Classroom of the Elite, I Also Want to Be a Good Person

"At 5:00 PM, there will be a recruitment event for various clubs and the Student Council in the gymnasium."

"Joining a club or the Student Council will be beneficial to your school life."

As the bell rang, the homeroom teacher, Mashima, announced the recruitment event and left the classroom without offering any further explanation.

With a new topic of conversation, the classroom was suddenly filled with noise, as many students began asking their new friends about their plans.

"Having served as a student council president in middle school, Katsuragi-kun must be planning to join the Student Council, right?"

The green-haired Totsuka Yahiko spoke loudly, seemingly taking pride in Katsuragi's past achievements, despite having only known him for a day.

He certainly had the air of a sycophant.

Looking up at the proud-looking Totsuka, Aoyama felt he still had some talent; after all, natural flattery was a skill in its own right.

Though Katsuragi Kōhei certainly didn't deserve Totsuka's praise.

In his memories, not a single first-year student was able to join the Student Council, though this wasn't because they lacked the ability, but because the Student Council itself had issues.

The Student Council president, who held the power over personnel, had no intention of recruiting, and those who couldn't discern or resolve this point would never be able to join.

Let me be the blade in your hand, President Horikita.

Twirling a pencil in his hand, Aoyama didn't think he would be unable to join the Student Council.

The divergence between President Horikita Manabu and Vice President Nagumo Miyabi lay in their philosophies: meritocracy based on class versus meritocracy based on individual ability.

The refusal to accept first-year students was merely a concern that naive newcomers would be led astray.

By showing a disapproval of individual meritocracy and demonstrating exceptional ability, Horikita Manabu would have no reason to reject him.

After all, the person who least wanted Nagumo Miyabi to succeed him was Horikita himself.

"Kamuro, what club are you planning to join?"

Thinking of Kamuro as his designated tool, Aoyama left his seat to strike up a conversation.

"I haven't decided yet."

"Then how about joining the Student Council? I'll be the president, and you can be the secretary."

Becoming the Student Council president to accumulate wealth was one of his plans, and Kamuro was his intended candidate for secretary.

Joining other clubs meant you couldn't join the Student Council; that was an unspoken rule of the Student Council.

"Huh? Are you serious?" Kamuro looked at him as if he were joking.

"I think I can do it."

Although Vice President Nagumo Miyabi of the second year held great power, Aoyama didn't think he was without a chance.

"You, becoming the Student Council president? I don't believe it."

Before Kamuro could reply, an untimely voice rang out, and a green head appeared in his field of vision, wearing a mocking expression.

He didn't know if it was his comment about paying for things yesterday or his boast about becoming the Student Council president that had offended Totsuka, but the man had started with a punchable remark.

And did he think he was easy to bully?

"Whether you believe it or not is none of my business." Aoyama gave a very blunt response.

Although he wasn't particularly angry, he wouldn't cater to Totsuka's feelings, lest others think they could push him around in the future.

He had no intention of getting on good terms with most of the students in Class A.

"How can you be so vulgar?"

"Every second I spend talking to you is a waste of my life."

He raised his right hand and waved it, making a shooing gesture, which made the already tense Totsuka even more furious.

He reckoned that if the difference in their physiques wasn't so great, Totsuka would have already tried to throw a punch.

"Apologize to Aoyama-kun, Totsuka."

Just as Totsuka was caught in a dilemma, Katsuragi placed a hand on his shoulder and then turned his gaze toward Aoyama.

"Since we are classmates, we should get along well. This time it was Totsuka's fault, but Aoyama-kun, you don't need to be so harsh with your words."

"Sorry, that's just how I talk to people who lack self-awareness."

"Who are you calling lacking in self-awareness? Say that again if you dare."

As soon as Aoyama finished speaking, Totsuka reacted, and seeing this, a troubled expression appeared on Katsuragi's face.

At this point, Katsuragi couldn't very well make Totsuka apologize, and given the situation, Totsuka couldn't apologize either without losing face.

The commotion had already drawn the attention of most of the class; the current situation was that whoever backed down would lose face.

"One hundred thousand private points. If I don't become the Student Council vice president by May 1st, I lose you one hundred thousand private points; conversely, the same applies to you."

After a moment of thought, Aoyama had an idea for an experiment.

He wondered if private points won through a bet counted as "black money" that could be used for the lottery.

If that were possible, it would be the best news ever; a guaranteed gold pull in a hundred attempts is no longer just a dream.

"Students shouldn't gamble."

"If you're scared, you can leave. I don't need your apology."

Seeing Totsuka hesitate for a moment due to Katsuragi's words, he put on a magnanimous, teasing smile.

This instantly helped Totsuka, who was struggling to save face, make up his mind.

The bet for one hundred thousand private points was finalized amidst Katsuragi's sigh.

"Want to join in on the bet, Kamuro?" As the commotion subsided, Aoyama looked at Kamuro, who wore an exhausted expression. "If you win, I won't press you on why you were staring at the beer. If you lose, you join the student council with me."

"I already regret talking to you at the entrance ceremony."

"You aren't afraid of losing, are you?"

He extended his pinky finger toward the somewhat helpless Kamuro.

It was a simple, transparent provocation. Needless to say, it couldn't fool someone as intelligent as Kamuro, but provocations have one excellent trait: they always work, even if only a little.

"You really are shameless."

As she said this, Kamuro extended her hand. Their pinky fingers, mismatched in length, hooked together, and the bet was sealed at that moment.

"I'll have to work hard for Secretary Kamuro's sake."

