Chapter 13

Ichinose Honami. Honami, this is President Horikita." "Hello, President Horikita. I'm Ichinose Honami from Class 1-B." Ichinose bowed somewhat stiffly. President Horikita's speech that day had left quite an impression on her. Manabu Horikita nodded to Ichinose in greeting. "Ichinose, right? You don't need to be so nervous." He then turned to Yuan Yuyuan and asked, "Did you bring her here because you want her to join the Student Council?" "That's right. Honami is practically the unanimous choice in our class, an indispensable part of it. And I won't let Nagumo lead her astray." Yuan Yuyuan patted Ichinose on the head. Seeing that she looked completely bewildered, he smiled and gestured that he'd explain everything to her later. "If that's the case, I have no objections. You can tell her about Nagumo later. First, let's talk about the vice president position. I've already spoken with Kiriyama, who held the position before. He wasn't too happy about it, but he agreed to step down. I originally appointed him to keep Nagumo in check, but unfortunately..." Manabu Horikita didn't badmouth someone just because he wasn't there to hear it. He simply rubbed his temples in resignation. Yuan Yuyuan didn't share his restraint. "Was it because he wasn't capable enough? I think I heard Tachibana mention that Kiriyama used to lead Class 2-A. I didn't expect him to be so useless." It was hard to tell whether Manabu Horikita was defending someone he'd once believed in, trying to salvage his reputation as a poor judge of character, or both. "That's not entirely fair. According to Kiriyama, there was a very capable girl in his class. Unfortunately, she didn't seem interested in class competition, which left him repeatedly outmatched by Nagumo." "Ridiculous. What does 'left him outmatched' even mean? Isn't one of a leader's most basic duties to make the people under him willing to work for him? He failed to do his job, and now, to cover up his own mistakes, he's shifting all the blame onto someone who had no obligation to help him in the first place." "So incompetence isn't even his biggest flaw. He can't recognize that he's incompetent. After failing, all he does is blame everyone but himself. Is his life motto 'Instead of improving yourself, tear others down'? And your eye for talent really is something else. The two juniors you took an interest in are both rotten in their own special ways: one's arrogant and greedy, the other wrathful and envious. Are you trying to collect all Seven Deadly Sins and summon a dragon?" Manabu Horikita knew Yuan Yuyuan was right, every word of it, but he still couldn't bring himself to admit that his judgment of people had been a complete disaster. "I can't deny that. So you're the only one who can stop Nagumo. According to school regulations, every Student Council president must step down in the third semester of their third year, so that the new president has time to learn the job and prepare for the new students' orientation and club fair." "That leaves you only two semesters. In that time, you'll at least have to get your class into Class A. Otherwise, even if I wanted you in this position, the school administrators wouldn't agree." "Of course. If I can't make it to Class A, I'd have no face to serve as president even if you begged me on your knees." "I hope so. But is this Ichinose the leader of your class?" Ichinose blinked at being brought into the conversation. From the moment she'd entered, the two of them had been talking in a way that left her completely lost. "That's right. Thanks to her amazing charisma, Honami won over everyone in our class, including me, on the very first day. But she's a little too kind, so I'll have a good talk with her about that later." "That would be for the best. I've looked over Ichinose's records. She has a wonderful personality and is always willing to help others. At another school, she'd be a top candidate for president. But at Advanced Nurturing High School, those qualities won't help her become president at all. In fact, I think she's the one most likely to be led astray by Nagumo." Seeing that Manabu Horikita had started discussing Ichinose, while she herself was still completely bewildered, Yuan Yuyuan explained who Nagumo was and what he'd been doing. Only then did Ichinose understand. "So that's what's going on. I had no idea the Student Council was so complicated." "So be careful, Honami. If you run into trouble, come talk to me right away. I'd hate to see you get tricked by a man other than me." "What man? I'd never do that. Stop teasing me, Yuyuan!"

First Semester: Chapter 14

Chapter 13: If It's Yuyuan...

"I'm back! You arrogant junior finally showed up. Honestly, you made the president and me wait so long. Oh, who's this?" Just as Yuan Yuyuan's half-serious warning had made Ichinose blush, Akane Tachibana arrived like a savior. "This is our class representative, Ichinose Honami. Honami, this is the president's capable right hand, Secretary Akane Tachibana." Yuan Yuyuan introduced them, but didn't let Tachibana's remark go unanswered. "Though, shouldn't Tachibana be the one to do that? You haven't even made President Horikita a loving wife's lunch. He may not say it, but he must be feeling lonely inside." "Don't be ridiculous. Tachibana and I are just classmates." Manabu Horikita's blunt response saddened Akane Tachibana, and she lost all interest in trading barbs with Yuan Yuyuan. Seeing that a single line from Manabu Horikita had made the atmosphere awkward, Yuan Yuyuan stood up to take his leave. "Let's just say it's like that, then. I'll leave Honami's Student Council membership in your hands, President Horikita. Honami and I are going to grab some food. Come to think of it, a woman who both loves and hates the president asked to meet me in the cafeteria. How surprising." "Suzune? What does she want with you?" "Huh? So you really do hate Suzune, President? You're a pretty frightening big brother." Seeing that Manabu Horikita looked ready to snap, Yuan Yuyuan finally turned serious. "Relax. I'm not a bad guy. I just sold Class D the rules behind the class placements. She's probably coming to vent her frustration at me." Manabu Horikita said nothing more and gestured for them to go ahead. When Yuan Yuyuan and Ichinose arrived at the cafeteria, they found Horikita Suzune reading a book. It looked like she'd been sitting there ever since she finished eating. They sat down across from Horikita Suzune, and after they'd eaten, Yuan Yuyuan asked her directly, "What did you want to see me about, Suzune?" "I want to know why I was placed in Class D. I don't think I'm lacking in either academic ability or physical fitness." "Why ask me? Wouldn't Manabu know better?" Horikita Suzune hesitated, then tucked her hair behind her ear. "I suppose I think you're more perceptive than I am, since you noticed the school's test. I want to know what you think of me. The people in my class are no use in a situation like this." "You dodged the question about your brother. You two really are an awkward pair of siblings. But I've heard that Suzune hasn't had many friends since she was little." Horikita Suzune started to object, but Yuan Yuyuan didn't give her the chance. "Don't deny it just yet. You're probably going to say something like, 'I can manage on my own,' but that won't work at this school. Class A has two of its strongest students fighting for leadership, and Class B has Honami bringing the whole class together single-handedly. It seems even Class C, the class closest to Class D, is already ruled by a delinquent through violence. But what have you done since the school year began, Suzune? Read books? Do you really look down on the three classes above us that much?"