The Gap in Strength

At these words,

Katsuragi and Ichinose were instantly stunned.

They quickly recalled their homeroom teacher's remark that "points can buy anything." They had been a little curious about it from the start, but had never made this connection.

Could points really buy anything, including positions or other things governed by school rules? The two quickly considered what those words might mean.

Behind them,

Yamamura Miki, who had heard this, was surprised too. Then she grew a little excited!

Points could buy anything?

If they really could buy positions, could she use points to make Kijima Tsukur her subordinate? Then she'd like to see him try ordering her around like that!

Behind the desk,

Tachibana Akane finally gave the man a serious look.

To have thought of this so soon after the start of the school year and come to the Student Council to test the waters was impressive, but that was all.

"Hmm..."

Nagumo Miyabi narrowed his eyes. No wonder he had made Horikita Manabu lose his composure. He did have some ability. Nagumo finally began to take him seriously and smiled.

"Unfortunately, I can't answer that. The student body elects the Student Council president, but the president has the authority to appoint people to all the other positions on the Council. Isn't that right, President Horikita?"

"Wait a minute, Senior Nagumo."

Katsuragi quickly spotted the problem. Frowning, he asked in confusion,

"If that's the case, couldn't the Student Council president earn points by selling positions? Would the school allow that?"

"Haha, don't worry."

Nagumo laughed casually. "Other people might do that, but Horikita Manabu is the finest Student Council president in Advanced Nurturing's history, and the most trustworthy senior you could ask for. He'd never abuse his authority for personal gain~"

Huh?

Ichinose and Katsuragi were both stunned.

Across from them, Tachibana Akane looked proud, and Vice President Kiriyama showed no sign of disagreement. Clearly, they both agreed with Nagumo.

Who would have thought that the silent Horikita Manabu would be spoken of this way? Anyone who didn't know better might think Nagumo had already sidelined him.

However, according to Nagumo,

The Student Council at Advanced Nurturing seemed to give its president absolute power, making it impossible for anyone to sideline him. But perhaps Nagumo was only being modest.

At least for now,

Nagumo seemed more impressive than Horikita Manabu. He came across more like a kind, considerate, cheerful senior who knew how to look after his juniors.

"All right, then. What do you think, President Horikita?"

Nagumo turned to Horikita Manabu and smiled. "Kijima didn't introduce himself, but his question still shows a certain level of ability. I think all three of them are qualified to join the Student Council."

"Although there are only two positions left, I think all three are rare talents. It'd be a shame to turn them away without giving them a chance."

"How about letting one of them take part in the Student Council's work as an intern, then making him an official member after the Council election in six months?"

"As for the points that position would have paid over those six months, I'll cover them myself~"

In that instant,

Ichinose and Katsuragi's favorable impression of Nagumo skyrocketed!

Cheerful, funny, handsome, kind, considerate of his juniors, appreciative of talent, and devoted to the public good—his image left a deep impression on them.

By comparison,

Horikita Manabu seemed rather unremarkable.

To put it nicely, he was calm and collected. Less charitably, he was cold.

He was hailed as the finest Student Council president in Advanced Nurturing's history, but so far all they could sense was his coldness.

Of course, not everyone saw it the same way.

Yamamura Miki could see how capable Nagumo was too, but there was something about the atmosphere that she didn't particularly like.

Because she had so little presence,

She was always in the position of observing others.

Yamamura Miki could just barely sense something different.

It all felt like Nagumo's one-man show. He didn't seem to care about Kijima Tsukur, Ichinose, or the others at all.

Of course,

In Japan's seniority-based system,

Older people held absolute authority, and seniors had no need to consider their juniors. Even Ichinose Honami and Katsuragi hadn't felt ignored.

Nagumo's performance was nearly flawless, but there was always the sense that he was "putting on a show" and making decisions on their behalf.

He seemed a little arrogant and self-important!

It was like... Yamamura Miki glanced furtively at Kijima Tsukur's back. That was it. He was a little like Kijima Tsukur... just as arrogant!

But when she thought about it carefully, Yamamura Miki felt that something didn't quite add up.

Kijima Tsukur was arrogant and didn't care at all what she thought. He treated her like a slave and ordered her around. He was awful!

But at the vending machine,

Kijima Tsukur had asked for her advice, and he explained things whenever she had questions. Even when he ordered her around, he always phrased it as a request?

In any case, there was some difference.

Yamamura Miki didn't really like the outgoing Nagumo.

"No need."

Horikita Manabu remained seated and looked at Ichinose and the others.

