The following morning, on the first floor of Keyaki Mall.
Shimizu Akira sat alone on a bench in the lounge area, watching the crowds pass by. Just as Ichinose Honami had ntioned last night, staff mbers were busy putting up Christmas ribbons, bells, and warm, twinkling star lights; the festive atmosphere was already overflowing.
Quite a few students were coming and going, most of them couples acting quite intimate.
Akira had girlfriends too! And quite a few of them! A total of three and a half.
Kushida Kikyo, Kamuro Masumi, Ichinose Honami, and finally, Horikita Suzune. Why was it "half"? Because Suzune hadn't officially admitted it yet!
Since it was Christmas, he intended to ask these few out.
However, Honami was tied down by Student Council business for these two days and couldn't make ti. Kikyo had ssaged saying she would co over around 10:00 PM tonight to spend Christmas Eve with him and "stay the night," telling him to "be prepared"—sothing Akira had been looking forward to for days.
Therefore, the two of them wouldn't be eting during the day today.
As for Masumi, he had sent her a ssage asking if she wanted to hang out, but he hadn't received a reply yet.
Oh, right! There was also Horikita Suzune. Akira sent her a ssage asking if she was free. She replied with a simple "Up to your arrangent," her tone still cool, but Akira tentatively scheduled her date for Christmas Day itself. He received a reply agreeing almost instantly. It seed she was just pretending not to care. He could give her the gift then.
Akira checked the ti again; it was nearly 9:30 AM. At 9:50 AM, Horikita Manabu appeared punctually.
They walked into a cafe, chose a window seat, and ordered coffee. Manabu wore a plain black coat and walked with a steady pace. Even though he had graduated from the Student Council, he still carried the dignity of a "forr President."
He sat across from Akira and gave a slight nod to the waiter. "Aricano, please."
"Shimizu," Manabu said, looking directly at him.
"Let's skip the pleasantries. I only have one sester left until graduation, so ti is short. I'll state my terms directly: I need you to counter Nagumo Miyabi. If necessary, pull him down from his position as Student Council President."
It was exactly what Akira had guessed. After all, during that dinner with Suzune, Tachibana Akane, and Manabu, the forr President had already hinted at this.
"Alright, I agree."
"A very blunt answer. I thought you would deflect as you did last ti."
"I've been looked after by you many tis, Horikita-senpai. Since this is your final request before graduation, I have no reason to refuse." Akira gave a slight bow.
In this school, the third-year seniors he truly respected were only President Horikita and Sato from the Boxing Club. Especially the forr.
From renting the surveillance caras in the first month to resolving the bill at Kikyo's parfait shop, to tricking Nagumo, handling Sakura Airi's stalker incident, getting Honami into the Student Council, and resolving the bet between Kikyo and Suzune—and recently even teaching him chess—Akira had owed Manabu a huge favor since the first month.
No matter what, he couldn't refuse. He wasn't Nagumo or Ryuen; one has to show gratitude.
"But to be honest, I'm not sure what 'countering Nagumo' looks like specifically. We aren't in the sa school year... Do you want to collect dirt on him and bring him down in one go?" Akira thought for a mont and asked.
"Originally, my plan was for you to join the Student Council directly. But you've resisted that, and given your personality, you might be better suited for the shadows." Manabu paused.
"So, the next best thing is for Suzune to join the Student Council, and through your influence over her, you can balance Nagumo from behind the scenes."
"Using Suzune? Making her my puppet?" Akira frowned.
"Isn't that a bit of a high-stakes gamble? Wait... does Suzune know about this? Have you asked her?"
"No. But that's not important." Manabu adjusted his glasses slightly.
"Why, do you need to call her now?"
To him, a re sister wasn't as important as Akira.
Akira's lip twitched.
"Please don't! Don't call her, I'm begging you."
The last ti Manabu called, Suzune was awkward for the entire sumr break. He had finally secured a date for tomorrow; if she got into a mood and didn't co, what then? If her intimacy points dropped to zero, he'd have to start soothing her all over again.
"How about this: I'll personally ask Suzune tomorrow if she's interested in joining. She's keen on self-improvent, so she might agree. However, I don't intend to manipulate her from behind as you suggested," Akira said seriously.
"Since you want to counter Nagumo, I'll do it myself. In the cross-year special exams every year, I'll find ways to suppress him and reduce Class A's points as much as possible. Also, if there are other factions or movents against Nagumo on your end, I can cooperate and join the discussions. How does that sound?"
Manabu's expression softened, and he gave a slight nod. As expected of Akira, he was thorough.
"I have no objection. In fact, just as you guessed, there are others in the Student Council who dislike Nagumo. Kiriyama Ikuto of Class 2-B will be your contact. You can communicate regularly to discuss specifics."
