Invitation from the Student Council

However, his inner thoughts were racing at high speed: Heh, hobbies? I'd love to join one! The basketball club sounds nice, the Go club seems quiet enough, or maybe I could just find a place to slack off and kill time... But—it would be a miracle if they actually welcomed me! I just used some "reasonable" methods yesterday to "borrow" a significant amount of "temporary activity funds" from the "sponsors" of several clubs. If those club leaders see me now, I bet the light in their eyes won't be one of welcome, but the fire of wanting to dunk me like a basketball or bash my head in with a Go stone. Joining a club is just walking into a trap; I won't have a moment's peace this semester.

Besides, Yun Lan thought, his gaze following the figure of Manabu Horikita as he disappeared through the side door of the gymnasium, in this school where everything is meticulously managed by a point system and the hierarchy is rigid, clubs might look like they enrich life on the surface, but the true core of the power struggle is clearly where the rules are made, executed, and where vast resources are allocated. The Student Council is the real seat of power. Compared to playing ball or chess in a club, that is a stage much better suited for "utilizing my special talents"... though judging by President Horikita's expression just now, getting in probably won't be easy.

"Hobbies? Of course I have them," Yun Lan said, his smile remaining unchanged as he winked at Honami Ichinose. "But I think participating in management and serving everyone is also a very meaningful 'hobby.' Let's go, let's see which other clubs are recruiting. Even if I don't join, it's good to learn about them."

Just as Yun Lan and Honami Ichinose stepped toward the club recruitment area, where a few upperclassmen were still stationed at booths that hadn't fully packed up yet, a calm and clear female voice came from behind them.

"Excuse me."

The two stopped and turned around. They saw a girl wearing a Student Council armband, with shoulder-length hair and a face that was both pretty and capable, walking toward them. She held a thin clipboard, her pace steady and unhurried, her gaze landing precisely on Yun Lan.

"Are you Yun Lan from Class B of the first year?" She stopped in front of them, her tone polite and formal, without any unnecessary pleasantries. Her eyes swept over Yun Lan's face quickly and professionally, as if checking against information in her memory.

Yun Lan raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised, but quickly returned to his usual casual expression: "Yes, I am Yun Lan. And you are?"

"I am the secretary of the Student Council, Akane Tachibana." The girl nodded slightly, then turned her gaze to Honami Ichinose, who looked curious beside Yun Lan, and gave a polite nod as well before looking back at Yun Lan, cutting straight to the point: "When the president was speaking earlier, he noticed that you seemed to be paying attention to the Student Council. As it happens, we are currently scouting for first-year students who have both the interest and the potential."

Her words were fluid, clearly not a spur-of-the-moment decision. "Based on your performance records since enrollment," Akane Tachibana's choice of words was cautious, not specifying what kind of "performance," but Yun Lan knew full well it likely included his "exploits" from yesterday, "and the interest you expressed just now, I would like to take the liberty of confirming—does Yun Lan have a clear intention to apply for the Student Council?"

This question was direct and sudden, carrying a hint of official endorsement. Honami Ichinose couldn't help but let out a soft "Ah," covering her mouth with her hand. Her blue eyes darted between Yun Lan and Akane Tachibana, clearly not expecting a high-ranking Student Council official to come asking personally. This seemed quite different from the strict application and multi-layered screening process she had imagined for the Student Council.

Yun Lan's mind spun rapidly. Manabu Horikita had just left, and the secretary arrived—and "took the initiative to ask"? This couldn't be a coincidence. Was it instructed by Manabu Horikita? Or was it this secretary's own observation and judgment? The so-called "performance records"... it seems the Student Council not only knew about yesterday's events but might have already filed them away.

A perfectly balanced smile, somewhere between earnest and humble, appeared on his face: "Secretary Tachibana, hello. Yes, I am indeed very interested in the work of the Student Council. I believe it is a valuable opportunity to contribute to the school as a whole while challenging myself. Hearing the president's speech earlier only reinforced my feeling that the Student Council is an organization that values discipline and efficiency." He paused, his tone sincere, "However, I understand that the procedures for joining the Student Council are strict and the requirements are high, so I was planning to look into the specific application process later. I didn't expect to be asked directly by you, Secretary; I am truly flattered."

These words expressed "longing" for the Student Council, implied that he was "law-abiding" (by following the procedure), and gently deflected the fact that she had approached him, testing her true intentions.

Akane Tachibana's expression didn't change; she didn't seem surprised by Yun Lan's slick answer. She looked down and scribbled a few notes on her clipboard before looking up again: "It is good that you are interested, Yun Lan. I will have someone send the formal application process and required materials to your class later. The president also mentioned that if you are interested, you should prepare." She emphasized the words "the president mentioned," her eyes flickering slightly.

"The Student Council has an executive meeting after school tomorrow. The president has instructed that if you submit a preliminary letter of intent before the meeting begins, an interview can be arranged." Akane Tachibana's voice was steady and calm, but the information in her words was intriguing. This was almost a disguised "invitation" or "assessment notice," and it skipped the conventional initial screening steps entirely.

"An interview?" Thoughts raced through Yun Lan's mind, but on the surface, he showed appropriate anticipation and a hint of nervousness: "I understand. Thank you very much to the president and Secretary Tachibana for giving me this opportunity. I will prepare carefully."

"Very well. Then, I won't disturb your club tour any further." Akane Tachibana nodded politely at the two again, specifically acknowledging Honami Ichinose, then turned and walked away with the same steady pace she had arrived with, quickly disappearing into the crowd that hadn't yet fully dispersed.

Not until Akane Tachibana's back was out of sight did Honami Ichinose let out a soft breath, tugging on Yun Lan's sleeve and whispering: "Lan-ge... that's amazing! The Student Council actually came to ask you personally! And it sounds like President Horikita also...?" She didn't finish her sentence, but the surprise and curiosity in her eyes were overflowing.

Yun Lan looked in the direction Akane Tachibana had left, rubbing his chin, a thoughtful arc forming on his lips. An active invitation? A face-to-face interview? What exactly is Manabu Horikita playing at? Does he think I'm a "troublemaker" and wants to keep me under his nose? Or does he really think I have some "potential"?

"It seems," he turned his head and smiled at Honami Ichinose, his smile carrying a bit more playfulness, "whether they welcome me or not, the door to the Student Council seems to have cracked open for me. As for what I'll see when I walk inside..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the light flickering in his eyes was already completely different from the leisure he had shown while touring the clubs earlier.