The Sixth Chapter: President Horikita's Thoughts

"Kujo-kun, don't damage my books, okay?"

Watching Hiyori smile as she was about to leave, Kujo couldn't help shivering.

He understood what she meant: "If you dare mess around, I won't let you off."

Then Hiyori rose and apologized to Horikita Manabu, saying she had to leave first.

Horikita Manabu remained seated. He merely nodded and summoned a waiter to show Hiyori the way.

With that, the already nearly empty hall grew even quieter.

With no one else around, the atmosphere between Horikita Manabu and Kujo grew even more silent.

Kujo set aside his sunglasses, which had long since fogged over from the heat, then began carefully placing the books in his arms as far away from Horikita Manabu as he could reach.

The sunglasses really were a bit inconvenient, after all. And Hiyori's books were precious, so it was safer to keep them away from President Horikita.

But there was more than one book Kujo needed to protect.

He reached inside his jacket and pulled out one.

Then a second.

A third.

A fourth.

It wasn't until Kujo took out the seventh book that Horikita Manabu finally turned to look in his direction.

Kujo's uniform had been specially made for him by Hiyori. The inside was woven with pockets of all sizes, specifically designed to hold books.

She had originally done it to break Hiyori's habit of reading while walking, but over time it had become routine.

Watching Kujo's every move, Horikita Manabu's eye twitched almost imperceptibly.

Altering the school uniform.

Breaking school rules.

The student council president's instincts kicked in.

No.

This wasn't the time to think about that.

"..."

But Kujo's next move left even the battle-hardened Horikita Manabu speechless.

Perhaps sensing that he was being watched, the first-year student simply took off his uniform jacket and draped it over his knees, as if nothing had happened.

Horikita Manabu's estimation of Kujo rose another notch.

This student was exceptionally good at provoking other people.

Having settled on his impression of Kujo, Horikita Manabu asked him:

"Do you have any explanation for why you used points to apply for an exemption from classes at the start of the school year, Kujo-kun?"

Horikita Manabu's question made Kujo breathe a sigh of relief.

He'd thought it was something serious. So it was just about this?

"My grades aren't that great, so I figured I'd work on my physical fitness. After I graduate, maybe I can become an athlete or something."

Horikita Manabu didn't believe a word of it.

"Do you always tell such obvious lies? Or do you think I can't tell the difference between a lie and a load of nonsense?"

Kujo propped his head on his hand, his tone more absent-minded than anything else.

"Isn't that just how this school operates? During recruitment and at the start of the school year, the school always tells you half the story and hides the other half. I always thought that was part of our school culture."

Horikita Manabu held his coffee cup by the handle, with no apparent intention of drinking from it.

"You know a lot about this school. It seems you dislike it."

Regardless of how Kujo had learned about the school, what Horikita Manabu cared more about now was his attitude toward it.

"Does a school that doesn't care about how its students feel deserve to be liked? By the way, President Horikita, don't you think you're too serious all the time? Maybe you should care more about how the people around you feel. Why not try dating someone?"

"This school prohibits students from dating indiscriminately."

"The school rules say students can't engage in romantic relationships that are inappropriate for their status as students. Does the student council president think no one is good enough for your lofty status?"

Kujo Makoto was a student who excelled at provoking others.

There was no sincerity to be found in anything he usually said.

The only thing Horikita Manabu could be sure of was that Kujo hated this school.

Perhaps he was spreading both true and false rumors among the first-years to stir up trouble and get the students to challenge the school of their own accord?

Whatever the case, after that brief test, Horikita Manabu had reached his own conclusion.

A person like him was as dangerous as Nagumo.

If he couldn't be kept under control and was allowed to act freely, there was no telling what might happen next.

The reason Horikita Manabu was so concerned about Kujo wasn't just that he had applied for an exemption from classes at the start of the school year.

It all began a few days ago.

To put it simply, Horikita Manabu had secretly met with Horikita Suzune, his younger sister in Class D this year.

Since the school rules had been made public, he had met Horikita Suzune earlier than he had in the original story.

