Horikita Manabu remained silent, while Makoto Nishikado expressed his "obedience."
Miyabi Nagumo, meanwhile, had long since lost his usual calm and reserve.
His mouth stretched into a wide grin, and his eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement. He could hardly stop himself from laughing.
No, he had to hold it in. He couldn't laugh just yet!
Miyabi Nagumo slapped Makoto Nishikado on the shoulder. "Good! Good! You really didn't disappoint me, junior!"
Under normal circumstances, Miyabi Nagumo was good at keeping his emotions in check. He wouldn't have been so obviously delighted.
If he'd heard that the school would support his reforms before Makoto Nishikado joined the Student Council, he would've simply smiled as if it were only natural.
But today, after hearing Makoto Nishikado's analysis and then receiving the school's wholehearted support, it felt completely different.
The school was even willing to shoulder such a huge cost. Miyabi Nagumo felt he no longer had anything to fear.
"Junior, I'll leave your plan and the first-year matters in your hands for now."
"How much you can gain from this is up to your own ability."
Miyabi Nagumo said magnanimously.
With the school's explicit approval, he had evolved from the Student Council vice president into practically half a president.
It was like breaking through from the peak of the Nascent Soul stage to the great perfection of the Nascent Soul stage. It seemed like a small step, but in reality, it was a qualitative leap.
"Then I'm much obliged, Vice President Nagumo."
Makoto Nishikado didn't refuse. He accepted Miyabi Nagumo's goodwill.
Even with Horikita Manabu not yet retired, it was already becoming hard to tell who was really in charge of the Student Council.
Judging by Miyabi Nagumo's expression, he was about ready to turn to Horikita Manabu and say, "I'm so obedient, big brother."
Seeing that expression, Horikita Manabu felt worried for the first time.
He wasn't worried about the future of the school.
Makoto Nishikado had already established himself in the Student Council, so there were some things Horikita Manabu didn't need to worry about.
What truly worried him was Miyabi Nagumo's future.
"Nagumo, becoming Student Council president is only the beginning. Do you understand what I mean?"
Horikita Manabu couldn't bear to see a capable junior go astray, so he couldn't help offering a reminder.
"Don't worry. I know what I should do."
Miyabi Nagumo reined in his expression.
He seemed to be treating Horikita Manabu with even more respect.
At least on the surface.
Seeing him act this way only made Horikita Manabu more worried.
He knew that this show of respect wasn't genuine. Miyabi Nagumo believed he had already won, and was showing the "loser" his magnanimity.
If Miyabi Nagumo kept that mindset, he'd run into trouble sooner or later.
But Horikita Manabu couldn't say much. Whatever he said now, Miyabi Nagumo wouldn't listen.
At this point, Horikita Manabu could only trust the wisdom of these two juniors.
After leaving the Student Council, Makoto Nishikado contacted Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo, asking them to meet up at a karaoke place.
On the way, Makoto Nishikado told Yuki Himeno everything that had happened in the Student Council.
"Doesn't that mean things are going to be really bad? Everyone in Class B doesn't want anyone to be expelled."
Yuki Himeno couldn't help worrying.
She herself wanted to make it to Class A, but if it were possible, who wouldn't want all their classmates to avoid expulsion?
"Don't worry. Once Miyabi Nagumo takes over, things won't go smoothly for him either."
Makoto Nishikado wasn't particularly concerned about Miyabi Nagumo.
Miyabi Nagumo might be living the high life now, but that was only for the moment.
He'd watch him build his lofty tower, watch him entertain his guests, then watch his tower collapse.
"To achieve his goals, he's bound to offend a lot of people."
"If no one can stand up to him directly, the things Miyabi Nagumo does won't have much of a backlash."
"But with me around, the people he offends will naturally become my supporters."
From Makoto Nishikado's perspective, defeating Miyabi Nagumo would be easy.
He only had to keep reiterating his own stance and hold on to the vice president's position. That would give him plenty of influence.
When Miyabi Nagumo stirred up enough resentment for people to be swayed, even if Makoto Nishikado acted reluctant, someone would put the imperial robes on him.
Most people were pretty simple these days.
If they opposed one person, they'd unknowingly end up supporting that person's rival.
"But what if he realizes he's in danger and stops? Wouldn't that be bad?"
Yuki Himeno was puzzled.
In her view, someone as capable as Miyabi Nagumo would surely notice that everyone was turning against him.
If he stopped in time, wouldn't Makoto Nishikado have to wait until he stepped down before taking over?
"Reformers are all radicals. Once they stop being radical, their political careers are over."
"So when these people run into trouble, they won't stop. They'll become even more radical."
"It's not that they're stupid. It's that they only have one choice."
Makoto Nishikado explained.
Miyabi Nagumo might think he was only trying to realize his ambitions.
But in Makoto Nishikado's eyes, he was already close to being abandoned by everyone.
Which reformer in history had ever met a good end?
"So if you lead us through this period, boss, you'll become the Student Council president who wins in the end?"
Yuki Himeno's eyes lit up.
With Makoto Nishikado's abilities, if he got the Student Council presidency, he'd surely wield great power.
By then, the entire Student Council—and even the school—would be supporting Makoto Nishikado. How could students from the other classes possibly compete with Class B?
"Tsk."
Makoto Nishikado clicked his tongue, looking displeased.
"What's wrong, boss?"
Yuki Himeno grew nervous too.
She rarely saw her boss wear an expression like that.
"Based on my estimate, the school shouldn't be giving Miyabi Nagumo this much support at this point."
"I could've taken him down after they gave him a vague response, settled everything in one fell swoop, and saved myself a lot of trouble."
"Do you know why they're being so bold?"
Makoto Nishikado rubbed his temples. For the first time, he felt as if he'd picked up a rock only to drop it on his own foot.
"Why is that? I don't understand this stuff, boss."
Yuki Himeno shook her head honestly.
At her level, she could barely manage to be a slacker secretary in the Student Council.
"I forgot about myself. They dared to do this because I joined the Student Council."
"Those old fogies are planning to let Miyabi Nagumo turn the school into a mess, then hand it over to me to clean up."
"The reforms are a test for Miyabi Nagumo. Fixing the mess they leave behind is a test for me."
"But doesn't that mean I have to clean up Miyabi Nagumo's mess? Well, thanks a lot!"
Makoto Nishikado stopped walking and pointed at the camera above him, unable to hold back his complaint.
"You bunch of old fogies are so awful!"
[Stirred up Sakayanagi Narimori's emotions. Gained 2,659 emotion points.]
Seeing the system notification made Makoto Nishikado even angrier.
Wait, was there another old fogey spying on him?
"Pfft!"
Yuki Himeno hurriedly covered her mouth, but Makoto Nishikado had already heard her laugh.
Under Makoto Nishikado's benevolent smile, Yuki Himeno couldn't laugh anymore.
Before you continue