Chapter 163: Nagumo: DAMN IT! You Scumbag, One Law for the Rich and Another for the Poor, Right?!
The homeroom period ended.
Hachiman stood up, closed his textbook, and stuffed it into his desk.
To his right, Ichinose also stood up, holding her notebook, her movements slightly quicker than usual.
Today, she had specially tied her hair up with a light pink hair tie, revealing her fair nape. It gave her an added sense of allure on top of her usual gentleness.
However, Hachiman wasn't the type to look at his friends with strange intentions. He only took three glances before withdrawing his gaze.
"Let's go," Hachiman said.
Ichinose nodded and followed behind him. They walked out of the classroom one after the other, heading through the hallway toward the Student Council office. They didn't speak along the way, but the atmosphere wasn't awkward.
The Student Council office was at the end of the first-floor corridor. The door was open. Tachibana Akane stood at the entrance holding a folder; seeing them approach, she stepped aside slightly to clear the way.
"The President is inside waiting for you." Her gaze lingered on Hachiman and Ichinose before she gave a small nod.
Hachiman acknowledged her and walked in.
There were only three people in the office.
Horikita Manabu sat at the desk with several documents spread before him and a cup of cold tea by his hand. Tachibana followed them in and took a seat nearby.
However, there was an unexpected figure present: Katsuragi-kun from Class A... no, it should be Class B now.
Katsuragi Kouhei sat quietly, his expression somewhat subtle. Given the time, his presence here was likely requested by Horikita Manabu. Hachiman's gaze rested on Katsuragi for a second before pulling away.
"Sit," Horikita Manabu said briefly.
Hachiman pulled out a chair and sat before Ichinose could. Ichinose took the seat beside him, placing her notebook on her lap, her fingers pressing lightly against the cover.
Horikita Manabu leaned back, hands interlaced on the desk. His gaze swept from Hachiman's face to Ichinose's, finally landing on Katsuragi. After two seconds of silence, he spoke slowly.
"I've called you here today regarding the Student Council's personnel arrangements."
His voice remained steady, devoid of any superfluous emotion.
"First—" Horikita Manabu looked at Hachiman, "Hikigaya, your results in the class promotion were indeed outstanding. Based on the reward I gave Nagumo when he successfully led Class B to a promotion, I intend to grant you the position of Student Council Vice President. Since you achieved the feat of a promotion within the first semester, I will additionally allow you to arrange the positions of Secretary and Treasurer."
Hachiman nodded. "Thank you, President."
Horikita Manabu didn't respond immediately. He watched Hachiman for two seconds, then turned his gaze to Katsuragi. Katsuragi adjusted his posture slightly, his shoulders tensing for a moment—as if waiting for something.
But Horikita Manabu only said, "Katsuragi, you are here to serve as a witness."
Katsuragi's expression stiffened momentarily. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately just nodded. Hachiman noticed his fingers grip his knees slightly.
A witness.
Not an invitation, not an appointment—just a witness.
For Katsuragi, the former representative of Class A, Hachiman had essentially stepped over him to rise. It was his own lack of competence that led to failure.
He could not deflect this responsibility.
He had likely guessed President Horikita's intent: not just to witness, but a hope that he would know shame and move forward.
Horikita Manabu withdrew his gaze and looked back at Hachiman. "Accepting the position of Vice President means you must shoulder the corresponding responsibilities. The workload of the Student Council will not be lightened just because you are a first-year."
"Understood," Hachiman's reply was brief.
Horikita Manabu picked up a document from the desk and pushed it toward Hachiman. It was an appointment letter, already signed by him, needing only Hachiman's signature.
Hachiman looked down, his gaze pausing for a second on the words "Vice President," then he picked up the pen and signed. His movements were swift, without hesitation.
Sitting beside him, Ichinose watched his pen glide across the paper, the corners of her mouth curving up slightly.
Horikita Manabu took back the appointment letter and leaned into his chair. He glanced between Hachiman and Katsuragi before speaking, his tone carrying a hint of scrutiny.
"Hikigaya, do you think... I should give Katsuragi the position of Vice President?"
The question came out of nowhere. Katsuragi snapped his head up, his expression shifting from surprise to anticipation, and then to an unidentifiable look.
He suddenly remembered that after Nagumo-senpai overtook them with Class B, Horikita Manabu invited Nagumo Miyabi into the Student Council as Vice President, and then gave the former Class A representative, Kiriyama, a Vice President position as well. Now that Hikigaya Hachiman had replicated Nagumo's success and joined the council, would the President give him—the former Class A representative—an opportunity too?
