"So what do you think of his philosophy?" Horikita Manabu decided to probe how much Kitahara knew and figure out which side he was on.
Knowing what Horikita Manabu was getting at, Kitahara replied "honestly," "Uh... what's his philosophy?"
Looking at Kitahara's utterly bewildered expression, Horikita narrowed his eyes slightly.
He wondered to himself whether Kitahara really didn't know or was just pretending to be clueless.
"He advocates absolute meritocracy based on individual ability. In other words, he doesn't care about this so-called class competition."
"Oh, so that's what he thinks? But prioritizing individual ability should go against the principles the school advocates, shouldn't it?"
"Yeah, that's right. The school has considered that, but right now he basically has the entire second year under his control."
"I see. But is he really that capable? He can control an entire year?" Kitahara said, pretending to be surprised.
Seeing the shock in Kitahara's eyes, Horikita was beginning to believe he might genuinely not know many of the details, and only knew that Miyabi Nagumo was currently competing with him.
"That's right. He's certainly very capable. Otherwise, I wouldn't have chosen him to join the Student Council back then."
"Uh, so you're actually the one to blame for things ending up like this," Kitahara said, looking enlightened.
Horikita covered his forehead and said helplessly, "That's true. From that perspective, it is my responsibility."
"So, what's your decision?" Horikita asked, his voice growing more serious.
Sometimes, Kitahara couldn't help feeling exasperated. He hadn't expected Horikita to be so stubborn. He and his sister really were cut from the same cloth.
"Ahem. President Horikita, you really don't need to test me like this. If I were on Miyabi Nagumo's side, would I be here making a secret deal with you?"
After hearing that, Horikita relaxed his stern expression and said, "Now, tell me about the deal you want to make."
[Oh, thank goodness. We're finally back to the original topic. That took forever.]
Kitahara cleared his throat and said, "President, do you want to cause him trouble in this exam?"
"Hmm? Trouble? This exam can't affect the other years at all," Horikita replied.
"No, President, that's not necessarily true." Kitahara smiled meaningfully.
"Heh. And what method do you have for making it affect him?" Horikita asked, looking intrigued.
"Ahem. Before that, could you please, President..."
"..."
Horikita stared speechlessly at Kitahara, who was holding out his hand for points.
"You haven't even told me anything yet, and you're already trying to get money out of me."
"I'm just worried it might affect our relationship," Kitahara continued shamelessly.
"Heh heh. Then how many points do you want?"
"Aw, it's not much. Just two million points." Kitahara waved his hand.
"Is that so? Then let's see if you can swallow that much." Horikita nodded, effectively agreeing to the price.
"Don't worry, President. I definitely won't disappoint you," Kitahara replied confidently.
"By the way, President, how much control do you have over the third years?"
"..."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I just need you to cooperate a little... It's a simple thing. Surely President Horikita can manage that?"
"I might not be able to. I can only be certain that my own class will obey me without question," President Horikita said awkwardly.
"..."
Kitahara fell silent. He hadn't expected Horikita Manabu, as the Student Council President, to have control over only one class—and his own, at that.
"..."
"Actually, that's not very important. What matters is whether you have any people in place among the second years."
"Yeah, I do have a few."
"That's good. Then we can drag him into this." Kitahara explained to Horikita:
"President, what do you think would happen if news that had been kept hidden in the dark suddenly came to light?" Before Horikita Manabu could respond, Kitahara continued:
"Just like we said in the meeting room, the school can accept this kind of conduct, but it won't let the method be exposed. Once it is, what do you think will happen to the people who did it?"
"Obviously, the school won't let this matter go so easily. It'll tell the Student Council to impose suitable punishments."
"..." After a brief moment of thought, Horikita said, "Following your reasoning, only the few people involved could be punished. It wouldn't affect Miyabi Nagumo."
"Heh heh. President, have you forgotten what you just said about the state of the second year?"
"As the person in control of the second year, whether or not Miyabi Nagumo knew he was being set up, given the school's current attitude toward him, do you think they'd pass up a chance to knock him down a peg?"
After hearing Kitahara's idea, Horikita understood his plan. He also knew perfectly well that the school would take this opportunity to knock them down a peg. Which second-year class would get hit was a matter of luck.
Seeing Horikita's expression, Kitahara knew he'd made up his mind.
"Ahem. Well, President, do you think my plan meets your expectations?"
Horikita looked at the smug Kitahara in front of him. He hadn't expected the strategy to be so simple, yet so effective.
Feeling as though he'd been taken advantage of, Horikita Manabu could only agree to Kitahara's terms.
Hearing his definite answer, Kitahara said happily, "Then I'm grateful for your generosity, President."
As he spoke, he opened his Student Terminal, making his intentions obvious.
"Heh heh. I'll give you those points after the midterm exams are over."
"Why can't you give them to me now? Are you still worried?"
"Heh heh. Consider this the price you pay for lying to me earlier." Horikita Manabu smiled triumphantly.
"..." Kitahara looked at him, wondering how he'd figured out that he'd lied. Hadn't he already trusted him?
But when Kitahara thought back over what they'd just discussed, he quickly understood.
The plan he'd described had already accounted for what the president had told him, but he'd thought of it before their conversation. At the time, as far as Horikita Manabu knew, Kitahara shouldn't have been aware of any of it.
So that was why he'd said Kitahara had lied to him?
[Damn it, I should've just admitted I knew everything when I explained the plan. Then we wouldn't be in this situation now.]
Seeing Kitahara's regret, the corners of Horikita Manabu's mouth lifted in a triumphant smile, as if he'd finally gotten his revenge.
After all, Kitahara had been getting the better of him again and again.
"All right, go get ready. I'll give you the points once you succeed." After saying that, Horikita turned to leave.
But just as he was about to go, Kitahara's voice came from behind him.
"President, I have one small question before you leave." Kitahara smiled slyly.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Ahem, well... President, technically, you don't have any reason to go after Miyabi Nagumo, do you? You're about to graduate, after all. Whatever happens to the school afterward won't concern you, so..."
When Horikita Manabu still didn't react, Kitahara pressed harder. "You actually just want to protect your own sister, don't you? Given her personality, if things really did go according to his philosophy, then..." Kitahara trailed off. The outcome was obvious.
Horikita still didn't respond, but Kitahara saw his shoulders tremble slightly and realized he was just pretending to be composed.
So he continued, "I never would've guessed that President Horikita, who seems so harsh with his sister, actually cares about her so much. You really are a tsundere."
Horikita quickened his pace and left.
Watching him go, Kitahara chuckled. "Didn't see that coming, did you? I still came out on top. I can handle you just fine."
Just as Kitahara was basking in his victory, a voice came from the direction Horikita Manabu had left.
"Once you join the Student Council, I'll make sure to teach you properly how to handle its duties."
After hearing that, the smile on Kitahara's face stiffened. He hadn't expected the payback to come so quickly.