After years apart, she once again lowered Horikita Manabu's already poor opinion of her.

She was emotionally fragile, fixated on the class rankings, and only cared about earning his approval.

Horikita Manabu had intended to lecture Suzune, but he hadn't expected her to say something she never could have said before:

"Brother, I heard about it. All four classes have the same number of Class Points during the first month. If I can get everyone in my class to work hard together this month, we might still have a chance to become Class A later."

Horikita Manabu knew his sister couldn't have come up with something like that on her own.

As her older brother, he knew how weak she was.

It was still a naive idea, but it was definitely not something his sister would have said before.

Lead the class?

Work together?

Horikita Manabu shifted his gaze to the shadow nearby. He knew who the silent-footed student was: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka from Class D.

Horikita Manabu hadn't laid a hand on Horikita Suzune, but Ayanokoji had stepped in front of her and shielded her behind him.

"So you're Ayanokoji Kiyotaka from Class D? Suzune, I didn't expect you to have a friend your own age."

"Ayanokoji isn't my friend."

Horikita Manabu studied Ayanokoji's expressionless face. He couldn't detect the slightest hint of emotion in him.

As he'd expected, this was a difficult person to deal with.

"Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, right? I looked over your entrance exam results. What do you think? Are you dissatisfied that the school assigned you to a class that doesn't reflect your actual ability?"

Ayanokoji still looked completely unconcerned, but his answer left Horikita Manabu even more confused.

"Maybe Class D isn't as bad as we think. In the end, just because we're not Class A students doesn't mean we're good for nothing."

Ayanokoji was recalling how Kujo spoke.

If it were him, he would have answered like that.

Horikita Manabu gave Ayanokoji a long look. This was different from what he had assumed when he first saw Ayanokoji's entrance exam results.

He was a prodigy who had hidden his abilities and scored exactly fifty points in every subject to get into the school, yet he could still say something like that?

Had he misjudged him?

Was there some special reason he had to remain in Class D?

Seeing Suzune standing behind Ayanokoji with the same confused expression, Horikita Manabu sighed and asked Ayanokoji again:

"Would you be interested in joining the Student Council?"

"Sorry, I have to decline. Your sister already forced me to become Class D's leader at knifepoint with a compass. If you don't mind, I'd rather you teach her how to act like a normal person before you ask me to do anything. I think I'm pretty normal."

"..."

"..."

After Horikita Manabu left, he ultimately decided to investigate the people around Ayanokoji.

A person's personality couldn't change so drastically in such a short time.

Horikita Manabu trusted his judgment, and he trusted his own eye for people even more.

In the end, he turned his attention to Kujo Makoto from Class C.

Now.

Kujo was sitting beside Horikita Manabu, and everything was ready.

The coffee in front of them had long since gone cold, and Kujo seemed to have thought of something.

"President Horikita, you're not planning to attack a first-year student in a place like this, are you? Honestly, you're two years older than me. Even if I lost to you, it wouldn't reflect well on you. But if you lost to me, you'd be pretty embarrassed, wouldn't you?"

Horikita Manabu made his move.

Without even standing up, he slid the coffee in front of him toward Kujo.

He hadn't touched the cup from the start, and it was filled to the brim.

If Kujo couldn't stop it, the books he cherished would get dirty.

What would you do, Kujo-kun?

Faced with Horikita Manabu's sudden attack, Kujo didn't panic.

As if he'd seen it coming, he swiftly tossed the uniform jacket he'd taken off onto the table, intending to protect the books Hiyori had entrusted to him.

Then Kujo hurriedly checked the book covers for stains.

"So you were on guard the whole time?"

"President Horikita, choosing the cheapest coffee was one thing, but you left it sitting there without drinking it, and kept your hand on the handle. Of course I had to be on guard. If the books got dirty, how would I face my girlfriend later?"

Ever since coming to this world, Kujo had always assumed the worst of other people.

Because he knew the original characters so well, scenes involving them kept flooding into his mind.

