Ike Kanji, who ran his mouth all day about wanting to find a girlfriend in high school, was highly suspicious.
From bits and pieces of conversations she overheard, Horikita Suzune learned that during yesterday's self-introduction, he had bluntly declared, "I'm currently recruiting a girlfriend."
She hadn't believed it at first.
But after observing him for an entire day, she was now completely convinced.
Yes. This was absolutely something Ike Kanji would say.
Seriously—did anyone actually think making a declaration like that on the first day of school would make them attractive?
The suspicion that he was an impostor was strong. Perhaps it was precisely because he wanted to blend into the "group" through having a "girlfriend" that he was so desperate to get one.
However, compared to Ike Kanji, the one with the greatest suspicion was still Yamauchi Haruki.
This information also came from overheard discussions. Every time she had to strain her ears to listen carefully, Horikita regretted not staying behind yesterday.
But what was done was done. She could only focus on the present.
During his self-introduction yesterday, Yamauchi Haruki had claimed that he made it to the national tournament in table tennis in elementary school, became the ace pitcher of the baseball club in middle school, and was now in rehabilitation after being injured in high school competitions.
…It was a painfully awkward introduction.
It was filled with a complete lack of common sense.
Aside from an impostor pretending to be human, Horikita truly couldn't imagine anyone giving such a self-introduction.
If she had to choose between two, she felt Yamauchi Haruki was more likely to be the impostor.
There was no concrete evidence, but at this point, her reasoning felt sufficient.
So… should she go find her brother?
No. She knew very well that the words in the diary weren't written by him.
But what if they were true?
What if telling him the impostor's name earned her his praise?
With that thought in mind, Horikita Suzune decided to go to the gym first.
Even though she truly wasn't interested in clubs and had no intention of joining any…
If it was a club orientation…
The student council would probably show up too, right?
"So, why did you follow me too?"
Stopping in her tracks, Horikita turned around and sighed.
Following behind her calmly was Ayanokōji Kiyotaka.
"Because I want to look at the clubs," he replied.
"I'm not asking about you, you friendless guy, and whether you're trying to make friends or fit in. I'm asking about her," Horikita said.
Ayanokōji wasn't the only one behind her.
There was also Kushida Kikyo.
"Horikita-san, what's wrong?" The beautiful girl, who seemed able to get along with anyone instantly, tilted her head and asked curiously.
She didn't seem to think her presence here was inappropriate at all.
"You, I…" Horikita paused. "…Forget it."
Looking at Kushida blinking innocently, she gave up on saying anything.
Those two probably wouldn't listen anyway.
...
There were many students in the gym, almost all of them first-years. At a rough estimate, there were over a hundred people.
It seemed most of the first-year students had come.
At the entrance, everyone received a booklet containing detailed introductions to each club.
Horikita flipped through it for a long time but couldn't find any information about the student council.
…Did the student council not recruit openly? Or was it just not printed together with the other clubs?
"First-year students, thank you for waiting. Next, representatives from each club will begin their presentations. I am Tachibana, secretary of the student council, and I will be hosting today's orientation. Nice to meet you."
While Horikita was thinking, movement began on the stage.
The host was an upperclassman who served as the student council secretary.
…As expected, a president like her brother wouldn't personally appear at an event like this.
She wanted to leave.
She had said from the beginning that she had no intention of joining any club.
Kushida Kikyo beside her kept trying to start conversations, and Ayanokōji, like some kind of machine, couldn't even help block them for her.
Served him right for having no friends.
Every second she sat there felt like torture.
Just as she was about to stand up, the long-winded self-praise and introductions from the club representatives finally ended.
Then, a familiar figure she admired appeared on stage.
Her brother.
The moment she realized this, Horikita Suzune's body stiffened.
She had thought she was mentally prepared, but seeing him again today, after the entrance ceremony, still made her nervous in such a pathetic way.
Vaguely, she felt she could understand why the diary had written such disappointed words.
Lightly biting her lower lip, her gaze hardened.
Neatly styled black hair, sharp glasses, and intelligent eyes.
Her brother stood quietly, looking down at everyone.
Around her, mocking voices rose and fell. Some foolish people, showing no respect, laughed and said stupid things.
But soon, when the laughter reached its peak, the entire gym abruptly fell silent.
A tense atmosphere spread under the pressure he radiated.
This was the overwhelming presence of the man named Horikita Manabu—
"High prices for used fridges, TVs, washing machines, electric fans, computers, air conditioners, personal terminals~"
"Low-price wholesale, brand-new, high-quality voice recorders~"
That pressure, however, was shattered in the very next instant by a sudden, loud voice.
Everyone looked toward the sound.
At the entrance of the gym, a man walked in leisurely with both hands raised high.
Between his fingers, he was holding no fewer than eight… voice recorders.
Each one was playing the same recording.
"High prices for used fridges, TVs, washing machines, electric fans, computers, air conditioners, personal terminals~"
"Low-price wholesale, brand-new, high-quality voice recorders~"
"Buy now and you profit, don't miss out! A must-have for Advanced Nurturing life! Ultra-long standby, huge capacity, crystal-clear recording and playback! Guaranteed lowest price in the school—three times compensation if not!"
The recording played again and again, echoing loudly through the spacious gym.
Step by step, the man approached the stage.
When everyone was too stunned to speak, he turned off the recorders one by one.
When silence finally returned to the gym…
He extended his hand and offered a recorder to Horikita Manabu.
"Good afternoon, Student Council President. Want a voice recorder?" he said.
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