Vol. 6 Chp. 1: Childhood Friend

The sports festival ended in mid-October, around the time of year when it started getting chilly.

After a recent general election, the school organized a grand handover ceremony at the gymnasium to welcome the new student council leader. The event brought together students from across the school. Although some first-year students found the event unexciting and struggled to stay awake, they tried to remain silent and control their breathing to avoid the notice of teachers and seniors.

"Here are some final remarks from President Horikita of the student council."

Following the moderator's speech, Horikita Manabu slowly approached the microphone on the stage.

As Horikita oversaw her brother's resignation, she gazed at him firmly. If this were the younger Horikita, merely seeing her brother onstage would likely have made her cringe.

"I am proud and grateful to have been able to lead the student council for almost two years. Thank you very much."

After making a brief, solemn statement, Horikita's brother quietly retreated to his original position without any emotional or moving words. The retirement ceremony, however, was not over yet, as the student council officers on the stage remained standing with a firm and unyielding posture.

"Student president Horikita has worked so hard for you all. Now, please welcome the new student council president, a second-year student of Class A, Miyabi Nagumo."

The new student council president, Miyabi Nagumo, stepped up to the microphone. On the stage, Ichinose watched warmly among the other council members.

"I am Miyabi Nagumo of the second year's Class A. President Horikita; I appreciate your strict and kind guidance. I am honored and would like to pay tribute to you. I am thankful for being able to accompany the legendary president, who has played one of the greatest leadership roles in the history of this school."

With that, he bowed deeply in the direction of Horikita's brother and then re-faced the students.

"Let me introduce myself again. My name is Miyabi Nagumo. I will be the next student president of Advanced Nurturing High School. Please take care of me."

During the sports festival, I noticed a change in Nagumo's behavior. He appeared polite and gentle, and his demeanor during the relay race vastly differed from what I had previously observed. Despite this, I couldn't shake the feeling that his true intentions were masked. Nagumo's smile was slight and barely noticeable, yet it disrupted the tranquil atmosphere.

"Hello. I have proposals regarding the student council's appointment procedures and general election practice. I suggest moving the general election from December to October, which I believe will be a positive step towards a new era for the student council. I also suggest changing the president's and officers' tenure from terms to indefinite, allowing them to serve until graduation. Additionally, I propose removing the current restrictions on the number of student council officers. This means that anyone excellent and necessary can become a student council member, regardless of the number of slots available. If someone is deemed unfit for office, I suggest establishing a majority vote system to expel them from their positions at the meetings. To create a better school system for the future, we must make some changes and break away from the old ways preserved by previous student councils."

He spoke so forcefully that it seemed to negate all the merits of the former student president who stood behind him.

"I originally wanted to implement this new system immediately, but unfortunately, I can not do that. This is because various constraints will bind the new student president upon first taking office."

Nagumo glanced at Horikita, the former student council president, and then returned to the students.

"I promise that there will be a great revolution shortly. Students with strength will climb up to the top, and those without will fall. I will turn this school into a meritocracy, so please show me what you can do."

After he made his declaration, the gymnasium fell silent. However, soon after, most sophomores began screaming joyfully and getting rowdy. It's possible that there was a conflict between the second and third years that we were unaware of. This event left me with that impression.

~Timeskip~

3rd POV

Nighttime

Chabashira made her way down the boys' dormitory with sheets of paper in hand. She stopped before a door and knocked on it, "Kagurazaka, this is your homeroom teacher. Can you open up?"

Before the door opened, she heard shuffling. Kagurazaka stared lifelessly at her with bags under his eyes. Unsure how to proceed, she reminded herself that she had come this far.

"May I come inside?" She asked.

Chabashira entered the room as Kagurazaka silently left, shutting the door behind him. She noticed him settle onto his bed, pulling his knees to his chest and gazing at the floor.

'This is bad...' Chabashira slightly frowned.

She walked over to the young man, sitting on the ground across from him, "I know you're going through a hard time, but here's your midterm exam. I won't be leaving until you finish."

