-271- You can do it

"Honami-chan joined the student council?"

"Really?"

Honami Ichinose's words surprised Kushida Kikyou and Sakura Airi, who were listening to the conversation.

Not only Kikyou and Airi, but even Ayanokouji Kiyotaka couldn't help but turn his head and look at Honami Ichinose.

"Isn't that amazing?"

"That's the student council!"

"I didn't expect that."

Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken honestly expressed their thoughts.

Only Horikita Suzune had a change in her expression.

"So, it's you?"

Horikita Suzune looked at Ichinose Honami seriously.

This reaction was to be expected.

After all, last time in the cafeteria, Horikita Manabu had mentioned that all the first-year students who applied to join the student council were rejected, including the two faction leaders from Class A. Only one person passed.

That person turned out to be Ichinose Honami.

Hori, however, didn't find this surprising at all.

"I heard before that you wanted to join the student council. It seems it went well."

Hori spoke calmly.

During the violent incident, Hori had already learned from the conversation between Hoshinomiya Chie and Ichinose Honami that the latter wanted to join the student council.

Now, it seemed that wish had come true.

Just as Hori had anticipated, not only were Katsuragi Kohei and Ryuen Kakeru steadily planning their strategies, but Ichinose Honami was also quietly accumulating her achievements.

If Katsuragi intended to focus all his energy on maintaining the class gap to secure victory, and Ryuen aimed to accumulate enough personal points to win, then Ichinose probably wanted to use the power of the student council as a springboard to eventually rise to Class A.

If this girl could indeed become the student council president, leading Class B to Class A would be within reach.

Of course, this was just a rational analysis.

In fact, Ichinose also had emotional reasons.

"Actually, I failed the first interview too. But since we can apply several times, I kept trying."

Ichinose spoke with a bit of resignation.

"President Horikita was reluctant to approve me, but I got permission from Vice President Nagumo, and that's how I joined the student council. Later, I heard from Vice President Nagumo that President Horikita was disappointed with this year's first-year students. In previous years, the student council would accept two to three first-year students, but this year, I was the only one accepted. That made me determined to prove myself."

Ichinose turned her resigned expression into a bright smile and declared.

"My start is similar to Vice President Nagumo's. Traditionally, the student council presidents have always been from Class A, but Vice President Nagumo, like me, started from Class B. He is even set to become the next student council president, so my goal is to become the student council president after Vice President Nagumo steps down."

If others knew about this, they might say Ichinose Honami was overestimating herself.

However, Ichinose's eyes shone brightly, full of seriousness. It was clear she wasn't joking and genuinely intended to pursue this goal.

For both rational and emotional reasons, Ichinose wanted to become the student council president.

Before such determination, no one could underestimate her.

Even Horikita Suzune fell silent, shaken by Ichinose's declaration.

Undoubtedly, in Suzune's mind, Ichinose's status had risen significantly.

This girl came to this school to follow in her brother's footsteps and naturally wanted to join the student council, succeed her brother, and prove her capabilities.

Unfortunately, Horikita Suzune couldn't do this.

She knew her brother didn't recognize her abilities.

Even the two major faction leaders from Class A were rejected. As someone from the disgraceful Class D, she would undoubtedly be denied by Horikita Manabu.

Thus, joining the student council would only invite humiliation for Horikita Suzune.

But Ichinose Honami had genuinely joined the student council and aimed to become the president, working hard toward that goal.

This certainly shook Horikita Suzune's heart.

The others, too, looked at each other after learning about Ichinose's goal.

Only Hori smiled faintly and, seemingly casually, said to Ichinose.

"I believe you can do it."

Such simple and unadorned words reached Ichinose's ears.

This made Ichinose blink and then smile beautifully, like a blooming flower.

"Thank you, Nanaya-kun."

Ichinose gratefully thanked him.

For Ichinose, this encouragement was likely enough to fuel her efforts.

So, Ichinose's eyes sparkled even brighter.

Seeing this, the others finally reacted.

Kushida Kikyou looked at Hori, then at Ichinose, and mischievously said to Hori.

"As expected of Honami-chan's boyfriend, your encouragement just now definitely scored points. Will Honami-chan give Nansya-kun some reward when we go back?"

Kushida Kikyou's mention of a "reward" immediately stirred everyone's hearts.

"Re-reward...!?"

"W-what kind of reward...!?"

"Tell us!"

The three idiots, overwhelmed by their desires, shouted breathlessly.

"Re-reward...?"

Ichinose also stepped back, blushing and waving her hands, "No-no reward! Don't get any wrong ideas!"

Unfortunately, the group's emotions were already roused, and they started teasing Ichinose, making her panic and look to Hori for help.

However, Hori couldn't respond.

Why?

Because Sakura Airi was looking at him anxiously, with sadness in her eyes.

If he helped Ichinose, things might get difficult here.

As Hori pondered this, he felt a sharp gaze.

Noticing the sharp gaze, Hori raised an eyebrow and turned to look in that direction.

The next moment, he saw it.

In the swimming pool, the dazzling man playing water volleyball was staring tightly at him.

It was none other than Nagumo Miyabi.

In Nagumo's eyes, Hori saw it.

He saw surprise, curiosity, and a hint of intense fighting spirit.