What is the best part of the day?
The end of work? No.
Meeting friends and acquaintances? No, really, not that.
Going back to bed after a long day? Possibly, but no.
The best part of the day is getting a can of Max Coffee after a long and hard day.
Today was truly exhausting, especially mentally, even though I've started getting used to it since I entered this school. Nothing here is normal — from its operating methods and complicated system to its students. But with the help of Max Coffee, you can overcome all of this. The amount of sugar it contains doesn't just help you regain your energy and vitality; it also makes you forget your worries and heals your inner wounds.
It should be sold in pharmacies as a cure for every ailment.
I'll implement this when I become mayor of Chiba.
After leaving the president's room, I came to the lakeside to enjoy the quiet and the beautiful view with my favorite drink. Truly, this is the best part of the day.
I miss the days when I did nothing but procrastinate and waste time. I need to go back to being lazy.
That won't happen unless the class becomes capable of managing itself.
Maybe if we help them improve and they become able to rise, then I can enjoy spending my personal points, and all I'll have to do is watch my grades so I don't fail.
It sounds like an attractive plan for retirement in high school. Maybe I'll make it my goal.
But that's impossible if the situation is as President Sakayanagi described it. Everything has a logical reason, so surely every student in Class C has their own problems.
I'm sure this is true. Hirata's behavior or Kushida's mask hiding her true self — all of this makes the president's words logical. Even though they're excellent, they started in Class D.
He said his daughter is in Class A. They've earned over 900 class points. Is it possible she knows everything about the system from her father? No, the quiet president I saw this morning doesn't seem like someone who would do such things. I feel he's the type who believes in integrity and equal opportunities. He gives the same impression as politicians we see on TV — a calm aura with well-measured speeches.
He said something about joining the student council having special benefits. I've already heard that you can earn personal points by working there. That could be an excellent source of income, but it's impossible that this is everything. This school's student council has authority over students to the extent that they're the ones who resolve student conflicts. Perhaps there are more powers that I don't know about yet.
I received a direct invitation from the student council president. I don't know what's special about me — everything I do is average. Even though I hate working, this time might be different, especially if the returns are more than just exhaustion from duties. Anyway, I think I missed my chance this morning after refusing.
I sat on a wooden bench on the quiet sidewalk by the lake. It's amazing that almost no one passes by here. The sun had already disappeared over the horizon, the black darkness of night had fallen, and the lampposts on the sidewalk had started turning on their lights to illuminate their dark surroundings.
I'd better go home now. I didn't check on the class and skipped swimming class today. I don't know what happened between the students, nor their reaction to any of this. Their best option right now is to focus on studying to avoid failing — midterm exams are just around the corner, and any mistake, even a small one, could mean expulsion.
I should apply this as well and start over. I don't want my end to be because of trivial math.
I started walking alone under the night's darkness. It wasn't late yet, but the atmosphere and the number of passersby suggested it was midnight. I put my hands in my pockets and increased my pace to get there faster. And what's the best way to get faster? Take a shortcut. In Chiba, I know all the roads and alleys, so I can take shortcuts easily without getting lost. Even here, I've memorized almost the entire area. I knew there was an alley on the side of the road that leads directly to the dormitory entrance.
I quickly entered the alley, and suddenly my feet froze at the sight before me. There were two boys: one swinging his arms violently and precisely, and the other just dodging. What is this? Is it an entertainment show or a film set?
I recognized the two boys easily. President Horikita's aura was obvious, especially with his glasses. As for the second, I could see Ayanokouji's face easily. There was also a small body curled up against the wall. I couldn't identify them at first glance. I narrowed my eyes a little — unlike them, whose faces were lit by the lampposts, the third person was standing in the shadows, wearing a girls' school uniform with long black hair decorated with a braided lock.
Horikita?
Contrary to her usual arrogant, strong nature, she now looked weak and small. It's clear that President Horikita and Ayanokouji are fighting, and they're good at it. Precise hand and foot movements met with last-second clean dodges. This is truly impressive.
But why are they fighting? Did Ayanokouji's expressionless face annoy the president? Okay, I can understand that. But why is Horikita like this?
I stood quietly at the alley entrance, in the shadow. No one noticed me. My stealth skills are activated — maybe I've finally reached the ninja level.
