Nagumo Miyabi

As the consultation concluded, Uesugi Hara prepared to leave, but Nagumo Miyabi suddenly called out to him: "Junior Uesugi, could we have a chat?"

Uesugi Hara paused, glancing back at Nagumo Miyabi before flickering his gaze toward President Horikita standing nearby. Seeing the latter's expression remained calm and indifferent, he turned back and replied, "Certainly, Senior Nagumo."

Nagumo Miyabi led Uesugi Hara into an empty classroom next door and locked the door behind him, shutting out the activity from the hallway.

Noticing the locking motion, Uesugi Hara put on a timid act, deliberately drawing out his tone: "Senior Nagumo, this gesture of yours really makes me feel quite insecure."

Nagumo Miyabi stared at the feigned cowardice, feeling a headache brewing; the words he had prepared suddenly stuck in his throat. He took a deep breath, rolled his eyes in annoyance, and retorted, "I have no interest in men. Why would I bother with a stiff guy like you when there are soft, fragrant girls out there?"

Uesugi Hara grinned: "Heh, just a joke. It's just that you locking the door so suddenly made me a bit curious."

"I simply didn't want our conversation to be overheard by others," Nagumo Miyabi said, his tone softening slightly.

"I see." Uesugi Hara dropped the playful facade. "So, what did you want to talk to me about, Senior Nagumo?" In truth, he couldn't quite grasp Nagumo Miyabi's real intentions.

Nagumo Miyabi leaned forward, his gaze sharpening: "Junior Uesugi, you are a very capable person. I know a few things about you, though I won't go into specifics. Are you interested in working with me to make this school a bit more interesting?"

"Is that all you wanted to see me for?" Uesugi Hara raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with inquiry.

"Of course." Nagumo Miyabi curled his lips. "With your abilities, you must already be aware of the friction between President Horikita and me. For next month's Student Council recruitment, President Horikita will likely refuse to take anyone on just to limit my influence. But I have my own ways of dealing with that—come to think of it, I have high hopes for you." He paused, his eyes glinting with inducement. "Do you want to join me and do something that truly changes the status quo?"

Uesugi Hara tapped the desk lightly, his gaze sweeping across the empty classroom before he slowly looked up at Nagumo Miyabi: "Making the school more interesting? That sounds like you're planning to flip the chessboard, Senior Nagumo."

"Flipping it might be an exaggeration." Nagumo Miyabi leaned against the podium, staring at Uesugi Hara. "I just think Horikita Manabu's rule of 'maintaining the status quo' is too boring. Look at this school—it looks polished on the surface, but behind the scenes, every grade and class is locked in power struggles. How much trickery is hidden in the resource allocation? He chooses to pretend he doesn't see it, just clinging to his bit of power to live in peace."

"So, you want to recruit me to help you deal with President Horikita?" Uesugi Hara's fingertips stilled, his tone giving nothing away. "But if I recall, your influence among the second-years is already quite solid, isn't it? And the position of the next Student Council president should logically be yours. Once President Horikita steps down, the authority of this school will naturally fall into your hands. Why the rush?"

Nagumo Miyabi chuckled at this, slamming his palm against the podium with a loud thud. His eyes burned with a restless, aggressive edge: "That's true enough." He paused, his fingertips tightening until his knuckles turned white. "But Horikita Manabu's philosophy of 'absolute balance' is like a cocoon, wrapping the entire school in a suffocating stillness. I acknowledge his skill, and I acknowledge that he can keep all factions in line—but that is exactly what I cannot stand."

He suddenly looked up, his gaze sharp as a blade: "If victory comes too easily, like inheriting an estate while waiting for him to step down, what is the point? I don't want to 'take over'; I want to 'defeat.' I want to tear apart his seemingly perfect rules while he is still at his peak, so everyone can see that the balance he clings to is nothing more than a cowardly fig leaf."

Uesugi Hara remained silent for a moment, tapping his fingers on the desk, before he suddenly looked up and smiled: "Your ambition is quite something, Senior."

"Ambition?" Nagumo Miyabi scoffed and stood straight, his shirt collar slightly open, revealing the faint pulse at his collarbone. "I prefer to call it 'the determination to break the stalemate.' Don't you think that looking at Horikita Manabu's eternally calm face makes you want to do something to make him lose his composure?"

"Making President Horikita lose his composure, huh..." He drew out the words, the tail end of his sentence carrying an ambiguous weight. "That idea of yours does sound quite interesting, Senior."

A flicker of light crossed Nagumo Miyabi's eyes. "So, you're agreeing?"

"Don't be so hasty." Uesugi Hara pressed his hand against the desk, looking up slightly to meet Nagumo Miyabi's eyes. "I'd like to ask, Senior Nagumo: what do I stand to gain by working for you?"

"I can help you join the Student Council." Nagumo Miyabi took the bait, his tone growing more certain. "Don't underestimate the Student Council of this school; its power is far greater than you imagine."

Uesugi Hara lowered his eyes and let out a soft laugh: "The power of the Student Council? Do you think I'm the type to covet such things?"

He leaned back against a desk, crossing his arms over his chest: "Since enrolling, I haven't run for class leadership, nor have I participated in any public activities, yet I've lived just fine, haven't I? Power is a shackle when held in one's hand, and if used poorly, it burns—surely you don't think this little bit of bait is enough to make me wade into the muddy waters between you and President Horikita?"

Nagumo Miyabi wasn't surprised by this response; instead, he curled his lips: "It seems Junior Uesugi wants more than that." He walked to the window, looking at the students running on the field below. "The authority to allocate resources in this school is nominally held by the Student Council, but in reality, most of it is in Horikita Manabu's hands. The Student Council is responsible for setting the rules for special exams, and those rights have always been kept firmly in his grasp."

"Oh?" Uesugi Hara raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying that if I help you topple him, I can have these?"

"And more." Nagumo Miyabi turned around, his eyes shining with the certainty of victory. "Once I take over the Student Council, I will rewrite the rules. At that point, the points and privileges you want—as long as you have the ability to take them, I have the guts to give them."

"So, are you interested in joining me? Let's make this big, make this strong, and create something glorious!"

Uesugi Hara looked at the glint of certainty in Nagumo Miyabi's eyes and let out a low laugh: "Make it big and strong? That sounds like a street vendor's pitch."

Nagumo Miyabi wasn't annoyed; he leaned back against the podium. "Crude, but true. This school is like a fenced-in arena, and Horikita Manabu insists on maintaining the status quo. But you and I both know that true predators are never content to stay within the designated boundaries."

"The rules of special exams... resource allocation..." Uesugi Hara repeated softly, his tone playful. "You certainly threw out enough bait, Senior."

"A substantial profit, isn't it?" Nagumo Miyabi's voice sounded from behind. "Those fools eyeing the Student Council positions only see the empty shell of power."

"It does sound like a profitable deal."

"But I still refuse."

Nagumo Miyabi, who had expected Uesugi Hara to agree, saw the smile on his face freeze instantly. He narrowed his eyes, his tone tinged with imperceptible shock: "Why?"

"The bait you offered is indeed tempting," Uesugi Hara said, already taking steps toward the door. He rested his fingertips lightly on the handle, his tone as flat as if he were discussing the weather. "Unfortunately—I am a person who dislikes trouble, and I have no interest in the conflict between you two seniors."

He paused, glanced back at Nagumo Miyabi, and a faint curve touched his lips: "I won't speak of today's events to anyone else."

With a soft click of the door lock, he left his final words as he pushed the door open: "See you next time, Senior Nagumo."