"Also," he continued, his tone still even, though the weight of what came next made Akane Tachibana tense. "This afternoon, please go to Class 1-B. Invite Yun Lan to join the Student Council."
"Yun Lan, Class 1-B?" Akane repeated the name instinctively, quickly searching through the information she had on him: excellent entrance exam results, though not top-tier, and, apart from that... the club points incident that had caused a small stir a few days ago. It was extremely rare for a new student to be invited directly onto the Student Council, especially at the president's personal request. Ordinarily, there were multiple steps, including observation, recommendations, and evaluations.
Questions bubbled up in her meticulous mind. Was he really that capable? Why now? Had the president recognized his abilities? But he was in Class B. Was there a connection between the president's personal appearance at the club orientation and this invitation?
But all her doubts quickly sank away and vanished when she met Manabu Horikita's unwavering gaze. The president's decisions always had their own significance and sound reasoning. As the person responsible for carrying them out, she needed to understand his intentions and execute them perfectly, not question his motives.
"Understood, President." Akane bowed again, her voice steady, without a hint of hesitation or curiosity. She quickly added the new task to her afternoon schedule. "After the club recruitment event, I'll formally invite Yun Lan. Should I explain the Student Council's responsibilities to him beforehand, or ask whether he has a department in mind?"
"No need." Manabu Horikita turned his attention back to the screen, as if the instruction he'd just given were nothing out of the ordinary. "Just deliver the invitation. We can discuss specific departments and responsibilities after he agrees to join. If he asks why..." He paused briefly. "Tell him it's a routine talent assessment by the Student Council."
"Routine talent assessment"—it was an official but vague explanation, enough to handle most situations while leaving plenty of room for interpretation.
"Understood." Akane made a note of the key points. She knew very well that the president's "routine" often meant he was paying anything but routine attention.
"Go ahead. Prioritize preparations for the club orientation." Manabu Horikita ended the conversation.
Silence settled over the office once more. Manabu Horikita's gaze rested on the name "Yun Lan" on the screen as his fingers tapped unconsciously against the armrest, slow and steady.
And inviting Yun Lan... The move itself was a test, as well as a strategic play. He wanted to see for himself whether this young man, the Yun Family heir who could so easily stir up the points pool and had caught the Chairman's attention, was the person he'd been waiting for—someone capable of keeping Miyabi Nagumo in check.
At five in the afternoon, the orange-red sunset slanted through the gap between the school buildings, casting long shadows across the path to the First Gymnasium. The air still held the day's warmth, mingling with the fresh greenery of spring. Yun Lan strolled with his hands in his pockets, accompanied by Honami Ichinose, whose steps were light and whose face wore a curious smile. The two chatted idly, their conversation wandering from one topic to another before turning to the upcoming club recruitment event.
"Lan, what kinds of clubs are you interested in? Sports? The arts? Or something quieter, like tea ceremony or flower arrangement?" Ichinose turned her head, her long pink hair swaying gently with the movement. The sunset shone in her blue eyes.
"Hmm... I haven't really decided yet. I'll take a look first." Yun Lan smiled and glanced at the slightly weathered walls of the gym ahead. They seemed to have arrived a little late. There were fewer students coming and going at the entrance, and the commotion inside was gradually dying down, replaced by an almost solemn quiet.
As they reached the gym's open main entrance, the scene inside came into full view. The middle of the floor, which should have been packed with new students and club recruitment booths, was now occupied by a sparse crowd. At the front, a tall figure stood on a makeshift platform. He wore a neatly pressed uniform, the Student Council insignia clearly visible on his armband. It was none other than Student Council President Manabu Horikita. He was giving the final part of his speech, his calm, penetrating voice carrying through an unremarkable portable microphone.
"...Therefore, discipline and order are the foundation that allow everyone to study and take part in activities. We welcome only those who understand this and are willing to uphold it." Manabu Horikita spoke evenly, his gaze sweeping over the few listeners below like a precision instrument. Just as his eyes were about to move on, they caught sight of the two figures who had just appeared at the entrance: Yun Lan and Honami Ichinose.
His speech faltered ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly, but his sharp eyes did linger on Yun Lan for a moment longer. He seemed not to have expected this first-year, who had caused quite a stir just yesterday, to arrive so late, when the club orientation was nearly over. The corner of Manabu Horikita's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, forming the faintest hint of a curve. It seemed like a silent judgment, though it might have been no more than a movement of his facial muscles. Then he resumed his stern expression and calmly delivered his closing words. "That concludes my speech."
A few scattered but fairly orderly responses came from the crowd, which began to disperse.
"Oh," Yun Lan said, tilting his head as he peered over the shoulders of a few students toward the now-empty platform. "Looks like the speech is over. Did we get here too late?"
There was no real regret in his voice; he sounded more as though he were stating an interesting fact. "Well, can't be helped. Let's go look at the club booths. There should still be people around."
Honami Ichinose nodded, though her gaze lingered on Manabu Horikita's retreating figure before turning curiously to Yun Lan. "Lan, is there any particular club you want to join?"
Yun Lan touched his chin, pretending to think it over. "A club, huh... If I had to choose, the Student Council." He pointed toward the side of the gym, where a simple Student Council notice seemed to be posted. "I think I vaguely heard outside that people who join the Student Council aren't allowed to participate in other club activities at the same time. That's a pretty strict rule."
"Huh? The Student Council?" Honami Ichinose looked surprised. "Why not consider joining some other interesting club first? You don't seem like the type to be especially interested in strict rules and regulations. And don't you have any interests in sports or the arts?"
At little Honami's innocent, direct question, Yun Lan gave her a warm, harmless smile (?????), as if he were simply an enthusiastic new student giving serious thought to which club to join.
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