The afternoon classes were extremely boring.
But Hikigaya still forced himself to focus and study seriously.
It had to be said.
Ichinose was an extremely infectious person, and everything she said was so correct that it felt like one would feel intense guilt for not following along.
Whenever class ended.
Many people would gather around Hikigaya. Occasionally, someone would toss him a topic, and he wouldn't refuse.
He would just lean his head on one hand at his desk and nod occasionally, as if he had already adapted to this feeling of being a "normie."
Ichinose seemed to have already shared the information with the class, as people occasionally offered words of praise.
Isn't this exactly the life he dreamed of in middle school?
Only.
Ultimately, something felt wrong; an indescribable sense of irritability spread through his heart.
Until after school.
A girl with a purple bun knocked on the classroom door.
"Senpai Tachibana Akane? Why are you here? Is something the matter?"
Ichinose stepped forward to speak; clearly, the two of them knew each other. It was only the third day of school, and the catalyst was likely yesterday's club orientation.
As expected of Ichinose, after just one meeting.
The two seemed to have a very good relationship already. Hikigaya paid no mind and continued packing his schoolbag.
"I'm here to find Hikigaya-kun. Please have him come with me to the Student Council!"
Tachibana Akane spoke with some displeasure.
"Eh? Me?"
Hikigaya put down his bag and looked over in surprise.
"So you are here. Follow me then. See you next time, Ichinose-san."
After saying goodbye to Ichinose, Tachibana Akane turned and left immediately. Hikigaya put down his bag and followed her out.
"Hikigaya-kun."
As he walked out of the classroom, Ichinose lowered her voice in confusion: "Senpai Tachibana Akane looks a bit unhappy. Did you do something?"
"I don't know, maybe it's about the club application form."
Hikigaya gave a brief explanation and left the classroom.
He submitted the application yesterday, and they came for him today.
One can see the high efficiency of the Student Council; it's enough to see that this must be a black-hearted enterprise that specifically exploits students.
The fake ability-user must be a black-hearted president.
Forget it.
No matter what, the matter of MAX Coffee must come first.
For some reason, Hikigaya felt a wave of exhaustion.
By the way, did he offend this senpai somewhere? Why did she seem so dissatisfied with him—a delayed rebellious phase?
Hikigaya thought with malicious intent as he followed Tachibana Akane to the Student Council office.
Tachibana Akane pushed open the door, and Hikigaya followed closely behind.
Stretched out before them was a long table. The fake ability-user Horikita Manabu sat in the center, hands crossed under his chin, his lenses seemingly reflecting white light.
Commander, you must be a Commander.
Could it be that he was going to start learning how to pilot Unit-01 today? He felt like he had accidentally discovered the school's truth.
On the left was a blonde guy, systematically arranging work for people. The nameplate on the table read: Vice President Nagumo Miyabi.
Definitely a blonde normie.
Nearby were Extras Number One, Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six.
"Sit."
Horikita Manabu spoke in a deep voice, his tone revealing an undeniable authority.
What is this? This is too terrifying.
Hikigaya obediently sat across from him.
"Hikigaya."
Only then did Horikita Manabu pick up a document from the table: "These are the two materials you submitted early yesterday. You remember them, right?"
"Ah, yes."
Hikigaya nodded.
What's with this guy? If you didn't know better, you'd think he'd been hauled before some military tribunal.
Were the materials he wrote that bad?
"Very well."
Horikita Manabu handed one of the materials to the person beside him: "Tachibana Akane, I'll leave it to you."
It seemed to be a tacitness unique to the students.
After receiving the materials, the other Student Council members sat upright and pricked up their ears.
Hmm?
What are they doing?
Is this going to be a public execution?
No, please no.
However, his prayers were useless; Tachibana Akane began reading calmly.
To the Advanced Nurturing Student Council Opinion Letter:
Students cannot be without MAX Coffee, just as the West cannot lose Jerusalem.
Proposal One: Add MAX Coffee to school shops and all vending machines. According to scientific research, sugar can effectively improve learning efficiency (listing the benefits of sugar, omitting one thousand words).
Proposal Two: Add hidden shops in the Keyaki Mall, such as Tenka Ippin, Toranoyu (ramen brands), etc. This move can bring surprises to students, effectively improving student happiness and learning efficiency.
(Listing how ramen contributed to the Sakurajima in the 1930s, effectively enhancing happiness and maintaining social stability, blah blah blah).
Proposal Three: Add 'Men Welcome' signs to the doors of Palette Cafe. This move will help some introverted males improve their communication skills.
I want to die, I really want to die.
Was what I wrote really this cringeworthy?
Hikigaya forced an awkward smile.
He had been to Palette Cafe.
After all, it was a coffee shop; he had originally wanted to find a substitute for MAX Coffee, or maybe they had it there.
But Palette was full of girls, giving off a "Boys Prohibited" atmosphere.
If he hadn't occasionally seen a blonde guy enter the shop, he would have thought it was a female-only store.
Anyway, it was just about nitpicking the school, which was his specialty.
Because of that.
Hikigaya wrote over a dozen items at once.
For example, adding elevators and providing regular psychological counseling for students.
(That's right, it's aimed at that flying-fish-head psychopath; he's truly terrifying. How could the school let such a person in?)
Boys have to protect themselves outside too, damn it!
"That is all."
Tachibana Akane read until her throat was dry; it took ten minutes to finish. She immediately glared at Hikigaya—he was simply detestable.
"Do you understand?"
Commander Horikita Manabu said in a deep voice: "It seems our Student Council still has many oversights. I didn't expect there to be so many problems."
Hmm?
Does he seem to be praising him?
What the heck, so it wasn't a public execution? He was almost scared to death.
Hikigaya breathed a sigh of relief, while the surrounding Student Council members lowered their heads in shame.
To let a freshman find so many problems was simply a dereliction of duty by the Student Council.
"But."
Tachibana Akane said with some dissatisfaction: "President, I think most of it is nonsense..."
This person is really too much.
"Indeed, over 90% of it is nonsense."
Horikita Manabu didn't deny it: "But every single item actually hits a vital point. This is an indispensable ability."
"Whew."
Hikigaya secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Regardless, he seemed to have gained a high evaluation from the Commander. This way, the MAX Coffee should be no problem.
Just then.
"MAX Coffee, huh..."
The blonde Nagumo Miyabi joked: "I remember it's a specialty from the Chiba area. I had the privilege of drinking it once. That thing is so sweet it's nauseating. I didn't expect anyone to actually like drinking it."
Hmm?
Hikigaya shot him a gloomy look.
There are actually people who don't like MAX Coffee.
Enemy!
Simply a heretic.
MAX Coffee will never forgive anyone who disrespects it!
A blonde is a blonde—a loathsome existence.
However.
The birth ceremony of the MAX Coffee God shall allow no one to stop it.