The Chairman Visits Again, Club Recruitment, and I Go Against the Crowd...

Uchiha's expression remained calm.

In truth, his heart had long been churning like a stormy sea.

Holy crap!

Didn't I fail to merge with the original owner's memories? Why did it feel like I'd personally gone through the entire entrance exam?!

Just moments ago.

A fragment of the original owner's memories had suddenly surged into his mind like a tidal wave.

Shaking his head, Uchiha thought:

"System bro, what's going on here?!"

[ Ding. Detected that the host's Jiahao behavior is becoming increasingly consistent with the original owner's. A memory fragment related to the original owner has been automatically unlocked. ]

A memory fragment?!

Could it be...

Uchiha felt himself straighten up:

"I'm the strongest shadow assassin, right?!"

[System: ...]

[System: Kid, watch less anime.]

Then, he suddenly became sentimental—

If he absorbed all of the original owner's memories, would he still be himself?

Forget it, forget it!

No point thinking so much!

Being mindlessly happy was enough!

"..."

Chabashira stared speechlessly at Uchiha, who had sunk into his own world.

Why did it feel like the entire world's style had been thrown off?!

Also, she seemed to have forgotten something important just now...

Just as she opened her mouth to break the silence, there came a knock from the left.

Knock, knock—

Everyone instinctively looked over.

It was that white-haired man again—the chairman, Sakayanagi Narumori.

Why was he here again?!

Was he here to hold Jiahao accountable?!

The instant Chabashira saw him, her entire body jolted.

"Chairman Sakayanagi?!!"

Why had you come here, sir?!

This man stood at the very top of Advanced Nurturing High School.

Normally, he was so busy that he was impossible to track down.

Yet this big shot had personally graced Class 1-D with his presence?

If Chabashira knew this was the chairman's second visit, her jaw would definitely hit the floor!

Before anyone noticed.

Sakayanagi had already appeared before the masked boy.

His gaze locked directly onto Uchiha. "You didn't write on the back of the entrance exam?"

Seeing the students around him shrink back, Uchiha understood that students naturally feared teachers, let alone the chairman?!

But there was not the slightest hint of panic on his face. He slightly raised his eyelids.

"What, you want to learn too?"

I don't bow to pressure!

Stay cool and hold it together~

Sakayanagi: "???"

Chabashira: "???"

Everyone else: "..."

The entire scene once again fell into that damned atmosphere of silence.

How many times had this happened today?!

This was way too freaking weird?!!

[Spirit +63]

[Spirit +58]

[Spirit +61]

"..."

Sakayanagi gave Uchiha a strange look.

This child... seemed rather different.

He wasn't nervous when facing him directly, didn't stammer, didn't avoid his gaze, and even dared make this kind of Jiahao joke.

Now I have every reason to suspect that you're one of those top students who deliberately controls their scores?!

Sakayanagi reached out and patted Uchiha on the shoulder. "Hehe, I can't learn a talent as extraordinary as yours."

As he spoke, he turned slightly and quietly said to Chabashira:

"It's about time."

"Take the students to the open-air field."

"The sky's getting dark, and it might rain. The opening ceremony should be moved up."

Chabashira's eyes lit up. She had been wondering what she had forgotten—so it was this major matter!

It had to be taken seriously.

"Understood."

Chabashira called Hirata over and had him lead the students into formation.

The plaza.

The four first-year classes stood in square formations.

Tables and supplies from various departments had been set up nearby, and Uchiha could clearly see all kinds of recruitment banners and slogans.

On the platform.

A host with shoulder-length purple hair styled into two buns announced loudly:

"Next, please welcome the student council president to deliver a speech."

Immediately afterward, a boy wearing refined glasses and sporting neat black hair slowly took the stage.

His unhurried expression, coupled with his brisk, powerful strides, made him look pretty damn impressive.

Horikita Manabu stood before the microphone. Rather than speaking immediately, he surveyed the first-year freshmen with a composed bearing.

People whispered beneath the stage, and some even laughed.

Yes, you guessed it!!

Among those laughing was definitely Lord Yamauchi!

"Did he forget his script?"

