After finishing his squabble with Morishita Ai, Fuyuji Mikage descended from the stairwell and leisurely made his way down.
Passing by Class C, a red-haired guy with a center-parted hairstyle, looking much like a delinquent, was fighting with other students, cursing up a storm even as he brawled.
Then he was knocked out in one punch by a hulking black guy wearing sunglasses.
Fuyuji Mikage watched, the corner of his eye twitching. This guy counts as a high schooler too?
He quickened his pace to leave this den of trouble, lest the flames of war reach the innocent fish in the pond.
Tokyo's cherry blossoms, after their full bloom period had ended, were beginning to fall in droves. Petals landed on the ground, mixing with the soil, turning a grayish-white. Some evaded the soil, scattered sparsely across the school path.
Casually brushing off a cherry blossom petal clinging to his face, Fuyuji Mikage began to amble lazily about.
The school's true intentions had been figured out, and he himself wasn't at risk of expulsion for the time being. Next, as long as he severely KFC'd Katsuragi, he could coast through a pleasant campus life.
Approaching mealtime, he casually walked into a restaurant and picked up the menu on the table.
In the end, Fuyuji Mikage ordered a pork cutlet set meal. This was one of the dishes he found enjoyable.
Just as Fuyuji Mikage was rubbing his hands together, ready to eat, a yellow-haired guy, wearing a self-assured smile, walked straight over and sat down opposite Fuyuji Mikage.
Fuyuji Mikage: "?"
"Um... do we know each other?"
"No, we don't."
The guy ran a hand through his yellow mop of hair, his words exuding confidence.
"So I came by today to get to know you, Kouhai. I'm Nagumo Miyabi, the Student Council Vice President."
"..."
This guy is so greasy!
After mulling it over briefly, Fuyuji Mikage figured out the crux of the matter and asked, surprised: "Did Upperclassman Nagumo notice me when I was scouting the second-year area a couple of days ago, or does the Student Council really have so much authority that it even has access to the surveillance footage?"
Fuyuji Mikage prided himself on not having done anything particularly conspicuous these last two days. The only possible exception was that time he was dragged off by a senpai in the second-year area.
Aside from that, only the school's surveillance monitors clearly knew what he'd been up to. And this yellow-haired upperclassman before him had just said he was the Student Council Vice President...
Nagumo Miyabi's eyes lit up abruptly. He clapped his hands in admiration. "As expected of the student who figured out the existence of the 'S-System' within just a few days of enrollment. Completely different from some of the incompetent fools in the Student Council."
"You could say it's both. A couple of days ago, someone in my class told me an unfamiliar student was lurking near the classroom. I'd wanted to get to know you then, but I didn't expect Kiryuuin to beat me to it."
"Um, Upperclassman Nagumo, is it okay for you to tell me this?" Fuyuji Mikage hinted pointedly.
"Oh, this... Since you already know the answer, the gag order naturally no longer applies to you."
Fuyuji Mikage lowered his eyelids. It wasn't strange that Nagumo Miyabi knew he'd figured out the truth about the S-System. After all, Fuyuji Mikage hadn't intended to evade the school's cameras from the beginning.
Nagumo Miyabi leaned back, settling into a more comfortable posture. "Did you not attend the club fair the day before yesterday? The Student Council indeed possesses considerable special privileges at this school and will assist the administration in governing."
At that time, he had been locked in a battle of wits and courage with Morishita Ai. He hadn't paid the slightest attention to things like club presentations.
"Is there something Nagumo-senpai sought me out for?"
Fuyuji Mikage had no intention of continuing the conversation. He picked up his chopsticks and began eating heartily. This kind of approach, anyone with half a brain would take the hint and leave on their own... right?
Nagumo Miyabi, as if receiving no cue whatsoever, continued on his own, "To observe whether you'll be qualified to become my opponent in the future."
Fuyuji Mikage was somewhat losing his composure. This was no longer just confidence; this was pure, unadulterated narcissistic delusion.
As he spoke, Nagumo Miyabi revealed an excited smile. "To be honest, in my second year, there are no longer any noteworthy opponents. That Horikita-senpai always avoids engaging with me, too. So I could only set my sights on the newly enrolled first-years."
"As expected, Fuyuji Mikage. The moment I first laid eyes on you, I felt you were an opponent worthy of battling me!"
Nagumo Miyabi grew more and more animated as he spoke, his voice starting to quiver. He began praising Fuyuji Mikage's actions over the past two days.
"But you're still far too green right now. Your class hasn't been unified either. It would be dull to challenge you now. Not until you advance to the second year—by then, I'll probably have become the Student Council President. You can accompany me through the boring times ahead!" Nagumo Mikabi ran a hand through his hair and pointed confidently at Fuyuji Mikage.
Fuyuji Mikage leaned back. He couldn't take it anymore. What kind of person was this? Why did he get the vibe of an amalgamation of an overbearing CEO and a young master from those old-school novels?
And he was oddly considerate, too. Knowing Fuyuji Mikage hadn't consolidated his class yet, he specially left him a whole year. A true man's PK after one year.
