No one in the first year saw it coming. Manabu Horikita, who was only six months away from successfully graduating from Class A, had voluntarily stepped down.
The person elected as the new Student Council President was Katsuragi Ren, who had dropped into the position from First Year Class D out of nowhere.
Ignoring the confused votes of the first years, the second and third years passed the motion unanimously.
This made the entire election process look like a farce.
Upon hearing the news, Arisu Sakayanagi, Ryuen Kakeru, and the others grew even more wary of Ren.
Even when he spent a fortune in personal points to transfer to Class D, they hadn't felt this uneasy.
As for whether Ren might be bored enough to actually help Class D rise to Class A...
No one among the first-year students really believed that.
But now that he had become the Student Council President, would he give special treatment to Class A, which was already effectively under his command?
That was an unpredictable variable.
Student Council Room.
Ren walked lazily into the room, sat in the leather chair that originally belonged to Manabu Horikita, and propped his legs up on the executive desk.
Too comfortable.
"President Katsuragi, please mind your behavior."
Akane Tachibana, who was finally back in her rightful seat as the Student Council Secretary, reminded him stiffly from below.
When Manabu decided to step down, Tachibana had planned to resign along with him.
But before she could act, Manabu stopped her, as if he had seen through her intentions.
The position of Secretary would add a bright spot to her resume, just as the Presidency had done for him. Manabu didn't want her to lose what rightfully belonged to her just because he was leaving.
Tachibana's feelings for Manabu were an open secret. He certainly felt her companionship over the years, and he appreciated it. Her affection shouldn't become a burden to her future.
Under his persuasion, Tachibana gave up the idea of resigning.
However, Manabu hadn't told her the most important reason.
His sister, Suzune Horikita, was also in the Student Council.
He needed a pair of eyes to keep a constant watch on Suzune while she was under Ren's thumb. Tachibana was the perfect candidate.
Since Manabu and she shared an unspoken bond, how could she not care about her future sister-in-law?
Manabu had considered asking Suzune to withdraw privately, but he knew her character too well. Given her stubbornness, she would never listen.
The only saving grace was that, given Ren's current power and status, he probably wouldn't make a move on Suzune. It would be beneath him.
"Secretary Tachibana, there is nothing wrong with my behavior. Manabu Horikita is Manabu Horikita, and I am me. Please don't judge me by his standards."
Leaning back in his chair, Ren felt bored.
"This stage is too small."
Yawning, he stood up from the President's chair and walked toward the door.
"This isn't fun. I quit. Whoever wants this spot can fight for it."
Leaving behind this perfunctory resignation, he walked out without looking back.
[Achievement Unlocked: Become Student Council President at light speed, then resign at light speed.]
"You!!!"
The sound of the door closing startled Tachibana out of her daze.
As the reality of his words sank in, her shock turned to fury.
What did he mean by this? Did he treat the Student Council like a child's game?
He had forced her beloved Manabu to resign, only to quit on the very first day.
This behavior turned all of Manabu's previous sacrifices into a joke.
Look, Manabu.
The throne you guarded so diligently is nothing but trash to him.
Tachibana was obviously overthinking it, analyzing his behavior through the lens of her own despair.
"Vice President Kiryuin?"
Ren's resignation caught everyone off guard.
Helpless against his irresponsibility, the council members turned their eyes to Fuka Kiryuin.
After Manabu resigned, she should have been the next in line. But Ren was an unstoppable force of nature; he was too strong, and Kiryuin had supported him, leading to this situation.
Now that he was gone, they hoped she would step up.
As for fighting for the position themselves? They didn't even dare to dream of it.
In this hierarchy, the seat closest to power is the seat of honor. The fact that Kiryuin sat at Ren's right hand during the restaurant meeting explained everything about her status.
Kiryuin covered her mouth and yawned. She had expected this.
It was perfectly normal for Ren, who was preparing to take over the massive Katsuragi Family, to look down on a mere high school title.
This vacancy was originally prepared for someone in the first year.
Not wanting to waste words, Kiryuin addressed the room indifferently.
"Not interested. Let the fresh blood fight for it."
Currently, the only first-year students in the Student Council were Honami Ichinose from Class A and Suzune Horikita from Class D.
Kiryuin almost said it explicitly: Don't count on me; this position belongs to one of those two.
Truly a lucky girl.
Glancing imperceptibly at Ichinose, Kiryuin had to admit that Ren was too good to her.
A bit too good.
Kiryuin had looked into Ichinose's history before meeting Ren. It was unremarkable.
If she had to say something special about her...
Especially kind? Or perhaps, naively simple?
A boring and useless quality in this school.
Kiryuin didn't understand why Ren chose to project the "normalcy" he never had onto Ichinose, making her his anchor.
Well... whatever.
Let Ren-sama do whatever he wants.
I am his retainer, after all.
"Nothing for me here either. I'm leaving."
After dropping her warning, Kiryuin left the room, bored.
Ichinose and Suzune understood the meaning behind her words immediately.
The two girls locked eyes, and a flame of competition ignited between them.
Ren-kun, I will take the seat of Student Council President!
Ichinose understood that Ren was paving the way for her. She didn't want to disappoint him.
She was determined to win.
Brother, rest assured. I will take back the position that belongs to you and return it to you with my own hands!
Suzune also realized why Ren had let her join the council.
Everything was for this girl named Honami Ichinose. He wanted to use Suzune as a whetstone to sharpen her.
This battle for President was no longer just a confrontation between classes. Suzune didn't believe she was inferior to Ichinose.
This time, she would help her brother.
"Horikita-san, the position of Student Council President will be mine."
Ichinose looked at Suzune with a smile, her usual modesty gone, replaced by a fierce determination.
"Ichinose-san, right back at you."
Suzune's expression remained icy and unchanged.
The tension in the air was thick enough to choke on.
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