Double Pain

"Hikigaya, let's continue."

Ignoring the trivial bickering among the others, Horikita Manabu focused intently on Hikigaya.

"Earlier, outside the gymnasium, Yukinoshita-sensei asked for your thoughts over the phone. I overheard part of the conversation. May I inquire further?"

"…It was just casual talk."

"Feel free to share what you're comfortable with."

Despite Horikita's casual tone, Hikigaya felt an unrelenting pressure in his presence, a weight almost as heavy as Haruno's.

Horikita Manabu was a figure of considerable authority, clearly favored by the school's higher-ups, and Hikigaya was inclined to regard him as one of the true elite's of this school.

"Ahem, in that case, I'll be straightforward," Hikigaya began, clearing his throat.

"President Horikita, you mentioned in your speech that 'the student council is highly anticipated because it is given the power to alter the school's rules.' However, this power isn't granted directly but is mediated through the S-system, correct?"

Given the school's liberal nature, it was unlikely they would directly bestow such authority upon a student. The S-system, while ostensibly a financial tool, functioned more as a mechanism for students to assert influence and engage in strategic conflicts.

"The student council, and you in particular, must control a substantial amount of points—enough to amend the school's regulations. This is the essence of the council's power."

It wasn't that the council had inherent power; rather, it was the president's capacity to wield it that defined their influence.

Hikigaya was curious about the number of points required for privileges like the sales rights for MAX Coffee but decided to save that question for a more opportune moment.

"Also, President, you seemed to emphasize terms like 'naive ideas' and 'reputation.' Is this merely a caution, or is there actual trouble within the student council?"

Horikita's eyes widened momentarily before quickly regaining their composure. It appeared Hikigaya had touched upon a deeper issue.

Hikigaya sighed inwardly, sensing that he had once again stumbled into a complex situation.

"Your insight and intuition are remarkable," Horikita commented, casting a thoughtful glance at Hikigaya before turning to Tachibana Akane, who was still grappling with the situation.

"Akane, schedule an interview for the secretary position."

"President… are you serious?" Tachibana Akane asked, her confusion evident.

"Any objections?"

"No, if that's your decision, I have none…"

Akane's bewilderment was clear. While she had no doubts about Hikigaya's abilities—after all, even the president endorsed him—she struggled to understand why he was being considered for the role.

"Don't worry, Tachibana," Horikita said, sensing her unease and providing a rare explanation. "I've reviewed all the freshmen's information. Even if Yukinoshita-sensei hadn't brought Hikigaya here today, I would have sought him out myself."

"Oh, I see… Huh? Yukinoshita-sensei?!" Akane exclaimed, her realization dawning too late.

Haruno laughed at Akane's reaction and then exchanged a knowing look with Horikita.

"Horikita-kun, it seems I've been overly inquisitive this time. I didn't anticipate you having your own set of issues," Haruno said with a bright smile. "But knowing you, it must be rather dull trouble, right?"

"Indeed, it is quite mundane for you… for you," Horikita emphasized, though Hikigaya couldn't shake the feeling that this remark was subtly aimed at him.

Could these two stop with the cryptic exchanges?

Hikigaya didn't believe he was noteworthy enough to warrant such attention and hoped that Horikita's comment was just offhand.

Putting aside these thoughts, there was a pressing matter at hand.

"President Horikita, before I officially join the student council, I have a request."

"What is it?"

"I'd prefer not to be the secretary. I'd rather handle general chores."

"That could be arranged."

Horikita Manabu agreed without further inquiry.

Though Hikigaya wasn't a formal member of the student council during his time at Sobu, he was familiar with its operations. Considering the current lack of information and the potential complications of joining too soon, it seemed wiser to start with a less conspicuous role.

The allure of escaping the school's confines was too strong for Hikigaya to ignore, even if it meant accepting a less prominent position. The thought of not seeing his beloved sister for three years was unbearable.

Thus, he opted for the role of handling general affairs—a position that involved menial tasks and was less noticeable than that of the secretary.

It wasn't that he was seeking an easy way out.

…

Thus, Hikigaya reluctantly pledged himself to the student council and officially joined.

Although he never fully grasped Haruno's intentions, he was aware that things were likely to be troublesome and probably related to that mysterious student.

He would deal with it when the time came.

Also, he wondered where President Horikita had picked up this impersonal approach to management. It seemed he treated people more like instruments than individuals.

The interview process was scheduled to last a month, with results announced on May 1st, according to Senior Tachibana. Hikigaya had hoped to use this time to enjoy his last vacation and ease into the new roles in May without feeling overwhelmed.

However, with the school year just beginning, there was a backlog of work in the student council. President Horikita had him busily engaged in tasks under the guise of familiarizing himself with the council's operations.

This week, Hikigaya felt as though he had returned to Sobu.

He had to draft meeting summaries, track club funding, and even mediate student conflicts. The latter was particularly irksome.

Was it really necessary to intervene in every dispute?

Hikigaya thought it pointless. If students wanted to fight, let them—it would result in point deductions and save the school money. It seemed like a win-win situation.

Unfortunately, President Horikita had declared, "Point deductions are the school's responsibility, and our student council will not tolerate any behavior that undermines discipline."

If such a statement had come from a cold beautiful girl, Hikigaya might have been less frustrated, but hearing it from a cool, bespectacled guy only increased his annoyance.

Not only were the students causing him headaches, but his class itself was in a dire state. While there were some students at Sobu who didn't take academics seriously, they at least had some sense of decorum.

In Class D, however, Hikigaya encountered students who seemed to embody every stereotype of problem children.

Initially, it was manageable, but with the teachers' indifference, their behavior quickly became intolerable.

Being late, leaving early, and causing disruptions in class had become routine.

Hadn't they learned basic manners in elementary and junior high school?

Especially the trio, Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudo, who were the noisiest and most disruptive in the class.

Their poor grades were one thing, but their behavior affecting others was another.

Even if they didn't care about their own education, they should at least respect others!

But no one in Class D, including Hikigaya, stepped up to address the situation.

They were truly a class of problem children.