"You've got a point."
Arthur glanced at Fujiwara Chika and chuckled.
"How about this—since today's your first day in the council, let me treat you. How about karaoke?"
"Really? I'm in!"
"Thank you, President. That's generous of you."
Chika raised her hand with uncontained excitement, her approval immediate.
"What about you, Manabe-san?"
Arthur turned toward Nao with a warm smile.
"…Alright. Thank you, President."
After a brief hesitation, Nao nodded her agreement as well.
Naturally, everyone's attention then shifted to Shinomiya Kaguya.
Chika leaned in with hopeful eyes.
"Kaguya-chan, you'll come with us, right?"
"..."
Facing the three of them, Kaguya's expression barely shifted. She was about to refuse—
When Arthur suddenly spoke, smiling slyly:
"Perhaps Shinomiya-san wants to head home to study. After all, she does have a certain rival to surpass."
The words had barely left his mouth before Kaguya's crimson eyes flickered.
Her calm gaze sharpened.
Is he trying to provoke me?
"A rival to surpass?"
Chika tilted her head, puzzled. She looked from Arthur to Kaguya with blatant curiosity.
Nao, meanwhile, adjusted her glasses with a finger, observing quietly.
Though she said nothing, the faint intrigue in her eyes betrayed her interest.
After all, getting to know one another was the first step to growing closer.
"Well then, Shinomiya-san?" Arthur asked softly.
"…Yes."
Kaguya gave a faint nod.
Arthur's smile widened.
"Her rival," he explained, "is both far away… and right before her eyes."
"Far away, yet right before her eyes?"
Chika and Nao blinked, momentarily confused—then their eyes lit up with realization.
"President," Chika gasped, "you mean you're her rival?"
"That's right." Arthur nodded with a grin.
"To bring Shinomiya-san into the council, she and I made a deal."
"What kind of deal?"
Chika was brimming with curiosity, and even Nao's calm face hinted at eagerness.
Arthur explained smoothly:
"If Shinomiya-san can surpass me in next month's midterms, she wins the presidency. I'll step down and serve as her vice president instead.
"But if she fails, she'll devote herself to assisting me until my term ends."
"Ohhh, so that's how it is."
Chika's expression lit with understanding.
Then she giggled, hands clasped behind her back.
"President, you're cool and all, but I'm still rooting for Kaguya-chan! She's amazing—you'd better not underestimate her, or you'll lose!"
Having known Kaguya since middle school, Chika was well aware of her brilliance.
Yes, Arthur had taken first place in the entrance exam… but if Kaguya had agreed to this bet, it meant she fully intended to win.
Probably.
…Though, looking at Arthur now, Chika suddenly wavered.
Wait. What if Kaguya actually loses?
That would make it her second defeat at his hands.
"No, no!" Chika shook her head inwardly. Kaguya's amazing. She won't lose. She'll win. Definitely!!!
As her friend, she had no doubt in her loyalty.
Clenching her fist, she beamed at Kaguya with encouragement.
"Kaguya-chan, you've got this!"
"…Mm."
Kaguya glanced at her, nodding lightly.
Her gaze softened ever so slightly—the icy aura melting by one degree.
Then, when her eyes met Arthur's again, they sharpened, filled with unwavering confidence.
From childhood, she had always been number one.
Every exam, every ranking—she was the best.
Until Arthur shattered that record.
When he invited her into the council and proposed this bet, she accepted without hesitation.
Because to her, it wasn't just an invitation. It was a challenge.
If it had been anyone else, she might have ignored it.
But he was the one who broke her undefeated streak.
And when it came to academics, Shinomiya Kaguya did not back down.
She would beat him in the midterms—
and make him understand exactly who he had chosen to challenge.
Their eyes locked, and Arthur blinked playfully, smiling.
"Of course, I know Shinomiya-san is exceptional. That's why I invited her as vice president.
"But I'm also confident in my own ability.
"Still, it's too early to tell. The results will speak for themselves after the midterms."
"Well said."
Chika folded her arms, pinching her chin with mock-serious thought, nodding vigorously.
Arthur chuckled, then asked:
"So, Shinomiya-san… will you be joining us? Or going home to study?"
Their gazes met again.
Kaguya's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I'll come."
Her answer came calm, but decisive.
After all, refusing now would be as good as admitting she was weaker than him—
that she needed every spare moment to catch up.
And that was something Shinomiya Kaguya would never admit.
If Arthur dared to play, she would play too.
And if she lost in the end, she would accept it as a matter of pride.
Because losing, in itself, wasn't always shameful.
Sometimes it was simply a matter of strategy.
But when it comes to studying? She had no intention of losing.
Until the results came, she had every bit as much confidence as Arthur.
"Great!"
Chika's face lit up with joy at her agreement.
Arthur's smile deepened.
"Now that's settled, let's start familiarizing ourselves with our work.
"There's not much to do right now, but learning early will make things smoother later—especially with the upcoming club-related tasks next week."
"Aye aye, President!"
Chika snapped a salute, her grin full of energy and playfulness.
Arthur couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
And so the four of them spent the next hour getting accustomed to their duties, flipping through the documents left by the previous council.
The sunlight spilling through the windows shifted into a warm orange glow.
An hour passed in the blink of an eye.
When they had tidied up and packed their bags, the four left the council office together.
Their next stop: karaoke.
As Arthur returned the office keys, Kaguya discreetly pulled out her phone and sent an email.
Then, after changing into their outdoor shoes at the lockers, the group left the school.
Roughly twenty minutes later, Arthur and the others arrived at a KTV chain in Shinjuku.
Five people, in fact—
Because Arthur had already noticed someone tailing them from the shadows.
Hayasaka Ai.
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