As a third-year student about to graduate, Manabu Horikita needed to start considering a successor for the position of Student Council President.
Although the second-year vice president was capable, Manabu Horikita did not approve of his philosophy. Under these circumstances, Manabu Horikita wanted to see if there were any promising students among this year's first-years.
Without a doubt.
Natsuki Subaru's course of action was the first thing to enter Manabu Horikita's line of sight.
Although Natsuki Subaru seemed somewhat absent-minded from start to finish, Manabu Horikita was quite certain that on the very first day of school, Natsuki Subaru had already seen through the school's unwritten rules.
"Let me see... Huh?"
"This junior's name is Natsuki Subaru. He's a student in this year's Year 1, Class D."
Standing beside Manabu Horikita, a girl with her hair in buns who looked like a secretary spoke with some surprise, "A Class D student? That's truly astonishing."
"This might be a big year for the first-years, Manabu."
As a senior who had already spent two years at this academy, she knew all too well what Class D was like.
Whether it was the two graduated Class D cohorts or the underclassmen's Class D, none had ever put even the slightest pressure on the other classes, being completely and utterly crushed in every way.
Sometimes, she even wondered if the academy's A-B-C-D class division system for first-years was truly fair in any meaningful sense. Now, it seemed Class D had a formidable player after all.
Of course, that wasn't to say other Class D sections had no capable individuals.
It was just that none were capable enough to lead Class D to victory. At the very most, they would get promoted to Class A as individuals and successfully graduate from Class A on their own merits, and that was it.
But now, Natsuki Subaru's appearance made her feel that he might just be able to lead Class D to climb to the level of Class A.
"Oh?"
"A student from Year 1, Class D, is he?"
Hearing the girl's reply, Manabu Horikita's eyes narrowed slightly as he said, "Akane Tachibana, designate Natsuki Subaru as a long-term observation target."
Natsuki Subaru's identity as a Year 1, Class D student made Manabu Horikita's interest in him grow even stronger.
Because at today's entrance ceremony, Manabu Horikita had been very displeased to discover that his good-for-nothing younger sister had actually come to this academy.
Furthermore, what made Manabu Horikita even unhappier was that his sister hadn't changed in the slightest. If that weren't the case, she wouldn't have been assigned to Year 1, Class D.
Now, with a seemingly formidable presence like Natsuki Subaru in Year 1, Class D, perhaps it was worth observing a little longer.
Otherwise, Manabu Horikita was prepared to take decisive action and personally have his sister transfer out after the standard exams were over.
This academy was just not suitable for a model student like his sister.
"A student from Year 1, Class A, Arisu Sakayanagi, is also on the move."
Akane Tachibana nodded upon hearing Manabu Horikita's words, then continued to ask, "Should she be added to the observation list as well?"
As she spoke, Akane Tachibana pointed to a certain angle on the monitor, where a petite and frail-looking girl was leaning on a cane, seemingly wandering around the school aimlessly, just as Natsuki Subaru had been earlier.
In the time it took to say this, she had already entered the second-year school building.
In Akane Tachibana's view, this was another formidable person, no less so than Natsuki Subaru.
To be honest, Akane Tachibana's tone was already tinged with shock. Based on previous years, the appearance of just one such formidable first-year would have been enough to unify the entire grade, much like Manabu Horikita or the second-year vice president.
Now, two had appeared at once.
Akane Tachibana couldn't even begin to imagine how intense the struggle between dragons and tigers among the first-years would become.
However, since Year 1, Class A also had such a formidable person, Akane Tachibana was now a little less optimistic about Natsuki Subaru. When abilities were comparable, the overall quality of a class became crucial.
Without a doubt, the initial Class A had the best overall quality.
"Arisu Sakayanagi?"
"Sakayanagi..."
Manabu Horikita smiled faintly and said, "For this one, it's not necessary for now."
"Huh?"
"Not necessary?"
Hearing Manabu Horikita's instructions, Akane Tachibana paused, somewhat surprised.
Although her reaction wasn't as quick as Natsuki Subaru's, in Akane Tachibana's opinion, Arisu Sakayanagi wasn't that far behind.
And considering Arisu Sakayanagi's mobility issues, her reaction time might not necessarily be slower than Natsuki Subaru's.
"Yes, not necessary."
Manabu Horikita nodded and said flatly, "After all, if I remember correctly, our academy's chairman is named Sakayanagi..."
Manabu Horikita said no more.
Perhaps Arisu Sakayanagi hadn't received any hints from her father, or perhaps she just coincidentally shared the same surname as the academy's Chairman Sakayanagi.
However, Manabu Horikita only needed to be certain of one thing.
And that was, with Arisu Sakayanagi's current physical condition, she normally wouldn't have been placed in Year 1, Class A. It was far more likely she would have been assigned to Year 1, Class B.
"Oh, I see..."
Hearing Manabu Horikita's hint, Akane Tachibana nodded thoughtfully and said no more, continuing to help him watch the monitors. Manabu Horikita also fell silent, lowering his head to handle some student council work and documents.
And for the rest of the day, neither Manabu Horikita nor Akane Tachibana saw another character as impressive as Natsuki Subaru.
...
The library.
Natsuki Subaru wandered about, eventually ending up at the academy's library.
Before being transported to this modern world, during his time as the Purge King, Natsuki Subaru's solace wasn't entirely placed on the Emilia from before she faded. Occasionally, Natsuki Subaru would also choose to read a book quietly.
Until he found a 'genuine article', Natsuki Subaru considered reading to be a decent substitute.
It could slightly alleviate his extremely poor psychological state.
As for the glaringly wrong things about the second and third years that were obvious at a glance, Natsuki Subaru didn't care.
"Whoa."
"As expected of a library in a school heavily supported by the state."
Entering the library's interior and seeing the dazzling array of books, Natsuki Subaru was slightly amazed.
Although it was now a highly developed internet age where, aside from some particularly secret information, most knowledge could be obtained online, it seemed unnecessary for Natsuki Subaru to come to the library specifically to read.
However, the reality was that only by personally reading physical books could Natsuki Subaru achieve that substitute effect.
Only then could he feel that little bit of tranquility.
___
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