Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, Student Council Office.
"So after all that, I still have to fill it out myself."
Amasawa Reigetsu felt like he'd been using that joke a bit too much lately. When he got back, he decided to reward himself by replaying that game.
Beside him, Miyabi Nagumo's signature sunny smile cracked for a moment. Surprise, gloom, and a trace of barely suppressed anger mingled in his eyes. Clearly, Horikita Manabu's move had caught him completely off guard.
Where had Horikita Manabu found a Pokémon?!!
Horikita Manabu: "It kept chasing my little sister and biting her, so I lured it in with a ten-million-point Master Ball. Jealous?"
As for Ichinose Honami, standing beside Nagumo, her clear eyes were full of surprise and confusion. She still seemed unable to grasp what this sudden turn of events meant. But she did recognize the person who had just come in.
Amasawa Reigetsu from Class 1-A. What was he doing here? And what did filling out a form mean—
"This is Amasawa Reigetsu. I, Horikita Manabu, have personally appointed him to the Student Council. His position is—vice president."
As Horikita Manabu's firm declaration rang out, the air in the Student Council Office seemed to freeze.
Tachibana Akane, standing behind Horikita Manabu, widened her eyes slightly. As his most trusted secretary, she hadn't known a thing about this appointment.
But I got here first... (;へ:)
Ichinose Honami was completely at a loss. She blinked, looking from Nagumo's dark expression to Amasawa and Horikita's confident faces, and finally realized she'd been caught up in a power struggle within the Student Council—
Or had she never even been given a chance to sit at the table?
"Heh, what a surprise. President, I didn't expect you to be hiding such a trump card until your very last moment in office."
"But I wonder if someone in their first year can really command respect as vice president."
Miyabi Nagumo folded his arms and stepped closer, exuding the pressure of someone accustomed to being in charge.
"The Student Council isn't a place just anyone can walk into. After all, the president will be stepping down soon. Then your position as vice president won't have any legitimacy."
It was a blatant attack.
Amasawa Reigetsu glanced at Horikita Manabu, signaling that it was time for him to honor his promise.
Nagumo noticed the exchange and was surprised to realize that Amasawa wasn't Horikita Manabu's pawn. He was a player who had stepped directly onto the board.
Horikita Manabu remained seated at the head of the table, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"This is an appointment made by the president of the Student Council, Nagumo."
It seemed there was a significant disparity in power within the Student Council itself. But that reason clearly wasn't enough to convince Nagumo. Even though he couldn't bring Ichinose Honami into the Student Council either—
Horikita Manabu had just made his move. If Nagumo couldn't check Horikita's ambition, the balance of power would tip in Horikita's favor.
As the two men remained deadlocked, Amasawa Reigetsu cut in:
"In my capacity as the first-year vice president of the Student Council,"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Ichinose Honami, who stood nearby. A meaningful smile curved his lips.
"I appoint Ichinose as my personal secretary."
Ichinose Honami pointed at herself in surprise. "Huh? Me? You mean me?"
"You're not to be underestimated, Amasawa."
This had been part of Horikita Manabu's contingency plan, while Nagumo had been caught off guard by the information gap. So Nagumo had to seize the initiative and interrupt Amasawa Reigetsu, putting on a show of authority.
Nagumo had originally planned to bring Ichinose in as his secretary and place her by his side. He also had his own designs on her, though, and was willing to make concessions if necessary.
Amasawa Reigetsu's strategic importance had already surpassed Ichinose Honami's. Now, Nagumo could only make a concession and bet that Amasawa wouldn't attach himself to Horikita Manabu, but would instead act as an independent player.
Nagumo admitted he'd underestimated this wild card from the first year.
"Honami's a talent I personally brought here with the intention of making her my secretary. And now you're poaching her right in front of me... You really don't think much of your upperclassman, do you?"
"Is that so? But with your authority, surely bringing Ichinose into the Student Council wouldn't have been so easy. Especially since I'm already there as a first-year."
"If Ichinose can't join the Student Council, that's something neither you nor I want, isn't it?"
Amasawa Reigetsu was utterly unfazed. He didn't care whether Ichinose Honami joined the Student Council or not. And the situation in the room really had left Nagumo at a disadvantage.
Nagumo narrowed his eyes and stared at Amasawa Reigetsu's impassive face.
He rapidly weighed the pros and cons. Forcing Ichinose to stay would only make him look greedy, and might even prevent her from joining the Student Council altogether, earning her resentment. If he simply went along with it, he'd lose direct control over Ichinose, but at least he could keep up appearances. Besides...
Ichinose was a kind and innocent girl. With the right approach, he might still be able to influence her indirectly.
Nagumo decided to trust his ability to play the odds. From his own 1 and Horikita Manabu's 0, he started cooking with the 0.5 Amasawa Reigetsu had offered.
After a brief silence, the gloom on Nagumo's face lifted. His sunny, insincere smile returned.
"Hahahaha! Fine! Amasawa, you certainly have a good eye. Since you think so highly of Honami, I have no reason to stand in your way. After all, for the good of the Student Council, talent should be put where it can do the most good."
"But poaching someone right in front of me without offering anything in return—isn't that a bit too arrogant?"
Nagumo changed tack and stepped even closer to Amasawa Reigetsu—
The confrontation was nearing its end.
"But seeing as you're only a first-year... No, you didn't submit an application form at first. Horikita Manabu must have made some kind of deal with you. That's why you came out of hiding and waded into this mess."
"Five million points. I'm sure you can manage that, junior."
"Nagumo, enough. I agreed to clear the obstacles to his appointment. You know what happens if you don't let this go."
"Oh? Hahaha, so that's what it was. Then how about this: one million points. I'll slowly deduct the remaining four million from President Horikita, bit by bit~"
"Hmph."
This wasn't the first time Horikita Manabu had been provoked by Nagumo. His expression didn't change at all.
"Deal."
Amasawa Reigetsu took out his terminal and transferred one million personal points to Nagumo.
With that, the matter was settled. Everyone's muscles visibly relaxed, and the tense atmosphere nearly vanished.
Nagumo patted Ichinose on the shoulder.
"Honami, did you hear that? Vice President Amasawa thinks very highly of your abilities. Do your best to assist him from now on. Don't disappoint me."
"Oh... Oh, okay!"
Ichinose Honami was still completely at a loss.
The meeting ended. Horikita Manabu kept Amasawa Reigetsu behind under the pretext of explaining his duties.
"You didn't use that strange ability."
There was a hint of curiosity in Horikita Manabu's voice.
"Are you disappointed, senpai?"
"No. Your decisions went almost entirely beyond my calculations, but they completely threw Nagumo off. It's hard to imagine you came up with all that on the spot, after meeting Ichinose."
"Some things are more fun when you don't use your special ability, don't you think?"
"Heh..."
"Glad to be working with you."
"Likewise."