Horikita Manabu's Request, and the Deal with Hoshinomiya

Inside the Advanced Nurturing High School student council room, Horikita Manabu sat in the president's exclusive chair, Tachibana stood behind him to the right, and Ying stood in front of the desk. On the desk lay Ying's membership application and personal profile.

"Byakuya, from now on you are the treasurer of the student council. I look forward to working with you."

"Yes, BOSS!" Ying snapped to attention and gave Horikita Manabu a military salute.

"Actually, the student council isn't as strict as you might imagine. You don't need to use honorifics when we're in private. Let's start the morning meeting once Vice President Nagumo Miyabi arrives." Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses as he spoke.

"Yes, BOSS!" After saying this, Ying sat down on the sofa quite casually.

"Byakuya! The president hasn't told you to sit yet!" Seeing Ying acting so self-assured, Tachibana spoke up in anger.

"It's fine, Tachibana. In private, we can be a bit more relaxed with each other. You should sit down too." Horikita Manabu said to the slightly irritated Tachibana.

Tachibana huffed at Ying and sat in the seat furthest away from him.

"Um... Senior. You really don't need to hold such a grudge against me." Ying said, scratching his head helplessly at Tachibana.

"Hmph, I haven't accepted you yet. I don't know what the president sees in you, but in my eyes, you're just a rude, eccentric, and incompetent student." Tachibana said, turning her head away from Ying.

Both Horikita Manabu and Ying sighed.

"Knock, knock. President Horikita, I'm here." After a crisp knock, a young man's voice drifted in.

"Please come in." Horikita Manabu replied calmly.

The person who entered was a young man with short, golden hair. He stood tall and straight, his eyes revealing an infinite sense of self-confidence. So that must be Nagumo Miyabi, Ying thought to himself.

Nagumo first bowed to Horikita, then greeted Tachibana, and finally spoke to Ying with a cheerful smile.

"You must be Byakuya Ying, the one who has been receiving so much attention from President Horikita lately. No, I should call you Treasurer Byakuya now. I am the student council vice president, Nagumo Miyabi. I look forward to working with you." After saying this, he smiled and reached out to shake Ying's hand.

Ying was a bit surprised. Is this really Nagumo Miyabi? He doesn't look like the person in his impressions at all; he's way too good at putting on an act.

"Since everyone is here, let's begin today's meeting. The first item is regarding the membership of Treasurer Byakuya Ying..." Seeing that Nagumo had arrived, Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses and announced the start of the meeting.

After the meeting concluded, Nagumo said he had many things to attend to as a second-year and took his leave first. Tachibana remained standing to the right behind Horikita Manabu. Just as Ying was about to say goodbye, he was called back by Horikita Manabu.

"Byakuya, wait a moment. I have a personal matter I would like to ask of you." After saying this, he glanced at Tachibana, signaling her to step out. Tachibana left tactfully, leaving the student council room to Ying and Horikita Manabu.

Ying felt a bit helpless. Why does it feel like there have been so many things happening lately?

Horikita Manabu looked at Ying's reluctant expression and asked, "Aren't you curious why I kept you here?"

Ying made a random guess; he didn't really care what he was kept for anyway. "Maybe you want me to do some ideological work on a few people."

A flash of shock crossed Horikita Manabu's eyes.

"You know?"

Know what? Ying was confused. Did he actually hit the mark with a random guess? But if it's about ideological work, could it be... her?

"Could it be, your younger sister?" Ying asked cautiously.

"I won't ask how you knew. Since you've already guessed it, I won't beat around the bush. What I want to ask of you next concerns my sister, Horikita Suzune." Horikita Manabu raised his hand, signaling for Ying to sit back down.

Horikita Manabu then began to narrate his request: "My sister, Horikita Suzune, has admired me since she was a child. She entered this school likely to gain my approval. However, I do not wish for her to follow in my footsteps; I want her to live for herself and create her own life. Because of your intervention, Class D is now aware of the rules regarding class assignments. I imagine she is currently unhappy about being placed in Class D. You are both in the same grade, and I am about to graduate. I hope that in the future, if you have the capacity, you could offer her some guidance so that she stops following anyone else's footsteps and instead lives as her own person."