Silently swallowing a mouthful of rice, Fuyuji Mikage quietly scooted a bit to the side.
"Ahaha," Fuyuji Mikage gave two dry laughs, "So Nagumo-senpai came here today specifically to tell me this?"
"Though that is indeed part of it, the purpose of my visit today is to invite you to join the Student Council." Nagumo Miyabi ordered a drink, looking as if he intended to chat for a long while.
"May I ask why?"
"Kouhai, do you think this school's Class Points system is fair to students who are powerful but placed in the lower classes?"
The school would deliberately place some capable students with certain deficiencies into the lower classes during class allocation. Fuyuji Mikage keenly detected the hidden information within.
"Fairness is just relative, isn't it..." Fuyuji Mikage silently accelerated his swallowing speed. The foe won't leave, so I will!
Nagumo Miyabi took the cold drink handed over by the server, had a sip, and continued, "You're not entirely wrong in saying so. But I feel the current system fails to embody the school's meritocracy. Therefore, I want to change this system."
"Unfortunately," Nagumo Miyabi said with some regret, "the current Student Council President, that is, Horikita-senpai, does not approve of my philosophy and has been trying every means to stop me."
Even as he said this, it was still difficult to hide Nagumo Miyabi's esteem for that Student Council President.
Hearing this, Fuyuji Mikage secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed his target was that Horikita-senpai. Three minutes of silence for him.
"Nagumo-senpai greatly admires Horikita-senpai?" Fuyuji Mikage decided to further confirm his deduction and attempted to steer the topic.
"Haha, you saw through that?"
Nagumo Miyabi's smile froze rigid for an instant. His fingertips unconsciously rubbed the glass wall. Then he became vexed again.
"I've always wanted to duel Horikita-senpai, but he keeps refusing me!"
This tone so laden with resentment... was this some lamenting lady accusing a faithless lover?!
All along, Fuyuji Mikage hadn't put much stock in the concept of intuition. But today, his intuition told him: this person probably has some serious issues.
"After I graduate, the reforms of the Student Council need someone to carry them on. If the subsequent Student Council President is one of Horikita-senpai's people and doesn't approve of my philosophy, all my efforts will have been in vain."
"So, Kouhai, join the Student Council."
Nagumo Miyabi propped both hands on the table, his gaze burning intensely as he stared at Fuyuji Mikage.
"The next Student Council President after me will be you. The Student Council can influence the school administration's decisions to a certain degree, holds recommendation rights for exams, and is also in charge of approving school club budgets—"
"I refuse." Fuyuji Mikage said decisively.
"May I know the reason?" Nagumo Miyabi wasn't particularly surprised. "I personally think you're truly very suitable, Kouhai."
That's exactly the problem—that you think so!! If it were some young lady asking, I might just agree!
Fuyuji Mikage wailed inwardly. Does this person have zero self-awareness?
The worst part was his attitude was genuinely good. For some unknown reason, he'd laid out all the Student Council's information right from the start, proactively invited him to join. Now it was even awkward to just leave.
"I'm not interested in the Student Council's work. Furthermore, I believe whether it's your philosophy, Upperclassman Nagumo, or Horikita-senpai's, as long as one's own strength is great, there's no difference."
"That's true too, but if—"
Suddenly, a heavenly voice forcibly inserted itself: "Nagumo, what are you doing to my adorable kouhai?"
Second-year senpai Kiryuin Fuka came to the seat beside Fuyuji Mikage and sat right down.
Fuyuji Mikage's eyes sparkled brightly in that instant. Senpai, although I've always thought you're not just vain but also monstrously strong, right now you're truly adorable!
"Kiryuin," Nagumo Miyabi said with a displeased expression, "I still have matters to discuss with Fuyuji-kun. I'll trouble you to come back later."
Kiryuin casually flicked her long silver-white hair, sending the ends up to the tip of Fuyuji Mikage's nose. It tickled, carrying the scent of shampoo, making him feel slightly like sneezing.
"After all, he's a kouhai who admires me. I can't let you have him. Also..." Kiryuin Fuka clamped an arm around Fuyuji Mikage's neck, "he's supposed to accompany me shopping."
It was that familiar force... that same unreasonableness...
Without waiting for Nagumo Miyabi's response, Kiryuin was already dragging Fuyuji Mikage toward the doorway.
This move was exactly what Fuyuji Mikage wanted. He feigned struggling, yet in truth hastened his escape.
Goodbye—
No! Farewell forever!
Outside the restaurant, the two walked side by side.
"Senpai, I suddenly admire you so much."
"Hahaha, really? Do you think I'm adorable too?"
"Though that is indeed somewhat the case, how did it suddenly turn to 'adorable'?"
"Because I am adorable to begin with. You'll have to properly help me carry my things later."
"Huh? So it wasn't to save me originally?"
"Of course it was to have one extra person to carry my bags. You could have gotten rid of Nagumo on your own, couldn't you?"
"That's not wrong either..."
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