Let's Strike Together

It has to be said that although Hoshinomiya Chie is indeed twenty-eight years old and has already stepped into her thirties, thanks to her baby face that doesn't look very old and her seemingly lively and cheerful personality, she does appear much younger than her actual age. Otherwise, she wouldn't be regarded as an older sister by many girls in her class.

"What incredibly bad luck..."

Looking at Hoshinomiya Chie sighing on the podium, Kitagawa Ryo could understand to some extent, but not from the perspective of an older woman being pressured to get married. He just felt that given her reputation among the faculty and staff for having countless ex-boyfriends, if she just walked around the matchmaking event, she could probably reenact a scene from "The Ex-Files 3: Reunion with the Ex." He wondered whether the man or the woman would be more embarrassed then.

Of course, most of the other students in Class 1-B were unaware of their homeroom teacher's amazing achievements. After the bell rang, they even continued the topic with great interest, starting to act as matchmakers for their homeroom teacher.

"Actually, I think Mashima, the homeroom teacher of Class A, is quite nice. The two of them are close in age and were supposedly classmates in high school."

"Yes, yes, I also heard from others that they saw the two of them, along with Chabashira-sensei of Class C, having dinner together."

"I remember that Chabashira-sensei was in the same year as Hoshinomiya, right? We were even in the same class. Is he single now too?"

"Oh yeah, but she's also very popular among the faculty and staff. Don't you guys remember last year's Cultural Festival? Kitagawa hired her as a maid, and it resulted in a huge increase in sales, all of which came from the faculty and staff."

"Putting your two names together reminds me of that rumor from the end of last year..."

"I said, it's not good to talk about the Hoshinomiya-sensei doesn't seem to care much about this, we students should still be mindful of the boundaries in our interactions with teachers."

Seeing Ichinose Honami suddenly interrupt the girls' conversation not far away, Kitagawa Ryo couldn't help but recall what Horikita Suzune and Sakayanagi Arisu said in the Student Council yesterday. It could only be said that after Totsuka Yahiko's self-exposure last year, Chabashira Sae and Hoshinomiya Chie were indeed on everyone's blacklist and became key targets for surveillance, although he himself really didn't have any such intentions.

"What have Hui and Hiyori been secretly doing these past few days?"

After turning his gaze away from Ichinose Honami, Kitagawa Ryo turned to Karuizawa Megumi, who had somehow become leaning against his desk and ostensibly chatting and laughing with other girls nearby, but was actually more like waiting for him to Karuizawa Kei up a conversation, and asked her this question.

"It's nothing, just shopping a bit. After all, a certain department head has already stepped down and been promoted to president of the Student Council, so club activities and daily training have to be put on hold for now, right?"

As the second-in-command of the Drama Club, along with Kitagawa Ryo, Karuizawa Kei was definitely a little unhappy about Kitagawa Ryo suddenly becoming the acting Student Council. However, since the Acting Chairman, Tsukishiro Tsunehiro, Tsukishiro it, Kitagawa Ryo had no choice but to take office, and the Drama Club's activities naturally came to a standstill.

"It'll only be less than two months. Once the new president is elected, I'll go back to the Drama Club."

"Heh, I'd rather Liang just get transferred back to the Student Council with a single order."

"Don't worry about Hui either. Suzune will draft a new set of regulations regarding Student Council members' participation in other club activities."

"From what you're saying, it seems Ryo is already certain that Suzune will become the next Student Council."

"I just think that Suzune is the most suitable person to be the Student Council president. After all, didn't Suzune help our Drama Club a lot when she was in the Student Council? Otherwise, how could so many applications to leave school be approved? And the checks on personal belongings when entering and leaving ANHS were also lenient."

"... Of course I know, otherwise I wouldn't have let you lead the whole class to support Suzune."

At this point, Karuizawa Kei also looked away.