"You may leave. The Student Council only accepts the most outstanding candidates. For now, the three of you are not qualified to join."

"Oh, my~"

Nagumo patted his forehead and smiled ruefully. "President Horikita is as strict as ever~"

"I see. Sorry to bother you, then. I'll work harder to improve myself and try to join the Student Council next year. Please excuse us—we'll be going now."

Ichinose and Katsuragi looked disappointed, but there was nothing they could do about the rejection.

The two bowed slightly and turned to leave. Kijima Tsukur rose from his seat, and Yamamura Miki grabbed the folding chair. Only then did the others remember that she was there.

Still, no one paid her much attention. Her attitude alone made it clear she had no intention of joining the Student Council.

Besides, if even Katsuragi and the others had been rejected, this inconspicuous Yamamura Miki had even less chance of being accepted.

Just then, Nagumo suddenly spoke with a smile.

"What a shame, Kijima. If it had just been you, the outcome might have been different."

At this,

The three of them stopped again and turned to look at Kijima Tsukur.

Kijima Tsukur turned sharply around, one hand on his chin, staring intently at Nagumo, who had just spoken, as if he meant to devour him whole.

The Gap in Strength

"What do you mean by that, Senior Nagumo?"

"Hm?"

Feeling Kijima Tsukur's gaze, Nagumo visibly frowned. That look was like a scalpel cutting through a person, and it made him extremely uncomfortable.

Still, after a brief silence, Nagumo smiled warmly.

"I mean exactly what I said."

"If it had just been me, the outcome might have been different."

Kijima Tsukur took the folding chair from Yamamura Miki, opened it, and sat back down, looking at the people in front of him.

"You mean the outcome of joining the Student Council? If you exclude them, the result might change. In your eyes, Senior Nagumo, we're rivals."

"When they hear that upperclassmen have dropped out, most students naturally assume the school is testing them. That's a perfectly normal way for a student to think. They believe they're competing against the school and need to handle the school's tests. But it seems that isn't the case."

"In your eyes, we're rivals. Who are we competing against? Katsuragi and Yamamura in our class? Ichinose in Class B? Or all of them?"

At these words,

Nagumo's expression grew somewhat unpleasant. That wasn't what he had meant, but he had indeed regarded the people before him as rivals.

It was an unconscious reaction brought on by the information he had.

Behind him, Ichinose, Katsuragi, and the others exchanged glances, their expressions turning a little more serious.

As outstanding students from their respective classes,

They could naturally guess that the school wasn't as simple as it seemed.

But, like most students,

They had simply assumed these things were tests set by the school.

No matter how difficult they were, they only had to work hard and handle the tasks the school assigned. That was a perfectly normal way for a student to think.

But it seemed that wasn't the case.

They weren't up against the school, but their classmates or students from other classes. That was beyond what either of them had expected.

If so, they would have to take things much more seriously.

Just as they were thinking that, Kijima Tsukur continued,

"Then what's the reason for this competition? The only thing I can think of is this school's special S-System—points. Are the students being made to compete for points?"

"That doesn't quite add up."

Kijima Tsukur took a Rubik's Cube from his pocket and began to fiddle with it.

"Points can certainly motivate students, but some students may not be very materialistic. Points alone probably wouldn't make them give it their all!"

"And the punishment of expulsion? For ordinary students, that's a terrifying penalty. But for capable students, it's no big deal!"

"If a student is capable and not very materialistic, they can simply maintain decent grades and wait until graduation."

"Clearly, these two systems alone can't motivate everyone!"

"The only possibility is that the reason for competing was decided before enrollment!"

"That would be the promise of a chance to fulfill any wish and choose one's own career! Only that could ensure that everyone had a reason to compete!"

"What they're competing for is the chance to choose their own career. Only a small number of students will get that chance!"

"Then what does this small number represent? A small group of highly capable students, or a small number of classes? For example, will only those who graduate from Class A have the chance to choose their own careers?"

"Nagumo, can you answer me?"

At these words,

Nagumo's expression turned serious.

He finally understood that this man was a serious problem...

Tachibana Akane, standing behind Horikita Manabu, was just as astonished.

To have nearly deduced the truth about the school on only his second day after enrollment was unprecedented in Advanced Nurturing's history.

And,

He had worked it out from just one sentence that Nagumo had let slip unconsciously.

That alone showed how terrifyingly capable he was.

Thinking this,

Tachibana Akane stole a glance at Horikita Manabu's back.

Even though she completely trusted Horikita Manabu's abilities, she still couldn't understand why he had refused to let Kijima Tsukur join the Student Council.