The fight stopped. They exchanged a few attacks, and Ayanokouji moved with extreme precision to execute a martial arts move, forcing Manabu Horikita to step back. They paused for a moment, watching each other. It's amazing how, after performing all these moves that require great fitness and speed, their breathing was still normal as if nothing had happened. They must have received professional training since childhood.
The president stepped back and adjusted his tie elegantly. He seemed to have had enough of this display.
"It seems you're good at fighting... Have you trained before?" The president's tone carried a hint of genuine admiration. It's natural for a professional like him to accurately measure his opponent's skills.
"Nothing much, just piano and calligraphy," Ayanokouji replied in his usual manner.
Wow, it seems piano and calligraphy make you very strong. The artists who appear on TV must be incredibly powerful. Come on, at least say something logical. I couldn't help but sigh audibly at the ridiculousness of the answer. But unfortunately, it seems Ayanokouji heard the sound and looked in my direction. My eyes met his brown ones.
Damn... I forgot about that. I've been exposed.
Ayanokouji didn't say a word and kept staring in my direction, which drew the president's attention too. After noticing that Ayanokouji's focus was no longer on him, he also turned to look at me.
"Hikigaya?" His eyes widened slightly, as if he hadn't sensed me before.
"What are you doing here... Were you watching?" The surprise on his features didn't fade, and his tone was eager to know if I had seen them fighting.
What is this? Why did I get involved in this? Should I have left before they noticed me? If I say yes, I saw, maybe they'll beat me up so I don't tell anyone what I saw. If I say no, maybe they'll torture me until I confess that I saw them.
Damn...
"Y... yes..." There's no escaping now.
After hearing my voice, Horikita slowly raised her head and looked at me. Her eyes looked truly weak — even the arrogance and secrets I usually saw in them had faded.
"Impressive... You managed to hide your presence," the president adjusted his glasses with his fingers, looking between me and Ayanokouji.
So he's not angry that I saw them? But what's so impressive about standing quietly in the shadow without saying anything? Any seasoned loner could do it.
I shoved my hands in my pockets. There's no turning back — I'll cross the alley to the other side and disappear quietly. I walked slowly toward them to pass by. None of those present said a word, until the president decided to speak:
"Suzune... It seems your class has many talents," the president began with strange words. And Suzune — isn't that Horikita's name? Hmmm... I knew from the start they were siblings — the resemblance is obvious. But from the current situation, I can guess they're in conflict. I've seen something like this before.
"Hikigaya, and you, could be valuable assets," the president addressed Ayanokouji this time. But what does he mean by "valuable assets"?
"I haven't done anything valuable."
"I don't have any valuable talent."
My voice and Ayanokouji's rang out in unison, simultaneously rejecting the president's words.
Well, Ayanokouji swings his hands well — maybe that's a talent.
"You say that? Hikigaya, you've already proven yourself... As for you..." Horikita hesitated in his next words: "There's a student who scored 50 points on all entrance exams... Did you do that on purpose?"
My eyes widened in surprise. A strange feeling washed over me. Exactly 50 points in every subject — that's closer to getting a perfect score in all subjects. It can't be a coincidence. But wait — can the student council president access such sensitive information?
"Isn't that normal?" Ayanokouji didn't try to justify or explain his situation at all.
Does he really think that's normal? Or does he mean that, for him, doing it wasn't anything special? To get the same score, you have to be precise in handling all the answers you provide — the slightest mistake and you won't succeed. No matter how I think about it, it doesn't seem normal to me.
The president didn't seem convinced by Ayanokouji's weak words either. Heavy silence fell again in the narrow alley.
What am I doing here? Why don't I just leave?
It seemed Ayanokouji had beaten me to it and decided to slip away first. He started walking again toward the dormitory quietly, as if he hadn't just been fighting moments ago. His calmness and composure were unnatural.
There's no point in standing here — I'll go too.
I started walking slowly to leave the Horikita siblings behind me. It seems siblings all over the world have complicated relationships. I've experienced this kind of problem with Komachi before, and I've also been a third party in other siblings' problems, so I understand well what's happening here. No matter how big sibling problems get, they'll never truly hate each other — they might try to distance themselves and create some space.
Horikita is truly a talented girl. She might be important for the class's rise, but her pride and arrogance might be obstacles for her. I've thought before that she needs someone to guide her — someone who can break her pride without hurting her, someone she won't feel is insulting her by helping her. I think I've found that person.
