Meanwhile, elsewhere—
In the café, Kakeru Ryūen leaned back on the sofa with his legs crossed, listening to a report from Satoru Kaneda:
"I attended the student council interviews this morning. Including myself, Katsuragi from Class A, and Ichinose from Class B—all three of us were rejected."
Ryūen looked up and asked, "The reason?"
Kaneda pushed up his glasses. "The student council president's response was: 'The student council does not welcome those who harbor naive ideas.' I suspect there are things about this school we still don't know."
"Heh…"
Ryūen sneered, "The student council president… quite the high and mighty one, isn't he?"
Unlike Satoru Kaneda, over the past two days, he had already gained a general understanding of the first-year classes by stirring up trouble—
Class A, led by Arisu Sakayanagi and Kōhei Katsuragi, had already figured out the school's rules. The students were split into two factions under them. After he sent people to provoke them, he had brief contact with both leaders.
Class B, led by Honami Ichinose, had also figured out the school's rules. He had spoken with her as well. Although her ideas were a bit naive, she was barely passable as a leader.
He had also sent someone to try provoking Class D once, but his assessment was that they weren't worthy of a seat at the table yet.
He wasn't surprised by Kaneda's failure, but for Kōhei Katsuragi and Honami Ichinose, as central figures of the first year, there was no reason they should have been rejected—unless that student council president was an idiot.
Ding-dong~!
As he was thinking, the terminal by his hand suddenly lit up. Ryūen glanced at the message on the screen, stood up, and said, "Let's go. Come with me to the library."
"Are you going to see Shiina? With all due respect, I wouldn't advise you to disturb her."
Kaneda stood up and advised calmly, "Looking at problems from a higher perspective than any of us is a unique talent of hers. It's in our best interest to keep her out of conflicts as much as possible and reduce the factors that could cause her to misjudge."
Ryūen turned around, looking at Kaneda with some surprise, and offered a rare explanation: "But that Ichinose woman has already gone."
"I understand."
Ten minutes later, as Hiyori Shiina, who was sitting at a long table in the library, raised her pretty face once again, she saw Ryūen and Satoru Kaneda sitting down across from her.
At the same time, at another long table not far away, a girl with glasses and a single ponytail also lowered her head.
Hiyori Shiina tilted her head. "I remember that girl… She's Rika Morofuji from our class. You haven't been bullying her, have you, Ryūen-kun?"
"No. I'm just making the most of my resources. She's always studying alone anyway, so I might as well have her watch you in the library."
Ryūen didn't deny having someone watch her and got straight to the point: "What did Honami Ichinose say to you? You didn't agree to anything, did you?"
Hiyori Shiina shook her head. "She wanted me to persuade you to stop doing things that disrupt the harmony. I refused."
"That's exactly the kind of thing that naive woman would do."
Ryūen scoffed, then shared the information he had gathered over the past two days, also mentioning Kaneda's failure to get into the student council. Finally, he asked, "What do you think?"
"…"
Hiyori Shiina fell silent for a moment, then secretly asked in her mind, Mister Ghost, how should I tell him about what happened in the gym? Will he blame me for telling him too late?
Let me handle it.
Okay.
In an instant, the two switched control of the body. Symon closed the book, organized his thoughts, and said in a gentle voice, "Ryūen-kun, you might not be aware of this—"
"During the previous club fair, the student council president hinted at internal conflicts within the council. He also implied that the council holds significant power, expressed his desire for people to join his faction, and ultimately promised the position of student council president."
Ryūen's eyes flashed. Satoru Kaneda also pushed up his glasses and said seriously, "Shiina-san, are you saying that if we investigate the upperclassmen and the state of the student council, identify the president's rival faction, prove our abilities, and offer a pledge of allegiance, we can get in?"
"Yes, but I wouldn't recommend you do that."
Symon shook his head and gently reminded them, "At this point in time, while the behavioral standards exam is still underway, it's not wise to proactively provoke anyone outside the first year. That's why I didn't mention it."
