After finishing his bickering with Morishita Ai, Mikage Touji descended from the stairwell and began walking down the hallway at a leisurely pace.
As he passed Class C, he saw a student with red hair and a center-parted hairstyle, looking very much like a delinquent, fighting with other students.
He was hurling profanities even as he swung his fists.
Then, he was promptly KO’d by a single punch from a burly Black man wearing sunglasses.
Mikage Touji’s eye twitched at the sight.
‘This guy counts as a high schooler?’
He quickened his pace to distance himself from this den of trouble, lest he become “collateral fish” in the pond.
Tokyo’s cherry blossoms had finished their full bloom and were beginning to shed in large quantities.
Petals fell to the ground, mixing with the soil to turn a grayish-white, while others skipped the dirt to settle sporadically along the campus paths.
Brushing a cherry blossom petal from his face, Mikage Touji wandered around aimlessly.
Now that the school’s true intentions had been clarified and he was temporarily free from the risk of expulsion, all that remained was to “KFC” (keep-friend-control) Katsuragi, and he could lead a pleasant school life.
Approaching dinner time, he wandered into a restaurant and picked up the menu on the table.
“…”
Ultimately, he ordered a tonkatsu set meal.
Just as he was rubbing his hands together, ready to eat, a male student with blonde hair and a confident smile walked up and sat directly opposite him.
Mikage Touji: “?”
“Um…
do we know each other?”
“No, we don’t.”
The boy ran a hand through his blonde hair, confidence radiating from his words.
“That’s why I came over today—to get to know you, kouhai.
I am the Vice President of the Student Council, Nagumo Miyabi.”
“…”
‘This guy is so oily!’
After a moment of thought, Mikage Touji figured it out.
He asked in surprise, “Is it because I was spotted scouting the second-year area the other day, or are the Student Council’s powers really that great—do you even have the authority to check surveillance?”
Touji prided himself on not having done anything eye-catching over the last few days; the only possibility was that time he was dragged away by the second-year Senpai.
Besides that, only the school’s surveillance would know exactly what he had done, and this blonde Senpai in front of him had just declared himself the Vice President…
Nagumo Miyabi’s eyes suddenly lit up.
He clapped his hands in admiration.
“As expected of a student who figured out the existence of the ‘S-System’ within days of enrollment.
You are completely different from some of those incompetent fools in the Student Council.
I suppose it’s a bit of both.
A few days ago, someone in my class mentioned a strange student appearing near the classroom.
I wanted to meet you then, but I didn’t expect Kiryuin to beat me to it.”
“Um, is it okay for senpai to tell me this?” Mikage Touji asked meaningfully.
“That…
since you already know the answer, the gag order naturally doesn’t apply to you.”
Mikage Touji lowered his gaze.
It wasn’t surprising that Nagumo knew he had uncovered the truth of the S-System; after all, he hadn’t intended to avoid the school’s cameras from the start.
Nagumo leaned back, shifting into a comfortable position.
“Didn’t you attend the club presentations a few days ago?
The Student Council does indeed have considerable privileges in this school, assisting the administration in governing it.”
At that time, he was still locked in a battle of wits and courage with Morishita Ai; he hadn’t paid the slightest bit of attention to club presentations.
“Does Senpai have some business with me?”
Mikage Touji had no intention of chatting further.
He picked up his chopsticks and began eating heartily.
A smarter person would take the hint and leave…
right?
Nagumo, seemingly oblivious to the hint, continued on his own. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
“I came to observe whether you have the qualifications to become my opponent in the future.”
Mikage Touji almost lost his composure.
This wasn’t just confidence anymore; it was pure, mysterious narcissism.
Nagumo continued with an excited smile, “To be honest, there are no longer any noteworthy opponents in the second year where I am.
Horikita-senpai always avoids me and refuses to fight, so I can only set my sights on the newly enrolled first-years.
The results were as expected.
Mikage Touji, from the first moment I saw you, I felt you were an opponent capable of fighting me!”
The more Nagumo spoke, the more excited he became.
His voice began to tremble as he praised Mikage Touji’s actions over the past two days.
“However, you are still too green right now, and your class hasn’t been unified.
It would be boring to challenge you now.
Wait until you reach the second year.
By then, I expect I’ll be the Student Council President.
You shall be the one to accompany me through the boring times ahead!” Nagumo ran his hand through his hair and pointed confidently at Mikage Touji.
Mikage Touji leaned back.
He couldn’t take it anymore.
‘What kind of person is this?’
He felt like he was looking at a hybrid of a CEO from an old web novel and a “Dragon Proud Sky” protagonist.
Moreover, he was strangely kind—knowing that Touji hadn’t unified his class yet, he specifically left him a year’s time so they could have a “real man’s PK” later.
