The new president and lunch

After the Sports Festival ended, time moved into mid-October, and the weather began to turn chilly.

The school first held a general election to decide the next Student Council members, followed immediately by a handover ceremony.

The entire student body gathered in the gymnasium. For most first-years, this was just another formality they had to attend that had nothing to do with them.

Quite a few students stood drowsily in their lines, but they all kept themselves in check, afraid of attracting the attention of teachers or upperclassmen.

"Now, Student Council President Horikita, please give your farewell remarks."

As the emcee finished speaking, a tall boy stepped onto the stage.

Manabu Horikita. A third-year and the outgoing Student Council president. Even from a distance, Takahashi Ren could feel the commanding presence he carried.

"It has been my pride to lead the Student Council for nearly two years. Thank you, everyone."

His speech was extremely brief. With neither flowery language nor sentimental words, his final address as Student Council president came to an end.

After speaking, he took a step back and returned to his place.

He had been solemn throughout, as though simply following a prescribed procedure.

Then scattered applause rose. Takahashi Ren clapped along twice before lowering his hands.

However, the farewell ceremony did not end there.

The Student Council members onstage still stood straight, none of them relaxing their posture. The emcee spoke again:

"Student Council President Horikita, thank you for all your hard work over the years. Next, let us welcome our newly appointed Student Council president, Miyabi Nagumo of Class 2-A, to say a few words."

Nagumo stepped forward and stood before the microphone.

Among the Student Council members at the back of the stage, Takahashi Ren spotted Ichinose.

"I'm Nagumo from Class 2-A."

He first bowed deeply toward Manabu Horikita. "Student Council President Horikita, thank you for your consistently strict yet kind guidance. It has been an honor to serve alongside the finest Student Council president in our history."

Then he turned back to face the entire student body.

"Allow me to introduce myself once more. My name is Miyabi Nagumo, and as of today, I am the Student Council president of Advanced Nurturing High School. I look forward to working with you all."

He gave a faint smile, as though to loosen the solemn atmosphere from a moment earlier.

"I'll get straight to the point. First, I intend to change the Student Council's terms of office, appointment methods, and general election procedures.

"Former Student Council President Horikita always scheduled the general election for December. I will move it to October. Completing the handover earlier is necessary for the Student Council."

"Second, the terms of office for the Student Council president and officers will become indefinite for the duration of their enrollment, allowing them to serve until graduation. The general election system and membership limit will both be abolished.

"As long as someone is capable and needed, they may join the Student Council at any time, with no limit on numbers. If anyone is deemed unfit during their term, they will be removed by a majority vote at a meeting."

Takahashi Ren frowned slightly.

Indefinite terms. Abolishing general elections. Adding and removing student officers at any time. It sounded like reform, but in practice, it concentrated all power in the Student Council president's hands.

Was this what they meant by a new leader making a show of authority?

"With this as a starting point-" Nagumo surveyed the gym, his voice still calm. "As for how this school will operate going forward, I intend to overturn everything that successive Student Councils have upheld until now."

His words practically amounted to publicly denying every achievement of the former Student Council president standing behind him.

A stir ran through the gym. Some looked surprised, some excited, and others uneasy.

"I had intended to implement the new system immediately, but unfortunately, the new president still has quite a few restrictions to contend with."

Nagumo glanced at Manabu Horikita, then turned back to the students. "I promise that a major revolution will take place soon. Those with ability will rise, and those without it will fall to the bottom. I will make this school a place where ability truly reigns supreme."

The entire gym fell silent.

Then cheers erupted almost simultaneously from the second-years, instantly firing up the atmosphere.

Watching the commotion, Takahashi Ren thought there was probably a battle between the second- and third-years that the first-years knew nothing about.

Today's handover was not merely a change of presidents. Someone was about to overturn the whole game.

Manabu Horikita's expression had never changed, as though nothing Nagumo said had anything to do with him.

Once the ceremony ended, the students filed outside.

Some time passed after that.

It was the lunch break one day, halfway through the second term.

Takahashi Ren was about to leave the classroom for the cafeteria when a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Takahashi."

He turned around. Asuka Shiraishi stood there, with Nishikawa Ryoko beside her. Lately, this had become an almost daily sight.

