Chapter 27

Lelouch sauntered over to Class B, seemingly not bothered about intruding on another class's study group. They noticed him approaching and stopped what they were doing and instead trained their eyes on Lelouch instead. When he arrived, Lelouch ignored the looks of all her classmates and addressed Ichinose directly.

"You're Ichinose Honami, right? My name is Lelouch from Class 1-D, I don't believe we've met." Lelouch politely introduced himself and held out his hand.

Even though it doesn't fit with his usual attitude, he was unexpectedly good at socializing and approaching new people. Most wouldn't even consider going over to a large, close-knit group like theirs alone, but such an act didn't appear to bother Lelouch in the slightest.

"That's right, nice to meet you, Lelouch-kun." Ichinose took Lelouch's outstretched hand and greeted him warmly. "Do you have business with me?"

"To be more specific, I want something with your class. I simply thought it'd be best to talk to you directly about it." Lelouch explained, releasing Ichinose's hand. "Do you have a list of the exam topics your teacher gave you for the midterms on you?"

"Oh, I see. Yeah, we brought them with us to make sure that we studied the proper things. Why, don't tell me that Class D neglected to note them down?"

"No, we did note them down. However, we just happened to notice that the topics we have noted down are completely different than those of Class E. That's why I was hoping that I could compare with what Class B has been told."

Lelouch quickly summed up the situation. Ichinose and the rest of Class B looked fairly surprised by what he said. Taking a moment to process what he said and compose herself, Ichinose reached into her bag and pulled out a small notebook.

"Ah right, I get it. You want to see if each class has a different test each, right?" she asked, handing the notebook to Lelouch on an open page.

"This is..." Lelouch mumbled as he skimmed the page. "These are the same things as what we in Class D were told."

"But that would mean--!" Ichinose exclaimed, perhaps a little loudly for a library.

"Yeah, Class E were given the wrong information regarding the midterms." Lelouch concluded, handing back the notebook.

"But isn't that unfair?" Ichinose cried, apparently in despair on behalf of another class.

Now that I'd actually seen an interaction with Ichinose in person, I understood why she was the most popular girl in the first year. She's easily approachable and friendly towards everyone and she is kind enough to even feel sadness on behalf of a rival class. Not to mention Ichinose is hot. Her proportions are very generous, to say the least, and her facial features are delicate and cute – her entire appearance combined with her long, strawberry-pink hair radiated an almost irresistible allure.

"It certainly is. It's lucky that we were able to find it out now, before it's too late for them. Thank you for your help, Ichinose."

"No need to thank me, Lelouch-kun. It was really nothing. I'm glad I was able to help Class E correct the mistake." Ichinose brushed off the gratitude, raising her palms in front of her chest in apparent protest.

"You're glad to help them, even though they'll one day be your enemy?" Lelouch raised his eyebrow.

"Definitely! Even though I might sometimes have to fight them, they are still friends first." Ichinose replied assertively. It seems like she is vehemently against the idea of standing by and watching as another student is forced to drop out, even if they are her rival.

"I see." Lelouch turned his back to Class B and raised his hand as a wave as he returned to our table.

"Kushida, could you keep that sheet of topics and inform the rest of your class tomorrow?" I asked her, knowing for certain what she'd say.

"Of course! If I don't, my friends will drop out and that is unacceptable! I will do anything to stop that from happening, so something trivial like this is nothing." Kushida said exactly what I'd expected, albeit with some paraphrasing.

"Why the hell were we told the wrong thing?!" Ike cried, apparently outraged.

"Perhaps it was just a mistake?" I suggested, attempting to calm his nerves.

"Y-yeah, you're right. Sorry for losing my cool."

"Don't worry about it. For now, let's get our heads down. It's only two weeks until the midterms."

"Right!" Class E said in unison.

Shiro's POV

"Are you ready, Shiro?" Nii asked me, gripping my hand.

"Yes." I responded flatly.

"Right. Then, let us proceed."