She seemed to be a heartless woman, but she cared about her students. She didn't want to see the young man get expelled. She didn't know how to comfort him, so she stayed silent.

Kagurazaka stared at the papers in Chabashira's hand before taking it. His expression didn't change as his eyes were still fixed on the ground.

Two hours later

Chabashira was on her phone when she noticed that Kagurazaka was done taking the midterm exam. After sitting on the for so long, she didn't realize how stiff her legs were.

She was going to leave the young man's room when she saw his state.

"Hey..." Kagurazaka didn't look at her, "Don't worry about the class points. I won't blame you because it's rough losing a loved one. I'll give you some time."

Next day

Ayanokouji's POV

It's been a few days, but no one has seen Kagurazaka. He hasn't attended class. I overheard Ichihashi's conversation with Mori; he hasn't responded to her texts.

Did the loss at the sports festival destroy him? No, that can't be the answer.

Chabashira-sensei entered the classroom, "Good morning, Class D. Class is about to begin a few minutes. If you have any questions, then please ask..."

"Where's Kagurazaka?" Sudou didn't raise his head, but he asked the question most everyone had in their head.

Before Chabashira-sensei could answer his question, there were a few knocks at the door. Chabashira-sensei looked at the door, and her eyes widened slightly at the person who had opened it.

"Good morning, Chabashira-sensei," the man greeted her.

"Good morning, Chairman Sakayanagi," she said before bowing.

Sakayanagi?

He shares the last name of that girl who confronted me. He must be her father.

Why would the chairman come to our classroom?

"Good morning, Class D students," the chairman greeted us.

"Good morning, Chairman Sakayanagi-sensei..." The students awkwardly replied.

"I'm only here to announce something regarding your classmate's absence, Kagurazaka Norogumi," he said.

The class stayed silent. For some reason, the atmosphere shifted into worry.

"Please forgive Kagurazaka-kun for not attending his classes. The reason he's been absent is that he's going through a rough time. A few days ago, I called to him my office to inform him that an important relative had passed away," he announced solemnly.

The class was silent.

Horikita raised her hand, "Hm? Your name is Horikita Suzune, am I correct?" The chairman looked at her.

"Yes."

"I assume you have a question."

"Yes, sir."

"Then ask away," the chairman had a gentle smile.

"Do we suffer any loss of class points if Kagurazaka-kun keeps skipping class, even when he is in this state?" Horikita asked.

She sounded insensitive, but I'm curious to know about that.

"Good question... Let's see... Since it's not fair to other classes. Ah, I've decided," it seemed the chairman had a plan in mind.

"If he misses a full day, you lose a single class point."

"Huh?!" The classroom was shocked.

"I think it's fair," the chairman said, "Unless you want me to change it to every class he has missed."

The entire class shook their heads.

~~~

Class D - 273 cp (-5)

~~~

Lunchtime

I can't believe I'm getting dragged along, but he is our classmate, "Will this work, Horikita?"

"It's worth a shot," Horikita said, "Why are you following us?"

Sudou decided to tag along, "He isn't a bad person, Suzune."

Horikita's eyebrow twitched at being called by her first name. She made a ridiculous bet against him.

"I respect the guy, too," Sudou scratched the back of his head, "He worked the hardest even if we were at a disadvantage."

So, that's how it is.

We arrived at his dorm room, "So, who's knocking..."

Sudou pounds his fist on the door, "Dude, are you okay?! Your classmates are worried about you!"

We didn't get a response.

"Kagurazaka-kun, either open the door, or we'll bust in," Horikita said.

"Isn't that slightly drastic?" I asked.

Horikita shook her head, "Nope, it all depends on whether Kagurazaka-kun wants to open the door."

They still didn't get a response from the young man.

"Alright, we are busting in," Horikita said, "Sudou-kun."

"Uh... I don't want to get in trouble for breaking his door," Sudou scratched the back of his head, "Maybe we should leave and give him some space."

"I agree with Sudou. I think it's best to leave him alone," I added.

