"Watch closely, this man is called Handsome Guy... oh, no, it's Horikita Manabu."
"Right now, he's attempting to silence everyone with his Death Stare skill. It's super effective."
The mechanical voice, devoid of any emotional inflection, echoed clearly through the Gymnasium, which had suddenly fallen silent.
The air froze for a moment.
"???"
"Huh? What's that voice?"
"Where did that narration come from?!"
Someone finally failed to hold it in.
Then, it was like toppling a line of dominoes.
Snickers, coughs, and muffled laughter spread from every corner of the spectator stands.
Horikita Manabu's silence skill seemed to have been forcibly interrupted by this inexplicable narration.
On the stage, Horikita Manabu's own stern face twitched too. Then he slowly scanned the room with an even colder gaze, trying to locate the source of the narration.
Kitagawa Kai stood at the edge of Class A's section, his head slightly lowered, using Kamuro beside him as cover while struggling to maintain an expression that said he had nothing to do with this.
The Narrator skill was far too effective.
The instant Kamuro Masumi heard the narration, she nudged Kitagawa with her elbow and whispered, "Pfft... what is this... I'm dying..."
Horikita Manabu finally moved onstage. He raised the microphone to his lips.
"Welcome, new students. I am the Student Council President, Horikita Manabu."
Narrator: "Here we go, the classic self-introduction segment."
The corner of Horikita Manabu's mouth seemed to twitch, but his pace remained unchanged. "Regarding clubs..."
The narration followed seamlessly: "Regarding clubs, he knows a great deal, but generally makes only three points. The first point, the second point, and the final point. This is a fundamental qualification for a Student Council President."
"..."
A strange atmosphere settled over the entire Gymnasium.
Everyone had to strain their facial muscles to keep themselves from laughing aloud.
Horikita Manabu's speech was actually brief and forceful, but whenever he reached a key point, the narration would interject with perfect timing.
"Finally, I imagine quite a few of you here are interested in the Student Council. I will make just one point."
"With the graduation of the third-year students, the Student Council will be recruiting outstanding candidates from among the new students. However, the Student Council is not a club."
"We do not concern ourselves with interests, only ability. To devote their full attention to the Student Council, its members are prohibited from participating in club activities."
"We in the Student Council do not want candidates with naive ideas. Such people, far from being elected, would surely leave a stain on the school."
"That is all."
After delivering his final words, Horikita Manabu turned and left the stage, each step steady. Before long, he disappeared from sight, leaving the new students wearing strange expressions.
"What on earth was that just now?!"
"Was it a prank? Or a broadcasting club program?"
"Who has that much nerve? Right in front of President Horikita..."
"Only that second-year upperclassman, Miyabi Nagumo, would have the guts..."
"That last declaration about leaving a stain, paired with the narration earlier... something about it just feels weird..."
Near the back of Class D's section stood Horikita Suzune, a girl with straight black hair and an upright posture.
She had her arms folded, her fingertips unconsciously tightening slightly.
When the name Miyabi Nagumo faintly reached her ears, her already chilly expression turned utterly grim.
The girl who had always chased after her older brother absolutely could not tolerate anyone slandering him.
She turned slightly and looked at the boy beside her.
"Ayanokoji, investigate Miyabi Nagumo with me."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked up when she called his name. "I'd rather not. That wouldn't be a good idea."
I just want an ordinary school life.
The air froze for a moment.
Horikita Suzune said nothing, simply producing a Metal Compass from somewhere with a deft motion.
She pushed with her thumb, spreading its legs to a sharp angle, and pointed it at Ayanokoji.
The meaning was self-evident.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's expression barely changed. He merely raised both hands in apparent compliance, making a simple gesture of surrender.
"Understood. What exactly do you need me to do, Horikita?"
"Gather information, especially on whether there's any clear antagonism between Miyabi Nagumo and the Student Council-or rather, between him and President Horikita."
She paused, then added, "You don't seem to attract attention. You're suited to observation."
And fairly suited to being a tool.
Ayanokoji nodded. "All right."
I've gotten dragged into something troublesome, he thought, his face still largely expressionless.
Kitagawa Kai had only just returned to Class B's section when he was surrounded by lively, energetic chatter.
"A lot of our classmates decided to join clubs today, didn't they?" said Amikura Mako, who was petite and cute.
"A get-together! We have to have a get-together!"
"Then we have to celebrate~" a girl beside her agreed.
Just then, Ichinose Honami gently clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention a little. "Speaking of which, I asked around a bit yesterday. There's a set-meal restaurant near the school with really distinctive dishes and very reasonable prices. Plus, there's a special discount for new students!"
"Really? That's great!"
"A set-meal restaurant sounds good! We can take our time chatting!"
"You even looked into that, Ichinose? That's so thoughtful!"
"That's our class representative!"
Kitagawa Kai's steps faltered.
Class B really did hold get-togethers a little too often.
On Monday, they had celebrated getting to know one another; on Wednesday, they had arranged to sing karaoke together; and now they were arranging to eat together.
Although each gathering was nominally a small, voluntary event, under Ichinose Honami's highly infectious rallying call, it always ended up becoming a lively occasion involving more than half the class.
Amid all the overlapping chatter, Ichinose Honami quietly walked over to Kitagawa Kai and tilted her face up slightly, making her pink ponytail sway.
"Kitagawa-kun, you've never come to any of our class get-togethers, have you?"
Kitagawa Kai was just about to refuse. "Uh, today might not work either..."
"You'll come with us, right? Everyone's really looking forward to getting to know each other better."
"Besides," Ichinose's tone grew light again, "tonight is just a very casual meal together. I promise everyone will have fun! Come along too, Kitagawa-kun, please?"
Unable to withstand the girl's large, glistening eyes staring at him, Kitagawa Kai hurriedly said, "Okay, okay, I'll go."
"That's great (*'▽'*)" Ichinose's eyes sparkled with a sincere, bright light. "Then it's settled! Six tonight. Don't forget!"
She confirmed it happily, then, as though remembering something, added, "Don't worry, it's just a relaxed get-together. No pressure!"
Only then did she turn away with light steps to invite the next classmate.
In the distance, a pretty, fair-skinned girl with a long purple ponytail tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible.
It was Himeno Yuki.
"Himeno!" Ichinose's voice remained clear and pleasant.
Himeno Yuki stiffened almost imperceptibly and stopped walking.
She raised her head slightly, her gaze wandering, not quite daring to look directly at Ichinose, and merely gave a vague reply. "All right."