A Gathering of the Brokenhearted

Kitagawa Ryo had naturally considered everything before coming, and he nodded in agreement without hesitation.

Having received a reply that the approval result would be available around that evening, Kitagawa Ryo breathed a sigh of relief and walked out of the Student Council chatting and laughing with Ichinose Honami.

After the two figures completely disappeared and the Student Council doors closed again, Vice President Kiriyama stared thoughtfully at the signature "Kitagawa Ryo" on the application form.

Just a few days ago, President Horikita seemed to have reached an agreement with the other party to transfer him into the Student Council to deal with Nagumo, but judging from his contact with Kitagawa Ryo today, the other party doesn't seem to want to join the Student Council at all.

According to Horikita Manabu, as long as Kitagawa Ryo nods, he can immediately enter the Student Council and take over as vice president. Horikita Manabu even made a special trip to talk to Vice President Kiriyama beforehand, and Kiriyama was indeed prepared to step down.

After all, for Kiriyama, who was in Class 2-A and was now in Class 2-B, and had been thoroughly defeated by Miyabi Nagumo for a whole year, although he was dissatisfied with Nagumo's rule, he had long lost the courage to resist. If this First Year Kitagawa Ryo really had the ability to defeat Nagumo, he would naturally be happy to see it happen.

The problem is that the other party doesn't seem to have any intention of joining at all; otherwise, they wouldn't have brought in Ichinose Honami is just an ordinary Student Council member, as an intermediary.

After thinking it over, Kiriyama finally decided to explain the matter to Horikita Manabu.

"Even though it's only a little past ten in the morning, it's already getting hot."

As soon as they stepped out of the air-conditioned club building, Ichinose Honami and Kitagawa Ryo were drenched in a wave of heat.

Ichinose Honami Kitagawa Ryo shielded his eyes from the sun with his hand, then turned to look at Honami Ichinose:

"Would you like something to eat? Like ice cream or something?"

A group of students had gathered around the convenience store not far away, all seemingly victims of the heat, choosing cold drinks or ice cream.

Intrigued by Kitagawa Ryo's words, Ichinose Honami nodded in agreement.

"OK."

"Honami helped me today, so please let me treat you."

"Not at all, it was just a small favor."

As they talked, the two walked to the convenience store's freezer section, where the dazzling array of ice creams and various types of ice cream almost overwhelmed them.

Indeed, many students with decision-making difficulties find themselves in a dilemma, picking up this one to look at, and then picking up that one to look at.

"Don't hold back on your money."

Despite Kitagawa Ryo's words, Ichinose Honami still picked up a rather plain-looking popsicle. In terms of both packaging and flavor, it was as simple as it could be compared to other similar popsicles around it.

"I still prefer popsicles to ice cream; I've always eaten them."

Seemingly sensing Kitagawa Ryo's hesitation, Ichinose Honami explained with a smile.

So Kitagawa Ryo simply grabbed the same popsicle as Ichinose Honami, and when it came time to pay, the two simple popsicles only cost a very small amount of money.

"Actually, I also bought other kinds of ice cream when the weather first started to get warm."

Tearing open the simple packaging of the popsicle, Ichinose Honami stuck out her tongue and licked it while saying:

"But in the end, I'll still choose this one."

Looking at Kitagawa Ryo with an ice pop in his mouth, Ichinose Honami smiled and said:

"Although it looks simple, as long as it meets the most basic requirements of sweetness and ice, it is a qualified summer cold drink."

Whether it was because she was talking a lot or because the weather was too hot, the popsicle in Ichinose Honami's hand soon started to drip water. Ichinose quickly raised the popsicle a little higher and put the part that was about to be cut off into her mouth from the bottom.

"It really is delicious."

Before he knew it, he had finished the whole thing, and Kitagawa Ryo, savoring the refreshing coolness in his mouth, exclaimed with genuine delight.

At almost the same time Ichinose Honami finished her popsicle, using her teeth to put the last bit of food into her mouth, and let out a satisfied sigh.

What is Liang looking for?

After finishing the popsicle, Ichinose Honami was somewhat surprised to find Kitagawa Ryo intently examining the remaining small wooden stick.

"Because I've had those popsicles where you could get another one before, I wanted to check if the school had something like that."

"Oh, it's one of those old-fashioned candy shops that used to sell it."

