Chapter 14

"By the way, there are club and student council recruitment drives this afternoon. Will you be going? Are you planning to join the student council or something?" Kaneda asked, just to be sure. "I'll go take a look, but I won't be joining the student council." Nonsense. I don't even want to deal with the trouble of being a class leader, so where would I find the time to be a lackey for the student council? As for clubs, that goes without saying—unless Koenji joins one. Study hard to improve my knowledge, take good care of the young master, and trick a reliable girl into being my girlfriend... My fulfilling campus life is already packed to the brim! "Uh... Kitazawa, you really are lazy!" From Kaneda's perspective, since I came to the top-ranked high school in Japan but refuse to strive for greatness, I've already become a salted fish. "To each their own. You should worry about yourself." "I just think it's a pity. It's such a waste of your talent." "Give it a rest. I'm just an ordinary Japanese high school student who wants to live a peaceful life." After school, I headed to the gymnasium where the club recruitment was being held, accompanied by my little group. "It seems Koenji didn't come..." Oda reported. "I didn't see him either. Minya, shouldn't you ask for his contact information?" Suzuki asked. "Haha, you guys don't know him. Koenji does whatever he wants; he wouldn't tell me what he's planning to do anyway. So, knowing his phone number is completely useless, and calling him would only make him angry," I explained. "Does that mean it's even more necessary for us to find a collaborator in Class D?" Sonoda sighed. "Exactly, but at least we know he didn't join any clubs, so today wasn't a total waste." Watching the student council president speaking eloquently on stage, I said this. "Minya, speaking of which, our president's name is Horikita Manabu. Could he be related to that Horikita?" the observant Sonoda pointed out. "That's hard to say, but he does look quite similar. If that's the case, my previous plan to use Horikita's name to get involved with Class D might not be a good choice... If his brother is a sister-complex, I'll be in trouble." "Heh, surely not? By the way, are you really not joining a club or the student council?" Suzuki asked with a smile. "Yeah, I plan to spend my free time studying hard and maybe finding a girlfriend. I support you guys joining clubs; after all, this is the only high school life we'll ever have." "A girlfriend? What type do you like, Minya? Should we help you scout?" "Yeah, yeah!" This kind of topic always sparks everyone's interest. Since we're all friends, I frankly stated my criteria for a partner. "Appearance-wise, she doesn't have to be stunning, but she must have class." "Mhm, that's a tough one..." "She doesn't have to be super smart, but she must have principles." I said, holding up another finger. "Why does this sound more and more demanding..." "And it would be best if she could be a supportive partner for my career and family. Everyone likes a capable girl..." I added as a final touch. "That kind of girl isn't easy to find!" "Exactly, exactly." Just as the four of us were joking around, a crisp voice interrupted our conversation. "Excuse me, what do you think of me, this classmate? Do I meet your requirements?" I looked closely and saw a silver-haired girl wearing a beret. She looked familiar, but for a moment, I couldn't recall her name. "Sorry, who are you?" "Don't remember me? Kitazawa-kun, you really have a short memory!" the girl said with a smile. Her smile made me feel a sense of foreboding.

Volume 1: First Glimmer of Talent : 6 I Do Not Like Being Conquered I do not like being conquered, but I will defend to the death the right of women to conquer men. --Voltaire "Is it Sakayanagi-san? You're at this high school too!" Looking at the girl's signature cane, I finally remembered. We had met a few times at banquets; she's a formidable person, and I need to find a way to run. "Of course. Don't change the subject; answer my question from just now." Sakayanagi stepped forward aggressively. "Heh, right. The school's chairman's surname is Sakayanagi. I should have made the connection..." Hey! Don't leave, you guys! Watching Oda and the others leave us alone with a smirk, I felt quite helpless. "Cunning Kitazawa Minya-kun, you still haven't answered my question." "Heh, Miss Sakayanagi is certainly qualified. But I wouldn't dare make a move on the chairman's precious daughter right under his nose!" I quickly found an excuse. "Does that mean you don't like me? If you like someone, their parents and such are just minor issues, right? Oh dear, I've been abandoned, boo-hoo..." "Stop joking, Sakayanagi-san. Why did you come to this high school? Didn't you always say school was boring?" Change the subject, change the subject! Stay away from the high-voltage wire of my marriage prospects! Who would dare marry this monster? "Isn't it because I heard you were coming too..." "Oh~ don't be like that! Lady Sakayanagi, please spare me!" I really shouldn't have struck up a conversation with you back then! Can't I just admit I was wrong? My family is small and humble; we can't afford to be toyed with by you! "Hahahaha! Why are you so afraid of me?" "As the saying goes, a fall into a pit makes you wiser. After suffering such a huge loss, how could I not be afraid of you? Let me off the hook at school, okay? How about I treat you to a meal?" That's right, I've known for a long time that I'm no match for her. "Hmph, you're sensible. It's a pity you're not in Class A... But that's fine, it allows me to look forward to your Class C a little bit." "Even the chairman's daughter says so; this class distribution really is problematic, isn't it?" I quickly grasped the key point. Our Class C, huh? "I didn't say anything. Lead the way, Min-min." I gave up resisting and obeyed, automatically ignoring her strange nickname. This set of three responses is a mandatory course for dealing with Sakayanagi. "It's been so long, I didn't expect you to still be a lecher." Sakayanagi ate her burger elegantly, taking small bites. Although she had told me to choose, the fact that she picked this commoner's food instead of bleeding me dry was unexpected. But it was also within expectations, because she has always been an unpredictable person; anticipating her thoughts is impossible. "It's a man's nature, and I am genuinely looking for an excellent girl." "Looking for an excellent girl to pass on your ancestral DNA?" Sakayanagi teased. "Miss Sakayanagi, please don't make humanity's most beautiful love sound so vulgar." "Yes, yes, you gluttonous lecher." "I never thought Sakayanagi-san would want to eat this kind of thing... Are you one of those non-mainstream girls? Do you also wear smoky..."