"There are more people from Class D than I expected."
After the afternoon classes ended, Kitagawa Ryo walked with the students of Class D toward the First Gymnasium. To his surprise, nearly thirty out of forty Class D students had chosen to attend the club orientation event.
However, when he overheard the boys talking about joining the swimming club just to see girls in swimsuits, Ryo let out a helpless sigh. As expected, he couldn't hold high expectations for the students of Class D. Most of the boys had minds stuffed with all sorts of lewd fantasies and nothing else.
The atmosphere in the First Gymnasium was even more enthusiastic than the Class D students had imagined. A rough count showed more than a hundred students gathered. Upperclassmen had formed various circles to introduce the clubs to the freshmen.
Matching the school's prestigious reputation, the clubs at Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School were equally outstanding. Upon entering, everyone received a booklet detailing the clubs. Even a cursory glance revealed a vast list of awards—many of them at the prefectural or even national level.
They also appeared to be well-funded, with high-end facilities like hyperbaric oxygen chambers.
Standing on the central stage of the gymnasium was a purple-haired girl with her hair tied in a bun. She was Tachibana Akane from Class 3-A, currently acting as the Student Council Secretary. After checking the time, she turned on the microphone and said:
"First-year students, thank you for waiting. We will now begin the club introduction session. I am Tachibana, the Student Council Secretary, and I will be your host for this event. Nice to meet you all."
After the brief opening remarks, she stepped off the stage, and the club representatives lined up to present.
Each representative was unique—from muscular upperclassmen in judo uniforms to elegant senpai in kimono. Their speeches followed a standard format, similar to the board members' speeches during the entrance ceremony: reflect on the past, boast about the present, and dream of the future.
"My name is Hashigaki, and I am the captain of the Kyudo (archery) Club. Many people may think of kyudo as old-fashioned or plain, but it's incredibly fun and well worth trying. We welcome beginners, so please consider joining our club."
During the Kyudo Club's introduction, Ryo noticed the boy beside him showing clear interest—it was Miyake Akito, a fellow Class D student.
Ryo remembered him. In Karuizawa Kei's second simulation, Class 1-C and Class 1-D had a showdown during the sports festival. Miyake had represented Class D in the archery event and scored a point.
Even among all the first-years, his archery skills were among the best.
However, he seemed reserved. When he noticed Ryo looking, he simply nodded slightly in return.
Although they were classmates, it was only the second day of school, so most of the class still weren't familiar with each other.
Ryo shifted his gaze to the next person on stage: Horikita Manabu.
With a calm demeanor and an overwhelming presence, he instantly silenced the noisy gymnasium. Then, he slowly began to speak:
"I am Horikita Manabu, the Student Council President."
"Due to graduating upperclassmen, the Student Council will be recruiting candidates from the first-year students. There are no specific requirements, but candidates should not join other clubs. Those attempting to join both the Student Council and a club will not be accepted."
Though his tone was gentle, a tension that felt like it pierced the skin settled over the crowd. The entire gym seemed to fall under his control.
"Interested students should go directly to the top floor of the club building for an interview after this orientation."
With that, he stepped off the stage and left the gym.
"Thank you all for your attention. This concludes the orientation. We will now begin accepting club applications. Applications will remain open until the end of April. If you want to apply later, please bring the application form directly to the club you wish to join."
Thanks to Tachibana's composed hosting, the previously tense atmosphere gradually dispersed, returning to the earlier buzz of excitement.
The upperclassmen who had finished their introductions moved to the designated area on the right side of the gym, where tables and chairs were already set up to handle club applications on the spot.
"The Student Council seems really special."
A student who noticed this distinction commented aloud. Another upperclassman nearby nodded and kindly explained:
"It's the hardest club to join. They only accept two to three new members a year."
"So maybe you should consider our baseball club instead. Our goal this year is to reach Koshien!"
"Huh? Really?"
Watching a freshman being pulled into the excitement, Ryo chuckled lightly. Aside from the Student Council, neither the supervising teachers nor the club reps showed any sign of being annoyed with the noisy first-years. In fact, their attitudes were very welcoming.
"That's just because the number of new recruits affects each club's budget for the year."
Horikita Suzune had somehow walked up beside Ryo. Glancing at the bustling club booths, she explained.
"Did you just come back from the Student Council, Suzune?"
"Yeah, I met with my brother."
She recalled what her brother had told her earlier that day about the internal situation within the Student Council and rubbed her temples with a headache.