To be honest, the main reason she leaned towards Horikita Suzune in this Student Council election, besides what Kitagawa Ryo mentioned, was that Sakayanagi Arisu's behavior during the last Mixed Training Camp Special Exam was a bit too outrageous. She and Shiina Hiyori were best friends, so naturally she was somewhat dissatisfied with Sakayanagi Arisu because of the ring incident, even though Shiina Hiyori herself had already expressed her forgiveness.

When Horikita Suzune was mentioned, Karuizawa Kei brought up another recent amusing incident:

"By the way, Ryo, did you know? Suzune's been super popular these past few days. I don't know who spread the news, but it started with just a few girls from Class D, and now people from Class A, Class B, Class C, and even upperclassmen are coming to her specifically to learn how to make Valentine's Day chocolates."

"Suzune told me about this."

After giving a brief reply, Kitagawa Ryo gestured with his chin towards Karuizawa Kei with a playful expression, his tone slightly teasing:

"Where's Hui? Did she go along to join the fun?"

Compared to Horikita Suzune, whose domestic cooking skills were almost maxed out under his tutelage, and Ichinose Honami, who was self-taught, Karuizawa Kei's performance in cooking didn't seem to have left a deep impression on Kitagawa Ryo. After all, he had led her down the path of drama, and she had devoted almost all her energy to it since childhood. Not to mention domestic courses like cooking, even her academic ability could only barely stay at the average level. Being assigned to Class B when she entered school a year ago was partly due to this. However, after a year of diligent study, she has gradually improved her academic ability to a good level.

"Well, I didn't go. I never planned to give Ryo chocolates in the first place. Hmm... it wouldn't be good to say any more, so let's stop here--"

Whether by coincidence or not, Karuizawa Kei made a stop gesture by pressing her right index finger against her left palm, the school bell rang at the same time. Kitagawa Ryo had no choice but to turn back and prepare to start the next class, but he did feel a little curious and expectant because of what she had said.

After all, the last time Karuizawa Kei said she had a surprise for him, she immediately pulled out that Battle Bunny Girl outfit and successfully took his first time.

"I feel Arisu, you've been so quiet lately, or rather, you've quieted down?"

After another routine morning exercise, Kitagawa Ryo casually asked a question, looking at Sakayanagi Arisu had been unable to straighten her back at this time more than half a year ago, now appearing quite at ease.

"Yes, they're already prepared to surrender to you and Suzune. They're mentally prepared for a crushing defeat and a clean and decisive loss in this Student Council election."

Sakayanagi Arisu stretched her limbs and did some simple stretching exercises, she replied playfully, making it impossible to guess what she was thinking.

"Ryo has managed to get an entire grade to help Suzune, so there's nothing anyone can do now. After all, that's a third of the school's votes, it seems like they're already in an invincible position."

"But she couldn't even win over all the students in her own class. Now she's inexplicably being blamed for wanting to become a class Leader because she wanted to transfer to another class to find Liang. It's clear that most people don't understand the relationship between Liang and me at all. But then again, if you told people what happened between us, they would just think we're crazy or delusional. Even my dad might not believe it."

As those experiences that felt like dreams yet were also real, Sakayanagi Arisu sometimes wished the whole world knew every detail of them, while at other times she wanted to keep them a secret known only to the two of them, but neither of these wishes was ever fulfilled.

There were exactly three people who knew about it, putting them in an awkward, in-between position.

Thinking of that red-haired twin-tailed girl who had put so much pressure on her during the recent Mixed Training Camp Special Exam, in the bathhouse late at night, Sakayanagi Arisu felt her desire to train growing stronger. She was just waiting for the day she could train to the point where she could punch the graduate of the White Room and get revenge.

"I just hope that Arisu will remember what I said to you that day in the Student Cafeteria."

"... Of course I remember, so please make it clear to me, Ryo, that I was indeed venting these emotions on you, now and in the future."

Seemingly sensing that the atmosphere between them had suddenly become inexplicably heavy again, Sakayanagi Arisu let out a long sigh, put on her usual smile again, took two steps forward with her hands behind her back, and then turned around to bring up a new topic:

"I heard that Liang has recently ordered some matching little trinkets from a shop outside of school?"

