The Student Council's Assessment

"Hunting lv0 (Insects lv0, Small Animals lv0)"

You En noticed another skill had appeared on his panel. His hunting skills for insects and small animals were barely at a beginner level, and it was anyone's guess how long it would take to master them.

Still, this kind of learning, where you saw immediate results, was great.

But why was it "Hunting" and not "Wilderness Survival"?

The course was clearly called Wilderness Survival.

You En guessed that "Wilderness Survival" was... a composite skill?

Maybe it only appeared once you had brought several other skills up to a certain level?

"You..."

Horikita Suzune was a little curious about what had happened with that girl just now. But after thinking it over, she decided not to ask about that and instead said,

"What did you think of that class?"

You En gave his opinion. "I thought it was pretty good. It was quite interesting, and we got to eat a lot, too."

Horikita replied, "Then maybe I'll sign up for a class and give it a try?"

"That class just now probably wasn't very suitable for you, but the next one might be."

Horikita Suzune raised an eyebrow. "Not suitable for me? Tell me exactly what it involved."

You En gave her a rough explanation.

Just hearing about it made Horikita Suzune shiver. She hugged her arms and said, a little horrified,

"You're right. It's not really for me... Though it's not that you and those two girls managed to eat it that I find terrifying."

When Horikita Suzune thought of eating larvae and spiders, she could almost feel something moving around in her mouth.

She rubbed her arms, and completely lost her appetite for dinner.

They arrived at the cafeteria.

Horikita Suzune probably wouldn't want to eat meat for the next few days, so she ordered a fruit salad and looked at You En.

"Want something to eat?"

You En patted his stomach. "I'm already full."

Horikita Suzune took the salad from the cafeteria worker and sighed helplessly.

"My treat. Eat something normal, at least."

You En looked at the fruit salad and asked in a negotiating tone,

"Then how about sharing some with me?"

Horikita Suzune was at her wit's end with him. Aside from her brother, he was the first person to make her feel this way—and the key was that it wasn't the first time.

She closed her eyes. "All right."

Horikita was about to find a seat in a less crowded part of the cafeteria when she turned around and saw You En still standing there.

"Why are you still standing there?"

You En would have loved for some youthful romantic tension to develop—sharing utensils, an indirect kiss, that sort of thing.

But at a time like this, he decided not to play dumb.

"We can't eat with the same utensils, after all."

Horikita Suzune glanced at the utensils. There was only one set.

"I'll see if I can get another one."

Horikita Suzune didn't think it was a big deal.

"I'll go ahead."

"Okay."

You En stepped forward and exchanged a few words with the middle-aged woman at the salad counter, making her laugh. He got a fresh set of utensils and even an extra bowl.

Horikita Suzune watched him come over and sit down across from her, looking rather pleased as he played with his empty bowl.

She found it amusing, but since they were in public, she suppressed her smile. She also felt that this person probably wouldn't starve, no matter where he was thrown. He'd likely find a way to get by sooner or later.

He really was shameless, but... he had his limits, too. All in all, it was hard to dislike him.

"That's a lot. Thanks!"

You En thanked Horikita as she divided half the salad into his bowl. He could eat a bowl and throw away two back home, but he was glad to get anything to eat here.

"Thank you, Lady Suzune."

Horikita Suzune gave him a sharp look. "You have food, so just keep quiet."

She began to enjoy her dinner, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.

After dinner...

You En felt that it could only be called dessert. He'd eaten half a bowl of fruit, and it felt like it would be digested in less than ten minutes.

The two of them arrived at the Student Council Office.

Unlike the other clubs, the Student Council held its recruitment in its own office. That was probably because it didn't distinguish between regular and official members.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Horikita Suzune stepped forward and knocked.

"Come in."

A gentle female voice answered.

Horikita Suzune opened the door to the Student Council Office. Inside was only a girl with purple hair tied up in a bun.

Tachibana Akane set down the documents in her hands and turned to see who had arrived. Her eyes lit up.

She walked over with a book in her arms and said softly,

"Horikita, what brings you here?"

Horikita Suzune was a little uncomfortable with how familiar she was acting. She'd only met the senior in front of her once, and this was their first proper conversation.

Tachibana seemed a little concerned and leaned closer. "What's wrong?"

Horikita Suzune had no intention of snapping at her, but she didn't say anything either.

Seeing this, You En had no choice but to speak up.

"Senior Tachibana Akane, Suzune is a little shy around people she's meeting for the first time."

Only then did Tachibana come to her senses. She remembered that Manabu had mentioned this to her before, but she'd been so happy that she'd forgotten for a moment.

She said apologetically,

"I'm sorry, Horikita. I got a little carried away."

Seeing that the other woman was finally acting like a normal person, Horikita Suzune relaxed a little.

