Ichinose Honami's words made everyone present pause.
However, before anyone could react, Ichinose Honami spoke up.
"I think Nanaya-kun is neither lacking in ambition nor lazy; it's just purely that he doesn't have a reason to do so."
Ichinose Honami said this with a slight smile, addressing Horikita Suzune.
"Horikita-san, you saw on the uninhabited island, right? Everything Nanaya-kun did to lead the class was a well-thought-out strategy and action, and they eventually won, proving that if he wanted to lead the class, he could do so just fine, completing work and studies efficiently. It's just that he hasn't found a reason to do it yet."
Ichinose Honami perfectly analyzed Hori's mindset.
Indeed, Hori hadn't done what Horikita Manabu had—leading a group of excellent subordinates and completing work and studies well—but that didn't mean Hori couldn't do it.
"Maybe Horikita-san thinks that not doing something one is capable of is being perfunctory, but think carefully. We all have many things we can do, like cooking. Many people have the ability to do it, but there aren't many who seriously want to be a chef, right?"
Ichinose Honami directly pointed out the essence.
"Class competition is the same. With Nanaya-kun's ability, he could indeed lead Class D to stand out, and it's even possible to rise to Class A. Many people believe Nanaya-kun has that ability. But we can't decide that this is something Nanaya-kun should do just because of that. Not doing it doesn't mean he lacks ambition and isn't proactive. It's like persuading someone who can cook to become a chef; it's very unreasonable."
Ichinose Honami's critique left Horikita Suzune speechless for a moment.
Everyone else also nodded in agreement, lowering their heads.
Seeing this, Ichinose Honami smiled sweetly.
"I think Nanaya-kun has something else he wants to do—people have their ambitions, and he's focused on that. His ambition and positivity are very high; it's just not shown in class competition. At least, I don't think Nanaya-kun is the type to sit and wait, only acting when things go wrong. Instead, he's actively moving toward a certain goal."
Saying this, Ichinose Honami scratched her cheek and smiled shyly.
"Although, this is just my own thoughts."
Hearing Ichinose Honami's words, everyone fell silent.
"Something else he wants to do..."
Kushida Kikyou fell into thought.
"Nanaya-kun..."
Sakura Airi also appeared dazed.
"Ambition and positivity...?"
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka also pondered.
Ichinose Honami's words were correct.
This girl understood Hori and knew the way he existed in this school.
All along, Hori hadn't been like Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, only acting as a reclusive person, but had been actively and positively engaging with the school's rules and systems, trying to conquer them.
He had mentioned it before, right?
If the target of the other students in this school was other classes, then Hori's target was the school itself, managed by the state.
Class competition?
To Hori, it was ultimately too easy.
Of course, this was just for now.
Currently, with Ayanokouji Kiyotaka in the same class, there's no need to compete. Ryuen Kakeru is merely interesting, not a threat, and others are just at a commoner's level, making Hori uninterested.
If someone could make Hori take things seriously, he would truly become interested in class competition and participate.
So, it was just a matter of whether it could make Hori excited.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, knowing Hori's background, understood this issue very well.
(As the inheritor of "Nanaya," this school is still too peaceful for him, lacking the smell of gunpowder from conflicts.)
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka thought while turning his head to look at Ichinose Honami.
(She's quite capable.)
Being able to analyze Hori's mindset to this extent proved that Ichinose Honami wasn't just a pretty face.
Perhaps, in others' eyes, on the uninhabited island, Ichinose Honami escaped a disaster and got high scores thanks to Hori, and on the luxury cruise, it was due to their cooperation that she didn't get squeezed out of points and even received a reward of five million personal points. However, the one who clearly understood Hori's ability and decided to cooperate with him was none other than Ichinose Honami.
(She accurately grasped Nanaya's value and seized the opportunity to climb up. Her insight and action are quite high.)
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka thought such things.
As for Horikita Suzune, after sighing in her heart, she calmed down.
"Although I don't quite agree, I have to say, your words are quite fair." Horikita Suzune glanced at Ichinose Honami and said, "It seems you aren't just a girlfriend in name, you understand your partner well, even if he's your competitor."
"Ye...Yes..." Ichinose Honami could only laugh awkwardly.
Compared to her clever and articulate manner just now, she became unnatural when talking about romance.
At this moment...
"It seems everyone is here."
With a somewhat bored voice, the elevator doors opened for the third time.
Hori walked out slowly, leisurely approaching and looking at the gathered people, especially Ichinose Honami and her group, showing a surprised expression.
"Why are you guys here too?"
Hori's question received a glare from Shiranami Chihiro, a laugh from Amikura Mako, and a shy, evasive look from Ichinose Honami.
This made Hori puzzled.
What were these girls doing?
Hori naturally didn't know that until just now, everyone here was discussing him.
"Good morning, Nanaya-kun."
"You... you came, Nanaya-kun."
Kushida Kikyou and Sakura Airi greeted him, one with a full smile, the other with a complex expression, making Hori even more puzzled.
In the end, only Horikita Suzune remained calm.
"Since everyone is here, let's go and get this boring task over with."
Horikita Suzune's words immediately made the trio, who had been whispering about something suspicious, raise their hands.
"Agreed!"
"Let's get to the pool!"
"Yeah!"
Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken shouted with high spirits, making Ayanokouji Kiyotaka silently watch from the side.
"Let's go together since our destination is the same."
Ichinose Honami immediately suggested.
Naturally, no one objected.
Thus, the group left the dormitory hall and headed toward the pool.