"Ahahahaha!"

"I could do that too. He's just pretending to be a wooden post!!"

However.

The man onstage remained completely still, like an icy statue.

"Hey, say something. Hurry it up. Can't you see it's about to rain?!"

That blatant, brazen challenge came from the students in the front row.

Even so, the student council president remained unmoved, standing there quietly.

Horikita Manabu lowered his gaze slightly and stared into the speaking student's eyes with a sharp look.

The relaxed atmosphere changed at once.

The entire plaza became permeated with unsettling tension and silence.

Hm?

What a powerful aura?!

From afar, Uchiha looked toward the student council president...'s standing microphone.

He frantically calculated the odds of successfully rushing up and grabbing the mic to introduce himself.

Now that no one dared cause trouble, the oppressive atmosphere continued for around thirty seconds before the bespectacled upperclassman finally spoke:

"I am Horikita Manabu of Class 3-A, the current student council president."

"First, with upperclassmen graduating, the student council and all clubs will begin recruitment for all new students."

"The student council has no special requirements for candidates. However, once you join the student council, please refrain from joining any other clubs."

"Second, I must emphasize that the student council does not welcome half-hearted people. We do not welcome students of poor character who leave stains on the school, their class, or themselves."

"Finally, our school's student council possesses the authority and duty granted by the school to amend regulations. Students who encounter unfair treatment may seek help or file an appeal at the student council office."

Having said that, Horikita Manabu calmly walked down the steps!

No dragging things out, no wasting time. Full marks for that.

Uchiha silently gave him five stars.

As for the student council and clubs?

No interest.

If the school had a meme club, he might consider joining for fun...

At the same time, he stared fixedly at the microphone.

Angels and devils battled furiously inside him.

Should I go up?

Should I or shouldn't I?

I'm going up!!!

I'm really going up!

Then he turned his head and saw Horikita Suzune standing diagonally ahead of him, staring blankly at the student council president with an expression like she was about to cry.

What?!

Even the cold, forceful girl had such a vulnerable side?!

You aren't sick, are you?!

Or are you on your period?!

Come to think of it, he had actually used sanitary pads before!!

Those things felt incredibly comfortable under your feet during military training!

The purple-haired host, Tachibana Akane, picked up the microphone.

"Everyone, you've worked hard. This briefing is now over."

"Now, the student council and all clubs will begin accepting applications to join."

"Please consider carefully and choose a department that suits you."

At that very moment.

A dark cloud overhead revealed a wicked grin.

Drip—

A drop of rain landed on Sakayanagi Narumori's arm.

Hm?

This damn weather didn't even bother discussing it with you—rain came whenever it wanted.

Then!

Drip! Drip! Drip!

A light rain suddenly began to fall from the sky.

And.

It showed signs of turning from light rain to moderate rain.

In an instant, the entire field exploded into chaos.

"Fuck! It's raining! The student council and clubs worked for nothing!"

"Which Jiahao prayed for rain? Thanks to your whole family—I wanted to join the club with the most girls!"

"Awesome, so awesome. Recruitment activities are boring anyway. We're free now."

Some rejoiced while others worried.

The scene was chaos beyond description.

Seeing this, Chairman Sakayanagi didn't want the students to get soaked and catch colds.

"The recruitment event is temporarily canceled and will be held another day. Everyone, return to your classrooms and take shelter from the rain."

The moment he said that.

The students charged toward the school building like starving wolves fighting over meat.

In less than a minute.

The field, which had been packed with over a hundred people, suddenly seemed completely empty.

"The weather outside the window is just like your ever-changing expression~"

"It's raining, and the rain cries with me~"

"..."

"Listening to the sound of rain, each drop clear~"

"Your breathing, like raindrops seeping into my love~"

"..."

"???"

What the hell was that?!

Someone was singing?!

Kushida had been about to follow the crowd.

Then behind her came the familiar, off-key melody of Rain Love...

Wait!

Where had Jiahao gone?!

Hadn't he just been within her line of sight?!

She suddenly whipped around.

She rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

Because she saw—

Uchiha... was walking in the opposite direction.