"Vice President Kiriyama?" Akira was genuinely surprised.
"I heard... he was personally promoted by Nagumo? He's a conservative too?"
"Strictly speaking, Kiriyama Ikuto was the mber with the highest votes in the second year besides Nagumo. He was forced into the Vice President role only because he didn't have enough votes," Manabu explained calmly.
"Like , he doesn't agree with the new policies Nagumo is pushing. Furthermore... he was originally a student of Class 2-A. He was forced down to Class B after Nagumo led Class B to rise.
While Kiriyama appears to obey Nagumo on the surface, he's actually just waiting for a chance to bring him down. I hope you won't reveal this to anyone."
"Fine, I got it." Akira was shocked. This Vice President... was a spy? You really couldn't tell from his straight-laced appearance! Co to think of it, if he's in Class 2-B, isn't he in the sa class as Kiryuin Fuka? Those two... didn't look like they'd ever get along.
"You don't need to overcomplicate it," Manabu said to the pensive Akira.
"While ousting Nagumo as President is a direct thod, changing his 'ritocracy' mindset is also a solution."
"Changing Nagumo... that counts as a solution?"
"Why wouldn't it? As long as the order of this school is maintained. You should be able to do it. After all, even soone as awkward as Suzune at the start of the year has been mostly 'corrected' by you."
"Uh... Horikita-senpai, you're being too idealistic." Akira waved his hand dismissively.
"I'll take the first option—the head-on clash. I have zero interest in reforming that guy."
How were they the sa? Suzune was soone he liked, and she was capable of self-reflection and change.
But Nagumo? Just looking at him was annoying; where would he find the patience to reform him? Besides, why would Nagumo listen to him? The man didn't even care about what Horikita Manabu said.
Afterward, Akira received Kiriyama Ikuto's contact info from Manabu. He sent a friend request, but there was no imdiate response. With business finished, Akira took out two elegantly wrapped gift boxes from his pocket.
"By the way, President, these are Christmas gifts for you and Tachibana Akane-senpai. rry Christmas."
"Oh? Thank you." Manabu took the boxes and thought for a mont.
"I didn't prepare anything for you... Tell you what, I'll transfer 200,000 points to you and Suzune each as a Christmas gift."
Manabu picked up his phone. Akira's notification pinged—200,000 points received. As expected of the forr President, he was decisive.
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.
.
Ryuen Kakeru walked alone, wearing a thin black coat with his hands in his pockets. However, his face—which usually wore an arrogant sneer—was now covered in several bandages. Not far behind, Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Kyogo, and Kondo Reo were catching up quickly.
"Ryuen-san! Wait for us!"
"Ryuen! You're walking too fast!"
Ryuen spun around.
"Shut up! I told you not to follow ! I'm not the leader of Class D anymore, and I transferred all the points to you at the rooftop that day!"
"But without you, it feels like sothing is missing!"
"Exactly! What are we supposed to do without you!"
"Get lost! Go find Shiina or Kaneda! They can manage the class without !" Ryuen feigned a kick at the three.
"Are your brains full of water? Didn't I tell you that day I don't plan to drop out?! Can't I just have so peace? You really want to die?!"
"But..."
"It's so lonely, Ryuen-san..."
"Make sure you eat three als a day! We'll worry!"
The three finally left the mall reluctantly. Just then, Akira, having left the cafe, happened to walk nearby.
Ryuen was about to move when he caught sight of him. The two locked eyes for a second. Ryuen started to pull his usual mocking smile, but his lip only twitched. In the end, he said nothing and walked straight past Akira.
Akira didn't greet him either and walked out of Keyaki Mall. It seed the blow on the rooftop was quite heavy for that guy.
From Ishizaki's words, he had actually considered dropping out.
He was pulled back by those three? Those guys were truly Ryuen's friends.
.
.
.
Kamuro Masumi couldn't help but peek at her phone.
Shimizu Akira: Are you free these next two days?
He had asked her out. Since they were a couple, she should have been free. When she woke up this morning, she was planning how to spend Christmas with him. But... she had been intercepted by Sakayanagi Arisu.
That woman said sothing about "important matters needing your company today." She didn't want to agree until Sakayanagi added: "100,000 points for one day."
Just for one day's company, she could earn 100,000 points? It sounded like a rare bit of extra cash. She couldn't keep asking Akira for money forever.
Plus, she had been in the Art Club for a long ti and wanted to buy a new canvas—this was the perfect opportunity.
She finally replied.
Kamuro Masumi: Idiot, I'm free tomorrow.
"Hehe, our Kamuro is the best to after all~" Sakayanagi Arisu, walking slowly with her cane, chuckled softly.
