Regarding How There Was Nothing Points Couldn't Buy (Part 1)

A boy's thoughts could be so simple sometimes. At least, that was how it seemed to me.

When he was hungry, all he could think about was food...

"Tetsuya, why did you turn down Ichinose's invitation to have lunch together so decisively? Having a meal with so many cute girls would put anyone in a good mood."

Tetsuya asked as he hooked an arm around Ryota's shoulder and looked back at me.

"Don't tell me you're not interested in girls."

"Going around with so many girls, with me as the only guy, would be kind of awkward."

"But you've got us! Right, Ryota? The three of us can go together..."

Before Tetsuya could finish, Ryota cut him off coldly.

"Being around girls does make me uncomfortable."

"...Fair enough."

Tetsuya rubbed his chin and nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

The three of us were heading to the cafeteria together, and there seemed to be plenty of students from other classes along the way.

Even if the school's friendliness toward its students made me uneasy, as though there were some inexplicable malice behind it...

That was something I could worry about this afternoon. For now, I was in a good mood, strolling down the school path with a spring in my step.

I turned to watch Tetsuya and Ryota fooling around.

The gentle breeze lifted my bangs, and the warm sunlight fell beside me. I brushed a hand over my black-framed glasses and couldn't help smiling.

Maybe a lot of good fortune had already come my way without my realizing it.

Taking a lazy stroll like this, looking forward to the school life I'd always dreamed of, seemed pretty nice.

"Kushida-san, look over there!"

"She has such an elegant air..."

A faint voice drifted over from nearby, and my sharp ears picked it up.

Old habits really were hard to break. It wasn't as if I'd made a point of listening.

"Let's hurry up. I'm getting a little hungry."

We picked up the pace and left.

Though I hated to admit it, I had a bit of trouble making choices. With so many different foods laid out before me, I was at a loss.

I wanted to try everything, but there was no way I could finish it all.

As for the expensive set meals, food was the one thing I didn't mind spending money on. As long as I could afford it, I'd buy it without hesitation, no matter how much it cost.

But what was this Mountain Vegetable Set priced at zero points? Surely no student would actually eat this just to save points.

Though I supposed there was nothing wrong with it. I just didn't want to end up in such a desperate situation myself.

I glanced at my watch. I seemed to have spent a little too long deciding, so I picked a ramen set at random.

After finishing lunch, I stood up, planning to head to the supermarket to buy some supplies. Then I happened to notice a senior struggling through a Mountain Vegetable Set. He wasn't the only one, either. A handful of students sitting in the corner were eating them, too.

Could it be that the upperclassmen's fierce competition had left them short on points, to the point that some students were forced to rely on the school's charity?

Or perhaps Personal Points had some greater use, and they were saving theirs up for a dramatic comeback or something?

I couldn't stop thinking about it: whether there was really nothing you couldn't buy with points at this school.

To find out, I had to go somewhere.

"Do you have an appointment?"

The Student Council secretary, her purple hair tied in a bun, asked in a cold tone.

"No, I don't."

"Then please come back another time. Consultations aren't available right now without a special appointment."

With that, she turned and walked away.

I'd originally planned to go to the supermarket to pick up some supplies. After thinking it over, I decided to split up from Tetsuya and Ryota instead.

It was Sunday, and the school had specially set aside the day to help the new students get familiar with the campus and settle into their dorms.

The thought of finding out whether what Teacher Hoshinomiya had said was true—that there was nothing points couldn't buy—had been on my mind all along.

I could go shopping anytime, couldn't I?

"I'm not here to ask about anything. I just wanted to pay President Horikita a visit."

"This is his break time. If you want to visit him or take care of anything else, please come back later."

I glanced at the Student Council members coming and going, unable to help feeling curious.

"Does the president have different break times from the other Student Council members? Or do you just want him to get a little more rest?"

"You're a new student, aren't you? You might not know what kind of person the president is. But he really does work hard. He has to lead everyone in his class and deal with all kinds of Student Council business, too. I don't need you to understand how hard he works at all this, but if you don't have anything urgent, I'd still like you to make an appointment with me before you come to see him."

It wasn't that the Student Council President thought highly of himself and looked down on the other students. She simply wanted to do what she believed was best for the president, as someone who followed him.

Was that why she wanted him to get a little more rest?

I wasn't unreasonable. If anything, this was a special kind of discovery.

Wasn't being treated with such care by someone else proof that he was an outstanding person?

And I couldn't help wondering about the relationship between the secretary and the president...

Were they classmates who got along well? Was this just the usual concern between a superior and a subordinate? Or were they close friends?

Or... were they dating?

"Has something happened?"

Just as I was thinking of coming back another day, I happened to run into President Horikita.

I'd only been delayed for a moment, yet the Student Council President had come out in person.

Was it because of this girl, the folder she was holding, or both?

"I'm sorry! Something came up and held me up for a bit..."

Secretary Tachibana lowered her head, looking somewhat remorseful.

Manabu Horikita nodded, then looked me up and down before saying:

"You can come along, too."

Had he heard my conversation with Secretary Tachibana?

I nodded lightly and followed them.

Up close, he gave a different impression than he had from afar in the auditorium. He had an unparalleled presence, yet seemed remarkably reserved.

For a moment, I couldn't find the words to describe him.

He gave me the impression of a man who remained calm and composed no matter what he did.

So, was Secretary Tachibana President Horikita's weak point?

I couldn't help being curious.

"By the way... are office romances allowed in the Student Council?"

Secretary Tachibana didn't answer. Instead, she looked at President Horikita.

Was she hoping for something?

Was Secretary Tachibana simply harboring a one-sided crush, or was there really something more between them?

I followed her gaze to him.

He didn't so much as change expression, as if he hadn't even noticed. He simply denied it at once.

He didn't even seem inclined to answer me. He just lowered his head and looked at the documents he'd just received.

I distinctly felt Secretary Tachibana's emotions surge for a moment.

She tried to keep calm on the outside, but I'd begun to understand. She'd held her breath, listening expectantly to see whether President Horikita would respond. Now she was trying to steady her breathing.

Secretary Tachibana glared at me, then quickly put some distance between us.