"You can even hear about this?"

"My father told me. As for how he knew, it seems that it was the Acting Chairman Tsukishiro who told him."

Sakayanagi Arisu's answer was not unexpected by Kitagawa Ryo.

After all, given Tsukishiro's thought process and habitual thinking, he never initially considered this as a romantic relationship between two ordinary students at Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School. He insisted on forcibly interpreting it to reveal some deeper meaning, otherwise it would seem as if he wasn't a political creature.

Although Kitagawa Ryo also admitted that from the perspective of someone Tsukishiro, such things are indeed easy to be interpreted in this way and thus a certain attitude. After all, Sakayanagi Arisu is not Ichinose Honami, not Karuizawa Kei, and not Shiina Hiyori. Even though these names hold equal weight in Kitagawa Ryo's heart, they will clearly show different appearances in his eyes.

If Tsukishiro is indeed that kind of person, then the Miss Alice standing in front of him is completely pretending to be ignorant, or perhaps this is actually the situation she wants to see.

But Kitagawa Ryo couldn't really blame Sakayanagi Arisu for his thoughts. After all, in the simulation, she had indeed waited for him for more than ten years, but at the last moment of fulfilling the Marriage Contract, he chose to end the game. Then, everyone closed their eyes and opened them again, and the Marriage Contract was gone. It's something that would be hard for anyone to accept, let alone Sakayanagi Arisu such an extreme personality.

However, Sakayanagi Arisu suddenly feinted, and seeing that Kitagawa Ryo did not answer immediately, she first hummed smugly twice, and then brought the topic back to the Student Council that started at the beginning.

"Of course, Liang shouldn't expect to bribe me with this."

"It's too early to say anything about the Student Council position. Liang Mingming clearly knows about this, but she still pretends to test my attitude and put pressure on me. She's a bit malicious."

"But looking at it this way, Ryo is definitely determined to support Suzune's side. Well, after all, she made this agreement with Ryo back last summer. At that time, I was still immersed in those past memories and was a bit negligent. There should have been all sorts of ways to defeat Suzune if the two of us joined forces, or if Ryo didn't interfere."

Sakayanagi Arisu continued talking to herself, but there was little sense of regret in her tone, after all, she was also striving to match Kitagawa Ryo.

Thinking of this, she first curled the corners of her mouth, revealing a genuine smile.

That's why he said he was her destined one.

After all, whether the other person is standing next to her or opposite her, and regardless of who is in a higher or lower position, she can feel a simple yet profound sense of satisfaction and joy.

Including Kitagawa Ryo's seemingly reckless Valentine's Day project, Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School hasn't had such a large-scale celebration spontaneously organized by students in a long time. However, the long-awaited event will certainly give the organizers, the Student Council, a big boost in front of the entire school. Among the current members of the Student Council, Horikita Suzune is undoubtedly the most experienced in this area. Therefore, if the event is a complete success, the other party will be able to reap the biggest reward.

At the same time, as the vice president of the Student Council, she also had to devote most of her energy to this matter.

In addition to the two points mentioned above, Sakayanagi Arisu also identified another personal reason.

The other party must have been using their power for personal gain to hide some significant ulterior motive in this Valentine's Day event.

Chapter 455: Taking Action Together

On the very day that Sakayanagi Arisu issued a declaration of war against Kitagawa Ryo, a new wave of activity quietly began on the campus forum, which had been largely drawn away by the upcoming Valentine's Day event and Miyabi Nagumo's return to school. The person involved in this incident was Horikita Suzune, who had been diligently working in the Student Council during this period.

Although rumors surrounding Sakayanagi Arisu and Horikita Suzune have been constant since the Student Council election controversy began, with their supporters already engaging in several rounds of verbal battles, this time they took a different approach, directly pointing out Horikita Suzune's serious dereliction of duty during her time in the Student Council. They argued that not only was running for Student Council unacceptable, but expelling her from the Student Council on the spot would not be excessive, thus quickly attracting the attention of many students.

