The next day.
After school.
Student Council Room.
Third-year Nagumo Miyabi, Kiriyama Ikuto~.
Second-year Ichinose Honami, Horikita Suzune.
First-year Yagami Takuya, as well as many third-year students, were sitting around.
Hikigaya and Kanzaki stood among the crowd, being sized up by everyone.
"Hikigaya-kun and Kanzaki-kun."
"These two will be joining the Student Council from today as your colleagues. Self-introductions shouldn't be necessary, right?"
Nagumo Miyabi said with a smile, and the people around didn't have any objections.
Infamy is still fame.
The two were already quite famous students in the school.
"President Nagumo."
"There are now three students from second-year Class B in the Student Council. Will this constitute a problem?"
Just then.
Horikita Suzune turned to look at Nagumo Miyabi.
Since Hikigaya targeted Class D so irrationally, she wouldn't hesitate to trip him up.
Although she knew it might be useless, she simply found Hikigaya very unpleasant to look at.
Is this the person her brother said was worth entrusting things to?
Setting aside the womanizing for a moment—Horikita Suzune didn't feel much about that—but this guy was a complete idiot.
"It won't."
Nagumo Miyabi broke into a smile, laughing dismissively.
"If Kouenji, Hirata, Kushida, Sudo, or Ayanokouji wanted to join the Student Council, I wouldn't refuse any of them either."
Nagumo Miyabi was very satisfied; he wouldn't favor any side.
Watching the two sides fight internally under his thumb—wasn't that interesting? He wanted to continue instigating the relationship between the two sides.
It wasn't like a contract had been signed anyway.
While Nagumo Miyabi didn't mind being "fleeced" by Hikigaya, how much could be fleeced from him depended entirely on Hikigaya's strength.
More importantly, it was about how to use Hikigaya to interfere with the second-year exams and deal with Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
"Is that so."
"President Nagumo."
At this time, Hikigaya was somewhat concerned.
The two had just joined the Student Council and temporarily held no positions; they were just ordinary members.
"Then what is our work?"
"Well."
Nagumo Miyabi leaned back in his executive chair indifferently and said:
"The current stage of Student Council work is naturally preparing for the Cultural Festival. We are mainly responsible for supervision, safety regulations, and equipment leasing—for example, whether the use of fire or occupying roads is in violation, etc."
"Hmm?"
Kanzaki couldn't help but frown, and Hikigaya beside him was equally puzzled:
"In that case, the Student Council will easily be able to know what kind of shops each class has opened, right? Wouldn't that be somewhat unfair?"
What was even stranger was.
During this period of the Cultural Festival, Student Council members were hardly seen at all.
Could it be they were supervising via cameras?
"No."
Nagumo Miyabi said dismissively:
"Most of the time, school staff will be responsible for supervising us. Although the Student Council has the responsibility of supervision, the initiative still lies with the school."
"Personally, I think since it's a rare Cultural Festival, it's better to let everyone enjoy it and leave behind some good memories. There's no need to strictly enforce regulations."
"Student Council members also have to deal with the Cultural Festival, so the work content is just processing some paperwork regarding the use of fire."
"Moreover, even if we know what kind of shops other classes are opening, it doesn't have much meaning, does it?"
"True..."
Hikigaya nodded.
The initiative on whether to enforce regulations still lay in Nagumo Miyabi's hands; the school always only played the role of supervisor.
One only needed to pay more attention to the use of fire and electricity.
Even if they knew the intelligence of other classes.
The meaning wasn't great.
At most, they would just try to avoid having the exact same type of shop.
For example, Class B's dessert shop would definitely collide with other food and beverage shops; this was unavoidable.
But there were only a few types of shops that could be opened for the Cultural Festival.
Wanting to completely avoid colliding with others was clearly impossible.
Nagumo Miyabi, Horikita Suzune, and the others were not people who feared competition either.
Perhaps the timing of joining was just right.
Thanks to Nagumo Miyabi's "consideration," the Student Council wasn't very busy right now; most of the energy was still focused on the Cultural Festival side.
"Just right."
At this moment, Nagumo Miyabi seemed to have thought of something and laughed:
"Kiriyama, why don't you take Hikigaya and the other one to see our third-year Haunted House?"
"Is that okay?"
Hikigaya was momentarily stunned.
Directly telling them about the Haunted House—what on earth was this guy thinking.
"You'll know when you get there."
Nagumo Miyabi smiled and didn't offer too much explanation.
After the few left.
Nagumo Miyabi turned to look at Horikita Suzune, and without regard for Yagami Takuya who was still present, he laughed:
"Horikita, are you all curious why I would let them join the Student Council?"
"No, this is quite normal."
Horikita Suzune's expression was calm as she shook her head; she still had quite a bit of trust in Nagumo Miyabi.
At least.
In terms of upholding the philosophy of personal merit above all else, Nagumo Miyabi had indeed done a very good job.
Even if he let Ayanokouji, Kouenji, and the others join the Student Council now.
Horikita Suzune believed Nagumo Miyabi would definitely agree.
Unfortunately.
Class D was not as united as Class B and didn't know how to sacrifice for the collective.
Ayanokouji and the others were unwilling, and she couldn't force Kouenji and the others.
"I think so too."
Yagami Takuya smiled and nodded, saying: "I have also heard many rumors about the two seniors. Senior Hikigaya and Senior Kanzaki have outstanding strength; they indeed have the qualifications to join the Student Council."
Setting Kanzaki aside.
Hikigaya certainly didn't have a good reputation.
Taken together, the subtext was.