Kitagawa Ryo's words stirred up memories, Ichinose Honami chuckled as well, carefully examining the wooden stick in her hand:

"It seems not."

Even if you can see the flowers in the sun, a bare wooden stick can't magically produce four characters out of thin air.

Kitagawa Ryo chuckled and tossed the wooden stick in his hand into a roadside trash can, and Ichinose Honami did the same.

"But if Ryo wants to eat, as a friend I can treat you, just like Ryo treated me earlier."

After throwing away the wooden stick, Ichinose Honami stepped forward and smiled gently:

"How about another one?"

Karuizawa Kei replied to Matsushita Chiaki's invitation to the swimming pool, burying her head in the soft bedding.

Because the room had air conditioning on, it didn't feel stuffy.

She turned her gaze to the photos she had looked at countless times last night.

Karuizawa Kei hates touching that blank memory in her mind, because every time she tries to recall it, she gets a headache for days. Her parents also keep telling her not to think about it, saying that she only triggered her brain's automatic protection mechanism because of school bullying and that she doesn't need to recall that painful memory.

Over the past few years, Karuizawa Kei has naturally and obediently followed her parents' instructions.

There's no need to dwell on the painful past; just focus on the present.

Kitagawa Ryo had said the same thing to her.

But.

Karuizawa Kei looked at the photo again, where Kitagawa Ryo, holding a white cat, was giving the camera a proper smile.

Sakayanagi Arisu's words were still echoing in her mind.

Kitagawa Ryo stood in that forgotten memory.

And at the very beginning of the journey, he gave her the gentlest smile.

[It's my turn]

Go help... him

Chapter 59: A Gathering of Heartbroken People

"... So sleepy."

Ryuen Kakeru sleepily, rubbing his eyes as he couldn't help but complain:

"It's only four in the morning."

Even though summer mornings get light a little earlier, the sky at four o'clock is still a hazy gray, and the campus is deserted and very quiet.

Apart from a very few school staff members who were cleaning, Ryuen Kakeru didn't see a single student as he walked along.

After all, just as Ryuen Kakeru himself complained, which Student Council would give up their last holiday and get up at four in the morning? Even the club with the earliest morning practice time wouldn't do such a thing.

"It's better if there's no talent at all."

Unlike Ryuen Kakeru, who was nodding sleepily as if he was about to fall asleep at any moment, Kitagawa Ryo was full of energy and suddenly reached out and slipped his hand into Ryuen Kakeru's collar.

"!"

Startled by the cold touch, Ryuen Kakeru quickly slapped Kitagawa Ryo's hand away.

"How do these two ice cubes feel, just taken from the dorm fridge?"

Kitagawa Ryo, having withdrawn his hand, casually tossed the remaining ice shards into a nearby trash can. Judging from his eager expression, he seemed to want to go over and give Ryuen Kakeru a good whack.

"Come on, I'm much more sober now, there's no need to do it again."

His mind was much clearer now. Ryuen Kakeru shook his head and walked to a vending machine by the roadside, asking:

"What would you like to drink? Coffee?"

"Alright."

After paying the points, Ryuen Kakeru bent down, took out the two cans of iced coffee that had rolled out, and tossed one to Kitagawa Ryo:

Is it unhealthy to drink iced drinks first thing in the morning?

"There's no need to worry about these things now; it's not like we drink this every day."

Kitagawa Ryo unscrewed the tab on the can and gulped down half of it in one go, not caring whether his stomach would rumble later; in any case, his mind did become clearer.

Ryuen Kakeru gulped down the entire bottle in one go, then covered his eyelids with the cold can, looking utterly exhausted.

"It's the last day, let's give it our all!"

"I think your empty encouragement is less effective than transferring tens of thousands of points to me."

The two chatted as they walked to the open space next to the Special Building. This was the most remote place in Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School, and it was the location chosen to frame Class B. Given its remote location and early hour, it should have been deserted like the other places. However, when the two arrived, there were already people waiting there.

Seemingly noticing Kitagawa Ryo and Ryuen Kakeru's arrival, the girl looked up, but made no move to greet them, simply standing there with her arms crossed.

Good morning, Suzune.

Kitagawa Ryo, quite outgoing, stepped forward to strike up a conversation, but Horikita Suzune merely nodded and gave a soft "hmm," even taking a slight step back, as if she didn't want to talk much.

