I Just Want Your Rewards

Chapter 5: Student Council

"At 5 PM today, a briefing session on club activities will be held in Gymnasium One. Students interested in club activities, please gather in Gymnasium One..."

The announcement over the loudspeaker caught Suzuki Tetsu's attention. 

He had noticed early on that the classrooms for each grade level were in different locations. 

The only places where students from different grades could encounter each other were the dormitories, the cafeteria, and the shopping street.

Was the school intentionally isolating interactions between different grades? Perhaps, or maybe he was overthinking it.

"Are you interested in club activities, Suzuki-kun?" A familiar and cute voice suddenly appeared in front of Suzuki Tetsu. It was Sakayanagi Arisu, smiling sweetly at him. 

For some reason, her smile always had a fox-like quality.

"I just want to see the hustle and bustle," Suzuki Tetsu's eyes sparkled. 

In this class, the person he was most interested in was this girl. Even now, various wishes continued to emerge from her:

"I want to see the little princess utterly defeated."

"Play with her until my heart stops."

"Join her on the surface and backstab her secretly."

"Lick Sakayanagi-san's sweet little feet until they are raw."

"Defeat the little princess and tell her, 'You still have a long way to go!'"

Though most of these wishes were absurd, they weren't impossible—everything depended on human effort.

"Hehe, I'm a bit interested too. Can I join you?"

"Of course."

The moment he agreed, it seemed like the classroom was filled with resentful glares, most of them directed at Suzuki Tetsu. 

After all, from a purely physical standpoint, the girl in front of him had an impeccable face and a petite body that often drew attention. Her frail appearance invoked a male desire to protect. Moreover, her slender legs were quite striking. 

Suzuki Tetsu had never seen anyone who could wear white thigh-high stockings with such an innocent and sexy charm, particularly with her short skirt revealing her jade-like smooth thighs, making them even more tempting.

Japan placed great importance on social circles. Those who couldn't integrate into a circle were usually labeled as "loners," "otaku," "creepy guys," or "hikikomori." People around them would unconsciously distance themselves. 

In severe cases, some might even suspect them of collecting various bishoujo figures or playing inappropriate gal games, as these behaviors had become stereotypes.

However, there were always exceptions. A beautiful girl like Sakayanagi Arisu would have social circles seek her out even if she didn't actively integrate. 

By occasionally chiming in, she could quickly become a central figure in a circle. 

If Sakayanagi Arisu also possessed superior personal abilities, it wouldn't be surprising to see another leader emerge in Class A. 

However, she didn't seem in a hurry at all.

Suzuki Tetsu noticed she only interacted with a select few students, some of whom he had previously observed. 

Unlike him, who hadn't acted yet, she had already proactively approached these students.

...

After school, Suzuki Tetsu initially thought he would be walking with just Sakayanagi Arisu. To his surprise, another persistent individual joined them. 

Just like yesterday, Kamuro Masumi followed them at a distance, pretending they were merely heading in the same direction.

Suzuki Tetsu could somewhat guess her thoughts. She probably felt a bit uneasy and wanted to know the truth about the school, so she subconsciously followed them.

"Has your leg always been like this?"

Even with a cane, Sakayanagi Arisu walked slowly, forcing Suzuki Tetsu to slow his pace to match hers.

"Hehe, I'm embarrassed to say. I have a congenital heart condition, making me physically weak and unable to endure any exercise, not even long walks."

"Is it untreatable?"

"There's currently no medical technology that can address it."

"Sorry for bringing up something unpleasant."

"You're very kind, Suzuki-kun, but there's no need to be overly considerate of me."

As they talked, they finally arrived at the gymnasium. By then, many first-year students had gathered, roughly over a hundred. 

Suzuki Tetsu even spotted Katsuragi Kouhei standing with a few boys. 

Despite the crowd, Suzuki Tetsu easily noticed the most prominent figures.

There was a girl with light pink hair surrounded by other girls, seemingly a central figure of a class, full of smiles and appearing kind and easygoing. 

There was also a student who looked like a delinquent with his hands in his pockets, his jacket casually draped over his shoulders, and a bruise on his face, suggesting a fight the previous day. 

Another boy, frequently arguing with those around him, gave off an ordinary vibe but suddenly glanced at Suzuki Tetsu, sensing something.

Suzuki Tetsu nonchalantly looked away. These people had many wishes intertwined with them, making it hard to ignore them.

"Thank you for waiting, first-year students. We will now begin the club introduction meeting." A petite and cute girl with a bun hairstyle stood on the stage. 

"I'm Tachibana, the secretary of the student council and the host for today's meeting. Please take care of me!"

After her greeting, a line of club representatives appeared, from the judo club, archery club, basketball club, tennis club to the art club, tea ceremony club, cooking club, and many others, showcasing a wide variety.

While dazzling, Suzuki Tetsu noticed a man standing at the end of the line. Soon, only this man remained on stage. He stood in front of the microphone, silent, quickly attracting everyone's attention.

"Why isn't he speaking?"

"Go for it, Senpai!"

"Check your notes!"

"What's this? Did he wet his pants?"

Various voices emerged from the first-year students, yet the man on stage remained unfazed. The prolonged silence gradually created a heavy atmosphere. The noisy voices subsided, and the gymnasium became tense and quiet.

Finally, the man spoke.

"I am Horikita Manabu, the student council president. With the graduation of senior students, the student council will be recruiting candidates from the first-year students." He scanned everyone, showing no particular emotion. 

"No special qualifications are required for this special election. However, if anyone is considering running for the student council, please avoid joining any clubs. In principle, the student council does not allow members to participate in other clubs while running for office."

"Moreover, we do not welcome optimistic candidates in our student council. Such people will not only fail to get elected but will likely bring disgrace to the school."

"Our student council has the authority and mission to change the school's order, recognized and expected by the school administration."

"Therefore, we only welcome those who understand this responsibility."

After these words, the student council president decisively stepped off the stage and left the gymnasium. 

Suzuki Tetsu watched him leave, or more accurately, looking at the wishes surrounding him.

"Help Manabu-senpai teach his incompetent sister."

"Take Horikita Manabu's position."

"Humiliate his sister in front of him."

"Expel Horikita Manabu."

"Make Horikita Manabu say to his sister, 'My foolish sister.'"

Sister? Suzuki Tetsu looked around and soon found a girl standing still.

Horikita Suzune?