Manabu Horikita

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Manabu Horikita (堀北学)
Alias(es)	Senior Horikita; Horikita-senpai
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Student Council
Occupation/Role	Student Council President
First Appearance	20

Appearance

Manabu is a bespectacled senior student whose composed bearing and forceful presence distinguish him from ordinary students. Star Color compares his aura to that of a calm, strong leader. 20 46

• Wears glasses, which he frequently adjusts while thinking or speaking. 20 22 25
• Possesses a notably composed, authoritative demeanor. 20 21
• Has trained in karate for years, contributing to exceptional dynamic vision. 22

Personality

Manabu initially approaches student activities from a strict utilitarian perspective. He dismisses the Board Game Club as meaningless because it is “still a game,” treating its application with open condescension. 20

Despite this severity, he is analytical, controlled, and willing to recognize merit. During his game against Seishiki Otonashi, he carefully gathers information, exploits timing advantages, and studies Otonashi’s hand movements. When Otonashi defeats him, Manabu admits defeat and honors every agreed condition. 21 22 23

He also shows an interest in challenging Otonashi intellectually, later discussing individualism, collectivism, environmental influence, and happiness with him. 29

Abilities & Skills

Strategic Analysis

Manabu treats games as contests of probability, deduction, and information control.

• Developed the [Clock] gesture for Free Rock-Paper-Scissors, forcing an opponent to act later after he uses it. 22
• Used the delayed action to observe and counter Otonashi’s gestures. 22
• Identified that Otonashi’s right-handed [Gun] was an empty gesture intended as psychological bait. 22
• Was ultimately deceived by Otonashi’s fabricated throwing habits and the concealed left-handed effect of [Gun]. 22 23

Dynamic Vision

Years of karate training have given Manabu the ability to notice subtle movements in an opponent’s hand.

• Reads whether a gesture will become Rock, Paper, or Scissors from changes in the hand during its swing. 22
• Used this observation to counter Otonashi during their match. 22
• His method can be defeated when an opponent intentionally plants false physical tells. 22 23

Relationships

• Seishiki Otonashi / Star Color — Initially rejects his Board Game Club application as meaningless; accepts his wager, loses the game, and subsequently fulfills the promised terms. Their later discussion becomes philosophical rather than adversarial. 20 23 25 29
• Nagumo Miyabi — Student Council vice president who acts as referee for Manabu’s game with Otonashi. Manabu later asks Otonashi whether Nagumo caused him trouble. 21 29
• Akane Tachibana — Student Council associate who serves Otonashi tea and witnesses the wager and its outcome. 20 21 23
• Kohei Katsuragi — Recruited into the Student Council at Otonashi’s request; Manabu assesses him as balanced, with no obvious flaws or standout strengths. 23 24

Story Role / Major Arcs

Board Game Club Rejection and Wager

Manabu rejects Seishiki Otonashi’s Board Game Club application, arguing that games have no value for the school’s students. Otonashi responds by staking all 520,000 of his points and challenging the Student Council President to a game. 20

Free Rock-Paper-Scissors

Manabu accepts a best-of-seven Free Rock-Paper-Scissors match. His [Clock] gesture allows him to make Otonashi act later, enabling him to collect information and take an early lead. 21 22

Although he correctly recognizes that Otonashi’s right-handed [Gun] is an empty gesture, Manabu is defeated when Otonashi reveals that the left-handed version of the same gesture has a genuine effect. He formally concedes after the final round. 22 23

Honoring the Agreement

Following his loss, Manabu gives Otonashi a Club Establishment Form and agrees to recruit Kohei Katsuragi into the Student Council. He later approves the completed application, arranges an activity room and advisor, and tells Otonashi that the club position was earned rather than granted as charity. 23 24 25 29

Discussion with Otonashi

Manabu later meets Otonashi to confirm the Board Game Club’s arrangements and asks whether Nagumo has troubled him. He then initiates a discussion on whether the collective or the individual is more important, becoming increasingly unsettled by Otonashi’s views on environment and happiness. 29

Notable Quotes

“Because it's still a game. It has no meaning.” 20

“You earned the spot yourself. No need to thank me.” 25