"Are you thinking of joining the Student Council, Ryo?"
"Too much of a hassle. You go ahead on your own."
Ryo placed his hands behind his head and strolled toward the club booths casually.
"Planning to join another club then?"
Suzune followed quickly, curious about what kind of club Ryo would choose.
"You should head back and prepare for your interview. I just saw several Class A students already headed that way. They only accept two or three freshmen a year."
"Or you could mention your 'Student Council President brother' during the interview."
"If there are that many people, I don't need to rush. I'd rather see what club you're picking."
"...Then suit yourself."
Ryo walked over to the baseball club's booth. Most of the sports clubs had female members handling recruitment—likely to attract more freshmen—and the baseball club was no exception. A second-year senpai sat there, head down, filling out a form.
"Hello, senpai."
The girl looked up and was stunned by Ryo's smile. Her mind went completely blank from how dazzling he looked.
His golden trait [Peerless Beauty] pushed his charm to its peak. Even girls like Suzune and Kei, who spent time with him daily, occasionally found themselves flustered by his casual actions—let alone a senpai meeting him face-to-face for the first time.
Back when he was younger and acting in theater, Ryo had already attracted a wave of motherly fans who didn't care for acting—they just came for his looks. They were also the most generous with money. To earn extra, Ryo had even sold signed merchandise back then. That's why Sakayanagi Arisu once said he was no different from Sakura Airi.
Snapping out of her thoughts, the senpai finally returned to her senses when Ryo tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
"Are you here to join the baseball club? Do you have any experience—oh, no worries if you don't! We love welcoming beginners. I'll personally teach you everything!"
Now practically glowing with enthusiasm, the senpai looked like she was ready to grab Ryo's hand and sign him up on the spot. But Ryo simply shook his head.
"I just wanted to ask—what are the steps to start a new club?"
"Please let me join it!"
"No, no, it's just an idea for now..."
Before he could finish, Suzune tugged on his sleeve and pulled him back.
"If you wanted to ask that, you could've just asked me."
She folded her arms. After all, she had reviewed a lot of club-related materials at lunch with her brother.
"To start a new club, you need at least three student members and a supervising teacher. The Student Council will review your application. If approved, you'll get a club room. But for the first six months, the Student Council will conduct monthly reviews to evaluate the club's operation and necessity."
"Doesn't sound too hard."
Ryo stroked his chin thoughtfully. Most high schools required five or more people to start a club, but with only 160 students per grade, the rule here made sense.
"The monthly reviews are the tough part."
Suzune brushed her hair behind her ear and continued explaining:
"There used to be niche clubs—like skateboarding or rap—but due to low performance or lack of members, they rarely passed reviews. Even if they did once or twice, their budget would get cut, and they'd disband within six months."
"The least popular clubs now are tea ceremony and calligraphy, but even those aren't that obscure. They just look small compared to the traditional powerhouses like baseball or basketball."
They chatted casually for a while longer. Although Ryo never revealed what kind of club he wanted to start or who the members would be, Suzune didn't mind. Once the time came, he'd still have to go through the Student Council's review.
So she simply watched the time and left for her interview.
After all, if Ryo really created a new club, there'd be no hiding it from her anyway.
-------------------------------------
"Ayanokouji-kun."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, who had been resting with his eyes closed on a bench, opened them when he heard his name. Before him stood a very shiny bald head.
"What is it, Katsuragi-kun?"
"I just didn't expect to see you here."
Katsuragi Kohei sat down beside Ayanokouji, slightly hunched forward with his hands clasped, scanning the other students around them.
This was inside the Student Council headquarters. Each candidate was scheduled to be interviewed in the reception room.
The reason Katsuragi was surprised was due to how few students had shown up.
Aside from himself and Ayanokouji, there were only four or five others from the remaining three classes. That low turnout made Katsuragi feel increasingly confident.
Encouraging messages from his group chat, including from Totsuka Yahiko, added to his momentum.
And truthfully, Katsuragi had every reason to feel confident. Since everyone had only just entered the school two days ago, the Student Council would likely base decisions on each student's middle school record. Katsuragi's resume was impressive: he had served as class rep and student council member in middle school, with top academic performance. With seemingly low competition, even someone as composed as Katsuragi couldn't help feeling a bit excited.
After all, the Student Council was the hardest club to enter. If he could become a member, it would immediately raise his standing in Class A.
