With Kijima Tsukur's abilities, joining the Student Council would clearly be well within his capabilities, wouldn't it?
Meanwhile,
Katsuragi and Ichinose were equally troubled.
They hadn't considered things from this angle before, but they had to admit that Kijima Tsukur's analysis made a lot of sense.
Most people chose to leave their parents for three years and attend this school because they were drawn by Advanced Nurturing's promise of free tuition, free living expenses, and the freedom to choose their careers.
Only the opportunity to choose one's career freely could truly motivate everyone to compete.
Of course, people might have enrolled for different reasons, and there could well be a few oddballs with unusual motives. Those naturally didn't factor into the discussion.
Only a small number of people would have the opportunity to choose their careers freely.
Moreover, that small number was probably determined by class: only students who graduated from Class A would have the opportunity to choose their careers freely.
It wasn't hard to judge whether this was the case.
Yesterday at Keyaki Mall, it had been obvious that the upperclassmen treated students from different classes differently.
Kijima Tsukur hadn't spoken much with anyone over the past two days, but they knew all too well.
At that thought,
Katsuragi's attitude toward the Ichinose Honami beside him changed at once. His friendly lack of wariness turned into caution.
There had been no conflict of interest before, but now they were direct competitors.
The shift in attitude was inevitable.
More importantly, once they established that the competition ahead would be class-based, choosing a class leader would also become necessary.
After all,
there was no way to stand against an entire class alone.
Only an outstanding leader could bring a class's strength together!
Katsuragi Kohei couldn't help frowning.
He had definitely wanted to be Class A's leader. After all, the title of Class A leader at Advanced Nurturing would surely add a shining credential to his record.
And he had the ability, popularity, tact, and leadership experience. He was undoubtedly the ideal choice for the position.
However, Katsuragi Kohei glanced discreetly at Kijima Tsukur.
Based on his performance over the past two days,
Katsuragi Kohei could tell that Kijima Tsukur was just a tiny bit stronger than him.
If there was a better candidate for leader, Katsuragi Kohei wouldn't mind taking a step back and supporting Kijima Tsukur.
The problem was...
Kijima Tsukur was just too strange. From the very beginning, he'd said that everyone in Class A was his subordinate. He was far too unconventional.
Could he really lead them to graduate from Class A?
But only those who graduated from Class A would have the opportunity to choose their careers freely. This would undoubtedly affect the lives of everyone in Class A!
Considering that, Katsuragi Kohei was willing to give ground!
Katsuragi Kohei decided to wait and see for now. Everything depended on Kijima Tsukur's policies and character.
If Kijima Tsukur cared about his classmates and intended to lead the class to graduate from Class A, he wouldn't mind becoming Kijima Tsukur's subordinate.
If Kijima Tsukur was the sort of person who would sacrifice his classmates to secure the greatest possible benefit for himself, he wouldn't mind opposing him!
"Clap, clap, clap."
Just then, Miyabi Nagumo, who had listened to his analysis, clapped his hands.
"Not bad. Your deductions are getting close to the truth. But this won't be much use to you in Class A or Class B. You'll find out the truth next month anyway."
"..."
Katsuragi and the others frowned. That was a rather crafty answer.
Miyabi Nagumo hadn't answered the question, but he'd let slip that they would learn the truth next month, effectively confirming that this was indeed an exam.
It was as if he were hinting
that they'd have to offer something in return to get the answer.
On the other hand, he'd also told them that the answer wouldn't be much use to Class A or Class B anyway, so even if they lost something, they couldn't blame him.
But this kind of tantalizing tease was maddening. What if it really did affect Class A's standing?
Judging from Miyabi Nagumo's behavior just now,
he clearly wasn't short on points. So the price didn't necessarily have to be points; it might even be some insignificant cost.
Should they pay a price to seek the answer?
Wasn't he worried they'd go ask Horikita Manabu or some other upperclassman?
Hmm?
Or had Miyabi Nagumo actually anticipated all of this?
Was this simply a choice he was offering them?
Should they spend points to trade with an upperclassman for this answer, which might or might not be useful?
Or should they pay some insignificant price to get the answer from Miyabi Nagumo?
Miyabi Nagumo was baiting them.
At the thought,
Katsuragi and Ichinose couldn't help feeling uneasy.
If that was really the case,
then this vice president was rather frightening.
If what Horikita Manabu had said was true,
and the Student Council only welcomed people with real ability, then Miyabi Nagumo, who seemed so warm and considerate, might not be as simple as he appeared.
Just then,
another chuckle from nearby drew everyone's attention.
Seeing Me Is Like Seeing God!
"Heh."
Kijima Tsukur leaned back in his chair and, for once, smiled at Miyabi Nagumo.