"Eating together again today?"

"Yeah."

After the Sports Festival, Shiraishi had often found reasons to approach him. By now, having lunch together every day had become a habit.

Takahashi Ren did not really understand what she wanted, but he had no reason to refuse.

Yoshida was part of the group too. On the final day of the Sports Festival, he had said his feelings were one-sided, and Takahashi Ren had thought he would back off after that.

But he had not. He had not given up on Shiraishi and stayed by her side as usual. Takahashi Ren had no comment on that. It was Yoshida's business.

Just as the four of them were about to leave the classroom, Takahashi Ren glanced toward the back row.

"Kito," he called.

Hayato Kito raised his head, looked at him, then glanced toward Shiraishi and Nishikawa. Without saying anything, he followed them.

He had also invited Ishida and Toba Shigeru. Those two said they did not want to get involved and always left ahead of them.

Takahashi Ren walked in front, with Shiraishi and Nishikawa in the middle. Yoshida walked beside them, occasionally glancing back at Kito with a slightly odd expression.

Kito walked at the rear, his hands in his pockets and his steps unhurried.

The five arrived at the cafeteria. After each ordering at the ticket machine and collecting their food, they found an empty spot in a corner and sat down.

With Kito sitting there, at least their table would not get too noisy.

They each ate quietly for a while.

"We count as friends now, right?"

Shiraishi put down her chopsticks and suggested, "Since we're friends, I'd like to learn a little more about you. If we don't know about each other's private lives, we can't really say we know one another."

"That's a good idea." Nishikawa was the first to nod. Was she agreeing because Shiraishi was the one who had said it?

Yoshida had still been a little uncomfortable, but Shiraishi's words eased even the tension around his eyes. How could he possibly refuse?

"Then I'll go first. When I don't have anything to do, I usually go back to the dorm."

Shiraishi began, "I only go to Keyaki Mall when Nishikawa or another friend invites me. Not very often, either. Once or twice a week at most."

Most students were not short of money and regularly went to Keyaki Mall. It accounted for almost their entire private lives, from shopping to entertainment. Everything revolved around that one place.

"Asuka even turns down my invitations." Nishikawa puffed out her cheeks.

"Sorry. I prefer spending time alone."

Shiraishi said, "That's precisely why I want to go out on my days off and give myself more chances to interact with people. Usually, though, I still take it easy at home in the morning and only go out in the afternoon. I mostly visit cafés and variety stores."

To help the others get to know her, Shiraishi went into more detail than usual.

Nishikawa followed her lead.

"My turn. I often go to Keyaki Mall too, both alone and with friends. With Takanashi, for instance, and Tsukachi."

After listing their names, she began recounting every little detail, who she had talked to, what they had discussed, and what they had done, one thing after another.

"Okay, okay, I know everything about you now." Yoshida endured it for a while before finally losing patience and interrupting.

Looking reluctant, Nishikawa passed the conversation to Takahashi Ren.

"I'm pretty much like everyone else," Takahashi Ren said. "I usually take part in club activities and occasionally go to the library on weekends."

At that moment, Kito pushed his chair back and stood up with his tray. He had finished his curry.

"...I'm heading back to the classroom."

With those words, he left.

"So Kito never did say anything about himself," Yoshida said, watching him leave. "Then why does he keep coming to eat with us?"

"No idea. I can't figure out what Kito's thinking at all." Nishikawa stuck out her tongue. "His face is scary too."

That last remark was a little unnecessary. But Nishikawa meant no harm, so Takahashi Ren said nothing.

Kito usually did not talk to people or let them get close. But he and Takahashi Ren had practiced together a few times during the Sports Festival, and Takahashi Ren felt he was not that hard to approach.

So one day, Takahashi Ren had thought to invite him along. Kito had come every time since.

Perhaps he was not actually cold, but simply did not know how to get along with people.

"Oh well." Yoshida shrugged. "At least he hasn't caused any trouble. That's good enough."

Shiraishi did not respond. She simply watched him with a smile.

Takahashi Ren felt a little baffled. Just eat. Why look at me?

He averted his eyes and continued eating.