Nii reached out to the door standing before us and grasped the door handle. He paused for a beat just to give me one last glance. This was one of the many reasons why I loved Nii. He would always do little things like that, to make sure that I was doing okay. I felt my hand possessively tighten around his.

Wasting no more time, Nii shoved the door open and strode into the room with me following closely behind. I surveyed the room, noting the three people who sat in comfortable-looking sofas.

On a sofa sat alone was a tall boy with blond hair and light blue eyes. Nagumo Miyabi, second year, Class A, student council vice-president, eternally single, strong ruler, narcissist, firm believer in meritocracy. This is everything I'd learned about him thus far.

Seated on a couch directly opposite him was a well-built young man of average height with short gray hair and square-rimmed glasses. Horikita Manabu, third year, Class A, student council president, vastly intelligent, skilled in martial arts, high reputation, firm believer in tradition, oblivious to girls.

Lastly, a fair distance from Horikita Manabu but on the same sofa was a girl with purple hair tied into two buns and peach-brown eyes. Tachibana Akane, third year, Class A, student council secretary, smiles a lot, has a crush on the student council president.

These three figures were highly respected and acknowledged at this school, especially in the case of Horikita Manabu. Nii paid no heed to their imposing presences, however, and rudely sat himself down in an empty sofa that lay perpendicular to the other two, facing away from the door and instead towards the table in the centre.

I walked over more slowly and took my time to sit down. Initially I was simply going to sit beside Nii but decided that I'd rather feel his warmth instead. I seated myself in his lap. The other three had yet to say a word, but Manabu raised his eyebrow.

"What rude first-years, barging in here and not even closing the door!" Tachibana said angrily.

She stood up from the sofa and marched over to the student council room door, flinging it shut while emanating a scary aura. Nii placed his hand on my head and started stroking it, making me feel that wonderful feeling of ease and tranquillity.

"I don't recall either of you making an appointment with the student council." Manabu finally spoke up, pushing his glasses up using his index finger as he spoke.

"Of course not, that's why I'm here." Nii responded nonsensically, with that adorable grin of his.

"I never expected a Kōhai to just burst in here," Nagumo remarked, smiling.

"If you're aware that you don't have an appointment, then why are you here, exactly?" Manabu asked, narrowing his eyes at Nii.

I felt that normally, Manabu would emit a silencing aura in a situation like this. However, neither Nii nor I noticed it. It was because as long as we were by each other's side, we could overcome any obstacle. This man was nothing we couldn't conquer.

"To make an appointment. Obviously." Nii answered, still grinning smugly.

"There is a process for that."

"Yes, there is. But honestly, it's a massive pain, and this gets the job done much faster, don't you think?"

"That's assuming that I actually decide to grant you an appointment. Rules and traditions exist for a reason, I see no reason to give an audience to someone who can't even comprehend that much."

"Are you saying that you're in a position to refuse?" Nii leaned forward, still stroking my head. "I don't believe you are."

"What could you possibly be implying, Sora of Class 1-D?" Manabu responded calmly, staring into Nii's eyes.

"Looks like you've done your research. What would happen if it got out that the student council president refused to even hear out a first-year student who requested an audience with the student council? Your reputation would surely plummet, and I know you value that highly, Horikita Manabu of Class 3-A."

Nii shot right back at Manabu, seemingly unconcerned with who he was talking to. There was one person, however, who very clearly was concerned with who he was talking to.

"What a rude first-year! First, he intrudes into the student council room as if he owns the place, and then he threatens the student council president! Do you even know who you're talking to?" Tachibana fumed, still standing after closing the door.

"What do you want?" Manabu asked him with a sigh.

Horikita Manabu was not prepared to put his reputation on the line to win an altercation. That'll be useful information I'd better save to my brain.

"It's but a simple request."

Nii began, drawing the attention of all the senpais in the room. Then, he smirked arrogantly and looked into the eyes of President Horikita.

"Let me join the student council."