The Student Council

Dongfang Yi hadn't lied. He really didn't want to join the Student Council.

To him, both Miyabi Nagumo, the notorious womanizer, and Horikita Manabu were like the rising sun at dawn, destined to fade by dusk.

Neither of them was any good.

He'd rather not get involved unless he had to.

In fact, even though he'd spent the previous month rereading the original story, he'd never understood the point of the current Student Council President Horikita Manabu's claim that "I recognize their potential, but I rejected them because I didn't want the new students to be influenced by Nagumo."

After all, it wasn't as if he'd recruited Katsuragi into the Student Council again before stepping down.

Yet he'd treated Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who was in the same class as his younger sister, differently.

But once Dongfang Yi reconsidered things in light of what happened later, he saw the truth.

From Horikita Manabu's perspective,

first, he knew Horikita Suzune was a socially inept idiot, and as Student Council President, he also knew the school's advancement rules inside out—only students who graduated from Class A could enjoy the benefits when choosing a career. For everyone else, school was a waste of time.

Second, Horikita Suzune was in Class D, which had started with zero Class Points, and she was adamant about not dropping out during the best possible window to do so: the start of the school year.

Third, Class D had a powerful student, highly capable and very close to Horikita Suzune, who might even have romantic feelings for her. On top of that, the Student Council President had access to a lot of information about exams. Put those together, and even Suzune in Class D had a very good chance of graduating from Class A.

Finally, in her second year, with two men who'd received her brother's support looking on, Horikita Suzune defeated Ichinose with practically no effort and became Student Council President.

Seen in that light, the truth was clear.

Someone had gone to extraordinary lengths to make sure his little sister graduated from Class A.

The Student Council's work wasn't anything prestigious. Any normal person could do it. There was no reason only the strongest students should be allowed in.

Otherwise, how had Kiriyama become a Student Council member in his second year?

Leaving Ichinose aside, that whole bunch of second-year misfits couldn't even measure up to Katsuragi!

What happened later only confirmed Dongfang Yi's judgment.

When the second Student Council President, Miyabi Nagumo, was about to choose his successor, with Ayanokoji watching,

Kiryuin, an outsider, suddenly barged in and harshly condemned their petty behavior.

She made Ichinose, who'd worked so hard for a year and a half, feel so ashamed that she withdrew from the race, then handed the presidency straight to Horikita Suzune, who'd been in the Student Council for less than half a year and hadn't even finished her probation.

To put it bluntly, when Horikita Suzune was elected, she had less experience than Yagami Takuya, a first-year who'd been expelled!

This wasn't just a rigged game. It was like the long night had fallen.

Sometimes Dongfang Yi felt that he wasn't reading Ayanokoji's autobiography at all, but a history of the Horikita Family's rule over Advanced Nurturing High School.

"Dongfang, I don't think you're right. The Student Council is an organization that serves all students." Ichinose was silent for a moment, then said seriously, "Besides, the upperclassmen assign us tasks so we can grow faster and take on Student Council duties more quickly."

"Ichinose, you really are a good person." Dongfang Yi pressed his fingers to his brow, feeling somewhat helpless.

He had a headache.

The girl in front of him was still a little naive. She wasn't an ideal partner to work with.

But if Dongfang Yi just let the girl in front of him turn bitter, he...

couldn't quite bring himself to.

"Forget it. I just can't stand seeing fools get hurt." Dongfang Yi smiled helplessly and looked Ichinose in the eyes. "If Ichinose were at an ordinary school, what you said would be absolutely right. But unfortunately, this isn't an ordinary school."

"First, let me point something out: the Student Council President at this school isn't elected. The position is appointed. In other words, the current president chooses the next one."

"To put it simply, it's like the aristocratic system where a son inherits from his father, or a younger brother from his older brother."

"Dongfang, what's the problem with that system?" Sakura Airi, so innocent that she struggled to understand, asked.

"Do you mean that under this system, the Student Council would be more inclined to serve the school?" Ichinose thought for a moment, then asked too.

"As expected of Ichinose. Sakura still has a lot to learn." Dongfang Yi praised her, then winked at Sakura. "That's right. I don't agree with the so-called democratic election system, but there's no denying that, within a small community like a school, it's the simplest and most direct way to elect a Student Council that represents the students' interests."