After listening to Horikita Manabu's heartfelt speech, Ying only felt that there was a reason Horikita Suzune had become the way she was. If only Horikita Manabu had told her his thoughts even a little bit, she wouldn't have remained obsessed with her brother all the way until university. Is this what a master of riddles looks like?

"BOSS, I can help you with this. But I have one condition." Ying stood up, crossed his arms, and said to Horikita Manabu.

"Please, go ahead."

"Before you graduate, you must tell your sister your thoughts exactly as they are."

"I see, so that's what you think. I understand. I accept the condition." Horikita Manabu smiled with a sense of relief.

"Then, BOSS, I'll be going. See you after school." With that, Ying walked out of the student council room.

After school, just as Ying was preparing to head to the student council to complete his tasks as treasurer, Kanzaki suddenly stopped him.

"Byakuya, Hoshinomiya-sensei is looking for you. She wants you to go to her office."

Huh? Why is Hoshinomiya looking for me? Is she still dwelling on that matter?

Filled with doubt, Ying arrived at the first-year teachers' office. Before he could even enter, he heard a conversation from inside.

"Chabashira-sensei, please confirm once more that my placement in Class D is a fact, and that there was no error in the scoring criteria." This was a female voice that sounded angry.

"Horikita, although it is regrettable, your placement in Class D is not our mistake. You are simply a student of that caliber, and therefore, you were inevitably placed in Class D."

Eh... it seems I've come at a bad time. Maybe I should come back later.

"Ying-kun, what are you doing standing at the office door? Don't be thinking about doing anything bad~."

Hoshinomiya-sensei appeared behind Ying out of nowhere, smiling as she scrutinized him.

Ying: ...

"Hee hee, the teacher is just joking. Sae-sensei seems busy with Class D matters inside, so it wouldn't be good to barge in and disturb them. Let's go to the teacher's counseling room together!" Before Ying could react, he had already been pulled into Hoshinomiya-sensei's private counseling room.

"Um... Teacher, is there something you needed me for?" Ying asked tremblingly.

"Oh my, Ying-kun, no need to be so nervous. To be able to join the student council just one week into the school year—the teacher is very happy to have such an excellent student. I've even been dreaming about you these past few days."

"Teacher, you flatter me too much. No matter how outstanding a student may be, they will always be their teacher's student!"

"Hehe, Ying-kun is so amusing. But as it happens, Teacher really does have a favor to ask of her adorable student right now~." Hoshinomiya-sensei held a finger to her lips, striking a pitiful and helpless pose.

"P-please... go ahead." Seeing Hoshinomiya in this state, Ying felt a bit more apprehensive instead.

"Could you... make sure Sae's Class D stays away from Class A~? If Ying-kun can manage that, the thing you want... it's not like Teacher can't give it to you~."

Given such suggestive language, Ying could only say that if anyone failed to understand the implication, there must be something wrong with their brain.

Ying grinned. "Hehehe... Hoshinomiya-sensei, you said it yourself. Don't you dare go back on your word; my appetite is quite large, you know."

Watching Ying like this, Hoshinomiya couldn't help but feel a flicker of cowardice, but she immediately steeled her resolve and said, "Rest assured, as long as Ying-kun can do it, I will certainly not break my promise!"

"Hahaha! Very well, I want it right now." As he spoke, Ying took a few steps toward Hoshinomiya.

"Eh... right now? No, that won't do!" Hoshinomiya was startled by Ying's intensity and took a step back.

"It's fine, consider it a down payment. I won't take too much. Hehehe~." As he spoke, Ying reached his hand into his pocket.

"A-alright then. I hope Ying-kun won't go back on your word; you must make sure Sae stays away from Class A!" Hoshinomiya nervously squeezed her eyes shut.

"Don't worry, Teacher. When I handle things, you can rest easy." With that, Ying pulled that thing out.

Ying-kun is actually quite handsome, so this doesn't count as being taken advantage of, Hoshinomiya thought to herself.

"Hoshinomiya-sensei, what are you doing? Hurry up and take out your terminal. Let's start with 300,000 points for now. That's not much for a teacher, right?"

Hoshinomiya opened her eyes in confusion, only to see the student terminal waving in front of her face, and her expression instantly darkened. Does this mean my body isn't even worth 300,000 private points!?

After transferring the points, Hoshinomiya glared at Ying and walked away without looking back.

Ying: ??? Was the price too high? I'll make it cheaper next time...