Chapter 190 – Grouping

After reading the school's response to the student council, Horikita Manabu looked around and asked, "So far, no issues, right?"

"I have one," Yukio said. He wasn't concerned about what could be modified; this special exam was mainly to fulfill Sakayanagi's obsession and to face off against Class 3-A.

So he immediately pointed out the part he cared about the most in Horikita Manabu's explanation: "The school will give some preferential treatment to first-year students in the workplace assessment?"

"Shouldn't the extent of this preferential treatment be reduced a bit? Otherwise, if I beat President Horikita, it would somewhat feel like an unworthy victory."

Good grief, Kiriyama across the table slightly leaned back, trying to put more distance between himself and Yukio. You couldn't blame him for reacting this way; the competition hadn't even started, and Yukio was already worried about whether winning would be unworthy. Wasn't that too much?

Tachibana was also a bit displeased. In her view, Horikita Manabu would not lose, and Yukio's words somewhat underestimated Horikita Manabu.

Ignoring the thoughts of others, Horikita Manabu calmly adjusted his glasses: "There's no need to worry about that. In fact, this approach is fairer."

"We third-year students have been here longer, with far more personal points available and much more experience. If the school didn't balance it out a bit, it would indeed be quite inconsiderate."

"Besides," Horikita paused here, looking directly at Yukio, "with Nagumo's withdrawal, there's no doubt you'll succeed him as the student council president."

"Although Advanced Nurturing High School doesn't hold election campaigns, you'll at least need to give a speech when the time comes, to announce any changes you envision for the student council."

"Considering all this, you'll have even more to deal with. Even if the school gives first-year students some preferential treatment in the workplace assessment, my chances of winning are still higher."

Yukio looked at Horikita Manabu appreciatively, thinking this person was indeed impressive. He was glad there was a chance to face off in this special exam.

Encountering such a talented individual like Horikita Manabu, if they didn't have a proper confrontation before he graduated, it might indeed leave a regret.

"Alright, if that's the case, then I have no more issues. Let's proceed with the agenda," Yukio gestured for Horikita Manabu to continue the meeting, bringing everyone's attention back to the topic at hand.

Only then did everyone remember, right, they were discussing the special exam. How did they suddenly drift into talking about Yukio becoming the next student council president? They quickly refocused on Horikita Manabu.

However, their hearts were still not at ease. Even though they had known for a long time that Horikita Manabu intended for Yukio to take the position, actually hearing it now made them feel a mix of emotions. It was only the first year, and he was already going to be the student council president.

Kiriyama sighed, thinking that even with Nagumo's withdrawal, it wouldn't have fallen to him. Ichinose, on the other hand, looked at Yukio with shining eyes, thinking how amazing he was.

Noticing everyone's emotions, Horikita Manabu didn't know whether to feel helpless or to sigh. He continued, "The task grouping is straightforward. Because the workplace assessment is too complex..."

"And due to our student council's request, one of the four original tasks for the third years was deemed unsuitable and eliminated. So, the remaining three tasks were expanded accordingly, requiring four classes to participate in each task."

"The school has a unique scoring system that can evaluate each class's contribution to the task, thus determining the ranking of the special assessment."

"However, we in the student council have the authority to discuss which class participates in which task and how to group them."

After explaining the first modifiable aspect, Horikita Manabu focused on Yukio. Though it was a meeting, the decision-making power mainly lay with Yukio and Horikita Manabu.

Yukio didn't mind: "As long as our class and President Horikita's class are in the same task, and also, let Sakayanagi's class and Horikita Suzune's class be grouped in another task."

Upon hearing this, Kiriyama quickly made a request: "Then, in that case, our second-year Class B also wants to be grouped with second-year Class A in a task."

Yukio and Horikita Manabu confronting each other in the same task had been decided early on. Kiriyama, on the other hand, was simply seeing an opportunity to return to Class A now that Nagumo was gone and wanted to compete with the leaderless second-year Class A to take advantage of their situation.

Tachibana, being in the same class as Horikita Manabu, had no significant role in this.

Ichinose looked at Yukio with some confusion. She understood the previous groupings, but why did Yukio want Class D to compete with Sakayanagi's class? Wasn't he planning to suppress these two classes again? After all, Yukio had a history of such actions.

Horikita Manabu had no objections to these plans and turned to the only person who hadn't yet made a suggestion: "What about you, Ichinose? Are you planning to let the school assign randomly?"

Usually, Ichinose would not mind how the school arranged things. No matter who the opponent was, their class could take on the challenge head-on.

But now it's different. If they were randomly assigned and ended up in the same task as Yukio and Horikita Manabu, wouldn't they get caught in the crossfire?

There's often a situation where the first and second place fight, and the third place watching from the side gets caught in the middle and destroyed.

Ichinose, although she hoped to be in the same task as Yukio, was the class president and had to be responsible for her class members. Leading her class into the vortex of Yukio and Horikita Manabu's struggle might result in significant losses.

As for the task involving Sakayanagi's class and Class D, if Yukio intended to suppress them, it would be better not to join in.

Summarizing her thoughts, Ichinose looked at Yukio with slight regret before expressing her opinion: "Our class can be in the same task as Senior Kiriyama. We can learn a lot from him."

"No problem." Kiriyama was quite happy. He was worried about what would happen if they were randomly assigned to a third-year class. With Ichinose joining, at least another class could cushion the impact. He was delighted.

Just kidding, not every first-year student could be a monster like Yukio. Second-year students might not be able to beat Yukio, but surely they could handle Ichinose.

"Then it's decided." After everyone had spoken, Horikita Manabu's gaze moved away from Yukio, staring straight ahead into the air, focusing intently, wanting to hear Yukio's opinion without being noticed: "Next."

"It's about the punishment for poorly performing classes."

He wanted to see if, after Nagumo's withdrawal and with no opponent threatening Yukio's ascent to student council president, Yukio would become like Nagumo or even more radical, seeking greater changes in the school.

This was his biggest concern.

However, Horikita Manabu felt a bit embarrassed. Despite his high concentration, all he could hear was silence. Seeing this, he adjusted his glasses to ease the awkwardness: "Ahem, don't you all have any opinions?"

"No, President." Tachibana quietly reminded: "At least mention some punishment methods, like class points deductions or expulsions."

Horikita Manabu remained composed, as if not embarrassed at all: "That doesn't need to be explained. What are your opinions?"

Yukio found it amusing: "Just deduct some class points. Expelling people all the time is not interesting."

Hearing the words he most wanted to hear, Horikita Manabu finally let go of all his guards and worries. His expression relaxed, and he felt assured that the student council could be handed over peacefully.

***

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