The next day.
School gymnasium.
Below the stage, the students of the entire school stood according to their classes; Hikigaya also stood within the ranks of Class B.
Although being suspended meant he couldn't attend classes, he still had the right to vote.
At this time, backstage.
"The order of speeches will be decided by drawing lots."
Mashima-sensei brought the lottery box before the three individuals.
The election for the Student Council basically relied on looks and popularity; being the last to speak would naturally leave a deeper impression and be more advantageous.
Possibly.
It was just that the three of them didn't care much about these things.
It wasn't that the content of the speech wasn't important.
It was just that as students.
It was almost impossible to propose any constructive reform opinions.
Horikita Manabu and Nagumo Miyabi.
Could squeeze out a philosophy of whether unity was more important or individual strength; in the school's eyes, this was already quite good.
To think further about what should be done, whether it can be done, how it should be done, and who should do it—for students, it was basically impossible.
Just this.
Horikita Manabu and Nagumo Miyabi.
Were both called geniuses seen once in fifty years.
Speeches were important.
But wanting students to propose sufficiently attractive and simultaneously feasible constructive opinions was basically impossible.
Most were opinions like changing the uniforms, whether personal items could be brought to school, or allowing lunch on the rooftop.
But in this school, no one cared about those things anyway.
The speeches basically lost their meaning.
"I'm the first one..."
Horikita Suzune didn't take it to heart either and turned to walk toward the stage.
The gymnasium.
Horikita Suzune walked onto the speaker's podium, looking at the students below without a trace of stage fright, and bowed slightly.
"Good morning to all students present."
"Please allow me to introduce myself; I am Horikita Suzune from Class 1-D."
"The rumor has always circulated in Advanced Nurturing that Class D is a group of defectives; many students may have been influenced by such rumors and hold a certain prejudice upon hearing of Class D."
"I believe whether you are in the first year or the third year, you have all felt the same way."
Saying this.
Horikita Suzune shifted the topic:
"However, over this past year and a half, our Class 2-D has gone from zero class points at the start of school to five hundred twenty-eight class points now."
"Our growth rate is undoubtedly the fastest among the second-year classes."
"Facts prove, no..."
Horikita Suzune clenched her right fist, thumped her chest, and said with firm eyes:
"I will prove that the class does not represent strength, and Class D is not weaker than any other class."
It had to be said.
This rhetoric of Horikita Suzune.
Could attract the goodwill of most lower-ranked classes.
Why call us defectives?
Only Class D could understand the feelings of those in Class D; they were not weaker than anyone else, so why should they be looked down upon just because of a single class placement?
"I promise."
Horikita Suzune's speech was still continuing.
"After becoming Student Council President, I will change the terms and appointments of the Student Council, believing more that unity is strength..."
"???"
Hikigaya was full of question marks.
The beginning was quite good, but upon hearing this, Hikigaya had no intention of listening further.
Simply put.
It was restoring Horikita Manabu's set of ideals.
The people around looked at Horikita Suzune on the stage with a sense that something was wrong.
There was nothing wrong with unity.
But coming from the mouth of you, Horikita Suzune.
Could it be believed?
Looking at Horikita Suzune speaking volubly on the stage, Hikigaya's mouth twitched.
It was certain now.
This person was simply a fool.
Perhaps Horikita Suzune was still stuck in the stage where she thought sincerity was the ultimate weapon.
As long as I treat others with sincerity, am sufficiently tactful, explain things well, work seriously, and strive to overcome difficulties, the other party will surely understand her thoughts.
However.
The world was not so gentle or so kind.
Just like with Hikigaya, Horikita Suzune's personal thoughts did not matter.
Even taking a step back.
Even if all perceptions of Horikita Suzune were misunderstandings.
Misunderstandings would not be resolved.
In the eyes of outsiders, Horikita Suzune was a cold leader who betrayed trust and abandoned companions for the sake of profit.
"Thank you."
After finishing the speech, Horikita Suzune bowed deeply.
"Clap... clap..."
A sparse burst of applause first sounded from below the stage, followed by a chorus of applause; Hikigaya also joined in clapping.
It was basically a few polite claps that picked up the rhythm.
If Horikita Suzune had normally stated some other policies or continued Nagumo Miyabi's methods, she might have been able to win some votes.
But since Horikita Suzune spoke of unity.
Hikigaya believed it was impossible for anyone else to vote for Horikita Suzune.
This person was a pure idiot...
Perhaps even now, Horikita Suzune felt good about herself.
But.
On second thought.
Hikigaya also understood.
With Horikita Suzune's social circle, there were likely no one in Class D who would truly speak the truth for her own good.
Most were self-centered remarks like "I don't want this," "I don't agree," or "Change the method."
Maintaining a fake friendship.
Few in Class D would treat each other with sincerity.
Soon.
Yagami Takuya walked onto the stage as the second speaker.
Although it was just a small bit of luck in the draw, it seemed luck was also on Ichinose's side.
"Hello everyone, I am Yagami Takuya from Class 1-B..."
On the stage.
Yagami Takuya's smile was bright and cheerful, making one feel as if they were in a spring breeze.
Mm.
He spoke quite well.
To put it simply, he inherited Nagumo Miyabi's system, continuing to focus on individual strength in the future.
It was mediocre.
However.
If Nagumo Miyabi hadn't come to his door, Yagami Takuya wouldn't have cared much about the position of Student Council President.
As a member of the White Room, Yagami Takuya looked at the crowd below the stage and felt they were all trash.
Facts proved.
The White Room was the strongest.
Less than a year since enrollment.
He had almost climbed to the position of Student Council President.
It was enough to prove.
What Horikita Suzune, what Hikigaya, what Ichinose, what Koenji, what Sudo Ken.
The students of the outside world were a bunch of trash.
Whether in academic ability or physical ability, they were like a bunch of kindergarteners with mental disabilities; even the last graduate of the White Room couldn't be compared to.
Pity.
Yagami Takuya was not interested in these things.
As long as this group of trash behaved and didn't cause him trouble, Yagami Takuya had no interest in them.
His gaze couldn't help but flick toward Ayanokouji Kiyotaka in the crowd.
Sure enough.
Ayanokouji was still the most suitable person to be his opponent.
As the top student of the White Room's fifth generation, only Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was worthy of being his opponent!
It must be proven.
Who exactly was the masterpiece of the White Room!
Thinking of this.
Yagami Takuya also felt disinterested in the speech before him.
"That is all!"
After finishing, Yagami Takuya bowed and walked off the stage; Hikigaya also clapped along with the crowd.
It was indeed well-said, leaving no room for fault.
But it didn't feel particularly brilliant either.
Unity and individual strength had already been spoken of by others, which was also disadvantageous for the last speaker.
Soon.
Under everyone's gaze, Ichinose walked onto the stage.