Ichinose and Nagumo Miyabi

The Student Council.

Today, a new first-year student joined the Student Council.

Word was that she was a beautiful girl.

Ichinose Honami from Class B of the first year.

"Hello everyone, my name is Ichinose Honami, from Class B of the first year. I look forward to working with you all, seniors."

With a cute face and a polite attitude, she was a very pretty first-year student indeed.

In particular, her straightforward admission that she was from Class B earned her extra points.

The upperclassmen applauded for Ichinose one after another.

The current Student Council would not exclude anyone just because the girl in front of them was from Class B.

That was because the Student Council President of this school was Horikita Manabu.

And she had been personally approved for membership by Horikita Manabu.

Secretary Tachibana took the lead in applauding; even if it were just to read the room, those below had no choice but to clap their hands.

This place was no child's play; it was a serious workplace.

The Student Council's welcome ceremony for the new student was very simple.

It consisted of the first-year's self-introduction and the subsequent work arrangements—in short, a meeting plus.

After all, Advanced Nurturing High School was a school where students were in constant competition, so the content of the meeting was also related to exams.

Although first-year students had a month to adapt to the school's rules, for the upperclassmen, the first month was a genuine special exam.

Facing the special exam for the new first year, one had to take it seriously.

The Student Council was in exactly that state at this moment.

The second-year students were all in a state of preparation; it seemed the type of special exam was related to academic ability.

The third-year students were also preparing, but they were relatively composed.

After all, those in the Student Council who were third-years likely had decent academic skills, or at least wouldn't be troubled by entrance exams.

After a simple observation.

Ichinose had basically analyzed the personalities of everyone in the Student Council.

And afterward, she would have to hand over work with a blonde senior.

That senior's name was Nagumo Miyabi, a second-year student, the Vice President of the Student Council, and the person with the most promise to become the next Student Council President.

Ichinose actually had a basic understanding of Nagumo.

Ever since Kujo had added her contact information, he would usually reply to her requests for help.

In the past, it was generally others asking her for things.

But now, Ichinose also had someone to confide in.

Although he would only reply with information regarding the school and students, and would respond quite casually to trivial matters.

And she really didn't know how he knew so much.

Regarding this point, Ichinose would not rashly ask him about it.

Because everyone had their own secrets.

Subsequently, Ichinose politely greeted Nagumo, who had taken the initiative to approach her:

"Nagumo-senpai, hello."

Nagumo looked Ichinose up and down at close range, nodded, and said with satisfaction:

"Junior Ichinose, right? Hello, I am Nagumo Miyabi from the second year. I will be responsible for the work handover with you from here on out. So, please come with me."

Thus, Ichinose followed Nagumo out of the Student Council.

The school building.

Ichinose followed Nagumo into the second-year territory of the school building.

This place was Nagumo Miyabi's home turf.

Only in this place could Nagumo shed his disguise.

Only in this place did Nagumo have absolute confidence that no one would hear his conversation with his junior.

"Junior Ichinose, as the future Student Council President and also a senior in the second year, I would like to ask you, who also comes from Class B, a question."

Hearing this, Ichinose nodded, though her footsteps naturally retreated by a step.

Nagumo also sensed that Ichinose had a strong sense of wariness at this moment, so he switched to a gentler tone and asked:

"Junior Ichinose, do you know why Horikita-senpai invited you to join the Student Council?"

Ichinose knew.

But she could not say that she knew.

Kujo had told her that the upperclassman before her was the type of person who enjoyed toying with girls' emotions, and that his private life was rumored to be quite messy.

Ichinose tended to believe Kujo's words.

Therefore, she remained on guard against his every move.

"I'm sorry, I don't know."

Hearing this, Nagumo smiled, and he continued to explain to the girl:

"Because the president's younger sister is among this year's first-years."

What did that have to do with her being selected?

Nagumo continued to explain:

"The president's sister is actually a student in Class D. I think you know the rules of this school by now; in this school, Class D cannot be compared to Class A, or even to those of us from Class B like you and me."

In Nagumo's words, every sentence revolved around his Class B background.

Every sentence revolved around rising to Class A.

Even though she understood the essence of this school, Ichinose felt at this moment that Nagumo placed too much importance on class rankings.

Although Nagumo had indeed achieved the feat of rising from Class B and possessed the ability and drive to ascend to Class A.

Yet Ichinose felt that Nagumo was a person dominated by the school's rules.

She didn't know when it started, but Ichinose had become unable to fit into this school's atmosphere.

Shouldn't students be enjoying their campus life?

Ichinose complained to herself inwardly.

She had even reached the point of counting the floor tiles to distract herself, so as not to reveal her emotions.

Watching the silent Ichinose, Nagumo, assuming she understood the stakes, was satisfied and continued:

"The president refused to let his sister join the Student Council to protect her; that much is obvious. But you are different. You are a first-year that President Horikita would even abandon a Class A student to choose. This shows his expectations for you and his recognition of your strength. And if you follow me, I can tell you the secret to becoming Class A."

After listening for a long time, Ichinose finally understood.

Nagumo had said so much just to make her his subordinate.

"What kind of policy will Nagumo-senpai adopt to manage your grade after you become Student Council President?"

Ichinose's sudden question interrupted Nagumo's flow.

He didn't even notice that the way Ichinose addressed him had changed.

Nagumo coughed, frantically organizing his words in his mind.

Although Ichinose's question about his governing policy was very sharp, it also showed that the girl before him was a smart person.

A cute underclassman worth further contact.

Nagumo judged that if he could show his perfect side right now, there was a high probability he could win her allegiance.

