Chapter 99 – Student Council President

After leaving the fortune-telling shop, Ibuki decided to accompany Yukio to the supermarket to stock up on groceries and cold drinks, concerned about the supplies in her dormitory. They went straight to the supermarket, pushing a shopping cart and browsing through the aisles.

During their shopping trip, Yukio found Ibuki's perspectives quite interesting and different from the norm, so they engaged in various discussions. For instance, they debated the school's policy that only graduates from Class A can freely choose their further education or employment. They wondered whether the experiences of students from other classes, after three years of rigorous training at Advanced Nurturing High School, were simply disregarded.

Ibuki shared her thoughts, suggesting that the school's approach might be aimed at contributing talents to society. Surviving three years without being expelled, whether by clinging to capable classmates like Yukio or through one's abilities, signifies that graduates, regardless of their class, would be exceptional. 

They also touched on spiritual beliefs. Ibuki mentioned she didn't have any particular faith, though her family seemed interested in religious practices, often visiting shrines and temples during festivals. She found fortune-telling a way to improve her mood rather than a belief system.

After selecting their items, they approached the checkout line, where Yukio spotted an unexpected figure: a stern-looking young man with black hair and eyes, accompanied by a girl holding a folder, resembling a young company president with his secretary at a supermarket.

"Greeting President Horikita, long time no see," Yukio greeted, causing Ibuki to tense up, recognizing the person in line. It was Horikita Manabu, the student council president they had seen giving a speech during the club recruitment period at the beginning of the school year.

The recruitment event, held in Gymnasium No. 1, attracted many freshmen interested in joining clubs. Organized by Manabu, a senior student from Class A, he was respected by upperclassmen from various clubs, even hailed as one of the most outstanding student council presidents in the history of Advanced Nurturing High School.

Yukio was just going to take a look, wanting to understand the clubs of this school, to see what kind of rules they had. He talked to many seniors to figure out that clubs are mainly for activities, and good performance might lead to some class rewards, but he lost interest in joining. He was only aiming to grasp these rules, not really to get involved and sweat it out as a junior member. 

Instead, he was more interested in the student council because, apparently, the student council has significant authority in the school, even to the extent of participating in special exams. However, Horikita Manabu seemed particularly dissatisfied with this year's first-year students, not allowing any of them to join the student council, leading to a severe generation gap.

In April, this even caused discussions among some upperclassmen, thinking Horikita Manabu's demands were too strict since not a single first-year was admitted into the student council. Because of this, Yukio thought to wait until he had mastered enough rules before checking out the student council.

At the supermarket checkout, Horikita Manabu, always with a cold face that nearly spelled "unapproachable," said, "Yukio, right? I didn't expect to meet you here."

Yukio, unfazed, didn't dwell on how Horikita Manabu knew him. If the student council could indeed intervene in special exams, then it was natural for them to know of his existence. His performance in the deserted island and the special exam had made him well-known among first-year students, and due to the summer break, some first-year students who were on good terms with the upperclassmen also discussed him.

This made Yukio quite well-known among the upperclassmen, so being recognized wasn't surprising. "Does the president know me from the special exams, or from rumors?"

Behind his glasses, Horikita Manabu's eyes held a hint of praise: "The former. Normally, the student council only gets the data from special exams afterward, to discuss and provide feedback to the school for any necessary modifications or supplements."

"But now, the student council can do a bit more. At least, your performance in the two special exams this summer has been recorded by the school through us."

"Huh? President?" The high school girl who seemed like a secretary looked at Horikita Manabu with some surprise, not understanding why he would disclose such hidden matters to a lower-grade student.

"If you're free later, would you mind having a chat with me?" Horikita Manabu did not respond to the girl beside him but extended an invitation to Yukio instead. "If it's inconvenient, another day is fine too, even if it's after the second semester."

It was a persistent invitation, offering Yukio plenty of time to adjust his schedule.

Yukio looked at Horikita Manabu with interest, his gaze sharp, piercing through the glasses directly to the heart: "What's there to talk about? You have all the information, yet you insist on a chat?"

"And you're giving such a broad timeframe. The president is usually so busy, yet as long as I'm free, I can come over for a chat? This level of importance, it must be about inviting me to join the student council, right?"

Horikita Manabu's expression, as impassive as ever, managed to convey an appreciative demeanor effortlessly: "Indeed, you are exceptional, and I sincerely invite you to join the student council."

"What? What?!" The senior girl beside him was at a loss for words. Today's Horikita Manabu seemed a bit unusual.

Wasn't it said that this year's first-years were generally not up to par and didn't qualify for the student council? Now, just seeing someone perform well by the end of the semester, he's thinking of inviting them? This didn't seem like Horikita Manabu's style at all.

On the other hand, Ibuki, standing by Yukio, appeared entirely normal, not surprised at all. In her view, Yukio was always outstanding.

Even if the respected student council president himself came to invite, it was to be expected. What's there to be surprised about?

This caused Ibuki to even look down on the senior girl, thinking, "What's with all the fuss? Haven't you seen the world?"

"Tachibana," Horikita Manabu signaled to the senior girl, referred to as Tachibana, to not interrupt him for the moment, and then continued to look at Yukio with a serious demeanor, silently waiting for his response.

Yukio was indeed interested in the rules of the student council in this school, but he found Horikita Manabu's sudden invitation peculiar: "Join the student council?"

"But I recall President Horikita thinking that first-years couldn't join."

"There are reasons for that, not of my own volition," Horikita Manabu explained calmly, using a common phrase to indicate there were unspeakable difficulties on his side. "If it bothers you, we can talk about it later, and I can explain the reasons."

"This was a chance encounter. Actually, Tachibana and I were dealing with the student council's renovation work. We planned to formally invite you for a discussion after the renovation in two weeks, aiming for you to officially join at the start of the second semester."

***

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