Meanwhile, he was firing off complaints in his head at lightning speed. Heh, hobbies? I'd love to join something! The basketball club sounds nice, and the go club seems pretty quiet. Or I could find somewhere to slack off and coast through the day... But there's no way they'd welcome me! I just "reasonably" "borrowed" a hefty sum of "temporary activity funds" from several clubs' "sponsors" yesterday. When those club leaders see me, their eyes probably won't be shining with welcome—they'll be blazing with the urge to dunk me like a basketball or knock me over the head with a go stone! Joining a club would be walking straight into a trap. I won't get a moment's peace all semester.
Besides, Yun Lan continued to calculate as his gaze followed Manabu Horikita's figure disappearing through the side entrance to the gym, in a school where everything is meticulously managed by a point system and the hierarchy is so clear-cut, clubs might look like a way to enrich student life, but the real arena for power struggles is obviously wherever they control the rules, enforcement, and distribution of vast resources. The Student Council is where the real power lies. That's a much better stage for putting my talents to use than playing basketball or go in a club... Though judging by President Horikita's expression just now, getting in won't be easy.
"I do have hobbies, of course," Yun Lan said, keeping his smile unchanged as he winked at Honami Ichinose. "But I think participating in management and serving everyone can be a meaningful 'hobby,' too. Come on, let's see which clubs are still recruiting. Even if we don't join, it'll be nice to learn a bit about them."
Just as Yun Lan and Honami Ichinose headed toward the recruitment area, where some clubs hadn't quite packed up and a few upperclassmen still stood in groups of two or three, a calm, clear female voice called out from behind them.
"Excuse me."
They stopped at the sound and turned around. A girl wearing a Student Council armband, with a neat shoulder-length haircut and a pretty, capable-looking face, was walking toward them. She carried a slim clipboard, her pace unhurried, her gaze fixed squarely on Yun Lan.
"Are you Yun Lan from Class 1-B?" She stopped in front of them, her tone polite and businesslike, without any unnecessary small talk. Her gaze swept quickly and professionally over Yun Lan's face, as if checking it against something she remembered.
Yun Lan raised an eyebrow, surprised, but soon returned to his casually relaxed expression. "That's right. I'm Yun Lan. And you are?"
"I'm Akane Tachibana, secretary of the Student Council." The girl gave a slight nod, then turned to Honami Ichinose, who stood beside Yun Lan looking curious, and politely returned her greeting. She looked back at Yun Lan and got straight to the point. "During the president's speech just now, he noticed that you seemed interested in the Student Council. As it happens, we're currently looking into first-year students who are willing and have the potential to join."
She spoke smoothly, clearly not making this up on the spot. "Based on some of your recorded conduct since enrolling"—Tachibana chose her words carefully, without specifying what "conduct" she meant, but Yun Lan knew it probably included yesterday's "incidents"—"and what you just said, I'd like to ask you directly: do you have a definite interest in applying to join the Student Council?"
The question was blunt and unexpected, and even carried a hint of official endorsement. Honami Ichinose let out a soft "Ah" and covered her mouth with a hand. Her blue eyes shifted between Yun Lan and Tachibana; she clearly hadn't expected a senior Student Council officer to approach him directly. This seemed quite different from the strict application process and rounds of screening she'd imagined.
Yun Lan's thoughts raced. Manabu Horikita had just left, and now the secretary had shown up to "ask him directly"? It couldn't be a coincidence. Had Manabu Horikita instructed her to come? Or was this based on the secretary's own observations and judgment? Those "records of conduct"... It seemed the Student Council not only knew about yesterday's events, but might already have filed a report on them.
A smile appeared on his face, perfectly balanced between earnestness and humility. "Hello, Secretary Tachibana. Yes, I'm genuinely interested in the Student Council's work. I think it's a valuable opportunity to contribute to the school as a whole while developing myself. After hearing the president's speech, I'm even more convinced that the Student Council is an organization that values discipline and results." He paused, his tone sincere. "However, I understand that the application process is strict and the requirements are high, so I was planning to look into the details later. I'm quite flattered that you came to ask me directly."
His words expressed his "aspiration" to join while suggesting that he would "follow the rules" and apply through the proper channels. At the same time, he gently turned the question back on her, testing her real intentions.
Tachibana's expression didn't change. She seemed unsurprised by Yun Lan's smooth response. She quickly jotted down a few notes on her clipboard, then looked up again. "It's good to hear that you're interested, Yun Lan. I'll have someone send the official application process and required materials to your class later. The president also mentioned that if you're interested, you can start preparing." She placed special emphasis on "the president mentioned," and her eyes seemed to flicker slightly.
"The Student Council will hold a regular meeting after school tomorrow. The president instructed me to tell you that if you submit a preliminary statement of interest before the meeting begins, we can arrange a brief interview." Tachibana's voice remained steady and even, but her words were intriguing. It was practically an "invitation" or "notice of assessment" in disguise, and it bypassed the usual preliminary screening altogether.
"An interview?" Yun Lan's thoughts shifted rapidly, but he showed just the right amount of anticipation and nervousness. "I understand. Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity, President Horikita and Secretary Tachibana. I'll prepare carefully."
"Very well. I won't keep you from looking around the clubs." Tachibana politely nodded to them both, giving Honami Ichinose a particular nod as well, then turned and walked away at the same steady pace as before. She soon disappeared into the crowd, which had yet to fully disperse.
Only after Tachibana was out of sight did Honami Ichinose let out a soft breath. She tugged at Yun Lan's sleeve and whispered, "Brother Lan... You're amazing! The Student Council actually came to ask you directly! And it sounded like President Horikita also...?" She left the thought unfinished, but surprise and curiosity practically spilled from her eyes.
Yun Lan watched in the direction Tachibana had gone and rubbed his chin, the corner of his mouth curling into a thoughtful smile. A direct invitation? An interview? What exactly was Manabu Horikita up to? Did he think Yun Lan was "trouble" and want to keep him under his watch? Or did he really think Yun Lan had "potential"?
"Looks like," he said, turning to Honami Ichinose with a smile that held a hint of mischief, "whether they welcome me or not, the Student Council's door has already opened a crack for me. As for what I'll find once I step inside..."
He left the thought unfinished, but the light in his eyes had changed. It was nothing like the carefree look he'd worn while checking out the clubs.
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