This way, he could hold the girl before him, and all the first-years behind her, in his hands.

Nagumo quickly analyzed the pros and cons, then told the girl his plan—to consolidate the private points of all students from Classes A, B, C, and D into his own hands as their leader.

The capable graduate, the incapable drop out.

If someone was truly excellent and could follow his commands, then even a student from Class D could graduate.

As for how to judge whether someone was incapable?

At this point, Nagumo painted a grand picture.

Once Nagumo became Student Council President, he would immediately work with the school to study and discuss specific implementation plans.

In short, Nagumo's philosophy was true meritocracy, not the current game of playing house with exams.

Ichinose listened to the outline of Nagumo's grand blueprint.

Nagumo felt it was in the bag.

The young girl before him was clearly swayed by his plan.

After all, in all the years since this school was founded, Nagumo considered himself the first person with the ability to rule over the entire grade.

Perhaps, no second person would ever be able to achieve such a feat in the future.

"Then, if someone is disobedient, must they be discarded even if they were once someone who helped you?"

"I would naturally try to persuade them, but if they are obsessed with sabotaging our plans, then I have no choice but to take action. Only those with ability can graduate from Class A and enjoy the corresponding treatment; those without ability who hold such privileges will only end up in a more miserable state in society."

Nagumo was very confident, even letting the phrase "our plans" slip out.

"..."

Nagumo felt he had waited a long time, but Ichinose, standing before him, did not speak.

Or rather, the girl before him was terrifyingly quiet.

It was already almost May.

But the sea breeze blowing in from outside the window still felt incredibly cold to Nagumo.

Nagumo straightened his tie, attempting to banish the irritation swirling within his heart.

In the end, Ichinose could no longer hold it in and burst into laughter.

Before Nagumo could even grasp the meaning behind the girl's laughter, her subsequent words completely overturned his initial impression of her.

"Do you know, Senpai? Even if one isn't a student in Class A, one can still experience the exact same sea breeze."

The wind blew through the girl's hair, and at this moment, she was in an exceptionally good mood.

"You might be disappointed, Senpai."

"Although you are indeed excellent, and I truly believe you are capable of such a grand feat, if... if you think your goal is magnificent, then you might as well listen to my philosophy. I am—"

Someone who will not abandon any of her companions.

Every single first-year student will graduate together.

No.

To be precise.

I will not let a single first-year student drop out because of the school's exams.

Everyone has the right to enjoy a wonderful school life.

As long as we are united as one, moving toward a single goal, and doing nothing to harm our companions...

If this school wants to use its so-called rules to make us lose any family who shares our aspirations.

Then we first-years have no choice but to resist.

The girl's smile remained as radiant as ever, yet her words carried a somber undertone.

Ichinose had changed.

Today, Ichinose was still lost, still wavering, and deeply exhausted.

But she was not alone; countless first-year students still stood behind her.

And now, she also had someone she found quite annoying walking ahead of her.

Even though he said things that were impossible to understand, he had been doing things bit by bit.

The first-year class this year had changed far too much because of that person.

That was the kind of blind confidence only someone who had clearly defined their goal after much distress and self-reproach could possess.

That was what Nagumo had originally thought.

It was clearly a ridiculous goal.

It was clearly a naive and childish idea.

It was clearly the work of a dreamer.

This school was not a playground for children to play house; this was Advanced Nurturing High School!

Not to mention that the points required for the entire class to graduate as Class A would be an astronomical figure.

I'm afraid you won't even be able to maintain your position in Class B.

But suddenly, Nagumo had a terrifying realization.

If the first-year students wanted to acquire more points.

Where would those points come from?

Could they only come from the current second-years, third-years, or the future first-years and second-years?

Horikita Manabu.

Did you bring someone capable of opposing you into the Student Council for this reason?

I had just set you as my target, and you've already planned out everything even after graduation—you don't intend to let me have an easy time at all, do you?

Horikita! Manabu!

Nagumo turned his back and continued to show Ichinose around the school, while his mind raced with strategies.

Damn it!

I've been played by him.

Is there anyone left among the first-years who can oppose the girl behind me?

Someone who aims for Class A, excels at socializing, possesses strong judgment, and has even stronger initiative.

It no longer mattered if they were a boy or a girl.

The most important thing now was to further increase his own authority within the Student Council in the coming time, and ideally, cultivate his own power among the first-years, just as Horikita Manabu was doing now.

Since the target is the first-year class...

Nagumo gripped his chin, reflecting on everything from last year's exams before turning his thoughts to the upcoming midterm exam, which would reuse old test papers.

Horikita Manabu had been protecting this school all along.

Because of this, the competitive nature of the school had rarely changed during his tenure as vice president and president.

Nagumo was the type to analyze his opponent's style and habits in any situation to take corresponding action, a man who specialized in striking at his enemy's weaknesses.

Just as Horikita Manabu had assessed, he had been engaged in competition with others ever since he entered this school.

If Horikita Manabu was someone skilled at protecting in terms of philosophy, then Nagumo leaned toward being someone skilled at destroying others.

This was precisely the weapon Nagumo used to adapt to this school, and it could be said that it had been an unstoppable force throughout his time here.

At this moment, he had already formed a plan in his mind to replace Horikita Manabu as student council president.

This was not a spur-of-the-moment idea, nor was it something that could be achieved in an instant; it was the unique experience of someone capable of climbing from Class B to Class A.

Nagumo was no weakling, and as he shifted his focus entirely from women to the senior he had to defeat, his train of thought suddenly opened up completely.