Regular Meeting

"Congratulations, everyone. Our entire class passed the midterm exams."

Kazuma Sakagami posted the midterm exam results on the blackboard.

They had studied hard, and over the last two days before the exam, questions from the test had been mixed into their practice work. It was no surprise that they had passed with flying colors.

"Just as I thought. I knew we'd be fine."

"We've worked hard for so long, after all."

"We should really take it easy today."

Sawahara didn't say much in response. They really had worked hard lately, and they deserved a chance to relax. Still, he didn't forget to remind them.

"From now on, our study sessions will be held in the library every Wednesday at six in the evening. Everyone has to attend. This was only a midterm exam, after all. We still have the final exams ahead of us."

"Got it."

"What are we doing next? You've already got a plan for the next exam, right?"

After class, Ryuen, Ichinose, Shiina, and the others came over to Sawahara's seat once again to ask about the plans going forward.

At Ryuen's question, the others all looked at Sawahara in surprise.

"More or less. Do you remember how, before the midterm exams, I asked Sakagami-sensei, 'When will we have another Special Exam like the one in our first month at school?'" Sawahara gave them a hint.

"Sakagami-sensei said there wouldn't be any more this term." Shiina recalled the conversation. Back then, everyone in class had breathed a sigh of relief at those words. The conduct assessment hadn't been in their class's favor.

"So the next Special Exam will be next term? That's a long way off," Ibuki said instinctively.

"But the next term doesn't start as soon as this term ends," Sawahara said, shaking his head. "Later, during PE, I asked the gym teacher whether the swimming test meant we'd need those skills later. The teacher didn't say so outright, but this school wouldn't make us do something so pointless.

"Yet the Sports Festival isn't this term, and we haven't heard anything about a swimming-related competition, either."

"So the next exam will probably be during summer break, somewhere near the water—most likely at the beach." Shiina understood Sawahara's reasoning. It was certainly a plausible guess.

"Huh? Summer break!" Ibuki's eyes widened. They'd have exams during summer break, too?

"You didn't think this school would let us lounge around in our dorms for two whole months, did you?" Ryuen looked at Ibuki mockingly. The idiot hadn't changed at all.

"You..." Ibuki glared at Ryuen in irritation, but he didn't bother answering her. Instead, he looked at Sawahara. "That's why you had me sign that agreement, isn't it?

"If it's a contest between two classes, we'll have a guaranteed target to beat. Even if all four classes are thrown into the same free-for-all, we can ally with Class B, hold Class D's lifeline in our hands, and crush Class A three against one."

"So we've already won the next Special Exam?" Kaneda asked in surprise. Could they really pull that off?

"Not exactly. We don't know the exam's specific rules, so all we can guarantee is that we won't lose." Sawahara shook his head. They had simply prepared early to improve their chances.

"You really are like a detective, Sawahara-kun," Shiina said admiringly. "You can deduce so much from just a few scattered clues."

"Am I?" Sawahara merely smiled. He was just used to looking into things.

"This is Sawahara Zoya from Class 1-C, a new member of the Student Council." At the Student Council's regular Monday meeting, Manabu Horikita introduced Sawahara to the other members.

"Sawahara, this is Miyabi Nagumo, the Student Council Vice President." The blond boy looked at Sawahara with an inscrutable expression.

"And this is the Student Council treasurer, Ikuto Kiriyama." He looked serious, and when the president mentioned that Sawahara was from Class C, his expression changed noticeably.

After the brief introductions, Manabu Horikita went straight into the Student Council meeting.

In practice, these meetings were mostly about assigning work. The Student Council had considerable authority at this school. Club funding requests and applications to compete off campus all had to be submitted to the Student Council for approval. It also handled disputes between students and oversaw the allocation of equipment for Special Exams, among other things.

"Kiriyama, you'll be responsible for allocating and approving the equipment for the third-year Special Exam."

"Yes, senpai."

"Nagumo, you'll review the clubs' funding requests for this term. Take care of them and submit everything by the end of the week."

"Yes, senpai."

"Sawahara, you and Tachibana will keep track of the changes in Class Points across all year levels and post them on the school bulletin board."

"Yes, President."*2

Tachibana looked at Sawahara, displeasure in her eyes. Why did he call the president the same thing she did?

If Sawahara had known what Tachibana was thinking, he probably would have had no choice but to explain.

When you were working, you used people's titles. That was common sense.

"Next, we'll go over the Student Council duty roster."

Since the Student Council was responsible for resolving disputes between students, members had to take turns staying behind on duty every day.

"I'll cover Mondays and Fridays. Tachibana will cover Tuesdays, Kiriyama Wednesdays, and Nagumo Thursdays. We'll take turns as usual on the weekends. Sawahara, since you've just joined the Student Council and aren't familiar with its work yet, I won't schedule you for solo duty for now. Follow me and learn for two weeks, then we'll revise the schedule."

"Yes, President."

"That concludes this week's meeting. Sawahara, stay behind and do duty with me. The rest of you may leave."

After Horikita declared the meeting over, Tachibana stayed behind to keep the president company.

Kiriyama said goodbye to the president and left at once. Before leaving, Nagumo went over to Sawahara.

"So you're the underclassman the president has his eye on? Ichinose mentioned you before, too. I didn't expect you to be from Class C."

"I'm honored the president thinks highly of me. Is there something you need, Vice President?" Sawahara smiled at the Student Council Vice President. Since the president had brought him into the Student Council, he was bound to end up facing the vice president one way or another. He might as well make his position clear.

"You don't need to be so hostile toward me. I'm not interested in you right now. I'd rather test myself against my senpai." Nagumo looked at Manabu Horikita, who was seated nearby, his words carrying a taunting edge.

Manabu Horikita paid no attention. Nagumo had provoked him like this many times before.

"Senpai, you haven't changed at all." When he got no response, Nagumo simply smiled and turned to Sawahara again. "Maybe we can have some fun once you make it to Class A."

With that, Nagumo left the Student Council room.