After school.
While the others were preparing for the Cultural Festival, Hikigaya followed behind Ichinose to the Student Council office.
Despite the Cultural Festival being held.
The Student Council still had to handle school work.
Quite hard.
And Advanced Nurturing didn't even give credit rewards.
Those thinking of joining the Student Council basically wanted to contribute to the school and realize their own value.
Otherwise.
The small amount of private points Ichinose received each month.
Wasn't worth it at all.
The Student Council at Advanced Nurturing was more about providing a platform for students to realize their own ideals.
"Knock, knock."
"Enter."
"Good afternoon, President Nagumo, Yagami-kun."
Knocking on the door.
Hikigaya followed Ichinose into the room.
Inside the Student Council office were only Nagumo Miyabi, sitting in the main seat directly opposite, and a first-year student beside him.
He remembered it was Yagami Takuya.
Although they had only met during the first few days of school, Hikigaya still had an impression of him.
After all.
Yagami Takuya was clearly a central figure in discussions, often heard being talked about, and was quite trusted among the first-years.
"Oh my."
Nagumo Miyabi looked at Hikigaya with a playful expression.
"Hikigaya, it's rare for you to actually come to the Student Council. Is there something?"
"Um..."
Hikigaya glanced at Yagami Takuya and said with some embarrassment:
"There is indeed something, President Nagumo. Can we talk privately?"
"Hmm?"
Nagumo Miyabi glanced at Yagami Takuya and said indifferently: "Yagami-kun, you head out first then."
"Understood. You can call me anytime if you need something. See you tomorrow, Senior Ichinose, Senior Hikigaya."
Yagami Takuya nodded with a bright smile and turned to leave the room without hesitation.
The card named Ichinose didn't have many places to be used.
Its greatest effect was that Ichinose was a kind person who could be trusted, making it easy for people to let their guard down.
Even if there were some low-handed tactics, Ichinose would be the first to stop them.
However.
In reality, it was already no longer like that.
Hikigaya had also discovered that Ichinose had a tendency to center everything around him; almost everything was decided by him.
This wasn't a problem.
After all.
They would be living together in the future.
Hikigaya also felt he was the backbone.
He needed to take care of all of them; Ichinose and the others just needed to live happily and take care of the family.
"Sit."
Hikigaya sat in front of Nagumo Miyabi somewhat stiffly, his eyes wandering around the room, while Ichinose made tea for both of them.
"What?"
Nagumo Miyabi asked with some confusion: "What is there to be concerned about?"
"No..."
Hikigaya explained awkwardly:
"I remember there was a camera here last year. Now I noticed it seems to be gone."
"That shouldn't be worth noting, right?"
Nagumo Miyabi frowned, a bit puzzled.
"It's nothing."
Hikigaya explained a bit embarrassedly: "I was just wondering why my club has surveillance but this place doesn't."
"Hmm?"
Nagumo Miyabi paused for a moment, then smiled playfully.
"There used to be one, but it's been removed now. People with outstanding strength naturally enjoy some privileges. Does Hikigaya feel it's unfair?"
That made sense.
Let alone Nagumo Miyabi, probably even Horikita Manabu would use his position as Student Council President to seek some personal gain.
"Not really."
Hikigaya laughed awkwardly:
"Most geniuses have strange personalities, but things still need to be left to reliable people. It's normal for outstanding people to have some privileges."
In this.
Hikigaya wasn't lying.
Geniuses all have aspects that aren't recognized by ordinary people, but every genius is precious.
Reasonable privileges are appropriate; what's hateful are those who abuse them.
"Hmm?"
Nagumo Miyabi narrowed his eyes and sized Hikigaya up.
Suddenly, something felt off.
Though he had only met Hikigaya a few times, and their understanding of each other wasn't deep.
But Nagumo Miyabi had always thought.
Hikigaya at least leaned more toward Horikita Manabu's philosophy; now he was agreeing with reasonable privileges.
Actually.
Hikigaya didn't stand on either side.
