Chapter 72: The Student Council's Conflict!
After the third party was gone, Manabu looked at Yuto and spoke.
"After I joined the student council, I made one mistake."
"What mistake?"
"My decision regarding the selection and training of the next student council president was a failure."
"The next student council president you chose... wouldn't happen to be Nagumo Miyabi, would it?" Yuto asked subtly.
After all, Nagumo was the vice president.
There was a very high chance he would take over as student council president once Manabu stepped down.
"That's right."
Manabu admitted it readily.
"At one point, I believed that after me, the only talented person in the student council was Nagumo."
"So I treated him as the next student council president and trained him."
"But I discovered that his policy differs from mine and the school's."
"The policy Nagumo adopts is absolute domination."
"Absolute domination, huh?"
Yuto raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds like something a tyrant would do."
Manabu pushed up his glasses and calmly explained.
"In order to dominate the entire second year, Nagumo used the authority of the student council to trap students who refused to submit to him into dropping out."
"As of now, seventeen second-year students have already dropped out."
"Seventeen students were forced out?"
Yuto was surprised.
That number was truly exaggerated.
"Yes."
"If they had dropped out according to the school's rules, I would not concern myself too much."
"But those students dropped out because Nagumo used his authority as vice president and guided things in that direction."
"That is why I do not believe he is truly suited to become student council president."
Yuto understood what Manabu meant.
Nagumo Miyabi had not even become student council president yet, but he was already abusing the student council's power.
If he really became president, he would definitely act even more recklessly.
Nagumo had already dominated the second year.
Once he became student council president, he would very likely extend his claws toward the other years as well.
Anyone dissatisfied or resistant would be forced into dropping out by him.
Manabu stared at Yuto.
"Shimizu, yesterday, you used a recording to take more than 3.58 million points from Nagumo."
"So he has definitely marked you as a thorn in his side."
"If you do not join the student council, you can only passively endure Nagumo's schemes and fall into danger."
"Tch."
Yuto clicked his tongue but did not deny it.
From their previous conversation, Nagumo was indeed a petty person.
He would definitely take revenge.
Even if Nagumo were not petty, any normal person who lost 3.58 million points to Yuto would absolutely hold a grudge.
Although Yuto had Chairman Sakayanagi backing him, if Nagumo used methods recognized by the school to make him drop out, even Sakayanagi would have trouble protecting him.
Besides, Yuto disliked placing his own matters in other people's hands.
Manabu looked at Yuto, who still remained calm, and nodded in satisfaction.
Even after learning about his dangerous situation, this first-year could still stay composed.
His mental strength was also quite good.
"So, Shimizu, what do you think?"
"Join the student council."
"I am still the student council president right now. As long as you join, I can protect you and secure the position of vice president for you."
"If you defeat Nagumo, you will become the next student council president."
Manabu's words were full of temptation.
However, Yuto found them extremely unpleasant.
Because he hated trouble.
He also hated becoming Manabu's weapon against Nagumo.
"Does it need to be that troublesome?"
Yuto said in annoyance, "You're the student council president, right?"
"Shouldn't you be able to make Nagumo leave the student council with a single word?"
"If Nagumo is removed from the student council, he won't have the authority to mess around anymore, right?"
"That is correct."
Manabu nodded in approval.
"But that method will not work."
"Why?"
"Because aside from myself and Secretary Tachibana Akane, every other member of the student council is a second-year student."
"Shimizu, you should understand what I mean by that."
Yuto furrowed his brows slightly.
"They're all Nagumo's lackeys?"
The word "lackeys" made Manabu's mouth twitch.
He answered, "More or less."
With almost all the student council members being second-years, removing Nagumo would not have much meaning.
Even if Manabu expelled Nagumo from the council now, after he stepped down, one of those lackeys would take over as president and bring Nagumo back.
A student council president loyal to Nagumo would either give up the position and let him become president...
Or become Nagumo's tool, doing whatever he ordered.
That was why Manabu had still not removed Nagumo from the student council.
"What a troublesome situation," Yuto complained.
"In that case, you can only kick Nagumo and all his lackeys out of the student council."
"That cannot be done."
Manabu shook his head.
"If all the second-year council members are removed, the student council will only have me and Tachibana left."
"The entire student council would be unable to function due to lack of manpower."
Then recruit more people!
That was also difficult.
The third-year students were preparing for graduation and had no interest in joining the student council.
The second-year students were under Nagumo Miyabi's control.
So if Manabu wanted to recruit people, he could only choose from the first-years who had just enrolled.
And Shimizu Yuto was the first-year Manabu had chosen.
"Then just spend twenty million points and make Nagumo drop out."
Manabu shook his head again.
"Although points can buy almost anything in this school, they cannot directly make a student drop out."
"Only when a student violates the school's rules will the school issue an expulsion penalty."
Manabu looked at Yuto, who still had not agreed to join the student council, and continued.
"Shimizu, you offended Nagumo."
"If he successfully becomes student council president, he will definitely use the president's authority to prepare special exams for the first-years that are especially unfavorable to Class D."
"That would reduce your class points."
"By the way, you do know about class points, right?"
Although first-years should not know about class points during their first month, for some reason, Manabu felt that this first-year before him would know what they were.
"I know."
"Class points are linked to the personal points received every month."
"They are also the key to promoting a class to Class A," Yuto answered casually.
"Heh. You really do know."
"I truly wonder where you gathered so much information that should only be revealed after a month."
Manabu smiled.
Yuto shrugged.
Suzune, who was watching them from not far away, looked as if she had seen a ghost.