"Thank you for your help today."

"It's just the agreed-upon terms of the transaction."

Horikita Suzune also seemed a little sleepy, but she didn't look lazy at all; her back was still ramrod straight, which was in stark contrast to the slouching Ryuen Kakeru.

"If Ryuen had been a little more attentive today, he might have been able to go to bed earlier."

Noticing the listless Ryuen Kakeru, Horikita Suzune spoke up without any hesitation, earning Ryuen Kakeru to roll his eyes at her.

"If we weren't so desperate to find someone, who would come to you for help?"

"This only reflects the difficulties you two face in interpersonal relationships."

"Hey, isn't that a bit much?"

Ryuen Kakeru picked at his ear with his finger and replied with considerable disdain:

"It's precisely because someone has absolutely no friends that we felt comfortable approaching you."

Seeing that Horikita Suzune was about to retaliate angrily, Kitagawa Ryo quickly stepped forward to stop the two, who seemed to have a terrible relationship and always ended up arguing for half a day whenever they met.

"Alright, alright, let's test it as soon as possible. Today is the last time."

Horikita Suzune and Ryuen Kakeru were somewhat obedient to Kitagawa Ryo's words, and they snorted and went to their respective places.

They had practiced the following procedures quite thoroughly over the past two days, and today was merely a final test in preparation for tonight's decisive battle.

"Three, two, one, go!"

After the three of them finished setting up and operating the equipment, they jogged away and stood at a distance. After a while, the ground where they had stood flashed with a faint light, like a lit fuse, splitting into two ends and rapidly "burning" forward, drawing people's attention involuntarily to the vast sky ahead.

The next moment, hundreds of pre-arranged drones took off, leaving behind dazzling trails of flame in the air, like dominoes, flying one by one along a pre-set trajectory. Although not particularly noticeable at the approaching dawn, their brilliance could still be seen, collectively forming several large characters.

As the characters appeared, two rows of drones took off from either side, flanking the words and setting off flames like blooming flowers, or fireworks.

"No matter how many times I watch it, I'm always amazed."

Ryuen Kakeru muttered to himself in the distance. Even Horikita Suzune, who usually liked to argue with him, was unusually silent, looking up at the drone performance with him.

"The results look pretty good."

Kitagawa Ryo put his right hand to his forehead. He had initially planned to use fireworks as a way to confess his feelings, but Ichinose Honami told him that the school did not allow students to set off fireworks on campus without permission. Not to mention the large-scale fireworks display that Kitagawa Ryo had envisioned, even small fireworks were completely prohibited.

However, there are many things in modern society that can replace fireworks. After finding out that Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School had a drone club, Kitagawa Ryo did not hesitate to approach them and asked for two million Private Points to rent all the drones in the club. Then he found someone to design this program, which is neither simple nor complicated. After two days of emergency testing, judging from today's performance, it should be considered acceptable.

Because this matter had to be kept secret from Shiina Hiyori and carried out privately, Kitagawa Ryo only consulted Ryuen Kakeru within Class C. He was a little worried about everyone else, including Ishizaki Daichi, fearing that it might be leaked prematurely. A surprise should be a surprise before the joy comes; if they knew beforehand, the effect would be much less.

However, it's clear that Kitagawa Ryo and Ryuen Kakeru are not enough. Kitagawa Ryo never takes the initiative to ask Sakayanagi Arisu from Class A, Ichinose Honami from Class B has already asked someone for help with Student Council matters. As for Karuizawa Kei from Class D... Kitagawa Ryo wouldn't go to her for help with something like this again.

The second-year student Kiryuin, was originally a good candidate, but Kitagawa Ryo felt that Kiryuin's personality would cause big trouble, so she was rejected.

So how do you find a reliable person who has a narrow social circle, goes out in the early morning every day without being noticed, and whose friends don't seem to notice anything unusual?

So in the end, they found Horikita Suzune.

After agreeing to pay 30,000 Private Points as payment for three days, Horikita Suzune readily joined Kitagawa Ryo's secret operations team.

Having been at this school for a semester, Horikita Suzune had long realized the importance of Private Points. With only two hundred Class Points in Class D, thirty thousand Private Points was an absolute price she couldn't refuse.

Then Horikita Suzune learned that Kitagawa Ryo had spent millions of points to rent all the drones from the drone club.