The dismissal bell rang, and the classroom grew noisy. Hoshino slumped over his desk, looking exhausted.
After a whole day of "fermenting," the chatter about Hoshino had finally died down, giving him a brief moment of peace.
There was still a little time before Student Council duties began. He had nothing else to do, so Hoshino decided to head over early.
He stood up, picked up his bag, pushed in his chair, and made his way between the desks toward the door.
"...Congratulations, Secretary Hoshino..." As he passed Ayanokoji, a familiar voice called out.
Ayanokoji had his math textbook and workbook open in front of him, apparently doing his homework. But now he had set down his pen and was looking at Hoshino with interest.
"...Ayanokoji, are you going to start in on me too?" Hoshino stopped and looked over at him, his expression helpless.
He couldn't believe it. He was just passing by, and Ayanokoji had to remind him again? Sotomura had made such a scene that morning, and Hoshino felt like he'd wanted the ground to swallow him up. He was scared! It had been so embarrassing.
At the time, social death itself wasn't so bad. The terrifying part was how every time you remembered it, you felt an urge to die all over again. Hoshino had already decided to let it go, but now Ayanokoji had made the memory even more vivid.
Still, "Secretary Hoshino"... That was a pretty good title!
"...Sorry, sorry."
"...By the way, Ayanokoji, there's something I've been meaning to ask you." Since Ayanokoji had started the conversation, Hoshino decided to keep it going. He pulled out the chair in front of Ayanokoji's desk and sat down.
"Hmm? What is it?" Ayanokoji dropped the joking tone.
"...What happened between you and President Horikita?"
Ever since talking with President Horikita a few days ago, Hoshino had been curious. But President Horikita hadn't seemed willing to talk about it, so Hoshino had kept his curiosity to himself. Since he had the chance now, why not get the juicy details?
"Um..." Ayanokoji fell silent, seemingly unsure how to answer. His eyes flicked toward Horikita.
Horikita wasn't looking their way, but anyone could tell at a glance that her thoughts had long since wandered from the book in her hands.
Why was Ayanokoji looking at Horikita? Hoshino stared at him in confusion. Could this have something to do with Horikita too?
This was... way too exciting!
"...Why are you looking at me?" Horikita turned toward them, pretending she'd only just noticed.
"..."
"..."
The three of them fell silent. Wasn't Ayanokoji supposed to respond? Why had he gone quiet too?
"It's just... you and the Student Council President..." Before he could finish, Horikita glared at him, and Ayanokoji instinctively shut his mouth.
"Go on! Keep going!" Hoshino egged him on, delighted to see the drama unfold.
"Um... You'd better not pry into this."
Noticing the look in Horikita's eyes, which seemed ready to devour him, Ayanokoji stood firm and refused to answer Hoshino's question.
"...All right..."
These people were so inconsiderate. Was it really that hard to let him enjoy a little gossip?
"Horikita, is the president your older brother?" To be honest, President Horikita had answered that question, but his attitude had been so... Just to be safe, Hoshino decided to ask Horikita as well.
"...Yes." Horikita's expression visibly darkened.
What was going on with these siblings?
Hoshino had always wanted a younger sister. What was wrong with having a little sister? If he had one, he'd spoil her rotten!
"Um... Sorry..."
Now he wasn't sure what to say. It seemed that as soon as the Student Council President came up, Horikita started to waver. Was she feeling inferior? Hoshino wasn't sure.
"It's fine."
"...Hoshino, how do you like being on the Student Council?" Seeing how awkward things had become, Ayanokoji thought for a moment, then tried to lighten the mood.
"It's all right. Everything else is pretty good, but the Student Council workload is really heavy." Hoshino let out a long breath.
"That's only fair, isn't it? With power comes responsibility. Otherwise, why would the president have made you secretary? So you could slack off?"
"...You make a good point. I have no comeback!" Hoshino grumbled.
Horikita silently listened to Hoshino and Ayanokoji. Her gaze was tinged with resentment and disappointment.
"...Are you wondering why your brother didn't choose you? Why he didn't ask you to join the Student Council?..."
"..."
Hoshino studied Horikita's expression, trying to guess what she was thinking. She didn't answer. Her eyes held a trace of hope as she looked up at Hoshino, suddenly seeming like a little girl.
"...You don't have to feel so inferior. Maybe there was some special reason your brother didn't let you join the Student Council." Hoshino couldn't think of what that reason might be, but seeing Horikita like this made him feel... frustrated with her.
After all, Horikita's older brother was the Student Council President. If she wanted to lead Class D, she'd have to interact with him sooner or later. If she faltered every time she came across the president, how could she lead Class D to a higher class?
As a member of the Student Council and a subordinate of the president, Hoshino couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
"What reason?"
"...The president's responsibilities go beyond the Student Council. Have you ever wondered why, at a school that values ability above all else, the classes rise and fall together?"
"Hm?"
"Wouldn't a contest based solely on individual ability be a better way to develop talent? After all, when you enter society, you'll have to make your own way... The fact that things work the way they do now should tell you how capable your brother is! In the end, he kept you off the Student Council to protect you. If something happened, the president would be the first to take responsibility, and he could easily become the target of everyone's blame."
This was all Hoshino's guesswork and deductions. He had no evidence, but given the situation, all he could do was half-make something up to tell Horikita.
"...Doesn't that mean my brother still doesn't think I'm capable?"
"...Is that what I meant?" Hoshino felt dizzy. After all that, they'd gotten nowhere. "...Have you ever considered that your brother might have changed the school this way because he knew you were going to enroll?"
"..." Horikita fell silent.
"Have you ever really talked with President Horikita? If you don't believe me, go ask him." Hoshino sounded utterly certain.
Horikita didn't reply. She lowered her head and thought in silence for a while, then picked up her bag and left without a word. Hoshino had no idea whether she'd actually gone to find the president.
"...Are you sure they won't see through it?" Ayanokoji, who had been silent for a long time, watched Horikita leave, sounding unconvinced.
"...How should I know? I don't care whether they see through it. As long as they talk things out, that's what matters. You know they don't really hate each other..."
Hoshino hadn't meant to genuinely persuade Horikita. He'd only wanted to make his last point sound more convincing. After all, there was no way a mere classmate or subordinate like him could fix the relationship between the siblings. If he couldn't fix it, why not create an opportunity for them to talk? They were family, and they didn't really hate each other. Surely they could find a way to communicate!
He owed the president a favor, and it was something Chabashira-sensei hoped for too. Nothing to lose, and three birds with one stone! Even if he was wrong and all his effort came to nothing, it wouldn't really matter.
Sometimes, doing nothing was what you ended up regretting.
Before you continue