Chapter 16

Yuyuan didn't pay any attention to Nagumo's provocation. After all, Kiriyama was just an incompetent lackey. Even if he hated Yuyuan, it wouldn't make a difference. "You're too kind, senpai. I owe it all to the president's appreciation. But whether as vice president or secretary, we're all here to serve the people." Nagumo couldn't help but pause at that. Clearly, he hadn't expected the student in front of him to play along like this. Still, he smiled in satisfaction, as if he were pleased with Yuyuan. "Well said. The Student Council needs people like you who are willing to work. The elevator's here. Aren't you getting in?" Since Yuyuan had just exchanged glances with Manabu Horikita, and couldn't be bothered to come up with another excuse, he once again rested a hand on Ichinose's shoulder. "No need. Honami seems a little afraid of you, senpai. We'd better wait for the next one." Nagumo took it as nothing but a verbal jab and said no more, heading downstairs with Kiriyama. Only after the two had left did Ichinose plant her hands on her hips and glare at Yuyuan. "Yuyuan, you're making things up again. I'm not like that!" "Don't be mad. I couldn't exactly tell Nagumo that President Horikita gave me a look and wanted me to wait for him. Besides, the way he looks at Honami makes me want to gross him out a little." Ichinose realized she was partly to blame and was about to tell Yuyuan not to act on impulse, but he spoke again. "Honami even waited until Nagumo had left before saying that. Looks like she really is the perfect wife and mother who makes sure her husband looks good in public." Ichinose's cheeks turned bright red, and she was so flustered she didn't know what to do with her hands. "Don't say things like that. A perfect wife and mother..." Yuyuan didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with what he'd said. He just watched her with a mischievous grin, so Ichinose lowered her head and tried to hide like an ostrich.

Just then, Manabu Horikita came out after finishing up with the documents. He didn't comment on the two of them, but invited Yuyuan to join him for a meal. The four of them didn't go to the cafeteria; instead, they headed to a restaurant recommended by Akane Tachibana. Their unusual group attracted plenty of attention from the students. The funny thing was that the third-years all looked confused, while most of the second-years seemed to think this was exactly what they'd expected. Yuyuan noticed all their reactions. What surprised him was that, aside from Tachibana, Manabu Horikita didn't seem to have any other close allies. No wonder Nagumo had sidelined him. Seeing Manabu still looking so calm, Yuyuan couldn't help shaking his head.

Still, the fact that Manabu Horikita had managed to become Student Council president was a testament to his ability. Amid the students' chatter, they entered a private room, and Yuyuan decided he should warn his ally. "President, you haven't told the students about this, have you?" Manabu Horikita looked at Yuyuan as if the answer were obvious. "That's right. Is there a problem?" "A problem? Didn't you notice that hardly any of the second-years seemed surprised I was here? Meanwhile, the third-years—even your classmates who greeted you—looked confused. Your own classmates have to rely on their second-year juniors to learn about the decisions made by the person leading them. Don't you think that'll make them feel let down?"

"Maybe that's why you and Suzune have grown so distant. It's something you could explain in a few words, but you always talk like a riddle, saying things like, 'You'll understand when you're my age.'" Manabu Horikita wasn't like Horikita Suzune; he'd never denied the importance of having companions. But ever since the beginning, he'd handled all the class and Student Council affairs by himself, and he'd never thought there was anything wrong with that. But Yuyuan had even guessed at what had happened between him and his sister... Though Manabu didn't want to admit it, he was basically right. That made Manabu reflect on his own actions.

"So I should tell my classmates about my decisions, so they know where things stand and trust me more. Is that what you mean?" "More or less. Nagumo has done that well. He told most of the second-years—or, more accurately, the ones who sided with him. After all, it's not something he can change, so telling them won't cost him anything. It'll just make his people feel more secure."

"When you handle everything yourself, you ask them to help when you need them, then shoulder everything alone when you don't. That earns you respect, but it also makes them feel there's too much distance between you. Sure, you're their superior, but at the end of the day, you're classmates, too. What if something happens and they decide it's not worth bothering you, or they're afraid to tell you? Missing information is the least of your problems. If the class suffers because of it, someone like Kiriyama might even resent you. After all, if he doesn't tell you, it must be your fault. You're always acting so high and mighty." Manabu Horikita's ability was beyond question. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been called the best Student Council president in Advanced Nurturing High School's history. But when he'd been student council president in middle school, he hadn't needed to worry about things like this. Compared to that, this school was far too unusual. He was an honest person who had never thought to deliberately win people over. If he'd only arranged for a few Class 3-A students to join the Student Council, Nagumo wouldn't have been able to dominate it so completely. Yuyuan had picked up a thing or two from his father, so he understood this sort of thing a little better. But with someone as exceptional as Ichinose in Class 1-B, he was happy to take it easy.

"That was a pretty profound conversation. I thought I'd been doing well enough, but I didn't realize I'd been repeating the same mistakes all these years." Seeing how quickly Manabu Horikita understood, Yuyuan didn't intend to waste any more time on the subject. "All right, all right. Let's order—no, let's eat first." After their meal, Manabu Horikita and Yuyuan discussed more serious matters. "What do you think of Kiriyama and Nagumo?" "How should I put it? Kiriyama thinks the world should revolve around him, while Nagumo's arrogant, conceited, and lecherous. They're pretty much exactly what I'd imagined." "As long as you know what you're dealing with. Kiriyama is a little unhappy with you, but you and I are the only ones at this school who can help him take Nagumo down. So while I'm in office, he can still be an asset to you. If Nagumo takes over, though..." "I get it. He's a fence-sitter. If we make Nagumo suffer one setback, he'll fall in line. I know what I'm doing." Seeing how confident Yuyuan was, Manabu Horikita felt reassured. After paying the bill, they took their respective mascots back to the dorms.

On the way back, Yuyuan noticed that Ichinose looked unsure whether to say something, so he asked, "Is there something you want to say, Honami?" "It's nothing important. Things between you and the two presidents seem kind of complicated, and I feel like I can't really help." "That's not true. Don't you remember what I told the president? You've got the class running smoothly, Honami. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to focus on dealing with Nagumo." Ahhh! Why did he make it sound like she was an excellent housewife who kept the house spotless and served her husband a piping-hot meal when he got home? Marrying Yuyuan... Ichinose hurriedly shook her head, trying to chase away those unrealistic fantasies.

"Marriage... I mean, thank you. I'll make sure to lead the class well." Ichinose had accidentally let the wrong word slip out. She stole a glance at Yuyuan, and when he didn't seem to have noticed, she breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm counting on you, Honami. And if anything involving another class comes up, make sure you tell me." "Of course. With you around, Yuyuan, we'll definitely make it to Class A."

During the Training Camp Exam, Tachibana and Horikita both seemed like total headaches. Who could resist teaching the Student Council president a lesson?