"Well then, all your meals have been served."

As the waiter politely collected the tray, bowed slightly, and left, only Kitagawa Ryo and Horikita Manabu, sitting opposite him, remained in the secluded corner of the coffee shop. Although they had deliberately chosen to sit in the corner, the combination of two boys in this place was still a bit odd. In addition, one was the former Student Council and the other was the current acting president, which attracted curious glances from the other staff at the front desk. Fortunately, it wasn't peak dining time, and there weren't many other students in the shop.

"You must have heard about Suzune's situation, right?"

Horikita Manabu stirred his hot drink with a straw, but didn't seem to want to drink it right away. After doing so, he stopped and looked up at Kitagawa Ryo to ask a question.

Kitagawa Ryo knew very well that what the other party was referring to was Horikita Suzune's cover-up of the Drama Club and her deliberate leniency in the Drama Club's review process, which was exposed on the forum this morning—the 'dereliction of duty' mentioned in that post.

It has to be said that this time the situation is much more dramatic than when Horikita Suzune joined the Student Council because she had a brother who was the Student Council. Most people, although they don't say it, probably think to themselves, "If I had a brother like that, I would definitely join the Student Council too." Rather than feeling unhappy, it's probably more of a meme-like envy.

Even if we take a step back and assume that Horikita Suzune was indeed sent into the Student Council by Horikita Manabu himself, Horikita Manabu has been out of office for more than half a year now. Horikita Suzune's ability to secure this opportunity to run for Student Council is the result of her own efforts. Joining early does not necessarily mean doing more. The fact that Sakayanagi Arisu has not attended work or taken attendance for nearly half a year since joining the Student Council has already been exposed.

However, this rumor is different.

From the perspective of the audience alone, the fact that Horikita Suzune joined the Student Council is only worth mentioning by the First Year. After all, the second and third-year students have little to do with this matter. They are all old hands and would never be considered for Student Council recruitment. They are completely irrelevant.

However, this time the scope of the event suddenly encompassed most students from all three grades of the school, because even though Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School is quite different from other high schools, club culture is still an important part of it.

Ultimately, when you study in this country, you can't escape the topic of clubs, because they are indeed closely related to your future and where you go after graduation. Many students with special talents in this area value their club achievements more than their college admission rate. Clubs themselves provide some students with another option and another path, just like how Ken Sudō, whose grades were terrible, was still accepted by high schools that focused on sports clubs.

As one of the top high schools in the country in terms of investment, Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School's clubs are actually quite top-notch. It's just that the school has been established for a short time and its foundation is somewhat lacking. However, as a platform, it is at least better than most ordinary high schools. This is what Kitagawa Ryo said when he encouraged and guided Ken Sudō.

If you want to join a club at Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School, you will inevitably have to interact with Student Council. Under the ANHS 'ANHS rules, the Student Council will share some of the school's power, the most important of which is the management of other clubs.

To give a basic example, if the Student Council determines that a club does not meet the required standards, it can blatantly restrict the club by reducing or cutting off its funding, until it is forced to produce results, or even abolish the club altogether. This was the case with the Drama Club before.

Besides money, all aspects of club activities, big and small, are related to the Student Council. Applying for training Matoba, applying to participate in competitions outside the school, applying to purchase new training equipment... everything requires applying to the Student Council and can only proceed normally after approval.

Of course, unless you are a member of the Homecoming Society who doesn't join any clubs.

However, such students are indeed few and far between, because club members can actually earn Private Points as a reward for their achievements. Just for that reason alone, many students will try to get into a club.

That's why Horikita Suzune's new wave of music swept through the entire ANHS within just a few hours.

Objectively speaking, Suzune has now transcended the incident itself. What she is bearing is all the anger and dissatisfaction that many students from other clubs have accumulated towards the Student Council over the years. She has amplified everything she has suffered, even things that were not actually done by Horikita Suzune, which is what ignited the situation.

