Chapter 171: Laughing at Horikita Suzune with Horikita Manabu
After school, Chabashira-sensei suddenly appeared in the Class 1-D classroom and called Sudo Ken out alone.
The two did not intentionally lower their voices while speaking, so Shimizu Akira clearly overheard the content of the conversation—it was likely about the trouble Sudo Ken had caused a few days ago, which had yet to be fully resolved.
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Perhaps because it was Monday, there weren't many people at the entrance of the Student Council office.
Since he had an appointment, Shimizu Akira pushed the door open and walked straight in.
However, this time, he didn't see Nagumo Miyabi or that senpai who was as bright as a sunflower.
After he sat down in the reception room, Tachibana Akane was kind enough to pour him a cup of black tea.
Shimizu Akira went straight to the point and asked, "President, why was the distribution of points delayed this time? Does it have something to do with Sudo Ken from our class? And were several other classes involved as well?"
Strictly speaking, the Student Council could easily handle general disputes—deducting personal points or class points as necessary. Only matters that the Student Council found difficult to resolve in the short term would cause Class D's points to be withheld pending a deduction.
Since Chabashira Sae mentioned that this matter affected the point distribution for all first-year students, it suggested that more than one class was involved. His suspicion toward Sudo Ken arose precisely because the latter had just been called away by their homeroom teacher.
Horikita Manabu nodded, his tone calm: "Your guess is correct. It is indeed an incident caused by Sudo Ken. Since you are a student of Class D, there is no need for me to hide it—this matter also involves Class C."
The Student Council President gave him a brief overview of the situation: Sudo Ken from Class 1-D had assaulted Komiya Kyogo, Kondo Reo, and Ishizaki Daichi from Class 1-C. Currently, the other party had unilaterally reported him.
Now, the Student Council had given Sudo nine days—from today until next Tuesday. If he could not prove his innocence, Sudo would be suspended until the summer break, and Class D would be docked a significant amount of Class Points.
"Proving his innocence? Will the Student Council not intervene at all?"
"Mm... At most, we will notify the homeroom teachers of each class to assist in finding witnesses. All other aspects are left entirely to the students to handle themselves. This is considered an important phase to test the students' ability to solve problems autonomously. The points will be distributed by next Tuesday at the latest."
"I see."
Shimizu Akira nodded.
It seemed the point delay would not exceed nine days at most.
"Shimizu, what do you think of this incident?" Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses and asked.
"I think it's most likely a setup by Class C," Shimizu Akira replied. "After all, they just made a move against Class B last month. Given Ryuen Kakeru's personality, it's not surprising for him to do something like this."
He paused and continued his analysis: "The midterms just ended last month, and the school hasn't scheduled any major exams this month. For them, it is undoubtedly the best time to strike. Of course, Sudo Ken has his own issues too! After all, it takes two to tango in these kinds of matters.
So, were there no surveillance cameras at the scene? Otherwise, the school should have been able to quickly determine who started it, and there would be no need to give Sudo nine days."
"Correct." Horikita Manabu couldn't help but nod.
"The location where the conflict occurred was near the Special Annex, which happens to have no surveillance. Naturally, there is no way to verify what happened."
Shimizu Akira made a mental note of this key piece of information—the Special Annex has no surveillance.
He felt that this intel would come in very handy in some sense.
Once they finished discussing official business, there was no more idle chatter.
Neither of them had a personality for wasting words; if they spoke, it was about something important.
At this moment, Tachibana Akane knocked and entered to refill their tea.
"How has Horikita-san been lately?" She turned to Shimizu Akira and, after glancing at Horikita Manabu, asked naturally, "By the way, Shimizu-kun, how did you two meet?"
Horikita Manabu's brow twitched slightly, but his face remained impassive as he took a sip of the hot tea Tachibana had just poured.
Shimizu Akira could naturally see that he actually cared quite a bit about his sister. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "She's doing quite well lately. She even ranked in the top three of the class in the midterm exams. Well, Horikita and I first met on the bus to school. In class, we're seatmates, and she even helped me tutor my studies recently."
"Academics are the only thing she has going for her. Even now, including class time, she studies for a full sixteen hours every day," Horikita Manabu added coldly.
