Chapter 5

I was heading towards the classroom when I noticed the love birds standing in front of the door, conversing. I tried to ignore them, but Horikita grabbed my arm and pulled me back to stand with her.

"What do you want?"

"Just wait a moment."

"Huh? I don't have time for your-"

"Sshhh."

I looked up and saw Airi walking out of the class, fidgeting with her camera. Nothing odd was happening, but I had gotten suspicious. Then I saw Kushida walking in her direction. I will admit, I was ticked off by that scene.

"I specifically told you guys not to talk to her."

I tried to go, but Ayanokoji then grabbed my arm.

"Just wait a moment."

He said, and I looked at the duo.

"Sakura-san."

She called out to the girl. Airi looked back at her, obviously nervous.

"W-what is it?"

"There's something I'd like to ask you."

They had officially made contact. I decided to stand back and see where it went. Do you mind? It's about Sudou."

"S-Sorry, I... I have plans."

Airi made to turn away.

Kushida then grabbed her palm. What is with everyone grabbing people's hands today?

"It won't take long. It's Important!"

"I-I don't know! I don't know anything!"

As I expected. She couldn't handle being asked questions on this. She broke free of Kushida's grasp, but tripped and fell.

CLACK!

The sound of her camera hitting the ground resounded through the area. She went for it, then tried turning it on, but it seemed like it wasn't working.

"No way... It won't turn on..."

"Sorry! I..."

"No, it was my own fault."

She said, right before running off.

"Happy now?"

I asked my captors, right before walking after Airi.

How can she run during hot weather like this?

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"Miss Tatsumaki Shiro?"

A cool beauty with purple hair tied in two buns with bans hanging over her eyebrows and peach brown eyes called my name. She was holding a clipboard and wore the school's uniform. She had introduced herself to me earlier as Akane Tachibana, a third and the student council secretary.

"That's me."

"Right this way, please."

"Ok."

I got up from the waiting lounge and headed into the student council office. When I got there, the room was mostly empty. All the SCM must have already left to the dorms or extracurricular activities. All with the exception of the man who had the honor of carrying the title of student council president.

'Horikita Manabu'

He sat behind a desk with several papers piled up before him, reading through them with a sharp glare. His short grey hair was swept to the left.

"President Horikita. Miss Tatsumaki has come to see you."

He looked up at me, revealing his violet eyes that were behind his square-rimmed glasses.

I sat before the president.

"Miss Tatsumaki."

"Yes, President Horikita."

"I heard you wished to speak with me?"

"Yes please."

"Go on then. I don't have all day."

"I'm sorry but, it's so embarrassing I don't think I can talk about it in front of Miss Tachibana."

"What!?"

She got all flustered up and was now glaring at me. It was amusing to see her reaction.

"Leave us Tachibana."

"But president. Not even that arrogant brat in the class 1 A could say this-"

"Secretary Tachibana. Please leave the room."

I took notice of the "Arrogant Brat in the Class 1 A" part.

"... Very well president."

She finally stopped acting like an immature brat and left the room, although stabbing me with her glares and probably internal insults and curses.

"Now then Miss Tatsumaki. What did you want to talk about?"

"Give me a moment. It's kind of hard searching through all the video files the girls send me."

I told him while scrolling through my phone's gallery. As soon as I found it, I set down the video in front of him. He watched it with an unfazed gaze, then he glared at me.

"So... You saw the events that occurred that evening."

"What are you talking about President Horikita?"

"... I see, and what do you intend to do with this?"

"Obviously I am here to ask a few things about the school. The kinds of steps to make to proceed swimmingly. Basically came here for counselling from my senpai~"

"Fufufu..."

He started to laugh. It was an interesting turn of events which sort of got me excited.

"Why are you laughing, senpai~?"

"Sorry, excuse me, excuse me. It's just that I haven't heard of a student actually trying to blackmail the student council president in this school before."

"Blackmailing? Senpai, what are you talking about?"

"Fufu, fine then. I'll play along."

"I knew you'd come around."

"I see, I see. So, Miss Tatsumaki, what is it that you want from me?"

"Please call me your dear kouhai~... Also, nothing much, really. Just everything."

"Everything?"

I nodded.

"Oh, I'm sorry to inform you, but I don't have everything."

"Don't worry. As my senpai you should know quite a bit."

"Hahaha! Interesting, interesting! Very well then. I'll tell you all I know, but there's also something else you should know."

"What is that?"

"The best way to acquiring knowledge in this school is by joining the student council."

"Huh? No way am I doing that. It sounds like too much work."

"Then my lips are sealed."

"Senpai you think you have a choice? It's your obligation as my senpai."

I told him, pointing to my phone.

"Did you think you could enter here and just get counselling advice just like that? I am very busy at the moment."

He said, pointing to the cameras at the corners of the room with his eyes, but I had already taken into consideration the fact that there might have been cameras or voice recorders around.

"Hmmm, I see..."

"Miss Tatsumaki, will you accept my offer to join the student council then? I'll be able to help you if you do that."

"You were supposed to call me kouhai..."

I puffed my cheeks, showing blatant disappointment. Then I scoffed and rested my head on my palm.

"Fine. I'll join your student council."

"Not so fast."

What now? He had ordained that scary look of his from earlier. He looked like a manga character with the light bouncing off his glasses.

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"There's another person of interest miss Tatsumaki. You are more like second fit."

What? There was someone else? Not that it was surprising, but what he called me sort of ticked me off.

"Who is this person?"

"Hm? Oh that's right. He is your classmate. I believe his name was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka."

'A... yanokouji? W-why him? Why him again? Everywhere I turn, it's about him. Why?'

"... So. What do I need to do to enter the student council?"

"Well, at the moment it seems your class is in a sort of predicament. I can't have a student council member that can't even dissolve a pity situation such as this one."

So I needed to save Sudou to enter the student council? That was something I wasn't willing to do. But wait, he said the class was in a sort of predicament, not Sudou. Which meant there must have been a sort of backlash for Class 1 D as a whole. It could have crucially affected my plans, so I couldn't allow it.

"... Understood."

I got off the seat and exited the room.

It would seem that I needed to get a tiny bit serious here to avoid expulsion.

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Horikita Manabu POV

"President Horikita. What did you two discuss?"

"Nothing important. Don't bother yourself too much."

"Ok sir."

"Also... Secretary Tachibana."

"Yes President Horkita?"

"I believe there was an open secretary position, right?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"No reason really. We might be getting a new member soon."

"What!?"