Katsuragi looked at Horikita Manabu, his lips slightly parted but saying nothing. He felt the probability was low; his class had just failed, how could he harbor such an extravagant hope?
Hachiman did not answer immediately. He looked at Horikita Manabu, then at Katsuragi.
"You won't give it to him," Hachiman said.
The office fell silent for a moment.
Katsuragi's fingers tightened on his knees again, with more force than before.
Horikita Manabu raised an eyebrow slightly. "Reason?"
"Because you have no reason to use him to check me," Hachiman said flatly. "Based on my understanding of this school, it promotes growth through competition. If you have high expectations for me upon my promotion, you would naturally want me to have a rival to compete against, rather than settling the class rankings this early.
So, if the President still wants me to grow, it's possible you'd appoint Katsuragi as a Vice President. Like Kiriyama-senpai, but also different from Kiriyama-senpai," Hachiman added.
Horikita Manabu neither nodded nor shook his head. He watched Hachiman for two seconds before slowly speaking. "You know about the matter with Kiriyama too?"
Hachiman did not deny it.
Sitting on the sofa, Katsuragi's expression turned from complex to bewildered. He looked at Hachiman, then at Horikita Manabu, finally unable to stop himself from speaking. "President, Kiriyama-senpai... what is the situation?"
Because he suddenly realized: he felt that since his Class A had dropped, he didn't deserve the Vice President position. If Kiriyama-senpai's class also dropped, why was Kiriyama-senpai able to serve as Vice President?
Horikita Manabu didn't answer immediately. He picked up the cup of cold tea, took a sip, and as he set it down, his gaze drifted toward the window.
"Kiriyama indeed dropped from Class A," his voice was calm. "So his current situation is similar to yours."
Katsuragi was stunned.
"But after his class dropped, I gave him the Vice President position," Horikita Manabu continued. "However, it wasn't out of comfort. It was because... that position was needed."
Katsuragi's brow furrowed. "Because that position was needed"—did that mean President Horikita supported Kiriyama because his class fell? Did he want Kiriyama's Class A to make a comeback? Or, as Hikigaya suggested, did he want Nagumo-senpai to grow by having Kiriyama compete with him, meaning the President favored Nagumo more?
But at that moment, Hachiman took over the conversation. "Actually, it was to restrict Nagumo-senpai."
Katsuragi's gaze swung toward him.
Hachiman continued, "After Nagumo-senpai entered the Student Council, he has likely been installing his own people. Most of the second-year officers are on his side. If there's no one to check him, the next presidency is essentially in his pocket.
So the President promoted Kiriyama-senpai as Vice President, hoping two Vice Presidents could restrain each other. Of course, it's more likely that President Horikita doesn't support Nagumo-senpai's philosophy and worries that him becoming the next President wouldn't be good for the students. Thus, the President did this to protect the current second and first-years."
Those words...
The office was silent for several seconds.
Tachibana Akane's mouth hung open in a look of surprise.
Katsuragi was also dazed, his confusion turning into shock. He couldn't help but look up at Horikita Manabu. "So, President, this was to check Nagumo-senpai?"
Horikita Manabu didn't answer, but his silence was an answer in itself.
Katsuragi lowered his head, looking at his hands. After a long while, he spoke softly, "But why... I thought... the President recognized Nagumo-senpai's ability."
"His ability, I do recognize," Horikita Manabu's tone was calm. "But his philosophy, I do not."
Katsuragi looked up.
Horikita Manabu continued, "You should remember what I said at your entrance ceremony: this school is based on meritocracy.
While Nagumo also supports this, his meritocracy and mine are completely different.
I lean toward meritocracy under order—protecting the collective, survival of the fittest but with a bottom line. This is like how the school currently operates. Classes A and B have advantages, and while C and D are at a disadvantage, they aren't completely eliminated.
But Nagumo's meritocracy is an extreme individual meritocracy—destroying order, the law of the jungle, and zero mercy
Serving as Student Council President allows one to adjust the point values for each exam.
One can even offer suggestions for special exams that aren't for one's own grade level. In other words, if he becomes President, there will be more special exams involving expulsions and massive point deductions for the first and second-years."
Hearing this, Katsuragi fell silent.
Although he was Nagumo's Secretary and felt Nagumo-senpai was a capable person, he couldn't deny that the information gathered by his class showed the number of expulsions in the second year was quite high. Nagumo-senpai's own class had reached six expulsions.