"What? Sixteen hours of study a day?! President, are you sure?!" Shimizu Akira was stunned, his face full of disbelief.
Sixteen hours of study a day?!
Shimizu's first reaction wasn't to marvel at how hardworking Horikita Suzune was—it was surprise at whether it was even necessary.
Spending that much time on studying? What on earth was she thinking?
Horikita Manabu added another sentence, his tone carrying a trace of subtle meaning, "Among this year's freshmen, she still isn't the top of the grade. The one ranked first is still Ichinose Honami from Class 1-B. This is the 'great' result Suzune has achieved."
"Uh... Pfft~" Hearing this, Shimizu Akira couldn't hold back and let out a laugh.
He really couldn't keep a straight face.
Studying for sixteen hours a day and yet still failing to beat Ichinose Honami from the neighboring class?
If he remembered correctly, Ichinose Honami had a massive circle of friends. Just maintaining those social relationships must take her two or three hours a day; her study time was certainly nowhere near sixteen hours.
Horikita Manabu looked at the laughing Shimizu Akira and had no intention of rebuking him.
His disappointing younger sister was indeed this pathetic.
Every time he thought about it, he felt a headache coming on.
In a sense, this was something that had been bottled up in his heart for a long time.
He really didn't know what she was even studying every day.
"But speaking of which, I think this might have something to do with you, President," Shimizu Akira said after a thought. "Horikita clearly treats you as a template and mimics the way you do things. Did you, at some stage, also study that hard?"
Horikita Manabu was slightly taken aback. After a moment's reflection, he answered, "During the summer break of my third year of middle school, in order to get into this school, I did indeed study for at least 16 hours a day."
"That's it!" Shimizu Akira realized.
"Horikita probably saw you studying so hard and subconsciously began to imitate you. Later, when you entered this high school, she lost her immediate point of reference, and her behavioral logic unconsciously reverted to how you were in the third year of middle school."
It was just like an NPC in a game; if you give her a command, she will execute it blindly without considering whether the command is actually appropriate anymore.
Back then, when the President was in middle school preparing for the entrance exams, studying 16 hours a day was a necessity; one couldn't find fault with it.
But now that she was in the first year of high school, the fact that Horikita Suzune was still clinging to that study method made the problem very obvious.
That's how "nurturing-type" characters are; they just need to obey and follow instructions, while the person responsible for giving those instructions has a lot more to consider.
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After venting about Horikita Suzune with the President, Shimizu Akira turned and left the Student Council.
However, as he reached the corner of the hallway, he unexpectedly ran into Ichinose Honami.
Looking at her, she was clearly intending to head to the Student Council as well.
"Shimizu-kun, good afternoon!" Ichinose Honami stopped in her tracks and greeted him with a natural smile.
"Ichinose-san, good afternoon," Shimizu Akira replied with a polite nod.
Seeing Ichinose Honami, he subconsciously thought of the benefits Hoshinomiya Chie had promised him last month regarding joining Class B.
"Um... Shimizu-kun, would it be convenient to ask you a question?" Ichinose Honami's tone carried a hint of hesitation.
"Sure, go ahead," Shimizu Akira replied. After all, the person before him was the angel-like Ichinose, and he had asked her for a favor last month to investigate the people in Class B who bought laptops.
It was just one question; there was nothing inconvenient about it.
In his mind, however, a strange guess popped up: Is she going to ask if I really plan to join Class B and then politely reject me? Given Ichinose Honami's personality, it was indeed unlikely she would agree to "buy" a person for 20 million points.
"Are you... a member of the Boxing Club?" Ichinose Honami's voice was a bit cautious.
"...Yes." Shimizu Akira was a bit surprised; he hadn't expected her to ask that.
"Is that so? I see! So that's how it is!" Ichinose Honami seemed to breathe a sigh of relief instantly, and then her eyes lit up as if she had thought of something.
"In that case, last month, you must have intentionally confronted those people from Class C for the sake of Class B!"
"It wasn't intentional, but I was indeed present," Shimizu Akira nodded.
"Shimizu-kun, thank you so much this time!" Ichinose Honami's tone was full of sincere gratitude. "If I hadn't accidentally heard about this from a senpai, I'm afraid I'd still be in the dark even now!"
