The summer sun hung lazily over the sprawling campus of the Advanced Nurturing High School. The white concrete buildings gleamed under the clear blue sky, while the warm breeze carried the faint scent of the ocean that still clung to everyone's memories.
After days spent on the luxurious cruise ship, it felt strange to be back — no swaying of waves, no hidden agendas in every corner, just the hum of cicadas and the faint chatter of students walking by.
The members of the Miyamoto Gang — Teruhiko Yukimura, Haruka Hasebe, Akito Miyake, Mei Yu Wang, Kyosuke Okitani, Wataru Ijuin, and An Maezono — had already split up to enjoy their free time after the grueling exams. Each had earned their rest, and honestly, so had I.
Only Airi Sakura and I remained together, wandering aimlessly through the shaded paths of the campus garden. She wore a gentle smile, the kind that always seemed to calm the world around her.
"Feels nice to be back, doesn't it?" Airi said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "It's peaceful."
"Yeah," I replied, stretching. "Almost too peaceful. I feel like someone's gonna pop out of a bush and yell 'Special Test, Part 3!' any second."
Airi giggled softly, holding her camera close to her chest. "Don't jinx it, Soshi-kun…"
Her laughter echoed lightly through the air — a welcome sound after weeks of stress and hidden tension.
I was about to say something more when I caught a glimpse of two familiar figures walking down the main path toward us: Kiyotaka Ayanokōji and Student Council President Manabu Horikita, with his ever-loyal secretary Akane Tachibana a step behind.
I slowed my pace, curiosity flickering in my mind. Encounters between those two were never coincidental.
Kiyotaka and Manabu faced each other near the entrance of the central building, their calm expressions hiding the weight behind every word.
Manabu spoke first, his tone as composed as ever. "Ayanokōji. It's been a while."
Kiyotaka gave a polite nod. "It has, Horikita-senpai."
Akane Tachibana stood silently at her president's side, her posture flawless, her gaze sharp as glass. It was easy to see why she was his right hand — efficient, loyal, and almost unnervingly perceptive.
"I've been keeping an eye on your progress," Manabu continued, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The uninhabited island exam, and now the cruise ship special test. Both were... intriguing."
"I'm just an average student," Kiyotaka said smoothly, his voice neutral as a still pond. "If anyone deserves credit, it's Horikita. She's the one who organized most of our strategies."
Manabu's gaze lingered for a moment longer, as though trying to read what was buried beneath Kiyotaka's calm demeanor. Then he smiled faintly.
"You underestimate yourself. And you underestimate the reach of the council's eyes."
Kiyotaka didn't reply. His silence was almost its own language — one that Manabu seemed fluent in.
I decided to approach then, pretending to be surprised by the scene.
"Oh! Student Council President, Tachibana-senpai, and… Ayanokōji too. What a coincidence."
Manabu turned his attention to me, that calm authority never leaving his face. "Miyamoto Soshi. I remember you."
"Ah, from the time I came to ask for help with Sakura's stalker case, right?" I said with a sheepish smile. "That was a while ago, senpai. You've got a scary memory."
Tachibana tilted her head slightly, as if evaluating me. "You helped Airi Sakura back then, didn't you?"
"Yeah. Just did what anyone would do." I grinned. "Anyway, Tachibana-senpai, you still haven't confessed to Horikita-senpai yet?"
The silence that followed was… legendary.
Tachibana's face flushed almost immediately. "W-What are you talking about!?"
Manabu blinked once — slowly — before exhaling through his nose, something halfway between disbelief and amusement.
Kiyotaka, to his credit, didn't laugh. But I saw the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth.
"Sorry, sorry," I said, raising both hands in mock surrender. "I just thought I'd lighten the mood. Things were getting all serious there."
Manabu's eyes softened slightly, the smallest hint of humor flickering in them. "You certainly have an unconventional way of easing tension."
"I try my best," I replied, grinning.
Manabu turned back to Kiyotaka. "Let's continue where we left off."
