the homeroom teachers of the other classes will be shocked with their mouths wide open when they hear this news tomorrow."

Horikita Manabu showed a mischievous smile.

"Joining the Student Council on the second day after enrolling, and being from the worst class, Class D. I doubt you'll be able to live a normal life now, will you?"

This was Horikita Manabu's goal.

On the surface, he invited Akasaka Ryunosuke to join the Student Council, but in reality, he was tying him down in the spotlight.

As long as he was in the spotlight, he would have to help his class.

And his sister's class was the worst, Class D. To be promoted, they would need the help of this person in front of him.

Even if he didn't want to act, his homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, probably wouldn't let him off the hook, would she?

After all, that homeroom teacher was going crazy trying to get her class promoted.

Soon, Akasaka Ryunosuke left the President's Office.

He now had 200,000 points in hand.

He was still a long way from financial freedom, but it was a small step forward, wasn't it?

Akasaka Ryunosuke's lips gradually curved upwards.

"This school is truly amazing!"

"Being able to earn money so quickly is something I couldn't even dream of in my past life. I truly love this school."