Classroom of the Elite, Starting with a Zero, Knowing the Plot I Just Lay Flat!

In other words, this was most likely a message sent by the Student Council.

However.

Why would she receive such a message? As for Student Council matters, the girls had actually discussed them among themselves; for instance, Katsuragi from Class A of the first year was very capable, having been directly invited to join the Student Council and subsequently becoming its secretary.

That was an incredible achievement for a first-year student.

But because Katsuragi wasn't particularly handsome, everyone had just mentioned it in passing and then lost interest.

And now, why would she receive a message from the Student Council claiming that she had already joined?

Yet she knew absolutely nothing about it.

"Beep-beep!"

However, while she was distracted, a call came through directly.

The phone number displayed was one she didn't recognize, but beneath the number, it still bore the verification: [Student Council].

"Aren't you going to answer the phone?"

Horikita noticed the change in Kei's expression. Since she was facing Kei directly, she couldn't see the content on the other girl's screen.

"Um, it seems the Student Council is calling; I'm a bit flustered right now," Kei said.

After saying that, she noticed that Horikita, who had seemed so imposing just a moment ago, appeared to have become a bit more timid.

Although she didn't quite understand how the other girl's mood could shift so quickly, it wouldn't be good if she missed a call from the Student Council.

So, Kei hurriedly answered.

As soon as she connected, the voice of an upperclassman came through.

"I am Tachibana Akane, secretary of the Student Council. Is this Kei Karuizawa from Class D of the first year?"

"You should have already received the text message regarding your admission to the Student Council."

"Please come to the Student Council office tomorrow at noon to report in."

"Every member who joins the Student Council receives a certain amount of points as a living subsidy."

"The position you will hold is that of a Public Morals Committee Member. Generally, you won't need to come to the Student Council office; we will notify you separately only when we need your assistance."

"Are you listening?"

Tachibana-senpai from the Student Council spoke from the other end of the line, seemingly noticing that Kei hadn't responded at all.

"Um, yes, I'm listening."

Kei nodded hurriedly, but her mind was filled with question marks.

At this moment, Horikita Suzune also began looking at her own phone.

Her phone had received a message.

[I secured a position as a Public Morals Committee Member in the Student Council for Karuizawa. Didn't she want to act like a gyaru to protect herself? With this position, she won't need to go find Hirata for a fake relationship anymore.

You also know that I'm single right now, so how could I stand to see couples existing in this school? Even fake ones won't do. Couples should all be burned!]

By Nakano Yuu.

It was evident that Nakano Yuu was being a bit long-winded, perhaps even a little angry.

However, looking at the message he sent, Horikita at least understood where he had gone after school that afternoon.

"..."

Horikita.

So he had gone to the Student Council.

And since her brother was in the Student Council, Horikita knew her own limits; she certainly wouldn't have dared to follow him there.

It was just that.

"Doesn't it cost money?"

Horikita had a good understanding of Nakano Yuu.

After all, she had previously witnessed him selling the secretary position that her brother had given him.

At the same time, Nakano Yuu had wanted her as a collaborator and had swindled 80,000 points out of her first, so was he just giving money to Kei?

She was pondering the difference between the two situations.

[Yes, Nagumo-senpai from the second year is a very understanding person; he already helped pay for it. However, he thought I was buying this position for you, so he paid for it. He probably wants to build up your favorability in this way. I don't think that's right. The money can be paid, but there's no need to owe any favors. So you don't need to worry about it.]

"..."

Horikita.

There was no need to send that kind of message.

Because Horikita had absolutely no interest in romance.

But then she recalled Kei asking earlier, "Aren't you two dating?" and she found herself unable to grasp for a moment whether Nakano Yuu was truly completely uninterested in her or not.

She still felt that she was naive, having been played for a fool the whole time.

Beep.

As she was thinking this.

Her phone received a notification of a deposit.

[Beep! 100,000 private points have been deposited into your private account. Sender: Nakano Yuu ZYY1045666090. Current balance: 639,570 private points.]

The sender was Nakano Yuu.

"I don't believe I am worth this much, and since you secured the position for free, there is no need for you to send me money now."

