"Vice President Nagumo, we've received an anonymous report."
Ichinose Honami walked into the student council room. It was Nagumo Miyabi's duty day. Although she felt somewhat uncomfortable, she still stepped forward to report, putting work first.
The student council accepts anonymous complaints, either via physical mail to a set box or anonymously emailed. This time, the report came in the form of a printed letter:
"First-year Class D student Kouenji Rokusuke is secretly conducting unauthorized point transactions with upperclassmen."
Because it was printed, handwriting analysis was impossible. The informant likely did this deliberately.
"Kouenji from Class D?"
Nagumo frowned thoughtfully. Just a few days ago, a second-year student had mentioned Kouenji trying to buy points from upperclassmen. He hadn't taken it seriously at the time, but now that an anonymous complaint had reached the student council, it was time to act.
After all, this was a sensitive time during the handover between student council presidents. If he ignored anonymous complaints now, he could give Horikita Manabu the opportunity to criticize him.
Besides, the solution was simple—just add a new rule.
Having come up with a solution, Nagumo smiled and stopped Ichinose from leaving.
"Ichinose-san, how is your class preparing for the sports festival?"
"Everything is progressing smoothly. Thank you for your concern."
Although her heart skipped a beat, Ichinose kept her expression calm.
Ever since she discovered that Nagumo was the one who leaked her secret, she had been increasingly wary. Her kindness did not mean she was naive.
"Is that so? Are there any classes you particularly dislike?" Nagumo leaned his chin on his hand. "Like Class B, who pushed you down to Class C, or Class A, who's only a few hundred points ahead?"
He feigned concern, continuing, "Since this sports festival involves cross-year battles, if you'd like, I can have the second-years go after them."
This casual offer was also a not-so-subtle flaunt of his control over the second years.
"No need. I think inter-year combat should stay within each year level."
Ichinose took a step back, replying with a blink.
"Worried I'll go too hard on your juniors?"
"Actually, I'm more worried that senpai might lose. When upperclassmen challenge younger students, the lower year gets to pick all seven events. Even if the second years are stronger, they could still lose."
Her composed response caused a flicker of irritation in Nagumo.
He had already branded Ichinose as part of his faction last semester. Her previous admiration for him was evident, but since summer break, she'd grown distant.
His original plan was to slowly earn her trust, then use her dark history to manipulate her. But that plan had clearly gone awry.
Seeing Nagumo's shifting expression, Ichinose took the opportunity to leave. If she hadn't promised someone to submit the report today, she wouldn't have come alone.
Outside, although it was September, the lingering heat made the streets sweltering. Girls passed by with parasols, sandals, and popsicles.
Feeling tempted, Ichinose stopped by a convenience store. As she opened the door, she bumped into Kitagawa Ryo, who was in line with a large bag of groceries.
"Honami."
He raised his hand in greeting.
"Good afternoon, Ryo."
Ichinose smiled and walked to the freezer, picking her favorite popsicle without hesitation.
"Grab one for me too. I'll pay for both."
Seeing her hesitate, Kitagawa added quickly. He was almost at the front of the line and figured it would be awkward to make her wait.
"...Thanks. I'll transfer you the points afterward."
Ichinose paused but handed both popsicles to Kitagawa.
"Did you just come from the student council building?"
He easily guessed based on their location.
They stood together unwrapping their treats. Ichinose savored the cool sweetness while Kitagawa devoured his in record time.
"This year's sports festival might involve a challenge from the upper grades."
"Expected. It's an all-grade event, after all."
Kitagawa didn't seem too fazed, prompting Ichinose to press further.
"Don't you think this festival is strange compared to previous years? It feels entirely different."
"You, as a student council member, should know better than me. But yeah, I heard some things. If I had to define it, I'd say it's a full-on assault by the second years on the first and third years."
Kitagawa tapped his chin.
"Nagumo controls the second years, right?"
Ichinose blinked in surprise.
"Just because I'm dating doesn't mean I'm deaf or blind," Kitagawa laughed. "I clashed with Nagumo once at the start of the year. I noticed he personally stepped in despite it not involving Class A directly. That made me suspect he controls the whole year."
He stretched and yawned.
"Controlling an entire year is impressive. Every special exam becomes his personal point generator. If someone like him had controlled our year during the VIP exam, they could've bagged over 80 million points."
Ichinose agreed. If Horikita Manabu was the strongest student council president, Nagumo was easily the most dominant vice president. If not for Manabu's excellence, Nagumo would've taken over long ago.
"But it also shows something else," Kitagawa said with a grin. "That the second year lacks real talent."
Ichinose frowned.
"You really think so?"
"No, I know so. Our year has too many independent-minded people. Nobody would submit to a single leader. The fact that Nagumo can dominate his year means the others are just weak."
He switched his grocery bag to the other hand.
"Each of our classes has troublemakers who wouldn't take orders. Second years must be too easy to control."
That conclusion came from intel he received from Kiryuin Fuka. If Nagumo couldn't even win her over, he had no hope of full dominance.
So despite Nagumo's bravado in targeting both first and third years, he might gain nothing.
Kitagawa believed that even if Class A chose all seven events, they might still lose against Horikita Manabu's Class 3-A.
If Kitagawa were Nagumo, he'd avoid Class 3-A and instead have second-year classes hand points to Class 3-B.
And since commanders who lose are expelled, they'd just appoint the weakest student as a disposable pawn.
The likely outcome on the day of the sports festival? Class 3-A challenges Class 3-B. They don't have the luxury to deal with the second years.
That leaves the first years facing overwhelming pressure from the second years and half the third years.
Ichinose was visibly shaken.
"Then what should we do...?"
"Honestly? We should attack each other," Kitagawa replied. "It's better than letting the upper grades gang up on us. Maybe our class fights Class A, and yours takes on Class D."
"That sounds ideal..."
"But unlikely. Class A will probably go after Class 2-D."
Kitagawa knew Sakayanagi Arisu well. She would never use her poor physical condition to challenge someone like him.
If Class A made her commander, they'd lose the ability to interfere in events. If she joined team events, they'd be one player short.
So from the start, Class A was at a disadvantage. Sakayanagi wouldn't go after Class B; she'd target a weak second-year class instead.
And the softest target? Class 2-D.
"So Class A won't be part of internal first-year fights. That means B, C, and D have to go against the upper years."
Ichinose grew worried. Her class had decent overall strength, but few athletic aces. Beating older students would be tough, even if they got to choose the events.
"Do you have a plan, Ryo?"
"Yes," Kitagawa nodded. "First-year unity."
"Unity?"
Ichinose blinked, confused.
"There's a loophole in the rules that Nagumo left on purpose: temporary substitutes. In team events, if participants and substitutes can't compete, you can spend 100,000 points to bring in a temp."
"And these temps aren't restricted by class."
"Nagumo added that rule thinking only he could use it. But so can we."
"Take football, his proudest event."
"Imagine a first-year lineup like this:
Class A: Hashimoto Masayoshi, Kito Hayato
Class B: Me, Ryuuen, Yamada Albert
Class C: Shibata Sou
Class D: Hirata Yosuke, Kouenji Rokusuke, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka"
"Former football stars..."
Kitagawa looked up at the student council office.
"Can they win?"
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