Class C's Plan (8)

After returning to the Student Council, Kitahara and President Horikita sat in their chairs and listened to the report from Secretary Tachibana:

"The date for the hearing regarding the dispute between Class 1-D and Class C has been set."

"Is that so," President Horikita said calmly.

Unlike President Horikita, Kitahara sat beside him with a look of shock:

"So soon? When is it?"

Looking at Kitahara before her, Tachibana Akane was quite angry; after all, he was the one who had taken the President away today.

She replied with a sarcastic edge:

"You are the one presiding over this meeting, you know. Don't tell me you haven't prepared yet?"

Hearing the reproach in her tone, Kitahara smiled and said:

"Senior Tachibana, this is a chance to help the President earn points."

"Really?" Upon hearing that it would help her President, Tachibana Akane looked toward President Horikita.

"Yes, it is indeed true."

Hearing the definitive confirmation from her President, her gaze toward Kitahara softened slightly.

She then explained: "The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon after school."

"Understood, I have it noted." Knowing the specific time, Kitahara hurriedly excused himself to leave; after all, he still needed to prepare.

Back in his dorm, Kitahara hadn't even had a chance to sit down and rest when the room phone rang.

Once Kitahara picked up, Sakayanagi's voice came through the receiver.

"Hehe, I didn't expect you to have such a strong sense of justice, Kitahara-kun. It truly surprises me."

"..." Kitahara was momentarily bewildered by Sakayanagi's words, failing to grasp her meaning.

He replied:

"What do you mean by that, Sakayanagi?"

"Hehe, why were you and President Horikita together today?" Sakayanagi teased.

"How did you know? You didn't have someone tailing me, did you?" Once she mentioned he was with President Horikita, Kitahara knew she was already aware of what had happened today.

"Wait, no—you weren't tailing me, you were tailing Ayanokoji, weren't you?" Before Sakayanagi could reply, Kitahara continued.

"Hehe, who knows? In my eyes, you are still far more interesting than Ayanokoji."

"Tch, forget it if you don't want to say." Kitahara didn't want to get tangled up with Sakayanagi, so he said.

"I heard you are presiding over the meeting tomorrow afternoon, so I've come to congratulate you on your success in advance," Sakayanagi said.

"You didn't make any arrangements regarding this matter, did you?" Kitahara ignored how she knew the specific time and simply asked to confirm his suspicions.

"Who knows? If you were willing to beg me, Kitahara-kun, perhaps I would tell you," Sakayanagi replied with a light chuckle from her bed.

Across the line, Kitahara was already blushing; he hadn't expected Sakayanagi to become like this. Although she was like this before, the intensity was much lower.

"I don't think you made any arrangements. Given your personality, you surely want to defeat him fair and square."

Having recovered, Kitahara said this calmly.

"Ara, I didn't realize you understood me so well, Kitahara-kun. Have you considered becoming my subordinate? I feel that we should..."

Before Sakayanagi could finish, Kitahara said goodbye and hung up the phone immediately.

On the other end, Sakayanagi looked at the disconnected call, smiled helplessly, and said:

"It seems Kitahara-kun still needs a bit of discipline, but we have plenty of time to take it slow."

By the next morning, President Horikita was staring intently at Ayanokoji in the Class 1-D classroom.

Of course, Kitahara was still struggling against his own sleepiness.

"What's wrong?" Ayanokoji asked, noticing her staring at him.

"Were you with Kushida over the weekend?"

"Yes, I accompanied her a little because of Sakura."

"Although I couldn't guarantee she would definitely provide information," Ayanokoji replied.

"Is that so."

"What's wrong?"

"What do you mean, what's wrong?"

"I just feel like your expression is a bit scary right now."

"Is it? I'm always like this. I'm just lamenting that you've started acting on your own initiative."

"I ask you to do things and you're reluctant, yet you agree to Kushida's requests so readily. I'm just calmly analyzing the difference," President Horikita said, looking at him with a serious expression.

Just as they were locking eyes, Kitahara chimed in airily:

"Could it be that President Horikita didn't get to see her brother yesterday, so... after all, there's that post about us on the school forum..."

Before Kitahara could finish speaking, he was startled by the look in Horikita's eyes.

"When did you get here?" Horikita asked, looking at Kitahara.

"Right when Ayanokoji said your expression was a bit scary," Kitahara replied.

After he finished speaking, Kitahara was once again pinned by her icy gaze, and then Horikita continued:

"Forget it. Regarding the matter with Sudo, the Student Council's deliberation schedule has already been set."

"When?" Ayanokoji asked.

"After school today, and he will be the one presiding over this meeting," Horikita said, shifting her gaze toward Kitahara.

"Now, let us begin the deliberation regarding the violent incident that occurred last Tuesday. This meeting will be presided over by me, Student Council Disciplinary Committee member Kitahara Seiichi," Kitahara said, sitting in his seat.

"I didn't expect the Student Council President to personally attend for a dispute like this; it's quite rare."

Chabashira spoke up.

"Due to my busy schedule, there are some issues I don't participate in, but in principle, I still need to be present. This time, it is also to test the abilities of a newcomer," Horikita replied, looking at her.

"Is that so? The Student Council President really has it tough."

I didn't expect the Student Council President to be here in person too. I thought it would just be Kitahara. It seems Horikita won't be able to show her full strength this time, Ayanokoji thought as he looked at Horikita.

"Alright, let's end the small talk here."

"I hope this meeting can determine which side's claim is the truth," Kitahara said, interrupting them.

He regained control of the meeting's proceedings.

Just as Kitahara opened the record sheet to begin his explanation, the Class C homeroom teacher spoke up:

"Student Council President, the two parties in this negotiation are Class C and Class D, and as far as I know, the moderator this time, Kitahara, is a student from Class D."

Before Horikita could respond, Kitahara, who had been prepared, spoke up:

"Banjo-sensei, you are overthinking this. Although I am the moderator for this meeting, the President is right here. Do you think I could sway the President, who was appointed by the school?"

"Or are you saying you don't trust the school's judgment?"

"This..." (How am I supposed to answer that? I'm on the school's payroll; I can't exactly go around questioning the school.)

"Rest assured, Banjo-sensei, I will handle this fairly. After all, I am a Disciplinary Committee member appointed by the Student Council."

"Seeing the students of Class C get injured, I also bear some responsibility. I will pay closer attention to the situation in Class C from now on."

"What do you think, Banjo-sensei? May I begin now?"

Kitahara looked around the room.

Seeing that no one spoke further, Kitahara officially began the meeting.