Absolving himself and Hiyori of responsibility, Symon continued, "Ultimately, this school places more emphasis on competition within the same grade level."
"There's a Class A in every grade. There's no fundamental conflict of interest between the lower and upper grades. The rewards of joining the student council are not proportional to the risks and effort involved, so it isn't worth it."
"No, it's very much worth it!" Ryūen looked up, refuting 'her' statement, his eyes glinting with a cold light.
"I can't be sure how much power the student council holds, but to achieve my plan, I need to gain a certain degree of influence in this school and ensure a sufficient amount of private points are circulating among the students."
"Your plan?" Symon asked, confused.
"That's right. My plan."
For the first time, Kakeru Ryūen, in his capacity as the leader of Class C, explained his future strategy to 'Hiyori Shiina':
"If it costs 20 million points to transfer classes, then I just need to gather 800 million private points over three years. That way, by graduation, everyone in Class C can move up to Class A."
"I call this plan the—800 Million Points Plan."
After he finished, Symon considered it for a moment, then nodded, giving the plan a rather high appraisal. "Purely from the standpoint of unifying the group, this goal is long-term and clear. It's very challenging, but also feasible. I'd say it's quite an ambitious plan."
Ryūen frowned. "I'm serious!"
"My apologies. So am I."
Symon picked up the book from the table, held down his skirt with one hand, and stood up, not intending to argue with this chūnibyō teenager.
I'm getting a little excited after hearing that plan, Hiyori's gentle voice echoed in his mind.
I have to admit, while the plan is unrealistic, it's certainly inspiring. It's filled with romanticism and is perfect for fooling kids your age.
You're so cynical, Mister Ghost…
Should I make a 'Whole School to Class A Plan' for you then?
Really?
No!
Chatting with Hiyori in his mind, Symon took a few steps, and after turning past a bookshelf, his eyes met with a boy and a girl.
The girl was a beautiful, tall young woman with waist-length black hair and a cold, proud, pretty face.
The boy had brown hair, an expressionless face, and apathetic eyes. He didn't stand out much at all.
A quick glance confirmed they were nobodies. Symon didn't care if they had been eavesdropping. Ignoring the pair, he prepared to put the book in his arms back on the shelf. But—
The black-haired girl stepped forward to block his path and asked in a harsh tone, "What did you mean by what you just said?"
Hiyori, do you know her?
I don't.
Getting confirmation from the girl, Symon instantly lost patience with the person blocking him. He stepped around her, returned the book, and turned to leave this troublesome place.
From behind, Suzune Horikita shouted coldly, "Stop!"
"…"
Symon froze, slowly turning around. Looking at the girl three steps away, he asked in an icy voice, "Did your family die too young, or did you just not have a teacher? Is that why a piece of trash with no manners like you is out here embarrassing yourself?"
Suzune Horikita's expression was one of shock. "!!!"
Kiyotaka Ayanokōji's pupils dilated. "!!!"
Aggression! Unparalleled aggression!
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Behind the two, Ryūen clapped his hands, walking up to Suzune Horikita with Kaneda. He leaned in and asked with a smile, "Since you were eavesdropping on our conversation, you shouldn't mind telling me your names, right?"
"Class D, Suzune Horikita." Horikita lifted a hand to flick her hair, her expression cold and proud.
"Class D, Kiyotaka Ayanokōji." Ayanokōji introduced himself in a flat tone, mimicking Horikita.
After hearing their names and class, Symon couldn't help but remark to himself, As expected of Class D. With this kind of quality, this school really doesn't disappoint.
Mister Ghost, you can't say such cruel things to a girl next time, especially one who's so cute…
Sorry, but no. Even if Princess Kaguya herself stood before me and dared to speak to me with that attitude, I'd tear into her just the same. Back then, I only chose to interact with you after observing for a very long time.
Are you complimenting me, Mister Ghost?
I have to say, I'm glad the person I'm with is you…
That line earns you a lot of points~!
____
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