3rd POV

Chairman's office

Sakayanagi waited patiently in the chairman's office as she had paid a visit to discuss something with her father.

Her trusty attendant, Kamuro, didn't need to attend her. It seemed the purple-haired girl had no complaints about it.

Remembering made Sakayanagi giggle.

The door opened, "Ah, my dear daughter!" A voice called, a tone full of warmth.

A slight smile formed on her face, "Good morning, Papa."

The chairman approached his daughter, giving her a small embrace before pulling away, "Would you like some tea?"

"That's fine. I already took the liberty of preparing the tea," Sakayanagi said.

Her father chuckled, "As expected of my daughter. Always prepared."

"Papa, can we discuss why I am here?" Sakayanagi asked.

"Ah, right... The main topic regarding him, correct?" Her father replied.

Sakayanagi hastily nodded, "I haven't been seeing Kagurazaka-kun around."

She sent Kamuro and Yamamura to look for him, but they couldn't find him.

"I've also heard rumors about you visiting Class D and announced something. Some students think you gave them a big hint on how to reach Class A," she puffed her cheeks.

"I quickly shut those rumors down. That's ridiculous. But I want to know the real reason, and I feel it involves Kagurazaka-kun," she said.

"Since you're my precious daughter, how could I resist myself from telling you," he chuckled.

"Hmm... let's see..." Her father leaned back on the sofa, "Did he remember you?"

A sad smile appeared, "No... When he first bumped into me, he looked at me like I was a stranger."

"I see... The accident was worse than we expected," her father said with sadness.

"I still remember when you told me you were going to marry him," her father chuckled.

"Papa," Sakayanagi's cheeks puffed out as she blushed, "I was a child."

"Yes, you were a cute spoiled child," her father said, "You would always follow him around..."

"Papa, that's enough," Sakayanagi's face was red, "Can we get to the real conversation?"

"Sorry, we are getting off-topic. You're wondering why Kagurazaka-kun disappeared, right?" He said.

Sakayanagi nodded.

"Well, do you remember his aunt?" Her father asked.

A slight smile appeared, "Auntie Yuuko... Of course, I remember her. She was like a second mother."

Her father deeply breathed, "She isn't with us anymore."

Sakayanagi's smile morphed into slight horror, "That isn't funny, Papa."

Her father didn't say anything and had a solemn look.

The chairman's daughter drifted her attention to her lap as she clenched her skirt, "Why?" She muttered.

"Why?!" Sakayanagi shouted out of character, "He's alone and suffering. It isn't fair..."

After School

Kagurazaka's room

There was a knock at his door. Muffled familiar voices were heard beyond his door.

"Kagu-kun!" Ichihashi called, "You've been absent for the past few days! We're worried!" Ichihashi yelled through the door.

There was no response.

"Kagurazaka-kun, please let us in!" Mori said.

"If you don't answer the door, I'm breaking into your room," Ichihashi said.

"I don't think you have the strength to break down the door," Mori deadpanned.

"You silly girl," Ichihashi pulled out a keycard, "We are going to use this."

"Why do you have a keycard to his room?" Mori asked.

"There's no time for questions! We need to help Kagu-kun!"

"I'm worried about his safety," Mori muttered.

Ichihashi unlocked the door before opening it. They stepped inside the room only to find Kagurazaka sitting on the ground.

"Kagu-kun..." Ichihashi muttered.

He didn't move his head or even react when Ichihashi spoke. He had bags underneath his eyes as he seemed out of it, staring out into the distance. Mori closed the door.

Mori and Ichihashi sat on the floor with him. The atmosphere felt suffocating.

"You know everyone is worried about you," Mori managed to say.

She didn't get a response from him.

"It hurts us seeing you like this," Ichihashi says as Mori nods in agreement.

There was a knock at Kagurazaka's door, causing the girls to look at each other.

"I'll answer it," Mori said, getting up and walking to the door.

Mori opened the door, and she was shocked to see who was standing there.

"Fufu, aren't you going to let me in? I wanted to check up on my childhood friend."

********