But there's a problem... There's a fragile glass wall separating them. Breaking it might fix the relationship again, but neither of them dares to do it. They might need a long time. But I can do it. As an expert brother.
I looked back. Manabu Horikita was watching my back as I left, and Horikita was still in the same position, unmoving. I took a deep breath before speaking:
"Horikita-senpai... Sorry for interfering. It seems there's a problem between you and your sister." I tried not to seem like a meddler as much as possible. Who knows — maybe he'll get angry and hit me.
He didn't say a word and kept staring at me, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. No, don't get angry...
"What I mean..." I tried to find the right words — there's no room for error. "I understand that your relationship might be a little tense..." His reaction seemed less hostile this time — maybe my words didn't bother him.
"And how do you know that?" He raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Ah... Well, I also have a little sister, so I know this situation well. You could say I'm an expert." Don't underestimate my experience — the complexity of my relationship with Komachi and my love for her, even though she always makes fun of me, all of this has made me an expert brother.
"Why don't you both stop this... and talk a little?" From my experience, the best solution to sibling problems is dialogue. I'm always misunderstood when I talk to people, but talking with Komachi — no matter how trivial or complicated my words — she understands me. Even the misunderstandings that arise between us, no matter how long they last, we resolve them the same way.
"What do you mean?" He seemed not to understand my words yet. I thought he was an intelligent person from his appearance. Okay, I need to explain it well.
"You know, siblings can face each other and help each other grow..." My words didn't seem to please him, as his face frowned even more.
"No, that would hinder Suzune's growth... She must find her own path." The president was very confident in his opinion.
His words might be correct — that she should rely on herself to find her own way — but he forgot an important element: what this school lacks.
"You've overlooked something important — the same thing this school does. Keeping students here for three years might help them grow, but they've forgotten the most important thing: a teenager needs family support at this stage, don't they?" This school's system might be successful in developing talents to lead and develop the country, but they've overlooked the emotional aspect provided by their relationship with family. I needed Komachi's support...
"That's why I'm saying your intervention isn't about obstructing or paving the way — it's just support she needs so she doesn't stray from the right path." Suzune Horikita needs Manabu Horikita, especially at this stage.
"Hmmm... Your words might be logical." The president put his hand under his chin, trying to think about my words more. Suddenly, he raised his eyes and stared at me.
I felt great pressure from his gaze. Is he angry?
"Why are you doing this?"
"Isn't it obvious? I think Horikita is important for our class, but if she doesn't overcome her pride, she'll remain just a hindrance. So you will help her as her brother."
My words might seem selfish because they're personal reasons serving my interests, but this is what seems right to me right now...
The president didn't answer immediately. He just stared at me, then looked at Horikita.
"Alright, I understand this... But there's a condition." The president finally agreed with my words.
Horikita quickly raised her head to look at her brother with shining eyes. See? I knew all you had to do was break the barrier. But what is this condition?
"What is it?" I suddenly felt sweat dripping from my forehead. Why am I so nervous? Possibilities started racing through my mind — what exactly will he ask for?
"I want you to join the student council." The same offer again.
I don't know why, but I feel he's eager for me to join.
"Why do you want me to join?" The condition isn't too difficult — I already know the benefits of joining are greater than I imagine.
"There's a task I think you're suitable for." His eyes looked sharp — he wasn't joking.
A task? What is it? From his tone, I think he won't reveal it now. I hope it's not something difficult or annoying. Joining might mean a lot of annoying work, but it could be a door to other things I don't know yet.
Is this really appropriate?
"O... okay, I'll join..." I'm still hesitant about making this decision, but it's fine — I can withdraw if things get difficult.
Manabu Horikita nodded and started walking slowly toward me. He extended his hand slightly, asking for a handshake. I looked at his outstretched hand for a moment before pulling my hand out of my pocket and shaking his. Our eyes met. His eyes resembled Horikita's, but they looked sharper and more serious.
"Come to the student council room tomorrow morning... You can apologize now — I'll take care of the rest." I nodded my head in response to his words.
I glanced at Horikita. She looked truly sad... but her eyes said the opposite. I'll leave them alone now.
I set off toward the dormitory again, leaving the Horikita siblings behind me.
Is what I'm doing right? I don't know yet.
Damn... I got involved in a job. This is bad.
What awaits me in that room?