"But because the position is appointed, this school's Student Council serves the people who can kick them out of their positions—in other words, the administration."

"More importantly, this system makes it extremely easy for a clique led by the Student Council President to form and serve the president's personal interests."

Dongfang Yi leisurely picked up a piece of chicken. "So it's not as rosy as you think, Ichinose."

"The Student Council President's personal interests?"

"Right. In my view, the current Student Council is completely Horikita Manabu's one-man show. If you joined, you'd just become a workhorse, without getting anything in return for your efforts."

"That's going too far, Dongfang." Kind-hearted Ichinose strongly disagreed. "I don't believe someone who only cares about his own interests could become Student Council President."

"Besides, the president and ordinary students don't have conflicting interests, do they? And even if we don't get anything in return, we can still develop our abilities during that time, can't we?"

"You have a point, Ichinose. It makes sense that you don't believe me, since I have nothing to back up what I'm saying. How about we make a bet?" Dongfang Yi thought for a moment, then smiled and lowered his voice.

"I bet that during this round of Student Council recruitment, if Horikita Suzune from Class D doesn't participate, the current Student Council President, Horikita Manabu, won't accept a single first-year."

"Horikita Suzune?" Ichinose asked, puzzled.

"Horikita Manabu's younger sister, a first-year in Class D." Dongfang Yi shrugged. "To be more specific, she's a beautiful girl with long, straight black hair—a classic beauty."

"Huh?!" Sakura Airi exclaimed. "How do you know that, Dongfang?"

"I've done a lot more research on this school than you'd imagine." Dongfang Yi winked smugly.

"Then what if she does participate?" Ichinose looked up and asked.

"That's possible, sure. But even if she does, I still believe the current president won't leave any evidence behind." Dongfang Yi smiled. "He'll either accept no one or accept all three at once. Those are his only two choices. I'm still betting he'll choose the former. If I'm wrong, you win."

"But then no first-years would join the Student Council, would they?"

Ichinose was doubtful, given how certain he sounded, but she still couldn't imagine the Student Council behaving that way.

"That won't happen. I'm talking about Horikita Manabu, not the Student Council. Even though they belong to the same interest group, people still have different roles."

"If Miyabi Nagumo, the next Student Council President, wants to recruit people to build his own team, Horikita Manabu will still put on a show of being accommodating and approve all their applications at once."

Dongfang Yi narrowed his eyes. "But if my guess is right, Miyabi Nagumo will only recruit one person from those Horikita Manabu rejects—two at most."

"And that person will have to be a new student who works tirelessly, gives everything without complaint, and preferably has enough ability to handle all the first-years' affairs. Judging by Nagumo's reputation, I think he'll lean toward recruiting a pretty girl."

As he spoke, Dongfang Yi pretended to study Ichinose seriously. "Honestly, Ichinose, I think there's a good chance you'll be that unlucky person."

Ichinose ignored his teasing. Though they'd only just met, she was surprised to find she couldn't get angry with him.

Still, the side of things Dongfang Yi described instinctively made her uncomfortable.

She furrowed her brows. "I still don't understand. Even if what you said really happens, I don't understand why the current Student Council President would act that way."

"If I explained why, how could we have a bet?" Dongfang Yi narrowed his eyes and smiled like a fox. "Once I win, I'll explain it to you. For now, it's not time yet."

"So, want to make the bet?"

"Of course. I'm sure I won't lose. But what are we betting?"

"One favor." Dongfang Yi raised a finger.

"If I win, Ichinose has to do one thing I ask."

"At the same time, I promise it won't endanger Ichinose's physical or mental well-being. I definitely won't ask you to be my girlfriend or anything like that."

Ichinose Honami hesitated for a moment, but decided to take the risk.

She thought Dongfang Yi was wrong. The school treated its students well, so naturally the Student Council would be made up of the best students. How could it target ordinary students?

Dongfang was definitely exaggerating!

But if things kept going this way, he'd clearly end up on the wrong path!

A sense of responsibility welled up in the girl's heart. She had to bring him back to the right path!

She nodded. "All right, I agree. And if Dongfang loses, I get to ask one favor too."

"Go ahead." Dongfang Yi waited patiently.

"I'll tell you after I win."

"Then it's a bet?"

"It's a bet."

"A promise made,"

"Must be kept!"