Chapter 346: Nagumo Miyabi: What Do You Mean "The Person I Love"? / Suzune, Go Date Akira-kun
Student Council President's Office.
Ichinose Honami placed a document on Nagumo Miyabi's desk.
"President Nagumo, this is the information sent by Acting Chairman Tsukishiro regarding the final special exam starting March 8th."
Nagumo opened the envelope. Except for special arrangements for the third-year students, the format for the first and second years remained largely the same as previous years.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Honami said formally.
"Don't be in such a hurry, Ichinose-kouhai," Nagumo called out.
"Aren't you curious about your grade's final exam?" Honami smiled politely.
"Thank you, but I haven't passed the security clearance."
Nagumo laughed.
"This is my office; there are no cameras. Only you and I will know. I trust your character, so why not take a peek?" He pushed the file toward her.
However, Honami firmly shook her head.
"I really shouldn't. It's against the rules. Besides, my class is preoccupied with the voting exam. I don't have the energy to focus on the next one yet."
Nagumo's smile stiffened. He had hoped to use a shared secret to bridge the distance between them, only to be rejected twice. He shifted tactics.
"Given your style, I assume your class will choose to spend 20 million points to save everyone?"
"Yes," Honami nodded.
"Are the class funds sufficient?" Nagumo asked with feigned concern.
"If you're short, I have points to spare. Two million, five million... even ten million. Given our relationship, I wouldn't mind lending it to you."
"Thank you, but we wish to solve Class B's problems ourselves."
Nagumo leaned back.
"Self-reliance? Ambitious. But sometimes excessive persistence leads to unnecessary trouble. It's 20 million points—a massive sum. Can you really gather that much?"
"President Nagumo, thanks to Akira-kun's actions, all four first-year classes earned a large amount of points during the VIP exam," Honami said steadily.
"Furthermore, Class B has been collecting class fees since the start of the year. We reached 20 million months ago. Even if I were short, I would borrow from Akira-kun. You needn't worry."
'What?!' Nagumo was stunned. Class B already had 20 million? He realized with a start—it was because of that VIP exam. Shimizu Akira had set this up long ago. And what did she say?
'Borrow from Akira-kun?'
"Ichinose-kouhai," Nagumo said, his voice straining to remain calm.
"You've become quite distant. Are you blaming me for being too lenient with Sakayanagi regarding the rumors?"
Honami shook her head.
"No, the Council's handling was fair. I'm just... surprised. You didn't follow the rules this time. Your behavior at the training camp wasn't fitting for a President."
"Rules?" Nagumo's smile nearly cracked.
"You're lecturing me on rules? In this school, results and strength decide everything. I am the President—that is the result. Does the process matter?"
Honami looked at him.
"To me and my class, the process matters. If you lose sight of the journey, you forget why you started. I've broken rules before and lost my way. I don't want to experience that again, nor do I want to disappoint the person I love."
She bowed. "If there are no further instructions, I'll head out."
The moment the door closed, Nagumo slammed his hand onto the desk.
'The person I love?! Who else could it be but Shimizu Akira?!'
His carefully crafted script—letting her be crushed by rumors so he could "rescue" her—had been torn to pieces by Shimizu. Shimizu hadn't used a complex strategy; he had simply been there for her from the start.
"Shimizu Akira... you probably don't realize that Tsukishiro didn't just come for Ayanokoji," Nagumo muttered.
"He came for you, too."
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"Don't mind that guy. He's just a clown," Shimizu Akira said, waving his hand dismissively after hearing Honami's story.
Honami giggled, the tension from Nagumo's office melting away.
"Really, Akira-kun... it's not good to talk about the President like that."
"I'm just being honest. A man who offers 'charity' just to flex his control is a clown."
He pushed a pudding toward her.
"If you were short on points, you'd just ask me. I'm your boyfriend, after all." Honami felt a warm surge of security.
"By the way, Class B decided to give all our praise votes to you. Everyone agreed."
Shimizu paused. Forty praise votes from Class B? That was a massive show of confidence. "Tell everyone thank you for me."
"No need! It's a return gift for all your help."
"Ah?! Akira-kun... why are you alone with Honami-chan?!"
They turned to see Wang Mei-yu standing nearby with a cake box, looking horrified. She knew Akira was dating Kushida. Seeing him here with Honami in such an intimate atmosphere looked like blatant cheating.
Honami beat him to the punch, grabbing his arm proudly. "Yes, the two of us are dating!"
"Ehh?!" Wang Mei-yu's eyes widened, her Chinese slipping out in shock. "Are you two-timing?! But... Kikyo... Akira-kun is such a good person!"
Akira quickly leaned in to whisper: "Actually, I'm seriously dating several people at once."
Wang Mei-yu froze. Her gaze darted between Akira's calm face and Honami's relaxed posture. "Dating... simultaneously? With Kikyo... and Honami? And others? How is that possible...?"
Honami smiled.
"Kikyo knows and agreed. We all love Akira-kun, and he treasures us. It's a serious relationship."
Seeing their sincerity and the strange harmony between them, Wang Mei-yu calmed down.
"I see! I'm good friends with both of them, so I won't tell anyone! I was just shocked."
"It's fine," Akira said. "Anyone would be shocked."
Honami pulled Mei-yu aside to discuss the "love trouble" she had messaged about earlier. Akira, knowing when to leave a "girls' talk," stood up to go, but Mei-yu stopped him.
"Actually... I was going to ask Akira-kun for help too!" She took a deep breath.
"I like Hirata-kun. Akira-kun, could you... try to find out if he likes anyone?"
As expected, Akira thought. "I'll find a chance to talk to him. But remember, my help is just an assist. Your own courage matters most."
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Tachibana Akane and Horikita Suzune walked out together. The meeting had gone well; most members welcomed the former President's sister.
"You've changed, Suzune," Tachibana smiled.
"The old you would have just grunted and walked away from strangers."
Suzune didn't deny it.
"I'm not the person I used to be." She said it with a hint of pride.
Tachibana giggled behind her hand. Suzune looked confused.
"Tachibana-senpai?"
"Sorry, sorry. It's just... Suzune-chan is quite a cute kouhai."
"C-cute?" Suzune recoiled. She preferred terms like "strong" or "reliable."
"Yes, cute. Like a fledgling trying hard to become its ideal self. Your brother used to have that same look when he decided to reform the council."
Mentioning her brother caught Suzune's attention.
"Brother... did that too?"
"Of course," Tachibana said nostalgically. "But determination isn't enough. The road ahead with Nagumo and the first-year chaos will be difficult."
Suzune bowed deeply.
"Tachibana-senpai... I owe you an apology for the training camp. I was in your group but didn't realize you were being bullied. It was my oversight."
Tachibana was moved.
"It wasn't your fault. I chose to hide it. You didn't have to notice."
"No, it was my responsibility as a teammate," Suzune insisted.
"You really have changed," Tachibana noted.
"I accept your apology."
"Thank you. Is there anything I can do to repay you? I feel uneasy owing you twice."
Tachibana looked at her earnest face and couldn't resist.
"Well then... go and date Shimizu-kouhai."
"Wh-what?!" Suzune froze.
"Senpai, why would you...?"
"Secretly—don't tell the President—I love shoujo manga!" Tachibana whispered.
"I think you and Shimizu-kouhai are a perfect 'ship'! If you date, it'll satisfy my craving for romance."
Suzune was stunned.
Dating... him? The logic jumped so far it bypassed her rational brain.
But... this was a direct request from her senpai.
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