"Yeah, yeah, talk to me when you're actually the vice president."

Lying on the desk and waving her hand, Kamuro made a shooing gesture.

Choosing to quit while he was ahead, Aoyama returned to his seat and immediately took out his phone to contact Yamamura.

Even though he knew Yamamura didn't like being in the spotlight, he still had to ask.

Both of them were his friends and tools, so he couldn't favor one over the other.

[Yamamura, do you want to join the student council?]

After sending the text, Aoyama slumped over his desk, staring at Yamamura's back. For an average girl, her frame was a bit too thin.

He would have to urge her to eat more when he had the chance, and she needed to get some exercise, too.

Just as Aoyama was thinking about how to feed Yamamura, her body shivered like a startled rabbit. When she turned around, her petite face was a mix of happiness and panic.

So cute.

Aoyama raised his hand and waved at her, but she immediately turned back around and lowered her head.

Yamamura Miki: [Aoyama-kun wants me to join the student council too?]

Aoyama Shiki: [My thoughts don't matter; the most important thing is what you want, Yamamura (smiley face)]

At the end of his reply, he opened the emoji menu and selected a smiling face—the kind that looked very cheerful.

After sending the text, he waited for a while but received no reply, and Yamamura didn't turn around to look at him either.

Chapter 7: How Is This Kid So Easy to Fool?

It seemed he had done something wrong. What was Yamamura thinking about right now?

The break between classes wasn't very long, and Yamamura hadn't replied by the time the bell rang.

Because he was concerned, Aoyama kept a quiet eye on Yamamura during class, and it wasn't long before he realized she was in no state to listen to the lecture.

By the end of the period, she had spent most of the time zoning out, and just looking at her back, she seemed full of anxiety.

She gave him the feeling of a nervous student preparing for a confession that was destined to fail.

Should he follow her?

The moment the teacher left the classroom, Yamamura stood up quickly and walked out, her pace much faster than usual.

After only a moment of hesitation, Aoyama decided to follow. He knew he couldn't let Yamamura stay anxious; the sooner things were resolved, the better.

Yamamura had it tough, too.

Following behind her, Aoyama's awareness of her weak presence grew even stronger.

The hallways were naturally crowded between classes, but facing the barely-visible Yamamura, students would occasionally walk straight into her without any intention of dodging.

To avoid being bumped into, Yamamura walked in an S-shaped path.

Passing through the hallway, she went down the stairs and left the school building, suddenly disappearing behind a vending machine.

After pausing for just a second, Aoyama continued forward until he saw that figure again.

With her right hand wrapped around her left, held against her chest, the girl stood with her head bowed and eyes closed, seemingly praying for something. Her phone, with its screen lit up, was placed on the seat, displaying their chat interface.

"Ah! Ao... Ao... Aoyama-kun!! Why... why are you here!"

Just as he was thinking about how to start the conversation and what to say, Yamamura suddenly opened her eyes. Her eyelids, usually kept lowered, were pulled up to their limit, revealing her beautiful, deep-blue, jewel-like eyes.

"Your eyes are beautiful; it's a shame to always keep them hidden under your lids."

"Also, my name isn't Ao-ao-aoyama-kun. As for why I'm here, I noticed you seemed to have something on your mind, and I followed you out of concern."

Seeing Yamamura like a startled little rabbit, Aoyama unconsciously softened his tone.

"Beau...tiful... worried about me??"

"Yes, as beautiful as a gemstone. Besides, if I noticed a friend acting strangely, how could I not be worried?"

Sitting down beside Yamamura, Aoyama replied to Yamamura, who was trapped in self-doubt.

The two sat at a distance of about half a body's width apart, neither too far nor too close.

"I... am not... someone worth Aoyama-san's worry. Being friends with me will only lower Aoyama-san's reputation."

"Shouldn't it be up to me to decide who is worth it? And besides—" Aoyama paused, "I'm actually worried that being friends with me will lower Yamamura-san's image as a good student."

In the future, barring any accidents, he would become a traitor in the eyes of the students in Class A. By then, Kamuro and Yamamura, who were close to him, would both face a certain degree of hostility.

Compared to Kamuro, who had a distinct personality and didn't care much about the opinions of others, the fragile Yamamura did indeed worry him a little.

It was true that he intended to play the villain to obtain his golden finger, but unnecessary cruelty was something to be avoided.

"How could that be? Aoyama-san is smart, kind, and very good-looking."

"I'm not this kind to other students, am I?" Aoyama sighed slightly. Yamamura was even more insecure than he had imagined, which gave him a sudden sense of guilt.

He had forcibly pulled this girl, whose personality was to go with the flow and whose humility was pitiful, into his camp; if he made her feel any more uneasy, he would be less than human.

"I swear to the heavens that everything I say from here on is my true heart."

"I think Yamamura is a very cute girl, and I feel that becoming friends with her is a good thing."

"As long as Yamamura doesn't hate me, I will always consider her a close friend. If I lie, may I be struck by lightning."

Raising his hand, Aoyama looked with utmost seriousness at the bewildered Yamamura. Having known each other for less than two days, he could only think of swearing an oath—a method difficult to judge—to put her mind at ease.

"So, can you tell me what you are worried about, Yamamura?"

"There isn't much time left before class starts. I promise I won't lie to you."

Intending to end her abnormal state before class, Aoyama utilized the pressure of time, successfully causing the dazed Yamamura to spill what was on her mind.

She was actually very happy about his invitation, but she simply felt that she was not capable of handling the student council work.