The Manipulated Ichinose

Ichinose froze, because the atmosphere inside Private Room 1 was harmonious and filled with laughter.

Although she had prayed for Private Room 1 to be lively, she had considered it an unrealistic expectation.

Yet, only after she truly pushed the door open did she discover that the level of liveliness was even higher than in the room she had just left.

"What's going on?" Ichinose asked, somewhat puzzled.

The blue-haired girl currently singing brightened up; she held the microphone and waved at Ichinose, who was standing at the door: "Ichinose, come over here!"

As she spoke, she patted the empty spot on the sofa next to her.

Ichinose first responded with a smile, then walked over and sat down beside the blue-haired girl, still full of questions.

"Kobashi Yume, what is going on?" Ichinose finally couldn't help but ask.

She was simply too curious.

"Hm? What do you mean, what's going on?" The blue-haired girl, known as Kobashi Yume, handed the microphone to someone else and looked at Ichinose with a confused expression.

"I mean, how did it get so lively in here?"

"Get lively?" Kobashi Yume made a thoughtful face, then her eyes lit up as she grabbed Ichinose's hands and said: "Now that you mention it, Ichinose, it really is. Right after you left, the atmosphere in the room became so awkward."

She covered her mouth with her small hand and leaned into Ichinose's ear to whisper: "But after Horikita Etsuka came in just now..."

Kobashi Yume told Ichinose in detail what had happened after Horikita Etsuka entered.

Ichinose nodded as she listened at first, but later, her eyes gradually began to shine.

Of course, there was some exaggeration in what Kobashi Yume said; after all, she had already felt favorably toward Horikita Etsuka from the start, and coupled with his calm and composed demeanor, she had embellished his actions a little...

"So you see, Horikita is really amazing!"

Kobashi Yume finally finished speaking in one breath.

Ichinose nodded: "I really have to thank him. I'll go over and say thanks."

Kobashi Yume nodded in agreement: "Yeah, he definitely deserves a thank you."

Ichinose slowly stood up and walked over to Horikita Etsuka, who was resting with his eyes closed.

Horikita Etsuka felt a shadow fall over his eyelids; he opened his eyes in confusion, and the first thing that entered his vision were the bright, snow-white thighs beneath a short skirt.

Ichinose stood before him with her hands behind her back, looking shy. She leaned down slightly and said with a smile:

"Horikita, thank you so much."

"It's nothing, I don't like awkward atmospheres either." Horikita Etsuka immediately knew what Ichinose was referring to.

He responded while casting a glance toward Hamaguchi Tetsuya.

Hamaguchi Tetsuya understood Etsuka's meaning; he smiled helplessly and scooted his butt more than a meter away.

Etsuka gave a look of approval, then patted the empty seat beside him and said to Ichinose:

"Actually, I think this gathering could be optimized to help everyone get to know each other better. Ichinose, would you like to hear my suggestions?"

Ichinose tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and sat down gently beside Horikita Etsuka: "Sure, I'd really like to hear Horikita's opinion."

At this moment, Ichinose was incredibly curious about Horikita Etsuka.

She was curious about his relationship with the Student Council President, and even more curious about his abilities.

As soon as Ichinose sat down, Horikita Etsuka felt the faint, refreshing scent of a young girl drift into his nostrils.

It was a subtle fragrance.

[Edible.]

Horikita Etsuka spread his hands and said: "Ichinose, observe this room. What do you think is missing?"

"What's missing?" Ichinose murmured to herself. Her beautiful blue eyes scanned the room's environment and the expressions of everyone present:

"Hmm... although the atmosphere is quite lively, I get the feeling that many people aren't participating with their whole hearts."

"Yes." Horikita Etsuka snapped his fingers and continued: "Your answer is pretty close. This actually relates to the way people interact with one another."

"Oh? Can you tell me more about that, Horikita?" Ichinose asked, full of a thirst for knowledge.

