Classroom of the Mediocre Supremacist

Watching Shiranami Chihiro look as if all her effort and courage had been wasted, Ichinose Honami suddenly realized something.

"Chihiro-chan, you don't think I did that because I like Hoshino-kun, do you?"

"Huh? No, that's not it?"

"Of course not!!"

No wonder Chihiro-chan's reaction had seemed a bit off—this was the root of the problem.

"Chihiro-chan, I told you yesterday at the café, right? Hoshino-kun once helped me, a complete stranger, with a huge favor, so I wanted to repay him."

"But since he didn't tell me about it back then, that means he didn't care about it, didn't even mind whether I'd repay him or not. If I suddenly went up to him and said something about 'repaying a debt,' it would probably make him uncomfortable."

"That's why I wanted to do the same as he did—repay him quietly, without leaving a trace. That way, I can return his help from back then without troubling him."

"And yesterday, I realized that while Hoshino-kun is very smart and perceptive, he doesn't seem to understand how to interact with girls. He often unconsciously does things that come off as ambiguous, and that's not good."

"So I thought I'd correct him, help him understand how to properly get along with girls. That's why I did what I did just now."

With Ichinose Honami's explanation, Shiranami Chihiro finally understood.

So that's it, so that's how it was!

But if Honami-chan hadn't explained, anyone would have thought she liked that Hoshino En and was jealous of Sakayanagi Arisu!!

After the relief, Shiranami Chihiro's emotions turned into ecstasy.

Since Honami-chan didn't like that Hoshino En, didn't that mean—she still had a chance?

That was it. Generally speaking, this kind of behavior—secretly helping others without expecting anything in return—was the highest way to raise affection for the person involved, basically the starting point for falling in love. But since Honami-chan hadn't fallen for that Hoshino En, didn't that mean: Honami-chan didn't actually like men?

Then wouldn't it be perfectly reasonable for her and Honami-chan to be together!!

Great!!!

Seeing Shiranami Chihiro suddenly break into a strange smile, Ichinose Honami was baffled.

What's wrong with Chihiro-chan?

But seeing her grin almost reaching her ears, she must be really happy, right?

It's great that she could clear things up.

"Ah, Chihiro-chan, drool, your drool's about to drip..."

"Ah! slurp... Sorry, Honami-chan, hehe~"

On the other side, parting ways with Sakayanagi and her servant Kamuro, Hoshino En arrived at the Student Council Office in the Special Building.

Knock knock—

"Come in."

"Excuse me."

Closing the door behind him, Hoshino En looked around the Student Council Office.

Since it was lunch break, it wasn't as "packed" as it would be after school; most of the student council members weren't here.

Only a student council president reviewing documents behind the desk, and a purple-haired bun-headed senior recording files beside him.

"Hoshino-kun, is there something you need at the student council room? The club orientation is in the afternoon, and the student council recruitment doesn't start until then too."

The first to greet him was Horikita-senpai. Probably because they'd interacted this morning, he didn't bury himself in work and leave the reception to a subordinate, as Hoshino En had imagined.

"Actually—"

"Ah! You're that shameless freshman from yesterday—"

Before he could say anything, the bun-headed senior, who had just looked up, pointed at him and shouted.

That was a really misleading accusation.

But Hoshino En hadn't seen this senior at the café yesterday; she must have spotted him somewhere else with Sakayanagi Arisu.

On the street? Unlikely. He and Sakayanagi hadn't done anything "shameless" on the street—just holding hands, or rather supporting a physically weak person while walking, wasn't enough to warrant that.

Then it must have been the conversation. That was when they'd just walked out of the Special Building. Sakayanagi had deliberately said some misleading things, and he'd fired back in response. Those dialogues would indeed sound strange to a third party.

In other words—

"Senior, were you eavesdropping on my conversation with Sakayanagi-san yesterday afternoon at the entrance of the Special Building?"

Bun-headed senior: "..."

You... aren't...

"How did you know?"

She stared at Hoshino En in shock, even forgetting her accusation.

She had only happened to overhear them while passing through the entrance yesterday; they shouldn't have seen each other's faces, right?

"That's just simple deduction. But I need to clarify one thing first: yesterday, Sakayanagi-san was deliberately teasing me, and I didn't want to be teased, so I went along with the reply. It had nothing to do with what you're thinking. Please don't misunderstand."

After clarifying, Hoshino En turned to Horikita Manabu and pulled out the memory card he'd found yesterday.

"I'm here because I found this at the Shopping Mall last night. The student council handles lost and found duties, right?"

Placing the memory card on Horikita Manabu's desk, Hoshino En turned to leave.

To find the owner, the Student Council would inevitably check the card's contents. If it contained anything unspeakable, that clerk would face punishment, and he'd be rewarded for indirectly helping; if not, the council would still contact the clerk, who'd grow cautious out of self-preservation, and Hoshino En would lose nothing.

Perfect.

But before closing the door, he glanced back at the bun-haired senior and added, "Miss Bun-Hair Senior, while listening to me and Sakayanagi yesterday might've been misleading, jumping to that conclusion just shows you've been consuming too much of that stuff yourself, unconsciously putting on tinted glasses."

"You third-years should be focused on further education or employment now. Self-gratification, while it can relieve stress, harms both body and mind—better to keep it to a minimum."

With that, Hoshino En shut the Student Council Office door and walked away without looking back.