Student Council members are not allowed to participate in other clubs or organizations.

Looking back at this rule from this perspective, it's likely that what the school initially wanted to prevent was this kind of situation where someone is both a player and a referee.

"Well, but senior, you don't need to worry too much. While this matter is ostensibly aimed at Suzune, it's more likely it's directed at me."

"To you?"

"Yes, actually, this has been mentioned several times before."

As he spoke, Kitagawa Ryo took out his phone, opened the campus forum, and easily found several posts from last year using the keyword search and date sorting functions. He randomly clicked on one that was around Christmas time and then handed it to Horikita Manabu.

"Hey, don't you guys think it's way too easy for the Drama Club to get accepted for the competition outside of school? Our Light Music Club started applying two months ago, and we submitted a ton of materials. The club president and vice president have been to the Student Council countless times, but we still didn't get accepted. Then we see that they got accepted right after winter break. They must have some strong connections in the Student Council. I'm speechless."

This is the original post from that time. If you only look at the content, it's almost identical to what those posts that are stirring up trouble now are saying.

Horikita Manabu scrolled down the page.

However, the replies to that post had a completely different style from what we see now:

"I smiled with relief as soon as I heard the words 'Light Music Club.' You club should probably try to avoid being disbanded by the Student Council because you don't have enough members. You're lucky if you even have a practice room. You want to compete outside of school? Can you even gather enough people? I heard the keyboardist only quit a few months ago."

"The Drama Club has something to say too. We win awards in competitions outside of school. In just half a year, we've accumulated more trophies than many clubs have in several years, and we're the outstanding club every month."

"Indeed, the Drama Club has the most graduates, which is the only one I'm not jealous of. After all, their talent is undeniable. Didn't the Soccer Club also win awards everywhere when President Nagumo was in charge? It's all temporary. Why didn't you post about it back then?"

The rest were mostly similar replies.

"As expected, just like those posts before, soon someone will try to use the same reason to clarify this controversy for Suzune. Some of them are indeed students who support Suzune, but others are another matter."

At this point, Kitagawa Ryo reached out and took his phone back from Horikita Manabu, then refreshed the forum interface. Sure enough, he saw similar comments in the latest few standalone posts and the latest replies to the original post that had been piled up with many replies.

"Suzune was just a side target of their attack."

Compared to Horikita Manabu, who is a third-year student and currently focused entirely on preparing for his graduation exams, Kitagawa Ryo is clearly more aware of this sudden situation and can even vaguely sense that there is more than one person behind it.

"Sorry, I got a little carried away by my concern."

Seeing Kitagawa Ryo's appearance, Horikita Manabu, who also realized that this sudden incident was not simply aimed at Horikita Suzune, took a deep breath. Mainly because he was indeed about to graduate, he really hoped to see Horikita Suzune, as the Student Council president, send him off from the gates of ANHS before graduation.

"Okay, I'll handle it. Of course, if I need any help from you, I'll contact you directly."

"Good."

The two chatted for a while longer, and as time went by, the peak dining time for students gradually arrived. In just a few minutes, the once empty coffee shop was packed with students, mostly girls.

"Let's go outside; I feel like we'll attract attention."

"Okay, I'll ask the waiter to pack it up for me."

After waiting for two minutes, the two took the unfinished drinks from the waiter and walked out of the store against the flow of people.

Watching the students continuing to stream into the coffee shop behind them, chatting and laughing, Kitagawa Ryo thoughtfully glanced up at the shop's sign.

This cafe is a branch of a large corporation located in the Keyaki Mall at ANHS, and it is very popular with girls in the city outside the university.

Of course, because it takes a premium approach, each cup is very expensive for high school students, and it's not something they can drink often.

For a regular high school student who isn't working, coming a few times a month is already the limit.

But it's different at ANHS. Students don't even need to work; many students can still easily enjoy the shop's services every day, including him and Horikita Manabu.

Private Points are something that sometimes translates into money and sometimes into something else entirely.