President Nagumo is broad-minded and magnanimous, and wouldn't be petty or give them trouble just because of Hikigaya's minor flaws.
Flattery also requires skill.
Although he didn't mention Nagumo Miyabi by name, this subtle, subliminal flattery made Nagumo Miyabi feel very comfortable.
"That is indeed an honor."
Nagumo Miyabi felt at ease internally; he wasn't particularly surprised either.
After all, it was the truth.
He had always done things this way.
"To tell you the truth, Hikigaya spent a lot of personal points wanting the third-years to boost their turnover during the Cultural Festival."
"I agreed. This Cultural Festival, Class B will undoubtedly enter the top four. Horikita, you all still need to work hard. If you're willing to pay some personal points, I'm very willing to help you too, Yagami-kun as well."
Nagumo Miyabi sold out Hikigaya without any surprise, fanning the flames between the two classes.
"No need, thank you for the reminder, we will take note."
Horikita Suzune nodded with a solemn expression, while Yagami on the other side also shook his head.
They didn't really take it to heart.
This was just Hikigaya's strength; there was nothing worth worrying about.
Even if Class D were allowed to spend personal points to buy turnover, they couldn't produce that sum of money.
People like Ike Kanji were clearly "moonlight clan" members (those who spend their entire paycheck); they hadn't saved up many personal points. People like Yukimura were even less likely to pay for him, and Ike Kanji and the others would be even less willing to take out loans to contribute to the class.
Even if they wanted to split the cost evenly.
It would be very troublesome.
But it didn't really matter.
Even relying on her own strength, Horikita Suzune had the confidence to win the Cultural Festival; she didn't need to waste personal points like Hikigaya at all.
No matter how many personal points Hikigaya had.
There would eventually be a day they were used up.
Relying on one's own hard strength was more important.
Clearly.
This big idiot Hikigaya's approach was wrong.
Hmph.
Horikita Suzune gave a cold snort.
Not taking the exams properly and just giving Class D trouble—she felt very repulsed by this emotional, irrational big idiot.
Wait until they ascend to Class A by relying on their own strength; there will be a day this big idiot Hikigaya regrets it.
Special Teaching Building.
Hikigaya and the others stood before a corridor; in front of them was a corridor covered with black canvas, which should be the entrance to the Haunted House.
Occasionally, the sound of hammering could be heard.
"We're here, it's quite incredible, isn't it?"
Kiriyama Ikuto explained with a complex expression: "This is the Haunted House co-organized by our third-years. We've rented out four classrooms in total, and according to President Nagumo's intention, we're only charging a minimum of one hundred personal points as the ticket price."
"A rehearsal was already scheduled before the Cultural Festival, so there's no harm in letting you know."
"I see..."
"That's amazing..."
Hikigaya and Kanzaki couldn't help but nod; even Kanzaki couldn't help but feel some admiration.
Clearly, Nagumo Miyabi had no intention of keeping it a secret.
Even more so, he didn't care about taking the top four spots.
It was simply to leave behind a memory worth remembering for everyone and to let them enjoy the Cultural Festival.
Character is unrelated to ability.
Putting aside character and methods, Nagumo Miyabi was indeed quite excellent as the Student Council President, and he was very efficient in handling matters.
The only question was.
"Senior Kiriyama, do you all also feel that this is okay?"
Hikigaya asked with some concern.
Since he was someone trusted by Horikita Manabu, Hikigaya naturally had a good impression of him.
But it had been almost a year since they last met; Hikigaya couldn't guarantee whether Kiriyama Ikuto's mindset had changed.
At least.
Judging by his tone just now.
Kiriyama Ikuto's feelings toward Nagumo Miyabi were quite complex.
He resented Nagumo Miyabi's arbitrary and dictatorial style, while simultaneously admiring Nagumo Miyabi's grand ambitions.
"We don't have a choice."
Kiriyama Ikuto didn't offer too much explanation: "Let's go."
Seeing Hikigaya join the Student Council basically meant showing submission to Nagumo Miyabi; Kiriyama Ikuto didn't show anger or disdain, only a calm understanding.
"Oh."
Hikigaya and Kanzaki followed behind him.
It looked like Kiriyama Ikuto and the others still had some minor complaints.
It was just that they had completely lost hope of reaching Class A, and if they wanted to obtain the power to change classes, they could only follow Nagumo Miyabi's orders and let him act arbitrarily.
They simply didn't have the power of choice.
The three stepped into the Haunted House.
The surrounding field of vision suddenly became narrow; the corridor in front of them was partitioned by wooden boards, turning into the first classroom.
Someone was painting crimson bloodstains on the wooden boards with paint, someone was doing makeup nearby, and someone was hammering outside a secret door—several small rooms would likely be set up.
It was still daytime now, and the lighting hadn't been prepared.
Therefore, it didn't give off a scary feeling at all; instead, it was somewhat comical.
Next.
The corridor composed of wooden boards extended out from the back door, entering the next classroom.
Hikigaya observed the surroundings; the preparation work had roughly reached the halfway point and would likely be finished before the Cultural Festival.
And with four classrooms connected.
Completely disregarding profit, it was clearly an extremely luxurious Haunted House.
"Truly impressive..."
Kanzaki let out a sigh of admiration.
Wanting to bring different people together to do things was not an easy task.
Even without any profit, and even without being on-site.
Nagumo Miyabi could manage the third-years in an orderly fashion, with no signs of the progress being dragged down.
Clearly.
Setting aside that this was an arbitrary idea, Nagumo Miyabi was a very capable person.
Just then.
The group walked into the last classroom.
The waist-length white-haired Kiryuuin was fiddling with a COS costume and slacking off.