He clasped his hands behind his back, standing with the quiet authority of someone who had long carried the weight of leadership.
"Ayanokōji. I'll get straight to the point this time," he said. "I want you to join the student council — as vice-president."
Even Tachibana gasped, spinning toward him. "President! You can't be serious—!"
"I am," Manabu replied without hesitation. "The council will soon face a major change. I need someone capable, rational, and unshakable at my side. Someone who can protect the integrity of this school's system before it's… altered."
"Altered?" Kiyotaka asked, his tone carefully neutral. "You mean by Nagumo?"
Tachibana flinched at the name, but Manabu nodded slightly. "You've heard of him, I see. Nagumo Miyabi intends to reform the council — to make it a tool for his own ambitions."
Kiyotaka's gaze didn't waver. "So you want to stop him."
"I want to preserve balance," Manabu corrected. "The council should serve the school, not a single student's ego. That's why I need someone like you."
Kiyotaka fell silent for a moment, eyes downcast in thought. Then, quietly, he said, "You're asking the wrong person."
Manabu's expression didn't change. "And why is that?"
"Because you already know I have no interest in authority or politics," Kiyotaka replied calmly. "Besides… you shouldn't be worrying about students after you graduate. Unless, of course…" His gaze shifted slightly. "…you're doing this for your sister."
The words hit harder than expected. Tachibana looked stunned. Even Manabu's composure faltered for a fraction of a second.
Then, he chuckled quietly. "You're perceptive, Ayanokōji. Almost too much so."
"That's a bad habit," Kiyotaka said.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Manabu sighed softly, lowering his gaze. "Very well. I won't press you further."
He turned to face me then, his eyes sharper now — assessing, measuring.
"As for you, Miyamoto…"
I blinked. "Me?"
"Yes. Your performance in both the island and cruise ship exams was impressive — creative, unpredictable, and effective. You may joke often, but you observe keenly. You'd make a fine addition to the student council."
"Eh?" I rubbed the back of my neck. "I think I'd stand out too much in a suit."
Tachibana looked mildly annoyed. "He's serious, Miyamoto."
"I can see that," I said quickly, smiling. "But I'm serious too. Maybe… when the time is right, I'll consider it."
Manabu's gaze lingered on me for a few seconds longer, then he gave a faint nod. "Very well. I'll hold you to that."
With that, he turned away, gesturing for Tachibana to follow. She bowed politely — though I noticed a faint pink still lingering on her cheeks from my earlier comment.
As they walked off, Manabu paused and glanced over his shoulder one last time.
"Both of you — Ayanokōji, Miyamoto — this school will test more than your intelligence. It will test your resolve. Remember that."
Then he was gone.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Kiyotaka exhaled softly. "You really like to make things interesting, don't you?"
"Hey, someone had to lighten the mood," I said, grinning. "You're welcome, by the way."
He gave me that unreadable half-smile of his. "You're not joining the council?"
"Not yet. I'm allergic to politics."
"I see."
I glanced sideways at him. "He's not wrong about you, though. You'd make a good vice-president."
"And you'd make a good chaos agent," Kiyotaka replied dryly.
"Thanks," I said cheerfully. "I take pride in my work."
Later, I rejoined Airi near the vending machines. She'd been waiting patiently, sipping from a can of peach juice.
"Everything okay?" she asked, noticing my expression.
"Yeah," I said, taking a seat beside her. "Just got scouted by the student council, apparently."
"Eh?! Really?" Her eyes widened. "That's amazing!"
"Not really. I said I'd think about it when the time is right."
Airi tilted her head, smiling gently. "That sounds like you."
I leaned back, watching the sky turn a deeper shade of gold as the sun began to set behind the school buildings. "You know, Airi… people like Manabu Horikita and Ayanokōji — they think five steps ahead. I just… kind of walk where the wind takes me."
She giggled softly. "And yet you always end up exactly where you need to be."
I smiled. "Guess I'm just lucky."