That might not be the normal number of expulsions for special exams.
So, Horikita Manabu's words meant that while both agreed on "meritocracy," their understanding of "what merit is," "how to manage the school," "how to treat the weak," and "the relationship between the individual and the collective" was worlds apart.
Once Nagumo took power, Horikita Manabu would have already graduated.
But for the students who hadn't graduated yet—especially those in the lower classes—it would be a terrible situation.
The students in Classes C and D would likely be expelled in large numbers.
It would become a truly cruel "survival of the fittest" in every sense.
Finally, Horikita Manabu concluded, "But that is not how a school should be."
The office became quiet. It wasn't the silence of emptiness, but the kind that required time to digest.
Hachiman leaned back and didn't join in.
Ichinose sat beside him, her finger pressing lightly on her notebook cover. She glanced at Hachiman's profile, then looked down, flipped her notebook open, and wrote a few words on the first page.
Katsuragi sat on the sofa, silent for a long while, then let out a soft sigh.
"I understand," Katsuragi's voice was a bit dry. "I still have a long way to go."
Horikita Manabu glanced at him but said nothing.
Hachiman didn't speak either. He just sat quietly, waiting for Katsuragi to process the information.
Katsuragi stood up, looking somewhat dejected, and bowed slightly to Horikita Manabu. "President, I'll be heading back first."
Horikita Manabu nodded.
Katsuragi turned to the door. After two steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Hachiman. His eyes held complex emotions—admiration, reflection, and a trace of unidentifiable envy and loss.
Because in those few minutes, he realized he had been defeated once again.
He had no idea about the "checks and balances" Hachiman thought of, nor did he perceive the clash of ideologies between President Horikita and Vice President Nagumo, despite being in the Student Council for nearly two months.
Just moments ago, he had actually felt a spark of hope that he might be promoted by the President like Kiriyama-senpai, despite his class falling.
Thinking about it now, it was truly laughable.
"Hikigaya-kun," he said. "You really are more impressive than I imagined."
Hachiman looked at him and said nothing.
Katsuragi withdrew his gaze and walked out.
The office became quiet again.
Horikita Manabu leaned back, looking at Hachiman. "When you said those things, you didn't avoid Katsuragi. Or rather, you deliberately told him."
Hachiman nodded.
"You trust him?" Horikita Manabu asked.
"Katsuragi-kun's character is trustworthy," Hachiman said quickly. "Besides, letting him know this doesn't hurt the President. I think Kiriyama-senpai will eventually be unable to hold out and will lean toward Nagumo-senpai. While Katsuragi isn't the most outstanding, his personal character and sense of the big picture are reliable."
Horikita Manabu watched him for two seconds, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. Ultimately, he said nothing.
Soon after.
Horikita Manabu picked up another document from the desk and handed it to Hachiman. "And this is the appointment letter for Secretary. Ichinose Honami."
Ichinose stood up quickly and took the document with both hands. She looked down at it, then took the pen and signed her name in the signature box. Her handwriting was elegant and neat, much like herself.
"Thank you, President," Ichinose said hurriedly.
Horikita Manabu nodded, not saying much.
Hachiman, sitting nearby, watched Ichinose put away her letter and then spoke. "President, there's also the Treasurer position. I'd like to recommend someone."
Horikita Manabu looked at him.
"Kushida Kikyo from Class D," Hachiman said.
The office went silent for a moment.
Tachibana Akane, standing behind Horikita Manabu, furrowed her brow upon hearing this. Her gaze rested on Hachiman's face for a second, then shifted to Horikita Manabu, but she didn't speak.
Horikita Manabu didn't answer immediately. He looked at Hachiman with a scrutinizing eye.
"Class D?" he said. "You certainly know how to pick them."
Hachiman didn't deny it. "Kushida's abilities are not an issue. Besides—it's better to have her in the Student Council than idle outside."
The words were vague, but Horikita Manabu didn't press. He nodded. "Fine. Handle it yourself."
Hachiman acknowledged this.
Horikita Manabu leaned back, his fingers tapping lightly on the edge of the desk. He watched Hachiman for a long while before slowly speaking.
"One more thing," he said. "The things you said to Nagumo in the classroom earlier—was that intentional?"
Hachiman's expression didn't change. "What are you referring to, President?"
Horikita Manabu stared at him for two seconds. His eyes held no interrogation or dissatisfaction, only a calm that saw through everything.
"Nagumo's reputation," Horikita Manabu said. "You humiliated him in front of so many people. Now the entire first year knows that Nagumo Miyabi didn't even know who his opponent was."
