Chapter 14

"...a loud guy. By the way, there's a club fair and Student Council recruitment this afternoon. Are you going? Thinking of joining the Student Council or something?" Kaneda asked, just to be safe.

"I'll go take a look, but I'm not joining the Student Council." Obviously. I didn't even want to take on the troublesome job of leading my class, so how would I have time to go slave away for the Student Council? And don't even get me started on clubs. Unless Koenji had joined one. I'd be busy studying and expanding my knowledge, taking care of my young master, and finding myself a reliable girlfriend... My packed school life left no room for anything else!

"Uh... Kitazawa, you really are lazy!" From Kaneda's point of view, coming to the school with Japan's highest university advancement rate and not even trying to get ahead made me a total slacker.

"Everyone has their own priorities. You should worry about yourself."

"I just think it's a shame. It'd be such a waste of your talent."

"Give me a break. I'm just an ordinary Japanese high school student. I only want to live a quiet life."

After school that afternoon, I went with my little group to the gym where the club fair was being held.

"Looks like Koenji isn't here..." Oda reported.

"I haven't spotted him either. Minya, shouldn't you ask him for his contact information?" Suzuki asked.

"Haha, you guys don't know Koenji. He does whatever he wants, and he'd never tell me what he's planning to do. So having his number wouldn't help at all. Calling him would only make him mad," I explained.

"So we have even more reason to find an ally in Class D, then?" Sonoda sighed.

"Exactly. But at least now we know he hasn't joined a club, so this trip wasn't a waste."

I watched the Student Council President speaking confidently onstage as I said this.

"Minya, I just realized our president's name is Horikita Manabu. Do you think he's related to that Horikita?" the observant Sonoda asked.

"Hard to say. They look pretty similar to me. That means my earlier idea of using Horikita's name to get involved with Class D might not be a good one... If her brother's a siscon, I'll be in trouble."

"Hehe, surely it wouldn't be that bad? Anyway, Minya, are you really not joining a club or the Student Council?" Suzuki asked with a laugh.

"Yeah. I'm planning to spend my free time studying and maybe getting a girlfriend. I'm all for you guys joining clubs and stuff. You only get to be in high school once, after all."

"A girlfriend, huh? What kind of girl do you like, Minya? We can help you figure it out."

"Yeah, yeah!"

This kind of topic always got everyone interested. Since we were all friends, I straightforwardly told them what I was looking for.

"She doesn't have to be especially pretty, but she should have a certain grace."

"Mm-hm. That's already a tall order..."

"She doesn't have to be especially smart, but she should have principles." As I spoke, I raised another finger.

"Your standards keep getting higher..."

"And it'd be best if she could be a capable partner in both work and family life. Everyone likes a capable girl..." I added.

"Girls like that aren't easy to find!"

"Exactly!"

While the four of us guys were joking around, a clear voice cut into our conversation.

"Excuse me. What do you think of me? Do I fit your requirements?"

I took a closer look. She was a silver-haired girl wearing a beret. She looked familiar, but I couldn't remember her name.

"Sorry, who are you?"

"You don't remember me? Kitazawa-kun, you really do forget people as soon as they're out of sight!" the girl said with a smile. Her smile gave me a bad feeling.

### I Don't Like Being Conquered

I don't like being conquered, but I'll defend to the death a woman's right to conquer a man. —Voltaire

"Miss Sakayanagi? You're at this high school too!"

Seeing the girl's unmistakable cane, I finally remembered. We'd met a few times at parties. She was a formidable opponent, and I needed to figure out how to escape.

"Of course. Don't change the subject. Answer my question."

Sakayanagi took a step forward, pressing me for an answer.

"Hehe, that's right. The chairman of this school is a Sakayanagi. I should've put two and two together..."

Hey! Don't leave me here! Watching Oda and the others grin as they left us alone, I couldn't help feeling helpless.

"Cunning Kitazawa Minya-kun, you still haven't answered my question."

"Hehe, Miss Sakayanagi, of course you fit the bill. But I wouldn't dare make a move on the chairman's precious daughter right under his nose!" I hurriedly made an excuse.

"So that means you don't like me? If you like someone, her parents and all that are just minor obstacles, aren't they? Oh, how awful! I've been rejected. Boo-hoo..."

"Stop joking, Miss Sakayanagi. Why did you come to high school? Didn't you always say school was boring and all that?"

Change the subject, change the subject! I had to get away from this dangerous topic of marriage! Who'd dare marry a girl like her?

"Hahahaha! Why are you so afraid of me?"

"They say you learn from your mistakes. After taking such a huge loss, how could I not be afraid of you? Go easy on me at school, okay? I'll buy you a meal."

That was right. I'd known for a long time that I wasn't her match.

"Hehe, at least you know your place. What a shame you're not in Class A... Still, this is nice. Now I can look forward to seeing what your Class C can do."

"The chairman's daughter says that, and you expect me not to think there's something wrong with this class assignment?" I quickly grasped the key point. Our Class C, huh?

"I didn't say anything. Lead the way, Minya-minya."

I gave up resisting and obediently did as I was told, automatically ignoring her strange pet name for me. This three-step routine was essential for dealing with Sakayanagi.

"It's been so long, and you're still a lech."

Sakayanagi ate her hamburger in small, elegant bites. I'd let her choose whatever she wanted, but I hadn't expected her to pick such a commoner's meal instead of making me pay through the nose. Then again, it was also exactly what I'd expect. She was full of surprises, and predicting what she was thinking was impossible.

"Boys will be boys. Besides, I'm genuinely looking for a wonderful girl."

"Looking for a wonderful girl so you can give her your family's heirloom DNA?" Sakayanagi teased.

"Miss Sakayanagi, don't make the most beautiful thing in the world—love—sound so vulgar."

"Yes, yes, you shameless lecher."

"I never thought you'd want to eat something like this too, Miss Sakayanagi... Are you some kind of unconventional girl? Do you even wear smoky eye makeup—"