After school, it was the same old library as always, though this time it was livelier than before.
The students from Class C and Class B had gathered for a study group, but, well, the atmosphere was a little stiff.
It couldn't be helped. Whether it was a burly guy like Albert or delinquents like Ryuen and Ishizaki, they all gave people the impression that they were best avoided.
The students from Class B seemed quite reserved—or maybe even a little scared?
As for the students from Class C... Most of them had gathered around Kaneda. Maybe they didn't want to embarrass themselves in front of strangers, or maybe they wanted Kaneda to answer their questions. They clearly knew who was on their side.
Sawahara wondered how he could break the ice.
"Ishizaki, is there anything you're having trouble with?" A pleasant female voice interrupted Sawahara's thoughts.
"Ah, oh, this problem. I don't really understand it." Ishizaki stared blankly at the pretty girl in front of him. He probably hadn't expected anyone to talk to him, let alone such a beautiful girl.
Ichinose looked over the problem and began explaining it to Ishizaki.
After that, Ichinose went around talking to the students from Class C and helping them with their questions. She also enlisted students in her own class who were good at each subject to help explain things.
Thanks to her efforts, the study group's atmosphere finally warmed up.
"Ichinose really is impressive," Sawahara said, amazed. She had excellent people skills, good judgment, courage, outstanding initiative, and a kind heart. No wonder she had united Class B so firmly.
"Kanzaki, is something the matter?" Sawahara asked the boy sitting beside him, who had been looking his way. The information Ryuen had given him earlier had mentioned Ichinose's right-hand man, Ryuji Kanzaki.
"Sorry." Kanzaki looked a little apologetic, but hesitated before speaking. "This might be overstepping, but I'll ask you directly. You and Ichinose..."
"We're friends," Sawahara said. "Don't worry. I'm not planning to use Ichinose."
"I see." Kanzaki nodded. Only he knew whether he believed Sawahara or not.
"Rather, our class and Class B probably won't have any conflicts in the short term," Sawahara told Kanzaki. "Class A is way out in front right now. Instead of fighting with Class B, we'd rather bring Class A down first."
Kanzaki seemed to find that explanation more convincing. After hearing Sawahara say that, he relaxed a little.
"Sawahara, Kanzaki, what are you two talking about?"
Now that the atmosphere had eased, Ichinose finally breathed a sigh of relief. She turned and saw Kanzaki and Sawahara talking, so she came over to ask.
"It's nothing. By the way, Ichinose, how did your Student Council interview go?" Sawahara asked.
"Ahaha, I guess I didn't meet the president's standards, so I was turned down." Ichinose gave an awkward laugh at the mention of it, then looked at Sawahara with admiration.
"Sawahara, you're amazing."
After all, she'd heard in the Student Council that Sawahara had passed the first round of interviews, while she hadn't even made it past that stage.
Kanzaki looked just as surprised by Ichinose's words. Even Ichinose hadn't passed the first round, yet Sawahara had... His guard, which had eased a little, went back up.
"By the way, Sawahara, how did your second interview go? You've passed already, right?"
"No, I haven't received any notice about a second interview yet." Sawahara shook his head, patching up his lie.
"Really? Still, I'm sure you'll be fine, Sawahara." Ichinose looked surprised. She hadn't expected that even after four or five days, Sawahara still hadn't had his second interview.
"I'll take your word for it," Sawahara said with a smile, though that supposed second interview might never happen.
Just then, Ichinose's phone suddenly vibrated.
"Sorry." She excused herself to the two of them, took out her phone, and checked the message. As she read it, her face lit up with joy.
"Keep talking. I'll go see if Ryuen's run into any trouble," Sawahara said, deciding it was a good time to step away.
"No, it's fine. It's nothing confidential." Ichinose stopped Sawahara. Even if she kept it secret for now, he would find out soon enough.
"That was a message from Senior Nagumo on the Student Council. He said he thinks highly of me and wants me to come in for another interview." Ichinose was beaming with excitement and joy.
"I see. Congratulations, Ichinose," Sawahara said, though he didn't think there was anything to be happy about.
After the Student Council President rejected her, the Vice President took an interest in her and invited her to join the Student Council? At least, Sawahara wouldn't do it.
"Yeah, congratulations, Ichinose," Kanzaki said happily.
"Could you explain this problem to me?" asked a soft-spoken girl. Sawahara turned around and saw that Shiina had sat down beside him at some point.
"I'll take a look." Ichinose, still excited, saw someone asking for help and stepped forward. She also remembered to introduce herself. "I'm Ichinose Honami from Class B."
"..." Shiina fell silent for a moment, then answered softly, "Hiyori Shiina."
"Hello, Ichinose. I'm Senior Nagumo, the Student Council Vice President." Miyabi Nagumo looked at the girl in front of him. His breathing faltered for an instant, then quickly settled.
He'd seen her photo before and knew she was an exceptionally beautiful girl. He hadn't been wrong.
"Hello, Senior Nagumo." Ichinose bowed in greeting. She understood basic etiquette, after all: people in deputy positions disliked having the word "deputy" emphasized.
"Hahaha, just call me Senior. Like you, I was in Class 1-B when I started here last year. That's part of why I think so highly of you," Miyabi Nagumo said with a hearty laugh.
"Yes, Senior Nagumo." Ichinose was a little surprised, but her confidence in moving up a class grew. She quickly changed how she addressed him.
"I've already looked over your file. You also gave good answers to the president's questions during your interview," Miyabi Nagumo said. He knew Ichinose hadn't failed because she lacked ability. Manabu Horikita simply didn't want him interfering with the first-years.
But that only made him more determined to get involved. He hoped his actions would anger the president and provoke a showdown, though he knew it was unlikely.
Their differing views also meant there might be trouble during the election. Ordinarily, with one president and one vice president at the school, the Student Council handover was a foregone conclusion. Becoming president or vice president basically meant being the most capable student in one's year, and with the votes of two grades behind them, the first-years seemed insignificant.
But because of the president's attitude, the third-years' votes were now uncertain, making it even more necessary to get involved with the first-years.
And the opening was the girl standing before him, Ichinose.
"The reason you weren't chosen had a lot to do with the fact that you're from Class 1-B," Nagumo continued. "You know how this school assigns students to classes: it's based on ability. I've looked over your file. You ranked second on the entrance exam, and aside from your athletic ability, you're better than most of the students in Class A in almost every way. Given that, there must have been some minor issue before you enrolled that led to your being assigned to Class B. That's why the president didn't choose you."
Nagumo deceived Ichinose with a mixture of truth and lies. Seeing the uncertainty on her face, he knew he'd found his way in.
"I was in the same situation as you last year. I told the president about the problem I had, and that's how I joined the Student Council and became its president.
"Ichinose, can you tell me why you were placed in Class B?"
Before you continue