"It's nothing. I'm here to sign up."

Tachibana asked, "Sign up? Are you planning to join the Student Council?"

"Yes."

Horikita Suzune nodded.

Secretary Tachibana looked a little troubled. "Then you'll have to take the test."

"Whether it's a written test or an interview, either is fine. I'm ready."

Horikita Suzune was quite confident in this area. She was practically a professional at test-taking.

Tachibana didn't want to put her sister-in-law through that kind of test, so she could only warn her,

"Well, the test might not be quite what you're expecting."

Horikita Suzune sensed something and lowered her head, suddenly falling silent.

Could it be that her brother had told Senior Tachibana Akane not to test her?

No matter how hard she tried to catch up, she still couldn't earn her brother's approval...

You En inwardly shook his head. That was what it was like to be a brother-obsessed sister. Anything involving your own brother could easily make you emo.

He stepped forward.

"May I take the test?"

Senior Tachibana glanced at You En in surprise, then flipped through the thick stack of documents in her arms. A moment later, she looked up.

"You En, you've already joined the Kyudo Club and are awaiting approval as an 'official member,' so you can't join the Student Council. That's one of our rules: students who join a club can't enter the Student Council. I'm sorry."

You En understood. He knew the rule. He only wanted to take the test.

"I wasn't planning to join. I just want to take the test. Is that okay?"

"Well..."

Tachibana looked at You En, then at Horikita Suzune, who seemed a little down and was doubting herself. She realized what he was trying to do.

"All right."

Was this boy Horikita Suzune's friend?

They seemed so close that they might even be dating. Tachibana would have to put him to the test, after all. Horikita was the Student Council President's younger sister, which made her Tachibana's...

Ahem. In any case, as the Student Council President's... secretary, she naturally had to help vet people.

"Then let's get started."

Senior Tachibana took out a test paper, seeming rather casual about it.

You En picked it up, accepted the ballpoint pen she handed him, and began answering. Most of the questions covered high school subjects, with a few that went beyond the curriculum. But he quickly noticed that another 20 percent of the questions seemed more like a psychological assessment.

And the questions were all very strange.

"If you were stranded on a deserted island with one other female student, and each of you had been given some supplies, but rescue never came, so that no one was likely to arrive before you both ran out of supplies, what would you do?"

"In a city of a million people, a deranged believer has killed someone. This believer has an extremely frightening ability to brainwash people. Ten people have now been identified as suspects. You can eliminate one of them, or you can use a method that will kill them all at once, but you can't kill only some of them. What would you choose?"

"There are two countries. One is a legendary land of plenty where people don't need to work and can simply enjoy themselves. They are born into a life of pleasure and needn't worry about illness, old age, or death. In the other country, people are born with disabilities and must devote their loyalty and bodies to a legendary god for their entire lives. Their everything... You now have the knowledge and power to overthrow one of these countries. What would you choose?"

You En felt as if he were in that situation, experiencing it firsthand as he made his choice.

Tachibana used the book in her hands to draw You En into it. This was the Student Council's qualification test.

"Have a seat. I'll make you both some tea."

She took the opportunity to greet her little sister... Of course, she meant the president's little sister.

"No need."

"It's fine. These questions are a little difficult and will take some time. You can sit down and wait a bit."

Tachibana smiled. This book didn't belong to her personally; it was a "relic" left behind by a former Student Council president.

Horikita Suzune didn't refuse again. When the other woman finished making the tea and handed it to her, she thanked her.

Tachibana was delighted.

"Have you gotten used to life at school?"

Horikita Suzune replied, "It's all right, I guess. It just doesn't feel much like high school."

Tachibana seemed concerned. "How have you been eating these past few days? Sleeping well?"

"..."

Horikita Suzune looked at her in confusion. Why was she acting like one of the older relatives at home, fussing over a younger family member who'd just started at a new school?

"If you don't have enough points, just tell me. I'll see if I can work something out for you."

Senior Tachibana glanced at her own savings. Although transferring resources to a first-year student from another grade had a very low conversion rate, she didn't care.

"No need."

Horikita Suzune looked at her warily, her tone a little distant.

Tachibana realized that she'd been acting a little too enthusiastic.

The two fell silent for a while.

Tachibana kept refilling Horikita's tea as soon as she'd drunk half of it.

Horikita simply stopped drinking.

The atmosphere gradually grew awkward.

Horikita Suzune turned her head to look at You En and saw that his expression was unusually grave.

He sat there in deep thought, like a reef solemn and forlorn after being battered by the sea for a thousand lifetimes.

"What's wrong with him?"

Tachibana set down her teacup. Since Horikita had finally started a new topic, she intended to make the most of it and have a proper conversation.

She glanced at You En.

Then she hurriedly opened the book to check the record, her pupils trembling.

How was that possible?!