The next day.
Student Council Room.
"To summarize."
"Starting from today, Kushida-san is also a member of the Student Council."
Ichinose introduced with a smile.
Although she had the power to recruit whoever she wanted into the Student Council without needing anyone's opinion, she still gave an introduction.
Kushida Kikyo stood in the center of the room with a flat expression, while the attitudes of those around her were somewhat complicated.
Working with a time bomb that could explode at any moment.
It was indeed something that required courage.
Furthermore.
Those sitting here were not the type of guys who knew how to create an atmosphere.
Asking Hikigaya and Katsuragi to create an atmosphere was worse than killing them; as for Nanase Tsubasa, it was also a bit complicated.
Kushida Kikyo's evaluation in the school.
Was indeed not good.
If one had to rank the most unpopular people in school.
It would roughly be Class D, Ryuen Kakeru, and Hikigaya.
Subdividing within Class D.
The most unpopular was Kushida Kikyo, followed by Ayanokouji and Horikita Suzune.
After all.
What kind of secrets Kushida Kikyo actually held.
Even many of the parties involved might not be clear on; many things were just said in passing, and what should be forgotten had probably already been forgotten.
"Anyway, welcome."
Hikigaya said indifferently: "Although there are no difficult problems in the Student Council, if your's anything you don't understand, you can ask us anytime."
"Mm."
Katsuragi nodded with his arms crossed over his chest.
"The Student Council is currently short-staffed; using Kushida's ability to handle disputes is indeed a good choice."
Even though she was unpopular.
As long as Kushida Kikyo was willing, handling problems smoothly shouldn't be difficult.
Among those seated.
Ichinose and Nanase Tsubasa were true "goody-two-shoes"; the most smooth-mannered was Kushida Kikyo.
"Then Kikyo-chan should sit with Horikita-san?"
"I have no problem."
Kushida Kikyo returned to her seat with a flat expression.
Right next to Horikita Suzune.
The Student Council's work was simple.
Broadly speaking, it involved coordinating student disputes, making suggestions to the school management, organizing activities, and so on.
After school.
Horikita Suzune quickly sought out Kushida Kikyo.
The two returned to the dormitory together.
Even though the people around no longer favored Kushida Kikyo, only Horikita Suzune had not given up.
For some reason.
Her evaluation of Kushida Kikyo was very high, even now.
Being able to endure things she detested so strongly without letting others detect a flaw was indeed a rare ability.
"Kikyo, why did you want to join the Student Council?"
Horikita Suzune was curious, though she didn't expect to get an answer.
During this period.
Kushida Kikyo had been in a state of cold sarcasm toward everyone.
"It's nothing."
Kushida Kikyo said nonchalantly:
"I was just bored, and it happened that Ichinose let me join the Student Council, so I decided to find something to do."
"I see..."
Horikita Suzune nodded: "I didn't expect you to answer, but seeing you pull yourself together again is really great."
"Don't misunderstand."
Kushida Kikyo immediately spoke with sarcasm: "Don't talk like you understand me very well, it's just that staying next to those idiots in Class D was too boring."
"Let's just say it's like that then."
Horikita Suzune nodded before getting to the main point.
"Can I ask one question? When did your relationship with Ichinose become so good?"
Just now.
Ichinose actually addressed Kushida Kikyo by her first name, and Kushida Kikyo showed no reaction, which really made Horikita Suzune curious.
"Heh."
Kushida Kikyo said with disdain:
"Other than you, I can get along with anyone."
"True."
Horikita Suzune nodded without refuting.
"This is your rare ability; since you feel bored, could I ask you to think of a way to help the atmosphere in Class D?"
"There's no way."
Kushida Kikyo didn't hesitate.
Having been a central figure in the class since childhood, she had heard all sorts of dark secrets.
Compared to Horikita Suzune, Hirata, and others.
Kushida Kikyo understood the current atmosphere and the thoughts of the people in the school much better.
However.
It wasn't that she didn't want to.
It was that it really couldn't be done.
No matter how one thought about it, the only possible solution was Sakura Airi; however, that would inevitably go through Hikigaya.
If it were Hasebe Haruka and the others, that might be one thing.
But to create a conflict with Hikigaya for the sake of some strangers—people who had once cut off Sakura Airi.
Sakura Airi would certainly be unwilling.
And since the matter was something Hikigaya actively initiated, it was impossible to resolve.
"I see..."
Horikita Suzune's expression was complicated.
It wasn't that she hadn't thought about it, but that there really was no way.
She just wondered if they could pass the special exam and make Class D more united.
The two returned to the dormitory building.
They parted at the bottom of the building.
Horikita Suzune didn't ask further.
Kushida Kikyo had already lost the chance to gain the trust of those around her.
She had nothing left to want, and nothing left to lose.
She fully believed in Kushida Kikyo's character.
She wasn't someone who would betray the class for benefits or for a relationship with someone.
On the other side.
Ichinose seemed to still have work; Hikigaya arrived at the Wool Department after a long absence.
At this time.
The Wool Department was completely different.
In the center of the classroom, several tables were pushed together to form four large tables.
Three of them were used for studying, while the other one had computer tools placed on the side.
Hikigaya was also guiding Sakura Airi's studies.
Beside them were Himeno Yuki, Ando Sayo, and Kanzaki Ryuji.
"Speaking of which."
Hikigaya asked with concern: "Has anyone from Class A done anything recently, or harassed anyone?"
"Um... probably not?"
"I rarely run into people from Class A, actually."
"No."
The steady Kanzaki across from them said: "I've inquired; Class A doesn't seem to be holding study sessions, instead, they are exercising on the playground after school."
"I see..."
Hikigaya nodded, his expression becoming solemn.
If that's the case.
Katsuragi is truly an honest man.
After all.
This exam is actually more advantageous for the lower-ranked classes, and doesn't even require much strategy.
To want to achieve victory fair and square.
The difficulty is simply too great.
Perhaps they have already half-abandoned this special exam and are instead focusing their weight on improving physical abilities, wanting to patch up Class A's weaknesses.
More inclined toward self-improvement.
Unwilling to use precious private points at this point in time.
Instead, they are focusing on the third year.
By then.
A Class A with full strength and supplies would be quite a headache.
In that case.
They can't be this slack either.
Studying until seven in the evening, Class B then left the study session.
Having received a contact, Hikigaya prepared to head to Ichinose's room.
Although the feeling of having a party surrounded by beauties was great, the idol-like fun of being alone with Ichinose and the others also had a unique pleasure.
Thinking of this.
Hikigaya excitedly took out the room card and opened the door.