Silently swallowing a mouthful of rice, Mikage Touji quietly shuffled slightly to the side.
“Ah, haha,” Mikage Touji gave a dry laugh.
“So Senpai came over today specifically to tell me that?”
As for Nagumo’s challenge, he basically let it go in one ear and out the other.
‘You say PK and we PK?
Who does that without any benefits?’
“While that was indeed part of it, my purpose for coming today was to invite you to join the Student Council.” Nagumo ordered a drink, looking like he intended to keep chatting indefinitely.
“Can I ask why?”
“Kouhai, do you think this school’s Class Point system is fair to students who are powerful but stuck in lower classes?”
The school would deliberately place students who were capable but lacking in certain areas into lower classes during placement.
Mikage Touji keenly caught the hidden message.
“Fairness is only relative, I suppose…” Mikage Touji silently accelerated his swallowing.
‘If the enemy won’t leave, I will!’
Nagumo took the iced drink served by the waiter, took a sip, and continued, “You’re not wrong to say that, but I feel the current system doesn’t reflect the school’s meritocracy.
Therefore, I want to change this system.
Regrettably,” Nagumo said with some disappointment, “the current Student Council President, Horikita-senpai, does not recognize my philosophy and has been trying everything to stop me.”
He said it that way, but he could hardly hide his reverence for that Student Council President.
Mikage Touji breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed his target was that Horikita-senpai .
‘My condolences for three minutes.’
“Does Nagumo-senpai admire Horikita-senpai very much?” Mikage Touji decided to further confirm his theory by attempting to guide the conversation.
“Haha, did you see through me?”
Nagumo’s smile froze for an instant.
His fingertips unconsciously rubbed the rim of his glass before he turned frustrated.
“I’ve always wanted to duel Horikita-senpai , but he keeps refusing me!”
‘This tone full of resentment…
is this some neglected wife from a drama complaining about a heartless husband?!’
Mikage Touji usually didn’t believe in intuition, but today, his intuition told him this person was probably seriously ill.
“After I graduate, the reform of the Student Council will need someone to carry it on.
If the next President is one of Horikita-senpai ‘s people who doesn’t recognize my philosophy, all my efforts will be in vain.
So, Kouhai, join the Student Council.”
“The next Student Council President after me will be you.
To an extent, the Student Council can influence school decisions, has the power to recommend exams, and is responsible for approving budget for school clubs—”
“I refuse.” Mikage Touji was decisive.
“May I ask the reason?” Nagumo wasn’t surprised.
“I personally think Kouhai is a perfect fit.”
‘The fact that you think I’m a fit is the problem!
If a cute girl had come to ask, I might have said yes!’
Mikage Touji wailed internally.
‘Does this guy have no self-awareness?’
Yet, his attitude was actually quite good.
For some reason, he had blurted out Student Council intel right away and actively invited him to join.
Now it was hard to even leave.
“I’m not interested in Student Council work.
Furthermore, I believe whether it’s your philosophy or Horikita-senpai ‘s, it makes no difference as long as one is powerful.”
“That’s true, but if—”
Suddenly, a voice like heavenly music cut in forcefully.
“Nagumo, what are you trying to do to my cute Kouhai?”
The second-year Senpai, Kiryuin Fuka, came to the seat next to Mikage Touji and sat down immediately.
Mikage Touji’s eyes sparkled at this moment.
‘Senpai, even though I’ve always thought you were vain and overly strong, right now you are truly cute!’
“Kiryuin,” Nagumo said, his expression unpleasant.
“I still have words to discuss with Mikage-kun.
Please come back later.”
Kiryuin casually tossed her long silver hair, which brushed against the tip of Mikage Touji’s nose.
It was ticklish and carried the scent of shampoo, making him want to sneeze.
“This is a Kouhai who admires me, after all.
I can’t let you have him.
Besides…” Kiryuin Fuka suddenly locked her arm around Mikage Touji’s neck.
“He’s supposed to accompany me shopping.”
”The same familiar strength…
and the same lack of reason…’
Without waiting for Nagumo’s response, Kiryuin dragged Mikage Touji toward the exit.
This move played right into Mikage Touji’s hands.
He feigned struggle but in reality, he accelerated his escape.
‘Goodbye— No!
See you never!’
Outside the restaurant, the two walked side by side.
“Senpai, I’ve suddenly developed a huge admiration for you.”
“Hahaha, is that so?
Do you think I’m cute too?”
“Well, you are, a little.
But how did we suddenly switch to talking about ‘cute’?”
“Because I was always cute.
Make sure to help me carry my things properly in a bit.”
“Huh?
So you didn’t do that to save me?”
“Of course it was to get an extra person to carry my bags.
You could have escaped Nagumo yourself, couldn’t you?”
“I suppose that’s true…”