After this incident, Kujo was once again certain of one thing.

This was a school where might made right. Strength was everything.

His decision at the start of the school year had been the right one.

Rather than focusing on academic studies, he should work harder on improving his physical strength and reflexes.

Now he could see that individual strength really was useful!

Horikita Manabu nodded approvingly, then began analyzing the situation aloud with a serious expression.

"I see. Now that I think about it, you really did lead me into this. Ever since Shiina-kohai left, you've kept acting protective of your books, deliberately placing them beside you one by one, and even provoking me by saying I might attack you. You were limiting the options available to me."

?

Even Kujo had no idea he was that clever.

At that moment, he hoped Horikita Manabu would say less.

"So, Kujo-kun, are you interested in joining the Student Council?"

"Not interested."

Kujo had never considered joining the Student Council. That place was full of tedious work.

And more than joining the Student Council and dealing with all that boring business, he was far more worried about his uniform.

He'd only been thinking about protecting the books.

How was he going to explain the dirty uniform to Hiyori?

It was over. Everything was over...

Horikita Manabu stood up, feeling it was time to leave.

He thought he'd tested Kujo enough for today, so he said one last thing:

"Kujo-kun, the invitation to join the Student Council still stands. But my patience is limited. If you're interested, report to the Student Council within a week."

Seeing Horikita Manabu about to leave, Kujo hurriedly called out to him.

"Wait, President. You still haven't compensated me for what just happened. It costs points to get these clothes dry-cleaned."

"How much do you want?"

Horikita Manabu's straightforward answer took Kujo by surprise.

Kujo thought it over carefully, then said to Horikita Manabu:

"You should still have your midterm exam papers from your first year, right? I'm not very good at studying, so I need those."

Horikita Manabu frowned. His confusion at Kujo's request was plain to see.

But he didn't dwell on it. After agreeing to Kujo's request, he left the loft.

Before he left, Horikita Manabu also paid the bill.

The waiter kindly told Kujo he could continue ordering, and that Horikita Manabu would cover everything he spent there.

"Horikita Manabu really is a good person."

Despite all the little twists and turns, Kujo couldn't help praising him to himself.

Outside the loft.

Kujo walked out carrying an eco-friendly bag.

Hiyori, who had been waiting for a long time, stood outside with her arms folded, quietly watching him emerge from the shop.

Looking at Hiyori, Kujo couldn't say a word.

Hiyori held out her hand.

Kujo obediently handed over the books wrapped in the eco-friendly bag.

Seeing this, Hiyori shook her head.

?

There was no joy or anger on Hiyori's face. She simply lowered her hand, then held it out again.

?

Kujo didn't know what Hiyori wanted.

Hiyori drew her hand back, stepped forward, then pointed at the school uniform jacket hanging over Kujo's shoulder.

"..."

Kujo could only comply. He took off the jacket and handed it to her.

"I'm sorry."

Seeing her stare at the spot Horikita Manabu had dirtied, Kujo apologized.

Hiyori glanced again at the several plastic bags in Kujo's hand. They were carefully protecting the books he treasured.

They were reusable bags Kujo had prepared in advance to keep inside his uniform.

"I'll wash your jacket for you."

Kujo felt that would be too much trouble for Hiyori.

Was he really so lazy that he couldn't even wash his own clothes, and had to rely on his girlfriend? What did he think she was?

"Also, Kujo, why are you apologizing?"

Kujo froze, unsure what to say.

Hiyori had once told Kujo that she didn't want him picking up bad habits from Class C. Its students liked to settle things with violence, and she hoped he would at least take care of himself.

After that, Kujo had promised Hiyori he wouldn't get into conflicts with other people.

"Because..."

Hiyori cut him off.

"Don't apologize to me again."

"Okay."

A few days later, Kujo unexpectedly learned from Ayanokoji that Horikita Suzune had applied to join the Student Council.

This was a development completely different from the original story.

Instead, it was a plot change brought about by the butterfly effect.

After seeing Horikita Suzune apply, Kushida also decided to apply to the Student Council.