Horikita sent a message back to him.

[However, Nagumo-senpai assumed I bought the Student Council position for you, and he even transferred an extra 200,000 to me as a breakup fee. While I could have easily pocketed it all, I did use your name to trick him into paying, so I'm splitting it with you. I rarely go fifty-fifty with anyone; you should feel honored, Horikita-san.]

Feel honored?

You used her name to swindle someone, and only after you succeeded did you think to share a portion with her?

Yet she only found out after you had finished the swindle.

Consequently, no expression could be seen on Horikita Suzune's face.

[Forgot to mention, this was done right in front of Horikita Manabu-senpai, and your brother likely understood my intentions, so he conspired with me.]

Nakano Yuu sent another message.

[I don't think Nagumo-senpai will have any inappropriate designs on you from here on out.]

In other words, was Nakano Yuu actually helping her? Was he trying to help her avoid harassment from Nagumo?

And he had even coordinated the action with her brother.

"..."

Horikita.

Horikita had been very angry, but suddenly she felt that her anger was somewhat unreasonable.

Because the first time she met that Nagumo Miyabi-senpai, Nakano Yuu had already said that the senior was not a good person, and doing this now was also teaching that senior a lesson.

To a certain extent, Nakano Yuu had acted for her sake.

Therefore, it felt strange for her to be sulking like this.

Or perhaps, she was just that weak, which was why she needed Nakano-kun and her brother to protect her.

With that, Horikita's momentum had weakened.

"Ah, so what is going on?"

Karuizawa had already ended the call, but she was still completely confused.

She had no idea when she had been selected for the Student Council.

"It was Nakano Yuu's doing. He said there was no need for you to associate with Hirata, and if you wanted to solidify your status, he had other plans. This Student Council member position is something he secured for you."

Horikita Suzune said.

Oh.

I see.

Karuizawa nodded.

Wait, no.

Huh? There's such a thing as a forced transaction?

Although Karuizawa thought this, she also felt that it might not be a bad thing.

If she wanted to increase her influence through the popularity of Hirata Yousuke, the most popular boy in class, she would have to pretend to be his girlfriend. Although the nice-guy Hirata probably wouldn't refuse, since it was all an act, wouldn't it mean telling one lie and then having to constantly cover it up?

That would mean having to rely on Hirata all the time, and she didn't like doing things like that.

So, the Public Morals Committee Member position that Nakano-kun had bought for her was truly a timely gift.

Only.

"So, what exactly does he want me to do?"

Karuizawa asked.

"And when will I need to put in the work?"

Although she was a bit dazed at first, after connecting the dots, she realized that the message Nakano Yuu had Horikita convey was likely just to make a deal with her.

"You're actually quite sharp."

Horikita Suzune had, for the time being, returned to normal from her previous mood.

She was pondering why Nakano Yuu's attitude toward her and Karuizawa was so completely different.

And now, she felt that perhaps Karuizawa did have some value.

At the very least, when she first became Nakano Yuu's collaborator, she hadn't taken the initiative to think like this.

Instead, she was waiting... well, waiting for the other party to notify her of what to do so she could go and do it.

"I'll have you assist him when the time is right; there's no need to contact him otherwise."

Horikita said.

"..."

Karuizawa.

Isn't that just leaving her completely to her own devices?

"I understand."

Karuizawa said.

"I can agree to his request, and then..."

Karuizawa seemed to hesitate once again.

She had a past of being bullied by gyarus, and those girls hadn't made it into this school at all.

That gave her some peace of mind, but Nakano Yuu had said he knew everything about her.

Those words had shaken her, so did he also know about her past of being bullied?

"Do you have any other questions?"

Horikita Suzune had become stiff and formal once more.

"..."

Karuizawa.

"No."

Karuizawa shook her head. Right now, Horikita looked like nothing more than a heartless tool for Nakano, so if she wanted to confirm Nakano Yuu's intentions, she would have to make direct contact with him.

And that was the reason why, the very next day, Sakura noticed yet another girl in class glancing toward Nakano's direction during the lesson.