Hikigaya entered the school designed for those who prioritized strength above all else. Under his sister's insistence, he had set a goal to make ten friends before graduation. Faced with this somewhat challenging task, Hikigaya had opted for a minimalist strategy. "Virtual friends count too. Komachi should understand my approach." Yet, three years had passed since then. As he surveyed the room, Hikigaya found himself surrounded by an array of male and female individuals watching him with a mix of curiosity and desire. Among them were Horikita Suzune, Sakayanagi Arisu, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Kushida Kikyo, Karuizawa Kei, Ryuuen Kareku, and Koenji... Hikigaya couldn't help but sink into a profound sense of self-doubt. "Komachi, are these people my friends?" Note: This is a translation. Original Link: https://trxs.cc/tongren/9314.html
Hikigaya's casual announcement that he had completed all the student council documents left both Student Council President Horikita Manabu and Secretary Tachibana Akane momentarily stunned.
The two of them stared blankly at Hikigaya, and it was Horikita who spoke first, "Bring me the part you've finished."
Clearly, Horikita had never expected Hikigaya to actually finish all the paperwork, so he left some ambiguity in his words, offering Hikigaya a way out if needed.
However, Hikigaya calmly handed over all the documents he had completed, his expression serene as he waited for Horikita's response.
"Hikigaya, no tricks, okay?" Tachibana-senpai chimed in from the side, her tone skeptical. "The president really hates people who don't take their work seriously. If you didn't do it properly, you should apologize now while you still can. Otherwise, I won't be able to help you…"
Hikigaya didn't respond to her.
In his mind, he had already done a great job. Unless Horikita had impossibly high standards, there was no reason for him to be criticized.
In fact, as Horikita reviewed the documents, his expression shifted. Initially hesitant, his face gradually turned more serious as he went through the pages one by one.
He skimmed through the materials swiftly before exhaling and setting them down.
"Hikigaya, have you worked with the student council before?"
"No, I haven't."
Hikigaya had, in the past, been tricked by his classmates into signing up for the student council, but due to his lack of presence and distinguishing traits, he was eliminated in the first round of middle school council interviews.
After that, he never pursued anything related to the student council again and had instead enjoyed a peaceful, idyllic life as a proud member of the Go-Home Club.
"Well, it seems you've got quite the talent."
Horikita gave Hikigaya a long, assessing look. Having dealt with people for so long, he could easily tell that Hikigaya was being completely honest.
It appeared Hikigaya's skill in this area had been lying dormant, hidden from even himself.
That's how people were sometimes.
Some individuals are born with a natural talent in certain areas that sets them apart. Unfortunately, some are able to fully harness their gifts, while others go their whole lives without ever realizing their potential.
Hikigaya's talent was clearly extraordinary—he possessed everything an outstanding individual should have. Yet he behaved as if he were the most ordinary person around.
Had he not come to this school of meritocratic elitism, he might have gone his entire life unnoticed, forever pretending to be a "normal" person.
A whirlwind of thoughts flashed through Horikita's mind as he quickly grasped the entirety of who Hikigaya was.
"Hikigaya, I want you to come to the student council once every two weeks. Not too often. You can coordinate the timing with Tachibana."
"Uh? I don't have to come every day?"
Hikigaya was taken aback, not expecting the student council to be so laid-back.
Horikita adjusted his glasses and shot him a glance. "That's right, no need to come daily. But add me to your contacts. I'll reach out when I need you, and you can't refuse."
"Huh?"
Horikita's words left Hikigaya thoroughly dumbfounded.
The student council president would personally contact him?
"What is going on?"
Hikigaya's mind immediately flooded with terrible thoughts. He clutched his chest in alarm. "President, I sell my talents, not my body!!"
"Give me your number," Horikita Manabu said coldly, his expression unchanging, completely unfazed by Hikigaya's absurd reaction. His icy demeanor made him seem more like a machine than a person.
Hikigaya sighed inwardly at how similar the Horikita siblings were, and with no other choice, he added Manabu's number to his contacts.
Congratulations, his contact list now consisted of two people: his sister Komachi and the student council president. If only the second person had been a cute girl instead of this icy student council president…
Hikigaya officially began his work with the student council. Despite being new to this kind of work, he adapted surprisingly well, quickly handling the chaotic pile of documents from various school departments.
It made him question if he was born to be a corporate slave. Why else would he be so comfortable with the rhythm of work?
Damn it, maybe I really do need to find a rich woman to support me! There's no way I'm working for a living!
After finishing his tasks, Hikigaya left the student council office without looking back. Even though he was now part of the council, he didn't think it would affect him in any significant way.
After all, a rat doesn't become a person just by wearing human clothes.
And I, the rat, can only survive in the sewers.
This sentiment was soon confirmed by his classmates in Class D. When he returned, the majority of them completely ignored his presence, as usual, treating him like he was invisible.
Even though Horikita Suzune was curious about where he had been, she wasn't the type to bother with other people's personal affairs, so she didn't ask.
As a result, Hikigaya's new role in the student council went completely unnoticed by Class D, as if it had never happened.
And for Hikigaya, that was just perfect.
He had no desire to draw anyone's attention for no reason. That would be far too much trouble.
When afternoon classes ended, Hikigaya eagerly prepared to leave the classroom. He wanted to head straight to the library to enjoy some quiet time—and maybe meet Shiina Hiyori again. After all, she was the first person at this school who made him genuinely feel like he wanted to be friends with her.
However, just as he was about to leave, he noticed that the other boys in the classroom had suddenly fallen silent, all of them staring toward the front door.
Hikigaya glanced in that direction and saw a girl with purple hair wearing the school's first-year uniform, her eyes scanning the room as if looking for someone.
Instinctively, Hikigaya figured it had nothing to do with him, so he quietly slipped out through the back door.
One of his best qualities was his ability to avoid getting involved in anything unrelated to him.
Who was that pretty girl? Who was she looking for? What was her goal?
These were the kinds of questions normal students would care about, but Hikigaya didn't even give them a second thought. He had no interest in getting involved.
This habit of not causing trouble for himself had saved him from countless headaches over the years.
But this time, it seemed his luck had run out.
"Shh!"
A sudden and terrifying feeling washed over him, as if a predator's gaze had locked onto him from afar. It felt like he was a creature from ancient times, staring down a dinosaur. The intensity of the danger made him shudder involuntarily.
It must be just my imagination, he tried to convince himself, forcing his feet to keep moving.
"Looks like Kamuro failed again," a crisp voice suddenly said beside him.
Hikigaya looked up instinctively, and when he saw who had spoken, he was rendered speechless.
Silver hair, porcelain skin, delicate features, and a petite frame—the girl stood with a cane in hand, radiating an ethereal, fragile aura that made her seem almost unreal.
She was, without a doubt, a mysteriously frail yet captivating young girl.