Her brother had actually smiled?!
'Shimizu really satisfies Nii-san that much...'
Suzune thought gloomily.
She wanted Manabu's recognition more than anyone.
She also wanted him to smile at her like that.
Unfortunately, she could only imagine it.
"Shimizu, what is your decision?"
"Sigh."
Yuto let out a breath.
"I have one last question."
"What if I'm not Nagumo's match?"
Those words already revealed that Yuto was leaning toward joining the student council.
Manabu spoke.
"My judgment is fairly good."
"I would not hand an important matter to someone I believe incapable of handling it."
"Don't make it sound so nice. You misjudged Nagumo Miyabi."
Yuto said that in annoyance.
"That is why I said my judgment is fairly good, not that I have never been wrong," Manabu answered calmly.
His meaning was clear.
He admitted that he had misjudged Nagumo.
"Shimizu, I can use my authority as student council president to make you vice president."
"Vice president?"
A surprised look appeared on Yuto's handsome face.
He had thought that even if he joined the student council, he would only become an ordinary member.
He had not expected Manabu to directly make him vice president.
"Senpai, are you planning to remove Nagumo and make me vice president?"
"No."
Manabu shook his head.
"We cannot rashly remove Nagumo from his position. The student council members would oppose it."
"The student council can have two vice presidents."
"In previous years, there has usually only been one, but if we force the matter, it should not be impossible."
"It would simply be somewhat troublesome."
"What's troublesome about that?"
Yuto said casually, "First, tell Nagumo you're going to remove him as vice president and give the position to me."
"He'll definitely be dissatisfied and protest."
"Then take that chance to propose making me the second vice president."
"In that case, there's a high chance he'll agree."
A sharp light flashed through Manabu's eyes.
This first-year was even more flexible and clever than he had imagined.
In almost an instant, Yuto had already thought of a plan to make Nagumo and the others accept him as vice president.
"Shimizu, what you're talking about is the door-in-the-face effect, correct?"
Manabu looked at Yuto with appreciation.
"That's right."
Yuto nodded.
The door-in-the-face effect was basically this.
If you thought a room was too dark and suggested opening a skylight, everyone would probably refuse.
But if you first proposed removing the entire roof, people would try to compromise.
They would say removing the roof was too much, so maybe opening a skylight would be acceptable.
Simply put, the door-in-the-face effect meant making a large request first.
After the other party rejected it, you made a smaller request.
Since the smaller request seemed reasonable in comparison, the other party was more likely to accept it.
In psychology, this was called the door-in-the-face effect.
If Manabu told Nagumo and the others that Yuto would become the second vice president, they would absolutely oppose it loudly.
But if Manabu first told Nagumo that he would remove him as vice president and let Yuto take over, Nagumo would also oppose that fiercely.
Afterward, Manabu could propose making Yuto the second vice president instead.
To protect his own position, Nagumo would have no choice but to accept Yuto also becoming vice president.
"Shimizu, exchange contact information with me."
"After this, I will send you an application form for joining the student council."
"Fill it out and send it back to me."
"As for your entry into the student council and becoming vice president, I will handle the rest."
"So I only need to wait to join the student council?" Yuto asked.
"No."
"Although you have not joined the student council yet, you need to start acting against Nagumo in advance," Manabu slowly said.
"During today's club orientation, two first-years who applied for the student council stood out as excellent students."
"They are..."
"Katsuragi Kohei from Class A and Ichinose Honami from Class B."
Hearing the familiar little angel's name, Yuto showed no surprise.
After all, Ichinose Honami had a very strong desire to join the student council.
"These two first-years are both promising and outstanding students."
"But I plan to set their applications aside and not accept them for now."
"Senpai, are you worried that if they join the student council, they'll become Nagumo's lackeys for controlling the first-years?" Yuto asked.
Could he stop saying lackeys?
Manabu nodded.
"I do have that concern."
"If Nagumo wins over these two excellent first-years, they will become his subordinates in controlling the first year."
"Shimizu, after you successfully join the student council and become vice president, use your authority to make them your subordinates."
"If you want to oppose Nagumo, fighting alone will be far too difficult."
"You need companions."
"So before you officially join the student council, go make contact with Katsuragi Kohei from Class A and Ichinose Honami from Class B."
"Build a relationship with them early."
"I'll see."
Yuto answered with a smile.
He had never interacted with Katsuragi from Class A.
However, he was already fairly familiar with Class B's little angel, Ichinose.
Building a good relationship with her should be quite easy.
After all, that little angel already saw Yuto as a "good person."
After that, Manabu held out his school phone.
The two exchanged contact information and added each other on Line.
"Then, Shimizu, I'll be going."
"Mm."
Manabu walked toward Suzune, who was standing not far away.
As if sensing her brother approaching, Suzune immediately stiffened.
Her expression became uneasy and guilty.
Yuto smiled as he watched her reaction.
This girl was clearly afraid of her brother, yet she kept approaching him.
Did she want Manabu's recognition that badly?
Under Suzune's tense and uneasy gaze, Manabu walked right past her.
Her expression instantly became downcast.
He did not even want to acknowledge her?
Nii-san...
Manabu stopped.
"Suzune."
"Yes!"
The depressed Suzune instantly perked up.
"If you want to rise to Class A, then struggle with everything you have."
"Other than that, there is no other way."
"I will! I definitely won't disappoint you!"
"Mm."
"I will give you one suggestion, at least."
"Follow Shimizu Yuto and learn everything you lack from him."
"If you stay by his side, your knowledge and perspective should both broaden," Manabu slowly said.
…
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