He never held back when it came to things he despised—he'd crush them directly.

This senior had dared to slander him, a pure and kind young man, with the word "shameless"—truly too much.

But since she hadn't spread it around, this mild "reminder" would serve as her punishment.

Meanwhile, back in the Student Council Office after Hoshino En left.

Class 3-A's bun-haired Tachibana Akane: "..."

Horikita Manabu: "..."

He set down the documents in his hands, propped his elbows on the desk, and folded his hands before his forehead.

"Tachibana, if you're stressed, you could try working out at the gym. It not only relieves pressure but also improves your physical condition."

"Also, I have a membership at that place—can save a lot of points."

Tachibana Akane: "..."

President, I wasn't doing anything like that!!!

First Semester of First Year:

Chapter 21: The Ups and Downs of the Club Information Session

The afternoon classes passed in the same hushed atmosphere.

But with the morning's adjustment, Class D had grown used to this feeling—no exaggerated pretense, everyone quietly doing their own thing, chatting silently on their phones.

After class, it was time for club activities as usual, but since today was the second day of school, the afternoon slot became a dedicated club information session. Most clubs would present themselves in the gymnasium to recruit first-year new members.

Probably, clubs with more members would get bigger budgets.

Sitting in the corner, Hoshino En thought this as he prepared to stand and leave.

He was the kind of inconspicuous wallflower no one would actively approach to walk with. Even Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, busy with his (friendship) conquest of Horikita Suzune, couldn't spare the attention to arrange for him.

Anyway, this club session was voluntary—skipping it wouldn't cost him anything.

"En, going to the club info session?"

That was supposed to be the case...

Hoshino En, about to leave, turned around to face Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and the waiting Horikita Suzune behind him, a big question mark popping over his head.

"Kiyotaka, aren't you trying to befriend Horikita Suzune? Why drag me along?"

He slung an arm over Ayanokoji's shoulder and whispered.

"With someone she's not familiar with around, she'll have a harder time opening up."

Though Hoshino En doubted that girl would ever open up to anyone.

Even without much contact, judging by how Horikita Suzune acted in class, she was probably a severe social recluse. Add in her apparent complete indifference to it, and she was likely an extreme egotist.

Someone like that would only be persistently pestered by someone as clueless as Ayanokoji.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka: "..."

"I don't think she'd care about that."

Yeah, Hoshino En didn't think she'd care either!!

"...Fine, let's go."

In the end, Hoshino En gave in.

This was probably the first time Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had "shown off" his "friend" in front of Horikita Suzune, so he'd do him the favor and tag along.

Tch, he suddenly felt like an old dad worrying about his idiot son—would he ever grow up properly on his own?

"Let's go, let's go."

Arm still around Ayanokoji's shoulder, Hoshino En followed him and Horikita Suzune toward the gymnasium hosting the club info session.

By the time the three of them arrived, quite a few first-years had already gathered, along with some second- and third-year seniors here for the spectacle.

Soon, a cute-looking senior with purple hair tied in a bun appeared on stage—the very same "shameless" senior Hoshino En had met in the Student Council Office at noon.

Come to think of it, he hadn't asked her name at noon, but "Bun-Hair" was a pretty nice nickname anyway.

She turned on the microphone and began speaking.

"First-year students, thank you for waiting. I'm Tachibana Akane, the Student Council secretary, and I'll be hosting this info session. Nice to meet you all."

Oh, so her name was Tachibana Akane—fittingly matched her petite image.

"Next, representatives from each club will hold an orientation session for new members."

She finished speaking and stepped down. But Hoshino En couldn't shake the feeling that she shot him a glare as she left the stage.

Immediately after, a large group of people surged up from backstage, lining up on the platform—the representatives of each club.

Every club's representative had their own distinct flair. The Judo Club had a muscular senior in a judogi; the Tea Ceremony Club featured a beautiful senior in a kimono; the Anime Club had a stunning senior in cosplay; and the Chess Club, which Hoshino En had crushed yesterday, sent out a familiar-looking senior holding a chess set...

At the very end of the lineup, Horikita Manabu stood solemnly, glasses on, expression calm. He represented the Student Council.

Spotting Horikita Manabu, Hoshino En's gaze shifted past Ayanokoji Kiyotaka beside him to Horikita Suzune, who had frozen at the sight of her older brother.

As expected, the impact was huge—just like at the opening ceremony.

Still, it was impressive that Ayanokoji could keep chatting with the half-hearted Horikita Suzune through such a dry club orientation.

Shifting his gaze slightly, Hoshino En watched Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who spoke tirelessly without a hint of boredom, and felt that he would surely grow into an impressive man someday.

This level of patience—even Hoshino En himself couldn't manage it.

He just wondered if he'd end up going astray... Tch, he really couldn't stop worrying.

Soon, the club representatives' explanations were all over, leaving only Horikita Manabu on stage.

He stepped up to the microphone, staring silently at the noisy first-years below.

Oh, Hoshino En knew this move—using personal coldness to impose psychological pressure on the entire student body. A limited skill exclusive to those in power.

But clearly, not all the first-years had experienced this before.

"Why isn't this senior talking? Is he nervous?"

"Probably forgot his lines. Even the student council president makes mistakes sometimes."

"Go for it, senior~"

The second- and third-years remained silent and solemn, while only the first-years, yet to be tempered, kept up the racket.

Those who had just spoken were mostly clueless Class C students and the worst-behaved Class D students.