Hachiman was silent for a second. "I only told the truth."
Horikita Manabu didn't respond.
Hachiman leaned back and weighed his words. "Besides, after Katsuragi goes back, he will likely tell his classmates about the Student Council matters. The news of Nagumo-senpai buying votes and interfering with the first-year exams will also spread."
Tachibana Akane's expression shifted slightly at these words. She looked at Horikita Manabu, then at Hachiman, her lips moving but saying nothing.
Horikita Manabu was silent for a few seconds. "Why did you do it?"
Hachiman seemed to have his explanation ready.
"Ichinose in my class, and Karuizawa and Kushida in Class D, are all girls."
Horikita Manabu watched him.
Hachiman continued, "The President should be more aware of Nagumo-senpai's reputation in the second year than I am. He likes to associate with pretty girls—while that's not a major issue, as girls, they will naturally feel unsafe. And now, they are all entering the Student Council."
His tone was calm as he spoke, but Ichinose, sitting beside him, stiffened slightly. She then turned her gaze to Hachiman's profile.
Tachibana Akane's expression also shifted. As a woman, she naturally understood what Hikigaya-kouhai meant.
Ruining Nagumo's reputation was a way to protect the girls who were about to enter the Student Council.
Horikita Manabu was silent for a few seconds. Then, he nodded.
"I see," he said.
Hachiman stood up. "President, if there's nothing else, we'll head back."
Horikita Manabu gave an "Mm."
Hachiman turned toward the door. Ichinose followed him, her steps a bit lighter than when she arrived. At the door, Hachiman paused slightly and looked back at Horikita Manabu.
"President," he said.
Horikita Manabu looked at him.
"Regarding Nagumo-senpai, if there's a chance, it might be better to give him a warning," Hachiman said. "The school can't easily intervene in matters of private morality. But if things escalate, it won't benefit anyone."
Horikita Manabu watched him, neither nodding nor shaking his head.
Hachiman withdrew his gaze and walked out.
The office fell quiet.
Tachibana Akane stood behind Horikita Manabu, staring at the closed door. After a long while, she spoke softly, "President, Hikigaya-kouhai... this person..."
She didn't finish her sentence.
Horikita Manabu leaned back, his fingers tapping the desk.
"He is very clever," Horikita Manabu's voice was calm. "And—he knows how to use people better than Nagumo. Simultaneously, as President, I indeed haven't considered this aspect enough. It made him feel uneasy. Tachibana, put out a notice: the stock of contraceptive products in the shopping district will be suspended. Announce this to the students."
"Understood."
Tachibana understood; as long as these contraceptive products were gone, young men and women wouldn't be able to spark "dry wood and raging fire"—otherwise, the outcome would be pregnancy and expulsion.
In other words, this was stifling certain behaviors at the source.
Naturally, Nagumo would have to behave.
However, to restrict Nagumo and thus prevent the entire school from using these things... wasn't that a bit much?
Tachibana only held onto that thought for a few seconds.
Because in her view, the essence of a student was to study. Coming to a school with such excellent conditions like Advanced Nurturing High School meant one should focus entirely on academics.
She felt that despite such a great learning environment, students going off to date was the truly irrational act.
In the hallway, sunlight poured through the windows, landing on Ichinose's golden-pink ponytail. She walked beside Hachiman, the corners of her mouth slightly curved.
"Hikigaya-kun," she spoke suddenly.
Hachiman looked at her.
"The things you said just now—" she paused, "were they to protect us?"
Hachiman was silent for a second. "That was part of the reason."
Ichinose lowered her head, looking at the appointment letter in her hand. Her finger lightly traced the edge of the paper, then she looked up and smiled at him. The smile was light, but her eyes curved into beautiful crescents.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Hachiman looked away and continued walking.
"Don't mention it," he said. "It's what I should do."
Ichinose followed behind him without a word. But the smile on her lips didn't vanish until they returned to the classroom.
Announcement!
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Hikigaya's Path to Become a Jujutsu Sorcerer is Wrong as Expected
Following an unusual request from Yotsuya Miko, the world of Jujutsu is unveiled to the Service Club. However, Cursed Spirits are merely the beginning, as this world harbors far deeper secrets.
Magic and swords, curses and abilities, and the beautiful girls gradually gathering around... This kind of youth romantic comedy is definitely a huge problem.
Multi X-Over (Jujitsu Kaisen, SAO, Amagi Brilliant Park and others)
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