After thinking for a moment.
Nagumo Miyabi thought of a possibility and said playfully:
"Alright, Hikigaya, you must have some business coming to the Student Council, right?"
"Yes, a few things."
Hikigaya quickly sat up straight, his face still a bit awkward:
"I heard President Nagumo removed the Student Council's membership limit. As long as one has strength, any number of people are welcome to join, and joining the Student Council earns one corresponding private points each month?"
"Correct."
Nagumo Miyabi leaned back in his chair with his legs crossed, rubbing his chin while eyeing Hikigaya opposite him playfully:
"The President gets twenty thousand private points a month, the Vice President fifteen thousand, and secretaries, general affairs, and other positions one month each."
"What, Hikigaya, are you looking to join the Student Council?"
"I suppose so..."
Hikigaya gave a dry laugh.
"Hmm... you can."
After a moment of silence, Nagumo Miyabi nodded with a smile.
No matter how low-handed the means or how despicable the personality, Nagumo Miyabi was practicing his own philosophy.
Individual strength above all.
Furthermore, there were no conflicts between the two, at most Hikigaya interfering with his desire to control Ichinose.
Just one woman.
Although it was a bit of a pity, Nagumo Miyabi didn't care that much.
He wouldn't give Hikigaya a hard time.
Regardless of everything.
Hikigaya was someone qualified to join the Student Council.
"Thank you very much, President Nagumo."
Hikigaya said with an excited tone: "I hope to let everyone from Class B join the Student Council."
Ichinose gave him a subtle look.
Didn't he already have everyone join the Wool Club? What was this for?
"???"
Nagumo Miyabi was suddenly dumbfounded.
Although he had indeed removed the membership limit for the Student Council, in theory, the entire school joining the Student Council was possible.
But Nagumo Miyabi naturally knew that was impossible.
The school authorities obviously wouldn't agree.
Furthermore.
Not even all of Year 3, Class A had entered the Student Council; how did this Hikigaya dare to think of this?
"Heh."
Nagumo Miyabi sneered, a bit speechless.
"Hikigaya, while I don't object to you entering the Student Council, that's only because you have the strength to enter."
"As you just said, only people with corresponding strength are qualified to join the Student Council."
"You want everyone to earn private points in the Student Council."
"That's impossible."
If that were truly possible, Nagumo Miyabi would have done it himself long ago; why would it be Hikigaya's turn.
"I... I see..."
Hikigaya said awkwardly: "Then how about Shibata, Kanzaki, and Ando Sayo? They are all outstanding and have enough strength; they should be able to enter the Student Council, right?"
"..."
The corners of Nagumo Miyabi's mouth twitched, even more speechless:
"As for Miss Ando, I'm not very sure, but in terms of reputation, she shouldn't be considered that outstanding."
"As for Kanzaki and Shibata—Kanzaki is fine; that crappy Wool Club of yours doesn't have much going on anyway."
"But the Student Council work is heavy. If Shibata wants to join, he'd need to quit the Football Club first. There shouldn't be much need for that, right?"
Clearly.
As long as strength was sufficient, Nagumo Miyabi had no objection, but this standard was judged by Nagumo Miyabi.
"I see... then forget about Shibata. Just Kanzaki and I will join."
With that, Hikigaya took a stack of A4 papers from his bag, stood up, and respectfully handed the application forms to Nagumo Miyabi.
"Everyone else will join the Wool Club. I hope President Nagumo can approve this."
Each club member.
Requires the school to pay out; ultimately, it still needs the Student Council President's approval.
Looking at the thick stack of applications before him, the corners of Nagumo Miyabi's mouth twitched wildly.
He finally understood what Hikigaya came here for.
Clearly.
Hikigaya had already anticipated he would say that; the goal was to get him to approve this stack of applications.
If the Student Council wouldn't work, then they'd go to the Wool Club.
No ambition at all.
Hikigaya was just thinking about薅 (plucking/exploiting) that tiny bit of school wool all day.
Exploit whatever can be exploited!