"Counting the incident from the first month, this is already the second time you've worked behind the scenes for Class B. Calculated this way, the entire Class B really owes you two favors." Saying this, Ichinose Honami gave him another solemn bow.
Shimizu Akira complained inwardly. This was another blunder caused by Hoshinomiya Chie, pinning the credit onto him.
"Well, no need to thank me," Shimizu Akira waved his hand and explained.
"Actually, the second matter was a favor asked by the Boxing Club President. I didn't know beforehand that the person I was helping was you."
"Even so," Ichinose Honami's tone became even more earnest, "doesn't that show Shimizu-kun's kindness even more?"
However, Ichinose Honami quickly noticed the slight awkwardness in Shimizu Akira's expression and guessed he was likely embarrassed by the praise. She couldn't help but chuckle and asked, "Shimizu-kun, did you come to the Student Council because of the delay in point distribution as well?"
"Yes, that was indeed my purpose for coming," Shimizu Akira nodded. "I've already asked; the points will be distributed by next Tuesday at the latest."
"I see. So that's it." Ichinose Honami thought to herself that he had saved her another bit of trouble.
This was already the nth time Shimizu Akira had helped her. Whether openly or in the shadows, he had done a lot for her and Class B.
The two had nothing more to say for the moment. After Shimizu finished speaking, he turned to leave.
Having no further reason to go to the Student Council, Ichinose Honami subconsciously watched his back until he turned the corner and completely disappeared.
'Maybe letting Shimizu Akira join Class B would be a very good decision.'
This thought popped into her head without warning.
'No! No! How can I be so selfish? I haven't discussed this with my classmates yet!'
She immediately realized the thought was inappropriate.
Just as she had thought at noon, this matter had to be discussed with her classmates.
Moreover, this wasn't something that could be done overnight; it would take a long time—according to her estimates, it would take Class B at least ten months or more to save up twenty million points.
Even though Shimizu-kun had done so much for Class B and herself behind the scenes, she couldn't even bring herself to make a direct promise.
Adding the Boxing Club incident into the mix, she felt she owed him even more.
As she was lost in thought, her phone vibrated again. It was a message from the female senpai from this morning:
Female Senpai: I asked for you! His full name is Shimizu Akira. Let me tell you, during that confrontation with Year 1 Class C last time, Shimizu-kouhai really put in a lot of effort!
Female Senpai: Oh my, I'm not joking, they almost started a physical fight with those Class C guys! Luckily, Shimizu-kun stepped up.
Female Senpai: His character is really good, he's a great match for you.
Female Senpai: At the very least, you guys should go on a date first, go out and have some fun to try it out!
Ichinose Honami looked at the screen and thought for a very, very long time.
Only then did she slowly start typing a reply: I understand, Senpai. Then I'll leave it to you to arrange a time.
Female Senpai (Instant reply): Let me tell you...
Female Senpai: Eh?! You actually agreed?! Even after I begged you so much last month, you wouldn't budge! What on earth happened?!
Ichinose Honami was suddenly a bit embarrassed.
If it were anyone else, she would never have agreed to a date so easily—it just happened to be Shimizu Akira, and her impression of him was already very good.
Perhaps it could be considered a way to repay the favors.
Just think of it as compensation for the things Shimizu Akira did for Class B. It was just a date; she could manage that much.
Female Senpai: By the way, Shimizu-kouhai is expected to fight in an exhibition match at school next week!
Female Senpai: My boyfriend and I actually met because of a boxing match.
Female Senpai: An event like a boxing match will definitely have a lot of spectators. When the time comes, Shimizu-kun's popularity might skyrocket, and he'll catch the attention of other classes too.
Female Senpai: If you're interested, I can save a few tickets for you.
'Is Shimizu-kun about to have a boxing match?'
Ichinose Honami's heart skipped a beat.
Come to think of it, Shimizu Akira's physique was indeed quite good.
On the first day of school, she knew he almost had a conflict with Yamauchi Haruki from the same class—of course, that matter was Yamauchi Haruki's fault from beginning to end; Shimizu Akira hadn't done anything wrong.
But... can he really win? Who will his opponent be?
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