"Unlike a certain soone who wouldn't even agree for 100,000 points."
"Hah?! Who's being good to you! This is a fair trade!"
Masumi retorted imdiately. She didn't quite catch the hidden aning. Who was "a certain soone"? Was that person an idiot? Getting 100,000 points just to look after this princess
for a day was a great deal. Even if her math wasn't great, she could calculate this: 10 days was 1 million, 100 days was 10 million! If she worked hard for 200 days, she'd have 20 million points!
The two walked toward the school building. Two people were already waiting at the entrance. Masumi looked up. One was Shiina Hiyori, a rare friend of Sakayanagi's; the other was a girl with short blue hair... Ibuki Mio?
Sakayanagi stepped forward.
"Shiina-san, good morning. rry Christmas."
"You too, Sakayanagi-san. rry Christmas."
"Without further ado, let's go see the Chairman."
"Yes, thank you."
Masumi and Ibuki followed silently behind. Both were the quiet type, though they had t once while watching a movie. Ibuki glanced at Masumi's cold profile.
"I didn't expect you to be working for Sakayanagi. Tsk tsk."
"Who's working for her!" Masumi corrected instantly.
"She just paid to be a bodyguard for a day."
Honestly, whenever she was around Sakayanagi, soone asked that. She didn't belong to any faction; she was just a freelance rcenary, okay?
Ibuki didn't actually care if Masumi was loyal to Sakayanagi. Her mind was still on the topic she discussed with Hiyori.
"I heard... you and Shimizu Akira are dating?"
"Ah? So what if we are?" Masumi was a bit proud at first, then beca wary.
"What do you want? Co to think of it, you were staring at us during the movie... you don't like him too, do you?"
"Hah?! Who likes him! What nonsense are you talking!" Ibuki was annoyed.
"I was staring because you were doing that 'Ah—' thing for him!"
"What's wrong with 'Ah—'? It's normal for couples! We've even kissed!"
"I can't believe you can say sothing so embarrassing with a straight face..."
"Are you even a high schooler? Do your parents have to cover your eyes or change the channel when a romance movie cos on at ho?"
'Who lets their parents cover their eyes! At our house, kids are expected to close their eyes while the adults watch with interest!'
Ibuki complained internally. But she realized she was asking too much. As long as it wasn't illegal, a couple could do whatever they wanted; it was none of her business.
"So, you should know about Shimizu Akira's 'harem' thing, right? You actually agreed? No objections? You must really like him." Ibuki was blunt and threw out the question she wanted to ask most.
"Who-who likes him! Don't talk nonsense! Who said I had no objections... I only agreed because he threatened !" Masumi's face reddened as she retorted.
'You're lying through your teeth!'
With her face red all the way to her ears, even Ibuki could tell she was being dishonest. Was Akira really that charming? To have so many girlfriends and make them all agree to a harem?
"You two have really hit it off, haven't you? Made friends?" Sakayanagi, having stopped in front of the Chairman's office, turned back with Hiyori and saw the two followers chatting away.
"Who's her friend!"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Masumi and Ibuki imdiately split up, standing on either side of the pair. Hiyori couldn't help but shake her head—when two tsunderes t, this was the result. Sakayanagi knocked on the office door.
"Chairman, do you have a mont?"
There was a frantic noise from inside, like sothing falling. Before they could push the door, it was opened from within.
"Oh? Arisu! My daughter is here! Co in, co in!" Sakayanagi Narumori stood at the door with a warm but rushed smile.
"Ah... ahem, Shiina-san, Kamuro-san, Ibuki-san are here too! Sorry, I was just doing sothing a bit undignified..." He cleared his throat awkwardly.
Sakayanagi Arisu sighed. "Father, didn't I say? I'll call you 'Father' in private, but call you 'Chairman' in official settings."
"Oh, right, right! Please co in, students."
The group entered the office. Hiyori saw Arisu step forward and bend over to pick up scattered docunts. Even though her body was weak, she had set down her cane to do it. The relationship between this father and daughter was clearly very good.
"Ahem! Arisu, stop that!" Narumori said anxiously.
"Fine, I'll pick them up. You talk business." Masumi huffed and stepped forward to tidy up efficiently.
Arisu glanced at her, said nothing, leaned back on her cane, and turned to her father. "Chairman, we're here today about the issue with the Class D dorm air conditioning."
Narumori's expression beca serious as he sat behind his desk.
"I noticed that too. But in principle, the school and the Board shouldn't interfere directly in student affairs. Usually, you should go through the Student Council, and they would negotiate with ."
"But the proposal to reduce Class D's treatnt was made by the Student Council itself," Hiyori said calmly.
"As you know, winter temperatures are dropping, and nearly ten students have caught colds. It's affecting their health and studies."
