The final bell echoed through the hallway, unleashing a stream of students from Class A—my Class A, now.
One month. Just one month to lift these raw diamonds to the top of the official hierarchy. The feat still sent ripples through the walls of Ikusei Academy.
Beside me, Hasebe Haruka.
"Seriously, Rokuu, did you see Yamauchi's face when Kushida said she studied with you? He was green!" She burst out laughing, and I couldn't help but smile.
Hasebe, with her boundless energy, was one of the few unfazed by my presence. She treated me as an equal, which was both refreshing and… almost distracting.
"Jealousy's a strong motivator, Haruka, but rarely effective. Yamauchi should learn to channel his emotions." My voice was calm, but my mind was already drifting.
Class D—or rather, Class A now—was a masterpiece in progress. One month. A feat even the teachers struggled to grasp. But this was just the start. The top of the world awaited, and I had no plans to stop.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen. Unknown number.
Intriguing.
I signaled Hasebe to slow down and answered.
"Kōenji Rokusuke. Who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?"
A calm, authoritative voice came through. "Horikita Manabu, student council president. I'd like to speak with you. Are you available now?"
President Horikita.
Interesting.
His tone was direct, but there was an odd nuance, like he was weighing every word.
I glanced at Hasebe, who raised a curious eyebrow.
"Where would you like to meet, senpai?" I asked, keeping my voice light.
"At the student council office. I'll be waiting."
He hung up without waiting for my reply. Typical. A man who didn't waste time on pointless formalities.
Hasebe crossed her arms. "Who was that? You look… weird."
I pocketed my phone and gave her a smile. "Important business, Haruka. I'm afraid our walk ends here."
She narrowed her eyes, not buying it. "Always so mysterious, huh? Well, don't get too full of yourself, Rokuu." She gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder before walking off, her laughter ringing in the air.
I watched her go, then turned toward the administrative building. My thoughts raced.
Horikita Manabu. The current peak. The North Star of this academy.
A wave of curiosity surged through me. Why call me directly? The approach was… unusual. Too personal for a mere formal exchange.
The president's office wasn't a place you visited by chance.
Why now? After our rise? Was it acknowledgment? A warning? Or… the start of a new game?
At the imposing door, I knocked twice sharply.
"Enter."
Manabu's voice carried through the wood. I pushed the door open.
The office was spacious, minimalist, functional. Shelves lined with neatly organized files, a large bay window with a commanding view of the campus. And behind the wide desk, Horikita Manabu. He looked up from some documents, his gaze as sharp and probing as I remembered from the novel. He embodied efficiency and absolute authority.
"President Horikita," I greeted, bowing with measured respect—neither too deep nor too shallow. Just enough to acknowledge his position without seeming submissive.
"Koenji." He set down his pen. "Sit."
"Thank you." I took the chair across from him, sitting upright, hands on my knees. Confident, but attentive.
He studied me, likely dissecting every micro-expression. I met his gaze, a faint smile on my lips. Silence stretched, a silent duel before words were even exchanged.
Finally, he spoke, his voice as controlled as ever. "You answered my call promptly. I appreciate that. But one thing puzzles me." He tilted his head slightly. "Why wait for my invitation? A man of your… abilities and recent achievements could have easily requested an audience himself. Why the passivity?"
Ah, there it is.
The core of it. He was testing my motives, my initiative, my hunger for recognition or power.
It's always better, President, to be the one sought out, the one drawn forward. Being the invited rather than the seeker grants a… different position. More advantageous. You're listened to with heightened attention. You're given inherent value. Coming myself could've been seen as chasing validation, or worse, intruding. But now…
I kept those thoughts to myself, letting only a glint of calculation show in my eyes. "Let's just say, President, I prefer to read the current before deciding where to swim. And an invitation from you carries… significant weight. It'd be rude not to acknowledge such a gesture."
A slight nod, almost imperceptible. Approval? Or just recognition of a deft response?
"Observant. Cautious. Essential qualities." He clasped his hands on his desk. "Your class's rise, Koenji. From Class D to Class A in a month. It's unprecedented in this academy's history. A striking display of strength and coordination. The whole school's talking about it. The teachers are… intrigued. Even impressed."
"We're only in the first semester, President," I countered with feigned humility, a small hand gesture. "The path to the true summit is still long. The challenges are just beginning."
And I'm looking forward to them, I added mentally.
"Modesty's a virtue, Koenji, but don't hide the truth," he replied, a faint smile touching his lips. It was almost disarming. "I've seen enough leaders—or those who think they are—to recognize true potential. What you've pulled off, how you united and leveraged every one of your class, even the most… reluctant… it goes beyond mere skill. It's pure leadership. Visionary."
The compliment was weighty, deliberate. Coming from him, it was monumental recognition. But I stayed wary. Manabu didn't dish out praise for free.
There was a "but" hanging in the air.
He leaned forward, opening a desk drawer. He pulled out an official sheet of paper and slid it toward me.
"As Student Council President, and recognizing the exceptional talent needed to maintain this academy's balance and excellence…" His voice grew graver, more significant. "…I formally offer you a position on the Council. Effective immediately. Your place is there, starting now."
My eyes landed on the enrollment form. The Council's seal gleamed at the top.
A door to the heart of student power. A golden chance to shape rules, access privileged info, and solidify Class A's position.
Reach the top of the world? The Council was a crucial step. One reason I skipped joining a club.
I looked up at him, one eyebrow slightly raised. "An incredible offer, President. I'm honored. However…" I paused, locking eyes with his. "…aren't you really trying to probe my true ambitions? To understand what I'd do with this position?"
He was silent for a moment, then an almost imperceptible sigh escaped him. He leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting to the window briefly. "You're sharp, Koenji. Sharper than I expected." He looked back at me, and for the first time, I thought I caught a flicker that wasn't just the ruthless leader.
Was it… weariness? Concern?
"I'll graduate at the end of this year," he said, his voice quieter. "My influence here will end. My concern isn't for me, or even the Council's immediate stability." He paused, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk. "It's about… someone. Someone rather… frustrating. Stubborn. Unable to see their own potential or the importance of living for themselves."
Suzune.
The name hit me like a bolt. His little sister. Manabu's quiet obsession.
He doesn't want me for the Council itself, or even against Nagumo. He wants me for her? Didn't see that coming.
A genuine smile, laced with amused irony, spread across my lips.
Ah, family drama. Even at the top, it catches up.
"I see," I murmured, my voice carrying an understanding far beyond the words spoken. "A particularly irritating person, indeed. But, I suspect, one with significant potential, stubbornly buried."
Manabu neither confirmed nor denied. His gaze just grew more intense, awaiting my final answer.
I reached out and picked up the form. The paper was smooth, almost cold under my fingers. I folded it carefully and tucked it into my jacket's inner pocket.
"Very well, President Horikita," I said, standing with quiet confidence. "I accept your invitation." I bowed slightly, my smile widening, now tinged with eager challenge. "I promise to uphold the Council's standards… and to take good 'care' of that frustrating person you're so fond of. Count on me."
I turned and headed for the door, feeling his heavy gaze on my back. As my hand touched the handle, his stoic voice rang out one last time:
"Welcome to the Council, Koenji. Make sure your rise… lasts."
I didn't look back. I just stepped out, the door closing softly behind me.
Lasting? I thought, walking with purpose, the form in my pocket. I'm counting on it, Horikita Manabu.
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