"It's the first time I've ever been so underestimated. What a strange feeling. Miyabi Nagumo, you seem considerate on the surface, like a thoughtful upperclassman, but deep down you're arrogant and look down on everyone around you."
Mm-hmm.
Yamamura Miki nodded to herself as she listened.
Exactly. She felt the same way. Miyabi Nagumo seemed easygoing, but somehow she didn't feel he took any of them seriously.
Katsuragi and Ichinose, however, furrowed their brows. To them, Miyabi Nagumo was simply a considerate upperclassman.
More importantly...
Miyabi Nagumo hadn't offended them,
and had kept answering their questions whenever he could. It was inappropriate to judge him so hastily.
"You and Kiriyama are both vice presidents of the Student Council."
Kijima Tsukur paid no attention to what anyone else thought. He sized up Miyabi Nagumo with an amused look.
"But you're clearly in a higher position than him. Vice President Kiriyama hasn't said a word, while you've been talking at length."
"You're speaking so freely here, on the Student Council's home ground, without the president's permission. That's clearly an encroachment on the president's authority."
"Unlike the respect Tachibana Akane shows, your behavior is clearly a provocation."
That's right, that's right.
Tachibana Akane nodded earnestly, warming to Kijima Tsukur considerably.
Miyabi Nagumo really was being outrageous. He didn't show President Horikita the slightest respect and kept opposing him. It was simply too much.
"When you called President Horikita the strongest in the history of the school, neither Vice President Kiriyama nor Tachibana Akane reacted."
Kijima Tsukur rose and walked over to Miyabi Nagumo's desk. He leaned on it and looked down at the man before him with an amused expression.
"That clearly wasn't flattery. You meant it."
"But the very President Horikita you called the strongest in history didn't stop you. That suggests you have considerable ability yourself, enough to make Horikita Manabu feel troubled."
"But even Vice President Kiriyama, sitting beside you, ignored your overstepping behavior. That's rather intriguing."
"Based on what we deduced earlier, Class A and Class B should be rivals."
"A vice president from second-year Class B should naturally be President Horikita's ally. Yet he's stayed silent. That can only mean you have considerable influence in the second year."
"You may even have already gained a considerable advantage in your year, leaving Vice President Kiriyama completely demoralized. That's the only way to explain his behavior."
"Clap, clap, clap."
At that, Miyabi Nagumo clapped his hands, looking like a man in a position of power as he smiled approvingly.
"Impressive powers of observation and deduction. I have indeed gained an advantage in the second year that the other classes can hardly recover from. You're an excellent student, Kijima. It'd be even better if you knew how to show your upperclassmen a little respect."
At his words,
Vice President Kiriyama and Tachibana Akane both wore complicated expressions.
No matter how much they disliked Miyabi Nagumo, they had to admit he was capable. However far Kijima Tsukur's deductions went, Miyabi Nagumo had remained every bit the composed man in a position of power.
"Heh..."
Kijima Tsukur smiled unconcernedly.
"But there's one thing that doesn't add up. If Horikita Manabu really is as outstanding as you say, he should have defeated you long ago. At the very least, he should be your enemy."
"There are two third-years and two second-years here. Unless Tachibana Akane is actually on your side, she wouldn't be as calm as she is now."
"So you and President Horikita aren't simply enemies. You're more like rivals and allies at the same time?"
"Is it because President Horikita recognizes your abilities that he puts up with your provocations?"
"And then?"
Miyabi Nagumo found this rather interesting. He was curious to see what Kijima Tsukur would deduce.
"But that's still only tolerance, not a response."
Kijima Tsukur pulled over a chair and sat down in front of Miyabi Nagumo as if he owned the place, his expression teasing.
"You're provoking him like this because you're hoping he'll respond. On the surface, you're answering our questions, but the person you've been speaking to all along is President Horikita."
"That line about how 'if I were the only one, things might have turned out differently' really is something you believe deep down. But I'm not the person you're communicating with. President Horikita is!"
Kijima Tsukur said meaningfully,
"It's almost as if you're saying, 'So this is the person you chose.' You're not simply enemies; your ideals differ in some way. The Student Council's power may be greater than I imagined."
At that,
Katsuragi and Ichinose swayed slightly.
Their heads spun.
They could only vaguely sense that Horikita Manabu and Miyabi Nagumo might not get along, or that there might be some kind of power struggle between them.
While they were still focused on the school's rules,
Kijima Tsukur had already analyzed the upperclassmen's power structure and social connections from the situation before him. He had even guessed at the root of the conflict between Horikita Manabu and Miyabi Nagumo. Their relationship was clearly more complicated than a simple rivalry.
And he'd done all of this in less than twenty minutes.
Before you continue