The scene shifted. Kitahara had arrived outside the Student Council meeting room. When he pushed open the door, everything was just as before.
The president was handling paperwork as usual, with the ever-present Tachibana-senpai beside him. There were a few new faces, though.
"You're here, Kitahara. We've been waiting for you," Horikita said, having noticed his arrival.
"Yeah, President. I'm not late, am I? Why is everyone looking at me like that?"
"Junior, I've wanted to meet you in person for a long time. I wanted to see what you looked like, since you're such a big name around here." Before the president could speak, the blond boy seated beside him spoke up.
"Heh, you're joking, senpai. You're the Student Council vice president. Apart from President Horikita, who in this school could possibly compete with you?" Kitahara said pointedly.
"Heh, you really do have a sharp tongue. But in a few months, I'll naturally be taking the president's seat." Miyabi Nagumo shifted his gaze to Horikita as he spoke.
"Nagumo, remember that you're still the vice president," said the boy sitting on the other side.
"Heh, Kiriyama, it's just prey that's about to be mine."
"Hmph..."
"All right, that's enough chatting," Horikita Manabu said, cutting off their conversation.
"While you were gone, Kitahara, Yanagihara introduced himself to everyone. I was going to have you introduce yourself as well, but judging by the circumstances, there's no need."
"..." (What do you mean, there's no need? Am I not even worth introducing myself?)
Ignoring Kitahara's resentful look, Horikita continued, "Since Kitahara and Yanagihara only officially joined the Student Council today, they're not familiar with its internal workings."
"So, Yanagihara, Tachibana Akane will show you how things work. As for Kitahara, I'll take him under my wing myself. What do you think?"
"I have no objections, President," Yanagihara replied, speaking for the first time in a while.
"Mm..." The president nodded slightly.
And that was that. He'd settled everything without even asking Kitahara's opinion.
"That's all for today's meeting. Please take care of your duties."
"Kitahara, Yanagihara, stay behind."
"Uh..." Kitahara said, confused.
"Don't you still have to hand in your club application?" Horikita said, looking at Kitahara in exasperation. He really had no idea how Kitahara had managed to collect so many points.
Although he didn't know how Kitahara and Yanagihara had split up those eight million points, his conservative estimate was that Kitahara now had around fifteen million points.
"Uh... Sorry about that..." (Damn, I must've robbed people so many times that it's made me slow on the uptake. I need to hurry up and collect twenty million points so I can get that superhuman physique. Then I won't have to worry about how long I fight.)
(But Kitahara was only thinking about himself. He hadn't considered the teammates who played trios with him—especially Kanzaki, who would eventually get beaten so badly she'd be driven out of her mind.)
As Kitahara waited, the blond vice president passed by and said, "I'll be sure to look after you, Kitahara-kun, to repay you for the gift."
By the time Kitahara processed what he'd said, Miyabi Nagumo had already left the meeting room.
With his brain finally back online, Kitahara suddenly wondered: Why hadn't President Horikita butted in when he assigned us? Wouldn't that have been the perfect excuse to get close to us openly?
Besides, wasn't he a womanizer? He wasn't even tempted by Yanagihara, that top-tier loli?
As Kitahara was still thinking, he felt something poke at his trouser leg. When he looked down, he saw Yanagihara holding the cane in her hand.
(Though, from this angle, Yanagihara's figure really is...)
Noticing the change in Kitahara's expression, Yanagihara smiled and said, "Kitahara, were you just thinking something inappropriate?"
Sensing the chill hidden behind that smile, Kitahara knew better than to tell the truth. "I was thinking that you'd probably make a second request next. After all, we both know who solved the problem during that exam."
"Heh, I didn't know you could see the future, Kitahara," Yanagihara teased lightly.
Seeing that she seemed to have let him off the hook, Kitahara slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
"By the way, how are we going to settle the matter of you borrowing one of my people?" Yanagihara continued.
"Uh... She was making it up to me for going against what I'd asked her to do earlier," Kitahara explained without batting an eye.
He completely ignored the scene of Kamuro losing her temper after he'd explained himself to Class B.
"Is that so? It seems Kamuro-san really does live up to your expectations," Yanagihara remarked out of nowhere.
For a moment, Kitahara didn't know what she meant, so he could only say, "I was short on people, and those few are the only ones I know."
"Heh..."
"Why are you two still over there?" Horikita Manabu said, watching them chat and seemingly forget that he was there.
"Oh... Right. President, here's my club application." Kitahara handed the application form to Horikita Manabu.
Horikita Manabu gave it a quick look, then said, "I didn't expect the three members of your club to be from different classes. When did you get to know them?"
"Ah... It's just that this club is so tempting."
"Heh..." Horikita could tell Kitahara didn't want to explain, so he didn't press him.
"All right, you can go. I've approved your club application. The school hasn't assigned you a classroom yet. I'll let you know where it is once they have."
"Understood, President," Kitahara replied respectfully, but made no move to leave.
He simply took out his phone and kept glancing pointedly at the president.
Horikita soon caught on. The corner of his mouth twitched, and he quickly tapped at his phone, decisively sending Kitahara two million points.
After receiving the points, Kitahara happily said to Horikita, "Goodbye, President."
Sigh... Just as Kitahara was about to leave, he turned back to the president and asked,
"President, did you need something from Yanagihara?"
Horikita simply smiled at Kitahara's question. "Nothing in particular. Yanagihara isn't in good health, so she needs someone to escort her."
It was a simple explanation, but the real reason remained unknown.
"Oh..." Kitahara, usually so shrewd, believed him without hesitation. After all, as far as he knew, they didn't seem to have any direct dealings with each other.
Kitahara then went over to Yanagihara and, as before, gently helped her as they left the Student Council room.
Watching them disappear, Horikita Manabu murmured, "Yanagihara, I hope you can fulfill our bargain before I leave."