The next morning, Kitahara Seiichi slowly woke from his sleep.
With his still-unopened computer on, Kitahara said:
"Damn, I actually forgot about that yesterday. It must've been because of those two girls—they wore me out."
Then Kitahara Seiichi picked up the phone beside him and took a quick look. Classes were about to start, so he hurried toward the classroom.
After a full day of classes, just as he was about to leave the classroom, he happened to see Kushida Kikyo talking to Ayanokoji.
"Looks like she's starting to get in touch with Horikita Suzune."
"But that doesn't seem to have much to do with me."
"Still, why hasn't the system shown up at all lately? Did it forget about me?"
Kitahara didn't dwell on it and continued with his task—to gain the attention of the four people he had left.
As Kitahara walked toward the store, he spotted a familiar figure again.
"Hey, Ichinose. Fancy seeing you again."
"Hello, Kitahara. Good afternoon!"
[Wait, the broadcast mentioned that the Student Council was recruiting today, didn't it?]
"Um, Ichinose, are you going to the Student Council interview?"
"Ah... yes. How did you know, Kitahara?"
[I can't exactly say I'm watching from an omniscient perspective. Even if you go, you won't get in, and that blond guy will set his sights on you and get leverage over you. You'll nearly get expelled.]
(Of course, he couldn't say that. Since they'd run into each other, he might as well offer a little warning.)
"I guess it's because of your personality, Ichinose. It's only been two days since school started, but your friendly nature and your attitude toward your class are already well known throughout the year."
"Really? I'm not as wonderful as you make me sound, Kitahara." Ichinose's cheeks flushed faintly as she twirled a strand of her pink hair around her finger.
"Are you hoping to join the Student Council so you can better protect your class?"
At that, Ichinose seemed especially certain.
"Yes. That way, I can get information about what's happening around campus."
Hearing the determination in her voice, Kitahara figured that even if he warned her, it probably wouldn't change her mind.
"Well, all right. I hope your interview goes smoothly, then, Ichinose."
"Mm-hmm. Thanks for the encouragement, Kitahara."
After Ichinose left, Kitahara took out his phone and sent her a message:
Watch out for the Student Council Vice President, Miyabi Nagumo.
Meanwhile, Ichinose was in the waiting room, getting ready for her interview. When she heard her phone buzz, she looked and saw a message from Kitahara.
Be careful of him? Ichinose murmured.
Just then, someone else entered the waiting room: a bald boy with an air of composure about him.
"Hello! I'm Ichinose Honami from Class 1-B. Are you here for the Student Council interview too?"
"Hello. I'm Katsuragi Kohei from Class 1-A. I'm here for the interview as well."
Before they could continue talking, a voice came from the Student Council room:
"Class 1-A's Katsuragi Kohei, please come in for your interview."
"Okay. Good luck with your interview, Katsuragi," Ichinose said encouragingly.
"Thanks. Good luck to you too."
All right! Back in his dorm room, Kitahara finally finished setting up his computer and eagerly turned it on.
"Let's see if I can download it."
"..."
"Haha, I knew it! Now I just need to find a few teammates and get them to start ranked matches with me."
"For now, I'll go in and warm up."
Meanwhile, at a café in the shopping mall, Horikita Suzune had "coincidentally" run into Kushida Kikyo, thanks to Ayanokoji's invitation.
"I'm leaving," Horikita Suzune said.
"But you've only just arrived."
"With Kushida here, you don't need me."
"No, look, Kushida and I are just classmates."
"My relationship with you is the same, and besides..."
"You're really getting on my nerves. What exactly are you trying to do?" Horikita turned to Kushida and said.
"Come on, it really was just a coincidence."
[Kushida, the right response here should be: 'What do you mean by that?'] Ayanokoji thought as he looked at Kushida.
"The two people who were sitting here earlier, and the two at the table next to us—they're all students from Class D. Was that a coincidence too?"
"You sure know a lot. I didn't notice any of that."
"Besides, we came here right after school. They could only have arrived a few minutes before us. Isn't it strange that they'd leave so soon?"
"Sorry. I prepared in advance."
"I thought so."
"Horikita, please be my friend," Kushida Kikyo said, standing up.
"I wish you'd stop bothering me. I won't cause trouble for the class."
"But don't you feel lonely when you're always by yourself?"
"I've never thought being alone was lonely. This is a waste of time. Everything you say makes me uncomfortable."
"Hey, do you really think this is okay?"
"If you refuse to make friends with anyone, you'll be alone for all three years."
"I've been like this for nine years. Longer, if you count kindergarten."
With that, Horikita Suzune left.
At the Student Council, Ichinose came out of the conference room looking dejected. It was obvious she hadn't passed the interview. She tried hard to hide her feelings, but it was still clear that something was off.
Ichinose sat down in an empty spot, her eyes beginning to redden slightly as she kept thinking:
[Am I really unable to clear my name of this "crime"?]
"Such a beautiful girl—why are you sitting here? Is something troubling you?"
Hearing that, Ichinose looked up and saw a blond boy.
"I'm... I'm fine." Ichinose rubbed her reddened eyes.
"Is that so? You can tell me about anything that's bothering you."
Ichinose hesitated. She was tempted, but found it hard to open up. She really wanted to tell him what had happened.
"Um, thanks. I'm Ichinose Honami from Class 1-B."
"I'm Miyabi Nagumo, the Student Council Vice President."
"Senior Miyabi Nagumo..." Ichinose remembered Kitahara's warning and replied:
"Thank you for your concern, senpai. I'm feeling much better now." Then she hurriedly took her leave.
Watching Ichinose walk away, Nagumo's expression darkened.
"That's strange. From the look on her face, she was just about to tell me. Why did she leave so quickly after we introduced ourselves?"
"..."
After returning to her dorm, Ichinose wondered why Kitahara knew so much about the Student Council members. (The vice president hadn't appeared at yesterday's opening ceremony, had he?) Why had he told her to watch out for him?
"Kitahara really is mysterious!"
Back in his dorm room, Kitahara had been at it since school let out. As he watched the "Long Princess" he'd just been solo-killed, he couldn't help but curse:
"Ismail Family, I'll never forgive you!"
"Grr..."
Forget it. He'd go to the store and buy a bento to fill his stomach.
"Damn, it's so late. There probably won't be anyone around now. Good thing the store stays open." Kitahara said as he checked his phone, then hurried toward the convenience store.