"Haha, you'll have to pay tuition for that, you know." Horikita Etsuka made a lighthearted joke.

Ichinose, however, began to think about it seriously, and then she said earnestly: "Okay, I will pay you in points!"

Horikita Etsuka waved his hand: "Alright, I was just joking."

Ichinose shook her head: "Horikita, since you're willing to teach me, this is the only way I can repay you."

"Hmm, points won't be necessary. How about I make a request that isn't too excessive next time?"

"Okay!" Ichinose nodded seriously.

[No way, is she this cute? I really want to pat her head!]

"Ahem." Horikita Etsuka coughed a few times, then said with a straight face: "The root cause is actually [Evaluation Apprehension]."

"Evaluation Apprehension?"

"Yes." Horikita Etsuka swirled the juice in his glass: "When there are members of the opposite sex present whom you've just met, singing becomes a display of ability rather than entertainment."

"The boys are afraid of singing off-key and losing face, while the girls are worried about maintaining their image. This is the Primacy Effect; strangers will subconsciously try to protect their initial impressions."

Ichinose nodded in sudden realization, responding by drawing inferences: "So that's why you appeared as the Icebreaker, Horikita-kun!"

"Correct. Your comprehension is still quite good, Ichinose." Horikita Etsuka nodded, taking the opportunity to compliment her.

"As long as one person takes the lead, it becomes very easy for the others to follow suit quickly."

Ichinose placed a finger to her lips in thought: "But in the initial stage, it could also backfire and even cause the whole group to fall silent."

"Exactly. The leader cannot just lead blindly; they must balance the atmosphere based on the actual situation."

Ichinose nodded: "So, after a few songs pass and a few drinks are consumed, with the Icebreaker mediating in between, the atmosphere will naturally heat up."

"That's right, that's how it works." Horikita Etsuka sipped his juice, feeling relaxed and content.

"Then, regarding the suggestion you made..."

"This gathering should last at most another half hour, then the boys and girls should split up for separate gatherings." Etsuka made the suggestion in a casual, offhand manner.

"Mm, what you said is indeed very correct, Horikita-kun." Ichinose stuck out her tongue:

"At first, I just thought that gathering together would be livelier. I didn't think about this layer; I was indeed a bit too eager."

"It's fine. We can just hold another one later to make up for it."

"That's true." However, as if thinking of something, Ichinose sighed, hugging her knees with a dejected look on her face: "I can organize the girls' side, but what about the boys?"

Horikita Etsuka glanced at Ichinose sideways.

We're both seasoned veterans here, so don't try to play these games with me. I'm not going to volunteer to organize the gathering.

Horikita Etsuka saw through Ichinose's intention to have him organize the boys' gathering at a single glance.

However, he had his own concerns. Based on his deductions throughout the day, the school would eventually guide the classes toward competition. He didn't want to be exposed in the open; after all, what kind of mastermind commands from the front lines?

Ichinose looked at Horikita Etsuka, who was drinking juice, with lively eyes: "Um, how about..."

"Not possible, Ichinose. I'm afraid I can't help with this matter." Before she could even finish, Horikita Etsuka flatly rejected the request.

"Eh--" Ichinose pouted, her body slumping down, and she said in frustration: "Then who should I look for?"

"Ichinose, I suspect you already have a candidate in mind, don't you?" Horikita Etsuka pierced through her facade without hesitation.

"Fine." Ichinose felt that she had no secrets in front of this sunny boy, so she slumped onto the sofa as if giving up.

Horikita Etsuka's eyes were like they had auto-aim, locked onto those two towering mounds.

When Ichinose turned her head to speak, Horikita Etsuka's gaze shifted firmly toward the large screen playing music.

"However, Horikita, do you know who I chose?" Ichinose asked, unwilling to give up; she didn't fully believe that he could see through her heart completely.

The colorful, dazzling lights shone on Horikita Etsuka's handsome face.

He slowly opened his mouth and uttered four words.

"Kanzaki Ryuji."