In a corner of St. Eden Academy's first-year Class A, Hara Kei sat at his desk, flipping through his notes.
It was the break between classes, and the classroom buzzed with the usual chaotic energy. If he had to compare it to water temperature, the room would be roughly 60°C—hot enough to feel uncomfortable to the touch, yet somehow still drinkable.
Hara Kei ignored the noise, carefully crossing out Ensha Sushi Aoki in his notebook to mark that he had already visited the restaurant. His gaze then shifted to the remaining entries, as he contemplated where to have dinner tonight.
At that moment, the school intercom interrupted his train of thought. Despite the slight distortion through the speakers, the clear, commanding voice of a mature woman easily cut through the classroom chatter:
"Hara Kei of Class 1-A, Hara Kei of Class 1-A, please report immediately to the Student Council President's office."
…Me?
Hara Kei looked up at the intercom above the blackboard. Instantly, the usual noise of Class 1-A died down.
The message came again, louder and more urgent:
"Hara Kei of Class 1-A, Hara Kei of Class 1-A, please report to the Student Council President's office within two minutes!"
He closed his notebook, rose from his seat, and left the classroom, heading toward the Student Council building.
Once he stepped out the door, the room erupted like a kettle boiling over—temperature metaphorically rising to 100°C. Everyone knew whose voice had just come over the intercom.
The Student Council President herself, the undisputed authority of St. Eden Academy, had called for Hara Kei.
What did she want with him?
Chika Fujiwara, listening to her classmates' murmurs, kept a smile on her face, but her hands nervously fiddled with the hem of her uniform.
Meanwhile, Hayasaka Ai waited a moment before excusing herself from her group, claiming she needed to "pick flowers" (a polite euphemism for going to the restroom), and quietly followed Hara Kei at a distance.
As the de facto administrator of St. Eden Academy and a central figure of its power structure, the Student Council headquarters was in its own separate building, neither part of the main school nor the club building. Its isolation seemed deliberate, showcasing its elevated, untouchable status.
After walking through a courtyard that bloomed like a French palace garden, Hara Kei entered the building. It wasn't tall, but the interior was lavishly decorated.
The summons had come from the Student Council President herself, whose office was on the top floor—though the "top floor" was a bit of a stretch, as the building only had two floors.
Standing outside the office door, Hara Kei paused for a moment before gently knocking.
"Please enter," came the calm, authoritative voice from within.
Hara Kei pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The office was extravagantly decorated—far beyond what he had expected. His first impression was one of awe. He had seen images of this office in a game in a previous life, but no screen could compare to reality.
The floor was covered in deep red plush carpet. Glass tables and elegant sofas formed a reception area, and above, crystal chandeliers hung like they belonged there. Along the walls, massive bookshelves stood in perfect formation, their carved grapevine patterns adding to the grandeur.
Looking around casually, one wouldn't think this was a student council office—it felt more like Buckingham Palace.
But Hara Kei didn't dwell on the decor. Compared to the girl seated behind the desk, smiling at him, the surroundings were irrelevant.
Hara Kei had seen beautiful girls before—Yukinoshita Yukino, Chika Fujiwara, Fuyuma Wasa, Hayasaka Ai—but the Student Council President's beauty was different.
There was a fierce, almost predatory quality to it. Like a leopard's muzzle stained with its prey's blood, like an avalanche consuming an entire village, like a flawlessly designed fighter jet built for destruction—beauty in its most dangerous form.
She wore the standard school uniform without alteration, yet it seemed radiant on her. Her eyes held a smile, but the look she gave Hara Kei was sharp, invasive—reminding him of a raptor surveying its quarry.
Her looks are comparable to the others, but her aura… it's on a completely different level. The difference between raw jade and a polished gemstone, Hara Kei thought.
Keeping his composure, he inclined slightly toward the Student Council President.
"President, you called me here—was there something urgent?"
"No need to be so formal," the clear, commanding voice replied. "Although I am the Student Council President, I'd prefer you think of me as your senior. You can just call me Goko-senpai."
Goko—the one who stood atop St. Eden Academy, managing an annual cash flow of three billion yen and indirectly overseeing hundreds of clubs. Her name, Goko, came from a popular game in Hara Kei's previous life. In that game, she was a leader in the nation of Liyue, occupying a prestigious position known as the Celestial Star. In this "perfect MD edition" of the game, she served as the Student Council President, orchestrating the academy's affairs with remarkable skill—arguably too much talent for the role.
This was her final year at St. Eden. After this, she would graduate and move on to university. That was why Hara Kei had suggested Yukinoshita Yukino run for the next president. If Goko weren't in her last year, Hara Kei would never have considered it.
"Goko-senpai," Hara Kei said smoothly, "is there something urgent you needed?"
"Urgent… not exactly," she replied, leaning back slightly, her gaze never leaving his. A faint smile played on her lips. "I just wanted to ask you…"
"Have you considered joining the Student Council, Hara Kei?"