"Is that so? The Student Council... didn't report that to ."
Narumori was visibly stunned.
"Nagumo only told that many students had already rented air conditioners from the school. He submitted a list of over twenty people with contracts. He also stated that Class D's motivation in the last special exam improved because of it—that's why neither I nor the Board raised any objections."
"Hehe." Arisu laughed softly, turned, and poured her father a fresh cup of tea.
"Chairman, it seems President Nagumo was being sneaky with you. As you know, he practically controls all four classes in the second year and has started ddling in the third year. This person... likely intentionally had a few Class D subordinates rent units, then made Class D 'perform excellently' in the exam to silence your doubts. Don't be fooled by him."
She had to take this chance to sar Nagumo!
During the sports festival, that guy had mocked her to her face.
Arisu always paid back her debts ten-fold. Besides, who said she wasn't telling the truth?
"Is that so?! Co to think of it, President Horikita's 10 million points last ti were taken from Nagumo Miyabi." Narumori's face turned grim.
Seeing this, Arisu glanced at Hiyori. Hiyori nodded.
"Chairman, the students with colds have already decided: if they still have fevers when the third sester starts, they plan to take collective leave and stop attending classes."
"What?!" Narumori was stunned again.
"If a dozen people have colds, it can easily spread to others. Not just the class, but the whole year could be affected. Rather than dragging others down, they'd rather recover in the dorms."
"Recovering in the dorms? Without AC, they'll only get worse!" Narumori blurted out.
"Exactly! Christmas is almost here, followed by the New Year... my classmates are all running high fevers and can't even go out!
Ibuki raised her voice too.
"Chairman, the school promotes class treatnt reform to increase motivation, right? If our health is ruined, what motivation is there? Isn't this putting the cart before the horse? Does Nagumo only get happy if we all drop out?"
"Father, I believe President Nagumo went too far this ti. I heard many Class D students complained, but he brushed them off. His intention... is likely just to save face and delay things."
Narumori was completely speechless.
His gaze fell on his desk. There was a docunt about the cross-year special exam for the third sester; a partial list of participants was already drafted. If a group of Class D students took collective leave, the exam next month wouldn't even be able to take place.
Narumori said solemnly, "I understand. I will report the issue of the AC and dorm treatnt to the Board imdiately. If all goes well, we'll reinstall the AC for you tonight. You're right... I was negligent. I'm sorry Class D had to suffer during this ti."
Hiyori finally sighed in relief.
"Please don't bla yourself; it's not your fault. It's just that President Nagumo's system had loopholes, so we had to skip levels to report it..."
"Nagumo's steps... were indeed too large this ti."
Narumori frowned.
"Rest assured, I will contact Nagumo Miyabi and have him co to my office imdiately. A few days ago, I specifically called to ask if any students had fevers... anyway, I will make him provide compensation and a public apology."
"Well then, we'll take our leave." Arisu smiled contentedly.
.
.
.
After leaving the office, the four stopped in the quiet hallway. Hiyori turned to Arisu and bowed deeply.
"Sakayanagi-san, thank you so much. Without you, Class D alone couldn't have pushed this through."
"No need to thank ," Arisu waved it off. "I just did what I should, and made Nagumo Miyabi uncomfortable along the way."
Ibuki huffed. "You're really not honest when you talk."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Ibuki-san," Arisu replied with a smile.
Masumi couldn't help but ask, "So, after this, will that Nagumo guy be ousted?"
Arisu giggled. Masumi was so funny!
Hiyori kindly explained, "No. The school's policy generally doesn't over-interfere in student autonomy; the President is elected by second and third-year students. If not for the collective cold, even the Chairman wouldn't have stepped in easily. Besides... President Nagumo only just took office."
"However, he won't escape a public apology, compensation, and a lower evaluation from the school," Arisu added with a smile.
"He can forget about making major changes to school policy from now on! For him, that's the harshest lesson."
Arisu turned to Masumi.
"Thanks for picking up the docunts for , Kamuro. I've transferred the 100,000 points."
"Tsk, no need for thanks." Masumi looked away. "But that was the first ti I've seen you set down your cane to pick things up... usually you make your underlings do that in class."
"Mhm, because those were important docunts for my father," Arisu answered softly.
"Besides... I plan to spend Christmas with him. Soone recently reminded to pay more attention to him."
After a brief silence, Ibuki suddenly spoke.
"Hey, Sakayanagi."
"Mhm?"
"Your father... is a good man." Ibuki looked away, her tone awkward.
"Even if he seems a bit airheaded, Class D won't bla him. It's all that Nagumo guy's fault."
Arisu was stunned, then smiled.
"Thank you. I'll pass that along to him."
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