Not that he craved praise from classmates—this habit came from his past.
He had lost his parents and grandparents early in life and had always looked after his frail twin sister. Becoming class rep often gave him a leg up in receiving commendations, awards, or material rewards—things that brought a smile to his sister's face.
"Katsuragi Kohei."
Hearing his name called, Katsuragi snapped out of his thoughts. He nodded to Ayanokouji, rose, and headed into the reception room.
About ten minutes later, Ayanokouji saw him come out. His expression wasn't great, but not awful either.
"How did it go?"
"They told me to wait for further notice."
Katsuragi wasn't sure if he passed or failed. He gave Ayanokouji a pat on the shoulder in encouragement.
"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka."
It was his turn. Ayanokouji adjusted his uniform slightly and walked in unhurriedly.
Inside, he didn't see Student Council President Horikita Manabu from the orientation. Instead, three male students sat side by side, with one clearly taking the lead. With his golden hair and handsome face, he reminded Ayanokouji of Hirata Yosuke—though unlike Hirata's ever-friendly smile, this guy's smirk had a wild edge.
"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Class 1-A. Ranked tenth on the entrance exam. No previous experience as a class representative or student council officer."
Nagumo Miyabi read off the profile casually.
"I'm Nagumo Miyabi, the Student Council Vice President. Welcome, Ayanokouji-kun."
"Yeah."
Ayanokouji responded flatly. His exam results had only been that high because his father told him to score just enough to enter Class A. As for his blank resume—that was simply because he'd spent his life in the White Room.
Had it not relaxed slightly during his final year, he might not have even known how regular society functioned.
"What motivated you to join the Student Council, Ayanokouji-kun? Or rather, why do you want to join?"
A typical question. Nagumo yawned as he scratched his ear with his pinky. The last applicant—the bald, burly one—had said he wanted to help students however he could, which nearly made Nagumo laugh out loud.
"Because the Student Council has significant power. Enough to reshape how this school functions."
Ayanokouji recalled his experience from over a year ago. Back then, Classes B, C, and D had allied to fight Class A because Horikita Manabu had been acknowledged by the former student council president. It wasn't hard to see how influential the Student Council was.
"Oh?"
Nagumo straightened up. Though he couldn't accept anyone outside Kitagawa Ryo's pre-approved list due to their agreement, he still took an interest in Ayanokouji.
Nagumo wasn't the type to let go of a grudge. Ryo's threats had kept him up all night.
After throwing a few tricky questions at Ayanokouji, which were all answered smoothly, Nagumo finally concluded:
"Ayanokouji-kun. Your interview is complete. Please wait for further updates from the Student Council."
Then, after a short pause, he added:
"However, if you want to know your result immediately, you can add my secretary, Tonegawa, as a contact."
"Alright."
Ayanokouji agreed, sensing something strange.
Sure enough, as soon as he exchanged contacts with the secretary and exited the room, his phone vibrated.
It was a message from Tonegawa, but Ayanokouji was certain it came from Nagumo himself:
[Student Council recruitment slots have been pre-assigned. If you wish to join, one of the two pre-selected students must be expelled this month.]
Below were two names, divided into two lines:
[Horikita Suzune] and [Sakayanagi Arisu].
"Horikita Suzune."
The name was called from the reception room. As Ayanokouji stepped aside, a striking black-haired girl brushed past him.
"Expulsion... huh?"
He folded his arms, still mulling it over. Katsuragi, still nearby, waved him over.
He wasn't sure whether Nagumo was bluffing or telling the truth. But he knew both those girls were in Class D and held the critical roles of the "bishop" and the "queen."
"How did it go?"
"Same as you."
Ayanokouji responded vaguely and gave Katsuragi a firm pat on the shoulder.
"Didn't think you'd wait for me."
"We're classmates, after all."
Katsuragi gave a casual smile, thinking he had just boosted their rapport.
"Let's grab dinner. My treat."
He struck while the iron was hot, hoping to draw Ayanokouji into his circle.
Katsuragi knew it was unrealistic to win everyone's support in class, but if he could win over half, he'd have control. That made Ayanokouji a valuable asset—even if he seemed unremarkable.
At the very least, he was more useful than Totsuka Yahiko.
"Sure, I appreciate it. There are some things I want to discuss with you, too."
Ayanokouji accepted the invitation with a nod.
[Pawns] — the frontline pieces in chess, most numerous and best suited for charging forward…
Or being sacrificed.
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